We have done our best to translate Madonna’s interview with La Repubblica which is online today! She talks about the tour, music, motherhood, being single, and Lady Gaga.
Frost DROPS into the room when it comes to Lady Gaga. Her PR threatens “You better talk about the tour or the Album!”. Madonna is a bundle of muscles under a dress light, perfect with “adult” hairdo similar to Ingrid Thulin in “Fall of the gods” or Marlene Dietrich, the diva with whom she is frequent compared in this stage of her career. The cheeky girl who stunned the Italy in 1987 with the Turin concert broadcast live tv has given way to the English lady, who in the years in which she was married to Guy Ritchie, has learned the latest rudiments to become an iron lady.
Having so many arrows at her bow, Madonna, who in 30 years has become a mask so recognizable by having no rival; a pop icon who has used the camera to have established a complicity which has spawned creative memorable images, such as not seen since the time of Marilyn Monrow. Some time later, when she learned of her cinematic ambitions, Marlene added: “I have played roles she is vulgar, vulgar.” Meaning, of course, that the vulgarity is an essential ingredient for the creation of a pop idol.
Now at 53 years, in the wake of the MDNA album, not quite an international hit but with excellent results in our country, has just started a new round of shows between dance and transgression: tonight in Rome, then in Milan in Florence. In the first show of the MDNA Tour in Tel Aviv, Madonna has infuriated Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French extreme right, represented with a swastika on her forehead. In Istanbul she teased 55 thousands fans with a raving improvised striptease that culminated with a exposed tit (on her naked back, she had written the words “NO FEAR”)-Janet Jackson eight years ago at the Superbowl was lynched for far less. “And tonight in Rome I use my favorite themes” she threatens, “God, the Church, Catholicism, and the Vatican, since we are here within walking distance”.
Thirty years of career, twelve albums, nineteen films as an actress and two as Director, nine world tours, three hundred million records sold, a contract-the last (in 2007 with Live Nation)-from 120 million dollars, two marriages-with Sean Penn and Guy Ritchie-and two divorces, two natural and two adopted children from Malawi, a boyfriend of nearly thirty years younger, the French breakdancer Brahim Zaibat (onstage with her) Madonna is more than ever the most powerful woman in show business. Although the last album didn’t sell as well as previous ones, this tour is sold out as usual. Effect of crisis or Lady GaGa? It is a long time to adjust her music age, this might be the last dance tour before a breakthrough that has become urgent now that the “material girl” is a lady. Elegant, beautiful, demanding, uncompromising. For this interview (which was filmed by DeeJay Tv), did arrive from Los Angeles on its light engineer of trust.
“My blood pressure dropped at the very moment in which they landed in Rome”, she begins, “because the last three months we have worked so hard for this show that having a few days off it seemed a dream. I feel good here, I feel loved. I can’t imagine another place in the world where I live in complete relaxation. “
Twenty-five years have passed from the triumphant concert in Turin. What is left of the Madonna?
“It was my baptism of fire, an immense audience, an explosive energy; an event and a feeling impossible to clone. But Madonna is still here then, sitting in front of you “.
The new video, Turn up the radio, will be filmed in Italy. Where?
“She does not reveal the content of course, but I’ll be shooting in Florence, in the only possible time between one date and another on the tour.”
With that spirit has designed this show-perhaps the most dark of his career-which poses major questions about the difficult times that we are living?
“It’s a journey from the darkness into the light. I believe that the world has been at the mercy of the strong powers as now, and nobody will care more the State of health of the planet. Terrifying. It’s amazing that the faster information is circulated, the less people seem to absolutely not motivated to do anything for their own good. Although the Internet is a formidable way of access to the lives of others, we’ve never been isolated as now; a strange paradox. Not only that, we have become more intolerant, we have more prejudices, and this scares me. But there is also another part of the coin: there are also people who struggle to combat all this, to create unity among peoples, to urge people to take action and to feel more in charge of their own destiny “.
She is a pop icon, from life and career has been the best, but she never stops facing new challenges; After acting, directing …
“Lola is very independent in this, has her own opinions and sometimes even when I don’t agree goes on her way. I like her spontaneity, the fact that she manages to focus on details that I don’t ever notice. Sometimes, of course, we have the same tastes, and then it happens that she wears my shoes, or I wear hers. What is important is that this work gives her a sense of responsibility, and that she feels motivated. “
What you would like to discover in the iPod of her children? And what to listen instead?
“I would never discuss their tastes, because music is a personal matter. Listen to a lot of electronics, very hip hop, Justin Bieber obviously … “.
And you what to listen to?
“Patti Smith and many film soundtracks. As you can see are in full trip cinema “.
How becoming a MOM has changed her priorities? She is a rebellious and provocative that has made a mockery of any rule, as it is difficult now to impose rules to boys?
“I have no more free time because every single moment is dedicated to them, to see them grow quickly, to chide them when they want to go to bed late or stay up all night and party … they are teenagers like the others, except for the fact that they are harassed by the paparazzi. Are they happy with my popularity? I don’t think so. I urge them to treat others with dignity and respect and I am adamant about certain things: first school and homework, then the rest. They have always seen me work hard and know that nothing comes from luck. I thing I am a good example and do not hesitate to admit it, I’m a MOM. On this tour my daughter works in wardrobe and Rocco dancing onstage in a few pieces. I was clear: If you want to do,you have to follow the same same rules as the other dancers, and do not take it lightly. “
The fact of having lost her mother at a young age helped to mature more quickly and to push her just as quickly to escape?
“Certainly the fact that growing up without a mother to guide me made me feel more independent.
Those risks had to run to get to this point in her career, to have the freedom and the power to just what she likes?
“If you’re an artist, risks are inevitable. Otherwise, I’d better change profession “.
The balance is always a problem for people under pressure. Do you find help through Kabbalah?
“We artists are people who seek a spasmodic popular approval as the damned and struggle to survive in an environment that is crazy … until you realize that the important thing in life is not just how many records you’ve sold, how much you’ve earned, but also be able to take yourself seriously seriously, to laugh at yourself , and not take everything to heart and remember every day that flattery is not a good cure for the soul. These are the certainties that gives me my spiritual path “.
She often used religious fetishes in her performances, does she have something special in store for tonight’s show?
“Of course ! but count on surprise. It is no secret that my strictly religious education is something that I have slowly developed, metabolized and also exorcised through music, songs, videos, shows “.
It is difficult for an artist to adapt his music to different seasons of life? The story says that the changes are dangerous in pop.
“Pop is popular, so you have to constantly be aware of what happens in the world, you have to be informed on consumption; If you do not risk losing the pass in a Flash. The adaptation of which you speak should be an automated process. “
Divorced twice and the mother of four children, two natural and two adopted in Malawi. At this point it is still nice to have a man for home or do you prefer a single life?“
Single? Why should I live on my single? It’s definitely nice to have a man for home … Or even in the garden. “
What are the qualities that a man must have to seduce Madonna?“
A distinct personality, ideas, and be a good dancer.”
Lady GaGa is a threat or just another “spice girl” in passing?She closes her eyes, takes a long breath, holds the breath. She conjures who knows what Saints or Devils to maintain self control:
“She is an artist with a great talent”.
