Women Who Rock Magazine celebrates 50 Essentials....the Women who rocked the world!
On the cover, of course, is the ever-intriguing and utterly fabulous Madonna. So who else made the cut? Find out in this Special Collector's Edition which hits newstands in the USA on 08 July 2003.

Madonnalicious brings you the 'missing' songs from the HMV Oxford Street concert.
These four songs have not been heard online before and were not broadcast during the Radio One show about the concert.

You can now download all the songs featured in the HMV performance, American Life, Hollywood, Nothing Fails, X-Static Process, Mother And Father, Like A Prayer and Don't Tell Me and a couple of Madonna's speeches to the crowd during the show.

Click here to download the songs and view 24 screen captures of the event.

Here's the latest picture of Madonna out and about in Los Angeles published in The People newspaper.

From the Sunday Express:
Pop superstar Madonna has won a seven-month legal battle to stop ramblers peeking over her garden fence, the Sunday Express can reveal.
The Material Girl was worried that 150 walkers a day could be trampling through the grounds of her 1,200-acre country estate in Wiltshire under new 'Right to Roam' access laws. But now, in a second draft of the revolutionary rambling maps, 15 acres of land closest to the star's home, Ashcombe House, have been declared out of bounds to the public.
Madonna and her husband, movie director Guy Ritchie, did not know when they splashed out £9 million for the Grade II mansion and estate that ramblers were soon to gain a right of way over their grounds.
But when the draft access maps, allowing the public to wander within yards of the star's home, was revealed it fuelled worries that obessive fans or criminals could get close to the couple's children, Lourdes, aged seven, and three-year-old Rocco.
Under controversial new legislation - called The Right to Roam - coming into force in 2004, walkers are set to gain access to many pathways on private property.
But after a public complaints system was put into operation, the Countryside Agency's new draft removes public access from fields closest to the house.

Madonnalicious has had reports from an ABC source in Las Vegas that Steve Wynn, a big-time Las Vegas Developer of hotels such as the Venetian and the Bellagio is offering Madonna a deal - similar to Celine Dion's at the Caesar's Palace - to headline his new hotel!

Money may be no problem - but would Madonna accept such an offer?

Great news for Hollywood in the UK - after four weeks on the playlist it has finally made it onto the A-list on BBC Radio One, the national radio station.

This should ensure the song gets great exposure a full week before the single is released.

You can view the playlist here.

You can now find 40 screen captures from the Hollywood video in the 2003 Gallery.

       

       

       

Anyone who hasn't got a copy of Star, the Guy Ritchie directed segment for BMW's The Hire Film Series, can now get a copy through BMW's website for just the price of shipping.

The DVD can go for a high price on internet auction sites, so if you are interested visit here.

Madonna cleared up the Nothing Fails Israel rumour in an interview on San Francisco radio station Alice 97.3. Here are a few of the highlights of the interview (thanks to DerrickD):

Madonna is NOT going to Israel with Michael Douglas and is NOT shooting a video there. She has no idea where the rumour started but would she would love to go to Israel anyway.

Rocco's favorite movie is The Wizard Of Oz. Lourdes' is The Secret Garden. She said that Rocco watches The Wizard Of Oz repeatedly....but then she clarified that she only allows them each one movie a week.

Madonna confirms that she is friends with Demi Moore....and they share the same Kabbalah teacher.

Madonna says that the Harry Potter books are 'good'.

Her favorite cocktail is a 'lemon drop'.

Her kids are the only ones in the house who play her records, and they usually play remixes up in their rooms and have mini dance parties....they are both dancers in the making.

Madonna says she had a blast touring with the Beastie Boys way back when!

They asked Madonna if she can think of any one who is a bigger star than her, and she said 'God'. They asked what she'll be doing to overtake him, and she said 'nothing....we're teaming up'.

A group of Madonna fans are organising a party in London to celebrate the release of Madonna's latest single, Hollywood, here are the details:

Please come and join other Madonna fans celebrating the release of 'Hollywood' and Madonna's 20 years as The Queen Of Pop! Everyone is invited, bring friends and family!

THE DATE: Saturday 28th June
THE TIME: 3pm - 9pm
THE VENUE: G-A-Y Bar, 30 Old Compton Street, London, W1

For further details please use this email address.

A streaming version of Madonna's latest video is available to watch at Launch.com.

The UK TV program GM:TV showed a 15 second preview of the Hollywood video this morning.
The reporter said in part of the video Madonna is seen to be getting botox injections!

For American viewers, the 'Making Of The Video' premieres tonight on VH1 at 11pm ET.

From the Evening Standard:
Madonna is on the verge of redeeming her celluloid career. She has been beseeching Ismail Merchant for a part in one of his films and it looks like she will soon have her wish fufilled.
'We've tallked about it on a number of occasions and ahe has asked me to consider her for a role,' the producer of such period dramas as 'A Room With A View' tells me.
'She's good but it's a question of the right script and the right director. I will definitely work with her but only when the right script comes along.'

16 new Hollywood avatars have been uploaded to Madonnalicious.
You can view them here.

This morning's edition of CD:UK featured a sneak-peak at Madonna's new video for Hollywood.

CD:UK is repeated tonight at 1:25am on ITV1. Thanks to Clama for the video file.

You can view larger versions of these captures in the 2003 Gallery.

     

     

     

Here is the cover for the Hollywood single.

The single is released as follows in the UK:
CD1, CD2 and 12" vinyl on 07 July, and the maxi single CD3 and 12" doublepack on 14 July.

80 pictures have been uploaded to the Galleries - you can view these latest uploads here.

Here are some pictures from the X-STaTIC PRO=CeSS book which accompanied the New York exhibition of the same name.
The book features some previously unseen photographs from the W magazine portfolio by Steven Klein. You can view all the pictures in the 2003 Gallery.

Thanks again to Slyguy for the photographs of the book.

Fans who queued for over twenty hours to meet Madonna at New York's Tower Records but were then left disappointed when Madonna left early before they could meet her at the record signing have just received a surprise package in the post.
Fans who missed out were advised to contact Tower Records and leave their contact details - and those who did could never have expected what was to drop through their letterboxes today.
A personally dedicated autographed copy of the rare (and very pricy) Madonna Steven Klein X-STaTIC PRO=CeSS book was in the Maverick/Boy Toy care package.

Madonnalicious wishes to thank Madonna and Boy Toy on behalf of these fans, for turning a very negative situation quietly and without a fuss, into a very happy ending for these fans.

Below is an example of the signed book (thanks to Slyguy).

   

This week's New magazine (23 June 2003 issue) features a two-page feature of Madonna and Gwyneth lunching at the exclusive Ivy restaurant in Santa Monica, California.

       

This latest picture from the Hollywood video was featured in tonight's Evening Standard.

The paper claims this is Madonna portraying Ginger Rogers in this picture.

From the Sunday Mirror:
Whatever Madonna wants, she must have. Even if it means putting her life at risk.
The 44-year-old Queen of Pop is insisting her next video - Nothing Fails - is shot in Israel.
The song makes references to Kabbalah - based on Jewish mysticism. Despite concern from her record company, Warner's, Masge has put her foot down.
My spies tell me: 'Her record bosses are really worried about it. They are trying to talk her around, but she's having none of it. She has told them it makes sense to shoot it in Israel as the Kabbalah originates from there.
Madonna is not particulary bothered about her safety and potential risks. She doesn't think it's as bad as it seems.'

Two shows starring Madonna are on the UK digital channel BBC3 tonight:

Liquid Assets: Madonna's Millions 8.00-9.00pm, looks at how Madonna makes her money and what she does with it.

Friday Night With Ross And Madonna 9.00-9.50pm, a repeat of the chat show featuring three performances by Madonna.

US Weekly magazine reveals some more information about the forthcoming Hollywood video.

Watching the Hollywood video is like watching old photo shoots with Madonna striking various poses.

The word 'risque' is used to describe parts of the video.

Besides Mae West and Jean Harlow, she wears some jewelry that once belonged to Ginger Rogers as well.

Madonna herself was the one who likened all the jewelry around her to a candy store.

Madonna is said to really really like the picture of herself that she has released to the media.
You can now view a higher-quality version of that picture here.

Thanks to DickieGreenLeaf at the Madonnamad Forum for this information.

From the New York Post:
Rosenberg tells us reports that Madonna has signed a lucrative deal to be the new face of The Gap are a bit premature.
'The deal's not done,' she insists. 'They're in discussions, there are major negotiations going on and it's looking good, but it's not done yet.'
If it does go down, Rosenberg has a tip on what Madonna's next phase will be for the Gap ads: 'Back to the street, Avenue B, where she started,' she says.

From the New York Post:
Rumours swirled this week about a conflict between Madonna and Craig McDean, the cutting-edge fashion photographer she hired to shoot the cover of her latest album 'American Life.'
Previous stories focused on the allegedly astronomical expense of the shoot, but the new scuttlebutt says McDean had paid all his own expenses for the privilege of working with the pop diva only to have her turn up her nose at the finished product: she supposedly ended up cobbling something together from the few passable images on her own.
However, both McDean's and Madonna's reps insist everything is A-OK.
'For some reason a number of things are being said about the shoot, but it's absolutely not true,' says Anne Kennedy, McDean's powerhouse agent at Art + Commerce. 'We've worked with them a lot and never really had any major dramas.'
Madonna's rep, Liz Rosenberg, was more vocal: 'This smells of an evil queen trying to trash Craig McDean and Madonna,' she told Fashion Buzz.
'For one thing, the record company always pays the photographer's expenses,' she insists. 'And Madonna loved the artwork. She had many meetings with Craig and he was her first choice. They worked together before on a Vanity Fair shoot and everything was completely harmonious and fine.'

US TV program, Entertainment Tonight featured a report on Madonna's video for her new single, Hollywood.

Thanks to Madonnainter.net for the screen capture, and visit their great site to download the TV report.

80 pictures have been uploaded to the Galleries - you can view these latest uploads here.

From MSNBC:
Will Madonna fall into the Gap? Lest it be said that the cutting-edge fashionista is no longer a force in the world of clothes, Madonna is close to signing a deal to do television commercials for the Gap, her spokeswoman tells The Scoop.
The Material Girl — who was once known for her Gautier pointed bras — will appear wearing corduroy jeans alongside rapper Missy Elliott.
She’s already scheduled to shoot the ads in Los Angeles later this month, though her spokeswoman says that there are some last-minute details to work out before the contract is signed.
'We’re moving forward on it,' says Madonna’s rep, Liz Rosenberg, 'but it’s not a done deal.'

From The Independent:
Yves Saint Laurent has just launched a new division to handle emerging brands, such as Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney, whose perfume is launched on 17 June.
Madonna has apparently agreed to star in the advertising campaign after the launch and before the fragrance hits the shelves in November. One wonders why Madonna has never created her own fragrance. Perhaps she knows it wouldn't be cool.

From Liz Smith's column in the New York Post:
The Big M is coming through in her next vid, 'Hollywood.' This is directed by Jean Baptiste Mondino, who has done several brilliant Madonna mini-movies, including my favorite, her cowgirl homage, 'Don't Tell Me.'
Madonna, wearing close to $20 million in vintage jewelry - including pieces once belonging to Mae West - and courtier threads, vamps like movie queens from the '20s through the '70s (designer hot pants for the '70s bit.)
First-peekers say it's 'a cross between 'Vogue' and 'Express Yourself.' Luigi Murenu attends to Madam's hair, Pat McGrath her make-up. This spells glamour, big-time.
'Hollywood' debuts June 23 on VH1 accompanied by a 'Behind the Scenes' special. Oh, ever perverse, Madonna insisted that the black and blue marks she sustained in a bicycle mishap recently, not to be covered with make-up or zapped away via computer technology.
Hmmmm . . . bruises and 'Hollywood.' (Bruised by Hollywood?) Shall we analyze this Dr. Freud?

Here are the latest pictures of Madonna in Los Angeles....still drinking her soy lattes!

According to Maariv.co.il Madonna is due to visit Israel within the next three weeks.
She would visit the Kabbalah Centre in Tel Aviv, The Western Wall and The Church of the Nativity.
During this one week visit she would also be looking for locations for the Nothing Fails video shoot.

Thanks to o.s at dotmusic for this translation.

From the Sunday Mail by Billy Sloan:
Madonna is threatening to snub the MTV awards bash in Edinburgh because her favourite hotel room has already been booked. The Material Girl was invited to Scotland in November for the Europe awards - the music industry Oscars - which will be watched by 110million fans around the world.
Madge agreed to come if she and her entourage were installed on the top floor of the capital's exclusive five-star Sheraton Grand Hotel.
The queen of pop is said to be impressed by the hotel and its spa and is keen to have the £750-a-night presidential suite. But the hotel has been fully booked since 2001 for a diplomatic conference and top- flight delegates are refusing to vacate the suite.
News that the MTV awards would be staged in Leith on November 6 sparked a scramble for hotel rooms with stars such as Eminem, Robbie Williams, and Christina Aguilera tipped to attend. But The Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA), an offshoot of Nato, is hosting its 49th annual assembly in the city from November 4 to 7.
Two years ago, ATA reserved 200 rooms on the luxury hotel's prestigious top floor for many of the expected 500 delegates - including Scots Nato Secretary General George Robertson. Sources say the luxury penthouse, which boasts a dining room for 10 and views over Edinburgh Castle, will be used by a topforeign military commander.
Now MTV chiefs are scrambling to come up with an alternative for Madonna. A source said: 'Some of the other suggestions put to her management include maybe renting a remote castle in the Scottish countryside. 'MTV are even prepared to fly her in and out of the capital if necessary. All the stops are being pulled out to ensure this visit goes ahead.'

However Madonna herself said in an interview with Forth One radio DJ, Vicky Pitchers in May, that she would not be attending the awards, saying 'I think I am going to be in America because I think my husband is making a movie at that time, and he would be disappointed if I left him.'

From People News:
Madonna is in talks to make a film based on the town in Ireland which manufactures the member-straightening drug Viagra. Her company, Maverick Films, wants to make a film based on a true story of locals in the small town of Ringaskiddy, County Cork, made famous by Pfizer, the company that makes Viagra.
Provisionally entitled Something In The Air, the film will be about locals going sex mad after breathing in fumes from the factory. Madge plans to set the film in the US rather than Ireland, however a rival film company plans a similar film and are scouting for locations in the Emerald Isle as we speak.
Whether Guy Ritchie will be involved in the unlikely comedy is not yet known, although, given his previous films, it might appeal to his sense of humour.

You can now view the whole People magazine interview - Madonna's Private World from 28 April 2003 in the Articles section.

There are also another 11 covers uploaded into the Magazine Covers section.

Here is another picture of Madonna cycling incognito in London last week.

The picture is featured in the new issue of Hello! magazine.

Now magazine is reporting that Madonna phoned into a London radio station to complain about the traffic congestion charge drivers in London have to pay. Living in the heart of the congestion charge area, Madonna could apply for a resident's discount, but because she refuses to have a listed telephone number she cannot get the discount.

Madonna called London radio station LBC during a phone-in on the subject. After speaking to a researcher there, she declined to go on air but did send an angry email which the show then broadcast, describing it's sender as 'one of London's most famous residents'.

This small snippet of information about Madonna's new video appeared on MTV.com:

Madonna shot a video for her next single, 'Hollywood,' in — surprise, surprise — Hollywood. Her rep calls the clip, which was shot Monday and Tuesday (June 3), 'very glamorous' and says that the singer has 'lots of different looks.'

You can read a highly technical, but interesting interview with Madonna's chief collaborator on Music and American Life.

'I am not a huge fan anymore of Auto-Tune,' Mirwais says. 'But Madonna wanted to use it because people know the effect, but more in a dance context than a pop context. If it had been me, I would have gotten rid of it.'

Read the full article here.

Official website Madonna.com are featuring an outake from the 2002 Vanity Fair photoshoot by Craig McDean.

Click on the image to enlarge.

80 pictures have been uploaded to the Galleries - you can view these latest uploads here.

The British press have been absolutely full of pictures of Madonna falling off her bike in Los Angeles.
The born-again blonde was snapped by the paparrazi as she recovered from her fall, the only casualty being her soy latte and a bottle of mineral water.

The incident spawned such classic tabloid headlines as Magonna (The Sun), Wobbling Madonna takes a spill on her bike (Daily Mail), Topple the pops (Daily Mirror) and Madge is wheely hurting (Daily Star).

Below is the sequence of pictures featured in the Daily Mirror, and you can also view all the pictures featured in the press in the 2003 Gallery.

       

From the Sunday Mirror:
Sam Taylor, a celebrity booker for Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, scored the coup of the year when Madonna agreed to appear on the show - her first appearance on a UK chat show in front of a live audience for over 10 years.
'I started talking to Madonna's representatives last November, but I can't take all the credit because Jonathan interviewed her in 1992 and she chose him over everyone else.
I didn't get to spend a lot of time with her on the day of filming, but we were introduced. She was very nice - very small - and extremely professional and creative.
She brought quite a few people with her, and I had to make sure they were happy. But there were no hitches and she didn't demand anything unusual. The one noticeable thing was we had a lot more security and people were outside trying to buy tickets from the audience, offering up to £500.
I think Madonna really enjoyed doing the show, but she didn't stay afterwards. It was a great day, but the best thing to come out of it was that they gave me tickets for her Paris gig the following week as a thank you.'