Ever since her emergence into mainstream popular music, Madonna has
proved to her fans (and critics) that she is an innovative and talented
artist who is unwilling to allow anyone but herself control her music
and life. Madonna’s career has spanned over two decades due to her
ability to strategically use the media to her benefit, and to constantly
re-invent her music to fit the times. Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone
was born on August 19, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan. She grew up in nearby
Pontiac. When she was five years old, her French-Canadian mother whom
she was named after, died of breast cancer. To this day, Madonna says
that her mother’s early death has left her with an unfulfilled need.
After the death of her mother, Madonna and her siblings were raised by
their overly-protective, stern father. In her household, television was
banned and the children were forced to attend Catholic services. In high
school, Madonna excelled at dance and drama. In 1978, Madonna could no
longer take the emotional abuse from her father. So, with only thirty-seven
dollars in her pocket, she fled to New York. Upon arriving in N.Y.
Madonna hoped to become a ballet dancer. She practiced dancing with
choreographer Alvin Alley. Occasionally, to earn extra money, she did
nude modeling.
In 1979, Madonna moved to France to perform in disco singer Patrick
Hernandez’s show, Patrick Hernandez Venue. While in Paris, she met Don
Gilroy. Madonna and Gilroy went back to New York and formed a club band
they named Breakfast Club. In the beginning, Madonna played to drums.
She eventually became the lead singer. In 1980, Madonna left Breakfast
Club to create a band named Emmy with her boyfriend and Detroit drummer,
Steve Bray. Eventually, Madonna and Bray left Emmy and began to work
together. They worked on dance and disco tracks. One of their demos,
with Madonna as lead singer, reached D.J./Producer Mark Kamins. Kamins
then gave the demo to someone at Sire Records. In 1982, Madonna was
signed to Sire Records. In 1983, Madonna’s single “Physical Attraction”
became a club hit. In later 1983, “Holiday” became a U.S. top twenty. It
later became a top ten in Britain in 1984.
Madonna’s long sought after fame occurred in 1984 with her album, Like a
Virgin. The lead single, with the same name, became Madonna’s first
number one hit. “Like a Virgin” was co-written by Tom Kelly and Billy
Steinberg. The video immediately caused the media to focus on Madonna’s
‘raunchy persona’ rather than her talent as an artist. The video was
shot in Venice, Italy. Madonna was shot crawling on a gondola in a tiny,
black dress with a cross around her neck. There were also scenes with
the singer rolling around in a white, wedding dress. Another hit single
off the album was “Material Girl.” The video for the single demonstrated
Madonna’s talent of depicting powerful women in history. The video was
of Madonna mimicking Marilyn Monroe in her film, Diamonds are a Girl’s
Best Friend. The video immediately caused controversy amongst feminist
groups (who truly did not understand the deeper level of the video) who
claimed that Madonna pushed the Feminist Movement back fifty years.
From 1985 until 1987, Madonna’s career became a whirlwind. She had her
second U.S. chart topper, “Crazy for You,” which Madonna co-wrote with
John Bettis. She also had her first number one hit in England, “Into the
Groove.” Her other hit singles were “Dress You Up,” “Live to Tell,” and
“Papa Don’t Preach.” In 1985 Madonna performed at the Live Aid Concert.
By this time, she had become a high-profile celebrity. On August 16 of
that year she married actor Sean Penn. Madonna was also targeted by the
tabloids. Unfortunately, her personal life was discussed by the public
more than her music career. It was also at this time that the nude
photos she had taken while struggling in New York had surfaced in the
media. Madonna’s response –‘So What?’ In 1986, Madonna released her
album, True Blue. The album did very well. The singles were: “True Blue,”
“Open Your Heart,” “La Isla Bonita.” In ‘Open Your Heart,” Madonna
mimicked one of her idols and original cabaret dancer, Marlene Dietrich.
In “La Isla Bonita,” she mimicked the ill-fated heroine, Carmen. In
1986, Madonna starred in the critically acclaimed film, Desperately
Seeking Susan. In 1987, Madonna experienced her first true failure; a
film called Shanghai Surprise, Madonna starred in the film with Penn. In
1988, Madonna separated from Penn and the two subsequently divorced. At
that time, she starred on Broadway in David Manet’s play, Speed the
Plow.
In 1989, Madonna signed a $5 million contract with Pepsi. She filmed a
commercial that was supposed to air during the Super Bowl. Prior to the
Super Bowl, she released her album entitled, Like a Prayer. She then
released the first single with the same name. The video had Madonna
dancing in a short burgundy dress in front of burning crossed. The video
deals with religion, race, and eroticism. It caused controversy with
far-right groups and the Vatican (which banned the video and song).
Pepsi dropped Madonna as a sponsor, and never aired the commercial.
However, she got to keep the five million. Also, the publicity caused by
the controversy helped to sell more albums.
In the early 1990s, Madonna’s career reached a new level. She had the
hit songs: “Vogue,” “Hanky Panky,” “Justify My Love” (co-written by
Madonna and Lenny Kravitz), “Rescue Me,” and “This Used to be My
Playground” (from the soundtrack, A League of their Own). In 1990,
Madonna co-starred with Warren Beatty in the film, Dick Tracy. She also
embarked on her Blonde Ambition Tour. Once again, Madonna received
publicity due to the tour’s extravagant costumes, intricate choreography,
and intense eroticism with themes of religion and sexuality. In 1991,
Madonna starred in the film, Truth or Dare. She also released a greatest
hit album entitled, The Immaculate Collection (once again, religious
ironies). The album featured all the singer’s hit, and two bonus tracks:
“Rescue Me” and “Justify My Love.” “Justify My Love” could not be
played on MTV due the highly graphic sex scenes that appeared on the
video. Once again, the controversy caused more album sales.
In 1992, Madonna proved herself to be a strong business woman to those
who refused to believe it earlier. She signed a deal with her recording
company, Sire (Time Warner parent company). The deal guaranteed the
release of Madonna’s albums, films, and books on her own Maverick
Production Company. In 1992, Madonna also debuted as a writer. Her book,
Sex, sold-out within hours and needed an immediate reprint. She also
released her album, Erotica. Erotica was an over-all disappointment. It
was Madonna’s first album since her debut as a singer that she did not
have a number one single. Madonna’s next album, Bedtime Stories, was
another flop. Although the album was a mixture of Pop, R&B, and Hip Hop;
it was highly unorganized and it had four different producers working
on its tracks. In 1985, she released her album entitled, Something to
Remember. The single, “You’ll See,” did well.
1996 was a hard year for Madonna. She was picked to portray figurehead,
Eva Peron, in Alan Parker’s Evita (film based on Andrew Lloyd Webber and
Tim Rice’s musical). Upon hearing this, religious groups and followers
of Peron became angered. They felt that Madonna was the exact opposite
of the heroine and they worried she would portray Peron incorrectly. The
movie starred actors Jonathan Pryce and Antonio Banderas. Madonna
proved her critics wrong. Evita is Madonna’s best film to date. In an
interview, Madonna mentioned that she had become severely depressed
during this time due to all the people who protested against her. On the
14 of October, Madonna delivered her first child, Lourdes Maria Ciccone
Leon.
In 1998, the public saw a newly transformed Madonna. Madonna
collaborated with producer William Orbit, and in March released her
album, Ray of Light. The singer no longer sported her bleached hair.
Rather, she wore black clothes, had black hair, and totally re-buffed
her body. Her singles: “Frozen,” “Ray of Light,” “Drowned World (Substitute
for Love)”, “The Power of Good-Bye,” and “Nothing Really Matters” all
did very well. This was the first time since 1990 that Madonna had a
number one hit in Britain. In 1999, Madonna was featured on the
soundtrack for comedian Mike Myer’s movie, Austin Powers: The Spy Who
Shagged Me. The single, “Beautiful Stranger,” went to the top of the
charts. That year, Madonna also co-starred in a film with British actor,
Rupert Everett. The film, The Next Best Thing, did moderately well.
Madonna also was on the soundtrack. She sang Don McLean’s classic, “American
Pie.”
In 2000, Madonna worked with French Producer, Mirwais, to create the
album Music. On August 11 of that year, she had her second child named
Rocco. On December 22, she married Rocco’s father, British film director
Guy Ritchie. The two married in Scotland, despite protests from the
locals. Ritchie directed Madonna’s controversial video, “What it Fells
Like (For a Girl).” In 2002, Madonna starred in Ritchie’s film, Swept
Away. The movie was a flop. Later that year she performed the theme song
for the new James Bond flick, James Bond 007: Die Another Day. In 2003,
Madonna released her album, American Life, which was a transatlantic
chart topper. Today, Madonna continues to lead the pop charts. She has
gone from a young woman with a ‘raunchy’ persona to a respected artist.
She transformed the music industry by writing her own music and by
making her own decision. She is an author, an actress, and a musician.
Bio written by: bandhunt |
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