Today in Madonna History: September 15, 2001

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On September 15 2001 Madonna ended her Drowned World Tour at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

The September 15 show was originally scheduled to take place on September 11 but was postponed due to the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Today in Madonna History: September 11, 2001

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On September 11 2001, Madonna postponed a scheduled Drowned World Tour concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California due to terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, and the Pentagon in Washington, DC.  The concert was re-scheduled for September 15.

“Violence begets violence,” Madonna told the Staples Center crowd of nearly 20,000 fans on September 14th, “and I don’t know about you, but I want to live a long and happy life. I want my kids to live a long and happy life.”

“What happened was horrible, but I’d like to think of it as a wake-up call. There’s terrorism every day all over the world.”

“Last night, we had a minute of prayer for everybody who died on Tuesday. Tonight I’d like to say a prayer for peace.”

“I said it last night and I’ll say it again: If you want to change the world, change yourself.”

Madonna pledged that proceeds from the final shows on the tour would go to relief funds for victims of the attacks and their families.

Today in Madonna History: August 15, 2001

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On August 15 2001, during a sold-out “Drowned World Tour” concert at the National Car Rental Center, Sunrise, FL, Madonna was surprised by husband Guy Ritchie when he appeared onstage to present her a cake for her 43rd birthday.

Today in Madonna History: July 25, 2001

On July 25 2001, Madonna played the first of five sold-out shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden during her Drowned World Tour.

Today in Madonna History: April 28, 2001

On April 28 2001, Madonna’s What It Feels Like For A Girl was the Hot Shot Debut (highest new entry) at #38 on Billboard’s Dance/Club Play chart. What It Feels Like For A Girl eventually became Madonna’s 25th #1 Dance hit in the U.S.

Despite the club success of the remixes, some fans and critics were displeased with the use of the Above & Beyond remix in the music video, and with the dark nature of the Guy Ritchie-directed clip, preferring the more subtle and restrained attack of the album version. Others felt that the more aggressive and confrontational feel of the remix and video were natural extensions of the emotions and experiences that Madonna was exploring within the song; feelings that were left bubbling beneath surface of the deceptively gentle and subdued album mix.

Regardless of which side of the fence you’re on, in retrospect one thing is clear: when revisited through the lens of the current “Me Too” movement, the overarching themes that Madonna explored with the release of What It Feels Like For A Girl were ahead of the curve in terms of social discourse. Although the same could be said for so much of Madonna’s work.

 

Today In Madonna History: March 16, 2001

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On March 16 2001, MTV and VH1 networks announced that Madonna’s new video for What It Feels Like For A Girl would be broadcast only once on March 20 at 11:30 pm because of the controversy over its violent content.

Today in Madonna History: February 28, 2001

On February 28 2001, Madonna announced she was going out on tour for the first time since The Girlie Show World Tour in 1993:

“I’m finally going to fucking drag my ass into a rehearsal studio. I never want to repeat myself. I don’t see the point of doing a show unless you offer something that is going to mind-boggle the senses. It’s not enough to get on the stage and sing a song. It’s all about theatre and drama and surprise and suspense. So I’m looking forward to it, but I’m also nervous about it.”

The Drowned World Tour started on June 9 2001, in Spain. The tour ended after 47 shows in Los Angeles on September 15 2001.