Anyone else finding the Graham Norton and Madonna interview uncomfortable?

[ChinaKing]

OMG this Graham Norton / Madonna thing is embarrassing. Anyone else feeling like it's just uncomfortable and almost scripted.

Didn't know this was on but I always find her an awful interviewee. Takes herself so seriously and appears to have no sense of humour. I'll watch on catch-up to see if anything has changed.

Just caught bits of it. When they showed old clips of her you'd barely recognise her, her face doesn't move at all now.

She seems tired and kinda boring; no engagement, and he’s being all sycophantic to make up for it..

I had to turn it off. Couldn't watch any more

I think she has always been dull as "herself", i love Madonnas music but she really does take herself far to seriously and is as deep as a puddle. Im recording it so will. Watch tomorrow.

I tend to avoid anything she does these days. I was shocked to see her for about 2 mins tonight on iplayer. She's quite frightening looking now, such a shame as she was lovely as she was.

And it would've been scripted to an extent. I don't think someone who is in such control of her image would've gone in cold.

Cringeworthy. And the bit with Kylie Minogue made me want to hide behind the sofa.

Yeah, it was very awkward to watch. I ended up Turing it off

I don’t think it’s really her…….😉

It’s fascinating- theyve taken her robotic self congratulatory self and amplified it so cleverly in the album and video.

They've found celebrities to dance with her in the video that would appeal to her ego and also mean the focus visually isn’t just on her.

The other video has short sections of choreography and more static poses but furniture she’s on moves dramatically whilst she stays still. Such a clever way to distract from her more limited mobility
amd the record company was clearly concerned about the interview because they’ve got the record producer to sit in the interview to carry the conversation.

at times Graham looks quite concerned about her!

I think if you measured the time in the program where she is talking it will be about 20% of it the remainder is just filler of old songs and old footage

She seems to lack a sense of warmth and humanity.

Yes, I found it too uncomfortable after a couple of minutes, and rather sad. She was so cool in the eighties.

I think the criticism of Madonna as a bit harsh, she can age how she wants and she did some cool dance tracks.

What I would say is that like Kylie what you end up presented with is still quite a narrow version of being a woman in the 21st century, which makes you think that for all the late 20th century girl power, was it that revolutionary?

I think Madonnas message was always that sexual desire belongs to everyone, and in her earlier stuff there was some irony between that message and the fact that she was inviting the male gaze.

I feel she could be a lot more radical than she is now - what about exploring themes of what's real and what's fake etc.

That would be more contemporary than remontaging her dance music of the past.

she was quite rude to Graham Norton and it was hard to watch her changed face

But even then she was a terrible interviewee - humourless, self-conscious and unnecessarily combative. She’s amazing (or was) in almost any performance context, but is embarrassing and unwatchable when she’s just being herself. See also Robert de Niro.

and was that her manager with her?
why?

I agree. The thing that makes me feel disappointed is not how she’s choosing to present herself - it’s her (and every woman’s) prerogative to look however the fuck she wants - it’s that she’s regressed creatively.

She was always the queen of reinvention, in both her looks and her music, and was always a magpie for new trends and ideas and media. She occupies a unique niche in pop music and has always done everything on her own terms, so has the kind of iconic status that gives her a platform and could keep her relevant and interesting into her 70s and beyond.

She could be doing something new and saying so many interesting things about women, about ageing, sexuality, AI - whatever - instead of this sad one-note pantomime of ‘sexiness’ that harks back to her younger years. I really thought she’d age so much more powerfully, but it’s sadly all gone a bit Sunset Boulevard.

I always think she is someone who is a great performer, made some iconic songs and obviously has had a massive influence on pop culture.

But as a person she just is not someone you warm up to because she lacks a sense of humour, takes herself too seriously and seems really self-absorbed.

I also really don't like how as she aged she chose such extreme plastic surgery and still trying to rely on shock value and sexuality.

It really goes completely against the feminist and empowered woman she always represented in the past.

I felt the interview was uncomfortable too. She is so measured and precise with her answers. Its like you could never question her or joke as you'd be berated. There's no natural flowing conversation...well not unless it was edited out. It seemed like the bits where they were setting up that you caught glimpses of, at the end, were better.

Is she very narcissistic? I haven’t followed closely, just odd news articles. I’ve moved from admiring her ability to reinvent herself and her sound, to finding it creepy.

I think she is narcissistic yes.

Lack of sychophancy has made GN an excellent interviewer. Acting like A list stars have just dropped by to have a chat on his sofa.

His interview with Madonna looks like he was summoned by her for a very staged, prescripted chat. He should have said no, he was busy washing his hair.

Watching her prance around Times Square barely dressed was sad. I'm almost her age before anyone accuses me of ageism. Her filled lips and bloated face were grotesque and affected her speech.

Madonna has never been a feminist. Everything she does has been about pleasing men and sadly young female performers have copied her.

I felt for Graham Norton he’s amazing but she wasn’t playing ball and he had to squeeze anything out.

he was good that he didnt try and catch her out or talk down to her

I just found it really boring, switched off after ten minutes.