Madonna was getting criticised for being 'too old' when she was Jennifer and Angelina's age though. Wasn't her age even vaguely referenced in the Ali G bit at the beginning of the Music vid?

How old was she when Amy Winehouse called her an old lady?

That's true. I guess pop music is seen as more for young people whereas actresses do have more freedom to portray people of different ages. Also I think people take what Madonna does in her videos literally when in reality she's often playing a character just like Jennifer and Angelina.

angelina is a bit of a stretch possibly. however, jennifer is only just over 10 years younger than madonna. you would swear josh was comparing madonna to teenagers the way your carrying on.

Well said!!!It's not an attack on him in disguise but the poster to you replied to, like many others who think the same, are making quick judgements about her and her image trying to big other acts to put her down or rewriting her career path to suit their arguments. It is ridiculous to compare Madonna to Annie Lennox, Alison Moyet, and most of all Kate Bush, especially when these ladies's circumstances are different. As you said, there's this myth/ expectation about women who reach a certain age to act in a certain way aka to stop enjoying life and start packing their bags for the nrusing home...as for Madonna, I do believe those who keep feeling offended by her attempt to 'stay young and go down by the kids' are suffering from a short or maybe selective memory syndrome...:sleep:

Totally agree with you! And as @GigI4 said in another post, it seems those people take her imagery very literally. To me there's an element of burlesque in this artwork. Similarly to her photos for Interview! she's in character and somehow that's something I'd expect from her. I don't know how I'd feel if she was wearing similar out fits for her interviews or any public appearances...Maybe now I'm joining the bigotry's league!?

i think everyone has an opinion on what she should be wearing and how she should portray herself. that is exactly what she wants in all probability. the day when nobody has an opinion good or bad, would be a new situation for her. it is a tired discussion though, have many years have people been speculating that she is too old to dress like she does?:yawn:

'How High' gives an element of response to that. Clearly she likes provoking people and get them talk. I'm not sure she actually likes how far it's gone since then...And yes, that's a discussion that goes around circles! Funny enough it only carries on as she's not ready to give into the PC of dressing appropriately for your age, whatever this really means!?:sleep:

indeed and that is good example i wish i had thought of. i was watching a documentary earlier this evening on the `queen`s of disco` on bbc4. they were discussing all the great `disco queens` and how they were all ground breaking in their own way. it occurred to me that she was the only one that managed to stay relevant for decades and achieve continued success. in short, even if she suddenly becomes irrelevant and past it. she has already surpassed so many peoples expectations and made so much great music in the process.

oh dear, someone has been looking at too many articles on the daily mail. shirley manson addresses this issue of the media`s ageist attitudes, the hypocrisy behind these endless hand pictures/speculation and the people that find it amusing. never one to mince her words, this is what she said in a recent interview.

`The tabloids complain about [Madonna] looking old, and people laugh at her for that. Then Madonna goes and fixes her face, and they laugh at her for that. Even thought they begrudgingly say she looks amazing, they’ll still laugh at her for trying to look young. Then she steps out, looking amazing, and the tabloids go and blow up a picture of her aging hand. Nobody’s doing that to George Clooney, blowing up pictures of his hands! I look at these magazines, and I want to say to them, What’s your point? That she’s aged? Does that surprise you? Or is your ‘point’ an attempt to undercut what she’s achieved? I think it is, even if it’s on a subconscious level. And you probably wouldn’t turn down those hands if they were grabbing you under the table, you f**king idiots.`

she has a valid point and i couldn't have put it better myself.

rubbish.... if an old man tried to be much younger hed be branded a peado/perv, i mean why else would they want to do that...regardless of their sex...its pathetic...your older now, deal with it. (i have).


ridiculous... when was the last (or first) time you saw bette davis cavorting in her underwear?.. bette davis had poise, class, charisma, everything madonna is not now employing.


what?...siouxsie wasnt sexy? kate? have you seen them in their early days?

of course you change, i know, im old. your perspective on life changes, you dont get excited in the same way you do when your young. if people didnt change everyone would still be acting like a 21 year old.

get this straight...im against ANY artist of any age using sex to overtly sell/promote their music. female artists though have always had a sex appeal, there a huge difference between being a crass slut and being sexy.

just look at the society we live in...women who think you need thick make up, orange skin, long, straight, blonde hair, huge breasts.. to make yourself look beautiful... IT DOESNT! i dont think many know what true beauty is... the same with looking/acting sexy... you dont have to be a slut or young to be sexy.


why?... successful artists of madonnas age group who have matured and have not lost their sex appeal nor resorted to trying to be young. theres NOTHING ridiculous about comparing like for like... if anybodies trying to change the facts to suit their argument, its you!

whats all this nonsense about reaching a certain age and you stop enjoying yourself/ going to a nursing home?...what utter cack! older people mature and enjoy themselves in a more fitting way, theres nothing more pathetic then a middle aged woman trying to recapture their long lost youth by acting like they did twenty/thirty years ago.

grow old with grace and dignity, that doesnt mean you lose your sexuality nor appeal... give me annie lennox, siouxsie sioux, kate..etc anyday over madonna (who used to be as sexy as hell).

Gosh. Someone's taken a bitter pill.

Then give proper examples instead of assuming these artists you're citing to prove your point have matured naturally...You're talking about Annie Lennox, Kate Bush and so on to have retained their sex-appeal but this is only a matter of opinion not a fact. How can you claim Kate is still sexy when she's hardly appeared in public and has stopped playing 'the game' when it comes to release her music? As for Annie Lennox, her career has taken a different direction since her involvement in HIV prevention projects in Africa and for whatever reason she has long left the theatrics she had with her music behind. I'm not implying any these women aren't sexy but I just think this comparison is absolutely ridiculous because you are using it to prove a fact which ain't there - Growing old with grace and dignity is so sexist - Now give me examples of Women in the Music industry who are at the same level than Madonna, haven't taken 15 years break before going back to the limelight, who are still prolific releasing Music, videos, doing tours etc. and still highly successful while 'growing with grace and dignity'...Then you might have a point making such comparisons.

who else is cavorting around in their underwear at 50+, posing as some youngster?...

how is "growing old with grace and dignity" sexist? it applies across the board but like i pointed out when men do it they are classed as 'pervs'.

the op asked if madonna is 'trying to hard to be young'... the answer is YES.

Madonna is just being Madonna regardless of her age, she isn't trying to be young, she is just being herself. It's just the haters and prudes who have a problem with it, what the hell is this ageing gracefully and with dignity crap. People are different so why should they conform to what some perceive as the 'norm'.
Go Madonna!

Hear hear!

True. That's what she's been doing for the past 2 years, In fact I seem to remember she was half naked in most of her videos for the Hard Candy era and let's not forget the Super Bowl where she was wearing a very revealing bras and hot pants.The only problem everyone seems to point out her underwear could hardly been seen and no one could figure out why until it occurred to them, for once she put some clothes on...Such a first in a 30 years career! -
There's something sexist about this sentence 'growing old with grace and dignity'. each time it's been used it was about women. I have yet to see it to describe a man who has matured...Anyway, think I've heard your opinion loud and clear so I'll rest my case...

Good to see I seem to be not the only one not getting it

On her latest single Gimme All Your Loving, she starts " L U V Madonna, Y O U Madonna". I keep thinking she has drawn inspiration from Cher Lloyd!

Kylie Minogue seems stuck in a 2000 mould, but at least she has not regressed and releases at least 1 good single per album.

I was discussing with a customer at work about Engelbert Humbedinck representing the UK at Eurovision. He said it was a bit of an unexpected choice but thought "the old guy would do better than anyone The X-factor could muster up." I asked if he had a thought about his age. He replied that he couldn't give a toss as long as he can sing. I then compared the responses people have made towards Engelbert to the ageist comments people ply upon madonna. He looked at me, smiled and said "Mate, as far as I'm concerned, Madonna can get her tits out as much as she likes for as long as she wants!"

I thought that summed it up pretty well. It appears that the media, and a few over analysing people have problems with her. For the majority she is just "Madonna" and is just "being Madonna".

Madonna has always had an 'up yours' attitude and punk sensibility. She has pushed the envelope from day one. Smash Hits said in 1984, "Make the most of Madonna now because in a few years she'll be wearing sequinned frocks and singing ballads like Diana Ross".

Well, she has still to wear a sequinned frock and I doubt she ever will...

Your mate at work has a funny way of putting it but kinda hits it on the head.

It reminded me on the bus to college we were talking about Michael Jackson and Madonna on a trip to college one day...which again escalated. And basically in general opinion people perceive artists as massive music makers/business people and not necessarily "ageist" although people do love gossip in the media.

I mean how many people actually believe or care as to weather Madonnas boy toy proposed to her or not....not really but those who dont like her will have a field day with anything fiction or not.

It is very interesting to look at though.

Off topic but just picking that point up-Chaka Khan still has a hugely successful career in the US, Japan and other part's of the World and is a major force in RnB to this day-some of the work she has done with Prince and various other's is incredible.It is in the UK where she and other's are not deemed 'relevant', which is why Estelle was complaining the other day about the poor state of RnB in the UK and the UK music industry in general. Grace Jones will always be relevant.

THIS!

so shes not done anything to her face or body to try to retain youthful features? lol..

im no hater, i like madonna very much up until about the last ten years. she was my fav solo female act of the 80's and her material with william orbit proves she can produce maturer but still classic pop.

nor am i a prude, (god that makes a change...blokes of my age are more often refered to as pervs), ive never thought that artists skimpy clothes should sell music...its the material that matters... like i said, you can be incredibly sexy without showing flesh.

lol.. you realise youve shown your own ignorance regarding "growing old gracefully and with dignity" if you understood what that really means then you wouldnt post that !


what 50+ year old male performs in his underwear?... men dont appear to chase the image of eternal youth the way (sad, pathetic) women do.

Yeah it's pretty cringey. After American Life, Iv'e not really enjoyed her music as much as before.