"Just because you're famous doesn't mean you have something to say"
"I've been able to find my voice- not just to sing with, but to ask questions with, to challenge with, to explore with, to explode with, to be in service with, to create with, to laugh with and to cry with. I am grateful that my voice has given other people a voice, and Im grateful for those who have gone before me, who have used their voice in a revolutionary way, defying convention and sometimes even defying gravity... I'm also grateful to the people who have stuck their necks out and taken a few slaps... I've taken a few slaps myself, and I must say, I don't regret it a bit. In fact, I am grateful for the slaps.... I'm grateful that I had something to say that provoked them. But most of all I'm grateful that people were listening... and that people still are listening."
"Thank you. I know I shouldn't have worn a tight skirt. [NOTE: It's a
reference to her difficult walk up to the stage.]
"If somebody said to me when I was a little girl growing up in the
midwest of America that one day I would be married to a Brit, that I
would be living in England, and that I would be inducted into the UK
Hall of Fame, I would have said, 'bullocks to that.'
"I would like to say thank you to Tracey [Emin], who is also a very
grande fica, and to you Jo [Whiley], and to Stella [McCartney] and
Gwyneth [Paltrow]. They are all formidable women, and it means a lot
to me that they said so many kind things. Thank you. I'd like to thank
my fans, and the UK Hall of Fame also for voting for me. Thank you.
[applause]
[NOTE: Tracey Emin had used 'grande fica', a colorful Italian insult,
when she introduced Madonna together with Jo Whiley. Stella McCartney
and Gwyneth Paltrow had appeared in a video introduction where they
dressed up in famous Madonna costumes.]
"In spite of the title of the show, I'd like to think this award has
more to do with my accomplishments and less to do with my fame. ['I
love you!' from the audience] Ah... Thank you. ['I love you more!'
from the audience] [applause]
"Don't get me wrong, it's great to be famous, because it means people
are listening. But just because you are famous, doesn't mean that you
have something to say. [applause]
"If I am grateful for anything, it is this: That by embarking on this
long, arduous and painstaking journey that began over 20 years ago,
I've been able to find my voice. Not just to sing with, but to ask
questions with, to challenge with, to explore with, to explode with,
to be in service with, to create with, to laugh with, and to cry with.
I'm grateful that my voice has given other people a voice. And I'm
grateful for those who have gone before me, who've used their voice in
a revolutionary way, defying convention, and sometimes even defying
gravity. [shout-outs from the audience] Alright, I'm not finished.
"I'm also grateful to the people who have stuck their necks out and
taken a few slaps. I've taken a slap or two myself, and I must say, I
don't regret it a bit. In fact, I'm grateful for the slaps. And I know
you are thinking, she would say something like that. But I'm grateful
that I had something to say that provoked them. But most of all, I'm
grateful that people were listening, and that people still are
listening. So thank you for this."
Sorry if I'm mixing things up, but this was in the UK a while ago, right? But there was an induction (or whatever the thing's called) in New York on Monday 10th, day before yesterday ... or?
The most interesting aspect of Madonna's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on Monday is that rather than perform herself at the ceremony, as inductees usually do, Madonna requested that her songs (from news accounts, I know specifically about "Burning Up" and "Ray of Light"; not sure if there were any others) be performed by fellow Michigan natives...
Iggy and the Stooges!!!
I would imagine that once the ceremony is televised on VH1 (this weekend, correct?), video of that performance will be instantly available everywhere. It sounds hilarious.
Gwyneth Paltrow? Tracey Emin?? Stella McCartney??? Jo Whiley??!!?
You'd have to be disappointed if they were the best testimonials you could muster after 20+ years in the business.
Sky Captain and the World Of Tomorrow/ piss artist who can't even make a fucking bed/ fashion designer who oh so obviously made it on her own merits and is clearly not the ugly face of nepotism laid bare/ terminally bland dj whose sense of hearing is strangely under-developed for saying that she can't seem to open her eyes.
Seriously, what a shower of shite.
