It's no secret that David Foster is a legend in the music business. The musician, songwriter and producer has been nominated for a Grammy 42 times and has won 14 times.

He's worked with just about everyone you think of when you think of a "diva" -- Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston -- the list goes on. He's also helped launch the careers of a few current bright young things, including Michael Buble and Josh Groban.

Canada AM's Seamus O'Regan had a chance to sit down with Foster and his 22-acre, $70 million estate in Malibu, California. It is on that estate where Foster has worked with some of the biggest names in music in his custom-built music studio creating No. 1 albums.

Like an athlete who can remember every moment of every great game, Foster says he can remember all his great moments at his studio. Here is what the composer of " You'll See" says about Madonna.

"Madonna was great to work with because -- I never really understood her mystique although I always liked her music. We met in New York, had dinner to discuss the album. And there was something so intoxicating about her. We were just the two of us at dinner and I was looking at her going, 'Wow, she totally sucks you into her world. It's like there's nobody else in the restaurant.' She had a great work ethic. A lot of artists, they want to be co producers just because they can. She wanted to be a co producer, but she earned it. She really knows her way around a studio. She works hard."


from Drownedmadonna.com

ehuffnsd said:

Alot of people assume that Madonna (like other female pop divas) is a producer's puppet....that she just shows up to the studio,takes orders from a producer and sings whatever he tells her too.The truth is,she knows her way around a studio,as Foster pointed out.She would never sing a song,or participate in a recording session,unless she had alot of control.She has a clear idea of what she wants to do,musically.

DavidEye said:

So how the fuck do you explain Me Against The Music?

DavidEye said:

For real.
People have no respect for the amount of work she puts into each of her songs, nor do they care because they've made up their minds to catagorize her as on old Britney

Exacly.And she's been in control from day one.Reggie Lucas,who produced much of her debut album,complains that he had major conflicts with her about how the album should sound.Even back then,she was trying to assert her independence

jayaredee said:

Yes but even you admit that is due to Madonna's very unfortunate public associations of the past few years.

VoicesCarry said:

Doesn't mean she lost her touch
and doesn't have anything to do with her input in the studio
[Edited 5/16/05 7:02am]

jayaredee said:

We're talking about her image here, not her music. The general public doesn't bother listening to Madonna records before judging her. During the Ray Of Light era she had a lot of respect from the public.
[Edited 5/16/05 7:03am]

actually,I thought this thread about her music and her input in the studio


don't see why Britney's name even came up

DavidEye said:

You can thank jayaredee for that

Anyway, DavidEye, any new rumors about the album?
[Edited 5/16/05 7:07am]

VoicesCarry said:

No matter what the pblic thinks, Madonna still uses the same formula she's always used when it comes to writing songs.

edit
[Edited 5/16/05 7:20am]

jayaredee said:

I'm sorry, when you said

"People have no respect for the amount of work she puts into each of her songs, nor do they care because they've made up their minds to catagorize her as on old Britney"

I felt for sure you were talking about her public image as opposed to her songwriting abilities, which have never really meant anything to non-fans, anyway.

VoicesCarry said:

And most of those non-fans know nothing about Madonna's contribution to her music, yet they are the first to claim she has no talent as a songwriter.
Figure that out

jayaredee said:

They only know what they see, and what they see is Madge frenching Britney on live TV.

VoicesCarry said:

Ummm so are you suggesting that's how people should judge her contributions to her music?

I guess they should do the same with Janet and her tit hmm

jayaredee said:

I'm sorry, where did I say this. Please please please tell me the warped thought process that led you from point A to B in this case.

I was discussing how they do see her, not how they should see her. You know, it's not as if the average tabloid reader is going to sit down and listen to Drowned World/Substitute For Love.

VoicesCarry said:

Considering arguing about Madonna is your pastime, i thought i would drag it out longer

jayaredee said:

Honey, this is the first Maddy thread I've been on in ages. Some pastime! Anyway, I was just discussing how the average moron sees Madonna - superficially. I'm sure you agree with that.

Anyways, let's shine some more positive light on this thread shall we


During his Australian Tour , last february , Stuart Price aka Jacques Lu Cont talked with The Herald Sun , about his current works with Madonna. Here is part of the interview featured in The Melbourne Hit section.

HE has Madonna on his speed dial and a day job in her band, and New Order liked his take on their trademark sound so much they hired him to work on their new album. Yes, life is good when you are Jacques Lu Cont. .....

Price was recruited by Madonna to play guitar and all-important keyboards on her Drowned World and Reinvention world tours. Madonna reinvented some of her biggest hits for the latter, and Price wore a huge grin for most of it.

``It's hard not to have a ball when you're standing on stage in a kilt hitting a drum next to Madonna,'' he says. ``That tour was an amazing opportunity to play that kind of music to that many people. Even if you're responsible for making only 20 per cent of it have a lot of dance music integrity, you're doing something right.''

This year Price is no longer just the hired help on tour: he's started writing songs with Madonna for her new album. He's coy when asked about the direction in which Madonna will head after the lukewarm reaction to her American Life record.

``We don't actually talk about other people she's working with,'' he says, but hints she may be embracing the '80s dance pop he makes.

``Stylistically I'm certainly not doing anything I wouldn't normally do.''

He's quick to praise his boss and her often-ignored musical prowess. ``She's brilliant to work with. She often doesn't get credit for the fact she's an amazing producer. She'll carry her vision right through from beginning to end without ever dithering or losing sight of what's going on.
``The one thing you'll never hear Madonna say is, `Hmm, I don't really know what to do'. She always knows where she wants to take things and she'll push you until she gets it. She's an amazing musician.''

this is worthy of its own thread?

sosgemini said:

jayaredee said:

Hey Jayardee....told you so

jayaredee said:

LOL she has talent as a songwriter. Or at least a lyricist.

jayaredee said:

Personally,I don't care one bit how the public perceives Madonna.I enjoy her music,and I enjoy her concerts,so that's all that matters to me.As far as I'm concerned,she has already proven herself,time and time again.At this point,I don't think she has to go out of her way to prove that she is a good songwriter.She already has an impressive catalog of music.

BUT ANYWAY, THAT WAS NICE Of DAVID TO SAY THAT ABOUT ESTHER.

variety1317 said:

and I've heard similiar comments from William Orbit and Mirwais.