Madonna World Tour buzz is kicking into high gear! "I'm finally going to fucking drag my ass into a rehearsal studio [for her first world tour since 1993]," Madonna said in a recent interview. "I never want to repeat myself. I don't see the point of doing a show unless you offer something that is going to mind-boggle the senses, she elaborated. it's not enough to get on the stage and sing a song. it's all about theatre and drama and surprise and suspense. So I'm looking forward to it, but I'm also nervous about it."

Be sure to stay tuned to MadonnaMusic.com and MadonnaFanClub.com for further details as they become officially confirmed.

Madonna takes top honors for Best International Female Artist at this year's Brit Awards show. Other winners include Eminem for Best International Male, U2 for Best International Group, and Robbie Williams for Best British Male Solo Artist and Best British Video for Rock DJ. Madonna was unable to attend the ceremony, but her hubby Guy Ritchie accepted the award via video on his wife's behalf. Madonna could be seen in the background of the video, though, dusting a picture of Queen Elizabeth II, in a humorous spoof on just how much Madonna and the Brits come to fancy each other in the months since she set up homestead there.

Thursday, March 1st is the cut-off day to get your submission in to MTV for their new Madonna biography show which is told entirely by her fans.

In case you missed our previous posting on 2/16/01, here's the gist:

MTV's looking for some diehard Madonna fans to tell her story, so if feel you've got what it takes, send MTV an e-mail at castmadonna@hotmail.com with your name, age, phone #, where you live, what kind of memorabilia makes up your collection and, most important of all, tell them a Madonna story in your own words. Want 15 minutes of fame of your own? Well, here's your chance to be original and creative, and to let the world know just how awesome you know Madonna to be. But hurry, Thursday is the last day to get in your e-mail submission!

LONDON (AP) - Madonna dusted the queen's picture and Eminem drew a protest as they took top honors Monday as the British music industry offered its response to last week's Grammy awards.

Madonna was named best international female artist and Eminem won best international male artist at the Brit Awards show.

The Irish band U2 was named the best international group and also won a special award for making an outstanding contribution to music.

Homegrown pop star Robbie Williams dominated the British categories, winning best British male solo artist plus best British single and best British video for his Rock DJ.

The audience cheered when Eminem took the stage with a chainsaw to sing his hit The Real Slim Shady, but his performance - filled with four-letter words - may present a problem for editors who have to prepare the show for a television broadcast Tuesday.

A small group of protesters gathered outside the awards ceremony in central London.

This nomination is the moral equivalent of honoring a Ku Klux Klan singer, said Peter Tatchell, of the gay rights group OutRage! It is time we told Eminem that prejudice has no place in pop.

Critics say the rapper's lyrics are anti-gay and condone violence against women. Many criticized gay superstar Elton John for singing with the rapper last week at the Grammys, where he picked up three awards.

Madonna was not at the ceremony, but her new husband, British film director Guy Ritchie, was shown on video thanking the audience while his superstar wife dusted a picture of Queen Elizabeth II in the background.

Madonna has become something of a favorite daughter in Britain since she married Ritchie last year. She had been been nominated for Brit Awards nine times before, but this was her first win - on the strength of her album, Music. She was shut out at the Grammys.

American R&B talent Kelis was named best international newcomer. Dance music sensation Sonique won for best British female solo artist, and A1 was named best British newcomer. The guitar rock quartet Coldplay won best British group, and their Parachutes won for best British album. Fatboy Slim won best British dance act.

The Brit Awards are run by the British Phonographic Industry Ltd. an industry association.

Most winners are selected by a vote of more than 1,000 industry members, including representatives from record companies, the press, retailers, record producers, DJs and promoters.

Four awards are chosen by votes from the public: best British newcomer, best British video, best British single and best pop act. The British Phonographic Industry chooses the winner of the outstanding contribution award.

From NME:

MADONNA has said her forthcoming summer tour will mind-boggle the senses.

Speaking to Interview magazine in the US, Madonna confirmed she is finally going to fucking drag my ass into a rehearsal studio for her first world tour since 1993.

She said her live shows will be all about theatre and drama and surprise and suspense. She said: I never want to repeat myself. I don't see the point of doing a show unless you offer something that is going to mind-boggle the senses. it's not enough to get on the stage and sing a song. it's all about theatre and drama and surprise and suspense. So I'm looking forward to it, but I'm also nervous about it.

It is rumoured that Madonna will play live shows in summer in the UK. Possible locations include the Milton Keynes Bowl and London Earl's Court.

Unofficial Madonna websites also reported that she is scheduled to appear at the Stade De France in Paris on June 22-23.

Kevin Reagan won an award for Best Recording package for Music. He won the same award for Ray of Light!

Don't Tell Me remains at number 6 for a third week on next week's Billboard.

Madonna mauls Eminem's critics

Madonna has defended controversial rapper Eminem in a letter to a US newspaper - saying she finds the language of George W Bush much more offensive.

The singer joined Sir Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Randy Newman in praising the rapper, who is nominated for four Grammys at Wednesday's ceremony.

The Los Angeles Times asked more than a dozen former Grammy winners for their views of Eminem's music in response to criticism by songwriter Jimmy Webb, who said the rapper could devalue the ceremony's moral credibility.

But of the four who replied, all backed the hip-hop star.

"Since when is offensive language a reason for being unpopular? I find the language of George W much more offensive," Madonna wrote.

"I like the fact that Eminem is brash and angry and politically incorrect. At least he has an opinion. He's stirring things up, he's making people's blood boil, he's reflecting on what's going on in society right now. This is what art's supposed to do."

"And after all, he's just a boy," she said of the 28-year-old.

Sir Elton John - who is performing with Eminem on Wednesday - called The Marshall Mathers LP the album of the year and said: "There is far more humour on the album than people think. It appeals to my English black sense of humour."

He added that he was in hysterics from laughing the first time he heard the album. "We live in an age of political correctness where you Can't say this or that. I honestly don't think people will go out and start beating and killing people because of this album."

Stevie Wonder said: "For someone to say, this is a disgrace to the Grammys, come on. There was a time when blues was called a disgrace."

Randy Newman doubted Eminem would receive a Grammy for best album as the voters are too conservative but said: "I don't know from his work that he genuinely hates women or his mother, but I know that he's funny."

"I just hope that he doesn't think he has to live the lifestyle," he added.

Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, has three Grammy nominations for The Marshall Mathers LP, including album of the year, best rap album, and best rap solo performance.

He was also nominated for best rap performance and best rap performance by a duo or group for the track Forget About Dre on Dr Dre's album Dr Dre - 2001.

Gay campaign
Last week, gay campaigners urged Sir Elton John to ditch his planned duet with Eminem as a beacon of courage.

Gay and Lesbian Alliance director Joan Garry also sent Sir Elton a collection of hate e-mails she received from Eminem fans and asked him to think how literally they take the rapper's violent words.

Dr Dre, who produced Eminem's debut album The Slim Shady LP, is nominated for five Grammys.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/newsid_1180000/1180471.stm

Material Girl Makes Music
Madonna prepares for high-energy GRAMMY performance

A second day of performance rehearsals for the 43rd GRAMMYs ended in spectacular, musical fashion when Madonna ran through her much-anticipated. high-production value performance of Music, the techno-groove hit single from the album of the same name.

Madonna is, of course, no stranger to GRAMMY success. She's a five-time winner of the prestigious award, and this year is nominated in no less than three major categories: Record Of The Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Pop Vocal Album. But while GRAMMY-watchers and pop fans in general may be used to seeing Madonna at the yearly awards show, the mercurial performer has built her career at least partly on her ability to surprise, and Monday night those abilities were readily apparent.

For Madonna's performance, the GRAMMY stage will sport five giant video screens, which introduce the singer by way of a fast-flicker montage that covers images of her from her beaded and baubled Like A Virgin days on through to her raved-up Beautiful Stranger guise. As her eight-piece, percussion-heavy backup band vamped, the singer practiced what is sure to be one of the more memorable entrances at this year's show, rolling onto the stage in a huge classic Cadillac that's been detailed with the reflective finish of a disco mirror ball. Madonna emerged from the back seat of the car looking glamorous in a full-length fur coat and a fancy hat, but quickly peeled those off to reveal a tight leather jacket and a pair of baggy, bell-bottomed jeans. (Keep your eye out for tiny rapper Lil" Bow Wow, who's driving the limo....)

The timing of the entrance to the music was crucial, and as details were worked out, Madonna was clearly in charge of what happened on stage, working with a pair of choreographers to make sure that band, backup singers, and a dozen dancers were all tight and together for the performance. You could see that detail work pay off once the full rehearsal began, with Madonna growing more energetic and flashing more smiles as the takes proceeded.

Motherhood certainly hasn't diminished any of Madonna's dance skills -- she worked the stage in a fiercely athletic manner, all the while belting out the vocals in particularly strong fashion. A highlight of her final run-through of the song came when she jumped atop the Caddy and ripped off her leather jacket to reveal a scanty white t-shirt with Material Girl written in gold sparkle letters across the front. With the band in top form, the dancers exhibiting expert timing, and some song-ending special effects functioning flawlessly, the shining star was clearly happy with the production, and wrapped up the rehearsal night ready to make some very exciting Music on GRAMMY night.

-- Chuck Crisafulli

http://grammy.com/news/articles/20010220f84637fa758cf127852569f90063c724.html

Madonna will be recording What It Feels Like For A Girl in Spanish. The tentative release for the single will be the end of March.

Madonna Nabs Richard Humpty Vission To DJ GRAMMY Set
Feb 20, 2001, 10:05 am PT

GRAMMY Awards nominated DJ Richard Humpty Vission will run the turntables for Madonna's opening GRAMMY Awards set in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Feb. 21), according to a spokesperson for the DJ at People's Revolution, Inc.

Vission is up for Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical, for his work remixing Madonna's American Pie and Music, Adrenaline's Shut the Fuck Up and Dance, Rozalla's Everybody's Free, and Devone's Alright. Madonna, meanwhile, is up for three awards.

-- Kevin Raub

http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=437858768/pagename=/RP/ALLSTAR/article.html/fid=251197