Today in Madonna History: December 9, 2016

On December 9 2016, Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour premiered on SHOWTIME, on-air, on-demand and over the internet.

Here’s a snippet from the press release for the broadcast:

MADONNA: REBEL HEART TOUR was shot around the world and features a collection of live and behind these scenes footage culminating in performances at the Sydney Olympic Park in March of this year. The film is co-directed by Danny B. Tull and Nathan Rissman, both of whom have worked extensively with Madonna on her feature films and tour movies. Madonna will be honored later this year as Billboard magazine’s 2016 Woman of the Year award, at a star-studded event held in conjunction with the publication of Billboard’s Women in Music list, which identifies the 50 most powerful female executives in the industry each year.

“When it comes to putting on a show, there is only one Madonna – an iconic performer that we’re thrilled to have on our air,” said David Nevins, President and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc. “With her unique creative vision and unmatched stage presence, our viewers will see an arena show packed with visual theatrics, stunning costumes and intricate choreography, featuring new hits and beloved classic songs.”

The set list for MADONNA: REBEL HEART TOUR spans all decades of the iconic superstar’s illustrious career, including songs from Rebel Heart (the No. 1 dance hits “Living for Love” and “Bitch I’m Madonna“) to classic fan favorites like “Material Girl” and “Holiday” and a “Dress You Up” medley that included “Into The Groove,” “Everybody” and “Lucky Star.” Memorable highlights from the tour include her first-ever live concert performance of “Take a Bow,” acoustic versions of “Like A Prayer,” “Secret” and “Don’t Tell Me.”  At each tour date during the song “Unapologetic Bitch,” Madonna would bring someone up from the crowd to dance with her during the song. Some nights it was a fan, another night it was Katy Perry. Other guest dancers included: Amy Schumer, Ariana Grande, Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Diplo, Gwendoline Christie, Graham Norton and Anderson Cooper.

Produced by Live Nation Global Touring, the Rebel Heart Tour kicked off on September 9, 2015 in Montreal and visited arenas in 55 cities on four continents over seven months. Madonna performed 82 shows, plus a special fan club show in Melbourne. The tour grossed $169.8 Million with 1,045,479 in attendance, making her the top grossing touring female artist in the history of Billboard Boxscore with over $1.31 billion in ticket sales sold over the course of her career. Madonna is also the fourth top grossing touring act (behind The Rolling Stones, U2 and Bruce Springsteen) since tracking began in 1990.

The Rebel Heart Tour was directed by Jamie King with musical direction by Kevin Antunes (the band’s keyboardist Ric’key Pageot, drummer Brian Frasier-Moore, guitarist Monte Pittman, and background vocalists Kiley Dean and Nicki Richards), lead choreography by Megan Lawson, hair by Andy LeCompte, makeup by Aaron Henrikson, and costume design by Arianne Phillips.

Today in Madonna History: February 24, 2016

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On February 24 2016, Madonna performed in the Philippines for the very first time. Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour made a stop at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, performing for a sold out crowd of 15,710 fans.

Ticket prices were above average and ranged from $70 to $1300.

Madonna added Like A Prayer to the set during the first show and added Crazy For You during the second show (February 25).

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Today in Madonna History: February 21, 2016

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On February 21 2016, Madonna performed the second of two sold out shows during her Rebel Heart World Tour at the Studio City Event Center in Macau, China.

The undisputed ‘Queen of Pop’ is set to excite and delight Asia’s music fans at Studio City’s awe-inspiring Studio City Event Center when she brings her ‘Rebel Heart Tour’ to Macau.

The ‘Rebel Heart Tour’, which lands in Macau on February 20 and 21, 2016, is supporting Madonna’s 13th studio album ‘Rebel Heart’ which includes the Billboard Hot 100 hit, ‘Bitch, I’m Madonna’. The hit single features star-studded cameos by Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West as well as appearances by Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Rita Ora.

The ‘Rebel Heart’ Tour follows the spring release of Madonna’s Rebel Heart album on Interscope Records. Rave reviews of the album include: ROLLING STONE: ‘Rebel Heart is a long, passionate, self-referential meditation on losing love and finding purpose in chilling time.’ LA TIMES: ‘Rebel Heart like its creator pushes through the pain and more often than not lands solidly and with great grace on its feet.’ NOISEY: ‘Madonna continues to keep us on our toes, like no other performer in the history of modern music. NY DAILY TIMES ‘Rebel Heart’s best moments boast some of the most finely structured pop melodies of Madonna’s 32-year career.’

Along with extraordinary critical acclaim as an artist, songwriter and producer who has sold a record breaking 300 million records, Madonna’s reputation as one of the most successful, provocative and enduring live performers of all time speaks for itself. The 2008/2009 Sticky & Sweet tour is the highest grossing tour of all time for a solo artist and the 20123 MDNA tour was the most successful tour of that year.

Today in Madonna History: January 11, 2016

On January 11 2016, Madonna posted this message regarding David Bowie’s death on her social media channels:

I’m devastated. David Bowie changed the course of my life forever. I never felt like I fit in growing up in Michigan. Like an oddball or a freak. I went to see him in concert at Cobo Arena in Detroit. It was the first concert I’d ever been too. I snuck out of the house with my girlfriend wearing a cape. We got caught after and I was grounded for the summer. I didn’t care. I already had many of his records and was so inspired by the way he played with gender confusion. Was both masculine and feminine. Funny and serious. Clever and wise. His lyrics were witty ironic and mysterious. At the time he was the Thin White Duke and he had mime artists on stage with him and very specific choreography. And I saw how he created a persona and used different art forms within the arena of Rock and Roll to create entertainment. I found him so inspiring and innovative. Unique and provocative. A real genius. His music was always inspiring but seeing him live set me off on a journey that for me I hope will never end. His photographs are hanging all over my house today. He was so chic and beautiful and elegant. So ahead of his time. Thank you David Bowie. I owe you a lot. The world will miss you. Love M.”

David Bowie died of liver cancer at the age of 69 in New York on January 10, 2016.

Today in Madonna History: December 23, 2016

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On December 23 2016, Madonna was featured in Vogue magazine’s on-line Celebrity Style section: Madonna’s Winter Airport Look Is All About the Show of the Year.

Vogue contributor Edward Barsamian had this to say:

All hail Queen Madge. Earlier in the month at Billboard’s Women in Music Awards, Madonna made waves in a custom Gucci suit embroidered with the phrase The Greek goddess of music that brings joy, and the same could be said of her approach to airport style at JFK. Lately the singer’s off-duty ensembles have included posh looks for the school run and carrying the It bag of the season. Her latest in-flight outfit was a fresh take on winter dressing that featured the year’s most wanted shoes.

Lately, A-listers like Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, and Kim Kardashian West have been stepping out in teddy bear coats, but Madonna opted for a sportier, cheekier rendition with her fur-trimmed parka from Mackage and Moschino’s bear-print tee. A Stars and Stripes scarf provided a directional slant on the American flag, while her frayed-hem trousers were simultaneously polished yet edgy. But stealing the show were the little details: shield shades, a Ralph Lauren satchel, and Rihanna’s chic, highly coveted creepers for Puma.

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Today in Madonna History: December 6, 2016

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On December 6 2016, Rhino Records reissued Madonna’s Music and American Life albums on 180 gram vinyl in North America. Some markets received the reissues on December 2.

The double vinyl release of American Life corrects the spelling of Nothing Fails (misspelled on previous releases).

The reissued Music includes American Pie (previously excluded on the North American releases of the album).

Previous Madonna vinyl reissues released by Rhino in 2016:

  • Madonna (The First Album)
  • Like A Virgin
  • True Blue
  • Like A Prayer
  • Erotica
  • Bedtime Stories
  • Something To Remember
  • Ray Of Light

Do you collect Madonna vinyl?

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Today in Madonna History: August 31, 2016

On August 31 2016, The New York Times profiled photographer Peter Lindbergh in which he recalled, among other works, his 1994 shoot with Madonna for Harper’s Bazaar magazine. Several outtakes from this stunningly beautiful session were featured along with the article.

“I worked only once with Madonna. What really struck me was her very strong motivation. We were doing a tribute to Martha Graham, her admired dance teacher. I discovered a dancer with a very rare talent: Madonna was moving in a very soulful and personal way, very touching and very much herself. At the same time, there was a feeling of perfection to everything she was doing. I was very interested in capturing some of this extraordinary contradiction, which I found absolutely stunning. Those images are as modern today as they were in 1994.”

– Peter Lindbergh, 2016.