Virtual Vadge

Washington DC native Melissa Totten has been a Madonna impersonator, one who actually sings instead of lip-synching, for nearly 25 years. She has appeared all over the world, in Australia, Turkey, Japan, India, Mexico and London, UK, where she is now based. She also played Vadge for six years in Las Vegas with Legends in Concert, the largest touring impersonation company in the world. In the last couple of years, Totten has started releasing CDs of her Madonna covers, including her latest, the brilliant Madonnalicious: A Dance Floor Dedication to Madonna, available on all major music download sites. The CD is a collaboration with remixers Klubkidz and includes the completely recreated hits “Erotica,” “Ray of Light,” “Express Yourself” and “Like A Prayer.” For any serious Madonna fan who just can’t get enough, Madonnalicious is quite entertaining. Not only does Totten sound eerily like Madonna, but the remixes themselves are well done, catchy and a lot of fun. Hearing the older tracks updated for today’s dancefloor is exhilarating.

It’s quite shocking, with Toronto exhibiting such rabid Madonnamania, that Totten hasn’t been hired to perform here yet. “I’ve heard amazing things about Toronto and have some fabulous fans and great friends there,” she gushes in her first Canadian interview. “I work in a show in Berlin that’s kind of a variety show for impersonators. Some of the most talented acts are from Toronto. When it’s time to move back across the pond, Toronto is on my list of possibilities.”

“My singing is always totally live,” emphasizes Totten, who still practises a skill that even major performers like Britney have abandoned. “Singers have the ability to truly entertain an audience on several levels and are able to communicate and connect with the audience.”

Totten has yet to meet or hear any feedback from the world’s most famous cougar, but she does know some of her friends. “I know people who have worked with her, for her, danced on tour with her, dated her, etc,” dishes Totten. “Luis Camacho is a dear friend. He toured with Madonna on the Blonde Ambition tour and choreographed ‘Vogue.’ He knew her before that. Luis has been an amazing friend and supports me a lot. I also toured Japan with Oliver Crumes [a dancer from the Blonde Ambition tour who appeared in the Truth or Dare movie along with Camacho]. It was bizarre to do that dance break in ‘Vogue’ with him; it gave me chills every time.”

Totten is working on something that she hopes will finally get the divine diva’s attention. “I have a great opportunity, this week actually, to do some recording that Madonna will most likely hear,” she gushes. “That’s all I can say at the moment, but I hope she likes it, as I love her so.”

Reviews:

Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea (EMI) Her husband died a year and a half ago after tragically mixing meth and alcohol, so one might expect the sophomore release from this Grammy award-winning UK artist to be depressing. There are a couple of downer tracks, but Rae has somehow outdone her first album, which sold four million copies, by filling The Sea with gorgeous, sweet neo-soul pop done to perfection. Rating: 8/10

Anjulie – Rain (single remixes) (Hear Music) The Toronto native is likely to score another major Billboard dance hit with “Rain,” from her debut album released by the Starbucks label, Hear. This caffeinated boutique label has taken on fewer than a dozen artists, but those artists include Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell and Sia. After several massive US dance hits, this remix is aimed squarely at the gay club scene, with the cute and well-loved DJ Escape and Tony Coluccio turning “Rain” into a driving, fun anthem. Rating: 7/10

daniel paquette
tunes@fabmagazine.com