Paradise (Not for Me)

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"Paradise (Not for Me)" is a song by American singer Madonna from her 2000 album Music and Mirwais Ahmadzaï's album Production.

[edit] Song information

"Paradise (Not for Me)" was the first track from Music that fans had the opportunity to hear, as it was released internationally in April 2000 on Ahmadzaï's Production. The song combines lush strings, a slow techno beat, and occasional electronic baubles with Madonna's half-sung, half-spoken vocals. She also sings a verse in French. Interpretations of the lyrics vary, many assuming that "Paradise" is directed at her fans, while others believe that it is about her mother.

"Basically, this was a performance video that opens the Geisha section of the show. The song is about suicide so we show Madonna getting ready to enter the " other side" It is a performance video so the story is really told by the lyrics and Madonna's intention as she delivers each line." -Dago González - director of paradise video

It was never released as a single in any country, although shortly after Music was released, Icon claimed that "Paradise" would be released as the second single from Ahmadzaï's Production, following in the footsteps of the similarly geisha-themed video for "Disco Science." Such plans never materialized.

It was not seen anywhere except on the Drowned World Tour. The full video was not included as an extra on the Drowned World Tour DVD, so it can now only be viewed interspersed with live concert footage from Madonna's Detroit concert. A new acoustic version featuring Yitzhak Sinwani was sung during her 2006 Confessions Tour. Sinwani sang the originally French lines in Yemenite, while the screens behind them displayed pink petals falling perpetually from the limbs of a tree.

[edit] Music video

Madonna in "Paradise (Not For Me)" music video.

"Paradise (Not For Me)" was filmed in May 2001 at Culver Studios in Culver City, California and used as a music video interlude on Madonna's Drowned World Tour 2001 while she changed costumes. It continues the singer's fascination with Japanese geisha culture. At the end of the video, Madonna is shown bruised and battered, flailing about as if being attacked, before wiping her bloody nose and ending with a grim smile.

This video has never been commercially released and can only be seen on the VHS/DVD release Drowned World Tour 2001.

• Director: Dago Gonzalez
• Producer: Audrey Verduin
• Director of Photography: Christopher Soos
• Editor: Dago Gonzalez
• Production Company: Veneno Inc.

[edit] Remixes

• Album Version 6:33
• Tour Edit 4:28
• Wide Screen Mix 4:50
• Production Album Version 7:00