http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...369748.stm

Madonna defends gig 'crucifixion'




Madonna's tour is the highest earning show by a female artist
Madonna has again defended staging a mock crucifixion during her world tour.

Religious groups have complained about the cross scene and NBC is still deciding whether to include it in a November broadcast of the tour.

"It is no different than a person wearing a cross. My performance is neither anti-Christian, sacrilegious or blasphemous," she said in a statement.

"It is my plea to the audience to encourage mankind to help one another," the 48-year-old added.

"I believe in my heart that if Jesus were alive today he would be doing the same thing," she continued.

The crucifix segment shows the singer performing her song Live to Tell suspended from a giant cross wearing a crown of thorns.

Madonna performs in Russia
Madonna's Moscow concert was her first show in Russia

Russian Orthodox and Catholic leaders have called it blasphemous.

Russian police detained 10 supporters of Orthodox organisations outside her Moscow concert earlier this month for holding an unauthorised picket.

And Dutch prosecutors said a priest had confessed to making a hoax bomb threat while unsuccessfully trying to stop Madonna's concerts in Amsterdam.

The pop star has defended the imagery, saying it forms part of an appeal to her audience to donate to Aids charities.

Her world Confessions tour ended on Thursday in Japan and has become the highest-earning show by a female artist, according to US magazine Billboard.

Figures are yet to be finalised, but tour manager Arthur Fogel claims 1.2 million people attended 60 shows, making $193.7m

HamsterHuey said:

Dutch guerilla priests.



Dutch youth organisations also sued for the show to be sacriligous.

Double

HamsterHuey said:

Meaning that the average ticket price was over $160.

GangstaFam said:

I am SO not being squeezed for that and will await the DVD...

GangstaFam said:

Don't forget merchandise...

When She came to Portugal (RIT) I could have got some premium seats, but I came to the conclusion that I'm not fanatic enough to spend more that 100 euros on her.

MikeMatronik said:

I don't believe that for one second!

GangstaFam said:

Believe me...I only buy her albums.

I hate the like a virgin album...

MikeMatronik said:

[Edited 9/22/06 2:56am]

HamsterHuey said:

I'm now on a vibe for the artist formerly know as TTD!

MikeMatronik said:

I am now going to shower.

Said the filthy guy.

Here's her full statement:

"I am very grateful that my show was so well received all over the world, but there seems to be many misinterpretations about my appearance on the cross and I wanted to explain it myself once and for all.

There is a segment in my show where three of my dancers 'confess' or share harrowing experiences from their childhood that they ultimately overcame. My 'confession' follows and takes place on a Crucifix that I ultimately come down from. This is not a mocking of the church. It is no different than a person wearing a Cross or 'Taking Up the Cross' as it says in the Bible. My performance is neither anti-Christian, sacrilegious nor blasphemous. Rather, it is my plea to the audience to encourage mankind to help one another and to see the world as a unified whole. I believe in my heart that if Jesus were alive today he would be doing the same thing.

My specific intent is to bring attention to the millions of children in Africa who are dying every day, and are living without care, without medicine and without hope. I am asking people to open their hearts and minds to get involved in whatever way they can. The song ends with a quote from the Bible's Book of Matthew:

"For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you took care of me and God replied, "Whatever you did for the least of my brothers... you did it to me."'
Please do not pass judgment without seeing my show."

eleven said:

Thank you, you Madonna fan!

HamsterHuey said:

Yup, guilty as charged!

MikeMatronik said:

I heard he changed his name again, he now goes by "Sananda Trent D'Arby".

I don't understand how people can stand outside of a concert and protest a show they've never seen, and expect people to take them seriously.

I'm not wild about her doing a crucifix scene though only because it's kind of trite. Too many artists overuse the imagery as some sort of analogy to their own issues, and it usually comes off as a bit pompous and ridiculous in the end.

Tom said:

Agreed. When people criticize what they haven't seen based upon what others *think* is there, it's not such a valid criticism.

Also, modern pop stars are way too full of themselves. Being lectured on geopolitics by a pop singer who can't even sing?

I'm quite certain Jesus would join the Kabbalah and give multi-million dollar concerts about how concerned he is about the rain forest and the starving in Africa.

If Jesus were a millionaire, he'd give the money to charity, not talk about how others should do something for the poor.

Alasseon said:

FYI- She just gave $3 Million to build orphanges that will clothe, feed, and house children in Malawi Africa. So cut the girl some slack- at least she's walkin the walk- not just talkin.

[Edited 9/22/06 10:01am]

eleven said:

EXCELLENT! I was hoping someone in the know would kick the statistics.

If she has, then cool. She's doing what she says she's gonna do.

Kudos to Madonna.

Alasseon said:

Have you guys seen the performance? From your descriptions, it sounds to me like you haven't.

heartbeatocean said:

I've only read reviews of the show and seen pictures. There's a huge difference though between posting a few thoughts about it on a message board and going to far as so organize boycotts and protests, and bomb threats.

Alasseon said:

It's kinda sick how the media doesn't want to focus on or even mention the fact that she's donated so much money and time to good causes like the one in Malawi. Oh well, I still loves me some Madge

This is no more scandelous than her swearing during Blonde AMbition nor the Masterbation scene on the bed during the same tour. There was also religious controversy during that tour as well. I actually thought it was sorta tame (and kinda lame...though I love the image of Madge strapped to that cross.

If NBC decides to nix that scene it would be a really stupid idea.

MikeMatronik said:

I find that statement SHOCKING as you are like our Madonna News Feed over here

MikeMatronik said:

eleven said:

I don't agree with Madonna on a lot of things lately, but I wish more people would take this type of thinking. The world would be better off.

eleven said:

We're all guilty as charged here

heartbeatocean said:

I think many of us have.

I have seen it but most people who talk about it in a negative way haven't seen the show.

it totally took away from any critizm for the Sorry Video... maybe NBC will be smart enough to cut the Cross but keep in the Video.

superspaceboy said:

I was addressing my question to Alasseon and Tom who use phrases like

trite
pompous
ridiculous
artists full of themselves
being lectured

Funny because none of those things crossed my mind while watching the crucifix scene. I admit I had similar reservations when I heard about it -- it sounded completely hoaky to me -- but my experience of it blew away all my preconceptions and redeemed the notion of an artist using the stage to make a statement.