Today in Madonna History: September 5, 1986

September 5, 2022 By Jay in 1986, September Tags: Awards, Blue Dress-With-Pant, MTV Video Music Awards, Nikki Finn, Reductive, True Blue (Single), Video Vanguard Award 3 Comments

On September 5 1986, Madonna was honoured with the Video Vanguard Award for her visionary videos at the 3rd annual MTV Video Music Awards at the Palladium in New York City.

Madonna found immense popularity by pushing the boundaries of lyrical content in mainstream popular music and imagery in her music videos, which became a fixture on MTV. Her videos depicted controversial subjects such as teen pregnancy, racism, religion, sex and violence. She received the Video Vanguard Award for her contributions to the world of music video.

While there’s no denying Madonna was an early innovator in the art of music video, little did MTV – or those of us watching – know at the time that her most artistically groundbreaking work in the medium was yet to come.

Two things we did know at the time, however:

Madonna’s insistence on sending Nikki Finn to collect awards on her behalf during this period was cute and everything, but mostly it just seemed…well…reductive.
Madonna really liked that dress. But was it a dress?

Today in Madonna History: January 26, 1987

January 26, 2022 By sonicboy19 in 1987, January Tags: American Music Awards, Awards, I'll Remember, Papa Don't Preach, True Blue (Album) 4 Comments

On January 26 1987, Madonna won Favorite Female Pop/Rock Video for Papa Don’t Preach at the 14th annual American Music Awards at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA.

One of the award presenters, Mister Mister’s Richard Page, would later collaborate with Madonna & Patrick Leonard on the 1994 soundtrack hit, I’ll Remember.

Isn’t she adorable?

Today in Madonna History: November 5, 2014

November 5, 2021 By Jay in 2014, November Tags: Awards, Lil Buck, MOMA, Presenter, Wall Street Journal Innovator Award 1 Comment

On November 5 2014, Madonna was a presenter at the Wall Street Journal’s 2014 Innovator Awards, held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

According to The Cut, Madonna stole the show at the WSJ Innovator Awards:

Highlights of the night included Madonna’s delightfully unhinged, meandering speech in honor of dancer Lil Buck. Equal parts irritated mom and supportive mentor, the queen of pop complained, “Buck shows up uninvited at my house for dinner all the time,” but went on to praise his tenacity, grace, and talent. Midway through her speech, she scolded a man in the audience for taking a photo of her at the podium. None of that mattered once Lil Buck took the stage and performed his now-famous “Swan” dance. He received both the Performing Arts Innovation award and a standing ovation from the crowd.

Today in Madonna History: November 2, 1987

November 2, 2021 By sonicboy19 in 1987, November Tags: Awards, Juno Award, True Blue (Single) 2 Comments

On November 2 1987, Madonna’s True Blue won International Album Of The Year at the 17th annual Juno Awards at the O’Keefe Centre in Toronto, Ontario.

When did you last give True Blue a full listen?

Today in Madonna History: July 3, 1987

July 3, 2021 By Jay in 1987, July Tags: Awards, Canada, Certification, Diamond, Interview Videos, Press Conference, Stan Kulin, True Blue (Single) 1 Comment

On July 3, 1987, Madonna accepted a rare Canadian Diamond Award at a press conference in Toronto on the eve of her sold-out concert at CNE Stadium. The certification award was presented by WEA Music Canada president Stan Kulin to mark over one million units sold of the True Blue album in Canada.

Today in Madonna History: May 26, 1990

May 26, 2021 By sonicboy19 in 1990, May Tags: Awards, Billboard, Dance Artist of the Decade, Into The Groove, Pop Artist of the Decade 4 Comments

On May 26, 1990, Madonna is honoured with Pop Artist Of The Decade, Dance Artist Of The Decade and Dance Single Of The Decade (for Into The Groove) in Billboard magazine’s Music Of The 80’s Poll.