Madonna’s revamped “American Life” video was released in April, after the original version was pulled just hours after it's original release, which the pop star felt would be "inappropriate" at the beginning of the Iraq war. The subsequent version was toned down, removing much of the violent imagery in the initial video.
The All-American Material Girl reveals her patriotic colors.
In this revealing and sometimes volatile interview with Glossy’s Mark Fisher, the Material Girl offers some insight on the meaning of the video, her feelings about the Iraq war, and an explosion of democratic views.
Glossy News: Thanks for spending some time with us today. First of all, how’s the response to your “American Life” video?
Madonna: It’ good, it’s very good. We did a lot of work to get it ready, get it changed from the original, and it came out beautifully.
GN: In March, you yanked the original version after it aired for only a few hours on VH-1. Why?
Madonna: It’s like I said at the time, it was filmed before the war started and I didn’t think it was appropriate to air it at the beginning of the war.
GN: Why did you think it would be inappropriate?
Madonna: Well, the original had lots of camouflage and combat fatigues…you know, on these gorgeous models walking around on a fashion show runway. Lots of explosions and violence, that sort of thing. I was a superhero, and the theme of the video was to express a panoramic view of our culture and the looming war through the view of a female superhero.
GN: You were a superhero? Like Superman or Wonder Woman or something?
Madonna: More like Wonder Woman.
GN: You know that Wonder Woman fought America’s enemies, right? As in hand-to-hand combat during World War II?
Madonna: Huh?
GN: Never mind. So you were a female superhero. Any other superpowers, other than Panoramavision?
Madonna: Don’t make me act a fool, alright?
GN: Certainly not. But, superpowers aside, what were you concerned about in the original video?
Madonna: Well, I support and respect the people in the armed forces, and I didn’t want to risk offending anyone who might misinterpret the meaning of the video.
GN: In the video, there’s a military outfit fashion show taking place. You and a bunch of big-breasted soldierettes shimmy around the runway in rather revealing paramilitary costumes, there are lots of explosions, lots of chaos, lots of images of war victims, and you lob a hand grenade into the lap of a President Bush look-alike, who then lights a cigar with it. I see the dilemma. You were concerned that someone would misinterpret this video, and think that you advocate the use of tobacco products.
Madonna: No, that wasn’t it!
GN: Well, I’m glad to hear you say that, because you were smoking a big fat cigar on Letterman last Thursday. So the video really was in support of Big Tobacco?
Madonna: Don’t make me act a fool. Of course not!
GN: Oh. Well, whatever the reason, you pulled the video. Wait, I think I’ve got it. Was it because somebody might think that because a bunch of women who look like they just won first prize in a Bob Crane - Hogan’s Hero’s Secret Dirty Dozen Dames home movie are slithering around like possessed she-demons, and you toss a grenade at the President’s ganoids, somebody might think….Christ, I give up! What the hell DOES it mean?
Madonna: It showed that there are alternatives to war. I am not anti-Bush, I’m…
GN: You’re anti-Bush look-alikes?
Madonna: NO! I’m not anti-Bush and I’m not pro-Iraq. I am pro-peace. I was expressing my feelings about our culture and values and the illusion of what many people believe is the American Dream - - the perfect life.
GN: But Bob Crane’s life came to a violent end. He was murdered, but I don’t think a grenade was used. Hardly a perfect life.
Madonna: Don’t make me act a fool, alright? The point is, the new video is doing very well, and I’m excited about the American Life CD.
GN: Are you nervous that you, and sales of the CD, may suffer a little bit of backlash like the Dixie Chicks and others are experiencing?
Madonna: You know, it’s ironic that we’re fighting for democracy in Iraq because we ultimately aren’t celebrating democracy here. Because anybody who has anything to say against the war or the President or whatever is punished, and that’s not democracy – it’s people being intolerant.
GN: Punished? What, like Nelson Mandela was punished, spending decades in jail for his beliefs? Like Cuban dissidents being executed?
Madonna: No. For the Dixie Chicks and all artists, it’s punishment through people boycotting our shows, boycotting our CD’s, boycotting our performances, and talking badly about us publicly.
GN: Maybe they’re just exercising their democratic right to think you’re morons.
Madonna: I can respect that. Look, as an American, I can express myself freely…
GN: HEY! Don’t even think about expressing that grenade into this American’s lap!
Madonna: …and as an artist, I hope this provokes thought and dialog. Here, catch!
EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to it’s lack of relevancy to the overall subject matter, as well as graphic and potentially offensive dialog, a small portion of the interview has been omitted.
GN: Let’s get back to potential backlash. Are you worried?
Madonna: No. I’m a Pop Artist, which means that what I do is popular – it is popular with the greater population. The very root of democracy is all about Pop – the popular vote. Like I said before, punishing us for saying anything against the war or the President is pure intolerance. Anyone that disagrees with us is obviously not supporting democracy. And there’s nothing popular about that, is there? This Pop Star doesn’t think so.
GN: Madonna, thank you for your time, and for your tourniquet.
