Monroe Boys Girls Club 2015 Fall Soccer: Fill & Download for Free

Short Quick Answer (yes this is short):What makes anyone an ICON? Well, lots of things. In Madonna case there are so many reasons why she become an ICON the real question would be “as she done anything other than iconic”? Madonna took risks during her career and did innovative things that became the standard on music, fashion, cinema and other areas.Madonna is one of the biggest entertainment artists that ever existed in the world. Her influence goes beyond Music, Fashion, Movies, Books and so much more. Her image always changes with a new music work where she plays a different character or a different part of her personality and different music genres crossed-over with pop music (that’s why some people call her Queen of Re-invention). She changed how Music videos and Music concerts are made (along with Michael Jackson they are the artists with most expensive music videos ever and concert tour productions ever made). Plus she was always politically involved in many controversial causes speaking for minorities since the early stages of her career. She even got the Pope talking about her for a few times (against her, of course). She was always trying to change people’s minds and pushing boundaries and was not just singing another pop singer (she has some fun songs but also songs with a message). During the 80’s and 90’s she and princess Diana were the most photographed woman in the world. She is the person that had more magazines covers ever around the world and the person that gets more news made about her social media posts even to this year (worldwide). Only Elvis Presley, Beatles and Michael Jackson sold more records worldwide and had similar social-cultural impact (yet not in so many fields as Madonna did). She sold less than 25% of her records in US (making Elvis and Beatles bigger there), yet in many non-English speaking countries Madonna is the best selling English music artist (including Brasil, Italy, Spain, Russia, Japan and other big markets). In UK none sold more singles than Madonna (she even doubled Elvis numbers!). She also holds the record for more certified gold and platinum songs in UK and US (46 singles were gold or platinum in UK and 26 in US). Charts wise Madonna is the most successful artist worldwide having more #01 songs and more TOP 10 Hits than any other artist in music History. The chart where she is more successful is the Billboard Club Dance Charts where she got her 47º #01 song just a few weeks in June 2019. She is also the most successful female songwriter in US and UK (even Gary Barlow had a UK #01 song written by Madonna). Since the 80’s until now most what Madonna does gets full attention from the world. Her concerts and TV appearances were always breaking records audiences and every time she was on the cover of a magazine or newspaper it would get a re-print as it would sell out. Even now Madonna news are always TOP 3 of most read on Internet every time they are out (and she still has the world record for biggest live audience for an Internet concert with over 11 million viewers live). But probably the most important reason why Madonna is an Icon is because literally hundreds big stars followed her steps and tried what she was pioneer doing. Other female starts (and even some male stars and groups) confessed to be major Madonna fans and that she was the main influence and the reason why they tried a musical career. That includes ALL past decade and this decade female stars (and most of the 90’s too) citing Madonna as one of their major influences (Kylie Minogue, Spice Girls, Alanis Morissette, Robbie Williams, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Jlo, Shakira, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Beyoncé, Nelly Furtado, Pussycat Dolls, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lana del Rey, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Adam Lambert, Ariana Grande, Rita Ora, Dua Lipa, Robbie Williams, Troye Sivan - even Adele, and so many more).Now you want to know how and why in detail? I will give you a more developed answer that also talks about Madonna History and achievements and complements what I wrote above:Madonna is the biggest example of the American Dream. Father Italian, Mother Canadian, born in Detroit, big family (8 brothers and sisters) she needed to do many things to get her fathers attention (her mother died of breast cancer when she was 5 yo). She was not poor but definitely not rich. Learnt piano but she loved to dance. Went to Michigan University to study dance and at 17 she run away to New York City having only 35 dollars in her pocket. Went to Martha Graham dance school to be a professional dancer and worked as nude model for the art school to pay the bills (and some photos from that time would hunt her down later). She lived on the streets, abandoned buildings, was even raped but survived everything and got stronger each step of the way. She always loved music and besides other jobs she always got connected to music. She was a drummer in a rock band and later vocalist. But dance was her thing. She did background vocals for Patrick Hernandez (“Born To Be Alive”) and toured with him in Europe. Also had a music project in Germany (with Otto) but that did not work out very well. She always wrote music and finally got a record deal in 1982 (she was 24 yo then). Her first Maxi-Single had 2 songs written by Madonna herself only. Her first album ended up with 8 tracks from those 5 were written 100% exclusively by Madonna.Her first single “Everybody” was not a Hot 100 hit (#107) but made it to #03 on the Billboard Club Dance Charts. But Madonna was not only about music but also style. She dated Basquiat (the artist) before any of them were famous and in his words she was a great artist with a great sense of style and that would accomplish great things. And she did. In 1985 Madonna only had a few hits but Madonna Mania was in Town - Macy’s even did a Madonna look a like contest (where artist Andy Walhor was part of the jury) and had a Madonna style section on their stores! Let’s not forget her connection to gay community (her closest brother and her dance professor were both gay) that also started early. She was one of the first persons to raise money and awareness to HIV+ (she and Elizabeth Taylor) and to promote the use of condoms (infuriating even the Pope). Her first 3 albums were a sales progression that broke all records (making her the best selling female artist in the world in less than 5 years into her career).Her first album released in 1983 sold over 10 millions, then Like a Virgin in late 1984 sold over 21 million and True Blue in 1986 sold over 27 millions already. By 1987 Madonna was already the female artist with most #01 hits in both US and UK (just 4 years after her first chart entry). She had also the most #01 on the eurochart and her True Blue album (that gave her 4 #01’s in Europe and 3 in US) had been a record 37 weeks at #01 in Europe (a record that she still holds). True Blue was also the best selling album by a female artist in History and the album that got to #01 in most country official charts (27 countries - surpassed by only Madonna with her 2005 studio album). But music is not everything. Madonna made it to the cover of both Playboy and Penthouse magazines with nude pictures that were taken at the art school on her early years surviving in New York city. Those pictures (and “new” old pictures appearing each year) were mostly published between 1985 and 1991.People also found her MTV performance of “Like a Virgin” from ’84 very scandalous with her rolling on the floor in a weeding dress showing off her panties. Her “Material Girl” video (from ’85) impersonated Marilyn Monroe and gives Madonna a nickname with the song name (Marilyn merchandising sales went up more than 100 times after this video release). Her 1985 North American Tour had established new fast selling tickets records in all the venues she played (NY sold out in 17 minutes at the time). It was also the first “Madonna year” at the charts. Her videos for “Papa Don’t Preach” (that was the best selling single worldwide in 1986) and “Open Your Heart” also sparked lot controversy one due to teenage pregnancy and the other due to a young boy looking at a peep show. She was not just a pop singer. She had something to say and she would push boundaries all the time so people were forced to talk about the subjects. Madonna had also been on the hit movie “Desperately Seeking Susan” and later on the video rental #01 for several weeks with “Who’s That Girl” (the film did not performed so well at theaters first but was a huge video hit). She also did her first stadiums tour in 1987 having had a record of 131.000 people on her Paris concert. Still a Guinness Record for the paid concert with biggest crowd ever by a solo artist. That show was theatrical and was really innovative at the time. Fashion wise Jean-Paul Gaultier made her clothes and was the first time she was using the famous Cone Bras in concert (she already used it on “Open Your Heart” video).During 1987 Madonna also had 4 songs on “Who’s That Girl” soundtrack (that gave her another #01 single) and released a remix compilation album that became the best selling remix compilation EVER (“You Can Dance” sold over 6 million albums until now). In 1988 she tried to focus on her Broadway play and she was there for 6 months. Her marriage with actor Sean Penn was not going well (that ended in divorce) and she needed some personal time too.In early 1989 Madonna was about to make strong statements again. Her “Like a Prayer” video with a massive Pepsi campaign was coming out. Madonna was on Pepsi cans in every country in the world, a 2 minutes Pepsi commercial aired a few times all over the world in anticipation of Madonna new video. “Like a Prayer” (that became the best selling single worldwide of 1989) premiered in 40 countries at the same time (never happened before with any other music video, was the widest video premiere ever at the time) and the black saint and burning crosses even got the pope talking about it - she also touch the black peopled hunted down by police subject making this video very polemic at the time (was the first time any of these subjects were on the spotlight on what was supposed to be “fun dance pop music” only). This was the most controversial video ever at the time. Newspapers would put her on the cover page talking about the video. Her new album was also a promotion tool about awareness about AIDS (having a informative leaflet inside all units sold). Pepsi even decided to drop Madonna commercial leaving her with the $5 million they paid for it as catholic groups were boycotting the drink because of Madonna’s video. Her second video from that album was “Express Yourself”, directed by David Fincher, costed $5.0 million and was by far the most expensive video ever made (before that was “Thriller” by Michael Jackson that costed $0.5 million - 10 times less!) and so remained until Madonna did her “Bedtime Story” video in 1995 (a video inspired by contemporary art and that is part of the MOMA Art Collection). This 1989 album had a few other hit singles but her duet with Prince was never released as a single. “Like a Prayer” was not a regular pop album and it’s still considered by most critics one of the best pop albums ever made and one of Madonna’s finest works. The album sold over 15 millions worldwide (so Madonna was still selling as none ever with her 4th Studio album). The song “Like a Prayer” became the best selling single of 1989 worldwide and one of Madonna’s best selling singles ever.in 1990 Madonna started in the Disney movie “Dick Tracy” (that happens in 1930’s) and did an album with songs from the movie and others inspired by it - including the iconic “Vogue” (that also had a video directed by David Fincher and become second best selling single of 1990 and another of Madonna best selling singles ever - just in US it sold over 2 million at the time being TOP 10 best singles EVER). During that year Madonna’s “Blonde Ambition Tour” sparked controversy for various reasons but the most important one was her masturbation simulation on a bed (part of the choreography to “Like a Virgin”). The pope even tried to stop the concert to be performed in Italy. This tour also made the Gaultier pointy bustiers famous (That Madonna was wearing since 1986) ass Madonna used them in almost every tour outfit. This concert tour was super innovative. Madonna would almost never stop dancing and used the headset mic for the first time (Michael Jackson decided to use that too later on his yet to come tour). The stage would transform in a way none had ever seen before and a record 18 trucks were need to transport just the stage full of hydraulic elevators and staircases. With less than 50 concerts it became the Most Grossing concert tour of a solo artist. She would end up only doing another tour that decade in 1993 with less than 40 concerts and an even bigger and more amazing stage. “Blond Ambiton” tour also broke records on TV Broadcastings being the most viewed concert show ever in almost every country in the world (a record that still holds in some countries - pretty impressive!).Later that year Madonna released another video that caused controversy and was banned from MTV at the time “Justify My Love” - became the best selling music video single ever (and continues to be) selling 400k copies of the VHS (that only had that one video) in US alone. The single was a presentation to her new 17 tracks album (dedicated to the pope) called “The Immaculate Collection” where Madonna put some of her biggest hits (but to put all her UK Top 10 hits at the time she would need 4 vinyl records). The album quickly became the best selling album by a female artist worldwide leaving her 1986 “True Blue” album in second place at the time (she had the 3 best selling albums worldwide by a female artists at the time - wow!). Madonna was already called “Queen of Pop” a few times before but from now on EVERYONE would call her that (despite in recent years some press make articles about other artists coming for Madonna crown the truth is she still is in a UNIQUE place where none ever will as she was a pioneer).“In Bed With Madonna” (“Truth or Dare” in America) was the film documentary about the Blonde Ambition tour released to theaters on 1991 and becoming the most successful documentary of all time by far on both cinema and video sales (only Michael Jackson documentary after his passing in 2009 broke that record but it still is the best grossing documentary about a living person). This documentary is often cited as the inspiration for “Celebrity Reality TV” as was made based on cameras following Madonna during 6 months and edited to a 2 hours movie - this was innovative at the time as has never been done before.Madonna already had a lots of records under her belt (some were broken but she still have a most of them). She still is the artist with most consecutive TOP 5 hits on Billboard charts (17 singles were TOP 5 from ’84 to ‘89) or most consecutive TOP 10s in UK (36 singles were TOP 10 from 1984 to 1994).Later Madonna got into another hit movie, “A League of Their Own” with another #01 ballad song for the OST. But later that year she would shock the world harder. Tired of magazines using her 18 yo nudes pictures to sell and she getting nothing from it (Playboy magazine already had her 7 times on the cover by then) Madonna did the “SEX” book. A coffee table book about Madonna sexual fantasies full of explicit photographs. The book sold 1.5 million copies on first 3 days selling out the first print (still is the fastest selling and the best selling coffee table book ever) and has been the most searched out of print book for over 20 years now (since that list was created until this year!). At the same time Madonna released a record called “Erotica” and a movie called “Body of Evidence” where Madonna have some full naked sex scenes. This combination was explosive and both press and the church did not leave Madonna alone one second saying that this time she went to far and career was over.Press and Radio could not stop talk about Madonna (not good things) and that helped the song to be highest entry ever at first on Billboard charts at #02 (but also helped her fall quickly). That same year Madonna was on the catwalk for Jean Paul Gaultier in Paris modeling a design that exposed her boobs and once again sparked controversy. Teenagers from more religious families were forbiden to listen to Madonna or having her records (yet “Erotica” was her lowest selling album at the time ended up selling 7 million records worldwide). Press was accusing her of going too far and saying her career was over in almost everything written about her (but some press was saying that since she released her first single - even Billboard said she would not last 6 months in 1984). Yet Madonna singles did fine worldwide (she did missed the TOP 20 with 1 single for the first time ever and the album failed to be #01 in US for the first time) and her 1993 Stadium Tour was a sell out anyway everywhere it went making it the Most Successful Tour of 1993 by a Solo Artist.In 1994 after the OST hit “I’ll Remember” (a ballad that was #02 in US for several weeks) a new album is out, Bedtime Stories, much more R&B oriented and with softer lyrics (she wanted to clean her image to get the “Evita” role) giving Madonna her longest #01 in US with the song “Take a Bow” (7 weeks at #01). The following year she released a ballads collection that ended up selling more than 10 millions worldwide. During those years (94/95) she was also the face for Versace campaigns worldwide. In 1996/1997 the Evita OST and film were released becoming one of the most successful musicals ever, giving Madonna her first Best Actress Golden Globe and the second time she performed at the Oscars (and second Best Original Oscar win for a song sang by her). Though she was nominated 7 times as songwriter for a Golden Globe she ended up only winning that one in 2012.Having a daughter changes Madonna and in 1998 she releases a new album more electronic oriented. This was a new direction and a risky one. It paid of and “Ray of Light” ended up selling 17 million and gave Madonna another 5 hit singles from the album and dozens awards (including 4 Grammy’s). Despite only be #02 on Billboard the album gave Madonna the best selling debut week by a female artist until then with 371k pure sales on first week (this record was shortly broken and now belongs to Britney Spears).In 2000 Madonna released “Music”, the single was the best selling single of the year worldwide and the album was another huge success with sales over 14 million. Madonna was able to be #01 with both album and single in US and UK at the same time (something she hadn’t done since ’89 with “Like a Prayer”) During these years Madonna always did great videos and was also associated with fashion and cosmetic advertising campaigns but was a bit less political. Yet always through out her career supported multiple causes not only giving money for charities but having other kind of initiatives to make a real change. She did her first concert tour in 2001 after 8 years without doing concerts and become the Most Grossing concert tour of a female artist beating her own previous record (she would going to do that a lot later)In 2003 she releases her more political work yet with an amazing video anti-bush/anti-Iraq war. The album was called “American Life” and since then American Radios stopped playing Madonna as much as they used to. Yet she was still having huge success all around the globe. She did made the front pages all over the world again with her MTV performance with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera where she kissed them both on the mouth (after they homage her singing “Like a Virgin” wearing a wedding dress (like she did in 84). Madonna was dressed as the groom this time. The younger pop start (especially Britney) were talked about as the “new” Madonna. Later that year Britney released the new single from her forthcoming album and the song featured Madonna. Despite only peaking #35 in US the song got to TOP 5 all over the world, was #01 in many countries including Australia and Italy and was #02 in UK and Canada.Also in 2003 Madonna releases her first Children illustrated book “English Roses”. The book became the fastest selling children illustrated book on week of release (a record it still holds). Only one children book sold more on week of release and that was Harry Potter 5th book (and sold just 220 copies plus!). Madonna went on to release 17 illustrated children book over the years and one record selling audio book with her own voice reading the books to her children.In late 2005 Madonna surprises everyone with the release of her dance song “Hung Up” that included an Abba sample and was become one of her biggest Hits ever being one of the best selling songs of both 2005 and 2006 year end charts. It got to #01 in 42 countries official charts, still a Guinness Record (in US despite high sales and being the country best selling song for several weeks peaked #07 as the song was not even a TOP 40 airplay hit and radio airplay counts toward US charts). The album “Confessions on a Dancefloor” released a few weeks later got to #01 in 44 countries official charts beating her own record from 1987 with True Blue that got to #01 in 27 countries (Madonna still holds both these records in 2019 on Guinness Book). In US “Hung Up” ended up being the decade end song on the Billboard Club Dance Charts (and “Music” by Madonna was the #02 song on decade year 2000’s Charts). “Music” was also the best selling Physical single in US 2000’s decade.In 2006 she went to Malawi to adopt a kid. And she did. She was very disturbed with all poverty and problems there (it’s the country with most HIV+ children in the world). Until now she already helped built over 10 schools (for 10.000 children) and the first pediatric Hospital in the country (with the first 3 surgical rooms). Meanwhile she adopted another 3 children on the past years. She is also connected to may other programs education and health programs in other countries.In 2007 Madonna signed a record deal with Live Nation worth $120 million (still the highest for a female artist until today). In 1990 she had a $60 million record deal with Warner that also gave her a multimedia company (Maverick was going to release records, books and films). That deal was at the time the highest in the music industry. Her company went to release her records and new artists such a Alanis Morissette (who’s first album sold over 30 million records worldwide), The Prodigy, among others. The company also released a lot of OST and (including production for the Twilight saga movie franchise and OST’s).In 2008 she had one of the most expensive divorces in History having to pay over $100 million to her ex-husband Guy Richie. But she would go on tour to make for it soon.Her lastest studio album for Warner Music Records was released in 2008 with “4 minutes” collaboration with Justin Timberlake and Timberland being the first single (and world #01 for 14 weeks). The song peaked #01 in UK and many other countries but just #03 in US as it peaked only #10 on airplay (was the #01 selling single in US for several weeks selling over 3 million in US alone). Despite the album not having such huge sales as her previous the tour to support it grossed over $408 millions in ticket sales still being the Most Grossing Tour of a female artist (with less than 90 concerts) - at time was even the Most Grossing Tour of a Solo Artist.In 2009 a new compilation GH album was released and sold over 8 million (her 3rd GH - first was 90’s, then 2002 and now 2009). She took some time since 2007 until 2012 to focus on her director career. In 2012 her “W.E.” movie is released but was not a major hit. But she also played Superbowl half-time for the first time that year breaking viewers records, released a new album that was at the TOP 10 year end sales and a new tour that become the 2nd Best Selling Grossing Tour by a female artist at the time (the first one still is her previous tour). MDNA, her 2012 still is the ONLY album ever to be #01 best selling year end album from a foreign artist in Russia where her song “Masterpiece” was #01 for 7 weeks. This has been Madonna longest pause on record releases yet (3,5 years without a new studio album). In 2015 she released a new record “Rebel Heart” and a new tour to support it that was the Most Grossing Tour of the year. She then have been 4 years without releasing new music making it the biggest pause in her career ever. In 2017 she moved to Portugal (leaving Trump America) so her son could learn to play soccer on one of the best schools in the world. She then got inspired by all the cultural richness of this 800 years country and decided to make her most risky album ever. Risky as it’s a cross-over of Pop, Hip-Hop, Latin vibes, Portuguese Fado, African sounds and electronics. It really sounds different from everything and Madonna sings in English, Spanish and Portuguese. It paid of as she got her 9th #01 album in US and TOP 5 positions in almost every country in the world. It also got to #01 in more than 60 countries on iTunes showing she is still relevant. Her new Theater tour (her first tour in small venues ever) is breaking fast selling tickets records despite the record prices.Madonna already did over $1.3 billion in concert revenues until 2016 being the Best Grossing Solo Artist in World History (and all this with less than 500 concerts during 25 years as these worldwide numbers for all artists started being counted only from 1990 on). She was always the Most Grossing Female Artist from every year she was on Tour - and also Solo Artist most of those years too (1990, 1993, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016). She also have a record 10 #01’s on the Billboard video sales charts (more than any other artist).Madonna was already a legend and an icon since the late 80’s every step of the way was only making her iconic status even bigger and bigger. None had ever did what she was doing. Most of what she has done was never done before. Even now she continues to try new things. Some more commercial successful than others. Even during the streaming era, despite she being over 60 yo and having a career since the 80’s she is a TOP 200 Most Streamed Artist in every platform. In fact, the only artist alive that began her career in the 80’s or even earlier to be on TOP 200 streaming. This just shows how relevant she still is compared to her contemporary artists. But this and her record 38 US TOP 10’s or 63 UK TOP 10’s or 25 Canadian #01 singles are not why she became an ICON. Her Attitude, pushing the envelope all the time, creating ICONIC images, creating Iconic songs and being a fashion setter made Madonna an ICON.Madonna was huge in the 80s becoming an ICON in a couple of years, The Queen of Pop already in the 90s, became a Living Legend in the 00s and did a lot less work in the 10s not losing any of her status (dedicating much more time to her family and writing scripts for films she wants to direct - yet still breaking records). During the 80’s she had a few sales and charts records (in both US and UK was the best performing artist on the charts). In US she got the best selling maxi-single in history during the 80’s (“Into The Groove” 12″ maxi-single sold almost 1 million copies) and in UK she was the most played artist at the radio in the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s decades (quite impressive!). During the 2000’s she was also the best selling singles artist in US and always made it into the TOP 5 decade end on the previous decades. Worldwide Madonna physical record sales were standing at 335 million (official numbers from Warner Music from early 2008) and she is recognized by Guinness Book as the Most Successful Music Act Ever in the World since the year 2000 edition (after 17 years into her career). The United World Charts also recognizes her as the Most Successful Singles Artists in The world (with 47 Worldwide Top 10 Hits and 22 #01 songs). Despite this decade she released fewer albums and singles (from 2010 to 2018 she only released 6 singles and videos worldwide!) she already managed to get all her single releases to be #01 on US Billboard Club Dance charts. Her new single “I Rise” was last week highest new entry at #26 and will certainly climb (most songs take 8 weeks to get to #01 on this chart so lets find out what’s next).Sure I forgot to mention lot’s of stuff about her 38 year career that helped to her Iconic Status but all I wrote is already more than enough to understand a little bit why she is an ICON and a Living Legend - I mean, she is Madonna, there is none like her and never will as others are doing anything for the very first time but just re-doing what Madonna did for the very first time.