
"What's your favorite era of Madonna?" - James Montgomery asks the readers of
MTV.com. "This is a fairly open-ended question, onecertain to get about a million different responses."
"For every fan of the "Material Girl" Maddy, there are just as many who
swear by her "Vogue" version, or her spiritual, "Ray of Light"
relaunch, or even her recent turns as a political activist, a disco
diva or a candy aficionado. Really, there are no wrong answers here."
But, if you really want to raise eyebrows, try telling a Madonna
fanatic that you're a huge fan of her Dark Era, a period that runs
roughly from the release of The Immaculate Collection in 1990 to her
disastrous appearance on "Late Night With David Letterman" in 1994.
This was when she tackled the politics of sexuality head-on - whether
it be with the "Justify My Love" video, or the "Sex" book, or the
Erotica album - and got down and dirty (the "Deeper and Deeper" video,
the "Body of Evidence" movie) and basically wasn't afraid of offending
anyone ever.
Needless to say, this was a period when most didn't get what Madonna
was going for because, well, it usually wasn't all that clear.
Still, looking back on that
Dark Era now, it's pretty
fascinating. Madonna went farther than any pop icon before her (or,
somewhat understandably, after) - she pushed the envelope with glee and
never looked back for a second. In retrospect, it's clear she wasn't
being desperate; she was being brilliant. If only we could expect the
same from the pop stars of present day.
Anyway, I mention all of that because on Tuesday, Madonna's "
Celebration"
video premiered on the iTunes music store. It is directed by Jonas
Åkerlund, who helped shepherd her back to respectability with his
hyperkinetic 1998 video for "Ray of Light," and features cameos by
Madge's boyfriend (model/DJ Jesus Luz) and daughter (Lourdes, who makes
a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance toward the end). It is pretty
great, particularly because it is a direct throwback to Madonna's Dark
Era.
We have Madonna popping and locking and pawing at herself, striking a
series of provocative (and sometimes even submissive) poses, groping
and grinding guiltlessly on her chiseled boytoy ... and doing it all in
a gynecologically cut dress and knee-high boots. She is 51, twice
divorced, a mother of four and she is (quite rightfully) unashamed by
any of this. Sexual politics, anyone?
Read the entire article on
MTV.com.
thanks to: MadonnaTribe