Madonna (nickname)
In a multi-decades long period, many individuals, mostly female singers received a nickname associated with the name of the American singer-songwriter Madonna (born 1958).
More than one performer in the late 20th century, were planned or slightly promoted as a Madonna in their debut by their record labels, according to some of them or media outlets.
Perhaps one of the first artists who received a Madonna-related moniker was Marie Osmond whom Los Angeles Times named her the "Mormon Madonna" in 1985.
[8] The Sydney Morning Herald's Christine Sams similarly commented in 2013: "In the music industry, there have long been comparisons to Madonna thrown around - a pop single here, a fashion look there".
[12] American music critic Steven Hyden opined that "Madonna is regarded as an archetype for pop singers, an example to follow to immortality.
[13] In 2014, Orlando Sentinel music critic Jim Abbott describe New Madonna as "a necessary pop-culture occupation if ever there was one... [whose] job descriptions are constantly changing.
[9] In his explanation while mentioned Gaga, Reyhan Harmanci from San Francisco Chronicle saw her as the closer example "than any past wannabes, to further adds aspects such as "iconic style" and "staying power".
Is the case of Aidin Vaziri of the same publication regarding the Iranian singer Googoosh,[18] or authors of Encyclopedia of African Peoples and Billboard with Oumou Sangaré ("Madonna of Mali").
[20] While there exists many other reasons, other group called Madonna to artists like Anita Mui with descriptions such as reinvention of image, behavior and boldness.
Thus Richard Corliss from Time attributed to Mui, the nickname because "her boldness was not just a sensation but an affront" in the world of Hong Kong popular music.
A performer like Mylène Farmer have even their Madonna-associated nickname in their biography profile by their record label (Universal Music France).
[23] Media often described it as a "nickname", "moniker" or "title" using descriptions such as "dubbed", "named", "widely", "sometimes", "frequently", "known", "hailed" or "branded" by "many" or "by some".
Such illustrative examples of previous claims include film director Deeyah Khan to singers Anitta, Brenda Fassie, Mylène Farmer, Pandora and Anita Mui from an array sources such as The Independent, The Guardian, BBC News, News24, Billboard and O Globo among many others.
[32] Conversely, many Russian female singers were called a Madonna by overseas press, from Alla Pugacheva to Anna Netrebko and Irene Nelson among many others.
Names proposed ranged from Anna K, Dara Rolins to Helena Vondráčková, Petra Janů and Bára Basiková among others.
[38] In Latvia, journalist and founder of Mikrofona ieraksti, Elita Mīlgrāve told Baltic News Network, that they don't have a "Latvian Madonna" but they might have one day.
[41][42] In Selena's case, according to authors of Afterlife as Afterimage: Understanding Posthumous Fame (2005) it was "presumably to provide a vivid referent to non-Latinos".
[64] In Music and Capitalism: A History of the Present (2016), author referred that various non-Western musicians decades ago attempted to fashion themselves into the next Madonna or Michael Jackson.
[29] Back in 1986, Singaporean newspaper The Straits Times discussed how a number of artists in Asia were compared to Madonna, receiving a Madonna-moniker, but also explored how it helped boost their popularity.
[66]According to Time magazine, one local paper even reprinted (verbatim) an interview with Madonna, replacing her name with South African artist Brenda Fassie.
[26] On the other hand, scholars Gregory Booth and Bradley Shope, noticed that Alisha Chinai "gained notoriety as the 'Indian Madonna'", while ethnomusicologist Bruno Nettl opined that she earned a reputation by catering to the South Asian interest in Madonna, "recasting both the image and the music of the global star in South Asian cultural terms and in the Hindi language".
[76] In a conversation with German magazine Focus, Serbian singer Jelena Karleuša accepted the nickname associated with Madonna.
[78] Brazilian artist Anitta deemed it as an "honor",[25] and similar feelings was shared by Mexican singer Paulina Rubio saying she was "proud" since are her fans "who decide it".
[81] In a similar situation, Spanish singer Marta Sánchez reported that even when she lived in New York, people called her "Madonna" all the time.
[85] South African singer, Brenda Fassie, according to Time magazine liked Madonna but doesn't understand the comparison.
[26] Sergio del Amo, editor of El País, observed the year 2017 as the political correctness era in the pop stardom, with several female singers releasing records and presenting a softer image such as Miley Cyrus (Younger Now), Lady Gaga (Joanne) and Kesha (Rainbow)—as Madonna did with Something to Remember and Bedtime Stories.
[86] Writing for the Washington Post, Richard Harrington called it a "dreadful nickname" when referring PJ Harvey's moniker of "the indie Madonna".
[99] In a 1999 article, Slate magazine, listed as the "Madonnas" of the age of stock market, and celebration of the entrepreneur to individuals from Bill Gates to Steve Ballmer.
