I just read this on the same Madonna website with snippets of AL remixes. I don't know if this story is true but check it out.

MADONNA PULLS NEW AMERICAN LIFE VIDEO
01.04.2003, 05:16


"OUT OF RESPECT FOR ARMED FORCES"

Madonna has decided to withdraw the video for her new single "American Life" which has been the subject of rumors and misinformation.

The artist released the following statement:

"I have decided not to release my new video. It was filmed before the war started and I do not believe it is appropriate to air it at this time. Due to the volatile state of the world and out of sensitivity and respect to the armed forces, who I support and pray for, I do not want to risk offending anyone who might misinterpret the meaning of this video."

Warner Bros. Records will be releasing Madonna's new album on the 22nd of April. The video was scheduled to premiere on VH-l this Friday, April 4th. The single "American Life" has just been released to radio.

madonna.com

Madonna, we want you to offend us again! I'm sick of you being Guy Richie's wife! You're Madonna damn it! Don't cave in. From what I've heard, the video is already playing in Germany and I think it can be downloaded. Better get it quick before Bush puts the cabash on it!

Yes,this story is true.But the good news is,the video is already circulating on-line so her fans will still get to see it.It premiered in Germany yesterday.You can download it from Kaaza and a number of Madonna fansites.I'm disappointed but not surprised that it won't be shown.

So,how many Madonna videos have been banned?

"Justify My Love" (1990)
"Erotica" (1992)---only shown in the late night hours on MTV
"What It Feels Like For A Girl" (2001)
"American Life"(2003)



Madonna is the Queen of Banned Controversial Videos





.
[This message was edited Tue Apr 1 1:30:05 PST 2003 by DavidEye]

Madonna is the Queen of Banned Controversial Videos

...and that's something to be proud of???

Seems like a cheap PR stunt to me as all the rest have been too. Just like the rest of us Madge knew a war was going to happen at some point so the only reason to have filmed a 'controversial' video was for the edginess it would give her again after a safe couple of albums.

So predictable and yet we fall for it every time.

MattUK said:

Are you implying that Madonna PLANNED all this,that it was just a publicity stunt? In the end,this may actually HURT the new album.With no video to promote the first single,the song may not become a big hit.Yeah,that would really be a "smart" career move,wouldn't it? Spend a fortune on a big video that most of the world won't get to see.

And her last two albums were anything but "safe".'Ray Of Light' was the boldest,most challenging album she has ever done,and 'Music' was not your average-sounding Top 40 pop album.

DavidEye said:

Ray of Light may be perceived as a bold move but Madge has her finger on the pulse and her eye firmly on the musical horizon.

ROL may seem on the face of it to be a bold move but linking up with William Orbit and subsequently Mirwais were safe options. She was guaranteed success in UK & Europe with this kind of sound and she just brought this type of music to mainstream America (although the door was already opening as evidenced by the fact that an act like Prodigy had had a no.1 US album with The Fat of the Land.

Madge does not invent trends but she does have an eye for what is going to be successful next and then takes it to another level. There is a talent in doing this but genuine creativity it isnt.

She has got to another point where the next trend isnt clear so the only way to stoke up the level of PR that she wants is to inflame public opinion - see your previous list of videos, to which you can probably add Like a Prayer.

Add to that the fact that people are going to see the video (this is the age of Kazaa et al dont forget) and the most powerful form of marketing is word of mouth.

Madge is a smart cookie alright, and like I said before - we fall for it every time.

I just read this.

I can't believe it.

I'm very disappointed.

"Madge does not invent trends"

Does ANY artist really "invent" trends? I think it's safe to say,every recording artist is influenced by the music that came before them.In the case of Madonna,she is primarily a dance music artist.She hangs out in nightclubs.So,of course,she would be interested in what she hears in the clubs,Remember,this is HER scene too!


But that's a tired subject anyway...lol...we're supposed to be talking about her latest banned video.Madonna routinely makes videos that are edgy and cutting edge,that's her style.Would anyone expect anything LESS from her,at this point? In this age of predictable and boring videos and tedious pop music,you should be championing Madonna for having the balls to do something different.

TRON said:

Yeah,Madonna fans everywhere are acting like it's the end of the world.I'm staying away from the Madonna message boards until everybody cools down

I'm a little disappointed but not surprised one bit.It seems that,in America right now,you must keep your mouth shut and act as if you support Bush and the war.Otherwise,they will try to sabotage your career and your right to freedom of speech (just ask The Dixie Chicks).In any case,Madonna will come out of this just fine.The conservative crowd won't be able to call her "unpatriotic" and "unsupportive of our troops",and I know they were just waiting to go after her,with their knives sharpened...lol...

She's getting ready to shoot a video for the second single anyway (it is rumored to be either "Hollywood" or "Love Profusion").

View the 'American Life' video here:

http://www.madonnapower.c...r.com].wmv

TRON said:

OH WOW!!! Thanks for the link,TRON.The video is GREAT!!! I love the ending where Maddy throws a grenade and the George Bush lookalike catches it,and uses it to light his cigar.That's classic...lol...


I honestly don't think this video is all that offensive.Maybe the original 10-minute version was,but this version is actually rather tame,imo.

TRON said:

thanks Tron

THANK YOU TRON!!!

I don't think the video is THAT bad, but I can see why she chose not to release it...aw well, you know it'll pop-up on dvd eventually..

I'm finally startin to like this track, ps...

endorphin74 said:

Me too! I've been listening to it constantly all week,and it's really a great song.You have to really listen to the lyrics and understand the message.And musically,it's an interesting song.It's not instantly catchy or anything,and I think that's why so many people aren't feeling it.

Alot of people think this is just a bad April Fool's joke that Maddy is pulling on her fans...lol...

MattUK said:

well put!

DavidEye said:

The video wasn't banned. She pulled it. And why did she pull it at the very last minute, when the video has already aired in some countries? Thus, being sure that people would in fact see it. Cuz it's already all over the Net.

DavidEye said:

I don't think Madonna planned that this kind of PC patriotism would affect the song and video so much. You're very right about what you said about not seeming anti-American. The song isn't about that at all! I think AL is going to be a hard sell through all the rhetoric the media keeps pushing down our throats. Again, I've only heard the song on radio once so all this controversy isn't helping her much. I think its going to be up to fans that buy her single (which will be released next week) and her album to make the song a hit and then radio will have to listen!

I'm downloading the video right now and while I doubt she will release it as a DVD single (it would be "less patorotic" to sell it and not relase it), I will buy it if she does and will be first in line to get the single and album. I love the song and will support Madonna on this one!

hmmm.

ambivalent, i guess. disappointed, but also relieved.

the lead single for a new Madonna album will have no video to push it. that IS bold and daring

Now if only she would pull the song out of respect for our ears. Ughhh, that song is AWFUL!

intha916 said:

i don't think it's awful, but it just isn't anything new. it certainly isn't a strong lead single. the rap really gets on my nerves too.

the song is like the standard elements of the ROL and Music albums mashed into one song. kind of ho-hum to me. hoping the 2nd single, or some album tracks are more interesting.

Hmm...surprisingly, I like it. The video and the song... Much better than the singles from Music.

I'm just glad that the video was released in some countries and that it is all over the net.Those who want to see it will see it,and it will serve its' original purpose.How bad would we feel if it was banned completely,without ANY of us having seen it for ourselves?

I'm very disappointed. Why back out? This project isn't going very well.

Not impressed.

Is the cigar a Clinton reference, Bush should release some tension and get his dick sucked already?

My thoughts:

I think it's a good idea that she pulled this video. Not because I support the current war. I think it was great that she was making a statement with her art, and all of that. I'm glad she pulled it, because I don't want to see Madonna as a hypocrite.

In some of her recent interviews about the song/album, she has said that a lot of it is about getting priorities in order: not being obssessed with celebrity, fashion, popular culture, etc. That so many trivial things take precedent these days, and that when there are important things, we tend to trivialize them too.

I think the message of the video is great. That we take serious things and play dress-up with them, and we become preoccupied with the idealized/fictionalized/sanitized(?)/popculturalized version of them.

Why I think pulling the video was a good idea, and saves her from being hypocritical is that, even though I like the message she was conveying (or, rather, that she was conveying a message, even one I don't agree with), considering war has broken out in the 2 months it was filmed, the video itself becomes part of the problem that she's decrying and trivializes war. She's made pop art out of an anti-war statement. She's made pop culture out of war.

Now, 2 months ago, this was all a pretty neat idea. In the time since, things have gotten serious in the world. In the meantime, she's made statements that the song/album is about getting over all the trivial pop culture bullshit, and caring more about what's really important. That she chose an anti-war message to express this is unfortunate, as the video itself becomes part of the problem she's rallying against.

Sorry if that was repetitive, or didn't make sense. This may be a rough draft, and there may be an edit message at the bottom of this post soon

Video was interesting in a Good Way&the Song was Alright.

I'm not really upset that she pulled this video.I think the video is great and so is the message,but by cancelling it,Madonna won't have to take alot of abuse from the uptight,conservative pro-war crowd.They were just waiting for the opportunity to go after her.

And I don't think the album will suffer as a result.Look around.Madonna is,once again,getting a ton of publicity for a controversial music video that won't be shown on the music channels.In the end,this can only boost record sales (and NO,I'm not saying that this was her plan all along...lol).People are gonna be curious and they're gonna wanna know what all the commotion is about.

The only thing that matters is,on April 22,we will have a new Madonna CD

DavidEye said:

and you still say with a Straight Face that She is More Normal than Michael Jackson? Man Please! MJ wouldn't pull no stunt like that.aside from the "Black Or White" Video MJ ain't tried to pull no Ploys at Selling His Albums at the start of a release.