- Title: JAPAN: Madonna apologises to fans for her 12-year absence from Japan
- Date: 8th December 2005
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (DECEMBER 7, 2005) (REUTERS - NO ACCESS INTERNET OR WIRELESS) CLOSE OF DISCO MIRROR BALL IN NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM VARIOUS OF MADONNA WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE HELD IN CENTRAL TOKYO CLOSE OF MADONNA PAUSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS TO SHOW BACKLESS TOP
- Embargoed: 23rd December 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Reuters ID: LVA661EQKFHP7G9V1QIMG586KQSX
- Story Text: Queen of pop Madonna appeared in Tokyo on Wednesday (December 7) for the first time in 12 years as part of a promotional tour for her latest album "Confessions on a Dance Floor."
"I wanted to make a record that people could put on when they are getting ready to go out, having a party, working out, and driving in the car, and from the beginning to the end, you just want to dance for one hour non-stop," the 47-year-old American pop singer told a press conference in central Tokyo. "I take my inspiration from everywhere. In this record in particular, I was inspired by the music of Giorgio Moroder, Abba, Chic, Pet Shop Boys and Cheroni ..., I mean, a lot of other people. But those are the main inspirations and I guess most of those artists are European," she said.
Madonna said the rumour that her husband Guy Ritchie didn't like her latest song "Hung Up" when he first heard it is a total lie.
"My husband didn't walk out of the room when he heard 'Hung Up.' That's a lie. Okay? He likes the song very much," Madonna said.
Meanwhile, Madonna shrugged off criticism of a song on her smash hit new album, "Confessions on a Dance Floor," saying that all she did was ask questions and challenge authority.
The new album, which hit the top of the U.S. and British album charts following its release last month, includes a song which prompted rabbis in Israel to accuse her of sacrilege.
Madonna, who has frequently courted censure with her racy lyrics and on-stage antics, said it didn't take much to be considered controversial.
"I don't that think it's difficult to be perceived as controversial. I think as soon as you have an opinion that is outside of convention or what is considered to be the conventional way of thinking -- as soon as you think outside of that, you're considered controversial. But personally, I don't think that I am so controversial," Madonna said.
"And I think that I like to ask questions and I like to challenge authority and a lot of people perceive that as controversial," she added.
In October, the rabbis who guard the legacy of Rabbi Isaac Luria -- founder of the Kabbalah school of mysticism which counts Madonna as one of its devotees -- accused Madonna of breaking a taboo by using his name for profit in the song "Isaac."
Madonna repeated that she would like to try her hand at directing films.
"The next thing I want to do in regards to film is to direct a film," she said. "A love story - a story that will really inspire people." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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