Social networks, operations, provocations. Madonna is still relevant.

More than forty years after her debut, Madonna is about to embark on a sold-out world tour. In particular, he will be at the Accor Arena in Paris on November 12, 13 and 19. Everywhere on social networks, the 64-year-old singer still receives criticism, even ridicule (for taking pops, exhibitions, fake coming out…). Founder of LaMadonnatheque, the first French-language website dedicated to the star, and author of the book Madonna in 30 seconds Published in 2018 by Éditions Hurtubise, Canadian Billie Robinson sheds light on the true message of who she still considers the Queen of Pop. According to these early fans, Madonna would be more than ever part of a political approach.

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In the video: Madonna’s very stylish video in Malawi

Madame Figaro . – What do you think about Madonna’s trajectory?
Billy Robinson. – Madonna remains the undisputed queen of pop, and in my opinion she is unbeatable. He is criticized for not wanting to grow old, I would rather say that he wants to stay young, there is a nuance to add. He has always surrounded himself with young people, and this is still the case in 2023, be it his children or his employees. His great strength is that he always follows what is happening. He likes bright, trendy and irreverent people. It’s what keeps him alive, keeps him fit. And at the same time, he continues to remove some taboos. she continues to express the desire for female empowerment she espoused in her early days in some of her more recent statements, such as her acceptance speech for Billboard’s Woman of the Year in 2016. or in a short film His story . Already in the 80s, this self-confident and incredibly sexy girl who knows how to make good music showed that it is possible for a woman to control her image and career.

At 60, Madonna seems keen to cling to her star status, even if it means attracting occasional criticism…
He is now fighting against age-related tendencies. There has been a lot of talk that he is too old, that he should accept his age, that his face is too transformed… The same humiliation as forty years ago, when some did not have enough harsh words and insisted that he was just a man. is flashed in the pan, lacked talent, was too sexy, or set a bad example. It has always been aggressive and is still disturbing today. But women have the right to grow old, as well as the right not to grow old. There is a contradiction, but this freedom of choice is essential. Madonna has always been able to raise the issues of her time because she is interested in society and its evolution. It is much more current and relevant than you might think when you see some countries that you think are very modern questioning, for example, the right to abortion. During his next tour, I expect many posts from him.

Its presence on social networks can surprise, disturb, even flirt with ridicule. where does he come from?
I think he has absolutely no interest in social media, sometimes even himself. I still remember a sentence that was said during a self-promotional interview 50 questions with Madonna Last August, he published on his YouTube channel. “The greatest lesson learned in this life is that none of these things are true.” Provocative with her TikTok or Instagram videos, she wants to raise awareness that nothing, in fact, should be taken seriously. He knows it will get people talking and he plays it up. Through these videos, he somehow satirizes himself. He has a lot of humor, he is often very sarcastic. Finally, I have a feeling that it’s when he posts where we see him surrounded by his family that he’s most himself. She shares with the children intimate moments of creativity, dance, art… We feel for mom, nothing is wrong. false there. And when she becomes Madonna again, she has fun. I see two characters on social networks.

In the TikTok video, Madonna goes without makeup or filters

He doesn’t always present himself in his best light. Will he not claim the cult of “ugly” to set himself apart from the norm?
He fully claims the right to control his body. But also promote all body types. Recently, we witnessed a change in the people around him. rounder bodies, different shapes, also pulls. She opened up to it. While he himself struggled to maintain a certain physical shape for a long time. Perhaps he realized that it is a very difficult struggle that can also be misunderstood by people in trouble.

Madonna certainly has enemies because she is super smart and scares a lot of people.

Billy Robinson

Why is he still a star when he hasn’t released a great song in almost 20 years?
His talent is to talk about himself, to always reinvent himself, never to repeat himself. Just look at the numbers. when Madonna announces a tour, it becomes a commercial and media frenzy; he sold 600,000 tickets for her in 24 hours. Holiday tour. He is always relevant and sets a trend with his provocations. And then he knows how to position himself in a social or political statement that is completely unrelated to his music.

What is a good provocation in 2023?
A good provocation was not conceived as such from the beginning. It’s not even thought of in the beginning. Madonna expresses herself spontaneously, reacting to what happened. Because he is very politicized and aware of his power, he attacks the powerful and tries to convince with his art. I’m thinking in particular of #Secretprojectrevolution in 2013, a short film to promote the website Art for Freedom, where he declares: “I saw indifference, intolerance, despair, poverty. I saw discrimination and intolerance in the reassuring black cloud of hypocrisy that was attacking me.”

Madonna’s horse race in Kenya

Does he have enemies?
Many people want to associate with him because he has this power to bring light. But yeah, Madonna sure has enemies because she’s super smart and scares a lot of people. Men are generally afraid of her. Forty years ago, girls envied him, saying: “No, that’s not the image that women should have. We shouldn’t be so sexy or pass for whores.” Today, he is criticized by women who are afraid of old age.

How do you see its future?
I don’t see it stopping. The upcoming tour may be her last, but Madonna won’t stop. Maybe he will continue to settle somewhere, it will be less tiring, but he will continue. He recently released his own NFT with artist Beeple titled Mother of creation with three digital works. He realized that his art had to evolve towards more modernity. He has to be creative all the time. It’s real hardworking who still and always wants to have fun and be entertained.