MADONNA feb/march NEWS

Madonna did not attend the Oscars this year but she did appear at the Vanity Fair afterparty with Maverick's Guy Oesary and her brother Christopher.

ICON reports that this Christmas, a new best-of collection MIGHT be MAYBE released. I think instead of a follow-up to THE IMMACULATE COLLECTION it should be a remix album like YOU CAN DANCE, but what the hell do I know? Also, Madonna may contribute a song for the upcoming film: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

Madonna will be interviewed on CBS' 60 Minutes II on an unspecified date in April, ICON says so coincide with the beginning of production for The Next Best Thing. Sure to be absolutely facinating though, whenever its on!

Madonna is reportedly preparing to do a duet with Latin sensation Ricky Martin, whom she cuddled with for cameras at the Grammys after he took Best Latin Pop Performance.


Nothing Really Matters is all over radio (request request) with a maxi single set to be released on March 30 with the following OFFICIAL track listing:



Club 69 Vocal Club Mix*
Album Version
Club 69 Future Mix*
Club 69 Radio Mix*
Club 69 Phunk Mix*
Vikram Radio Remix**
Club 69 Future Dub*
Kruder And Dorfmeister Remix+
There is a 12' double vinyl maxi available now with the same listings!

Madonna won the Edison Award (Dutch Grammy) for Best International Singer.

The stunning gown Madonna wore to last years Oscars is being auctioned at Christie's with proceeds going to AIDS research.

TOUR CANCELLED!!! The 1999 fall world tour planned has once again been cancelled. A small group of fans have begun a (probally futile) attempt at a letter writing campaign but chances are that some e-mails aren't going to change any minds.

Madonna wins 4 Grammy Awards!
Madonna opened the 41st anual Grammy Awards in a flame red kimono, performing Nothing Really Matters, the #1 dance song in America this week! She then went on to win Best Album Packaging, Best Short Form Video (Ray Of Light), Best Dance Track (Ray Of Light) and of course, Best Pop Album (RAY OF LIGHT). A great night for the self proclaimed "Susan Lucci of the Grammys".

The amazing new video for the brand new single Nothing Really Matters is all over TV this weekend. Its a brilliant video filled with imaginative imagery based on the novel Memoirs Of A Geisha, a truly great novel you should all read by Arthur Goldman.

FROM DAILY VARIETY:

WB buys 'Ton 80' spec for Madonna

By MICHAEL FLEMING, Daily Variety February 10, 1999
NEW YORK _ Warner Bros. has paid six figures for the spec script "Ton 80," with Madonna attached to star and produce under her Madguy banner.
The script, by Gotham-based legit exec-turned-screenwriter Andrew Fishman, is a romantic comedy that calls for Madonna to play a cynical tabloid TV reporter assigned to find, and divulge the identity of, a reclusive female self-help author.
She makes the discovery that will put her career on the map when she finds the author is actually a gruff, handsome, dysfunctional man who hardly takes his life lessons to heart. Trouble is, the reporter falls in love with him. Since she is seeking fame as hard as the man is trying to escape it, she must decide whether to sell him out for her own glory or not.
The title comes from the game of darts, and refers to the highest possible score of a triple 20. Don't be surprised if the film gets a title makeover by the time it's ready to be made into a film. Fishman and Madonna are repped by CAA.
Madonna is managed for film by Carisse Norman.



Madonna, Sharon Stone, Tom Hanks and Lauren Hill are on the cover of the March issue of Esquire for a special on the AIDS epidemic. Madonna has been personally touched by the disease through the deaths of some of her closest friends and she has raised awareness and money for the cause for her entire career. She will be in New York on February 10 for the unvieling of the cover.

RAY OF LIGHT has shipped 11 million copies worldwide!

new-
Nothing Really Matters is set to be the next world-wide single with the following OFFICIAL track listing:

CD Maxi - UPC #9362-44620-2
LP Version 4:27
Club 69 Radio Mix 3:45
Club 69 Vocal Club Mix 7:38
Kruder & Dorfmeister Mix 11:04

CD Maxi - UPC #9362-44621-2
LP Version 4:27
Club 69 Radio Mix 3:45
Kruder & Dorfmeister Mix 11:04

CD Maxi - UPC #9362-44622-2
Club 69 Future Mix 8:33
Club 69 Phunk Mix 8:00
Vikram Remix 8:37
Club 69 Mix Show Mix 5:40

CD Maxi - UPC #9362-44623-2
Club 69 Radio Mix 3:45
Club 69 Future Mix 8:33
Club 69 Future Dub 5:48

Why does there have to be four different maxi singles? The Human Nature maxi had nine tracks! Oh well, I guess we'll have to crack the wallets a little. Who knows if Drowned World is going to see an American release. Probably not. International commercial release date is tentatively set for late February or early March. Filming occured in New York City on Saturday, January 9, for the video directed by Johan Renck, a protégé of director Jonas Akerlund (Ray Of Light). ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT featured a behind the scenes look at the video of February 5. It features Madonna in a blood red kimono with some facinating new dance moves. There was also a fleeting glimpse of her in a black kimono with red make-up over her eyes, apparently as the diva geisha Hatsumomo from the novel Memoirs of A Geisha. She discussed the video, her new look, Lourdes' love of the computer and her new movie project: The Next Best Thing with Rupert Everett as her gay best friend with whom she has a child. She said: "I really love the relationship [in the script]. I mean, lets face it, I'm a big old fag hag!" ET will have more looks at the video on February 11. The video is set to debut in Germany on the music channel VIVA between 15:00h and 17:00h central European time during the Interaktiv show.
As you probably noticed, the cover art is from the Arena magazine photo shoot.

Madonna will NOT direct the video for Cher's "Dov'e L'Amore". She told ET: "I'm too busy."

new- The NRJ Radio Award ceremony take place on February 8 in Sweden where they have voted Madonna "Female Artist Of The Year."

new- The award ceremony for the Dansk Grammy 1999 Awards, which is compared to being equivalent to the American Grammy awards (the voting body are a professional comittee consisting of radio and media people and professional musicians), will broadcast live on National TV1 from Tivoli's concert hall in Copenhagen from 7:30 pm - 10:40 pm on February 6. Madonna has won both of the categories she is nominated in: "Female Artist of the Year" and "Album of the Year." The awards just keep pouring in from all over the world for this amazing album!

new- Sony Signatures has announced an exclusive licencing and merchandising deal with Madonna that will include giving Sony Signatures exclusive retail licensing and tour merchandising rights, as well as the right to develop promotional, endorsement and sponsorship partners, for Madonna. Sony Signatures will be seeking licensing and marketing opportunities for Madonna, especially in the areas of fashion apparel,fragrances, cosmetics, accessories and collectibles.

On February 14, the Brit Awards will take place where Madonna is nominated for "Best International Female Artist". She will not attend.

Madonna has confirmed that she will open the Grammy's with Nothing Really Matters. More Grammy info below.

Madonna is on the cover of February's issue of Harper's Bazaar, availible now! It is absolutely stunning, with photos by Patrick Demarchelier and is wearing designs by Blond Ambition designer Jean-Paul Gaultier. The look is the same as for the video of Nothing Really Matters. Pictures of Larry King from The Singapore Madonna Link

On Monday, January 18, Madonna chatted with Larry King on CNN for the full hour! Highlights coming really soon.

It looks like my prayers have been answered: Victor Calderone, the great remixer behind the Ray Of Light and Frozen remixes is doing his magic on Skin, and says that it will be the fifth single, once Nothing Really Matters has run its course.

Madonna donated her handwritten Little Star lyrics to a charity auction project called "Hits Under The Hammer" which raises money for two children's charities, Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy and Norwood Ravenswood. As soon as bidding information is available I'll post it!.

GRAMMY NOMINATIONS:
MADONNA HITS CAREER HIGH WITH 6
Women take command of 41st Annual GRAMMY Nominations as Rapper/Singer Lauryn Hill separates from pack with 10 nominations, followed by Sheryl Crow and Shania Twain (BOOOOOO!) with six each,
Madonna (and RAY OF LIGHT) with six
and Celine Dion (BOOOOOO!) and Brandy (BOOOOOO!) with four.

Madonna's nominations, her most ever, are in the following catagories:
Record Of The Year
Album Of The Year
Best Pop Album
Best Dance Recording
Best Shortform Music Video
Best Recording Package

To see who else is nominated in these catagories with Madonna and to read my early predictions click here
The awards are held on February 24. Madonna will open the show with Niki Harris and Donna Delroy, her back-up singers from the last three tours. The only song that Niki and Donna sing back-up on RAY OF LIGHT is Nothing Really Matters, although on Larry King he said that she would open with Ray Of Light. Rosie O'Donnnell is hosting the show.

Congrats to the Grammys for finally giving the Queen of Pop her due. Its about time!



On March 4 the Edison Awards (Holland's Grammy) are set to air. Madonna is nominated for Best International Singer.

Its official: a fall tour stopping in 15 American performances (cross your fingers) and 25 International dates. This will be her first tour since 1993's classic: The Girlie Show

Despite what has been reported, Rosie O'Donnell will not be buying Madonna's Miami home

The Next Best Thing, a romantic comedy-drama with Rupert Everett is set to film in mid 1999. This spring, Madonna will also produce Ghetto Superstar starring Pras and Lauren Hill. She also may contribute a song to the soundtrack (rumour).



[January 1999 news and 1998 Year End Wrap-Up][albums index][Index][The Best (and worst Of Madonna]