Today in Madonna History: August 9, 2012

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On August 9 2012, Madonna spoke out for gay rights at an MDNA concert in St Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s home town, where  a law was adopted to curb homosexual “propaganda.”

Performing in black lingerie with the words “No Fear” scrawled on her bare back, Madonna urged the audience – most wearing pink wrist bands distributed at the door – to “show your love and appreciation to the gay community”.

“We want to fight for the right to be free,” she said.

Today in Madonna History: August 8, 1992

Madonna - This Used To Be My Playground - Front (2-2) Madonna - This Used To Be My Playground - Back (2-2)

On August 8 1992, Madonna’s This Used to Be My Playground (and the theme song for A League of Their Own) hit number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA, becoming Madonna’s tenth chart-topping single, breaking her tie with Whitney Houston to become the female artist with the most number-one singles at that time.

The song was written and produced by Madonna and Shep Pettibone, and recorded prior to final sessions for Madonna’s 1992 studio album Erotica. As with most of Pettibone’s songwriting collaborations with Madonna, Tony Shimkin was later added as co-writer of the song.

Today in Madonna History: August 7, 2001

On August 7 2001, Madonna appeared on the cover of the Globe with the headline, “Marriage on the Rocks.”

Today in Madonna History: August 6, 2015

On August 6 2015, Madonna.com revealed the first Rebel Heart Tour poster.

What is your favourite Madonna tour poster? What did you think of the poster for the Rebel Heart Tour?

Today in Madonna History: August 5, 2008

On August 5 2008, Madonna’s Give It 2 Me was released as an eight track CD maxi-single by Warner Bros. Records in the U.S. It included amazing club remixes by Eddie Amador, Paul Oakenfold, Fedde Le Grand, Tong & Spoon, Jody den Broeder, and a ragga mix by Sly & Robbie.

The single was also issued in the U.S. as a double-vinyl 12-inch set, a 12-inch vinyl picture disc and as a double-vinyl 7-inch set coupled with her previous single, 4 Minutes. Though no Canadian pressings of the single were issued, the U.S. CD maxi-single was distributed to Canadian retailers with a Warner Music Canada special import sticker.

Give It 2 Me was the second single from Hard Candy. It was written by Madonna & Pharrell Williams with production by Madonna & The Neptunes.

Today in Madonna History: August 4, 2012

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On August 4 2012, Madonna performed in Kiev, Ukraine for the first time during her MDNA World Tour.

Today in Madonna History: August 3, 1985

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On August 3 1985, Madonna’s Into The Groove hit #1 in the UK and Holiday hit #2 in the UK – Madonna is the only female artist ever to occupy the top 2 positions simultaneously on the UK charts.