Madonna is never the same. There are many Madonnas in Madonna and a large scale of ways one can categorize Madonna. She is a friend, superstar, mother, benefactor, whore, saint, business woman and so on. I never really understood those fans who told me they preferred Madonna in the 80's. I mean that she is much cooler and more self-confident nowadays. I have always loved Madonna and her productions of the 00's. Madonna looked too messy for my taste in the 80's. Now I have understood that that style was just all about being cool in more ways than one and we are never going to get that Madonna back. It is all different now.
In the beginning of her career she said that money doesn't matter anything to her, it's just all about fame. I believe it was that way when she sang her early recordings. Madonna broke the sexual boundary in media/music business and sang songs that did not really have any deeper meaning. She was living wild and daring. Even though her music was repeating few sentences over and over again the songs were about celebration and having good time. She had great time singing. It's like Michael Jackson - if you have a look at the Human Nature video you can see the joy on his face. Of course Madonna is still enjoying singing her songs, but it was little different in the 80's. She was doing it for fun (and fame?). My opinion is that you can hear the money nowadays even in her music.
I am claiming here that Madonna has become too aware of money these days. If you compare Madonna on her music videos/tours twenty years ago to today you may understand what I mean here. She has become too commercialized. She has plenty of merchandise and you can buy almost everything but Madonna herself. It's all on sale. People have said that she is a true business woman which must be so true. I think it is just sad. She is a huge star.
On allaboutmadonna.com it says that Madonna has been offered a deal of one billion dollars for Vegas residency deal which means five years touring for her in Vegas for an enormous amount of money. This may be a rumor, but it is an interesting one. I can not think of Madonna touring in the same place for that long time even for one billion. She would not take it. The only reason why she could accept it would be the money. Las Vegas is a place for perfect people so she would not endure it. She needs a creative, interesting (and posh) circle around her.
As a conclusion I would like to say that finally I have understood one reason to why people prefer M in the 80's. It may not be the only reason, but the commercialization may have had an effect. I have always been a fan of millenium Madonna, but this money-seeking attitude is getting on my nerves. I am not saying that I do not like Madonna's music in the 00's. I find it groovy, provoking in a good way and exciting. She is a true queen no matter what and she just can't avoid the money. I only wish she wouldn't take too much advantage of it or at least let it show. She is a product, but we don't want to let the money to rule her production, do we? Unfortunately that has happened already... Well the lady loves fame and money. Oh what am I talking about!? I guess I forgot she admits it even herself - the Material Girl :)
