I’ve Grown Up With The Inspiring Madonna…
toward subjects like a woman’s place in our society, marriage, sexuality, spirituality and even teen pregnancy, she became an instant icon. Her fashion sense and daring dance style inspired thousands of young people all around the world. I was one of those who was - still am - inspired by the great Madonna.
I was an insecure, somewhat shy young gay person when Madonna’s first songs were released to the public. These included, “Like A Virgin,” “Express Yourself,” and ” Borderline.” Gay bar patrons all over the world listened, watched and danced to Madonna songs and videos. Especially gay men and lesbian women embraced the super-confident recording artist, for like them, she dared take on the status quo. She made being “different
” a super-cool status in which to be.
Playful and almost taunting, Madonna seemed to share a secret with her gay fans. Finally, it was cool to be in on the “secret,” to love dancing in gay bars, to be stylish and yet on one’s own unique terms. While heterosexual men seemed to despise the unconventionally sexy Madonna, gay men and lesbian women got the joke - and we are still enjoying the show she always manages to put on with impeccable excellence!
No sooner had music critics and magazine writers thought they had figured out Madonna, then she changed her entire look, bringing on an entirely new facet to her stage persona and music style. While at first she was compared to other female legends, Madonna changed hair color to dark brown, only to alter her look time after time again, puzzling, sometimes bewildering her detractors who thought they had managed to pidgeon-hole the non-conformist Ms. M.
With each and every album release and concert tour, Madonna took on varying stage personas, often times inspired by those luminaries who came before -for example - Marilyn Monroe, Jean Harlow, and Marlene Dietrich. With her own added blend of sexual innuendo and edginess, Madonna tittillated and pushed buttons by using already established cliches which involved sex symbolism. Those of us who “got” the message, were inspired even more.
As the years progressed, Madonna shared with us her developing spirituality. Her songs from the “Ray Of Light” album conveyed a more enlightened Superstar, one who had now become a mother and wife. Not only were we having fun listening, dancing to Madonna songs, but we were being inspired…
At one point, Madonna took the stage in cowboy hat and having learned to strum the guitar, she sang psudo-folk songs about love and other potent topics of the day. Flanked by gay male dancers in cowboy leather chaps, Madonna once again altered the country western imagery by incorporating her own particular styling.
Whether she was dressed in cleavage-revealing couture or cutting edge bohemian attire, Madonna’s every new look made the news.
In 1996, Madonna starred in the Lloyd-Webber musical film production of “Evita.” Although the film was panned by some critics, she won a Golden Globe Best Actress award for the performance.
“Madonna And Child” became the headlines when the super star gave birth to her first child…a little girl name Lourdes.
In more recent years, Madonna has taken on other causes which include the plight of AIDS in Africa
and anti-war sentiments directed toward the Bush administration. 
As Madonna turns 50 years old this upcoming August 18, she just becomes more and more interesting. Whether she is travelling in Africa and establishing a special school for poor orphans or continuing to titillate us with provocative dance moves or taking on still another image, Madonna never hesitates to push the envelope just one further step ahead. Always pushing those buttons, Madonna is one of my heroes…!
