MADONNA's Birthday News Round-Up!

Okay, okay... so yesterday was her birthday. We thought we'd wait 'til the weekend to wish Madonna a Happy 49th Birthday! Yowza... almost 50 and still kicking her dancing shoes higher than most. How come Britney Spears is like, half that age and looks like she could barely do "jazz hands" without twisting her ankle on a Cheetoh? ;)

Alright, enough potshots at the weak and vulnerable pop prey. Let's get to it... the latest batch of news reports about Madonna's upcoming 49th year!:

* Just to reiterate previous reports, her next album - produced by Timbaland, Pharrell Williams and Justin Timberlake - is still slated for a November 2007 release. We've already shown you the rumored (and I stress rumored!) track list, and risked a beheading by Madge when we snuck that clip of the demo "Candy Shop" online. So leave us alone, already! :)

* Okay, you twisted our arm... here's ONE more news bit about the new album. While in the "green room" waiting for his shoot on TRL, Timbaland spoke to MTV about his work on the album:

"Ah, man," Tim gushed. "There's this one song, we taking it back to 'You must be my luck-eee starrrr!' ... Remember 'Ugly' by Bubba Sparxxx? I got a beat similar to that. The hook is no words. It's saying stuff named after coffee — all these different names for coffee — is the hook. ... The name of the song is 'La, La.' Pharrell did a hot one for her too called 'Candy Shop.' She's off the chain."

Interesting! Timbaland confirms what we know about "Candy Shop," but no song called "La, La" appears on that supposed tracklisting we received...

I'm beginning to wonder if that tracklisting isn't totally phony, and possibly leaked by Madonna's camp! Seriously. Isn't it coincidental how it got "leaked" right after the legitimate leak of "Candy Shop." And Madonna has been known to fool around with internet fans before... you might recall that during the 2003 release of "American Life" she inundated the file-sharing networks with faux versions of the tracklisting. Then, when cyber-shoplifters downloaded the tracks, they were greeted with an audio file of Madonna herself yelping, "What the FUCK do you think you're doing??" over and over again!

Maybe the tracklisting is another case of Ms. Ciccone using a decoy tactic!

* Rumor has it MTV is planning a television special to mark Madonna's 25th year in the music business, to air in the '07-'08 season. In the tradition of those Icon specials they (used to) air, it will involve other artists performing Madonna's past hits, and culminate in a spectacular performance by The Diva herself.

* Madonna herself is said to be keen to celebrate her 25th show-biz year, too. After the new album drops, her next musical project will be a Special Edition Boxed Set of new Greatest Hits compilations and DVDs of her infamous music videos and live performances. How about re-releasing her SEX book while she's at it? Hey, little Lourdes is gonna see the thing ONE day! haha.

* The self-celebration never ends when you're Madonna (but then, what do you expect from an ultimate, spotlight-loving LEO like her?). She's already looking ahead to her 50th Birthday, and is contemplating organizing something HUGE. REALLY HUGE. Here's a hint: Television special. Here's another: Central Park, New York. Okay, that's not really a hint anymore ;) But seriously, how awesome would that be?? Seems that Madonna knows the media will have a field day with her hitting an "aging" milestone... especially since her reputation over the years has hinged so much on her sexuality, boldness and energy. Apparently she feels she won't be able to run from that, so she'll turn the media attention to her advantage and show what a 50-year old MILF can do!

* Madonna is going to unleash a full dozen (yes, 12!) children's books - all at once - at the end of the year. Presumably, just in time for the Christmas shopping season.
(Yawn... never really that interested in Mama Madonna's Bedtime Reads, personally.)

* And finally the news that REALLY has us siked... we hear that Madonna IS gearing up for a tour to promote the new album... to kick off in JUNE 2008!!

Damn... and I thought I was busy lately! ;)

Alright, kids... that's enough news to keep you smilin' all weekend.

Oh, and one last thing... :)
If you thought those pictures above looked a little funny, you're right!
NOPE, they're NOT Madonna! They're Madonna impersonator Roxy Marquis from Minneapolis!
Haha... sorry, we couldn't resist a gag that Madonna herself would appreciate ;)

Have a good weekend, all!
JOHNNY