They both participated in "Star Academy", the french equivalent to "American Idol", to promote their respective albums (pretty sad that they have no real alternative by the way, as it shows the lack of decent music programs today...).

Stevie was in very good shape and displayed high energy during his nice versions of two titles from "A Time to Love" (except that he now looks like some king of heavy weight boxer...). He was accompanied by his usual musicians as well as by his daughter. This really creates some hope that they are going to attend other shows and might do a few concerts (one can always dream...). It is indeed hard to believe that they all crossed the Atlantic to sing about 5mn at some American Idol show...

By contrast Madonna offered another pathetic lipsynching (actually she was the only one not singing live that night...). No doubt (well, for me), she really is to music what McDonalds is to great food: a nice little well-marketed product that you are going to forget in a minute. Or, to take a perhaps more meaningful comparison, she is to music what Marilyn Monroe was to acting: some kind of icon definitely, but not someone we will remember as a major artist of her time

If you're gonna diss Madonna,at least come up with a new way of doing so

well the whole problem is you don't need any new way...Everything has been said and this pathetic lip-synching was just another example of where she is today.
But of course if you are interested in other things than music, let me tell you that she looked good, she still has definitely good musical taste, and more broadly she is the most clever woman in show business. My point is simply that this is not enough to make her an outstanding artist.

Madonna sang live on Star Acedemy. Lol, you didn't hear her miss a few notes on "Get Together" ?

variety1317 said:

Madonna haters r so predictable!

MikeMatronik said:

that's why I advised DrD to "at least come up with a new way to criticize her",lol

DavidEye said:

But how?

How ? Maybe by saying that she is even worse than Kylie ? (as you seem to believe -I don't- based on your picture MikeMatronik)

Ok let me stop here, I am actually no Madonna hater, I am just fed up about some people putting her in the same category as the greats, including for instance our little purple man and Stevie (the guy that made me watch "Star Academy" and made me want to start this thread in the first place -I would never have started this just to diss Madonna). Once everyone agrees that she is and will always be light years away from these artists, I will be willing to have a much nicer discussion about her (I actually own most of her albums, including Ray of Light which indeed is a nice album -but just nice)

DrD said:

apples and organes. She will always be Pop. The biggest Pop icon produced in the Video Age. Her place in history is set. Why do people try to act like she isn't important? jealousy? homophobia because she does dance music? sexism?

ehuffnsd said:

Exactly.

But no need to worry. DrD thought she was lip synching when she clearly wasn't so it's evident he's not incredibly bright.

her place in history is certainly set, but as an icon, not as an artist, that's all I am saying

PS: let me also remind you that she used lipsynching massively during her last tour (and you perfectly know it, as this has been commented at length in the musical press, plus I guess you attended one of these shows and unlike you I would assume you are able to make a difference), which is pretty amazing (another reminder: for doing exactly the same, Milli Vanilli were forced to retire from show business...)

DrD said:

Many artists lip-sync during performances,even during TV performances.In this instance,Madonna was not lip-syncing.End of story.Admit you were wrong and move on.

Now stop bitching,go out and buy her new CD and dance yourself into a frenzy

[Edited 11/15/05 4:28am]

homophobia ? sexism ?

What are you talking about ????? Me'shell is by far my favorite female artist (a true artist, not an icon)

Can't you just realise that some people like Madonna (I like her!) but simply think she is not playing in the same category as the great artists of our time ?
This is not even an expression of musical taste, it is a fact (what standard has she composed that others will play in the future ? What memorable musical moment has she offered ? What instrument does she play ?....)

DrD said:

You don't think Madonna is an artist and that's fine.There are millions of people who disagree with you.It's pointless debating her place in history anyway,because as you pointed out,it's already set.She really has nothing else to prove.

DrD said:

I haven't seen anyone on this thread putting Madonna in the same category as the great artists of our time,so what are you so pissed about?

DrD said:

Madonna is a pop artist.She makes great pop songs and albums that people enjoy.Nobody ever said she was the female Mozart

She obviously has something that people like,or she would have faded away years ago,dontcha think?

Well good to see that we (almost) agree then!

Not this fucking musician shit again..

U can b a great musician like Prince
& put out shit album after shit album,
like 15 years in a row & people r still
interested 'cuz there's the reputation
of old..but that has nothing 2 do with being artist..

Thank you DrD for this thread. It's become that U can't say jack shit about Madonna without the freaks comin out and jumpin into your ass to defend her.

origmnd said:

yeah, it really sucks when people have a reaction to your opinion and disagree with it

Star Academy isn't the French version of American Idol. Americal Idol is the US version of Pop Idol. Star Academy is the French version of Fame Academy. Next thing America will have their own Fame Academy type show and an X-Factor too

Anyway, Star/Fame Academy is more credible than the others. Mariah Carey, Daniel Bedingfield and Lionel Richie were on the UK one. I think I remember Elton John doing it too.

Ellie said:

America already had X-Factor first!

Haha, and we're stuck with Sharon Osbourne.