Sunday, April 06, 2008

She's Like a Bird


In this clip, Timbaland and Madonna handle backup duties on Justin Timberlake's new single, "4 Minutes." Whether you like the song or video is a matter of taste, but Madonna's new face is what alarms me most. I just got back from spending my weekend with a college friend I hadn't seen in 20 years. Naturally, the aging process is something that comes to mind. I can completely understand Madonna's desire to remain youthful (trust me!), but at the expense of not looking like yourself -- one of the most recognizable faces in the world? I have friends who have taken the plunge. And it's not out of the question that I could. (Luckily, not being filthy rich saves many of us mere mortals from this temptation!) But I really don't know how "good" I would feel about myself if I looked younger, but lost my quirkiness that made me me. That's a huge price to pay, a price Madonna has apparently decided is well worth to remain "relevant." While you'd be right to argue that everyone in Hollywood does this, I would argue that not doing what everybody else does was once the essence of being Madonna.

"Hard Candy" (2008): Kenneth and Chantal at 40
"True Blue" (1986): Kenneth and Chantal at 19

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think you and Chantal can skip the plastic surgery for a while. I think it's worth it to grow old, if you can still make natural human expressions. When's the last time you saw a woman over 40 in the movies get angry, or wrinkle her brow. YOu don't see many dramas anymore, because no one can find actresses whose faces move.

Unknown said...

It is indeed-- rather disturbing

Anonymous said...

I really can't see a big difference! Maybe she's done a bit of a nose job, but she reminds me a lot of how she was for 2004's Re-Invention Tour. So, if she's done any plastic surgery, it's only improved her look about four years or so.

Mark said...

I don't think her face looks as bad there as it did at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction thing, but what a HORRIBLE SONG!!! Whatever happened to verse, verse, chorus, verse verse chorus (repeat)!! And is she going to say "tick tock" in every fucking song from now on?!

Matthew said...

I never wanted Madonna to have surgery, but she had it—and probably a while ago while fans argued she couldn't possibly have, not having been out of sight long enough (her face was TAUT during Confessions, and she's probably had cheek fillers for years). Now, it's a bit more pronounced, but is softening over time (candids reveal this) and she looks like Madonna, just less old-looking than most do at 49.5. I love the song and like the video. Having hot hits is what popstars need to do, even the ones who are still artistes at heart. I'd love so much for Debbie Harry to have a Top 3 song again—I wouldn't care if she had to sing with Mariah Carey to get there. :0) With "4 Minutes," while Justin & Timbaland's contributions are undeniable (it's her first non-co-produced song in YEARRRRRS), it really doesn't feel like she's a supporting player to me at all. It's a collaboration, which is cool. Arjanwrites has a review of the CD that, while it calls out a few clunkers, is generally positive and notes that there are like three more potential singles. That's exciting to me. I never dreamed I'd be looking forward to a singles-laden new CD from Madonna in 2008.

In the end, it's Madonna voice and her music that are forever young.

Wil J said...

just chill bro.. she looks great.... she is almost 50 .. how can a guy judge her.. not winning points with me..

Jason

Anonymous said...

No one's judging Madonna or saying she doesn't look good. Some of her fans (myself included) are just taken aback by her seemingly un-Madonnalike decision to go under the knife. We'd be saying the exact same thing if she suddenly got the gap filled between her teeth (some of us like Madonna as is -- faults and all). She's always been a rebel and now she's decided to conform to society's expectation of an aging sex kitten. Fine.

But why can't people talk about Madonna without some of her so-called "hard-core" fans freaking out about it? It doesn't make you a bigger fan that you lap up whatever she says or does no questions asked, no matter how contradictory her words or actions may be.

I think you need to chill, bro.

Anonymous said...

Sorry for my bad english, I'm French (nobody's perfect) :)

I agree 100% with you when you talk of Madonna's new face (a topic rarely talked on blogs) and the power of Hollywood on her.

Loved your series of pics (1986/2007) and god, you're much more gorgeous at 40 (are you, really ?) than you were at 20!

Sorry for my completely & badly written superficial mail.

Aron said...

As a die-hard Madonna fan, I am also alarmed at the extreme results. Surely she's had little bits done here and there along the way. But the first thing that came to mind when I saw her new face was Jocelyn Wildenstein, which I'm sure is not what she intended...

Anonymous said...

Just for the record, your before and after shots have nothing to do with aging and everything to do with bad taste, something that has remarkably escaped Madonna! I personally think Madonna looks very much like herself with the help of plastic surgery. I certainly don't think she looks unrecognizeable in this video!

Anonymous said...

Madonna used to be a leader and now she comes across as a follower. There's a degree of desperation in her that really isn't necessary.

And Kenneth, you look much more attractive now than you did as a kid. It should be a while before you have to resort to fakery to look good. Maybe you'll just keep getting better?

Timmy said...

She is the Queen Of Reinvention!

Unknown said...

Madonna's new face can not be seen on still photos as much as when she sings in the video!...it's soooo fucking "done"!


I am over her by 5-10 years


cheers..
Tony