Don't mess with Madonna. "Music" was the first single, released in 2000, from Lust Icon Madonna's eigth studio album, Music, and from what I understand her first single to leak before it's release.
An unauthorized copy of the song leaked onto the internet and spread like wildfire through various forums and Napster [remember that?]. To counteract the trend of pirating music, Madonna actively campaigned with other well known artists [like Dr. Dre] against Napster. She eventually performed the song as a live webcast and took over the internet reaching a record nine million people around the world. Take that Napster!
Eventually, it was officially released and a commerical success for Madonna. "Music" became her first single to reach number one in the United States since 1994's "Take A Bow".
The video is a comedic tribute to the decadance and bling of rap videos during that time. Long before Jay-Z and Kanye West were wearing Maison Martin Margiela, rap videos used to have matching sweatsuits, champagne, and booty shakers. Sadly, some of them still do.
Sacha Baron Cohen stars as "Ali G", her limousine driver for the video. He drives Madonna and her friends to the clubs [including a strip club] while they sip champagne and words like "Acid", "Crazy", and "Rock" flash on the screen. You can also see actress Debi Mazar in one of her more prominent cameos [she has appeared in multiple Madonna videos].
Yes. The answer is yes. I'm extremely intimidated with the idea of tackling Madonna as a Lust Icon. How could I convey to the world how iconic and amazing Madonna is? What photos would I even use? Should I pick someone else this go-around? Someone easier, like say, Lady Gaga?
Madonna Louise Ciccone is a child of Italian decent from Bay City, Michigan. Of her youth, she recalls herself as a "lonely girl who was searching for something. I wasn't rebellious in a certain way. I cared about being good at something. I didn't shave my underarms and I didn't wear make-up like normal girls do. But I studied and I got good grades.... I wanted to be somebody." It was that ambition that drove her to drop out of college and pursue a dance career in New York City. She moved to New York in 1977 with only $35 in her pocket and describes the decision as "the bravest thing I'd ever done."
