Madonna 'Hard Candy' CD hits sweet spot

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Madonna 'Hard Candy' CD hits sweet spot

Madonna may be nearing 50 years old, but her new CD, "Hard Candy," is full of fresh beats, dance hooks and cat suits. It gets a grade of B.

Madonna's latest CD "Hard Candy" is expected to be the pop icon's latest triumph. But she's no stranger to success -- or controversy.

After a rest at a luxury lodge in the capital Lilongwe, Madonna and her daughter Lourdes tour a U.N Millenium village, in Mtanga, Malawi, in April 2007. Madonna arrived in this impoverished southern African nation to continue her charity work, bringing along the Malawian boy she is in the process of adopting and her daughter.

Madonna was already a symbol of girl power when she took her 'Virgin Tour' on the road in 1985.

Madonna with her first husband-to-be, actor Sean Penn, at the screening of the film 'At Close Range' in Los Angeles in 1986.

Madonna sings part of her duet with Babyface during the telecast of the 22nd annual American Music Awards in 1995.

Madonna poses with singer Babyface backstage at the 22nd annual American Music Awards in 1995.

A March 1994 file photo of Madonna, who told reporters she is just like everybody else but that the media punishes her for being a rich powerful woman who enjoys sex and talks about it.

Pop star Madonna, shown at the Video Music Awards ceremony in September 1995, has Argentina crying for its legendary first lady Evita Peron. Madonna will play the title role in Alan Parker's movie version of the Broadway play 'Evita'.

In the 1996 movie 'Evita,' Madonna played the lead role of Eva Peron. Antonio Banderas also starred, as the film's narrator throughout, the sardonic Brechtian Everyman, Che.

Stretching her voice and acting talent, Madonna won the Golden Globe award for best actress in a musical or comedy in 1997 for 'Evita.'

In 1997, more women began striving for trim, muscular arms like Madonna and other women in the entertainment field.

'The Next Best Thing' turned out to not be the next best thing for Madonna's acting career.

Madonna performs a medley of 'Shanti' and ' Ray of Light' at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1998.

Madonna poses with her four Grammy Awards backstage at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1999. Madonna's 'Ray of Light' won best recording package, best pop album, best short form music video and best dance recording.

Madonna performs in Berlin in 2001 during her first concert in Germany of her European and World tour.

Former American President Bill Clinton's daughter Chelsea Clinton, left, American actress Gwyneth Paltrow, center, and pop star Madonna attend the Versace spring-summer 2002 Haute Couture fashion show in Paris in 2002.

Pop star Madonna stands next to Guy Ritchie as he carries their son Rocco outside of Dornoch Cathedral, in northern Scotland, in December 2000, following Rocco's baptism. Madonna and the British film director were married a short time later.

Singer Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie arrive at the New Museum Of Contemporary Art to attend Rabbi Yehuda Berg's 'The 72 Names Of God' book launch party in New York City in April 2003.

Madonna's visit to Philips Arena was a gas in 2001 when she brought her Drowned World Tour to the ATL.

Britney Spears, left, Madonna, center, and Christina Aguilera perform during the MTV Video Music Awards at New York's Radio City Music Hall in this Aug. 28, 2003 file photo..

That same night came the kiss flashed 'round the world.

Madonna arrives at her publishing house in Paris in September 2003, as she promotes her Children's book "The English Roses". The 48-page book hit the bookshelves in 30 languages.

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey and Madonna groove with the Gap Dancers during a taping in September 2003, in Chicago. Madonna appeared on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show,' to promote her children's book, 'The English Roses.'

Madonna performs to a sold out crowd during her Re-Invention Tour at Philips Arena in 2004.

Madonna performs in Montreal in June 2006. The "Confessions" tour continued through September with dates throughout North America and Europe.

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Madonna's latest CD "Hard Candy" is expected to be the pop icon's latest triumph. But she's no stranger to success -- or controversy.

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