A Celebration of Madonna

Whitney isn't the only one gearing up to releasing new material this fall. More details and the cover art for the upcoming Madonna greatest hits package have finally leaked. A press release sent from none of than Madonna's right hand woman herself, Liz Rosenberg, reveals that the "ultimate compilation," entitled Celebration, will span the Queen of Pop's 36-year career and include remastered versions of "Everybody," "Express Yourself," "Vogue" and "4 Minutes," among other favorites. The greatest hits album will be available as a two-CD set as well as a single CD and a Celebration DVD will simultaneously be released featuring Madonna's best videos, several of which have never been available on DVD before.

Also included on Celebration are two new songs recently recorded in New York City. The first single, also titled "Celebration," co-produced by Madonna and Paul Oakenfold, will be released August 3rd. A video for the single, which will be included on the "Celebration" DVD, was just filmed in Milan and was directed by long time Madonna collaborator Jonas ("Ray of Light") Akerlund, who recently shot Lady Gaga's epic "Paparazzi" clip.

The cover for Celebration, above, was created by street pop artist Mr. Brainwash who is best known for "throwing modern cultural icons into a blender and turning it up to eleven" -- which makes sense as it looks like the lovechild of Warhol's Marilyn Monroe and Madonna's True Blue video.

We haven't been the kindest to Madge in the last few years (I badmouthed Hard Candy so many times someone finally left a comment asking me to give it a rest), but that doesn't mean we aren't still in awe of her output over the last four decades. Like A Virgin was my first cassette tape and Madonna, no matter how many times she's disappointed me, will always be my first love. We're fully ready to forgive and forget the past and celebrate. Bring it on, Mo.

-- NOAH MICHELSON

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