Living in the Madonna Moment

What a world. War, drought, terrorism--and now a Madonna blitz, new album and Pepsi commercial (yet another reason to switch to Coke). One wonders where to hide until these wars and this wisp blow over.

If Madonna is a symbol of anything, it’s of self-absorption and the temporary triumph of dubious style over a trace element of substance. . . . Madonna is to music what Geraldo is to journalism.

BOB LILJENQUIST

Long Beach