Sunday, October 21, 2007

"Madonna's SEX turns 15"

from abolutemadonna.com

On October 21, 1992, the 128-page book of erotica and sexual fantasies written by Madonna, photographed by Steven Meisel, designed by Fabien Baron and edited by Glenn O'Brien, was released; the spiral-bound, metal-covered book is wrapped in a silver mylar bag with a copy of "Erotic" CD single (an exclusive remix of "Erotica"), and includes an 8-page comic book and priced at $49.95 US.

"Don't you want it now?"

"Where passions rule desires dared to be dreamt."

SEX Intro:
"This book is about sex. Sex is not love. Love is not sex. But the best of both worlds is created when they come together. You can love God, you can love the planet, you can love the human race and you can love all things, but the best way for human beings to show love is to love one another. It's the way we spread love through the universe: one to one. Love is something we make. Pass it on.

This book does not condone unsafe sex. These are fantasies I have dreamed up. Like most human beings, when I let my mind wander, when I let myself go, I rarely think of condoms. My fantasies take place in a perfect world, a place without AIDS.

Unfortunately the world is not perfect and I know that condoms are not only necessary but mandatory. Everything you are about to see and read is a fantasy, a dream, pretend. But if I were to make my dreams read, I would certainly use condoms. Safe sex saves lives. Pass it on.

And by the way, any similarity between characters and events depicted in this book and real persons and events is not only purely coincidental, it's ridiculous. Nothing in this book is true. I made it all up." - Madonna, SEX

Interesting Facts about SEX:

  • Sex sold a record 150,000 US copies on its first day of release.
  • In Europe, Sex sold over 100,000 copies in 2 days: England (100,000), France (25,000) and sold-out in Australia.
  • Worldwide, Sex sold 1.5 million copies.
  • In Japan, Sex was banned due to its controversial photos which violate the country's censorship law.
  • In Mesa, AZ, public libraries cancelled Sex book orders after local residents called to protest its purchase.
  • Sex sold a record 500,000 copies in only one week.
  • On November 1, Sex hit #1 on the Washington Post non-fiction bestseller list.
  • Sex was banned in New Delhi, India and police officials announce they would confiscate copies of the book entering the country.
  • On November 8, Sex hits #1 on the New York Times non-fiction bestseller list.
  • On November 26, in Paris, a Catholic group called The Future Of Culture filed 2 lawsuits against Madonna and her publisher for corrupting the French youth with pornography and want to have all copies of Sex book destroyed.
  • On Decmeber 7, The Future Of Culture group loses a court battle against Madonna to have copies of her book destroyed in France.
  • Sex is voted Hype Of The Year by readers of NME magazine in UK.
  • Madonna is named one of the "25 Most Intriguing People In The World For 1992" by People magazine.
  • In 1993, plans for a paperback version of the book were cancelled.
  • Though critics love to consider Sex an artistic and business failure, Sex generated a net profit of nearly $20 million.

How can you get the SEX book now?
You can't. The book has been out of print since 1992. Neither Madonna nor Warner Books would want to relive the backlash the initial 1992 release experienced. Your only hope is a used book store, or maybe
ebay.com. Good luck on your quest.


1 comment:

Spyder ~ said...

cool - I got my sealed First Edition copy in my office on display. Had 2 others, but have since parted with them.