Bellazon.org >>

Name: Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone
Birthdate: August 16th, 1968
Birthplace: Bay City, Michigan
Eye Color: Green
Hair Color: Blonde
Height: 5' 41/2"
Link: http://allaboutmadonna.com/

Biography: Madonna Louise Ciccone was born on August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan, USA. Raised in a large Italian American and French-Canadian-American, (both were devout Catholic) family in the Detroit suburb of Rochester, Madonna lost her mother to cancer when she was five years old. She took classes in piano and ballet, and was an active participant in a variety of artistic activities at school. She received a dance scholarship and attended the University of Michigan for two years but quit and moved to the Corona, Queens district of New York in 1978 to pursue dance and acting professionally. She appeared in a short film called A Certain Sacrifice and joined several punk-pop bands including Breakfast Club and Emmy. She eventually penned a number of songs that brought her local fame in gay dance clubs such as Danceteria.

Madonna scored her first recording deal in 1982 while sitting on the corner of the bed of an ailing Sire Records music executive. Her demo song, "Ain't No Big Deal", was written by frequent Madonna collaborator Stephen Bray, and was shelved for several years since it had just been recorded and released by the Epic Records group Barracuda. Five years later, Madonna's version finally surfaced on the B-side of the "True Blue" single, though it has never appeared on any of her albums. Her first single "Everybody" produced by Mark Kamins was released without her photo on the jacket. This led many listeners to believe that she was, in fact, black. Thanks to the advent of MTV, however, her label was able to aggressively market Madonna's image. A playful and sexy combination of punk and pop culture, Madonna became a quick fixture on the network. Her bleached blonde hair (with black roots), sexy lace gloves, lingerie on the outside and "Boy Toy" belt buckle were soon all the rage on high streets across America.In 1983 her self-titled debut album was released, and the first hit "Holiday" topped the charts around the world. Other hit singles included "Borderline", "Lucky Star", and "Everybody". Then, in 1989, Madonna once again changed her image. She traded in her closely shorn platinum coif for long, curly black hair and an almost wholesome look for her album Like a Prayer.

In 1991 Madonna starred in a hit documentary film, Truth or Dare, which chronicled her "Blond Ambition Tour". In it her personality and private life were explored in intimate detail: the star came across as extremely ambitious, demanding, forthright, sexy and smart. It also showed her softer side as she confronted family members and visited the grave of her mother. Truth or Dare was retitled In Bed with Madonna for its UK release. These titles were parodied by the UK TV show In Bed With Medinner and the American TV spoof Medusa: Dare To Be Truthful, which starred former MTV personality Julie Brown. In 1992 Madonna appeared in the Penny Marshall film A League of Their Own which revolved around a women's baseball team. Her performance was heralded by critics as an impressive return to the form she'd hinted at in Desperately Seeking Susan, though her character, "All-The-Way Mae", a libidinous vamp, again seemed to play directly off Madonna's real life. She wrote and performed the movie's theme song, "This Used To Be My Playground". Its music video featured movie clips, and the song became a huge AC hit and Madonna's tenth Hot 100 number one single. 1992 also saw the release of her erotic book, Sex. Adult in nature, it featured Madonna as the centerpiece of photographs depicting various sexual fantasies and acts (including lesbianism, anal sex and sadomasochism). The book was bound in sheet metal and mylar, and came with a CD single of the song "Erotic" (a remix of her new single "Erotica" with different lyrics), which was packaged to look like a giant condom. She released her next album, Erotica, in the same year.

In 1998 Madonna reinvented herself yet again. During 1996 and 1998 she began studying mystical Judaism and The Kabbalah. She took Yoga lessons and pursued a vigorous exercise regime that brought her body to a peak of toned fitness. She became pregnant by her then lover, personal trainer Carlos Leon, and gave birth to her daughter, Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, on October 14, 1996. In 1998 she released Ray of Light, an album co-produced by European techno music performer William Orbit, and co-written by Orbit, Patrick Leonard and Rick Nowels. The album became her biggest hit in nearly ten years, selling over ten million copies. It spawned the top ten singles "Frozen", "Ray of Light", "Drowned World / Substitute For Love", "Nothing Really Matters" (accompanied by a video in which she portrayed a cross between a clubber and a geisha girl), and "The Power of Goodbye". Her vocals were notably stronger, likely an after effect of the vocal training she received for "Evita". The lyrics were some of Madonna's most introspective. (credit to http://allaboutmadonna.com/biography.php)

Filmography:
Cake (2005) (completed) (special thanks)
Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope (2005) (TV) (singer: "Imagine")
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) (singer: "Material Girl")
... aka Bridget Jones 2 (UK: informal title)
... aka Bridget Jones: L'âge de raison (France)
13 Going On 30 (2004) (singer: "Crazy for You")
... aka Suddenly 30 (Australia)
Die Another Day (2002) (lyricist: "Die Another Day") (singer: "Die Another Day") (song producer: "Die Another Day")
... aka D.A.D. (USA: promotional abbreviation)
Snatch. (2000) (singer: "Lucky Star")
... aka Snatch: Pigs and Diamonds (International: English title)
"Wonderland" (2000) TV Series (singer: "Wonderland")
The Next Best Thing (2000) (singer: "Time Stood Still" and "American Pie") (song producer: "American Pie")
"The Big Arvo" (2000) TV Series (singer: "Music")
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) (special thanks)
... aka Joan of Arc (Australia) (UK)
... aka Jeanne d'Arc (France)
Chutney Popcorn (1999) (special thanks)
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) (lyricist: "Beautiful Stranger") (singer: "Beautiful Stranger") (song producer: "Beauitful Stranger")
... aka Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me (USA: video title)
The 69th Annual Academy Awards (1997) (TV) (singer: "You Must Love Me")
Junky Punky Girlz (1996) (special thanks)
Canadian Bacon (1995) (special thanks)
With Honors (1994) (lyricist: "I'll Remember") (singer: "I'll Remember") (song producer: "I'll Remember")
A League of Their Own (1992) (lyricist: "This Used To Be My Playground") (singer: "This Used to Be My Playground" and "Rockford Peaches Song") (song producer: "This Used To Be My Playground")
"The Great Outdoors" (1992) TV Series (singer: "What It Feels Like For A Girl")
My Own Private Idaho (1991) (lyricist: "Cherish") (singer: "Cherish") (song producer: "Cherish") (special thanks)
The 63rd Annual Academy Awards (1991) (TV) (singer: "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man) ")
Nothing But Trouble (1991) (singer: "Get Over")
Madonna: The Immaculate Collection (1990) (V) (lyricist)
Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989) (singer: "I Surrender Dear")
Madonna: Ciao Italia - Live from Italy (1988) (V) (singer: "Open Your Heart", "Lucky Star", "True Blue", "Papa Don't Preach", "White Heat" "Causing A Commotion", "The Look Of Love", "Medley: Dress You Up / Material Girl / Like A Virgin / I Can't Help Myself", "Where's The Party?", "Live To Tell", "Into The Groove", "La Isla Bonita", "Who's That Girl?" and "Holiday")
Who's That Girl? (1987) (lyricist: "Can't Stop", "Causing a Commotion", "The Look of Love" and "Who's That Girl?") (singer: "Who's That Girl?", "Causing a Commotion", "The Look of Love" and "Can't Stop") (song producer: "Can't Stop", "Causing a Commotion", "The Look of Love" and "Who's That Girl?")
Walk Like a Man (1987) (singer: "Sidewalk Talk")
Madonna: Who's That Girl - Live in Japan (1987) (V) (singer: "Open Your Heart", "Lucky Star", "True Blue", "Papa Don't Preach", "White Heat" "Causing A Commotion", "The Look Of Love", "Medley: Dress You Up / Material Girl / Like A Virgin / I Can't Help Myself", "Where's The Party?", "Live To Tell", "Into The Groove", "La Isla Bonita", "Who's That Girl?" and "Holiday")
At Close Range (1986) (lyricist: "Live To Tell") (singer: "Live To Tell") (song producer: "Live To Tell")
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) (lyricist: "Into The Groove") (singer: "Into the Groove") (song producer: "Into The Groove") (uncredited)
Vision Quest (1985) (lyricist: "Gambler") (singer: "Crazy for You" and "Gambler")
... aka Crazy for You

Discography:
1. American Life: Released : April 22 2004
2. Music: Released : September 19 2000
3. Ray Of Light: Released : March 03 1998
4. Bedtime Stories: Released : October 25 1994
5. Erotica: Released : October 20 1992
6. Like A Prayer: Released : March 21 1989
7. True Blue: Released : June 30 1986
8. Like A Virgin: Released : November 12 1984
9. Madonna: Released : July 27 1983