MADONNA on liberty, the war, American life
From VH1, April 16, 2003

"Madonna sets the record straight for the first time about the withdrawn American Life video. The star also discusses her new album, her feelings on the current state of the world and her family in the VH1 special "Madonna Speaks". Immediately following, VH1 will have the exclusive U.S. premiere of a performance only version of the new "American Life" single.

The half-hour show includes her in-depth interview with Megan Mullally of TV's Will & Grace where the newfound pals cover a variety of topics rarely discussed publicly ranging from where she is now in her life to her views on fame, Hollywood and public opinion. Additionally, Madonna in a second interview, also shares with VH1 viewers her thoughts on the factors that led to her decision to pull the video.

Here's a glimpse at what Madonna has to say:

Madonna on the theme of the first three songs on the album, "American Life," "Hollywood" and "I'm So Stupid" -- "The first three songs on the album are me wanting to shout from the rooftops that we have all been living in a dream. I have been living in a dream -and you're all living in a dream and we have to wake up to reality."

Madonna on the idea that freedom of expression has been compromised in America -- "...you know it's ironic we're fighting for democracy in Iraq because we ultimately aren't celebrating democracy here. Because anybody who has anything to say against the war or against the president or whatever - is punished, and that's not democracy - it's people being intolerant. And you know, everyone's entitled to their opinion, for or against and that's what our constitutional rights are supposed to be, that we all have the freedom to express ourselves and voice our dissent if we have that."

Madonna on what's truly important to her and what helped inspire "American Life" ? "I'm very successful, I've been in the business 20 years, I have lots of 'material' things and I've had lots of beliefs about things and what's important, and I look back at the 20 years behind me and I realized that a lot of things that I'd valued weren't important." http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/madonna_speaks/series_about_special.jhtml