Today in Madonna History: April 19, 2008

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On April 19 2008, Madonna’s eleventh studio album, Hard Candy was released by Warner Bros. Records.

Hard Candy was Madonna’s final album with Warner Bros., marking the end of a 25-year recording history together.

Madonna started working on the album in 2007, and collaborated with Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Pharrell and Nate “Danja” Hills.

Tracklisting:

Candy Shop
4 Minutes
Give It 2 Me
Heartbeat
Miles Away
She’s Not Me
Incredible
Beat Goes On
Dance 2night
Spanish Lesson
Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You
Voices

Today in Madonna History: April 18, 2012

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On April 18 2012, Madonna told NBC’s Harry Smith, “I need to be a tougher mom.”

Juggling a new album that debuted at number one and being a single mother to four kids is not easy, Madonna told Smith, saying she may need to toughen up after photos surfaced of her 15-year-old daughter smoking a cigarette.

Today in Madonna History: April 17, 2001

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On April 17 2001, Madonna’s What It Feels Like for a Girl – the third single from Music was released by Maverick Records. The song was written by Madonna, Guy Sigsworth and David Torn, who was credited later, while production was handled by Madonna, Guy Sigsworth and Mark Stent. The spoken intro, recited by Charlotte Gainsbourg, is an excerpt from the 1993 film The Cement Garden.

Lyrics:

Girls can wear jeans
And cut their hair short
Wear shirts and boots
Cause it’s okay to be a boy
But for a boy to look like a girl is degrading
Cause you think being a girl is degrading
But secretly
You’d love to know what it’s like
Wouldn’t you?
What it feels like for a girl

Silky smooth
Lips as sweet as candy, baby
Tight blue jeans
Skin that shows in patches

Strong inside but you don’t know it
Good little girls they never show it
When you open up your mouth to speak
Could you be a little weak

Do you know what it feels like for a girl
Do you know what it feels like in this world for a girl

Hair that twirls on finger tips so gently, baby
Hands that rest on jutting hips repenting
Hurt that’s not supposed to show and
Tears that fall when no one knows
When you’re trying hard to be your best
Could you be a little less

Do you know what it feels like for a girl
Do you know what it feels like in this world for a girl
Do you know what it feels like for a girl
Do you know what it feels like in this world
What it feels like for a girl

Strong inside but you don’t know it
Good little girls they never show it
When you open up your mouth to speak
Could you be a little weak

Do you know what it feels like for a girl
Do you know what it feels like in this world for a girl
Do you know what it feels like for a girl
Do you know what it feels like in this world for a girl

In this world
Do you know
Do you know
Do you know what it feels like for a girl
What it feels like in this world

Today in Madonna History: April 16, 2003

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On April 16 2003, Madonna released an edited version of the American Life video on VH-1.

The edited version (also called the “flag” version) featured Madonna singing in front of a backdrop of ever-changing flags of different countries.

Today in Madonna History: April 15, 1989

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On April 15 1989, Madonna’s Like A Prayer became the number one dance single on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Like A Prayer remained number one for the week of April 22.

Today in Madonna History: April 14, 2012

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On April 14, 2012, Madonna’s MDNA ranked as the number-one electronic album on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart in the USA.

MDNA remained number-one for the issues dated April 21, 28, and May 5.

Today in Madonna History: April 13, 1990

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On April 13 1990, Madonna’s Blond Ambition World Tour 1990 opened with 3 sold-out concerts at the Marine Stadium, in Makuhari, Japan.

The Setlist:

  1. Express Yourself
  2. Open Your Heart
  3. Causing a Commotion
  4. Where’s The Party
  5. Like a Virgin
  6. Like a Prayer
  7. Live to Tell / Oh Father
  8. Papa Don’t Preach
  9. Sooner or Later
  10. Hanky Panky
  11. Now I’m Following You
  12. Material Girl
  13. Cherish
  14. Into the Groove
  15. Vogue
  16. Holiday
  17. A Family Affair / Keep It Together