She's Madonna
Encyclopedia
"She's Madonna" is the third and final international single released from Robbie Williams
's seventh studio album Rudebox
. A collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys
, it is a love song to pop star Madonna
and was released on 5 March 2007. A promotional copy was released to European radio in late January to precede the CD single
. The song became one of Williams' lower-charting hits in the UK Singles Chart
, peaking at number 16. Despite this, it is still regularly played on cable music video channels and radio stations in the UK. It was confirmed that this single was not going to be released in Latin America
. In spite of this, the single was released as a digital download
in Mexico
. The video was also aired on MTV Brazil and on other Brazilian music channels.
's ex-girlfriend Tania Strecker
, about the way Ritchie left her for Madonna. Strecker quoted Ritchie as saying, "Look, you know I really love you, but she's Madonna." According to the BBC
's Top of the Pops
website, Williams had played the song to Madonna shortly after writing it, receiving a positive reaction. According to the UK tabloid newspaper The Sun
, Williams wanted Madonna to star alongside him in the video, but Ritchie, her husband at the time - they divorced in November 2008 - objected, having realised that the song with its chorus: "I love you, baby, but face it, she's Madonna. No man on earth could say that he don't want her"
was based on the line he used to leave Strecker for Madonna. Williams himself has commented: :In case anyone asks... There is nothing tongue in cheek about this song at all, I have always fancied Madonna. Musically, the song was inspired by Kraftwerk
's track "Tour de France
" - Williams stated: :I played "Tour De France" by Kraftwerk and said “I like this, Can we do something like this, but not much like this", but then everything else came together pretty quickly. "She's Madonna" was the subject of a controversy after Ashley Hamilton
claimed that he came up with part of the song with Williams.
was shot in Los Angeles
and features Williams as a professional drag queen
in full regalia, as well as performing to drag queens in a nightclub, dressed in a white jacket. Alexis Arquette
appeared as one of the drag queens. The video was directed by Johan Renck
, who had previously directed the videos for Madonna's "Nothing Really Matters
" in 1999 and "Hung Up
" in 2005.
UK CD2
UK DVD Single
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
's seventh studio album Rudebox
Rudebox
Rudebox is the seventh studio album by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, released on 23 October 2006 in the United Kingdom.-Background:...
. A collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
, it is a love song to pop star Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
and was released on 5 March 2007. A promotional copy was released to European radio in late January to precede the CD single
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
. The song became one of Williams' lower-charting hits in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, peaking at number 16. Despite this, it is still regularly played on cable music video channels and radio stations in the UK. It was confirmed that this single was not going to be released in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. In spite of this, the single was released as a digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The video was also aired on MTV Brazil and on other Brazilian music channels.
History
"She's Madonna" was inspired by a conversation Robbie Williams had with Guy RitchieGuy Ritchie
Guy Stuart Ritchie is an English screenwriter and film maker who directed Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Revolver, RocknRolla and Sherlock Holmes.-Early life:...
's ex-girlfriend Tania Strecker
Tania Strecker
Tania Strecker is a Danish model and television presenter in the UK.Her break into TV began with Channel 4's Naked Elvis, and she then co-hosted MTV's SELECT with Richard Blackwood...
, about the way Ritchie left her for Madonna. Strecker quoted Ritchie as saying, "Look, you know I really love you, but she's Madonna." According to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
website, Williams had played the song to Madonna shortly after writing it, receiving a positive reaction. According to the UK tabloid newspaper The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
, Williams wanted Madonna to star alongside him in the video, but Ritchie, her husband at the time - they divorced in November 2008 - objected, having realised that the song with its chorus: "I love you, baby, but face it, she's Madonna. No man on earth could say that he don't want her"
was based on the line he used to leave Strecker for Madonna. Williams himself has commented: :In case anyone asks... There is nothing tongue in cheek about this song at all, I have always fancied Madonna. Musically, the song was inspired by Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
's track "Tour de France
Tour de France (song)
"Tour de France" is a song by Kraftwerk. It was first issued in June 1983, peaking at #22 in the UK singles chart. It is notable for the use of sampled voices and mechanical sounds associated with cycling that were used to supplement a simple electro-percussion pattern – an approach Kraftwerk have...
" - Williams stated: :I played "Tour De France" by Kraftwerk and said “I like this, Can we do something like this, but not much like this", but then everything else came together pretty quickly. "She's Madonna" was the subject of a controversy after Ashley Hamilton
Ashley Hamilton
Ashley George Hamilton is an American songwriter, singer and actor. He is the son of actor George Hamilton and Alana Stewart, and a stepson of Rod Stewart. At 19, Hamilton had garnered media attention when he and Shannen Doherty married after knowing one another for only two weeks...
claimed that he came up with part of the song with Williams.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was shot in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and features Williams as a professional drag queen
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
in full regalia, as well as performing to drag queens in a nightclub, dressed in a white jacket. Alexis Arquette
Alexis Arquette
Alexis Arquette is an American trans woman, actress, musician, and cabaret performer.-Early life:...
appeared as one of the drag queens. The video was directed by Johan Renck
Johan Renck
Bo Johan Renck is a Swedish director of music videos, TV and film. He is an occasional recording artist using the moniker Stakka Bo.-Music videos:...
, who had previously directed the videos for Madonna's "Nothing Really Matters
Nothing Really Matters
"Nothing Really Matters" is a pop-dance music song written by American singer Madonna and Patrick Leonard for Madonna's seventh album Ray of Light . The song was released as the final single from the album in the spring of 1999. It was produced by Madonna, William Orbit and Marius De Vries and...
" in 1999 and "Hung Up
Hung Up
"Hung Up" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was written and produced in collaboration with Stuart Price, and released as the first single from her tenth studio album, Confessions on a Dance Floor. Initially used in a number of television advertisements and serials, the song was...
" in 2005.
Tracklisting
UK CD1- "She's Madonna" - 4:16
- "Never Touch That Switch" [Switch Remix] - 5:06
UK CD2
- "She's Madonna" - 4:16
- "She's Madonna" [Chris Lake Remix] - 5:43
- "She's Madonna" [Kris Menace Vocal Re-Interpretation] - 4:25
- "She's Madonna" [Kris Menace Dub] - 5:37
UK DVD Single
- "She's Madonna" [Video]
- "Never Touch That Switch" [Nightmoves Remix - Audio]
- "Never Touch That Switch" [Dark Horse Remix - Audio]
- "Photo Gallery & Video Clip"
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Czech IFPI Chart | 2 |
| Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart | 3 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
2 |
| Italy Singles Chart | 3 |
| Danish Singles Chart | 4 |
| Germany Singles Top 100 | 4 |
| Switzerland Singles Top 100 | 8 |
| Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart | 10 |
| Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
12 |
| Finnish Singles Chart | 13 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 14 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
16 |
| Swedish Top 60 Singles | 20 |
| Greece | 25 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 33 |
| Ireland Singles Top 100 | 38 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2007) | Rank |
|---|---|
| German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
36 |