Madonna in 2004: A Year-End Review by Steve Caraco
There’s no doubt that 2004 was a big year for Madonna. Her daughter turned eight. Her son turned four. Her “Like A Virgin” album turned twenty. But the year’s most exciting event was Madonna’s sixth world tour, the Re-Invention Tour – the highest-grossing concert tour of the year. With the exception of only one postponed show, Madonna delivered a flawless run of 56 shows in 20 different cities over 114 days, from May 24th to September 14th. Over 750,000 fans saw the amazing 24-song show, which in most cases sold out within minutes. Unlike 2001’s Drowned World Tour, this time Madonna listened to her FANS, and gave them what THEY wanted, instead of doing what SHE wanted – The Re-Invention Tour left virtually no one disappointed – she belted out 20 years worth of music spanning over 11 albums, from 1983’s “Burning Up” and “Holiday” to 2003’s “American Life” and “Nobody Knows Me”. The tour was celebrated by fans all over the world, including a 3-day “Re-Invention Convention” held in Massachusetts by Steve Caraco, owner of the Madonna Catalog web site and memorabilia shop.
During this busy year, Madonna also managed to release four books (Nobody Knows Me, Mr. Peabody’s Apples, Yakov And The Seven Thieves, and The Adventures of Abdi) and accept two awards (an NRJ achievement award and UK Music Hall of Fame Award). She also gave memorable interviews on both 20/20 and 60 minutes.
On September 19th, Madonna visited Israel to speak during a spirituality for a kids event at the Kabbalah International Conference held in Tel Aviv.
Notable “anniversaries” in 2004 include: The 20-year anniversary of the “Like A Virgin” album (November 12th); the 15-year anniversary of the “Like A Prayer” album (March 21st); the 10-year anniversary of the “Bedtime Stories” album (October 25th); the 10-year anniversary of the infamous “F-Word” interview on David Letterman (March 31st); the 14-year anniversary of the “Immaculate Collection” album (November 13th); the 4-year anniversary of the “Music” album (September 19th); and the 12-year anniversary of the SEX book and “Erotica” album (October 20th)
Madonna is famous for being on the cover of thousands of magazines from all around the world. Although she only graced the cover of about 10 magazines in 2004, several notable DVDs were released this year, including: “A League Of Their Own” (deluxe 2-DVD set); “Bloodhounds Of Broadway”; “A Certain Sacrifice”; and the LIVE AID concert on a special 4-disc set. Fans hoped for a 2004 release of the Re-Invention Tour on DVD, but it never happened. Let’s hope for a Spring-2005 release of this fantastic tour on DVD (let’s not forget, fans are also desperate for DVD releases of the Virgin Tour, Blond Ambition Tour, and Who’s That Girl movie). Madonna also released the “Love Profusion” maxi-single in the spring of 2004.
Here’s a complete, chronological run-down of Madonna-related events for 2004:
• January 24, 2004 – NRJ Awards: Madonna receives an achievement award.
• January 30, 2004 – Madonna.com releases a photo book called “Nobody Knows Me”
• February 9, 2004 – Madonna appears and introduces good friend STING on the 2004 Grammy Awards.
• February 25, 2004 – Auditions for dancers for Madonna’s 2004 “Re-Invention” tour are held in Los Angeles.
• March 1, 2004 – Madonna’s world tour rehearsals start in Los Angeles.
• March 4, 2004 – Steven Klein photographs Madonna for the Re-Invention Tour program book
• March 5, 2004 – Madonna’s book “Mr. Peabody’s Apples” is released.
• March 16, 2004 – “Love Profusion” is released as a 7-track CD maxi-single in the USA.
• March 21, 2004 – The 15-year anniversary of the Like A Prayer album’s release.
• March 22, 2004 – Madonna confirms rumors that she will be going on tour.
• March 23, 2004 – “Love Profusion” is released as a 12″ vinyl maxi-single in the USA.
• March 31, 2004 – The TEN YEAR anniversary of the infamous “F-Word Interview” on David Letterman
• April 20, 2004 – a special edition 2-disc DVD of “A League Of Their Own” is released in the USA
• May 4, 2004 – The movie BLOODHOUNDS OF BROADWAY is released on DVD in the USA.
• May 24, 2004 – The first show of Madonna’s much-hyped RE-INVENTION TOUR in Los Angeles, California.
• May 25, 2004 – Madonna has to postpone the second show of her RE-INVENTION TOUR in Los Angeles, California due to a stomach flu. The show goes on the next night.
• June, 2004 – “Lotsa de Casha” release date (postponed to June 2005)
• June 18 ,2004 – Madonna appears on 20/20 for a fantastic interview.
• June 20, 2004 – Madonna appears on 60 Minutes for an interview.
• June 21, 2004 – Madonna’s third children’s book, “Yakov and the Seven Thieves” is released.
• June 25-27, 2004 – Steve Caraco from The Madonna Catalog hosts Boston’s 3-day RE-INVENTION CONVENTION in Billerica, Massachusetts
• June 29, 2994 – Madonna attends a concert featuring STING and ANNIE LENNOX at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts
• August, 2004 – the movie A CERTAIN SACRIFICE is officially released on DVD.
• August 11, 2004 – Rocco’s 4th birthday.
• August 16, 2004 – Madonna’s 46th birthday.
• September 14, 2004 – The last show of Madonna’s RE-INVENTION TOUR takes place in Lisbon, Portugal.
• September 19, 2004 – Madonna visits Israel, wearing a lovely green and white print dress by designer Diane Von Furstenderg, and speaks during a spirituality for a kids event at the Kabbalah International Conference held in Tel Aviv, Israel. Madonna said that New York city is just as dangerous as Israel and that she will not wait another 10 years to visit again.
• October 14, 2004 – Lourdes’ 8th birthday (and the 5-year anniversary of when Madonna and Guy Ritchie met each other)
• October 20, 2004 – The 12-year anniversary of the SEX BOOK and EROTICA album releases.
• October 25, 2004 – The 10-year anniversary of the Bedtime Stories album release.
• November 11, 2004 – Madonna is presented with the UK Hall Of Fame Award
• November 11, 2004 – Madonna’s fourth children’s book, “The Adventures Of Abdi”, is released.
• November 12, 2004 – The 20-year anniversary of the Like A Virgin album release.
• November 12, 2004 – Madonna holds a public book reading to promote “The Adventures Of Abdi”
• November 13, 2004 – The 14-year anniversary of the Immaculate Collection album release.
• November 16, 2004 – The complete LIVE AID concert is released as part of a special DVD box set.
• November 17, 2004 – The book “The Adventures Of Abdi” is released in Japan.
• November, 25, 2004 – Madonna does another Versace campaign by taking some beautiful new color photographs.
• December 23, 2004 – Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s fourth wedding anniversary; Guy Ritchie’s 36th birthday.
Supporting members of Steve Caraco‘s website can view the complete guide to significant dates in Madonna history, which covers every year of Madonna’s life, from 1958 to today. The guide is set up similar to the one shown above, but also includes live web links.
Special thanks to Steve Caraco for putting together this amazing year end review for MadonnaTribe.