by Shane Christensen

Created on: July 27, 2008

It's a widely accepted fact that in the history of music or entertainment, those who have hit the pinnacle of fame and success are recognized simply by one name. In some cases, it is the surname which identifies a generation's Sinatras, McCartneys, or Plants, simply because their first name is too generic or common. But every once in a while an Elvis, Mick, or Bono appear and are overwhelmingly referred to by that single moniker.

In the last 20 years, there is no better example of this then in the case of a daring and sexy singer who has perfected the art of self-promotion by using all of her feminine charms and immense talents to achieve all of her aspirations. Madonna has proven to be the most successful female artist of all time, and has amassed a fame and fortune that was unparalleled for most women artists that preceded her, as she is accepted as the most powerful woman in the music industry today. Not bad for a performer that broke onto the New York City music scene singing cheesy little dance tunes back in the early '80's, and didn't appear destined to become the complete and influential artist she eventually became. So how did she do it?

As is typical in most cases, it's not due to any one single ingredient, but to a number of factors that when combined, propel an artist above the collective pack of entertainers and peers. One of the most profound was that Madonna was not afraid to court controversy to fulfill her career aspirations, and did so at every opportunity. She knew instinctively that to rise above her competitors, she would have to rattle cages and poke a stick into the belly of certain groups in order to garner the media coverage necessary for self promotion.

So when she appeared on the '84 MTV Video Awards to sing the song Like A Virgin, she caught EVERYBODY'S attention by coming out in a traditional white wedding dress, and then proceeded to provocatively disrobe in a striptease-like fashion, so that by the end of the song she was in a skimpy little outfit, made complete with a large belt that had "Boy Toy" emblazoned on it. This performance was single-handedly responsible for her becoming a household name across the nation, and guaranteed her a place in musical and entertainment history.

And as much as she is noted for her use of sex and controversy in promoting her career, the bottom line is that Madonna is very adept at working with top notch songwriters, musicians, and producers, so that she delivers a product that has continued to surprise

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