FREE ESSAY ON MADONNA

MADONNA

Madonna
Born August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan to a lower-middle class Italian-Catholic
household, Madonna Louise Ciccone was the third eldest daughter born. Her father Chrysler
engineer Sylvio (Tony) Ciccone and French-Canadienne Madonna Fortin, for whom the future
superstar was named "Veronica" was added to her name for confirmation. 
While at a young age of five, Madonna's world fell apart as her mother struggled to a
long process of breast cancer on December 1, 1963. Gathering strength from the tragedious
loss of her mother, Madonna took a role of the head female of the house. She constantly
competed with her other siblings for attention and eventually became her father's loved
one. Madonna turned her perfect self into a bitter one when Sylvio married Joan
Gustafson, the family's housekeeper, three years after his wife's death. The child
resented her father's betrayal and wouldn't accept her step-mother authority.
While going through tough times, Ms Ciccone developed a passion for the arts. Madonna
acted in high school productions, but ultimately dance became her interest in her
childhood life. In addition to being a cheerleader, Madonna took up ballet classes while
attending Rochester Adams High School. She found a mentor in dance instructor Christopher
Flynn, who introduced her to the world of spunkiness and sophistication at Detroit gay
clubs. Madonna's wild sexuality made her fly sky high! She went on dates with guys, had
her first rape encounter at 14 and toyed with the idea of lesbianism and practiced mutual
things with her female classmate. Having excellent academic performance in addition to
her dancing skills, Madonna graduated early in 1976 with a dance scholarship to the
University of Michigan, where she studied poetry and dance. There, she had her first
acquaintance with Steven Bray. Bray was a black drummer in an R&b band , and she began to
attend his gigs. Finally, after spending just five semesters at U of M and the
encouragement of Flynn, the nineteen-year-old set off to realize her dream.
Despite her fathers dreams, Madonna began her world wide adventure, looking for roles
where she could not only dance but sing also. Later on back in Queens, the Gilroys
started The Breakfast Club in the fall of 1979 with Madonna on drums. That failed when
the lead guitarist stopped the band.
Madonna went to write and record dance/disco-oriented tracks with Bray and performed them
at downtown clubs. She was quickly spotted by DJ Mark Kamins at the latter club. Madonna
presented a four-track demo to him, he immediately made a deal and signed contracts.
Madonna's self titled debut album was a mixture of sexy attitude, and streetwise sass.
Her bare midriff, weird costume jewelry, and her I-don't-care attitude helped to make her
unique personality that the world would get to know her as. Her first version of
Everybody, released as Madonna's first single at the end of 1982. Her second single camde
from the debut album, Physical Attraction also proved to be a club favorite. In June
1983, Madonna had her 3rd club hit with the outstanding, Holiday, which was produced by
her new boyfriend, dance pop mix-master John Benitez. The following month, Holiday became
her first billboard Top 40 hit. After that happened, Madonna had been certified
quadruple-platinum with sales 4.4 million units in the US and 3.3 million units
internationally.
By the end of 1884, Madonnas second studio album, Like A Virgin was ready to be released.
This album featured her songs Material Girl and Dress You Up. The album scored her first
#1 hit and gold single in Dec of "84. To date, Like A Virgin has achieved 10 platinum
certifications for sales exceeding 10 million units in the US.
Late in 1984, Madonna began working on her first starring role in a film, Susan
Seidelman's Desperately Seeking Susan, where she played a naive housewife. It was success
in 1985 and brought out her musical talent to the world.
In February of of 1985, Madonna made a brief appearance in Vision Quest as a nightclub
singer, which scored her the second #1 hit and gold single for her career for the song
Crazy For You, which also topped the charts in May.
One of Madonna's highlights was meeting Sean Penn in 1985 shooting the video for Material
Girl. After the song hit #2, Madonna kicked off the Virgin Tour in Seattle. It was her
first set of 35 US concert dates, with Patrick Leonard as musical director and the
Beastie Boys as openers. Not only did Madonna have a wonderful voice and performance but
she didn't stop her trademark of, rubber bracelets crucifixes, and colorful lacy
lingerie.
On August 16,1985, Sean Penn gave what Madonna thought was her best birthday present
ever-his mind, body and soul. Seven Months after there first date, He proposed to her.
Almost right after the marriage, both Playboy, and Penthouse published the nude pictures
she posed for in 1977 and sent them to Sean to brake there marriage.
Nevertheless, Madonna's popularity continued with countless teenage girls adopting her
sexy appearance, being nicknamed "The Madonna wannabes". She created the third record
True Blue. The album was released in June of 1986 it was #1 in both the UK and US. She
now wanted to start excelling in the acting limelight.
In early 1987, she got a part in Who's That Girl. She starred as Nikki Finn (a main
character). Soon after her singles in the movie ran up to spots #1 & #2.
At the end of 1987, Madonna shot Bloodhounds of Broadway, a low-budget gangster comedy.
She played a sexy, black haired, chorus girl Hortense Hathaway. The film crashed and it
was doomed. It now seemed that Madonna's film career was in trouble at the time, she did
not want to perform on stage for a while.
She decided now to focus on her marriage. Madonna's marriage with Sean was turning into a
very bumpy ride. In the winter of 1987, Madonna filed for divorce from Sean saying it was
all about differences, later the papers were taken back. Thirteen months later she put in
a complaint of assault against her husband after a violent dispute. After trying to save
there marriage after 3 years it failed..
Like a Prayer, had a lot to do with her life. The death of her mother (Promise to Try),
Her experience with Sean (Till Death Do Us Part), (Oh Father), the mystery of
Catholicism, all of these titles had to do with her life experiences. Express Yourself
and Oh father hit the charts in 1990.
She decided to go back to acting so in 1990 , Madonna began shooting Dick Tracy, a US
$$23 million Walt Disney production released on June 15th, 1990. The movie was based on a
newspaper comic strip, starred her diva self singing Mahoney. Dick Tracey turned out to
be another box-office bomb. Madonna made out good because her album was produced through
Dick Tracy, and later became #1.
To end up the decade Madonna released The Immaculate Collection on November 13, 1990. The
album was dedicated to the Pope, it was a 17-song collection of her greatest hits from
Holiday to Vogue and including the first time release for Crazy For You. Over 2 million
copies were sold. It was her eight top #1 single she had produced.
In the beginning of 1992 she signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Time Warner,
guaranteeing release of all albums, films, and books under her Maverick production
corporation. The album Erotica which was #2, and produced the five Top Hits in "92. 
Madonna continued her success throughout her years being a diva till this day. She had
many appearances on Late shows and on talk show host Oprah. She's became a Multi
Millionaire and is formally Best Friends with talk show host Roise O'Donnell. From "93,
and on she's been in various movies such as Evita and created some of her many Top hit's
listed below, She also gave birth on October 14th 1996 in Los Angeles to a baby girl
Lourdes Maria Ciccone.
Top Hits
"Deeper and Deeper"
"Bad Girl"
"Rain"
"I'll remember"
"Bedtime Stories"
"Secret"
"Take a Bow"
" A New Argentina"
Madonna has become important in our decade, cause she showed spunk and a new type a style
to many generations. She's opened up and showed even the unique and spunky can fly high
like her. Madonna has become a role model for many different age groups around the world.
Her amazing voice and sense of style has shocked the world, and changed music in the
80's- till now.