madonna
The 35 Greatest Concerts of the Last 35 Years
We know, we know — the best concert of all-time is your friend’s obscure indie-punk band playing a sweaty neighborhood basement back in ‘94. We admit that one slipped through the cracks. Maybe it’s a fool’s errand, but this list is our attempt to narrow down three and a half decades of worthy live music events — legendary festivals, headlining tours from major artists, one-off stage collaborations, multimedia spectacles — into an eclectic and satisfying blend. – Ryan Reed 35. Heilung at Castlefest (8/5/2017) CREDIT: Gonzales Photo/PYMCA/Avalon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Music-related viral clips tend to be silly and easily digestible, like the dude riding a skateboard to Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” while sipping on Ocean Spray. So it’s heartening that Heilung’s debut l...
The 35 Best Videos of the Last 35 Years
SPIN launched in the peak MTV era, when an innovative — or even just salacious — music video could make or break an artist. Thirty five years later, YouTube is an obligatory part of any promotional push, but no one’s counting on a mind-blowing clip to sell a record. (The views do often matter — just not always the creativity.) A sizable chunk of the best videos came out during the ‘90s alternative bloom, when directors like Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry and Hype Williams experimented with the style and substance of this malleable medium. But the format hasn’t died with MTV: artists like Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar and Miley Cyrus all made this list for a reason — and it wasn’t to meet a decade quota. Here are the top 35 from the last 35. Ready or not, here we go again. – Ryan Reed 3...
Eddie Van Halen Guitars, Smashed Kurt Cobain Guitar to Be Auctioned
Two of the late Eddie Van Halen’s iconic guitars — his custom-designed, red-and-white-striped, stage-used 2004 EVH Charvel Art Series, and a black-and-white striped Fender Stratocaster-style headstock numbered on the back #54 — are going on the auction block. Each guitar is estimated to sell between $40,000 – $80,000 at the Icons & Idols Trilogy: Rock ‘N’ Roll annual music auction on Dec. 4 and 5, live at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills and online here. The event will span over 700 historic artifacts of every genre, including items from the Beatles, Johnny Cash, Jim Morrison, the Rolling Stones, Queen, Guns N’ Roses, Little Richard, Cher, and many more. In 1991, the Charvel Art Series guitar with the red body, below, was gifted to Van Halen’s friend Bryan Cash, the o...
Madonna Turned Down David Guetta Collaboration Because He’s a Scorpio
In a recent Q&A video with popular French YouTubers, David Guetta unveiled how he lost the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to produce one of Madonna‘s albums. While speaking with David Coscas and Raphaël Carlier, who produce videos under the moninker Mcfly et Carlito, the French dance music figurehead shared a story of an interesting conversation with the pop icon. During their chat, she explained how much she enjoyed his remix of her 2009 single “Revolver” and piqued his interest in producing her next album. He then explains that they sat down to discuss details and everything was pleasant until she asked for his star sign. After discovering Guetta was a Scorpio, she promptly ended the discussion and ceased contact with him, he said. An excerpt of the ...
The 50 Best Songs of the Year 2000
The year 2000 looms large in pop culture history: the Y2k non-scare, the Seinfeld “Newmannium” episode, the “In the Year 2000″ sketch from Conan O’Brien’s original late-night show, the Hulu series PEN15. And just like, say, the grunge-defined 1991, the year immediately conjures specific sounds: gleaming teen-pop, earnest radio rock, the Neptunes and Timbaland. There’s never a bad time to revisit this music. But in the middle of a pandemic, with America on the verge of collapse, it feels extra comforting — a blast of nostalgia for a time when you could safely exit your home, visit your local mall’s Sam Goody and buy Mystikal’s “Shake Ya Ass” CD single. For this list, our only criteria was that the songs appear on albums or soundtracks released in 2000. Here we go. 50. Papa Roach, “Last Reso...
Madonna Will Direct Her Upcoming Biopic
It’s official. Madonna’s biopic isn’t just an Instagram illusion. The pop legend, who has shared photos and even an Instagram Live session with Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody, will be directing her own biopic. She’s also co-writing it with Cody as well. The currently untitled film will delve deep into her five-decade career and will go beyond just her music career. “I want to convey the incredible journey that life has taken me on as an artist, a musician, a dancer – a human being, trying to make her way in this world,” Madonna said. “The focus of this film will always be music. Music has kept me going and art has kept me alive. There are so many untold and inspiring stories and who better to tell it than me. It’s essential to share the roller coaster ride of my l...
Madonna Reveals Plot Details of Upcoming Biopic
In a casual, hour-plus Instagram Live on Thursday (Sept. 10), Madonna and Oscar-winning Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody discussed plot details of the movie that will cover her “struggle as an artist trying to survive in a man’s world. Really, the journey, which has been happy, sad, mad, good bad and ugly,” Madonna said. “We’re here writing a screenplay,” the singer affirms in the video. “It’s a story about my life. We’ve been working on it a few months, and it’s been a bit weird writing about me. I have to remember a lot of stuff that later on disturbs me, so it’s kind of like a form of therapy. Sometimes,” she admits, “I get confused and forget I’m writing about me, and start referring to myself as ‘she.’” The pair laugh about Cody’s small computer font and being dressed “like dominat...
Dua Lipa Reveals Stacked List of Collaborators in Official Tracklist for “Future Nostalgia” Remix Album
Following the reveal of the official tracklist for Club Future Nostalgia, the anticipation surrounding Dua Lipa‘s forthcoming remix album is bubbling over. In addition to previously announced featured artists Madonna, Missy Elliott, Gwen Stefani, and Mark Ronson, the tracklist flaunts a stupefying list of collaborators. It reveals a carefully curated stable of polished remixers, including Yaeji, Jayda G, and Mr. Fingers, among many others, as well as a number of high-profile samples, like Steve Nicks‘ “Stand Back” and Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl.” The Grammy Award-winning pop songstress has long been a champion of EDM, teaming up with its most recognized producers, such as Diplo (“Electricity”) and Calvin Harris (̶...
Diplo Partied with Madonna for the Pop Icon’s 62nd Birthday in Jamaica
After Madonna‘s 62nd birthday, the myth of EDM Renaissance man Diplo continues. The Grammy Award-winning music producer and DJ recently celebrated the Queen of Pop’s 62nd birthday, joining her for a night of debauchery in Jamaica. The pop icon’s six children, Lourdes Leon (23), Rocco Ritchie (20), David Banda (14), Mercy James (14), and Estere and Stella (both 7) were also along for the ride in addition to her 26-year-old beau, Ahlamalik Williams. Madonna shared a number of photos from the party on social media, including one in which she smokes a joint while holding a plate full of cannabis, celebrating the milestone in style. Diplo produced 5 tracks off Madonna’s 2015 album Rebel Heart, including the international hits “Living for Love” and “...
Madonna Supports ‘Demon Sperm’ Doc: ‘My Hero’
Madonna, who has been strangely outspoken since the COVID-19 pandemic began (to put it mildly) found herself in some hot water on Tuesday night after sharing a post in praise of Dr. Stella Immanuel. Rewinding for just a sec, Dr. Immanuel is a doctor (obviously), and appeared on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court on July 27 as part of America’s Frontline Doctors to tout the use of hydroxychloroquine (which doesn’t work) as a cure for COVID-19 and says masks don’t help to reduce transmission. Oh, and the Houston-based Dr. Immanuel believes in “demon sperm” and “alien DNA” and is a favorite of President Donald Trump. That didn’t stop Madonna from singing her praises. “The Truth will set us all Free! But some people don’t want to hear the truth,” Madonna wrote. “Especially the people in ...
Madonna Shows Up for Black Lives Matter Protest on Crutches
Before COVID-19 destroyed touring artists’ entire year, Madonna had already had to cancel a number of 2020 dates on her Madame X tour due to a knee injury she sustained after falling on stage in March. But this setback didn’t stop the icon from attending today’s Parliament Square march for Black Lives Matter in London, in which thousands of people showed up to demand justice for George Floyd and all victims of racially disproportionate police brutality. Pictures and videos of the star surfaced on Twitter of her hugging fellow protestors and chanting “No justice, no peace” along with them. It’s always heartening to see a very rich person listening to the people and directing their platform and clout toward a good cause, and god we all miss hugs, but we really hope she’s still taking caution...
Madonna Ripped for Posting Son’s George Floyd Dance Tribute
Madonna is facing backlash on social media after sharing a tweet and Instagram video yesterday that many fans saw as distasteful. Following the death of George Floyd — the 46-year-old black man killed by a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25 — and the protests taking place in Minneapolis, the pop star posted a two-minute clip of her son David Banda dancing to Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us.” The tweet shows Banda, whom Madonna adopted from Malawi, showcasing Jackson’s moves from the 1995 music video. Madonna’s tweet reads “Brutal murder travels around the world my son David Dances to honor and pay tribute to George and His Family and all Acts of Racism and Discrimination that happen on a daily basis in America. #davidbanda #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd #MichaelJackson.” Many T...
