The UK newspapers today gave Madonna some mixed reviews for her show in Maidstone yesterday (people complaining about so few 'old' songs!), some news on the adoption and that Madonna kept the rats away from the show!

Below are scans from the Daily Star Sunday, Sunday Express, Sunday Mirror and The People.

Belgium - thanks to Dan:
Glad to inform you that '4 Minutes' spends it's third week at #1 in both Belgian Charts (Flemmish and French).
'Hard Candy' drops to #3 in Flemish Charts and stays at #2 in the French part of Belgium charts.

Canada - thanks to Will:
Just want to let all the fans know that Madonna's 'Give It 2 Me' (Paul Oakenfold's edit) is already #4 in iTune Canada!

Chile - thanks to Alfredo:
Madonna's new album 'Hard Candy' is the top selling album in Chile right now according to 'Feria del Disco'.

Denmark - thanks to Kent:
What a wonderful week for Madonna on the Danish charts.
Madonna has 3 number ones this week, a #1 on the Single Chart Top 40 (now sold more than 15,000 copies)
Another #1 on the AirPlay Chart Top 20 and 'Hard Candy' is the #1 on the Album Chart Top 40 (straight at number 1 with sales over 15,000 copies).

Holland - thanks to Nicotor:
Madonna has done it again! She enters the album charts with 'Hard Candy' at #1.

Hong Kong - thanks to Matthew:
Hard Candy hit #1 in all Hong Kong Records Stores in Hong Kong. Hard Candy is at #1 in the CD CHART which includes all types of music CDs such classical, local music CDs and foreign CDs.

Italy - thanks to Luca:
'Hard Candy' is a new entry at #1 in the Italian Chart, 'Confession Tour' jump from #80 to #25 and 'The Immaculate Collection' from #82 to #79.

New Zealand - thanks to Gillian:
NZ iTunes: Single - '4 Minutes' #3, Video ? '4 Minutes' #1, Album ? 'Hard Candy' #4
NZ Top 50 Charts: Single ? '4 Minutes' #3, Album ? 'Hard Candy' debuted at #5

Philippines - thanks to Meister:
Warner Music Philippines and Music One's Official Philippine Album charts confirm that Madonna's Hard Candy is now #1 in the Philippine album chart.

Spain - thanks to Richard:
Madonna's 'Hard Candy' went straight in at #1 on th album chart this week. Also, the download for '4 Minute' has reached to #1 in the 7th week.

Madonna was featured on the cover of UK publication Marketing Week (01 May 2008 issue) - click on the cover to enlarge.

Madonna has claimed that Britney Spears's recent troubles resulted from the pressures of public scrutiny.
The Queen of Pop admitted that she sympathises with Britney because the singer was 'never allowed to have a childhood' after finding fame at an early age.
'She didn't get to grow up and make mistakes privately,' Madonna explained in an interview with the BBC. 'She's been under a microscope since she was a teenager, which I think is really tough, it's hard to evolve that way.'
Madonna and Britney worked together in 2003 on the track 'Me Against The Music', which became an international hit.

From Digital Spy

This previously unseen picture of Madonna leaving the Roseland Ballroom while rehearsing her promo show is featured in Israeli magazine Pnay Plus.

Thanks to Michal

Madonna has played her first UK show of the year, closing the opening night of Radio 1's Big Weekend.
Dressed all in black, the Queen of Pop performed a 40 minute set at Mote Park in Maidstone, pleasing fans with number one single 4 Minutes.
She also played a number of songs from her recent studio album Hard Candy, including Candy Shop and Miles Away.
The show came as part of a trio of live performances to launch the album, the other two being in New York and Paris.
Later in the set, Madonna reworked Hung Up for electric guitar, ending the song with a wall of noise. The show ended with another single, Music.
However, the singer didn't play any of her well known hits from the 80s and 90s.
Speaking to Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley before her performance, Madonna explained why she wanted to play the songs she picked.
She said: 'Obviously, I want to do new stuff because I'm very excited about it.'
'I feel that's what people come to hear but I also want to do a few of my oldies but goodies.'
'I chose Hung Up because that was the biggest hit from my last record and I chose Music because it's a crowd pleaser, it's anthemic and it brings people together.'
The tent was full to capacity for the show. Extra monitors played the set to fans outside.
As Madonna disappeared behind a stage prop made to look like a tube train at the end of the show, most fans left happy.
31 year old Gerard Sutton told Newsbeat: 'It was great for Maidstone, she looked like she loved being here and everyone loved it.'
19 year old Georgina Finch from Hastings added: 'She was good but she should have sung some older stuff and should have been on for longer. She was awesome though.'
Radio 1's Big Weekend is the biggest free ticketed music festival in Europe and has previously been held in Dundee and Preston.
30,000 people are expected over the two days, and more than half a million people applied for tickets.

From BBC Newsbeat

Here are some screen captures from Madonna's set at the Big Weekend.

Candy Shop

Miles Away

4 Minutes

Hung Up

Give It 2 Me

Music

madonnalicious reporters at the Big Weekend have confirmed that the same DJ is now onstage (8:55pm) playing the same set that was played before Roseland and Olympia. The countdown to the show has begun....

Later this evening in a park in Maidstone, Kent, Madonna will be on stage. madonnalicious is asking for any fans who attend the show to send in their reports and pictures from the event.

Fans who cannot attend the event still can watch and listen to the event via TV, radio and online - visit www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bigweekend/2008/artists/madonna to see all the viewing and listening options - Madonna's set is expected between 9:15-10:05pm local time.

Also Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley interviewed Madonna in New York the morning after Roseland, and you can watch her talk about how she prepares for the show - visit www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bigweekend/2008/artists/madonna to view the interview.

Thousands of music fans are at Mote Park in Maidstone for the first day of Radio 1's Big Weekend.
Usher kicked off the action around 1:30pm on Saturday (GMT).
The biggest draw of the day will be main stage headliner Madonna, as the queen of pop plays her only UK festival date of the summer.
30,000 people are expected over the two days, and more than half a million people applied for tickets.
The event is the biggest free ticketed music festival in Europe and has previously been held in Dundee and Preston.
Following a countdown by Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman, the gates to Mote Park were opened at exactly midday.
Fans at the front of the queue sprinted to get to the front of the main stage.
Louise from Sittingbourne was first in the queue with her mates.
She told Newsbeat: 'We've been here since half past eight this morning and it is hot. We are looking forward to seeing Madonna and Scouting For Girls.'
14-year-old Chrissy from Gravesend came to the festival with her sister.
She said: 'It's the first time we've ever been to anything like this, we're waiting until the end of the show to see Madonna. The weather is beautiful. It's just a bonus really.'
Madonna's set list will include her current number one single 4 Minutes and some tracks from her chart topping album, Hard Candy.
Speaking to Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley, she said: 'Obviously, I want to do new stuff because I'm very excited about it.'
'I feel that's what people come to hear but I also want to do a few of my oldies but goodies.'
'I chose Hung Up because that was the biggest hit from my last record and I chose Music because it's a crowd pleaser, it's anthemic and it brings people together.'
She's staying tight lipped on whether she'll sneak her current collaborator, Justin Timberlake, into the show.

From BBC Newsbeat