This section is my story on how I got hooked on Madonna. If you would like to tell me your story and have it up on the page, please write me.

E-Mail: stepper@geocities.com

Story

I grew up with Madonna around me. My earliest
memories of life includes Like A Virgin. Music
was all around me. I moved away from my aunt, who I
lived with, and as a present, she gave me a blank
tape with Madonna songs recorded over, from Madonna,
Like A Virgin, the remixes, "Crazy For You",
"Gambler" and "Into The Groove". When I moved
away, I listened to the tape everyday. The way colorful
visuals appeal to little kids, Madonna's high pitched
voice really appealed to me and it was a lot of fun.

After that, I basically grew up on Madonna, listening
to that tape everyday. My parents bought True Blue
but I didn't pay attention to that because I preferred
the old Madonna. Then, I started listening to songs like
"Papa Don't Preach", "Open Your Heart" and "La
Isla Bonita". But I remember asking myself, why is
her voice like that, and I began to lose interest.

I remember 1989, when I was about 8 years old, I heard
the new Madonna song, "Like A Prayer" and I began
to listen to Madonna, but only passively. Many of the hits
were the songs I love so much today that I grew up on
but we never got Like A Prayer. Then, for a while,
I lost track of Madonna and the only memory I have is
A League Of Their Own and the awesome song
"This Used To Be My Playground".

I didn't listen to much music until 1994, when I got into
music again. That was the year that I went off to summer
camp where I listened to the radio listening to some of my
favorite songs, including All 4 One's "I Swear", Prince's
"The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" and
Madonna's "I'll Remember". After that, we moved
again, and finally, we got MTV and that's when I started
reallly getting into music.

One of the first videos I saw as Madonna's "Secret" and
it immediately became my favorite song. I'd sit in front of
the TV to catch the song. After that, I got into all the
following singles after watching the beautiful videos,
especially "Human Nature", which brings back a
flood of memories. It was a song I hated to love, but
loved anyways. I used to be a very conservative person,
and despite my love for Madonna, I'd never express it,
growing up thinking that she was a person of loose
morals, and would never want to see beyond what
people made her out to be.

Nonetheless, I bought Bedtime Stories and Something To
Remember. I was more interested in other stuff though,
like I listened to a lot of R&B. Then, things in school
happened, and I was never really happy with my life.
Madonna is very important to me because she got
me to be myself, and I found out that was all to
being a satisfied human being. Despite all the
criticism people gave her, I watched Madonna
accept the Artist Achievement Award on November
1996, and instantly I became a fan.

I quickly got Madonna's album catalog and I moved
again. I was seperated from my parents and living
with a foster family for three months, and her music
really helped me get through all the pains of being
alone, getting friends, etc. I got into her music at first,
then finally her message and the whole essence of life.
I began to develop myself as a human being, and see
things in reality, not what people tell me to believe. Thus,
my point of view on music, religion and sex have
changed. I think religion is just an institution and I believe
in spirituality, getting in touch with the higher being,
individually, not through some tired, overchanted prayers.
As for sex, as taboo as it is, I believe we have the right
to express ourselves and just as long as sex does not
control us, we should do what we please and not repress
ourselves. I've become a more accepting person, of
people around me, and most importantly, myself.
Basically, I'm very happy with my life, thanks to
Madonna. I know someone up there was right to guide
me to her music, because many of my questions about
life were answered and I know it.

Basically, over 1996 and 1997, I have developed from a
person who viewed Madonna as a negative influence,
to finding out the answers I have in life, and developing
my mind, my self as a person, and the way I deal with
things and people in life. Now, I just wonder how
people can continue labelling her a bad influence, when
she has given me an opportunity that very few realize in
life: the ability to know yourself and create long term
goals and work hard to achieve your full potential.

So this is my tribute to a woman who has indirectly
changed my life and destiny.