(I've updated the pictures below with Madonna and the 'coyote')
I'm so bored. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I've been stuck inside the house since July 29th. At this point I think watching paint dry or grass grow would excite me. Maybe not so much watching grass grow since I'm forbidden to leave the house.
What can I tell you? Hmm, well Thursday night we had a massive thunderstorm and all day Friday was no better either. It was raining and hailing hard. It's so bizarre, ever since the town lifted the water ban it hasn't stopped raining. While it was raining I was watching TV. I wasn't so much watching TV as I was trying to. The weather kept affecting the satellite signal. I would be watching a show when the entire screen would go black and across the screen in white letters 'signal lost' would flash. I'm blogging to you about my satellite reception. This should give you a clear indication how bored I am! During my attempt to watch television I sneezed. My sister was upstairs in her room and heard. She came running down and asked, 'did you sneeze?' I said no because I knew she would make a big deal about it. 'I know you sneezed, I heard you. Do you feel feverish?' she asked. 'No. It was just a regular sneeze,' I answered. 'But you have the chicken pox.' 'Sometimes a sneeze is just a sneeze,' I stated.
Today the weather was sunny and hot. (And why wouldn't it be? Mother Nature is cruel. She knows I'm stuck indoors and enjoys taunting me. I can't wait to see what she has in store for winter) The doorbell kept on ringing. 'Have you seen our patio cushions? Have you seen our garbage lid, our patio umbrella? Yesterday's rain/hail storm had everyone's outdoor belongings blowing all over the neighborhood sending people out on a scavenger hunt. Our patio lounge chairs and cushions were rearranged around the yard while one was lodged in the shrubs. The only item that blew away was our B-B-Q cover. It went flying into the hideous creature yard. And the only thing of theirs that was in my yard was Ollie. No Ollie wasn't blown into my backyard. He's been living in between the gargoyle statues. Why? Last week as I was staring out the window waiting for my freedom to arrive, one of the children was holding Ollie while jumping up and down on the trampoline. I don't think the cat enjoyed it very much. It's possible Ollie's just hiding out.
I spent half the day on the phone with Valentina who kept encouraging me to come and visit her. Throughout the day there were so many times I was tempted to bolt but didn't. I'm proud to say the other half of my day was spent being quite productive, that is at being a couch potato. In the early afternoon. I was in a comfy pose on the couch watching TV with a bowl of popcorn in my laps when I felt something in my ear. Good grief it was my sister with the thermometer. 'Got it!' she said. 'What are you doing?!' I asked nearly knocking the bowl over. 'I wanted to check your temperature,' she replied. 'What for?' 'That sneeze yesterday bothered me and I heard you a couple of times sneezing last night. I had to see if your temperature was normal.' 'How do you know I sneezed last night?' I questioned. 'I heard you,' she answered. 'What were you doing, standing outside my door? You know I'm capable of checking my own temperature so why didn't you just ask me?' 'Would you have if I asked?' 'Probably not,' I replied. 'So what's my temperature?' 'Normal,' 'A' replied. 'Didn't I say yesterday sometimes a sneeze is just a sneeze?'
Today also marks The Queen of Pop's Birthday, Madonna. She turns 50! The local music channel had a Madonna-thon airing her movies, her concerts, and various specials in her honor. Like all girls who were Madonna fans I too had a Madonna phase where I emulated her style. Trying to copy the big girls I wore multiple crucifixes and rosaries, plastic bracelets, lace glove, mini skirts over capris and I even wore a pendant that said BoyToy. Among the specials, a Top 30 Countdown of her best videos. Since I have nothing else to blog about until I'm free of the damn chicken pox here are the top 30 videos.
30. Give It 2ME
Got no boundaries and no limits
If there’s excitement, put me in it
If it’s against the law, arrest me
If you can handle it, undress me
29. Beautiful Stranger
Haven't we met?
Some kind of beautiful stranger
You could be good for me
I've had the taste for danger
28. La Isla Bonita
Tropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La Isla Bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring through my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby
27. American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levy
But the levy was dry
And good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
singing
This will be the day that I die
This will be the day that I die
26. Hung Up
Time goes by so slowly for those who wait
No time to hesitate
Those who run seem to have all the fun
25. Secret
Happiness lies in your own hand
It took me much too long to understand
How it could be
Until you shared your secret with me
24. Hollywood
There's somethin' in the air in Hollywood
I've lost my reputation bad and good.
You've got it in your car in Hollywood;
You've got the top down and it feels so good.
23. Deeper and Deeper
Deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper
Never gonna hide it again
Sweeter and sweeter and sweeter and sweeter
Never gonna have to pretend
22. I Want You
To share is precious, pure and fair
Don't play with something you should cherish for life
Oh baby, don't you wanna care?
Ain't it lonely out there?
21. Borderline
Keep on pushing me baby
Don't you know you drive me crazy
You just keep on pushing my love over
the borderline
20. Lucky Star (Fantastic song!)
You must be my Lucky Star
'Cause you shine on me wherever you are
I just think of you and I start to glow
And I need your light
And baby you know
19. Frozen (Amazing video)You must be my Lucky Star
'Cause you shine on me wherever you are
I just think of you and I start to glow
And I need your light
And baby you know
Now there's no point in placing the blame
And you should know I'd suffer the same
If I loose you, my heart would be broken
Love is a bird, she needs to fly
Let all the hurt inside of you die
You're frozen when your heart's not open
You're broken when your heart's not open
18. Papa Don't Preach (Remember how the Catholic Church
adored this one?)
The one you warned be all about
The one you said I could do without
We're in an awful mess
And I don't mean maybe-please
17. Human Nature (Great message in this song)
You wouldn't let me say the words I longed to say
You didn't want to see life through my eyes
Express yourself, don't repress yourself
You tried to shove me back inside your narrow room
And silence me with bitterness and lies
Express yourself, don't repress yourself
16. What It Feels Like For A Girl (I really don't understand why
MTV banned this video?)
Girls can wear jeans
And cut their hair short
Wear shirts and boots
'Cause it's ok to be a boy
But for a boy to look like a girl is degrading
'Cause you think that being a girl is degrading
But secretly you'd love to know what it's like
Wouldn't you
What it feels like for a girl
15. Material Girl
Some boys kiss me, some boys hug me
I think they're okay
If they don't give me proper credit
I just walk away
14. Oh Father
It's funny that way, you can get used
To the tears and the pain
What a child will believe
13. Bad Girl
Bad girl drunk by six
Kissing someone else's lips
Smoked too many cigarettes today
I'm not happy when I act this way
12. Bedtime Story
Today is the last day that I'm using words
They've gone out, lost their meaning
Don't function anymore
11. OPEN YOUR HEART
After all these years this song/video is my number
one favorite. (After watching the video I began
collecting artwork by Tamara de Lempicka)
The video created an uproar, religious
fanatics wanted it banned. It's so tame by today's
standards.
Open your heart to me, baby
I hold the lock and you hold the key
Open your heart to me, darlin'
I'll give you love if you, you turn the key
10. Vogue
Ladies with an attitude
Fellows that were in the mood
Don't just stand there, let's get to it
Strike a pose, there's nothing to it
Vogue, vogue
9. Cherish
I was never satisfied with casual encounters
I can't hide my need for two hearts that bleed with burning love
That's the way it's got to be
Romeo and Juliet they never felt this way I bet
So don't underestimate my point of view
8. Don't Tell Me
Don't tell me to stop
Tell the rain not to drop
Tell the wind not to blow
'Cause you said so, mmm
7. Like A Virgin (My Madonna-wannabe phase era)
I was beat incomplete
I'd been had, I was sad and blue
But you made me feel
Yeah, you made me feel
Shiny and new
6. Rain
Rain
Wash away my sorrow
Take away my pain
Your love's coming down like
Rain
5. Justify My Love (I remember staying up late
and watching Nightline. It was the only show that
aired the video un-edited. If anything I found it artistic)
Poor is the man
Whose pleasures depend
On the permission of another
Love me, that's right, love me
I wanna be your baby
4. Take A Bow
Take a bow, the night is over
This masquerade is getting older
Light are low, the curtains down
There's no one here
There's no one here, there's no one in the crowd
Say your lines but do you feel them
3. Ray Of Light
Zephyr in the sky at night I wonder
Do my tears of mourning
Sink beneath the sun
She's got herself a universe gone quickly
For the call of thunder, threatens everyone
2. Express Yourself
Don't go for second best baby
Put your love to the test
You know, you know, you've got to
Make him express how he feels
And maybe then you'll know your love is real
And the number one video........
1. Like A Prayer (Another video loved by the church)
Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home
Three videos in my opinion that should have made the list:
Erotica
Love Profusion
The Power Of Goodbye
So if any of my loyal readers are Madonna fans, what are your favorite videos? Are they on this list?
XOXOXOXO,
Cocaine Princess
UPDATE:
Someone wanted to see Madonna's images taken from Justify My Love (The Beast Within) - Book Of Revelations) that serves as a backdrop as she recites a passage from The Book Of Revelations. Here are some:
Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home
Three videos in my opinion that should have made the list:
Erotica
Love Profusion
The Power Of Goodbye
So if any of my loyal readers are Madonna fans, what are your favorite videos? Are they on this list?
XOXOXOXO,
Cocaine Princess
UPDATE:
Someone wanted to see Madonna's images taken from Justify My Love (The Beast Within) - Book Of Revelations) that serves as a backdrop as she recites a passage from The Book Of Revelations. Here are some:
UPDATE:
Here is the picture of Madonna and the 'coyote.' I was only able to capture one steady shot.
55 comments:
What It Feels Like To Be A Girl-
if a man had sung the song the video never would have been banned. It's a double standard. There's more violence on an episode of COPS.
Don't worry Princess a week will go by just like that.
Open Your Heart- the fanatics mistook Madonna's kiss with the little boy the wrong way.
The video selections are quite good. My favorite Madonna song is Live To Tell, powerful ballad. The video is nothing special just clips from Sean Penn's movie. Love Profusion should have made the list. I hate the video Don't Tell. Madonna as a cow girl?
Anonymous at 12:57,
I never mistook the kiss. Only a religious fanatic would take something so beautiful and innocent and turn it into something perverse.
Although I couldn't stand her Goth period look I consider Frozen as my all time favorite.
Another week huh? You'll be shopping before you know it Princess.
Try keeping busy and you'll see the week just fly by.
Princess my Madonna phase began when I saw the video Borderline. You had a BoyToy necklace, I had the belt!
Like A Virgin is my favorite. (I never understood what the lion symbolized)
9:14, very well said Princess. The Roman Catholic Church continues to live in the dark ages.
She has made some terrific videos.
"Like a Prayer"-- confronting racism, sex, religion and getting $5 million not to sell Pepsi- What a champ!
America Pie should have never been redone. Madonna botched Don Maclean's classic. A video made only worse with the appearance of Rupert Evertt. It's good you're feeling so better. So, coming to Miami anytime soon?
6:29, I believe the lion represents man's beast-like qualities.
The video for Bad Girl runs like a short movie. Christopher Walken as Madonna's guardian angel was fantastic but he still kinda looked creepy.
Princess when your dr. finally gives you the green light, go and jump for joy in your neighbor's trampoline!
k.p. williams
For a 50 year old Madonna has an amazing body in Give It 2 Me.
I never realized there was a video for Love Profusion. My picks, 'The Power of Goodbye' and 'Live To Tell'
Princess here's my suggestion to make the week go by quick: have a couple of drinks to make you fall asleep. When you wake up the week will be over!
"Open Your Heart" what little boy doesn't dream about being in a gentlemens' club.
There are too many videos to choose from. In terms of songs, "Dress You Up" and "Angel" are my favorite. She never made a video for "Angel" even though the song was released.
The Roman Catholic Church were not the only ones who had a problem with Madonna, Tipper Gore criticized the lyrics to "Dress You Up" calling the song vulgar.
Anonymous at 10:46, I love those two songs. Very sweet lyrics to 'Angel.'
Hey Sleeping Beauty the reason you never mistook the kiss for something else is because you're Latin and you view and see things a little differently. In Latin culture people are always kissing each other, right? I've seen Latin women kiss other Latin women right on the lips when saying hello or goodbye. It's considered a friendly kiss. Someone who doesn't understand (or if they are narrow minded) could interpret such a kiss as being sexual.
(Miami is missing you Princess. Are you missing Miami?)
My favorite Madonna song isn't really a song, The Beast Within (from the Book of Revelations) she performs before opening her show. Ofra Haza chanting mixed with Madonna speaking is such a trip.
x,
dani
Princess I remember staying up late watching Nightline. Madonna did a a great job defending her video.
Love Profusion, love it.
The Beast Within, Ofra Haza chanting in the background and Madonna reading the passage is eerie and spooky.
What It Feels Like To be A Girl, MTV airs a censored version after nine. I don't understand why MTV banned the video.
Like A Prayer is my top pick for best Madonna video.
I don't know what Madonna's reasons are for opening her shows by reading excerpts from The Book of Revelation, but I find it disturbing.
If the Catholic Church wasn't too busy condemning Madonna's videos perhaps they would have had time to deal with the allegations of abuse.
7:42, Christopher Walken is just a creepy looking guy no matter what role he takes on.
Open Your Heart, how some peoples' minds go directly to the gutter- any fool could see it's just an innocent kiss.
BTW, what's your favorite Tamara de Lempicka portrait?
Anonymous at 11:32, I have two. One is from the video Open Your Heart, 'Andromeda' and my other favorite, 'The Portrait de Madame P.'
That portrait hangs in my foyer.
Princess I was in high school during Madonna's Virgin Era and all the girls were Madonna fans. Wearing skirts over leggings- OMG that fashion is back!
My favorite video is Secret, love the use of b/w.
I liked her version of American Pie. Kelly Osbourne mutilated Papa Don't Preach so did Hilary Duff with Material Girl.
Papa Don't Preach- the church criticized the video, 'it promotes teenage pregnancy.' If her character had chosen to terminate the pregnancy the church still would have criticized her. Most religious leaders are hypocrites.
I consider Drowned World/Substitute For Love the best Madonna video.
I like what you said at 9:14.
11:22, agree in regards to the statement about the Catholic Church.
The Beast Within- what made this disturbing at The Re-Invention Concert was the image of her dressed in a gown, her mouth was bound shut and the wolf watching her.
In Like A Prayer the burning crosses was meant to be a symbol of pure evil. Religious groups and organizations failed to understand this.
I agree Princess, Love Profusion should have made the list. It's a visually stunning video. What is your favorite song off her new album?
Anonymous at 2:23,
Devil Wouldn't Recognize You and Dance 2Night.
I hate when Madonna chooses to open the show by scaring the audience out of their minds when she reads from The Bible's book of Revelations. "I saw a beast rising out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads... it opened its mouth to utter blasphemous words against God... if anyone has an ear, let him hear... he is coming with the clouds..." etc, etc.
You don't find it disturbing Princess?
Princess I'm a huge Madonna lover like you. I missed The Re-Invention Concert so I'm not sure what image the others are commenting about during the opening of The Beast Within. Can you post a picture if you have one? My best Madonna video pick, La Isla Bonita.
After that whole long list of Madonna videos, I am amazed that "Live To Tell" isn't amoung them. It was the only Madonna song that I ever really liked.
Princess,
My choice, Beautiful Stranger. It's a funny video especially the part when Austin Powers is fantasizing about Madonna. Your song choice from Hard Candy, "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" is a pretty bold one.
I hope time flies for you this week.
Drowned World/Substitute For Love was a video that had limited airplay. The video itself speaks volumes. Love Profusion, I agree with you Princess that should have been one of the 30 videos.
The Beast Within, Ofra Haza's vocals are f-amazing! I'm hoping Madonna opens the show again reading the passage.
I love Madonna but those pictures are extremely disturbing. Princess why isn't 'Material Girl' your favorite video?
Princess your answer left by the question at 2:23, after interpreting the lyrics, does the song best describe the relationship you once shared with your ex boyfriend? The same came be asked about with "The Power of Goodbye"
I didn't find the images disturbing. However what I did find disturbing was the late Ofra Haza's chanting and her music as Madonna speaks. I think that part is what creeps everybody out.
Where's "Crazy for You," she recorded that for the Vision Quest soundtrack just before she broke it big.
Ahh memories.....
Anonymous at 7:03- It's all in the eyes of the beholder.
Anonymous at 2:31- You must be a lawyer. Who else would analyze the lyrics and ask such a question?
SFL- I love that song! It should have also made the list.
The pictures are unique and powerful.
Ray of Light is my favorite. The video is so cool. That entire album is one of her best.
Crazy For You, the video wasn't all that special.
Anonymous at 10:38, if they had overdone the video the feeling of the song would have been lost. Madonna singing in a smoky nightclub, you can feel the emotions of the lyrics.
10:24, it is a song: Justify My Love (The Beast Within) found on the Justify My Love Remix cd.
Why is everyone so 'spooked' by the song and the images? Ofra Haza's chanting and music is soothing and calming. Her voice is beautiful and not eerie!
BTW Princess, Crazy For You was the first song played at my high school prom for the first dance.
10:55, sometimes simplicity is best. I pick Live To Tell as my favorite.
I'm hoping Madonna doesn't open her show again reciting the passage. The last time she did I closed my eyes and covered my ears. It's frightening!
The images were presented during her Re-Invention Tour. I found the pictures brilliant.
2:23, not a wolf but a coyote but it isn't watching her, I think.
10:55, yes Princess, sometimes we focus our attention on the video and we forget what the actual song is about. Crazy For You is definitely a classic song by Madonna. The perfect song to dedicate to someone to let them know your feelings instead of coming right out and saying it.
Anonymous at 2:59, the coyote isn't watching her. It keeps entering and leaving the room while she sits to one side and when she's on the bed. I don't have a picture of that one.
Crazy For You, I couldn't agree more. It's a song that pulls your heart strings.
To those who are frightened and/or disturbed by the imagery:
The Beast represents the physical world we live in, which is really all an illusion. We are all slaves in this world thinking we control our own destiny, fate etc. This beast controls us and is essentially killing us... i.e. we are killing ourselves. We are part of this cult in which we do not think or speak (hence the mouth guard) and it will ultimately be our undoing.
There is a sense of foreboding about this, and it is disturbing and somewhat frightening. She does connect "the beast" with "this world" that we live in ... But I think the great turning point in the RIT version of "The Beast Within" doesn't really focus on the beast. Here's what I mean...
I think the Re-Invention Tour was all about re-invention (sorry -- that probably sounds obvious) in the sense of re-Creation, transformation. In the opening, she's reading from the Book of Revelation, which is an apocalyptic book of Scripture. It uses very figurative language to describe the end times, yes, but the big dramatic moment in THIS reading, is when she reads, "Then, I saw a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH…" and she goes on to read the description of it -- no crying, no pain, "for these things shall have passed away." The end of the world, as described in the Bible, is actually a time for a new Creation – a new heaven and a new earth. In a sense, Madonna's reading about a time when God will re-invent the world/universe. I think it's pretty awesome because, for me, she's kind of acknowledging that all the re-invention she does is in the artistic realm, which is magnificent in and of itself, but all the work of 'creation' (with a small c) is just an earthly reflection of divine Creation (with a big C).
Then she goes on to wow us with all of her own re-creations -- which, for Madonna, especially happen through music and dance. The first performance, "Vogue," highlights the transformation power of dance and the dance floor: "It's the music's pumping that will bring you NEW LIFE..." She also highlights the transformation power of love quite a bit.
I just think it's interesting that, in a way, Madonna gives God credit as Creator and that God will bring about the ultimate re-Invention/re-Creation at some point. And all of her inventions/re-inventions (creations/re-creations) are earthly reflections of that in some way. (She talks about this a lot in terms of "being Light" it seems.) Even though the opening maybe a little scary, I like it... Because, in the end, it's hopeful. The beast gets destroyed in the Book of Revelation -- but there will be a new heaven and a new earth that is a joyful place free of pain and sadness.
Just my two cents. Please forgive me... English was my second major, so I over analyze everything. (And I know I haven't really addressed the specific imagery. It's hard to assign specifics to it -- other than that it's the visual she felt most closely matched/expressed the poetry. There's a stark contrast between the highly ornate red queen outfit and the very white, plain woman that lies on the bed and looks upward into the light. Perhaps it's just embodying the dichotomy that part of us is enslaved to the beast, but part of us has a spiritual side that is connected to our Creator and longs to re-connect.)
Princess, I discovered your blog on a link. It took me nearly one week to read through your posts. I'm hooked!
Why do so many attorneys believe you live in Miami--do you?
Bedtime Story
Live To Tell
Justify My Love
Thanks Princess for posting the coyote pic. But what is she doing? The image is not clear.
'....You're so close but still a world away
What I'm dying to say, is that....'
The little boy in 'Open Your Heart,' I use to wish that was me!
YOU HAVE YET TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS LEFT BY: 7:25pm, 12:09am, 2:31am
Justify My Love (The Beast Within) was first introduced to fans during the opening "The Girlie Show World Tour" with no images. Instead dancers came out on stage. For her 2005 Re-Invention Tour Madonna collaborated with photographer Steven Klein and produced the images/mini movie. There are two versions: one was recorded in the studio, the other live during the Re-Invention Tour that can be found on 'I'm Going To Tell You A Secret' DVD/CD. I suggest people listen to the live version, it's much better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBWpNjotE1c
I have posted a link to youtube.com
It is the actual opening of her 2005 concert. Pay attention to the pictures as she recites the passage. It is NOT disturbing. IMO it's one of the if not best artistic videos done by Madonna. Ofra Haza's vocals are indeed haunting but that's what makes it so spectacular. (Ofra Haza RIP)
5:53: Because I secretly do live in Miami. (But please don't tell anyone)
6:22: You'll see the image clear on you tube.
Anonymous at 7:46, I answered one of them.
Anonymous at 9:13, Thank you for posting the link.
9:13- after viewing the footage I call it a disturbing masterpiece. Princess are you a fan of Ofra Haza, do you like her music?
9:03- You answered my question with a question.
Anonymous at 11:02, 'AHAVA'
(Im nin'alu daltei n'divim daltei marom lo nin'alu)
Anonymous at 10:12, Did I?
11:02--It's a fine line between freaky and brilliant.
I viewed the performance 3x. The chanting in the background is magnificent as is the entire production.
I wish I was able to see Madonna in action! She's such a powerful entertainer.
THE VIDEO IS SPOOKY!
Princess how can you not find this disturbing? It's downright damn scary!!
There are more 'disturbing' images on the 6'oclock news.
I love the video, Like A Virgin, when she's dancing on the gondola and the beautiful wedding gown she wears and the lion....
Anonymous at 4:14, I can't explain why but I find it extraordinary.
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