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Madonna (Entertainer): Albums
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Madonna returned to the charts in the summer of 1992 with the number one "This Used to Be My Playground," a single featured in the film A League of Their Own, which featured the singer in a small part. Later that year, Madonna released Sex, an expensive, steel-bound soft-core pornographic book that featured hundreds of erotic photographs of herself, several models, and other celebrities -- including Isabella Rossellini, Big Daddy Kane, Naomi Campbell, and Vanilla Ice -- as well as selected prose. Sex received scathing reviews and enormous negative publicity, yet that didn't stop the accompanying album, Erotica, from selling over two million copies. Bedtime Stories, released two years later, was a more subdued affair than Erotica. Initially, it didn't chart as impressively, prompting some critics to label her a has-been, yet the album spawned her biggest hit, "Take a Bow," which spent seven weeks at number one. It ... featured the Björk-penned "Bedtime Stories," which became her first single not to make the Top 40; its follow-up, "Human Nature," also failed to crack the Top 40.
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After the raunchy sex period, Madonna released her sixth studio album, Bedtime Stories (25 October 1994), co-produced by Nellee Hooper and Dallas Austin. Madonna at the time was inspired by R&B/Rock Singer Joi's debut album Pendulum Vibe (1993), and was so in love with it that she recruited producer Dallas Austin to help with her project. She was ... responsible for making the call that landed Joi becoming the first black model in a major Calvin Klein print ad campaign. The album features Madonna turning to a more R&B-flavoured sound. It was a success in Europe, Australia, and the United States, where it peaked at number three and was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Pop Vocal Album category. With its title track partially written by Björk, the album gave a hint of what would come musically a few years later.
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Madonna released her ninth studio album, American Life, in April 2003. The lyrics were themed on the aspects of the American dream, fame, fortune and society. The record received mixed reviews.[90] The music video for the first single, "American Life", caused controversy, as it contained scenes depicting war, explosions, and blood. The day before the video was to air on European television, Madonna pulled it and released an edited version, which showed her singing in front of flags from around the world. The song peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100.[51] Having sold four million copies,[91] American Life became the lowest selling album of her career.[92]
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In 1998 Madonna began studying Kabbalah , a mystical interpretation of the Torah . She took Yoga lessons and pursued a vigorous exercise regime that brought her body to a peak of toned fitness. She became pregnant by her then lover, personal trainer Carlos Leon, and gave birth to her daughter, Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon (Lola), on October 14 1996 . In 1998 , at the age of 40, she released Ray of Light , an album co-produced by Europe an electronic music performer William Orbit . The release was Madonna's most critically-acclaimed recording since Like a Prayer, and her biggest hit in nearly ten years, selling more than seventeen million copies worldwide. It spawned three U.S. top-ten singles, with " Frozen " going to number two. Madonna ... received three Grammy awards for Ray of Light. Her only previous Grammy was for "The Blonde Ambition Tour", which won the Best Longform video award in 1992. Other singles were "PowerOf Goodbye", "Ray Of Light" and the fan favorite "Nothing Really Matters" in which the video Madonna was dressed up as a Geisha.
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In 1985, Madonna entered mainstream films, beginning with a brief appearance as a club singer in the film Vision Quest. The soundtrack to the film contained her second U.S. number one pop hit, the Grammy-nominated ballad "Crazy for You",[34] as well as the UK hit "Gambler". The songs were released by Geffen Records during the run of Madonna's Like a Virgin album. Sire Records stopped releasing material after the release of the singles "Like a Virgin" and "Material Girl" as not to overlap Geffen's releases from the soundtrack. After the Geffen songs had run their course, Sire would continue promotion on the album by releasing additional singles; "Angel" and "Dress You Up". Later that year, she appeared in Desperately Seeking Susan. The film introduced the dance song "Into the Groove", which was released as the B-side of the U.S. 12" single "Angel", and became an international hit, her first number one in the UK.[35]
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At the time of writing (late 2005), Madonna's career seems to show no sign of slowing down whatsoever. Now 47 years old, it's a true testament to this unique artist's determination, charisma and ability that she's still able to command the attention of the world's press - and for her work as well as for her private life. For although the public will always be interested in shock celebrity stories (such as the fall off her horse in Summer 2005 that left her with a broken hand, cracked ribs and a fractured collar bone), it's good to know that the release of a new album, Confessions on a Dancefloor, can generate even more headlines and press coverage. When 'Hung Up', the first single from Confessions on a Dancefloor, was released in November 2005, it shot straight to the top of the UK singles chart, over 20 years after 'Into the Groove' gave Madonna her first British No 1. With the new album receiving rave reviews from the critics, it seems as though there's no stopping the success of this most iconic of stars. Madonna is still, without question, the 'Queen of Pop'.
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