Madonna gave an interview to UK journalist Dan Cairns and featured on the cover of todays edition of Culture magazine that came with the The Sunday Times.

 

Larry : Celebration is about to come out. This is your third greatest hits album, but you’re not the look-back girl, are you?
 M : No.
 Larry :   So, does it feel weird that everyone’s so excited about revisiting your old songs? 
M : No, I’m not thinking that way. I’m happy that people want to hear my old songs. I’ve written some good songs!
 Larry :   Do you ever listen to them, yourself? 
M : I try not to [laughs]. Actually, sometimes, I do. But the thing is that I’m on tour right now, and I’m doing some of those old songs. Inevitably, I’m going to be sicker of the songs that I’m singing every night. It’s nice to revisit songs that I haven’t heard for a while, and I think, “Yeah that was a good song. I like that.”
Larry :   What song are you feeling really good about right now? 
M : That’s old? 
   Larry : Yeah. 
M : I like “Beautiful Stranger.” That’s a good one.
 Larry :   Are there are any song that you don’t want to celebrate? 
M : No. They are all a part of me, and an aspect of me, or a pivotal moment for me --  even if they’re not necessarily pivotal in a big, public way for me. I can certainly pinpoint what was going on in my life at that time. They’re sign-posts.
 Larry :   Is there one song of yours that you think is perfect?
M : I certainly have songs that I feel resonate more and speak truthfully more about me than others. Like “Don’t Tell Me.” Or “Like It Or Not.” Also, “Live To Tell” would be one too.
 Larry :   Do you ever stop and think, “I sure got a lot done”? 
M : [Laughs] Sometimes. That would require free time!
 Larry :   You’re not the sit-around girl, either, are you? 
M : No, not much. Not with kids and a job. Every once in a while, I have a moment of reflection. It’s usually because I’m forced to look back at it from somebody else’s point of you… or if someone does a retrospective of my career. Then I go, “I did all that?” It’s usually someone else reminding me.
 Larry :   You  have a knack of writing songs that are pointed and political, but also for writing songs that are carefree and fun. Which do you think hit people stronger?
M : People who are more politically aware and want to be inspired like songs like “American Life,” and people who just want to have a good time will like my more let’s-have-fun kind of music. I think people are in different moods at different times. I’m in different moods at different times.
 Larry :   What kind of music are you listening to a lot these days? 
M : I’m listening to a lot of electronic music.
 Larry :   Do you still like going clubbing? 
M : Yes, but I certainly don’t go clubbing when I’m on tour, because it’s not really good for me. You can’t talk loud after shows and stuff in smokey nightclubs
 Larry :   Being on the road sounds like a military operation. How long does it take to get ready for you to go on tour? For you physically? 
M : First, I start to train for several months, just to get my cardiovascular endurance up so that I can sing and dance at the same time. Then putting the show together and figuring out the choreography and experimenting. Then I spend hours and hours with my band and my dancers and my choreographer and my director. It just becomes an endurance test. So by the time the show is put together, I’m physically ready, just from doing it over and over for months.
 Larry :   At what point do you say “stop, get me outta here, this is too hard”?  
M : Right about now. [Laughs] We did the tour for 4 months, and then we took a break. And now we’ve been on the road for a couple of months. It feels like a good time to end it. I’m ready to have another creative experience. I don’t know how people go on the road for 18 months and do the same show. I couldn’t do it.
 Larry :   Tell me about the working on the track “Celebration” with Paul Oakenfold. What was it about working with him that was interesting to you? 
M : Paul’s done so many remixes for me. We’ve collaborated on a lot of music, just because of that. Plus, he’s been opening for me on most of this tour, and we’ve hung out together a lot. He’s played at parties I’ve thrown. I like his energy. I like his ability to make people get up and dance. He knows how to work a crowd. He’s a very positive person, himself. I heard some of the production that he’s done with other artists, and I decided to experiment with him.
 Larry :   The video features your daughter, Lourdes. How did that happen? 
M : She hangs out with the dancers a lot. She’s a dancer, herself. The video is about the celebration of music and dance. There’s an improvisational moment when we’re all in a circle and each dancer does their specialty or a special move that they do well. She wanted to do hers, so she did.
 Larry :   Were you comfortable with her doing the video? 
M : Yeah. She really wanted to do it. It’s just a little moment.
 Larry :   Are you getting an inkling that she wants to follow in your footsteps? 
M : No. I don’t she wants to be a singer. I think she wants to be an actress.
 Larry :   How do you feel about that? 
M : I’m fine with it, as long as she finishes school, and takes it seriously. She also plays piano, and she’s really into clothes and fashion and style. She can go in any direction. She’s got a lot of diverse interests right now. We’ll see. I’m not pushing anything. We’ll see what she wants to do.
 Larry :   She always seems so poised. 
M : Yeah. She’s grown up in the limelight, for sure. She’s been protected, but she’s been chased by the paparazzi since she was a tiny baby.
 Larry :   How is she dealing with being the big sister? Is she protective? 
M : She’s super-sister. She’s amazing with the little ones. She has the typical relationship with her brother, Rocco. They’re like “I love you”/”I hate you” every five minutes. But with the two little ones, she’s great. She’s amazing. Very protective.
 Larry :   Are you going to be a Mom to any more kids? 
M : Who knows? [Laughs]
Larry :   Is that something you’d like? 
M : [More laughter] Y’know, I have my hands full right now! I have no idea! That’s all I’m going to say. But we never say never.
 Larry :   That’s a good thing! What do you imagine your next record is going to sound like? Have you thought about it yet? 
M : Not really. I love electronic music, so I’m sure that I’ll keep doing something in that area. But I don’t know who I’m going to work with yet.
 Larry :   What next on your life check-list? What are you hoping to get done? 
M : I have several projects going. I have another script that I’ve written, and I want to direct another film. Hopefully, I’ll be doing that next year. I also have many, many projects going on in Africa right now that I want to bring to fruition, like building a girls school and working on two new documentaries that I want to make. So, I’ve got lots of projects going.
 Larry :   Could you ever imagine that your life would turn out this way? 
M : No way!
 Larry :   It’s pretty awesome, isn’t it? 
M : It’s insane. I’m very lucky. I feel truly blessed.

Janet Jackson and Madonna are not planning on teaming up for a musical project, despite a report in a British tabloid. The U.K. version of OK! Magazine reported that following Sunday night’s MTV Video Music Awards, pop icons Madonna and Janet, who were both part of the Michael Jackson tribute at the event, had decided to collaborate. “It was a meeting of two great musical minds. Madonna was so impressed with Janet’s tribute to Michael that they started talking about how great it would be to honor him by doing something together…There was definitely something very interesting being planned between them,” a source told OK!, MTV U.K. reported. When contacted by Access Hollywood, however, a rep for Madonna said the report was not true. Additionally rumors that the two ladies went to dinner together following the VMAs also did not happen, the rep said.

 

Madonna with Jesus Luz and Giancarlo Giammetti, they went to see The Steady Rain on Broadway, starring Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig (September 16 2009)

 

Lady GaGa met up with Madonna on Monday night at a Marc Jacobs fashion show in New York.

The Pokerface star posed with her idol and the fashion designer whilst attending the event the night after the VMAs.
 
Compared to the previous night’s nine different outfits GaGa’s get up was understated- she wore a studded black mask, gloves, dress and a white blazer to the New York fashion week event.
 
Madonna was attending with her boyfriend model Jesus Luz.
 
At the VMAs the Queen of Pop was asked if she minded Lady G being compared to her. According to reports her reply was: “No, I’m very flattered.”

After delivering her heartfelt tribute to the late Michael Jackson at the VMAs, Madonna talked with MTV News' Jim Cantiello about her speech backstage. "Michael Jackson was born in August 1958," her speech began. "So was I. Michael Jackson grew up in the suburbs of the Midwest. So did I. Michael Jackson had eight brothers and sisters. So do I. When Michael Jackson was 6 he became a superstar and was perhaps the world's most beloved child. When I was 6 my mother died. I think he got the shorter end of the stick." She went on to talk about the time they spent together, her admiration for his talent, his "vulnerability and charm," and her sons' love for his music. After the show, with a somber face, Madonna explained just how much the dedication to Jackson meant to her. "[It was] extremely important because I didn't really have my chance to pay my last respects to him or speak of him in the way that I wanted to," the Material Girl said. "It was a privilege and an honor for me to say what I had to say. "[It] took me all week to write [the speech], and I just wrote it from my heart," she added. "And I kept slashing and burning and editing." While she did admit that she left out some choice MJ anecdotes, it was purely in the interest of time. "I really cut it down. It was painful," she said. "I said what I had to say at the end of the day." The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards might have wrapped, but the party is far from over. Stay tuned for behind-the-scenes updates, party reports and much more.

 

Warner Music gave more details regarding the upcoming Celebration double DVD, pointing out that "this is the ultimate Madonna collection in chronological order".

2 DVD package comes in a CD sized Digipack. The 47 videos have been REMASTERED. Not only are the videos REMASTERED, but also the SOUND is remastered. You can listen in NORMAL STEREO or in SURROUND 5.1.

They also point out that "18 of these videos have NEVER EVER been on a DVD, 27 of them have NEVER been on a Madonna DVD."

We remind you the DOUBLE DVD tracklisting:

• 01) Burning Up
  02) Lucky Star
  03) Borderline
  04) Like A Virgin
  05) Material Girl
  06) Crazy For You
  07) Into The Groove
  08) Live To Tell
  09) Paper Don’t Preach
  10) True Blue
  11) Open Your Heart
  12) La Isla Bonita
  13) Who’s That Girl
  14) Like A Prayer
  15) Express Yourself
  16) Cherish
  17) Vogue
  18) Justify My Love
  19) Erotica
  20) Deeper and Deeper
  21) Rain
  22) I’ll Remember
  23) Secret
  24) Take A Bow
  25) Bedtime Story
  26) Human Nature
  27) I Want You
  28) You’ll See
  29) Frozen
  30) Ray Of Light
  31) The Power Of Good-Bye
  32) Beautiful Stranger
  33) American Pie
  34) Music
  35) Don’t Tell Me
  36) What It Feels Like For A Girl
  37) Die Another Day
  38) Hollywood
  39) Love Profusion
  40) Hung Up
  41) Sorry
  42) Get Together
  43) Jump
  44) 4 Minutes
  45) Give It 2 Me
  46) Miles Away
  47) Celebration

 

Andre Balasz hosted a star-studded party Saturday night to open the Boom Boom Room, the penthouse bar of his new Standard hotel in New York's Meatpacking District. The space has 360-degree views of Manhattan and the Hudson River from floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as a few vertigo-inducing smoking balconies with glass floors.

Madonna has reportedly reconciled with her estranged brother Christopher Ciccone - a year after he published an expose of their life together.The 'Holiday' hitmaker was allegedly furious over Ciccone's tell-all book, Life With My Sister Madonna, last year, which lifted the lid on the star's private life.Ciccone also incurred the wrath of his famous sibling when he spoke to the media following her split from Guy Ritchie in late 2008.The pop superstar has now taken the first step towards a reconciliation, writing her brother an email in a bid to repair their broken relationship. "Madonna did it more for her family than for herself. Her feud with Chris was creating huge tension within the family so she decided to be the bigger person. It's been a nightmare. She's calmed down since the book and had time to think. She realises blood is thicker than water and she will meet with him this year in LA"

 

Madonna is to run a 151-mile, six-day race.The singer is in training for the gruelling Marathon des Sables in Morocco, which is due to take place next April.A source told America's Star magazine: "She's always been in great shape, but she is now taking things to a whole other level. She is serious about doing it."The 51-year-old star is so keen to triumph she has warned her management to keep her schedule free for the whole month.Madonna is known for her super-toned physique and adheres to a strict eating plan and exercise regime. On occasions she has been forced to defend her ultra-healthy lifestyle and "unwomanly" muscular body.Madonna - who is dating 22-year-old Brazilian model Jesus Luz - said: "My body is an important instrument as well as my voice. Does working out really help with singing? Yeah, absolutely. Using your diaphragm properly is connected to having good posture."Your body is one organism. You can't separate it. If you are not in good health your vocal cords will suffer. Everything will suffer."