rlittler81 said:

I always felt that STR was a response to the (US) success of TAB. She maybe wanted to capitalise on it and focus on her ballads more than dance songs while they were succesful. The uptempo songs from BS weren't hits in the US, but the 2 slower singles were. Even the video for 'You'll See' was a sequel to TAB. It's interesting that TAB was such a huge hit in the US but was considered a flop in the UK because it didn't reach the top 10.

Yeah, she wasn't one to just throw together a compilation or an EP, though. I always thought she knew she'd sorta be out of the spotlight for a while, and STR would be a placecard or a holdover album for fans. Just as a "I'm still here, bitches, don't sweat it" sorta thing. Although, the official story is that her career was in a decline (with Erotica, Sex, Girlie Show, Body of Evidence - all being heavily sexually charged). But you're right about "You'll See" being a sequel to "Take A Bow" which was very cool. She was also lobbying hard for EVITA, and I think both songs served for that. However, she may have already landed the part by the time STR came out. She was pregnant at the end of filming EVITA, and she appeared pregnant in "Love Don't Live Here Anymore."

Either way, I love that TAB & YS played together.

TrivialPursuit said:

rlittler81 said:

I always felt that STR was a response to the (US) success of TAB. She maybe wanted to capitalise on it and focus on her ballads more than dance songs while they were succesful. The uptempo songs from BS weren't hits in the US, but the 2 slower singles were. Even the video for 'You'll See' was a sequel to TAB. It's interesting that TAB was such a huge hit in the US but was considered a flop in the UK because it didn't reach the top 10.

Yeah, she wasn't one to just throw together a compilation or an EP, though. I always thought she knew she'd sorta be out of the spotlight for a while, and STR would be a placecard or a holdover album for fans. Just as a "I'm still here, bitches, don't sweat it" sorta thing. Although, the official story is that her career was in a decline (with Erotica, Sex, Girlie Show, Body of Evidence - all being heavily sexually charged). But you're right about "You'll See" being a sequel to "Take A Bow" which was very cool. She was also lobbying hard for EVITA, and I think both songs served for that. However, she may have already landed the part by the time STR came out. She was pregnant at the end of filming EVITA, and she appeared pregnant in "Love Don't Live Here Anymore."

Either way, I love that TAB & YS played together.

I think she was already in London recording Evita as well as promoting You'll See and Something To Remember in late 1995. I remember being shocked when I walked into Our Price and saw the You'll See single on the shelf. I didn't even know she was relasing new music. The performance from Drowned World Tour is stunning!

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Girlie show dancer Luca Tommassini:It was indeed a very unique performance. I love the fact I could use Thai Chi movements and that we were dancing in slow motion. Madonna was so beautiful and it was another great experience for me. I learned a lot from her. There's always a great research in the things she does, to bring novelty on stage. Things are analyzed and there's always a great courage and that's contageous. You always feel like a pioneer when you're next to her... Invincible!

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On February 20 1995, Madonna performed Bedtime Story live for the first and only time at the Brit Awards. The performance was set to a remix of the song by Junior Vasquez. Madonna wore a white Versace dress and long hair extensions, an image similar to her 1995 Versace advertisement campaign spread.

Madonna invited Björk to feature in the performance but Björk declined the offer, later stating: "I was supposed to get [Madonna's] personal number and call her up, but it just didn't feel right. I'd love to meet her accidentally, really drunk in a bar. It's just all that formality that confuses me."

OldFriends4Sale said:

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Girlie show dancer Luca Tommassini:It was indeed a very unique performance. I love the fact I could use Thai Chi movements and that we were dancing in slow motion. Madonna was so beautiful and it was another great experience for me. I learned a lot from her. There's always a great research in the things she does, to bring novelty on stage. Things are analyzed and there's always a great courage and that's contageous. You always feel like a pioneer when you're next to her... Invincible!

Luca was also in MJ's "Blood On the Dance Floor" (as was former Blond Ambition dancer Kevin Shea). I think it was that video, and "Human Nature" from Madge that Luca talked about having to dye his hair dark for one thing, then blond for the video, then dark again. Luca said his hair was just fried. And as a former hair stylist, it made me cringe knowing the extremes he had to go through with his hair. But, he's also one of those who probably can grow his hair back out in weeks, not months.

He was the sexiest guy (other than Christopher) on the Girlie tour. I was glad to see him follow through to BS era a bit. It's so rare that any dancers followed Madge through more than one tour. Carlton did, because he ended up living with her for a while between Blond Ambition and Girlie Show. Plus he's strong and did great lifts. I suppose theorhetically, Carlton's (non-sexually) touched Madonna's ass as much as any other black guy she's been with. HA!

PS this performance in the pic was just wonderful.

alphastreet said:

Didn’t realize this was the only bedtime story performance. Did she ever revisit it on a tour?

Only as a video interlude on the Re-Invention Tour in 2004 using the Orbital Mix.

TrivialPursuit said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

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Girlie show dancer Luca Tommassini:It was indeed a very unique performance. I love the fact I could use Thai Chi movements and that we were dancing in slow motion. Madonna was so beautiful and it was another great experience for me. I learned a lot from her. There's always a great research in the things she does, to bring novelty on stage. Things are analyzed and there's always a great courage and that's contageous. You always feel like a pioneer when you're next to her... Invincible!

Luca was also in MJ's "Blood On the Dance Floor" (as was former Blond Ambition dancer Kevin Shea). I think it was that video, and "Human Nature" from Madge that Luca talked about having to dye his hair dark for one thing, then blond for the video, then dark again. Luca said his hair was just fried. And as a former hair stylist, it made me cringe knowing the extremes he had to go through with his hair. But, he's also one of those who probably can grow his hair back out in weeks, not months.

He was the sexiest guy (other than Christopher) on the Girlie tour. I was glad to see him follow through to BS era a bit. It's so rare that any dancers followed Madge through more than one tour. Carlton did, because he ended up living with her for a while between Blond Ambition and Girlie Show. Plus he's strong and did great lifts. I suppose theorhetically, Carlton's (non-sexually) touched Madonna's ass as much as any other black guy she's been with. HA!

PS this performance in the pic was just wonderful.

Jamie King was asked to choreograph this performance but said no. They worked on the 'Human Nature' video a few months later, the start of a 24 year-long collaboration.

rlittler81 said:

alphastreet said:

rlittler81 said:

Only as a video interlude on the Re-Invention Tour in 2004 using the Orbital Mix.

That’s awesome it was included

It's quite an interesting video. Much simpler than the original but shows how she doesn't tend to repeat herself. Only wish she'd include her tour interlude videos as extras on her live dvds. Some of them are better than her more recent efforts.

alphastreet said:

Speaking of tours, I wish she would add more dates so I could go

I'm seeing her in London in February. There's rumours an arena tour will follow but not heard anything concrete.

TrivialPursuit said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

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Girlie show dancer Luca Tommassini:It was indeed a very unique performance. I love the fact I could use Thai Chi movements and that we were dancing in slow motion. Madonna was so beautiful and it was another great experience for me. I learned a lot from her. There's always a great research in the things she does, to bring novelty on stage. Things are analyzed and there's always a great courage and that's contageous. You always feel like a pioneer when you're next to her... Invincible!

Luca was also in MJ's "Blood On the Dance Floor" (as was former Blond Ambition dancer Kevin Shea). I think it was that video, and "Human Nature" from Madge that Luca talked about having to dye his hair dark for one thing, then blond for the video, then dark again. Luca said his hair was just fried. And as a former hair stylist, it made me cringe knowing the extremes he had to go through with his hair. But, he's also one of those who probably can grow his hair back out in weeks, not months.

He was the sexiest guy (other than Christopher) on the Girlie tour. I was glad to see him follow through to BS era a bit. It's so rare that any dancers followed Madge through more than one tour. Carlton did, because he ended up living with her for a while between Blond Ambition and Girlie Show. Plus he's strong and did great lifts. I suppose theorhetically, Carlton's (non-sexually) touched Madonna's ass as much as any other black guy she's been with. HA!

PS this performance in the pic was just wonderful.

Yeah Luca was her lead male dancer on the Girl Show and the hair dying issue was connected with Evita. He danced with Madonna in the movie

Yeah Madonna talked about her hair being fried after this period too

I still miss Nikki and Donna

OldFriends4Sale said:

PS this performance in the pic was just wonderful.

Yeah Luca was her lead male dancer on the Girl Show and the hair dying issue was connected with Evita. He danced with Madonna in the movie

Yeah Madonna talked about her hair being fried after this period too

I still miss Nikki and Donna

Yeah, I guess Nik had a personal issue and Madge pressured her into touring on Drowned World OR she refused to do the other tour. Something like that. It came across as Madonna wanting Nikki to put her first instead of her family. Nikki said fuck off and never came back around.

And Luca making out with Christopher during the segue into "Why's It So Hard" - well, now we know why. LOL

TrivialPursuit said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Yeah Luca was her lead male dancer on the Girl Show and the hair dying issue was connected with Evita. He danced with Madonna in the movie

Yeah Madonna talked about her hair being fried after this period too

I still miss Nikki and Donna

Yeah, I guess Nik had a personal issue and Madge pressured her into touring on Drowned World OR she refused to do the other tour. Something like that. It came across as Madonna wanting Nikki to put her first instead of her family. Nikki said fuck off and never came back around.

And Luca making out with Christopher during the segue into "Why's It So Hard" - well, now we know why. LOL

After Drown World Madonna had singer replacements with the name Nikki

Nikki and Donna with M on the Confessions tour would have been perfect.

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LOL @ Christopher and Luca

OldFriends4Sale said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Yeah, I guess Nik had a personal issue and Madge pressured her into touring on Drowned World OR she refused to do the other tour. Something like that. It came across as Madonna wanting Nikki to put her first instead of her family. Nikki said fuck off and never came back around.

And Luca making out with Christopher during the segue into "Why's It So Hard" - well, now we know why. LOL

After Drown World Madonna had singer replacements with the name Nikki

Nikki and Donna with M on the Confessions tour would have been perfect.

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LOL @ Christopher and Luca

Niki was replaced by Siedah Garrett after DWT. Niki, sadly, had a drug problem at the time and that is one of the best ways to fuck up a friendship with Madonna (among other things).

LoveGalore said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

After Drown World Madonna had singer replacements with the name Nikki

Nikki and Donna with M on the Confessions tour would have been perfect.

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LOL @ Christopher and Luca

Niki was replaced by Siedah Garrett after DWT. Niki, sadly, had a drug problem at the time and that is one of the best ways to fuck up a friendship with Madonna (among other things).

Is that what it was? I thought it was because she had a baby. Which she did at the time. And she was singing with her fathers jazz band.
I never heard anything about a drug problem.

https://prince.org/msg/8/90311

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Yeah I knowof Garrett, but for the Reinvention tour. I was talking about Nicki Richards for the Confessions, and Sticky Sweet MDNA Rebel Hear tours

alphastreet said:

How do you guys know this stuff about dancers?

lol I did a thread on the Erotic/SEX/Bedtime Stories period some years back. The dancer Luca had an interview page where he talked about all that

I miss Donna and Nicki.It was always nice to see them on Madonna's tours.Remember that scene in Truth Or Dare where Madonna,Niki and Donna walk to the stage,holding hands,defiantly singing "Holiday"? There was a real 'chemisty' there and I don't think Madonna was ever able to re-capture that with other backup singers that she had.

OldFriends4Sale said:

SoulAlive said:

LoveGalore said:

Niki was replaced by Siedah Garrett after DWT. Niki, sadly, had a drug problem at the time and that is one of the best ways to fuck up a friendship with Madonna (among other things).

I don't believe that's true. Niki had family issues (it was a parent, if I'm not mistaken) and Madonna wanted her to put behind her and tour. Niki said she had to take care of family first. Niki had a baby in 2003, and Re-Invention Tour was 2004. I'm not sure she was even ready to leave her child that soon to tour. However, other sources says she was replaced during the RIT.

But as far as the drugs - I'd have to see more on that.

PS her baby daddy is Jay King from Club Nouveau. He's a major dickhead. That opinion is based on one-on-one action with him.

alphastreet said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

lol I did a thread on the Erotic/SEX/Bedtime Stories period some years back. The dancer Luca had an interview page where he talked about all that

That’s pretty cool, would love to read it if available

sorry it was on a Madonna page

http://www.madonnatribe.com/idol/lucatommassini.htm

alphastreet said:

SoulAlive said:

I miss Donna and Nicki.It was always nice to see them on Madonna's tours.Remember that scene in Truth Or Dare where Madonna,Niki and Donna walk to the stage,holding hands,defiantly singing "Holiday"? There was a real 'chemisty' there and I don't think Madonna was ever able to re-capture that with other backup singers that she had.

She definitely had chemistry with them

SoulAlive said:

I miss Donna and Nicki.It was always nice to see them on Madonna's tours.Remember that scene in Truth Or Dare where Madonna,Niki and Donna walk to the stage,holding hands,defiantly singing "Holiday"? There was a real 'chemisty' there and I don't think Madonna was ever able to re-capture that with other backup singers that she had.

Yep that was a empowering moment

TrivialPursuit said:

LoveGalore said:

Niki was replaced by Siedah Garrett after DWT. Niki, sadly, had a drug problem at the time and that is one of the best ways to fuck up a friendship with Madonna (among other things).

I don't believe that's true. Niki had family issues (it was a parent, if I'm not mistaken) and Madonna wanted her to put behind her and tour. Niki said she had to take care of family first. Niki had a baby in 2003, and Re-Invention Tour was 2004. I'm not sure she was even ready to leave her child that soon to tour. However, other sources says she was replaced during the RIT.

But as far as the drugs - I'd have to see more on that.

PS her baby daddy is Jay King from Club Nouveau. He's a major dickhead. That opinion is based on one-on-one action with him.

Exactly, Niki wasn't on drugs

here they are in 2002 before she had the bady

OldFriends4Sale said:

SoulAlive said:

I miss Donna and Nicki.It was always nice to see them on Madonna's tours.Remember that scene in Truth Or Dare where Madonna,Niki and Donna walk to the stage,holding hands,defiantly singing "Holiday"? There was a real 'chemisty' there and I don't think Madonna was ever able to re-capture that with other backup singers that she had.

Yep that was a empowering moment

1995 Versace Campaign Photographed by Steven Meisel