Madonna: An Intimate Biography
Madonna: An Intimate Biography is a book by American author J. Randy Taraborrelli, chronicling the life of American singer Madonna. The book was released in April 2001 by Sidgwick & Jackson in the United Kingdom, and in the United States by Simon & Schuster in August 2001. Taraborrelli first considered writing the book in 1990, but, realizing the project might be premature in respect to Madonna's fledgling career, set it aside. He began writing the book in 1996, when Madonna gave birth to her daughter Lourdes.[1]
Other books about Madonna's life and career had been based on previously published material, but Taraborrelli's biography was the result of research spanning a decade and includes exclusive interviews with Madonna's close friends, business associates, family members, and her father, Tony Ciccone. These interviews were conducted by the author himself, as well as his team of private investigators. Taraborrelli also interviewed Madonna over the course of years, and often drew from his first-hand experiences while writing the book. Madonna: An Intimate Biography received a mixed response from critics. Some considered it a compelling piece on Madonna's life, while others thought Taraborrelli's writing was unprofessional.
Summary
The book opens with Madonna's birth, her early years in Michigan, and her 1977 move to New York City where she was involved with
Development
American journalist and celebrity biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli first met Madonna at a press conference in 1983. She spoke of her youthful struggles before the release of her debut album, and of her belief that she would someday enjoy great success as the "century's biggest star". Taraborrelli thought her brash, cocky, petulant, self-indulgent, and a mediocre beauty with a voice to match.[2]
Taraborrelli was proven wrong, and, in 1990, he considered writing her biography, but put the thought aside, thinking such a venture was premature. He pointed out that "most subjects need time for evolution and personal growths, before their stories are ripe enough to put on paper. Madonna was in an ambitious, self-involved phase during which nothing mattered more to her than her career." He picked up the writing again in 1994, but felt the same way about her, and hoped the time would come when the singer would focus on her personal life, rather than her career. A personal evolution occurred in her life with the birth of daughter Lourdes in 1996, and it was then that Taraborrelli sensed the time was ripe to begin writing her biography.[3]
Writing and release
"While it may not always be easy to find the real Madonna amidst the hocus-pocus of public relations she manufactures to hide her true self, she's there just the same. In pursuit of her, one has to be perceptive enough to look beyond the thick smoke, away from the confusing mirrors."[4]
—J. Randy Taraborrelli
Taraborrelli decided to focus on the singer's private life; who she really was. Many books about the superstar were based on previously published material, but Taraborrelli had ten years of research to draw upon including interviews with people who had not spoken about Madonna in public and his own interviews with the icon. Taraborrelli and his team of private investigators interviewed Madonna's close friends, business associates, and family members including her father Silvio Ciccone.[5]
While researching the book, Taraborrelli realized that one of the greatest misconceptions about Madonna was that she was cold and unemotional in her personal relationships. His research found this to be untrue and Taraborrelli cited as an example the icon's 1990 relationship with actor Warren Beatty. Their relationship was generally perceived as nothing more than promotion for their film, Dick Tracy, and Madonna was regarded as opportunistic. Taraborrelli unearthed that Madonna actually had strong feelings for Beatty. The actor however was not as emotionally invested as Madonna, and the relationship ended with her heart being broken.[6]
The author believed that readers would be surprised by "the many times that Madonna has ended up feeling alone and rejected. She has built her entire career on an image of indestructibility. But at least in her personal life, and again, I make that distinction, because this isn't necessarily true in her business life, she is one of the most fragile subjects I've ever written about... This book is really about placing her life into the proper historical context, and once again answering the why questions about her."[6] Taraborrelli has written updated versions of the book, released in 2008 and 2018, the latter to commemorate Madonna turning 60 years old. The updated versions had reconstructed thoughts expressed in some areas, based on the author's current perception. He also added commentary and stories he found relevant to be added to Madonna's legacy.[7]
Critical response
The book received mixed reviews. Caroline Foulkes wrote in
William Leith of the
Sylvia Sharma from The Daily Mirror felt that "Taraborrelli's rummage through Madge's life can bring you to shame. This is the Madonna biography all had been waiting for, this is who she is. Not the staunch woman that we see, but a woman who is no different than one of us."[14] Mike Thomas from the Chicago Sun-Times said that "Filled with private details from Madonna's life, Taraborrelli gives us the first in-depth look at the Material Girl in more than a decade. The following outtakes from friends, former friends, Taraborrelli and Madonna herself were hand-picked for your perusing pleasure. Or displeasure. Madonna, as with all pop icons, is an acquired taste."[15]
Publication history
Region | Release date | Format |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | April 20, 2001 | Hardcover[16] |
April 12, 2002 | Paperback[17] | |
February 1, 2008 | Paperback – Extended edition[18] | |
April 9, 2008 | Amazon Kindle[19] | |
United States | June 6, 2002 | Paperback[20] |
October 18, 2007 | Paperback – Special edition[21] | |
July 10, 2018 | Hardcover (60th birthday)[22] |
References
- ^ Madonna: An Intimate Biography, 2002, author's note.
- ^ Madonna: An Intimate Biography, 2002, author's note, p. 13
- ^ Madonna: An Intimate Biography, 2002, author's note, p. 14
- ^ Madonna: An Intimate Biography, 2002, author's note, p. 15
- ^ "Taraborrelli Books: Madonna Biography". JRandyTaraborrelli.com. July 31, 2001. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ a b "J. Randy Taraborrelli: Madonna biographer". CNN. July 19, 2001. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
- ^ Madonna: An Intimate Biography of an Icon at Sixty, 2018, Author's Note, p. xi–xii, Los Angeles, May 2018
- ^ Foulkes, Caroline (April 6, 2002). "Book Views: Madonna: An Intimate Biography. By J Randy Taraborrelli". The Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
- ^ Sobczynski, Peter (August 26, 2001). "Unauthorized Madonna biography unfortunately deficient in material". Post-Tribune. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
- London Evening Standard. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
- ^ Smyntek, John (August 11, 2001). "'Madonna: An Intimate Biography,' by J. Randy Taraborrelli". Knight Ridder. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
- ^ Triplet, Ward (August 12, 2001). "The Justify My Book". Kansas City Star. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
- ^ O'Neill, Ann (August 7, 2001). "Let's Make A Deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
- ^ Sharma, Sylvia (December 28, 2001). "2001 Greatest Hits: Books – Between the covers". Daily Mirror. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- ^ Thomas, Mike (July 20, 2001). "Who's that girl? Bio has an idea". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- ^ Madonna: An Intimate Biography UK Hardcover. April 20, 2001. ASIN 028307289X.
- ^ Madonna: An Intimate Biography UK Paperback. April 12, 2002. ASIN 0330481649.
- ^ Madonna: An Intimate Biography UK Extended edition Paperback. February 1, 2008. ASIN 0330454463.
- ^ "Madonna: An Intimate Biography Kindle, only UK". Amazon Kindle. April 9, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- ^ Madonna: An Intimate Biography US Paperback. June 6, 2002. ASIN 0425186695.
- ^ Madonna: An Intimate Biography US Special Edition Paperback. October 18, 2007. ASIN 1416583467.
- ISBN 978-1509842773.
External links