Today in Madonna History: August 1, 1990

August 1, 2014 By sonicboy19 in 1990, August Tags: Barcelona, Blond Ambition World Tour, Live Videos, Spain 1 Comment

On August 1 1990, Madonna In Concert was taped by SACIS-RAI at Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain on the second to last date of Madonna’s Blond Ambition Tour.

The special was broadcast in Spain, Italy, the UK and Australia. It also aired on Canada’s MuchMusic on September 10, 1990. After being heavily promoted by the channel in the weeks leading up to the broadcast, the special aired in an edited version during its prime time slot, followed by an uncensored airing at midnight.

In addition to its intended use for broadcast, the recording also served as an unused safety net for her HBO special from the final date in Nice, France a few days later.

Today in Madonna History: July 15, 1990

July 15, 2014 By Jay in 1990, July Tags: Dick Tracy, Hanky Panky, I'm Breathless, Vogue 1 Comment

On July 15 1990, Madonna’s Hanky Panky single was released in the UK.

Today in Madonna History: July 2, 1990

July 2, 2014 By Jay in 1990, July Tags: Blond Ambition World Tour, Controversy, Protest, Religion, Vatican 2 Comments

On July 2 1990, Roman Catholic groups condemned Madonna’s Blond Ambition concert as blasphemous due to her controversial show’s sex and religious themes and planned to cancel her concerts in Rome and Turin.

Madonna made this speech in response to the threats:

I am an ltalian-American, and I am proud of it.

Proud of being an American because it is the country I grew up in, the country that gave me the opportunities to be who I am today and a country that believes in freedom of speech and artistic expression.

My show is not a conventional rock show but a theatrical presentation of my music.

And, like theatre it asks questions, provokes thought and takes you on an emotional journey.

Portraying good and bad, light and dark, joy and sorrow, redemption and salvation.

I do not endorse a way of life but describe one, and the audience is left to make its own decisions and judgments.

This is what I consider freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of thought.

Every night, before I go onstage, I say a prayer not only that my show will go well but that the audience will watch with an open heart and an open mind and see it as a celebration of love, life and humanity.

*This is an edited transcript of the speech. The full speech is included in the video posted above.

Today in Madonna History: June 28, 1990

June 28, 2014 By Jay in 1990, June Tags: I'm Breathless, Vogue 1 Comment

On June 28 1990, Madonna’s Vogue single was certified double platinum (2 million units) – the biggest-selling single by a female artist ever at the time.

Today in Madonna History: June 23, 1990

June 23, 2014 By Jay in 1990, June Tags: Dick Tracy, Hanky Panky, I'm Breathless, Sooner or Later, Stephen Sondheim, Vogue 2 Comments

On June 23 1990, Madonna’s I’m Breathless: Music from and Inspired by the Film Dick Tracy hit #2 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in the USA.

After the filming of Dick Tracy was complete, Madonna began work on the film’s soundrack, with songwriter Stephen Sondheim, producer Patrick Leonard and engineer Bill Bottrell. She also worked with producer Shep Pettibone on the album’s first single, Vogue. The album was recorded within three weeks in California.