Madonna on Elton John feud

Madonna on Elton John feud: 'I forgive him' for insults

Madonna expressed herself about her long-running feud with Elton John during a recent concert in France.
Two weeks after John called her a “f— fairground stripper” on an Australian TV show, the Material Girl told fans at her concert in Nice, France, Tuesday that she forgave him for the insults.
In a video taken by a fan at the concert and flagged by TMZ, Madonna said she forgives her fellow musical icon — and dedicated her song “Masterpiece” to her detractor.
“I know he's a big fan of it,” Madonna says in the video. “And I know he's a big fan of mine. And you know? I forgive him. Gotta start somewhere."
Cynics, however, can read much into the 53-year-old diva’s choice of songs to dedicate. Madonna won a Golden Globe for “Masterpiece,” from her directorial effort, “W.E.” earlier this year — beating out fellow nominee "Hello Hello," John’s song with lyricist Bernie Taupin from the animated movie
"Gnomeo & Juliet." Before the awards show, John had told an interviewer, "Madonna doesn't have a f— chance of winning."
The source of John's most recent ire at the Material Girl seems to be her digs at fellow pop diva Lady Gaga — who is the godmother to John and partner David Furnish's 19-month-old son Zachary.
"She's been so horrible to Gaga," John explained on "Sunday Night."
Madonna had been videotaped during a May concert rehearsal seemlessly transitioning between her own 1989 hit "Express Yourself" and Gaga's "Born This Way." It was widely interpreted as a thinly veiled dig at the younger singer, suggesting that Gaga was copying her act.
But John has been taking potshots at Madonna since long before the Gaga incident. The music icons' feud dates back at least seven years, according to Marie Claire magazine, when the Rocket Man slammed Madge after she was named Best Live Act at the 2004 GQ Awards.
"Madonna, best f— live act? F— off," he said at the time. "Since when has lip-synching been live?"

Madonna receives obscene twitter

Madonna receives obscene twitter from Russian official regarding her pro Pussy Riot stance

A senior ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin used an obscene Twitter post to attack Madonna on Friday after the pop star called for the release of three women who face prison over an irreverent performance in Moscow’s main cathedral.Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, a nationalist politician and former envoy to NATO, posted the tweet after Madonna told a Moscow concert audience the jailed members of punk band Pussy Riot were “courageous” and deserved to be free.
“Every ex-wh*re tends to lecture everybody with age. Especially during world tours and concerts,” Rogozin, who now leads Russia’s drive to upgrade the army and defence industry, wrote in a tweet in English.
The microblog posting was a crudely worded echo of frequent warnings by Russian officials that Moscow will not accept Western “preaching” on human rights and democracy, a message Putin has repeatedly delivered during 12 years in power.
Madonna, who is American, donned a balaclava like those worn by Pussy Riot performers during her concert in Moscow on Tuesday night and was cheered loudly when she offered her support.
Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, stormed the altar of Russia’s main cathedral on Feb. 21 and sang a “punk prayer” calling on the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Putin, who was then campaigning to return to the presidency after four years as prime minister.
Prosecutors want a judge to sentence them to three years in prison for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.
They have been in jail since shortly after their performance, which offended many in mostly Orthodox Christian Russia, and Kremlin critics see their trial as part of a crackdown on dissent as Putin starts a new six-year term.
The women have said the performance was meant as criticism of close ties between Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church and the clear if informal support its leader, Patriarch Kirill, gave Putin during his successful election campaign.
Western governments and rights groups have said the govermnent’s reaction to the “punk prayer” was excessive and are watching the trial closely. The judge is to give a verdict on Aug. 17.
Rogozin, who some analysts view as a potential presidential candidate in the next election in 2018, did not mention Madonna by name in the English tweet on Friday or a Russian one on Wednesday.
But few Internet users had any doubt that he was referring to Madonna, who also spoke out in support of gay rights at a concert in St. Petersburg, Putin’s home town, on Thursday night.
“She spoke about freedom, it is the state bureaucrats who are lecturing us every day on all the state channels,” a Twitter user called Alexander Oleinik wrote in response to Rogozin’s posting in Russian.
“Either take off the cross or put on your panties,” Rogozin replied. His spokeswoman confirmed the messages were genuine.
Rogozin, former leader of the nationalist political party Rodina (Motherland), also wrote ironic messages about Pussy Riot, likening their supporters to a religious sect.
Rogozin was appointed deputy prime minister late last year as part of then prime minister Putin’s drive to appeal to moderate nationalists.
He is known for his sharply worded criticism of the West and in particular of U.S. and NATO plans for a European missile shield that Moscow calls a threat to its security.
On Friday, a group of Russian Orthodox hardliners burned Madonna’s picture outside Moscow’s Christ the Saviour cathedral, where Pussy Riot staged its punk protest.

Madonna Stands Up For Jailed Former Leader Of Ukraine

Madonna Stands Up For Jailed Former Leader Of Ukraine

Madonna rallied support for the jailed former prime minister of the Ukraine last week (ends05Aug12) after quizzing the crowd at her concert soundcheck about the circumstances surrounding her incarceration.
The Material Girl was running through songs ahead of her gig in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev last Saturday (04Aug12) when she halted the rehearsals and asked locals about troubled politician Yulia Tymoshenko, who was sentenced to serve seven years behind bars in 2011 for her alleged abuse of office while in power from December, 2007, to March, 2010.
In video footage posted on YouTube.com, Madonna told the small audience, "I don't even know the actual truth, I've just heard some stories from emails... Is it true that the woman who was the former president (sic) is in jail here?"
After hearing supporters for Tymoshenko protest her conviction, Madonna replied, "If you feel so strongly, how come no one's fighting for her? You might get killed? So, this is what we call freedom? Just curious, thank you for telling me."
The singer then urged fans to stand up for Tymoshenko and called on the crowd to fight on the embattled politician's behalf, telling them: "Are you brave? Do you have courage? Are you willing to fight for what is right?"
Madonna did not repeat her comments during her Kiev show that night, but she did make headlines in Russia this week when she performed in Moscow, Russia on Tuesday (07Aug12) and voiced her support for the imprisoned members of feminist punk band Pussy Riot, who are facing prison time for performing a protest song against President Vladimir Putin in a church in February (12).
She also upset officials in St. Petersburg on Thursday night (09Aug12) as she challenged the city's gay rights legislation during a concert, handing out pink bracelets to 25,000 fans.

Madonna and Elton John: Inside their decade-long feud

Madonna and Elton John's latest feud is nothing new. For years, their remarks have been playing out on a public stage.
John, for one, doesn't hold back when he talks to the media, oftentimes spewing controversial remarks about the "Queen of Pop."
Just this month, he said Madonna's "career is over," calling the 53-year-old singer a "fairground stripper."
Here's a look at what has gone down between the two stars -- and one-time friends -- over the past decade:
November 2002 - John bashed Madonna's theme song for the 007 movie, "Die Another Day," calling it "the worst Bond tune ever."
"It hasn't got a tune," John, 65, told the U.K.'s Sky News. "James Bond themes are usually very camp and this one's different ... They should have gone for somebody like Lulu and Shirley Bassey, or maybe I'm in that league?"
He added, "I don't think it's the best Madonna record and I'm a big fan."
October 2004 - John famously slammed Madonna at the 2004 Q Awards in London. During the show, hosted by British music magazine Q, John said he was surprised to see Madge nominated in the best live act category.
"Since when has lip-synching been live? Anyone who lip-synchs in public on stage when you pay 75 pounds to see them should be shot. Thank you very much," he said while accepting the classic songwriter award. "That's me off her Christmas card list, but do I give a toss? No."
Madonna's spokesperson Liz Rosenberg released a statement shortly after, explaining: "Madonna does not lip-synch nor does she spend her time trashing other artists. She sang every note of her Re-Invention tour live and is not ashamed that she was well paid for her hard work ... Elton John remains on her Christmas card list whether he is nice ... or naughty."            
John then spoke with Access Hollywood about his comments, saying he was "unfair."
"You know, I just said what I said and I've been meaning to say it for a long time," John said. "It was probably a bit unfair on Madonna, because a lot of people lip-synch worse and their whole show is lip-synched. Her show is not wholly lip-synched but there's an element to it." John went on to praise the singer's talent, saying, "Madonna is a great artist, she's a great writer, she's a great performer, she makes great records and I just want to leave it at that."
Later that month, he told Entertainment Weekly, "I don't want to escalate it because I like Madonna. She's been to my house for dinner. It was something that was said in the heat of the moment, and probably should not have been said." John added, "Would I apologize to her if I saw her? Yeah, because I don't want to hurt any artist's feelings. It was my fault. I instigated the whole thing. But it applies to all those bloody teenage singers."
August 2005 - Madonna and John were still on rocky ground a couple of years later. "I did send her two Christmas cards and they both came back," John told the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph in December 2005.
December 2005 - It appeared as though Madonna still wouldn't forgive John for accusing her of lip-synching in concert. The New York Post reported that John tried to make amends by inviting her to perform at his and David Furnish's bachelor party in London. But John reportedly told his guests, "Madonna, the miserable cow, wouldn't do it."
Madonna's spokeswoman responded, "Madonna wishes Elton all the best, and hopes married life will make him a happier person."
February 2011: And in 2011, John didn't change his tune on lip-synching. When Rolling Stone asked him how he feels about it, he said, "Anyone who lip-syncs should be shot. Just take 'em out on the street and shoot 'em. I think Madonna 's a fantastic showgirl -- show-woman -- and I'm a big fan of some of her records. I didn't want to hurt her feelings, and subsequently I've made up and apologized. I think she paved the way for everybody, but I am right. I'm right. Live means live."
January 2012 - Things got heated at the beginning of this year when John's partner, David Furnish, got involved. John and Madonna were competing against each other in the best original song Golden Globe category, and after Madge's win, Furnish, blasted the singer in a private message on Facebook, which was later deleted. He reportedly wrote: "Madonna. Best song???? F**k off!!!"
"Madonna winning best original song truly shows how these awards have nothing to do with merit," Furnish added. The British filmmaker called Madonna's acceptance speech embarrassing in its narcissism, noting that her criticism of Lady Gaga "shows how desperate she really is."
John, meanwhile, launched into the Madonna bashing even before the ceremony began, telling Carson Daly that Madonna had "no f---ing chance" of winning the honor. When asked if "those were fighting words," he said, "No, those are accurate words."
After her Golden Globes win, Madonna laughed off John's comments while chatting with the press backstage, saying, that John "speaks to me for the next couple of years. He's been known to get mad at me, so I don't know. He's brilliant, and I adore him, so he'll win another award. I don't feel bad."
Furnish later spoke up about the incident, saying his comments were taken the wrong way.
"My passion for our film 'Gnomeo & Juliet' and belief in Elton's song really got my emotional juices going," he said. "But I must say for the record that I do believe Madonna is a great artist, and that Elton and I wish her all the best for next week's premiere of the film 'W.E.'"
July 2012: John reignited the Madonna feud this summer in an interview with  Molly Meldrum, which aired on Australian TV.
John said, "Why is she such a nightmare? Sorry, her career is over. Her tour has been a disaster and it couldn't happen to a bigger [expletive]."
"If Madonna had any common sense, she would have made a record like 'Ray of Light,' stayed away from the dance stuff and just been a great pop singer and made great pop records, which she does brilliantly. But no, she had to prove that she was like ...," he said, not specifying. "And she looks like a [expletive] fairground stripper."