The Madonna Thread

[Angela]

Somebody put together this list of her Top 100 Billboard History.

I'm surprised Oh Father, Rain, The Power of Goodbye & You'll See didn't do better.

Holiday:

88-76-68-60-55-45-39-33-31-31-27-25-17-16-16-22-36-53-63-87-94

21 weeks

Borderline:

76-62-54-50-46-40-37-35-29-25-22-18-12-11-10-11-12-15-19-30-52-56-61-66-86-88-91-94-98

30 weeks

Lucky star:

49-40-27-24-16-13-8-5-4-5-6-17-30-55-86-97

16 weeks

Like a virgin:

48-38-21-11-3-1-1-1-1-1-1-7-9-17-28-43-61-76-100

19 weeks

Material girl:

43-34-24-18-5-3-2-2-3-5-13-23-37-50-60-91-100

17 weeks

Crazy for you:

55-42-32-20-9-4-3-2-2-2-1-2-6-13-22-30-46-60-76-84-91

21 weeks

Angel:

48-41-32-25-19-14-11-9-6-5-10-17-26-38-57-79-98

17 weeks

Dress you up:

36-31-23-17-14-10-6-5-10-14-28-41-56-68-84-100

16 weeks

Live to tell:

49-35-24-14-11-5-2-2-1-2-4-11-20-31-45-59-75-100

18 weeks

Papa don’t preach:

42-35-24-12-6-4-2-1-1-3-9-14-27-35-55-66-70-99

18 weeks

True blue:

40-32-20-13-6-5-3-3-3-12-22-39-57-57-72-90

16 weeks

Open your heart:

51-38-27-22-15-7-4-2-1-2-8-19-27-40-67-80-98

18 weeks

La isla bonita:

49-39-25-18-12-7-4-4-4-9-19-25-38-56-58-77-99

17 weeks

Who’s that girl?:

43-33-26-11-7-2-1-2-3-9-20-34-45-67-70-89

16 weeks

Causino a commotion:

41-33-23-14-11-5-2-2-2-8-20-32-47-58-73-97-97-98

18 weeks

Like a prayer:

38-25-11-5-3-1-1-1-2-10-18-31-41-56-73-98

16 weeks

Express yourself:

41-32-24-13-6-4-2-2-3-11-24-36-55-70-85-98

16 weeks

Cherish:

37-28-20-14-10-5-4-2-2-12-23-38-52-77-99

16 weeks

Oh father:

55-45-40-35-30-27-21-20-20-24-44-70-100

13 weeks

Keep it together:

56-41-34-28-23-20-15-9-8-17-29-49-83

13 weeks

Vogue:

39-28-12-4-2-1-1-1-2-5-6-14-20-23-33-40-50-56-58-59-67-67-76-100

24 weeks

Hanky panky:

40-34-25-17-10-13-24-43-68-83

11 weeks

Justify my love:

46-36-23-10-4-2-2-1-1-2-6-15-26-40-68-86

16 weeks

Rescue me:

15-14-11-9-16-28-59-90

8 weeks

This used to be my playground:

35-17-7-2-2-1-3-3-4-5-11-15-22-30-42-57-59-68-73-88

20 weeks

Erotica:

13-3-5-5-9-13-18-25-38-48-59-57-60-61-72-86-85-97

18 weeks

Deeper & deeper:

38-24-16-13-11-11-10-8-7-9-14-23-35-52-67-82-88

17 weeks

Bad girl:

75-60-49-43-39-36-39-58-72-83-97

11 weeks

Rain:

52-37-30-29-26-18-17-14-16-16-20-28-27-32-40-43-61-77-72-75

20 weeks

I’ll remember:

35-20-18-15-12-7-4-3-2-2-2-2-5-6-7-11-13-15-16-18-22-23-31-9-45-50

26 weeks

Secret:

30-9-4-4-3-5-6-6-6-7-7-9-12-15-15-18-26-31-26-31-36-40-42-50

22 weeks

Take a bow:

45-18-14-12-8-5-5-4-4-2-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-4-6-11-11-15-21-21-28-27-31-37-44-44

30 weeks

Bedtime story:

74-42-54-65-75-82-99

7 weeks

Human nature:

57-51-51-46-46-46-49-50-48-57-66-72-82-88-98

15 weeks

You’ll see:

8-6-9-11-12-11-10-8-11-18-19-23-27-40-49-54-57-63-64-78

20 weeks

Love don’t live here anymore:

91-87-79-79-78-89-91-100

8 weeks

You must love me:

22-18-18-21-24-30-28-24-23-27-28-33-32-40-45-49-60-68-76-81

20 weeks

Don’t cry for me Argentina:

17-8-9-10-13-26-31-41-53-68-73-85-91-89-93-98

16 weeks

Frozen:

8-5-2-3-4-4-5-9-11-14-15-16-18-22-40-40-44-54-62-56

20 weeks

Ray of light:

5-7-8-9-16-21-26-32-34-39-41-40-43-52-49-56-58-59-63-71

20 weeks

The power of goodbye:

24-16-14-13-14-13-11-30-30-31-41-43-44-54-70-78-81-88-96

19 weeks

Nothing really matters:

99-93

2 weeks

Beautiful stranger:

78-55-38-29-23-23-19-22-21-21-31-45-56-66-78-84-87-92-99

19 weeks

American pie:

43-35-29-29-33-32-40-58-88

9 weeks

Music:

41-23-18-14-2-1-1-1-1-2-2-2-2-2-4-8-11-16-20-25-27-27-29-44

24 weeks

Don’t tell me:

78-54-35-30-26-22-19-16-4-4-6-6-6-7-8-9-13-20-27-32-45

21 weeks

What it feels like for a girl:

73-46-23-23-23-31-43-67-83-97

10 weeks

Die another day:

41-28-18-8-8-10-10-14-16-21-35-46-57-79-83-93-98

17 weeks

American life:

90-74-67-37-52-71-71-86

8 weeks

Me against the music:

50-43-38-38-44-35-40-51-78-81-83-91-95

13 weeks

Hung up:

20-21-27-14-7-7-14-19-21-23-23-30-43-45-59-64-48-48-54-74

20 weeks

Sorry:

70-58-77-77-82

5 weeks

4 minutes:

68-3-3-7-6-4-6-7-7-8-10-10-15-22-28-31-44-54-60-69

20 weeks

Give it 2 me:

57

1 week

[EricMontreal22]

To be fair, the Superbowl is often lip synched--Madonna sings basically live at her tours (sometimes I wish she wouldn't) although she does re-record her vocals ioften for the DVD releases of the concerts. I dunno, normally I agree with you--but when I did see Britney (who I am not a huge fan of) last time because a friend was so into her, the lip synching really made the whole show so lifeless--but it's partly because Britney no longer gives her all to the dancing, she just sleepwalks around. I've also seen Janet Jackson who sings only the ballads live, but she did give a good performance.

On the other hand when I saw Kylie last year--who has worked hard to sing live 100%, her vocals were awesome and it didn't sacrifice from the movement (though she's not as much a dancer as Madonna is). While I'm excited to go to my fourth Madonna tour--I admit I wish she'd work with someone beside Jamie King for her concert, he's kinda tired now as her last tour and his work with Britney (and the dozens of other tours he does a year) proves--just like his Superbowl routine for her seemed to be inspired by Kylie's Gladiator themed tour he and Madonna saw three times.

And I admit I do think she overchanrges--her tours are amazing but she complains about how the front rows are always filled with bored middle aged fans who don't know her new material, as well as corporate tickets and not fans. If she charged a bit less, that could change. Her tours are expensive to sage but not nearly for what they charge--Kylie's last tour reportedly cost nearly twice as much as Sticky and Sweet (largely due to the fountain and waterworks) but tickets cost a third. But I guess if people are willing to pay, Madonna doesn't have to change that.

[Angela]

Thanks for the thoughts, gentlemen. I've been struggling with this. Almost everybody I've talked to has told me not to do the VIP and it was mostly a bad experience for them. I'm only 5'2 (on a good day). Even from the 25th row, I'm going to have issues.

I've been looking at videos on Youtube, and I love this seat here. I'd get the $275 VIP w/o a pause if they guaranteed me this seat on either side of the stadium. They don't tell you your seat, argh. I asked the person who posted the video what seat it is, hopefully they'll reply by Monday. I have 5 tickets already, 3 on the floor, at least one for each day. Most of them are going up for sale for close to face value since I no longer intend to use a seat that costs more than 300.00. Section 132 Row 18, which is a ticket I have, may be somewhere around this view but on the other side of the stadium. I'd say this video shows a Row 1-5 view too.

ETA:

I was watching the VH1 special. I had no idea Kylie did that Locomotion song, lol. Awesome.

Note to Madonna: People, in general, like your older songs more because THEY WERE BETTER than say Gang Bang. That's why you've had less Top 10s and #1s in the past decade.

I kind of like this type of performance, hopefully she goes more this way and less cheerleader-gladiator-MDNA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JvK3U2gpsQ

[EricMontreal22]

Why does that guy want projections in 3D? I don't want to have to wear 3D glasses at a live event. On the other hand I'd love if the BluRay DVD release of it later is in 3D--Kylie's made brilliant immersive use of the format.

[EricMontreal22]

I agree--the Confessions tour was really note perfect--it had the kinda stuff that clip shows, but the final act which was a huge disco mix of a number of her hits, was also a lot of fun. For Sticky and Sweet (granted I didn't like the album it supported as much) the costumes and "sets" seemed kinda cheap and tacky for Madonna and it just was a let down for me--obviously her shows are always great to see, even if it's disappointing, but I felt let down (I still bought the DVD though so I guess as much as I complain I'm too much of a fan). I have a good feeling this tour will be spectacular, she seems more into it again.

Funny that first video is kinda the equivalent seat I had for Confessions in San Jose-- I can't remember how much the tickets were--they were pricey but they seem to have gone up with each tour. We were on the floor for Sticky and Sweet which was a fun experience, but maybe I'm just getting old, I'm glad for this tour I'm back more around where I was for Confessions. Where would you be seeing her (sorry if you already mentioned)? One thing is I'm glad she's back in Vancouver doing an arena this time--last time she played a Stadium and most of my friends were ridiculously far away, and paid way too much for that--stadiums are simply too big for the style of theatrical concert Madonna does.

Angela -- that's BS about not getting to choose your seats for VIP. I guess I couldn't either--I don't know as it was all a surprise from my BF. One alternative which is actually how we got good tickets for Confessions (we missed the on sale day so got tickets a few months after they went on sale as we weren't sure if we could pay for the trip to California just to see her, but back then she seemed to completely avoid the Vancouver/Seattle era, something she's thankfully changed) is to buy them through ebay or other ticket brocker type sites. Often I wouldn't recommend that as I find it kinda unethical (although some people genuinely do buy their tickets and then sell them because they can't make it), but I know for Confessions we got ideal seats and, perhaps we just lucked out, only really ended up paying $40 dollars more , which for us was worth it. WIth your height I definitely would warn about being anywhere on the floor unless you're guaranteed very close to the catwalk and circle thing she has, or the stage. Sightlines on the ground otherwise tend to be crap with everyone standing, and no rake, though most arenas have a very decent rake angle for any seats not on the ground, so sightlines aren't usually a problem. Oh and stay away from those weird seats she always sells that are kinda in behind the stage--I guess it's obvious but it's really not a good angle to see the show.

[EricMontreal22]

I do think the rent-a-rapper thing is tired (i was hoping she had given that up with Hard Candy). I dunno, I think this time the video is actually poking fun at how people say she's age inappropriate--maybe I'm being unfair.

It's a cute song, love the 60s surf guitar, though I expected more from her working with French DJ Martin S (who did Hello with Dragonette which is everywhere now). As a lead single it's disappointing, as an album track it would be fine. Still, not to pick on you alphan, but this is not remotely "techno" it's probably one of her least techno singles since the mid 90s--maybe you meant something else?

[EricMontreal22]

I agree here. Confessions was exactly what she should have been doing I think--modern but slightly retro dance/pop. That's my main problem with Hard Candy (plus she usually works with producers who are up and comers--to jump on the Timbaland bandwagon after EVERYONE even Ashlee Simpson had worked with him and his sound was played out was embarassing as a fan), but you're right. Even though she might stand more of a chance with US radio now that thanks to Gaga and others dance music is FINALLY played on US radio (for a long time that stuff would only play in the UK and a bit in Canada), she's reached the period in her career of being an album artist. (As in the UK my fave Kylie seems to have just become, etc). Meaning the lead single usually does well--and she does seem to want to guarantee US play with hiring rent a rappers. But the followup singles make absolutely NO impact, though the album itself sells well. It's partly her fanbase being older, also enough people are fans that they pick up the album instead of downloading singles, etc.

That was again what horrified me about Hard Candy (also it seemed ironic that just as the US was moving more into dance/pop Madonna was channeling a year or two before doing a more urban sound--again behind the curve for once). I think it would be silly to complain that Madonna was still doing pop/dance based music--that's her thing, and comments on age appropriateness seem silly to me--but sometimes I worry about things that come off a bit desperate. I know Kylie, who's exactly ten years Madonna's junior is starting to get debates about it too--but as a fan I liek that she sticks to what she does best--but it's in details like Madonna collaborating with young stars (I also find it funny that for her last tour she cut the dancers age in the auditions at 25--I don't expect her to hire dancers her age, but umm maybe 30 or something would make it a bit less like grandma dancing with her grandkids ).

Yes although her tours have ALWAYS Been largely live, and since Drowned World have been almost completely live (obviously sometimes she has backing vocals pre recorded, etc). She works hard to do this--her live vocals aren't great (though they've improved), but I appreciate the effort--as I mentioned when these concerts are released to DVD she always sweetens and corrects the vocals, but that's fairly common on DVDs even by people who CAN sing. But yes a majority of her other performances are synched--sometimes this isn't her fault (for elaborate performances on tv, the kind she does, many shows ASK that you lip synch--the Superbowl included), but she's had some pretty dismal live performances on TV (I think one was Power of Goodbye at some awards show, it's hideous).

[EricMontreal22]

Except Kylie who is 100% live now (but spent ages studying voice in the later half of her career cuz the insults got to her personally), this is pretty much true. Especially people who dance (and Kylie dnaces but far less than Madonna/Britney/Janet). I'd say Gaga, love her or hate her, is primarily live too, but does use a combo for some of the more dance heavy tracks. Of course then there are the dance/pop divas going all the way back to Donna Summer,and including Whitney, Mariah, etc who DO sing live--their voice is their appeal--but they just stand perfectly still, maybe shaking back and forth or a few basic steps while others dance around them.

You obviously didn't see the concert I saw in Vancouver (Of course this was the infamous one where she left us stranded for ages due to apparently smelling pot smoke, maybe she wasn't on her best )

I mainly agree though sometimes I find the "well they're dancing!" excuse annoying. Look at Broadway--you have people paid next to nothing to be in the chorus of a show like Chicago, 8 times a week, where they are virtually on stage throughout and doing a LOT of dancing while singing. They somehow manage it.

[EricMontreal22]

Well internationally Kylie's shows have begun to be regarded as up there with Madonna in terms of staging (their last two tours, individually clearly showed Kylie at the top). She's helped by the use of William Baker as her director main designer, and also using choreographers who aren't as commonly used by others. Even though I saw the paired down for the smaller American theatres version of Kylie's last tour, it really was mindblowingly done--and all live--and cost a tiny fraction of what most of these people charge.

That's one reason I want Madonna to work with someone else (it's too bad she's estranged from her brother--even though he deserves it--because when he helped design and direct her Blond Ambition and Girlie Show tours they really were groundbreaking and I'd like to see if he could come up with anything new). Jamie King is played out--he peaked with Madonna at Confessions, but now EVERYONE uses him, I actually think he's at his best when he choreographs, but he does so many tours at once now that he hasn't done the majority of Madonna's tour choreography since Drowned World. I do think Britney was smart to use him again for The Circus which was a lot better than some of her recent tours like the thematically muddled Onyx Hotel one (what was with that scary host?!) and I will say that her Femme Fatale tour visually and thematically was really well handled--it was just her extreme lack of enthusiasm, I felt robbed paying so much to see someone who didn't sing (except one song), barely danced full out, and seemed not to want to be there. I mean this is in about the past 13 years and doesn't include all his TV and video work (he used to do many of the best Madonna videos--Human Nature, Don't Tell Me, but lately has been underwhelming with 4 Minutes and Sorry--I am glad that with this new video Madonna seems to realize that videos, thanks to Gaga and crew, are starting to be more important again--for a while she seemed to have given up and she used to do the best ones)

Madonna - 2012 Superbowl Halftime Show

Cirque Du Soleil - Michael Jackson

| Immortal 2011

Rihanna

| Loud 2011

Britney Spears

| Femme Fatal Tour 2011

Britney Spears

| Circus World Tour 2009

Madonna

| Sticky And Sweet World Tour 2008

Avril Lavigne

| Best Damn Tour World Tour 2008

Celine Dion

| Taking Chances World Tour 2008

Spice Girls

| Return Of The Spice Girls Tour 2008

Ricky Martin

| Black & White Tour 2007

Madonna

| Confessions World Tour 2006

Christina Augilera

| Back To Basics World Tour 2006

Rain

| Rain’s Back World Tour 2006

Mariah Carey

| MW VMA Performance 2006

Shakira

| MTV VMA Performance 2006

Madonna

| Re-Invention Tour 2004

Paulina Rubio

| Pau-Latina Tour 2004

Pink

| Try This Tour 2004

Christina Aguilera

| Stripped Tour 2003

Ricky Martin

| The Queen’s Jubilee

Madonna

| Drowned World Tour 2001

Storm

| Mandalay Bay-Las Vegas

Madonna

| Rock N Roll Circus Promo Tour

Ricky Martin

| She Bangs 2000 Promo Tour

Britney Spears

| Oops I Did It Again World Tour

Dreams Come True

| Winter Wonderland 2000 Tour

Ricky Martin

| Livin’ La Vida Loca World Tour

[EricMontreal22]

Actually a ton of 60s pop (girl groups especially and some Motown) was infamously lip synched live.

[EricMontreal22]

I don't want to turn this into a Gaga vs Madonna debate (both are my girls, though my heart is more with Madonna since I've been collecting all her singles and alb ums from the age of 12 or so--I'm annoyed Give Me All Of Your Luv will be the first time she doesn't have a physical CD single--and I prefer Kylie and Mylene Farmer, not to mentiun Donna Summer, to either anyway) but this article, while it raises good points for *now* conveniently seems to forget some of Madonna's tiresome, pretentious periods of the past. I don't mean her more adult contemporary ballads (I love the Something to Remember collection), but rather when she was her most insistant on playing the guita, and not too well, or other way too serious endeavours.

[Huntress]

"Give Me All Your Luvin'" entered the German Single charts at #8 this week. This is Madonna's 25th Top 10 single on that chart.

Her most successful songs over here were:

• #10 - Justify My Love (1990)
  
• #10 - American Life (2003)
  
• #9 - Holiday (1983)
  
• #8 - Give It 2 Me (2008)
  
• #8 - GIve Me All Your Luvin' (2012)
  
• #6 - True Blue (1986)
  
• #6 - This Used to Be My Playground (1992)
  
• #5 - Me Against the Music (2003)
  
• #5 - Sorry (2006)
  
• #5 - Celebration (2009)
  
• #4 - Like A Virgin (1984)
  
• #4 - Vogue (1990)
  
• #4 - The Power of Goodbye (1998)
  
• #4 - Die Another Day (2002)
  
• #3 - Into the Groove (1985)
  
• #3 - Express Yourself (1989)
  
• #3 - Don't Cry For Me, Argentina (1996)
  
• #2 - Papa Don't Preach (1986)
  
• #2 - Who's That Girl (1987)
  
• #2 - Like a Prayer (1989)
  
• #2 - Frozen (1998)
  
• #2 - Music (2000)
  
• #1 - La Isla Bonita (1987)
  
• #1 - American Pie (2000)
  
• #1 - Hung Up (2005)
  
• #1 - 4 Minutes (2008)
  
  Her least successful era over here was the mid-90s.
  
  So far, 59 of Madonna's songs have charted. Her lowest peak position was #78 for "You Must Love Me". All other songs at least reached the Top50.
  
  With 4 #1 singles, Madonna is placed at a tied #8 in the "Who had the most #1 singles?" list.

  • #1 The Beatles (11)
    
  • #2 Freddy Quinn (10)
    
  • #3 ABBA (9)
    
  • #4 The Sweet / Boney M. (8)
    
  • #5 Peter Alexander (7)
    
  • #6 Caterina Valente / The Rolling Stones (6)
    
  • #7 Modern Talking / Sarah Connor (5)
    
  • #8 The Bee Gees / The Pet Shop Boys / Falco / Madonna / Tokio Hotel / No Angels / Shakira / The Black Eyed Peas / Lady GaGa / Rihanna (4)
    
  • #9 Whitney Houston / Cliff Richard / Xavier Naidoo / Robbie Williams / DJ Ötzi / Rednex / Smokie / Frankie Goes to Hollywood / Eminem / Timbaland / Herbert Grönemeyer / Mark Medlock (3)
    
  • #10 Kylie Minogue / Michael Jackson / Britney Spears / Depeche Mode / Aura Dione (2)
    

[Angela]

I'm in love with the Atlantic City venue. It's small enough that there will be an adequate view almost anywhere. Stadium view is on the suckish side no matter where you are but it would be more of an experience, and not to mention easier, to do this event in New York. Hmm, choices...

[JackPeyton]

isnt her new song not doing that great on radio?

[Angela]

It's flopping in the United Kingdom. It's doing fine in the United States, #10 on the Hot 100.