Amazon Prime Video recently added a new short-form documentary, The World of Madame X, which chronicles the evolution of Madonna’s latest number one album, Madame X.
The 23-minute film shares how the Queen of Pop was given the nickname 'Madame X' when she was 19-year-old and a new transplant to New York City.
Madge also explains how her new album, Madame X, which recently debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, came to fruition while living in Lisbon, Portugal.
Living in Lisbon, Madonna shares she was happy to be there for her son, who wanted to train for soccer.
But, she also says she became "lonely" as she didn't really know anyone there, much like when she first moved to New York City. "I knew that I had to find my tribe, so to speak," she adds.
Along the way, she developed a friendship with Dino d’Santiago, a Portuguese singer, who invited her to living-room music sessions, where local singers and instrumentalists gather in someone’s home to play music.
“What struck me most was this organic, authentic feeling of people being there because they just love music,” says the international pop star. “Money had nothing to do with it. Fame had nothing to do with it. Instagram followers had nothing to do with it. It was really about passion, and music, and art.”
After recording several of the living room jam sessions, Madonna felt she had to "take what I'm hearing, and turn it upside down."
She sent clips to her longtime producer, Mirwais, writing, “I know this is crazy, but tell me if it inspires you. Let’s chop up the guitar sounds, and synch them to modern sounding drums.”
According to Madge, a week later he had sent back his musical interpretations of the clips, which she described as “amazing,” adding that the new tracks left her “super inspired.”
As she continued “meeting musicians from all these places,” she allowed their work to influence her. And that, as Madonna says, is “how these songs came to be.”
"I had landed in a magical world," says Madonna in the new documentary-short.
You can check out a 3 minute clip from the documentary below, and find the full short film on Amazon Video here.
There are also two, brand-new Amazon Original remixes of tracks from Madonna’s new album from Robbie Rivera and Erick Morillo.
Madonna is currently prepping for a series of rare, intimate concerts that will be held exclusively in theaters. The best-selling female solo touring artist of all time, her tour begins September 12 in New York City. For more info about the upcoming concerts, click here.
More from the Amazon Video documentary via Instagram:
Madonna closed out the massive World Pride celebrations in New York City last night with a 4 song set during the festival’s ‘Pride Island’ on Manhattan’s Pier 57.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots, New York Pride hosted this year’s World Pride festivities.
Taking to the stage, the Queen of Pop began with a raucous rendition of her 1990 classic, “Vogue,” which was quickly followed by her 2003 hit, “American Life.”
Madonna then stopped to address the weekend’s celebrations.
“It’s weird, I know we’re on a pier and this pier has a lot of history; God knows it has a lot of history,” she began, referencing the piers history as a cruising area for gay men in the 1970s and 80s.
“So, fifty years people,” she continued. “Fifty years of revolution, fifty years of freedom fighting, fifty years of putting up with discrimination, hatred and indifference, fifty years of blood, sweat and tears, fifty years of not bowing down to fear. That’s what I’m talking about.”
“We have been on this journey together, and I am so proud and honored to share this historical evening with you,” added the 6-year-old pop-star.
“Since I came to New York as a wee little girl, I have always been embraced by queer nation,” bringing the conversation to the personal. “I always felt like an outsider but you made me feel like an insider. You must know how much I love and appreciate everyone here tonight - all members of the LGBTQ community.”
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she concluded before launching into her latest single from Madame X, “God Control,” a controversial (what’s new?) meditation on gun violence in the U.S.
She closed with the anthemic “I Rise,” also from Madame X.
According to organizers, approximately 4.5 million people took part in the multiple NYC Pride events throughout the weekend.
Head over to Boy Culture where Matt Rettenmund has lots of fantastic pics of the 4-song set by Madge.
The set, released via Interscope Records on June 14, launches with 95,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending June 20, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 90,000 were in album sales.
The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units are comprised of traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The new June 29-dated chart, where Madame X bows at No. 1, will be posted in full on Billboard's websites on June 25.
Overall, Madame X’s debut sum of 95,000 equivalent album units is comprised of 90,000 in album sales, 1,000 in TEA units and 4,000 in SEA units.
Madame X grants Madonna her ninth leader on the Billboard 200. She last led the list in 2012, with MDNA. Here’s a look at all of Madonna’s No. 1 albums: Madame X, MDNA, Hard Candy (2008), Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005), American Life (2003), Music (2000), Like a Prayer (1989), True Blue (1986) and Like a Virgin (1985).
Madonna continues to have the second-most No. 1 albums among female artists, trailing only Barbra Streisand, who has 11. Among all acts, The Beatles have the most No. 1s, with 19. They are followed by Jay-Z (14), Streisand and Bruce Springsteen (both with 11), Elvis Presley (10), Eminem, Garth Brooks, Madonna and The Rolling Stones (all with nine).
Madge also scored a #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Song chart.
The Queen of Pop has landed at the top of Billboard's chart more than any artist in history, snatching up 163 number one positions across all charts including Billboard 200, Hot 100 (singles), Dance and more.
NYC Pride, organizers of WorldPride NYC 2019/Stonewall 50, announced today that Madonna will make an appearance, and is expected to perform a few songs, at Pride Island on Sunday, June 30, 2019.
Madonna was the first to announce the news through a video aired during the Monday June 3, 2019 broadcast of NBC's The Today Show.
"I hear you," said Madonna in the video, while draped in one of her Madame X Rainbow Flags, "I will be on Pride Island, where I was born."
Madonna will debut, “Dark Ballet” on June 7 from her highly anticipated 14th studio album Madame X. The album will be released globally on June 14 from Live Nation, Interscope Records and Maverick. Exclusive album pre-order bundles with limited edition merchandise are now available direct at Madonna.com.
Madonna has partnered with The Trevor Project and for the entire month of Pride, all of Madonna’s proceeds from the exclusive Madame X Pride collection of a limited-edition Pride Rainbow Vinyl, flag and digital download will be donated to the organization.
More than 4.5 million people are expected to visit New York City during WorldPride, events of which started on Saturday, June 1 and runs throughout LGBTQIA+ Pride Month across the 5 boroughs of New York City.
For more information about WorldPride NYC 2019 | Stonewall 50 and its official roster of events, visit http://worldpride.org/.
• Well, hello newly-discovered InstaHunk Jefferson Ferreira. Aren't you just a heaping helping of furry goodness...? #woof
• The U.S. federal government has settled a lawsuit for $750,000 with a gay inmate who was threatened by another prisoner over his sexual orientation. Instead of intervening, officials moved the gay inmate into his bully's cell where the aggressor followed through on his promises to repeatedly beat and rape the gay inmate.
• Adult entertainment site XTube surveyed over 3,000 gay and bisexual men about what fetishes turn them on the most. Ranked number one was ‘partialism’, also known as a fetish for a particular part of the body like feet or a hairy chest. Some studies have shown folks who engage in kink are more likely to have positive mental health.
Madonna drops the third single from her upcoming album, Madame X.
“Crave” finds Madge in R&B slow-jam mode, reminiscent of her Bedtime Stories, only with very modern production.
On the just-over three-minute track, Madonna collaborates with 23-year-old Swae Lee, born Khalif Malik Ibn Shaman Brown, of “Butterfly” fame.
Earlier this week, Madonna's announced a limited, intimate Madame X Tour causing a box office scramble selling out many of the dates in just hours. The rest of the tickets are available on a request basis.
Madonna will release Madame X on June 14. It is available to pre-order on iTunes and other platforms.
Listen to “Crave” below.
And remixers are already re-inventing the Madame X tracks.
Check out the 'Offer Nissim Madame X In The Sphinx' take on Madge's first single from the new collection, "Medellín." Love the blending of Arab and Latin influences.
Following her stunning performance at the Billboard Music Awards and the announcement of her highly anticipated new album Madame X (available on June 14,) Madonna announced a series of rare and intimate performances to take place exclusively in theaters, giving fans an opportunity to see Madonna in an environment like they never have before.
The Madame X Tour will kick off September 12th at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House in New York and will feature multiple nights of shows in each city including performances at the Chicago Theatre, The Wiltern in Los Angeles, the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston, The Met Philadelphia and at the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theatre in 2019.
The Madame X Tour will then resume in early 2020 with performances at the Coliseum in Lisbon, the Palladium in London and at the Grand Rex in Paris.
Madonna speaks onstage during the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards New York.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for GLAAD)
It was a star-studded night at the Hilton Midtown in New York City as GLAAD - the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization - honored Madonna, Andy Cohen, Don Lemon & CNN, the cast of FX’s Pose and more at the 2019 Annual GLAAD Media Awards.
For 30 years, the GLAAD Media Awards have honored media for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues.
Introducing Madonna, CNN's Anderson Cooper told the crowd, “No single ally has been a better friend or had a bigger impact on acceptance for the LGBTQ community than Madonna.”
Accepting the Advocate for Change Award from Cooper, Madonna said in her remarks, “As soon as you really understand what it means to love, you understand what it takes to become a human being and that it is every human’s duty to fight, to advocate, to do whatever we can and whatever it takes.”
Referencing her upcoming album, the Queen of Pop added, “MADAME X is a FREEDOM FIGHTER.”
“Madonna always has and always will be the LGBTQ community’s greatest ally and it is only fitting to honor and celebrate our biggest advocate at GLAAD’s biggest event ever,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.
“From the HIV crisis to international LGBTQ issues, she fearlessly pushes for a world where LGBTQ people are accepted. Her music and art have been life-saving outlets for LGBTQ people over the years and her affirming words and actions have changed countless hearts and minds.”
Following is a complete list of GLAAD Media Awards presented on stage or announced during the event in New York City:
• Advocate for Change Award: Madonna [presented by Anderson Cooper, Rosie O’Donnell & Mykki Blanco]
• Vito Russo Award: Andy Cohen [presented by Sarah Jessica Parker]
• Outstanding Drama Series: Pose (FX) [accepted by: creators Ryan Murphy and Steven Canals, and cast members including Billy Porter, Janet Mock, Mj Rodriguez, Indya Moore, Dominique Jackson, Angelica Ross, Our Lady J, Dyllon Burnside, Hailie Sahar, and Ryan Jamal Swain; presented by Rachel Brosnahan]
• Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode: “Trans Rights Under Attack” Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS) [accepted by: Samantha Bee; presented by Adam Rippon and Lilly Singh]
• Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: “Same Sex Couple Reacts to Supreme Court Ruling” CNN Tonight with Don Lemon (CNN) [accepted by: Don Lemon; presented by Mj Rodriguez, Indya Moore, and Dominique Jackson]
• Outstanding Film - Limited Release: Boy Erased (Focus Features)
• Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series: The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)
• Outstanding Music Artist: Janelle Monáe, Dirty Computer (Bad Boy Records)
• Outstanding TV Journalism - Newsmagazine: “Conversion Therapy: God Only Knows” CBS Sunday Morning (CBS)
• Outstanding Newspaper Article: “He Took a Drug to Prevent AIDS. Then He Couldn’t Get Disability Insurance.” by Donald G. McNeil Jr. (The New York Times)
• Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: "Bermuda Same-sex Marriage Ban Means Trouble for Tourism and Cruise Ships” by Ryan Ruggiero (CNBC.com)
• Outstanding Digital Journalism - Video or Multimedia: “March for Our Lives and LGBT activism. ‘They’re definitely linked for me,’ says Emma González” by Beth Greenfield (Yahoo! Lifestyle)
• Outstanding Scripted Television Series (Spanish-Language): Elite (Netflix) and Mi marido tiene más familia (Univision) [TIE]
• Outstanding TV Journalism Segment (Spanish-Language): "Primera Pareja Gay en Casarse en un Consulado Mexicano" Noticias Telemundo Mediodía (Telemundo)
Additional awards were announced earlier this year in Los Angeles.
CNN's Don Lemon at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards New York.
(Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for GLAAD)
Andy Cohen attends the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards New York.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for GLAAD)
Billy Porter from the cast of FX's Pose
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for GLAAD)
Janet Mock speaks onstage with the cast of Pose.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for GLAAD)
Caitlin Kinnunen from the acclaimed Broadway musical The Prom performs.
(Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for GLAAD)
Chelsea Clinton speaks at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards New York.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for GLAAD)
It's important to recognize that all of this doesn't happen through magic. Corporations that choose to support celebrating positive media about the LGBTQ community are important to us.
Make sure you note the companies that join in celebrating us when you think about your consumer dollars.
The 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards are supported by Presenting Partners Delta Air Lines, Gilead, Hyundai, Ketel One Family-Made Vodka, and Wells Fargo.
Additional partners include: Official Partners Bud Light and Google; Titanium Partner AT&T and WEN; Platinum Partners Comcast NBCUniversal-Telemundo, Creative Artists Agency, Disney ABC Television Group, Facebook/Instagram, HBO, Hulu, Kaiser Permanente, MetLife, NBA & WNBA, Netflix, Omnicom Group, PRG, Sheppard Mullin, Turner; Gold Partners CBS/Showtime, Nielsen, PWC, UM, Univision, and VER; and Silver Partners Allstate, Coca-Cola, Morgan Stanley, and Warner Bros.
Madonna drops the second single, "I Rise," from her upcoming album, Madame X.
Acknowledging the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York City, the Queen of Pop dedicates the song to "all marginalized people who feel they don't have the opportunity to speak their mind."
In a statement, Madonna says the positive message of the track "encourages all individuals to be who they are, to speak their minds and to love themselves."
The new track begins with a sample of openly bisexual high school student Emma Gonzales's famous quote at a rally shortly after the deadly mass shooting at her school in Parkland, Florida.
“They say us kids don’t know what we’re talking about, that we’re too young to understand how the government works. We call BS!”
The single's release comes just a day before Madge will be honored with the Advocate for Change Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York City on May 4. Madonna is the second person and first woman to ever receive this recognition, which is awarded to a person who changed the game for LGBTQ people around the world through their work.
"I Rise" follows the release of "Medellín," Madonna's collaboration with Latin pop star Maluma.
Before the album's release on June 14, Madonna has announced three more tracks will drop: "Crave" on May 10, dance track "Future" on May 17, and "Dark Ballet" on June 7.
Madonna dropped her new music video, “Medellín,” Wednesday featuring Colombian reggaeton star Maluma, who is waaaay sexy.
The video, from her upcoming album Madame X, begins with a long shot of the pop queen praying in the distance:
“Dear God, how could I trust anyone after years of disappointment and betrayal?” she whispers. “How could I not want to run away again and again? Escape. I will never be what society expects me to be.” #ClassicMadonna
“Now, I’m Madame X, and Madame X loves to dance,” she concludes her prayer. “Because you can’t hit a moving target.”
Cut to Madge leading a dance class in her eye-patch wearing persona of Madame X, where she meets Maluma.
At this point, it’s important to repeat that Maluma is uber-charming and smoking hot.
Madonna finds Maluma way sexy, too
The dance lesson leads to some mattress dancing (which may or may not involve toe licking), and eventually a wild, raucous carnival wedding party.
In between, Madge dances opposite a horse in a darkened arena, which may or may not have a clearer meaning at another time…?
Did I mention that Maluma is way hot? The duo will perform “Medellín” live at the 2019 Billboard Awards on May 1.
And this isn’t the only collaboration with Maluma. He’s also featured on another Madame X track, “Bitch I’m Loca.”
Squeeee!!!
Madame X, Madonna’s 14th studio album, drops June 14.
Madonna and Latin Pop star Maluma announce new duet, "Medellín"
Barely a day after revealing her upcoming album will be titled, Madame X, Madonna took to social media again, this time to announce that the first single from the long-awaited LP will be “Medellín”, a duet with Latin superstar Maluma.
Wearing a gorgeous white wedding dress, Madge posed next to a royally-dressed Maluma. The image was accompanied with the simple caption, "April 17, 2019" with a large red "X" representing her new secret agent persona, Madame X.
Back on February 23, the Queen of Pop teased the collaboration with the hunky Colombian with a photo from a recording session and the caption, “Cooking up some Fuego over here!”
The 25-year-old Latin Grammy Award winner has had several top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart which accounts for his huge 40+ million followers on Instagram.
“I met Madonna during the VMAs in New York,” Maluma told Billboard. “After that, I had the opportunity to spend some time with her in Los Angeles. She was in the studio and I joined her.”
"We just had a beautiful connection," he added. "She is one of my biggest inspirations."
We have to wait until Wednesday to check out the new single by the power-pop duo, so for now, let’s get to know Maluma a bit better.
