Oh what a circus….oh what a show! The first line that comes to mind when I think of yesterday….Madonna’s 60th birthday. I received various requests from Dutch and Belgian media for interviews on Madonna, wanted to do it all but there were some scheduling conflicts (yes babes I am a mother and my son is my absolute priority).
First there was an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, I was a bit hestitant as they completely altered my quotes when Madonna turned 50 in 2008 for their article. However in good faith I told them all and was told which photo’s they were going to print and that it would be fab. Well darlings it was not. They printed the photo which we hadn’t agreed on and I read my supposed quotes that I know hadn’t come out of MY mouth (since when am I the eyes and ears of Madonna in Holland? B…..please).
Moving on…Belgian newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen printed a great article and were mostly accurate, thank you for that and the positivity!
I was approached through Facebook asking me to participate in a live television talkshow titled “M” on Thursday evening and asking me to bring more fans. No problem.
While getting ready to go to Antwerp and see Britney dancing her ass off, the Dutch Algemeen Dagblad paid me a visit in my ‘Madonna Room’. I made it specific that I wanted it to be spontaneous and truthful, don’t try to make me look like a clown (even though I know I am a bit of a Pennywise). I was very pleased with the video and I thank you all for the many lovely comments on it!
Madonna’s birthday started off with me driving my car into town for an appointment, while talking on the phone to local radio Omroep Flevoland. They asked me if I was the biggest Madonna fan in Flevoland (ehm….I don’t know as I don’t know all of them). They asked if I had the same hairstyle as M did, told them no but I was lying looking at my swimcap in the rearview mirror thinking of her Letterman interview back in the good ol’ days. What Madonna record could they play for me? eh……Die Another Day? If you have it?
During lunch time RTL Nieuws knocked on my door and wanted me to do the exact same routine as Algemeen Dagblad. They really really really wanted me to put on the pink promotional cowboy hat for “Music” , I refused. What has Madonna meant for you? What has she done for you? How has she pushed you? Tried my best and was pleased with the final video, thank you RTL!
When I was finally eating, Radio Nostalgie in Belgium was on my phone. Lovely interview, different questions and testing to see if I would stick up for my big idol. They once again asked me which record to play, I couldn’t think of anything else besides ‘Die Another Day’ again. However they cut this from the final item and played ‘Hung Up’ instead.
While driving my car to Amsterdam for the taping of talkshow “M”, RTL called me to tell me that the item had been moved to the later news of 23.30 due to the passing of Aretha Franklin. They also told me that it would be available online. Once arriving at the studio’s in Amsterdam I was told to go upstairs with a man ‘ooooh that sounds exciting’, I think they didn’t get my joke. It wasn’t until there that I heard I would be sitting at the table and therefore needed make up. They definitely did my eyebrows as mine are so pale, they’re hardly there. They were stressing out, the entire show had to be re-organised due to the passing of Aretha Franklin (Queen of Soul). Most of the show was scheduled to be about Madonna’s 60th birthday, but now it was reduced to the final bit of the show.
Sitting on a chair, waiting for the Madonna item to happen it was hard to keep my eyes open during the ‘Trump’ segment (or was it not about him?). We got to play a Madonna quiz to which I knew all the answers apart from the one where I was stupid enough to hold up the sign so that the camera focused on me. Like a Prayer won viewer’s choice? I had no idea darling! Should’ve studied that Taraborrelli book a bit better. Kees Tabak spoke about photographing Madonna in Amsterdam at the start of her career, bringing her brother and a dancer (her brother was also her dancer). Before we knew, the live show was over and I was pushed back up the stairs to where our personal belongings were.
Finally getting home I found the RTL Nieuws item online and later watched it on TV at 23.38, which turned out to be a completely different item than shown online.
It was one heck of a day, a circus, a show…..Madonna deserves it, she has earned it, the undisputed Queen of Pop!
Thank you M, here’s to another 60 years!
