I swear I looked through threads here and saw noone posted this (which I found shocking). Interested in what you guys think of Niki's decision not to tour...notice she doesn't even acknowledge WHO's TOUR she is referring to? There must be some sort of animosity going on, don't ya think??

From http://www.nikiharis.com/

Hey Everybody! Springtime is here!

To everyone who has been waiting for a newsletter, here it is. Momma’s been crazed. I have been extremely busy working on my acting skills, and singing and dancing my ass off in the musical “Sheba”. I portray the Queen of Egypt and I get to poison the Queen of Sheba! (Very funny and juicy role.) However, the long rehearsal and theater schedule is grueling on these old bones.

In addition, the hours away from my daughter have sometimes been heart wrenching but Momma’s gotta do what Momma’s gotta do! I am also continuing my performance schedule of jazz concerts through out the summer. The new jazz record is taking longer than I thought. The songs are finished but I have yet to master them. Don’t worry, it’s coming! The new gospel record IS finished and ready for release April 28th, 2004.Just weeks away! It will be available at the Revelations Spiritual conference in Palm Springs. Check my tour schedule for the date.

For my dance fans, I promise a new dance single this summer! I want everyone coming out to the Prides Festival’s and see my new show. Also check the tour schedule for those dates. OK, now for the information that everyone seems to want to know. I will not be singing background this year. Time for change and change is GOOD!

To everyone who will miss me on that tour, come see me at my shows., To those who are dismayed by this decision, remember things that aren’t changing are dying! I celebrate life now and I am grateful for all things old and new.

My daughter, Jordan, turned 1 February 20th, 2004. And looking at her reminds me everyday that life moves quickly…nothing is promised. Stay in the moment. Be grateful for all things!

I know I have your continued support no matter what shows I am doing, but it’s time for me to concentrate on my music and my child. Your support throughout the years lets me know that my music is what you want to hear. I can always sing background at another time, but now it’s time for me to place my microphone on the front of the stage.

Once again, thank you to all of you who support me in my slow computer growth. I’m sure my daughter will be building and programming computers before I have this laptop mastered!

Keep the letters and emails coming. They are greatly appreciated!

why did she pull a bushism and not actually explain anything?


"i am looking forward to speaking to the commission.....thats why we are both doing." it...

"but mr. president, why do you and Chaney have to appear together...."

"because we are both looking forward to speaking with the commission"

I thought it was Nikki who was touring and Donna wasn't. That kind of sucks. I always liked Nikki better but what are you gonna do. Not like I'm seeing th tour anyway...it looks liek she isn't coming to Detriot. I guess they don't have a Clear Channel venue here! Poor Madonna, having her tour supported by the people that banned her from radio (unoffically).

Nikki has been replaced by this woman...

It's cool to know what she'll be up to, I always liked her singing. I don't think there sounds like there's any drama at all going on here; she's just a working singer who wants to do a different type of gig right now- she's got a kid and her own projects to focus on, and that's a GOOD thing. I'm friends with alot of singers who do backround vocals for sessions and major tours, and believe me, that's just a SMALL part of their lives as artists- it's quite common for them to sit out a project here and there so they can take times to focus on their families and solo interests, obviously not at the beginning of their careers, but once they kinda get a little older and start to re-evaluate what they want in their lives as a whole package.

sosgemini said:

Now you know you ain't right
!

Girlfriend clearly said she wants to stay at home and focus on her 1 year old daughter and her solo projects, including but not limited to theatre engagements and releases of two records and hopefully a dance single. That's more than enough to keep her busy without having to do the Re-Invention tour. Besides, I wonder if her little baby is near walking yet? Being present for Baby's first steps are enough reason alone for a new mother to take some time away from globe trotting.

In her first official statement Niki claimed she wasn't 'Invited' to be part
of the tour cast. I think she sounds rather ambigious referring 2 it as that Tour,
avoiding the M word. Rumour has it, she has a drug problem (or had).

Something's fishy about this since Madonna is/was friends with Niki whereas
her relationship with Donna has always been purely professional.

If the drug thing turns out 2 b true (though hopefully not) it does seem
like typical M behaviour. Close pal Ingrid Casares stated in a recent interview
M put their friendship 'on hold', ignoring her completely for months while
she was going through a heavy cocaine addiction. Saying she would only
ever speak to Ingrid again if she 'cleaned up'.

I'm gonna miss Niki though...she's always been my fave she's got
loadsa charisma and great on-stage chemistry with M.

Martinelli said:

Yeah,I heard about the drug rumors too.Supposedly,Madonna found out about this during the DWT and she was furious.

To prepare myself for the upcoming tour,I've been watching the old Madonna concert videos and movies.The other day,I watched 'Ciao Italia' and I could barely get through it.So cheesy and embarassing....lol...the 'Who's That Girl' tour was her worst tour,imo.

Yeah I always loathed 'Ciao Italia' it's one of the worst concert videos/dvd's ever.
The editing is horrendous & let's face it she sounds rather shitty. I think
this video brings the WTG tour down. I hated it until is saw the Japan show &
got some bootlegs... it's kind of great really, all cheesyness aside....

Martinelli said:

Yeah,'Ciao Italia' is really terrible,isn't it? Madonna is a great dancer,but on this tour,the "choreography" is messy and sloppy.Her outfits are atrocious,and the entire production is chaotic and unfocused.I prefer 'Blond Ambition' and 'The Girlie Show',where she clearly knew what she was doing.

Will you be attending any of the 'Re-invention' shows?

DavidEye said:

Well I kinda like the the pants and bustier combo on the WTG tour. Her dancing
though reminds me of a swan with a sprained neck. but I do dig 'Lucky Star', 'Live 2 Tell' &
'specially the 'Look Of Love' with it's little Bowie-lite panto mime visuals...

'Blond Ambition' is kinda overrated, it's obviously brilliant & it probably gets more
acclaim for it's pioneering efforts when compared 2 the 'The Girlie Show' which is a
much better directed show than 'Blond Ambition'...it's more of a whole & her
stage persona & the choreography r more sophisticated. Not to mention her
kick arse band.

I'm gonna go & C the re-Invention in Paris where I saw the DWT in 2001. I got
standing places...the NRG is just insane there...I pity the US & UK 4 it's lifeless
al seated gigs u really ain't seen Prince or Mady live 'till u've been 2 one o' their
gigs on the continent

I think 'The Girlie Show' is her best tour overall.I never get tired of watching the DVD.

DavidEye said:

Actually, the person that replacing her probably looks more like this now.



This album was released last year and I just heard one of the songs from internet radio ,"N.O.W", and has a real rock sound. She could be very interesting on this tour.



Siedah Garrett, a backing vocalist who's contributed to dozens of sessions for everyone from Cliff Richard to Rancid, followed her 1988 solo debut with a second album in 2003. Garrett is not only a splendid vocalist but also a talented songwriter (she'll live well for years based solely on colleague Michael Jackson recording her "Man in the Mirror"), and someone who realized that changing times demand a different style of composition than she'd used 15 years earlier. Unfortunately, from both the songwriting and the musical contexts, Siedah is a record that follows trends instead of capitalizing on them (or, best of all, setting them). Play a song like "What I Know" or "Rise" to any four listeners you'd find at the local Wal-Mart, and you'd probably get four different categorizations for Siedah: is she country or pop or rock or maybe R&B? This record panders to so many different styles and demographics it's difficult to find any personality at all behind these songs. Session veterans Greg Phillinganes and Mike Porcaro ably create the backing tracks, but the arrangements are rigid and never yield to Garrett's songwriting. — John Bush

I sometimes forget Siedah wrote Man In The Mirror. Great song. She's worked with Madonna before. i think she did backing vocals on a couple of 'True Blue' tracks. I might be wrong, thanks to a thief i don't have the album anymore.