Madonna is HMV’s ”My Inspiration” 300th featured artist

UK music retailer HMV revealed the design of their landmark 300th “My Inspiration” poster – graced by the original Queen of pop herself, Madonna!

The “My Inspiration” campaign began in 2006 when David Bowie selected a line from Syd Barrett’s ‘Gigolo Aunt’ as his inspiration, and since then many of our greatest artists ranging from Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan to Beyonce and Lady Gaga have taken part.

Madonna – who recently secured her 12th UK no.1 album with ‘MDNA’ – is the 300th artist to participate, and was especially invited by way of celebrating this special landmark. For her poster, she revealed Patti Smith’s acclaimed recording of “Gloria” – featured on her 1975 debut album ‘Horses’ – as one of her key musical inspirations and influences. Along with the Patti Smith lyric choice, Madonna’s ‘my inspiration’ artwork features the celebrated photography of Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot.

Madonna particularly cites the song’s memorable opening lyric “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine”, which Patti Smith added as part of a radical punk reworking of the original version written by Van Morrison in 1964 when he was with the band Them.

Madonna selected the lyric/song when recently invited to take part in HMV’s my inspiration campaign – where iconic artists and cutting-edge new talent are asked to share with fans the music or text that has most inspired them in their lives and in their recording careers.