"though I would agree that all of these albums were watershed moments for me."

-Madonna

A League of Their Own as Mae Mordabito

This Used to Be My Playground

Marlene Dietrich influence

SEX

Steven Meisel.

Niki Haris, Donna DeLory

Erotica

Vanilla Ice

Ingrid Casesar

The tour was directed by Madonna's brother, Christopher Ciccone; costumes for the tour were designed by Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana.

Body of Evidence,

the film Dangerous Game

The Girlie Show World Tour,

Photography for promotional material, posters and publicity for the show was by Herb Ritts.

the Late Show with David Letterman

biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli

Dancers: Ungela Brockman, Christopher Childers, Michael Gregory, Carrie Ann Inaba, Jill Nicklaus, Ruth Inchaustegui, Luca Tommassini and Carlton Wilborn

Dennis Rodman

Bedtime Stories

fitness trainer Carlos Leon

Something to Remember

YES!!!

Love this topic already!

EROTICA

My name is Dita
I'll be your mistress tonight
I'll be your loved one darling
Turn off the light
I'll be your sorceress, your heart's magician
I'm not a witch, I'm a love technician

I'll be a guiding light in your darkest hour
I'm gonna change your life, I'm like a poison flower

Give it up, do as I say
Give it up and let me have my way
I'll give you love, I'll hit you like a truck
I'll give you love, I'll teach you how to ...

Erotic, erotic, put your hands all over my body
All over me

We could use the cage
I've got a lot of rope
I'm not full of rage
I'm full of hope
This is not a crime and you're not on trial
Bend over baby, I'm gonna make you smile

Light the candles, 'til they're nice and soft
And when they start to drip, I'm gonna get you off

Give it up, do as I say
Give it up and let me have my way
I'll give you love, I'll hit you like a truck
I'll give you love, I'll teach you how to ...

Erotic, erotic, put your hands all over my body
All over me

Give it up, do as I say
Give up and let me have my way
I'll give you love, I'll hit you like a truck
I'll give you love, I'll teach you how to ...

I could bring you so much pleasure

Erotic, erotic, put your hands all over my body
Erotic, erotic, put your hands all over my ...

Erotic, erotic, put your hands all over my body
All over me

Only the one that hurts you can make you feel better
Only the one that inflicts pain can take it away

Eroti - ca

Erotica- Antichrist Manu Club Mix

Erotica (dikkie’s Erotism Mix)

Erotica – (Underground Club Mix)

Erotica (Achille Sarcone Erotic House Mix)

Erotica (William Orbit Remix)

Erotica(album Version)

Erotica was a great song.. I remember going to the big Barnes and Noble book store in The Village to buy the SEX book... The book looked great but it started to fall a part real fast

banks said:

Erotica was a great song.. I remember going to the big Barnes and Noble book store in The Village to buy the SEX book... The book looked great but it started to fall a part real fast

I never bought it, thought about purchasing a copy I found on the internet.

A friend of mine bought it back then. I remember there was a line out of the store at Waldens Book store back then for the book.

similar to the 1960's 70's and 80's I think the early -mid 90's was the last of that kind of openess that was just 'non-artistic' the times were sexually revolutionary too coming out of the Regan/Bush years

[Edited 12/2/11 11:19am]

[Edited 12/31/11 22:48pm]

OldFriends4Sale said:

We could use the cage
I've got a lot of rope
I'm not full of rage
I'm full of hope

The delivery of this line kills me every time

"This Used to Be My Playground" is a song performed by Madonna. It is the theme for the film A League of Their Own, which starred Madonna as well as Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Rosie O'Donnell. The song was written and produced by Madonna and Shep Pettibone, and recorded prior to final sessions for her 1992 studio album Erotica. Released in the summer, the single was a worldwide hit, spending one week at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in August 1992, and became Madonna's tenth chart topper, breaking her tie with Whitney Houston to become the female artist with the most number one singles at that time. It entered the charts in the UK top five, peaking at number three for two weeks and was another top five hit for Madonna in numerous other markets. The song earned Madonna a Golden Globe Award nomination for "Best Original Song".

This Used To Be My Playground

This used to be my playground (used to be)
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend
Why did it have to end
And why do they always say

Don't look back
Keep your head held high
Don't ask them why
Because life is short
And before you know
You're feeling old
And your heart is breaking
Don't hold on to the past
Well that's too much to ask

[Long and movie versions only:]

[chorus]
Live and learn
Well the years they flew
And we never knew
We were foolish then
We would never tire
And that little fire
Is still alive in me
It will never go away
Can't say goodbye to yesterday (can't say goodbye)

[chorus]

No regrets
But I wish that you
Were here with me
Well then there's hope yet
I can see your face
In our secret place
You're not just a memory
Say goodbye to yesterday (the dream)
Those are words I'll never say (I'll never say)

This used to be my playground (used to be)
This used to be our pride and joy
This used to be the place we ran to
That no one in the world could dare destroy

[Short and movie versions only:]

This used to be our playground (used to be)
This used to be our childhood dream
This used to be the place we ran to
I wish you were standing here with me

[Movie version only:]

This used to be our playground (used to be)
This used to be our great escape
This used to be the place we ran to
This used to be our secret hiding place

This used to be our playground (used to be)
This used to be our childhood dream
This used to be the place we ran to
The best things in life are always free
Wishing you were here with me

Another great era in Madonna's career.

The music video, directed by Alek Keshishian, was filmed in June 1992 at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, California and Malibu Beach and world premiered on MTV on June 30, 1992. The video was commercially released in 2004 as a bonus feature on the 2-disc special edition DVD of A League of Their Own. The video shows a photo album being viewed by somebody and Madonna singing in different settings from the different pictures inside the album. As the video ends, the viewer having reached the end of the album then scrolls backwards through previous pages.

• Director: Alek Keshishian
• Producer: unknown
• Director of Photography: unknown
• Editor: Jim Haygood
• Production Company: Propaganda Films

Madonna with director Alek Keshishian

I love your threads oldfriends

Correct me if I'm wrong, but playground was never performed live. Right?

This picture by Paolo Roversi was originally
intended for the cover of Bedtime Stories.

[Edited 12/2/11 11:18am]

RKJCNE said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but playground was never performed live. Right?

From what I've read as well as from the dvd concerts up till now, no it hasn't

If she did she would have to have Donna & Niki, do something like the Rain performance on the Erotica tour

RKJCNE said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

We could use the cage
I've got a lot of rope
I'm not full of rage
I'm full of hope

The delivery of this line kills me every time

Have you ever?

I love the Underground Club Mix

RKJCNE said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but playground was never performed live. Right?

That's right.

Madonna performs Bedtime Story @ the 1995 Brit Awards 2.20.1995

Monday 20th February 1995 saw Madonna perform live for the first time in her career on a British awards show - a breathtaking version of "Betime Story" at the 15th Annual Brit Awards in London.

February 20, 1995

While at the European tour to promote Bedtime Stories, M made her first appearance ever at the Brit Awards, to perform Bedtime Story. It was 15 years ago.

It was a surprise for all of us: this time, there was no dance routine. Still, she delivered a stunning piece of stage art, with dramatic hair extensions, a Versace gown and incredible sensuality - backed up by two dancers (one of them was Luca Tomassini, from The Girlie Show) and a live band, brilliantly remaking the Junior Vasquez remix. M was now introducing us to a new dimension: the ethereal.

MT: In 1994 you were chosen as one of the two platinum blond "twins" for the famous Bedtime Story performance at the Brit Awards. Speaking with Jamie King a while ago he told us that he was the one that suggested your name because he thought you would have been the perfect choice for that performance.
What do you remember of that episode? It may not be one of the most well known Madonna television appearances but it definetly had something special.

Luca Tomassini: It was indeed a very unique performance. I love the fact I could use Thai Chi movements and that we were dancing in slow motion. Madonna was so beautiful and it was another great experience for me. I learned a lot from her. There's always a great research in the things she does, to bring novelty on stage. Things are analyzed and there's always a great courage and that's contageous. You always feel like a pioneer when you're next to her... Invincible!

I bought a mint condition SEX book this past summer for almost $300.

why are you lumping 2 (possibly 3) very distinct eras together as one?

Bedtime Stories was the apology for Sex/Erotica.

STR/Evita was a further extension of that by rebranding herself as safe for your mother (and even grandmother).

Vogue/The Immaculate Collection/Blond Ambition is a more logical era to lump in with Sex/Erotica

errant said:

why are you lumping 2 (possibly 3) very distinct eras together as one?

Bedtime Stories was the apology for Sex/Erotica.

STR/Evita was a further extension of that by rebranding herself as safe for your mother (and even grandmother).

Vogue/The Immaculate Collection/Blond Ambition is a more logical era to lump in with Sex/Erotica

Yes Erotica & Bedtime Stories are 2 distinct albums but the era's are kind blurred together.

Madonna did not apologize for it at all, there is no interview or even mention of that.

...Ooops I didn't know I couldn't talk about sex, and she definately did not want to come across as safe. I mean did you see the David Letterman show? That was a proceed to Bedtime Stories and there was no way that was an apology or wanting to be safe for grandma

Absolutely No Regrets

A lot of the same dancers, same producers, photographers, her style and attitude were very much similar. the more urban and organic feels of both compliment each other, her look. Madonna was still very much the same just toned down a bit in 4 B Stories. She was still in the same zone.

Blond Ambition/Vogue I thought about, but I think it's very different from the Erotica/Bedtime Stories vibe, totally different group of dancers and producers, style.

Her vibe for BAmbitions to me flows out of the prior album. Justify My Love though by itself feels like the direction she wanted to go into for Erotica, similarly to how the songs Bedtimes stories feels like the style she went into for Ray of Light. but from her lovers 2 her dancers it's Blond Ambition/Vogue and This Used to Be My Playground feels like Erotica & Bedtime Stories.

To me its like Purple Rain & ATWIAD the 2nd came out of the 1st as the result of the 1st they compliment each other well, actually better than 1999 + Purple Rain (ATWIAD & Parade are nothing alike like a lot of people try to say)

lastly I don't want 2 try to maintain 2 different threads

[Edited 12/2/11 20:55pm]

Love this era and the two albums. Erotica (the song) is still timeless. A true Madonna classic.

Today is the last day that I'm using words
They've gone out, lost their meaning
Don't function anymore

Let's, let's, let's get unconscious honey
Let's get unconscious honey

Today is the last day that I'm using words
They've gone out, lost their meaning
Don't function anymore

Traveling, leaving logic and reason
Traveling, to the arms of unconsciousness
Traveling, leaving logic and reason
Traveling, to the arms of unconsciousness

Chorus:

Let's get unconscious honey
Let's get unconscious
Let's get unconscious honey
Let's get unconscious

Words are useless, especically sentences
They don't stand for anything
How could they explain how I feel

Traveling, traveling, I'm traveling
Traveling, traveling, leaving logic and reason
Traveling, traveling, I'm gonna relax
Traveling, traveling, in the arms of unconsciousness

(chorus)

And inside we're all still wet
Longing and yearning
How can I explain how I feel?

(chorus)

Traveling, traveling (repeat twice)
Traveling, traveling, in the arms of unconsciousness

And all that you've ever learned
Try to forget
I'll never explain again

Unusual for the mid-90's, Madonna promoted this song on the Internet, with a 30-second sample of "Secret" and the cover image of the then-unreleased Bedtime Stories. She also left a message with the following words:

OldFriends4Sale said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Today is the last day that I'm using words
They've gone out, lost their meaning
Don't function anymore

Let's, let's, let's get unconscious honey
Let's get unconscious honey

Today is the last day that I'm using words
They've gone out, lost their meaning
Don't function anymore

Traveling, leaving logic and reason
Traveling, to the arms of unconsciousness
Traveling, leaving logic and reason
Traveling, to the arms of unconsciousness

Chorus:

Let's get unconscious honey
Let's get unconscious
Let's get unconscious honey
Let's get unconscious

Words are useless, especically sentences
They don't stand for anything
How could they explain how I feel

Traveling, traveling, I'm traveling
Traveling, traveling, leaving logic and reason
Traveling, traveling, I'm gonna relax
Traveling, traveling, in the arms of unconsciousness

(chorus)

And inside we're all still wet
Longing and yearning
How can I explain how I feel?

(chorus)

Traveling, traveling (repeat twice)
Traveling, traveling, in the arms of unconsciousness

And all that you've ever learned
Try to forget
I'll never explain again

One of my all-time favorite Madonna songs

aardvark15 said:

Love this era and the two albums. Erotica (the song) is still timeless. A true Madonna classic.

Me too. Amazing times.