All I Want To Do Is Talk About Madonna

Beautiful Stranger

SUMMER EPISODE: BEAUTIFUL STRANGER (Rated NC-17!)

Kenny and Mark succumb to the rising temps and revealing short-shorts with a hot and dirty (and a little messy) romp through Madonna’s dazzling contribution to the Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack. Topics include the troubled relationship with Andrew Bird and his random encounter with Guy Ritchie, the doomed discography of solo Spice Girls, the influence of the 60s psychedelic band LOVE, Victor Calderone’s graduation from Madonna Remix College, the rich legacy of Kevin Aucoin, Mike Myers, a young Kathryn Hahn, a certain tribute at the MTV Music Awards, the recorded reunion of The Bangles, and hanging out with Beatles. Do I make you horny, baby?

BONUS EP - Something's Coming Over Me

Mark and Kenny pass the microphones over to our beloved listeners, who join the conversation and share their stories about their favorite Madonna song and moment up through 1998 on this Very Special Episode. Laugh, cry, and celebrate all the ways the music has changed our lives, together.

Thank you to:

Shane Beckely, Los Angeles, CA

Bart de Beer, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Qraig de Groot, Union City, NJ

Simon Delaney, Melbourne Australia (G’DAY, AUSTRALIA!)

Alex Giron, Lima, Peru

Daniel Pabst, Berlin, Germany

Wayne Parker (of “The Madonna Get Together” podcast)

Brandon Perlberg

Jeremy Ritz, New York, NY

Annie Stephens, Columbus Ohio

Tony Trius (of “MLVC” podcast) Los Angeles, CA

Beauregard Von Hoffman, Hollywood, CA

Weston, Savannah, GA

S3, E27 - Mer Girl

Kenny and Mark wrap up a twisty-turvy season full of growth, artistic challenges and discoveries, lots and lots of change, and a breathtaking final musical statement on Ray of Light. Topics include Michigan, Joan Ciccone, the value Madonna gets from keeping things simple, and a searching discussion of home. Plus, Mark breaks one of his cardinal conversation rules - yep, the word “journey” is BACK! Thank you for listening this season … we will see you very soon, Strangers.

S3, E25 - To Have and Not To Hold

Kenny and Mark take hold of this album track and the final act of Madonna’s tale of lost love - and ponder the different directions her story could have taken, through the demos for “Has to Be” and the lost “Gone Gone Gone.” Plus, a drive-by discussion of the duet with Ricky Martin “Be Careful (Cuidado)” and charting the growth of Madonna’s formidable songwriting skills. Is Ray of Light ultimately too long? Will Breathless Mahoney ever find a drummer for her run at the Coconut Grove?

S3, E24 - Power of Goodbye

Mark and Kenny examine the wild and woolly intricacies of the affairs of the heart (yet again) on the other “pop single” from Ray of Light. Topics include STEVIE NICKS!, Rick Nowels, Matthew Rolston, Goran Višnjić, Luke Slater, Gloria Estefan, Meryl Streep, Ellen Degeneres, and the scattered (and sped up?) promotional performances. There’s nothing left to say … so head on over to a sample sale and buy Kenny a jumpsuit, will you please??

S3, E23 - Frozen

Kenny and Mark keep their hearts (and, one hopes, minds) open as they explore the inner mysteries and magnificent heartbreaks of THE Orbit/Leonard/Madonna collaboration (and lead single) of Ray of Light. Topics include Carlos Leon, a fortuitous professional break-up letter, the perils of the California high deserts, and those strings … so don’t be surprised when Madonna shows up to sing at YOUR Benefit for the Rainforest!

S3, E22 -Shanti Ashtangi

Mark and Kenny bow to the lotus feet of the gurus and stretch into a proper down dog pose to prepare for this spiritual apex to Ray of Light. Topics include yoga classes in the East Village, the power of a flute solo, a first-pass discussion of famed official B-Side “Has to Be” and Madonna’s second, antics-filled appearance on The Rosie O’Donnell Show. Now translate this into Sanskrit!

S3, E21 - Sky Fits Heaven

Kenny and Mark settle back down for a vulnerable chat about the ethereal and charging seventh song on Ray of Light - is following our heart really a very good place to start? What kind of movies should Madonna have been making all along?

S3, E20 - Nothing Really Matters

Mark and Kenny dive deep - no, really deep - in a warts-and-all conversation about the complicated and confounding final single from Ray of Light. Topics include the musical clash between Marius de Vries and William Orbit, the return of Niki Haris and Donna DeLory, a spin around the East Village with Kruder & Dorfmeister, building an entire video around a literary pseudonym, the one subject that still upsets Madonna, Kenny works out with Rupert Everett, and a winning visit to the Grammy Awards. PLUS, Kenny and Mark unearth and endlessly unpack the true Madonna biopic - the 1998 VH1 special (and essential) Madonna Rising. There’s even a cameo by Larry King. Tell Bad Boy Johnny we want our synths back!

S3, E19 - Skin

Kenny and Mark celebrate a centerpiece track on Ray of Light - including exploring the early “Flirtation Dance” demo and the lost “Revenge” - as well as a rare visit into the studio with Madonna. I’m not like this all the time, Veronica Electronica!!!

S3, E18 - Candy Perfume Girl

Mark and Kenny suck on a bunch of theories as to who (and what) this song is about with a discussion of the many pop princess successors nipping at Madonna’s heels and a close examination of the mystical lyrics to this psychedelic gem. Kenny grapples with Madonna’s relationship with the guitar and Mark makes a shocking prediction for his own future. Also: Enter Guy Ritchie.

S3, E17 - Ray of Light

Kenny and Mark celebrate the 100th episode of All I Want To Do is Talk About Madonna with a return to the dance floor and a definitive Madonna classic of rebirth and a true return. Topics include the twisty-turning way this song was written, created and re-created, the wild (and golden) video and mega-remixes, Veronica Electronica, and the many, many live incarnations of the song - including a return visit to the Oprah Winfrey Show. Feel something, baby!!


THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!!!!!!!!

S3, E16- Swim

Mark and Kenny swim to the ocean floor with a deep dive into the career of William Orbit as well as the apocalyptic, riff-filled second track from Ray of Light. Topics include Orbit’s Strange Cargo series, composer Samuel Barber, Torch Song, Laurie Mayer, All Saints and The Beach soundtrack, Gianni Versace, Beth Orton’s Central Reservation, Britney Spears’ Britney Jean, Blur’s 13, David Cronenberg’s CRASH and the inspiring novelist JG Ballard. Let the water (and the music) wash all over you!

S3, E15 - Drowned World/Substitute for Love

After making fans wait nearly four years, Madonna delivers what may prove to be her first true blue rock album Ray of Light and commences with a moody ballad (co-written with new collaborator William Orbit) of new credos and fresh religions.  Meanwhile, Kenny and Mark tie up a lot of loose threads as we head into the “Spiritual Girl” era and celebrate the inspiring return of Pat Leonard.  Topics include: Animal Kingdom, the MTV and those pesky VMA, Kurts Loder and Cobain, Prodigy, Britney Spears, Princess Diana, Beck, Maverick Records, the Pre-Madonna album and “Crimes of Passion”, Jose & Luis, Elizabeth Taylor & Shirley Maclaine, Yoga & Gwenyth Paltrow, Rick Nowels, Rob Sheffield, San Sebastian Strings, Water Stern, the poetry of David Collins (RIP), Courtney Love and HOLE, BT&Sasha, Kenny’s writing chum Nathan Parker, the Rolling Stone Women In Rock September 1997 issue, and the realization that Madonna is really starting to chill out in London.  Is it “traded fame for love” or “traded love for fame”?  Who’s gonna wrestle that disposable camera away from that prying housekeeper?  Join the conversation and find out.

S3, E14 - You Must Love Me (Evita)

Mark geeks out on musical theatre with our Special Guest Dr. Emily Clark, while Kenny grapples with his avoidance of the Original Broadway Cast Album to Evita - and everyone dives DEEP into the long and winding journey Evita took from the stage to screen and Madonna’s biggest (and best?) film performance to date. Topics include: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Julie Covington, Elaine Paige, money notes, People magazine, Hal Prince, Patti LuPone, Mandy Patinkin, Jonathan Pryce, Oliver Stone, Robert Stigwood, Liza Minnelli (in a blonde wig), Meryl Streep, Antonio Banderas, Jimmy Nail, Francis Ford Coppola, politics in filmmaking, REMIXES REMIXES REMIXES, the Golden Globes, Billy Crystal and the Academy Awards, Celine Dione, Barbra Streisand, intense & translated press conferences, brown contact lenses, more handwritten letters, and where Madonna goes from here. It’s another uber-episode and we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Emily Clark - a professor of musical theater at Marymount Manhattan College who’s work focuses on musical theater and celebrity culture. We loved having her join us for the entire conversation on the Casa Rosada!

S3, E13 - You'll See (Something to Remember)

Kenny and Mark share further personal stories of heartbreak and sorrow as they celebrate (and critique) the seminal ballads collection from 1995. Topics include: Philadelphia, St. Elmo’s Fire, David Foster, Katherine McPhee, Waitress: The Musical, America’s Next Top Model, the arrival of mixer extraordinaire David Reitzas, Michael Haussman, video sequels, Shirley Bassey, first class seats, Forrest Sawyer, Susan Boyle, changing up the setlist, Ingrid Casares, MASSIVE ATTACK, the lost “I Can’t Forget”, Marvin Gaye, Tilt, Ernie Barnes & the Sugar Shack, Dorothy Parker, and Madonna’s tormented relationship with the telephone. “Do you feel the intensity?” Well, put on your favorite Versace pantsuit and settle IN!

S3, E12 - Take A Bow

Mark and Kenny bid adieu to Bedtime Stories with this masterpiece of a ballad. Topics include Babyface, the indispensable Kurt Loder, Emilio Munoz, the influence of “I Will Always Love You,” VH1, Justin Timberlake, and Kenny’s romantic fantasy about Madonna and her directors. The show is over … but there’s also a request at the top of the show to you, dear listeners! Show us what you got!

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Over the past two years, many of you have reached out to share a story of connection between you and a particular Madonna song that captured a moment and/or a time in your lives. Some have been moving, some have been hilarious, and some have just been … Madonna. And, well, we’d like to hear more.

Please go back through the last two and a half seasons of All I Want To Do Is Talk About Madonna and select a song that means something more to you or has a personal resonance that you’d like to talk about - and send us a up to two-minute voice memo or video recording to MarkBSnyder@hotmail.com.

FAQ
Please keep recorded stories to up to 2 minutes and send them to MarkBSnyder@hotmail.com

We will reach out to you prior to using your story in any way for permissions and any additional questions we may have.

Any Madonna song between 1983 and 1993 is eligible for discussion. Be provocative, be nostalgic, be cheeky, be sentimental … just be yourself!

S3, E11 - Bedtime Story

S3, E11: BEDTIME STORY

Kenny and Mark decode (and discover divination!) in the Bjork-penned title song from Bedtime Stories. Topics include Mark Romanek, Kurt Loder, Alison Stewart, Junior Vasquez, the female surrealist painters of yore, and a certain notorious pajama party in the early spring of 1995. Let’s get unconscious, honey.

S3, E10 - Sanctuary

Mark and Kenny explore what may prove to be THE key track on Bedtime Stories that points the way towards the future. Discussed along the way: Herbie Hancock, Walt Whitman, Mary Oliver, Natalie Imbruglia, Tina Turner, and post-punk cult band Ednaswap (where’s that demo, Anna & Scott?!).