vasili

Re the Secret video, as taken from this Facebook post: "Orlando Pita 18 January · #fbf #flashbackfriday This was the first video I did with @madonna thankfully the first of many🙌🏼 Repost from @webo1958 using @RepostRegramApp - Friday September 9th until Sunday September 11th 1994 Lenox Avenue Harlem NYC Director @melodiemcdaniel Stylist @brigittepavich Hair @orlandopita Make Up @lauramercier TBC Vintage coat - stylists assistants Shoes @versace The “Secret” video was filmed between Sept 9-11th 1994 at the Lenox Lounge and on location on Lenox Avenue in Harlem. The director Melodie McDaniel and her team scouted out low-rent, speak-easy locations and they did street-casting, assembling off-beat characters, from club queens to card tricksters and edgy Harlem teenagers. Before meeting with Madonna, McDaniel first listened to the song and found it inspiring. When asked by the singer about her references for the video, McDaniel presented her with pictures from her favorite 1970s photographer, Bill Burke, who took pictures of people considered as freaks or inbred. Another reference was the photography book, East 100 Street by Bruce Davidson, which showed pictures of people in Spanish Harlem. Madonna let the director live in her New York apartment to continue research and asked her to go through her book collections, including those by Helmut Newton and Richard Avedon. Madonna also started working with a stylist from McDaniel's team called Brigitte Echols, for the fashion and wardrobes in the video. Echols had gone to a low-rent mall called Crenshaw Swap Meet and bought a $180 gold necklace with the name "Madonna" in it, inside a jewelry box. Madonna liked it and together they decided on the wardrobe, including skirts and tops, vintage clothes from costume houses, La Perla bra, and two designs from Marc Jacobs. Echols described Madonna's approach to style as "collaborative". #madonna #secret #harlem #newyork #1994 @madonna @melodiemcdaniel @brigittepavich

Mark Romanek had a meeting with Madonna at a hotel in the early '90s, at which she was living while her home was being renovated. He noticed that the only piece of decor that Madonna had brought with her to the hotel was a surrealist painting to hang on her wall. He commented that it could be great to direct a video based on that painting one day... Flash forward to 1994 and Mark Romanek had the privilege of listening to the Bedtime Stories album before its commercial release, after which he told Madonna that he'd love to direct the video for Bedtime Story if it was to be released as a single, given this concept that he had in mind. Originally, the label wanted to finish the album promotion with Forbidden Love, however Madonna persuaded them to opt for Bedtime Story instead, not only because she had a spectacular video in the works for it, but to show her growth as an artist. Of course, Human Nature eventually became the official last single.

What is the appeal of buying the same music in a bunch of different formats? Madonna really has so many fans around her little finger.

Hear, hear! Thank you for articulating everything I was thinking.

But she is 60, and a pop survivor at that, as she likes to reminds us. Madonna, please get over yourself.

I bet she disapproved of the full version because of the unflattering lighting...

Okay, but if she never used the word 'painterly' to describe what she'd hoped for the video, I doubt it would've come to mind for any of us. Painterly is Ariana's God Is A Woman video. Heck, P!nk's Walk Me Home is more painterly than this. I think I'm just a little underwhelmed with this first single altogether.

The video was hardly 'painterly'?

Some of you throw the word 'love' around too easily.

I thought I'd share this cute LAP tidbit. Check out the 6:40 mark for a video of P!nk performing Oh Father in 1989 at the age of 10. That's some great taste for a young kid.

I see what you mean. So much of what you described is Leo behaviour though haha - i.e. an arrogant approach, inclined to blame others rather than herself, unable to resist doing something on a large scale. Perhaps since she has the kind of access and network that non-famous directors do not, it was hard for her to resist thinking 'big'? Personally, I don't care much for her directing pursuits. Perhaps she could consider being more of a film producer, where she remains integral to having the stories she likes told but doesn't need to be the one behind the camera.

It's interesting to hear your perspective as a student. How would you describe her attitude to film-making?

Yeh, it's a cool song but it was mastered poorly for Remixed & Revisited, frustratingly.

I think ROL set such a high bar? It really was magical how it came together - timing, personnel, energy. I happen to love Amazing, for instance, even if it is a little same-y... That bass slaps!

Please refer to the following Orbit-produced songs for evidence to the contrary: All Saints - Black Coffee All Saints - Pure Shores William Orbit - Spiral Feat. Kenna & Sugababes And so much more. It's too easy to take Orbit for granted and discredit him after so many years of listening. Ray Of Light would not be the beloved album it is without him. It's as simple as that.