Madonna's fanbase changed with every album too. I remember a time when being a madonna fan did not equate to being LGBTQQ.

I'm sure soccer moms who called madonna immoral and all that stuff jumped on the bandwagon when she was using the mother figure image for years and now all of a sudden have no problem with her.

I guess Madonna has a very diverse fanbase and always will

exactly.


and why is race an issue? the reason MADONNA is more successful is because she's white??? why do i never hear that argument about someone like say these two people.....





they're only successful because they're black.



be responsible for your own actions.
[Edited 11/8/08 18:50pm]

Are you a commentator for FOX news? This sounds like something straight out of Sean Hannity's mouth. As I have said before, a small few have broken the racial barrier in music (Michael Jackson, Prince, Jimi Hendrix) and media (Oprah Winfrey and Tyra Banks), but because we elected a Black president does not make eternal racism magically disappear. Barack Obama was elected because the Republican party has made such a mess of this country in the past 8 years. Many people set their racial issues aside because of their pocketbooks period. Many people no longer saw Black, but green. Although this is a historic moment in this country, we still have a long way to go for total racial equality, and I am not talking about just entertainment, but life period. You pointed out two people who are exceptions to the reality. What is the ratio of Black people (music, media, fashion, actors) with that type of success compared to their White counterparts. I am a Black woman, you can trust me on that.

Race has and still is a factor in the music industry. The term "crossover" almost never applies to White artist. It is about the Black artist crossing over to the mainstream pop (predominately White) charts. There was a time when the Black female diva riled the charts, but like Black models, were a fad that is no longer profitable. We have a few token Black female artist like Beyonce and Rihanna. If race isn't an issue, why does the white artist almost always outsell the Black artist in similar genre's. Amy Winehouse and Joss stone outsell Jill Scott and Angie Stone. Similar music. Let's take it back. New Kids on the Block vs New Edition. Celine Dion re recorded a Patti Labelle song note for note, out selling her. Hip hop. A music genre invented by Black artist, yet the biggest selling rap album of all time, Eminem. Many in the media claiming him as the greatest rapper of all time. Yes, there were exeptions, but let's not bury our heads in the sand. Janet Jackson and Madonna are similar dance artist. Both older. Both past their prime. I agree that Janet could use new direction, but again, Janet (or any other Black female pop artist) would never had gotten away with what Madonna has done. Although Janet is younger, she is still beautiful with a body to die for, yet judged bearing her body in similar barely there outfits that Madonna wears. Maybe at the next MTV awards, Janet should tounge kiss Mary J Blige for more exposure. With the exception of Beyonce, Rihanna, and Mary J Blige, how many Black female artist can you name who has not only crossed over but sold as well as their White counterparts?

I am a music lover of most genre's, from rock to pop to r and b.

Enough with politics (i had to go there since that was your example), back to Madonna and Janet. Both artist are basically equal in talent. Both, while great performers, are mediocre vocalist. Scandal and controversy (which is what Madonna built a career on) keeps Madonna at an edge over Janet. Unless Janet has a project to promote, she is pretty private. In this age of TMZ, scandal builds and sustains careers (Paris Hilton anyone?).
Unlike the Janet and Madonna haters on this site, I love them both and followed their careers since I was a child, so it gains me nothing to put one down over the other. I saw both artist at MSG and enjoyed both.
Granted, 20YO sucked ass as did American Life (I still bought both CD's to keep my collection on both artist complete), and I didn't feel "Hard Candy" as I did "Confessions" (which I still have on blast). "Discipline" was a good cd (not her best) with bad promotion. I will say this one more time, a Black female artist (especially in both artist's prime of the 80's and 90's) would NEVER had gotten away with the antics pulled by Madonna. Many people are still crying about Janet's tity at superbowl, and as I said before, had it been Britney in place of Janet, the scorn wouldn't have been so great. As far as race (and sex for that matter), Janet's boob didn't fall out by itself, yet Janet was blacklisted (for two cd's) while her White male "partner in crime" not only threw her under the bus, but was heavily promoted on MTV and radio. Years later (when Justin had a second cd to promote), he finally discussed the unfair treatment of Black artist.
[Edited 11/8/08 19:14pm]
[Edited 11/8/08 19:33pm]
[Edited 11/8/08 19:38pm]