“Living For Love” Video Backstage Caps

Madonna’s Backup Dancers At The Grammy’s Rehearsals

“Reber Heart” Super Deluxe Cover

A Big Jump For Madonna On ITunes After The Grammys

As Hardeep Phull of the New York Post notes, Madonna proved to everyone at the Grammy Awards why she’s still the Queen of Pop.

“The 56-year-old dispatched with the shock tactics for once, choosing instead to lead a vibrant, Matador-themed production, complete with dancers wearing bullhorns. The gospel-influenced dance track also happens to be her best in years, a fact that was reflected in the way the buttoned-up music industry crowd inside the Staples Center danced with something approaching pleasure.”

Within hours of Madonna performing Rebel Heart’s first single, “Living for Love” went from nowhere to No. 39 on iTunes. Even better, the pre-order of Rebel Heart went from nowhere to No. 29 on iTunes. Both Madonna’s single and album should rise even higher as the day goes on. “Living for Love” was thought to be dead, but it is now back on life support. Madonna recently spoke to Billboard about “Living for Love” and the rumor it had 20 incarnations.

“20 might be a little too high. But definitely more than 10. A lot of different versions. We knew we wanted to make a dance record. But you know, there’s so many different levels of dance music and even different categories of house music. So, it was really like, what’s the bass line gonna sound like? Is it gonna be really stripped down and sparse, or is it going to be loaded up?”

Madonna Performed “Living For Love” At The Grammys

Madonna performed “Living for Love” — the inaugural single from her forthcoming album, “Rebel Heart” — for the first time at the Grammys on Sunday. Dressed like a matador and surrounded by topless men wearing bull masks, the iconic singer asked the audience to rise to its feet before exiting the stage through the ceiling.

Madonna was introduced by Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus, who chose the wise words “Let’s give it up for our bitch, Madonna! She made me call her that…” to do so.

Prior to taking the stage, the icon mooned the red carpet attendees.

The 56-year-old singer rushed to release “Living for Love,” along with five other tracks from “Rebel Heart,” in an official capacity after unfinished versions of two other tracks leaked in late November. Madonna hadn’t yet announced the album’s title or release plans when the initial leaks occurred, but she’s since set March 10 as the drop date. The song’s video, in which Madonna portrays a matador fighting off an army of men dressed as bulls, premiered last week.

Madonna confirmed via Instagram that she will also perform at the BRIT Awards on Feb. 25, three days after “Living for Love” is slated for release in the U.K.

This marks the second consecutive year Madonna has performed on the Grammy stage. In 2014, she joined Macklemore, Ryan Lewis and Mary Lambert to sing “Same Love” while a few dozen weddings took place on the telecast.

Riccardo Tisci and B. Akerlund on Madonna’s Grammy Outfits

During a mostly dull Grammy awards, Madonna provided a ray of high-fashion light. We have designer Riccardo Tisci and stylist B. Akerlund to thank. Tisci collaborated with Akerlund and Madonna on two custom Givenchy Haute Couture looks —a pastel and black corset dress for the red carpet and a crimson leotard, jacket, and cape for the stage— that brought something extra to the ceremony in a way only Madonna can.

“Madonna is a real life friend and working with her is always effortless, like collaborating with family,” Tisci explained. “We created a Matador inspired set of Haute Couture pieces to match her theme of “Living for Love.” I loved the idea of her as this Givenchy warrior in full Couture embroidery and color blocking.” Tisci’s creations took 50 people 2500 hours of hand-beading the couture tradition, according to Akerlund, but it was worth it. “M is famous for knowing how to take a risk in multiple fields at the same time, and as usual, we all saw how it pays off,” Tisci said of the performance.

“Me and Madonna love collaborating with [Givenchy] because we did the Super Bowl together, and we thought that it would be perfect to call Riccardo again,” Akerlund told Style.com. “They’re really good friends and we thought he’d be perfect to do the iconic [Matador look], and we wanted him both for the performance and the red carpet to do the theme.” The matador inspiration is a continuation from Madonna’s “Living for Love” video, and although toreadors appeared on the Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2015 runway and in Madge’s 1994 “Take a Bow” video, Akerlund wasn’t looking to current or past events for inspiration. “I think the whole relationship between the matador and the bulls is something that we find a beautiful relationship, and [we] played with that—how she’s killing off the bulls and she’s the matador standing in the end. There’s a beautiful story for why the matadors fight the bulls and that also reflects life.”

In addition to Givenchy, Madonna wore Miu Miu shoes, Lynn Ban earrings, and rings by Loree Rodkin and Elise Dray to perform and earrings and ring cuff by Yeprem and rings by Lyn Bann on the red carpet. Akerlund explained that even with shimmering Givenchy couture, there’s no such thing as too much sparkle for the Queen of Pop. “I love bling, so we always have lots of bling up to the last minute. I always like to do bling last because it’s hard to predict what might work for the performance and what she can dance with and all those things factor in the decision making of adding jewelry— everything goes down to the performance, if it works or not.”

Madonna’s team and the Givenchy team had been working together on the Grammy looks since Christmastime—“We and the Givenchy team are closely married,” admitted Akerlund of the process—and though they had other options for the night, the choice to go with Givenchy was clear. “It’s a gut feeling. I always go with my gut. I like it, she likes it. If I don’t like it she doesn’t like it. That’s how I weigh it. I’ve worked with her for like nine years now, so I feel like I understand what she likes and it goes along with my personal taste and what I like,” said Aklerund. “We’re definitely in a matador world,” the stylist proclaimed, “and we’re owning it.”

Grammys 2015: Madonna Shows Off Her Butt on the Red Carpet

Grammy 2015, Backstage

Madonna needing help out of her boots during a backstage costume change at the Grammy Awards.

Madonna and Lil Buck with the dancers backstage at the Grammy Awards.

Miley And Madonna!

Madonna and Taylor

The Grammy Awards posted this picture of the seating plan for the show on Sunday!

Diplo and Madonna

Madonna and Nas

Ariana Grande and Madonna

Madonna Is In Charge! See All the Matador-Inspired Outfits in Her “Living for Love” Music Video

When the Queen of Pop drops a new music video, you pay attention. Leave it up to Madonna, who cemented herself as an industry trailblazer long ago, to be the first artist ever to debut a new video on Snapchat. The singer took to the photo sharing app on Thursday to premiere her newest music video for “Living for Love” from her forthcoming album Rebel Heart, and it’s just as good as you could’ve expected.

The video is a cross between a Spanish bullfighting rink and a club, with Madge dressed in an array of matador-inspired ensembles. The singer spends almost the entirety of the video dancing in the middle of a ring of male dancers dressed as bulls, whom she proceeds to spar against. And while we were completely transfixed by her killer moves and insane physique (can you believe she’s 56?), we were equally in awe of her outfits. We’re breaking down every glorious ensemble here:

“Living for Love” opens with Madonna outfitted in black capri-length pants paired with pink socks, a white button-down, black corset, black necktie, and burgundy velvet jacket (top). She then takes her jacket off to reveal elbow-length black lace gloves while adding a black hat to the mix.

The singer soon swaps her deep red jacket for an intricately beaded number while keeping the rest of her ensemble the same.

While brandishing a red matador’s cape, the Queen of Pop dons an ultra-sexy black lace corset with crystal and rose detailing from The Blonds’ spring/summer 2015 collection paired with black elbow-length gloves.

For her final outfit change, Madge wears another corset, this time a custom nude satin one covered in three types of lace worn with a black chiffon silk top and satin tie by Shady Zeineldine while dancing with her bulls.

 

Madonna Hits The Gym Before The Grammys

Madonna looks like she just rolled out of bed as she leaves a dance studio in Beverly Hills on Thursday.

Nico Archambault On Living For Love Video, The Grammys (January 30, 2015)

Dancer and choreographer Nico Archambault was interviewed by Canadian newspaper Journal de Montreal and revealed that he took part to the filming of the Living For Love video and was invited to be part of the Grammys performance  in Los Angeles on February 8.

Nico told the newspaper how he was approached for the job by his friend choreographer Megan Lawson from Fanny Pack, who previously contributed to Madonna’s MDNA tour. And when Madonna calls, you would never say no, so Nico headed to New York in early January with a one day notice, in the middle of a snowstorm and no information at all on the project.

He eventually made it, and rehearsals started immediately. “Madonna attended the rehearsals every day,” he says. “She is very impressive, especially in terms of her physical shape. She does not do things by halves”.

About the video shoot, which took place over two days, Nico also told the Journal: “You can feel she is in control of everything that is happening, and she’s the one to have the last word. If she’s not satisfied, she is not afraid to set aside an idea or a concept and start over.”

"Tous les jours, Madonna assistait aux répétitions. Elle est très impressionnante, surtout au niveau de sa forme physique. Elle ne fait pas les choses à moitié. On sent qu’elle est en contrôle de tout ce qui se passe, que c’est elle qui a le dernier mot. Si elle n’est pas satisfaite, elle n’a pas peur de mettre de côté une idée ou un concept et de recommencer à zéro".

Nico is now heading to California where rehearsals for the Grammys to begin on Sunday. “That’s the only thing I’m sure about. Then, we’ll be rehearsing from six to twelve hours a day, depending on how things will progress.”

Madonna’s “Rebel Heart” Standard Edition Track Listing Revealed.

Few minutes ago iTunes revealed the 14 tracks that will make the Standard Edition of Madonna‘s Rebel Heart. Also Amazon France made it available for pre-order.

01. Living for love
02. Devil pray
03. Ghosttown
04. Unapologetic bitch
05. Illuminati
06. Bitch I’m madonna
07. Hold tight
08. Joan of Arc
09. Iconic
10. Heartbreakcity
11. Body Shop
12. Holy water
13. Inside out
14. Wash all over me

Madonna Interview With NRJ

French number one Radio NRJ aired an exclusive interview with Madonna.

NRJ: Can you talk about your new hit Living For Love? By the way, for the video you worked with a French team who collaborated with Christine and The Queens.
Madonna: Yeah yeah, she’s great, I love her music. It’s a song having your heart broken but it’s about saying you know what I’m going to my life goes on, I will carry on, I won’t stop believing in love, I’ll pick up my crown, put it back on my head and I will walk through life proudly believing that love, true love does exist. (probably the video was directed by the French duo J.A.C.K.. They directed the video Saint Claude for Christine and The Queens)

NRJ: For this new album you worked together again with Nicki Minaj. How was collaborating with her?
M: When we work together she always comes and we sit down and she listens to the song and she says ‘Ok, tell me what is you trying to say with this song’ and you know, we just talk, we share ideas about what the song’s about and then she goes home, she thinks about it, and I know she can relay to being a strong woman who has to fight for what she does, for what she believes in, and she’s too often provocative and you know to be a successful female rapper, the rap world is really male dominated, so I respect her I think that we have a synergy when we work together.

NRJ: You worked with Avicii as well… Was it your idea to work with?
M: It was my manager’s idea that I should work with his team. I was a big fan of a few of his songs that were on the radio and I wanted to work with the team of people that he has, the team of writers that he works with, so I mean I did and it turned out really good.

NRJ: What about a collaboration with Stromae that you met few months ago?
M: I actually met him about 4 years ago and we talked about working together and then we saw each other, he came to my house a couple of months ago before Christmas and we talked about working together, so maybe one day, I like him.


NRJ: Is “Rebel Heart” an autobiographical album?
M: It’s hard to qualify or quantify how much autobiographical and how is fiction because for me when I write I’m coming from sometimes a very personal place, sometimes it’s partly made up and partly my own experience but then things get all mixed into one big part and I don’t know the difference between art and life or fiction and non fiction but it’s all coming from… I’m just channeling the information so it’s my personal experience, other people personal experiences and I just put it all together to tell a story.

NRJ: Your new album is called “Rebel Heart”. Is it important for you to be rebellious?
M: We live in a time when artists aren’t encouraged to be rebellious, we don’t live, we don’t encourage the artists of today to speak their mind, to express their opinions, to think outside the box, to take risks, so I think it’s important to call attention to the idea that being rebellious is part of art, an important part of it, and… I don’t know I just wanted to underline it. But it is also important to add the word Heart because it’s not just being rebellious for the sake of being rebellious, I think it’s also important to let people know that love… I do a lot of my rebellion.

NRJ: You are an expert of provocating. Is it also part of being rebellious?
M: Not necessarily, it does necessarily mean the same thing, you could be rebellious against something, some kind of oppression, or discrimination, or prejudices, but you wouldn’t necessarily being provocative, you know, you could also be provocative without being rebellious. So, they can cross of course and being the same but their not necessarily the same.

NRJ: Have you already thought about the next tour?
M: I have some ideas, yes, but I’ve been very focused on finishing my record, doing the first video, preparing for the Grammys and I only in the back of my mind is what I’m gonna do on my tour, not yet.

Madonna Bautiza A Taylor Swift Como Nueva Princesa del Pop (28/01/2015)

Lo que podríamos llamar 'la realeza de la música' es, probablemente, uno de los temas más controvertidos entre los fans. Durante décadas la música ha estado dominada por dos figuras casi inalcanzables: Michael Jackson, el rey del Pop, y Madonna, la reina del Pop. Pero la 'línea de sucesión' musical no está tan clara. Hasta ahora parecía que Britney Spears recogería el testigo de la Ciccone pero ésta, ni corta ni perezosa, ha decidido nombrar a su 'heredera'.

En una entrevista con Network Nine's Today Show, Madonna no ha dudado en hablar de Taylor Swift como la nueva princesa del género: "Hay un montón de bonitas princesas por ahí pero a mí me gusta Taylor Swift. Creo que escribe canciones pop muy pegadizas que no me puedo sacar de la cabeza". Este nombramiento puede ser, sin embargo, un arma de doble filo ya que hay otras grandes divas de la música que estarían encantadas de recoger el trono. ¿Qué opinarán Britney Spears, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga o Beyoncé sobre esto?

La reacción de Taylor Swift no se ha hecho esperar. Un sincero "Gracias. Me muero" a través de su Tumblr personal ha sido la respuesta a semejante halago de la Reina del Pop. Hay que recordar que 1989, el más reciente proyecto discográfico de la cantante ha superado en Estados Unidos los 4 millones de discos vendidos convirtiéndose en el álbum más vendido del 2014. Red, su disco de 2012, también tuvo unas cifras de ventas espectaculares. Quizá Madonna no vaya tan desencaminada...

Madonna: Getting High Isn't For Me

Madonna has told how she never got into drugs - because they 'destroyed' her for 'days and days'.

The singer said that although she tried various substances, she didn't feel happy taking them because she wanted to look after her body.

The star, 56, told Mojo magazine: 'My problem is I don't have the stamina to take drugs. I feel terrible afterwards. I'm destroyed for days and days. I can't do anything and I don't want that inconvenience in my life. So I don't feel it's worth the price you have to pay,' she said.

'Even when I was younger and in my 20s, trying this and that....I mean, I never really did that many drugs,' she told the mag.

'I'm too big of a p***y. Also, I'm a dancer and I don't want to destroy my body. I want to feel physically good. So it never came naturally to me to get out of my brains or get so high that I couldn't get out of bed for three days. And that's what happened to me if I did anything.'

Madonna Misses Her Daughter

Madonna felt like she losing her arm when her eldest daughter started university.

The 56-year-old singer admits she found it very difficult when Lourdes Leon, 18, moved out of their New York City home to attend the University of Michigan last year.

The 'Living For Love' hitmaker said: 'It's hard letting them go out into the world but when she left home to go to college I was a mess. It was really hard letting her go.'

The star, who also has son Rocco, 14, and adopted children David and Mercy, both nine, is glad that the teenager is attending her alma-mater, but still misses her.

She told Australia's 'Today Show': 'I've come to terms with it, but yes I miss her and she's a part of me, it was like losing my arm.'

Lourdes, whose father is personal trainer Carlos Leon, is pursuing a bachelor's degree of fine arts in drama and theatre, and is taking classes in a range of art forms and creative practices, from animation to traditional acting skills.

Her famous mother attended the same university in the 1970s, but dropped out before receiving her degree to pursue a career in music.

Liz Smith: "Living for Love" Video Shot In Brooklyn (27 January 2015)

Madonna just shot a video for the first single from her ‘Rebel Heart’ album. It’s 'Living for Love' and we did it in Brooklyn. Lots of gorgeous men and incredible dancing and she looked very sexy. But I think the most important thing was how much fun she was having!

MOJO Magazine

Madonna's Statement On Arrest Of Hacker

Madonna posted this statement on her facebook page following on from the arrest of the hacker earlier this week:

 'I am profoundly grateful to the FBI, the Israeli Police investigators and anyone else who helped lead to the arrest of this hacker. I deeply appreciate my fans who have provided us with pertinent information and continue to do so regarding leaks of my music. Like any citizen, I have the right to privacy. This invasion into my life - creatively, professionally, and personally remains a deeply devastating and hurtful experience, as it must be for all artists who are victims of this type of crime.'

'The end of Privacy is not something any of us are ready for! #livingforlove'

Madonna Reveals How Kanye West "Pushes The Envelope"

Madonna has opened up for the first time about her expansive career in the music industry as she reveals all in the latest issue of MOJO magazine.

Her 13th album, 'Rebel Heart', features a number of collaborators including Kanye West, who Madge had only kind words to speak of.

'I like that he likes to push the envelope.' Madonna told MOJO. 'He hears music in a different and unique way.'

She went on to add: 'I think Diplo’s the same. I like people who think outside the box ‘cos they take a song I’ve written that’s quite straightforward and pop and deconstruct it. Rip it apart and turn it into something else.'

As for how she started making her own music and who she was inspired by, it's all down to her love of dancing.

'All my friends were DJs so I wanted my records to sound like what I wanted to dance to,' Madonna told MOJO.

'I would go to clubs and I would listen to what would make me dance. And then I would go back and I would work on my music,' she said.

'I mean, I was influenced by Debbie Harry, Talking Heads, The B-52’s. So to me the line was very blurred between what I was working on and what I was dancing to.'

Israeli man arrested over Madonna hack (21 January 2015)

An Israeli man has been arrested on suspicion of hacking into the computers of pop stars including Madonna and selling unreleased songs online.

 Israeli police said the man was suspected of stealing work from several unnamed international stars.

 A private investigator connected to the case confirmed Madonna was among them.

 The pop star rush-released a number of new songs last month after demos and unfinished mixes from her new album Rebel Heart made their way online.

 Madonna called the leak 'a form of terrorism.'

 Her manager Guy Oseary said the 'devastating' action had prompted the surprise release of six songs from Rebel Heart in December, months earlier than planned.

 Asher Wizman, the owner of a private investigation firm in Israel, told the Reuters news agency he was contacted by Madonna's team several weeks ago after rumours of an Israeli connection to the leak.

 'Our investigator found her computers, at home and at a studio, were broken into from a computer in Israel,' he told Reuters.

 'We tracked down the computer, and the man behind it. After gathering enough evidence, we turned to the police and he was arrested today.'

 Police did not immediately name the 39-year-old man, although local reports identified him as a former contestant on one of Israel's TV talent shows.

 'He is suspected of computer hacking, copyright violation and fraudulent receipt of goods,' a police spokesman said.

 'During the investigation it appeared the suspect had broken into the computers of a number of international artists, stole unreleased demos and final tracks and sold them over the internet.'

 The arrest in Israel comes a day after Bjork was forced to release her new album Vulnicura two months ahead of schedule after it leaked over the weekend.