"Confessions" from Madonna's other Guy

(courtesy of powerHouse books)

Madonna's life progresses at such a fast pace -- that just a couple years in her world is comparable to a lifetime in most of ours.

Think for a moment about what she's been through in the past two years alone -- from the criticism she received for the controversial adoption of David of Malawi to rumors of an affair with Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez to her betrayal by her deadbeat, hanger-on brother, Christopher, who recently blasted her in a tell-all bio.

She's also now entering her 50's as a newly-single woman, and that can't be easy for anyone. Even if Madonna has made 50 the new 20, recent press reports still concentrate way too heavily on her "fading beauty" or "reliance on Botox."

Whether the judgments or innuendo are warranted or not ( I side with the nots), it all makes 2006 Madonna seem like an entirely different person.

But I'd be remiss if I didn't also mention the myriad career milestones she's achieved in the last couple of years. She's become a record-holding recording artist and a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, and she's achieved the highest grossing tour ever for a female artist with her "Confessions Tour," which launched in May of 2006.

As the Hall of Fame inductee made clear during her inspiring acceptance speech earlier this year, it was the other Guy, her manager and CEO of Maverick Records Guy Oseary, who stood by her through all these lows and highs, as well as many others, over the past two decades.

So it made sense that this trustworthy figure and amateur photographer would be granted unprecedented access to photograph the pop superstar over the four-month, 60-date "Confessions Tour." From the 50,000 pictures taken, Madonna personally selected the top 256, and these stellar photos will be available for your viewing pleasure as part of the new "Madonna Confessions" book, out Oct. 24.

The 224-page coffee table book published by powerHouse Books gives fans an up-close view of the almost $200 million grossing show that was divided into four sections: equestrian, urban Bedouin, glam punk and disco fever, and the talented showwoman who brought it all together.

See Madonna riding the flying mechanical horse for "Like a Virgin," riffing alongside rocker Lenny Kravitz for "I Love New York," and hung up on a mirrored cross, wearing a crown of thorns for the highly controversial "Live to Tell" number, along with some exclusive backstage photos.

Interspersed throughout the book are a variety of quotes in a variety of moods from the Material, Ethereal, Mercurial, and finally Magesterial Girl. One quote that stands out is: "Every time I do a show, I die a little bit, but no shit is worth doing unless you're willing to die for it." If the always hard-working Madonna lives by that motto, then Oseary's expressive, highly-nuanced photos suggest his subscription to the credo that you can capture someone's soul by taking their photograph.

In the past 25 years, you've probably seen hundreds, if not thousands, of canned pictures of Madonna, but until now you've never seen such candid ones. I, myself, reviewed the "Confessions Tour," watched the DVD, and own the poster -- but there's something different about seeing Madonna through Oseary's trusted lens, something about seeing perhaps the most controled woman in the world appearing so unguarded, even recklessly ecstatic, when for one don't-blink-or-you-might-miss-it moment, amid the furious, frenetic energy onstage, she stops and smiles. 

Comments

[corrective_unconscious]

That's 256 photos too many. Otherwise a great book.

[queerplanet]

If another rock star hangs themselves on a cross I think I will personally go to a concert and hurl chunks on them.

Madonna, Marilyn Manson, come on kids, that is so over.

No one cares what you do with Christianity because no one cares about Christians anymore...

Religion is so last century.

Muslims, Christians, Jews.... I mean gawd, that is so over.

Anyway, Madonna, she's okay, but she's not living more lives than the average person. She's living one. And she dragging out the same old tired shit from her last shows and putting new glitter on it.

Face it. We need a new whore goddess to represent sexual freedom.

[corrective_unconscious]

>We need a new whore goddess to represent sexual freedom.

Sarah Palin had her first child out of wedlock, just like Sarah Palin's daughter did. Underneath that perky talibangelical exterior, you know Palin is sluttier and more whorish than Madonna, Kathy Griffin, Colin Farrell and Barbara Walters put together.

[mando]

she is so out of talent now its just gitting so old