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I feel like opinions on this album are very divided among Madonna fans, especially coming off the absolute masterpiece that was Erotica. Personally, I have always liked this one for some reason and I dont know exactly why, though im not saying it is top 5 or anything. Some fans try and call Bedtime Stories as damage control, I have never seen it that way at all. Human Nature is basically a pissed off Madonna giving her haters the finger in such a masterful way. The most interesting thing about this album to me is that behind the smooth, sexy and understated production, Madonna is very edgy and angry in a subtle way which gives it a great dangerous feel, I dont understand why some people act like this album is a snoozer. Take A Bow is not a track I am especially found of, my favorites are easily Human Nature, Inside of Me and Secret. What does everyone else think of this album?

Her worst and bored album,i just love the singles and looove the song "your honesty " sorry?

VOTY, ROTY AND SOTY, KATY IS BACK AND SHE'S NOT HERE TO PLAY! This song has EVERY reason to smash, but honestly looking at the trash in the worldwide charts rn, I wouldn't be surprised if this didn't chart, people are so tasteless lately and have been snubbing her in favour of such basic "artists", still deserves to smash! Let's support her gays!

I never understood the matador look for Rebel Heart. Nothing related to the concept, artwork of the album, or single, plus the same S&S look that she had forever back in the day. But is still a better video than Love profusion, Jump or Give it 2 me (somehow I like the Get together one, so I never mention it as a bad example of her videos) The MDNA ones were good. At least cohesive with the look, era etc. Madame X, the same... the manifesto could be explored better on the videos, but they were cohesive with the album.

I love it. It's one of her finest bodies of work. Sadly underrated and forgotten. Lyrics, vocals and production... perfect. It's also the definition of "damage control" after the whole 1992-1993 era, but done RIGHT. I can image how hard it was putting all together with so many different producers. But it works. It's also a mood, a vibe, an album to listen from start to finish if you're in that instrospective, romantic, chill mood. The 4 music videos are TOP-NOTCH. The fact that she followed her biggest US hit in years, "Take A Bow" with something like "Bedtime Story"... I mean, a true artist taking risks. And I love the artwork The whole pink-green-black&white works perfectly with the sound and her classic Hollywood look, in my opinion.

My entire response stream was based on this comment that you cannot in any way proportionally quantify just from internet troll comments. Why the hell would I go to lengths to make excuses for anyone anti black let alone Madonna fans. Really? Don’t do that. I’m am also not responsible for any actions or reactions of other forum members. I speak alone. If you want talk more we can continue privately. I don’t get into internet spats. peace x

There definitely was a change in budgets. I think Interscope allocated a bigger budget for videos compared to Warners (specifically Confessions and Hard Candy). But the music industry was different when MDNA was released compared to the time Hard Candy came out. It was only 4 yrs, but music labels reevaluated the worth and importance of music videos. Plus YouTube had become the number 1 outlet for music videos and their premieres at that point.

"Turn Up The Radio" as a music video was refreshing to see at the time cause she was out of a bloody closed set/studio for the first time in years... actually her first outside video since "Hung Up", right? The Instagram filter hasn't aged that well but she looks great. And it gave us the boobs gifs haha

Turn up the radio and Living for love are better than Jump, Give it 2 me or Celebration, though...

I love it, very sensual and lush, and amazing singles and videos.

Coming back everyday to this thread and hoping to read news on madonna being in the Studio, instead reading this endless discussion. do something else! Do my eyebrows!

Her first solo performance was at Uncle Sam's Blues Club in Roslyn, Long Island in October 1981, before she was signed to Sire. Photographer George Dubose documented the show. George Dubose: I was contacted by John Phillips, the bouncer at Hurrah's who was sidelining as a radio promotions man, shopping Madonna's first demo to radio stations. He put me together with Camille, of Empire Management, Madonna's manager. Camille asked me to go to Uncle Sam's Blues, a club in Roslyn, Long Island and make live photographs of just the singer who was fronting a band called "The Breakfast Club". Just the singer, not the band. Hmmmm? There was this sexy, young woman wearing barely-concealing costumes of chamois skin and foxtails. She was oozing sexuality, but seemed shy or unsure of herself. I went back stage between sets to meet her. I asked her what her real name was. "Madonna." I offered her encouragement and wrote a short list of suggestions regarding her performance. I was trying to be supportive. When her manager, Camille, discovered the note, she was furious and ejected me from the dressing room, screaming, "How dare you speak to my artist!" I stayed in the club and shot the second set. I took the train back to Manhattan and never heard from Camille again. I referred Madonna to the promoters of Club NY and we saw her shows at the Underground, Danceteria and the Roxy, without a band. My negatives of Madonna's first gig sat in my files for 15 years before anyone had any interest in publishing them. I have since recouped my expenses and then some from my first meeting with Madonna. She first performed "Everybody" live at Danceteria as part of Haoui Montaug's No Entiendes cabaret revue on December 16, 1982. She performed it on TV for the first time on the show Dancin' on Air, which aired on January 9, 1983.

Just purchased one of these. What do you all think? Anyone fancy a game?

luved all the videos from the Interscope era. wow people dont like Living for love. Its like a painting come to life. Absolutely luved it. My one gripe was there wasnt enough videos. Would have luved ones fro masterpiece and Devil pray

look familiar ?

I actually think the mumble Illuminati, Future and on some parts of Crave voice is another incarnation of her range. I personally love that version too and think it's another colour in her palette.

I love that shoot by Peter Cunningham in October 1982. Her hair is a precursor to her True Blue platinum blonde cut.

Excellent videos and 2 of my favourite Madonna songs, Secret and Human Nature.

You said it. God... the things I have to read in threads like these Madonna proved during the 2010s that she still cared about the format. Let's start talking what's coming next though cause I'm afraid we're doomed to go through another desert So enjoy what she did give you, ungrateful c***s

Getting close to 200 millions views, watch & share fans

L O V E Highlights: Love Tried To Welcome Me, Bedtime Story, Take A Bow, Sanctuary, Secret… 2 songs I don’t care much about: Don’t Stop and I’d rather be your lover. stellar videos and vocals.

One of her damage control albums. It's not in My Top 5 but it's still a great one, I listen to it from time to time. As said earlier, the videos were also incredible, Bedtime Stories and Human Nature being highlights of her videography.

Give Me All Your Luvin' is one of the best videos she has done in the last decade, unfortunately we can't say the same about the song. Girl Gone Wild has a great video, she looks stunning in it and the choreography is amazing. Turn Up the Radio can choke. Living for Love was dissapointing, specially with that exaggerated red filter... Ghosttown was pretty good and Bitch I'm Madonna was fun. The only bad thing about that video is Nicki on the screen... Honey get the girl on a plane. The Madame X videos were all pretty good and a huge improvement. My only wish would've been that they didn't over edit everything so much, something less is more.

In all honesty the last video fo hers i really enjoyed was Hollywood. The first video she did i was not impressed with and liked was Die Another Day (and i love love love that song). The whole confessions era looks cheap (yes Hung Up is iconic but only for the pink leotard scenes). 4 Minutes is, i don't know, sterile. GiveIt2Me is a photoshoot just like Turn Up The Radio. The fan Celebration video is superior to the Madonna only one imo. Gimme All Your Lovin' is fun though with its cartoonest take on Madonna (the song though). Same for Girl Gone Wild, another photoshoot, a beautiful one though but still just like a magazine portfolio come to life (and that song too, the one i hate the most in her catalog). I still don't understand the Living For Love video. Why so dark for an uplifting song ? I loved the references to Francis Bacon but truly it would have fitted Devil Pray best. Ghosttown is quite embarrassing. She's beautiful in it but the video is sadly filled with too many clichés it could have been perfect without the kid and the dance scene is its saving grace. Bitch I'M Madonna is super fun and it really made the song better. Medellin is pretty but it's too much and not enough at the same time. The storyline if there is one is very messy. Batuka & Dark Ballet are good. She looks pretty in Crave but she's dressed like Edina Moonsoon and looks demented when she's dancing out of synch. Oh, i forgot the toilet bowl freshner commercial that was the Love Profusion video. So the videos were a bit better in quality on Interscope but they are not memorable either.

Great album - all the singles were fantastic tracks and so were the videos and remixes - probably the best set of singles, videos and remixes from any of her albums all done so well. Think it was a masterpiece in damage control following the Erotical backlash to re-build her likability with the general public but done really well and still with artistic integrity Vocals were really good on the album - just quality music even if not as stunning as her uptempo tracks but the remixes made up for that. Perfect choice of singles and promotion. Think it was a great move on her part after she had pretty much admitted she had gone as far as she can with the Erotica era in terms of shock and controversy

It's alright. I don't listen to this album very often and it's a bit uninspired artistically, but when I do listen to it I enjoy it. Human Nature is a CLASSIC. Bedtime Story and Secret are also really good. It has the best set of music videos of Madonna's career

She was trying to look young in Medellin, Crave, God Control, Batuka? Just admit you have a problem with Bitch I'm Madonna and get it over with

Her music videos during that period were works of art. Like A Prayer was the one that really ushered in that 90's golden age of Madonna music videos and Human Nature one is basically god tier

To me it’s a very derivative album of that tired r n b sound we had heard before from Mariah , tlc , boy z to men etc so it just doesn’t hold up well for me and I really hate take a bow now for some reason the only songs I like are bedtime story and the way sanctuary mixes into it seamlessly plus human nature that said I think it has her best suite of music videos though with human nature and bedtime being in my top 10 fave videos and I also liked that she did a little promo tour for it too : brits performance of BS was so iconic hope one day to hear the shep demos for it though to see what he had in mind for it ?

My most played album. It's lush, soft and dreamy with delicious vocals. While I can't say it's my favourite, I'm always drawn to it hence why it's my most played. From beginning to end...bellisima!

Cherish Dont Tell Me To Stop or Music?

Literally flawless from start to finish. I rather enjoyed Madonna's soft romantic sound and her vocals sound the best here compared to any other album. The album's photoshoot was stunning as well. The era gets a perfect 10/10 from me.

an immaculate project!! i didn't get into it until more recently in comparison to the rest of her discography, but it's maturity and deep sonic pulse i think make it one of my all time favorites.

Open Your Heart True Blue or Cherish?

Madonna live in St Paul 1985. My very first time seeing her live. What a memory that was.

Hi everyone ! Since we'll soon be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Madonna's career (!!), and due to popular demand, I'll organize a megarate for every single Madonna album. Let's now see how the tracks from the True Blue era compete with each other. As requested by most users who participated in other games, non-album tracks from the same era will also be included. Rules: - Make sure to know all the songs included in the competition. - Rate each song from 1 to 10. You are allowed to give the same rate to multiple songs. - Decimals are allowed only up to the hundredth (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED WHEN YOU CAN IN ORDER TO AVOID TIES). - You are allowed to give one 0 and one 11 (OPTIONAL). - Send your rates to me by personal messenger before January 18th, NOT in the thread. Results: #1 - 9,45 - Open Your Heart #2 - 9,44 - Live to Tell #3 - 9,41 - Papa Don't Preach #4 - 9,34 - La Isla Bonita #5 - 8,51 - True Blue #6 - 8,41 - Who's That Girl #7 - 8,19 - Causing a Commotion #8 - 8,01 - The Look of Love #9 - 7,94 - Where's the Party #10 - 7,30 - Spotlight #11 - 7,15 - White Heat #12 - 5,72 - Can't Stop #13 - 4,81 - Love Makes the World Go Round #14 - 4,74 - Jimmy Jimmy #15 - 4,03 - Santa Baby Good luck to everyone !

Tie! Secret or You’ll See?

How dare you?! Just kidding. It's the Winnie The Pooh poem she recites at the end of her BBC interview promoting the album.

and Gaga started doing mini movies for her music videos which became these epic events. Then iamamiwhoami came along and was doing cohesive films for their entire albums. and then Beyonce followed. I got excited thinking about what Madonna could do... and she acted like it wasn't a thing. I think she missed a huge opportunity to do that. I mean I guess she still could. Just imagine if she would have done a 5 song film for the death of Guy Ritchie. Devil Wouldn't Recognize You (Refrain) (Realizes the marriage is ending) Addicted (Goes Insane) Gang Bang (Kills Him) Girl Gone Wild (Asks for Forgiveness and acts out) Best Friend (Remorse) Give Me All Your Luvin (Breaks the fourth wall and asks the audience to cheer for her, the murderer) I would have gone to gay heaven if this would have happened.

Hate that Demarchelier photoshoot. It looked so cheap. Seeing the artwork Paolo Roversi did I can't believe they didn't go with that. The UK 12" for Bedtime Story is BEAUTIFUL. The album as a whole is ok. Perfect singles and perfect videos. It does feel kinda un-Madonna yet totally Madonna. Only wish is that Forbidden Love got a release but oh well. The album was the perfect stepping stone to get Evita and Ray of Light.

That Grammy performance might be my favorite moment of the Rebel Heart Era. She looked incredibly fit and stunning.

Has To Be Something To Remember In This Life

and Turn Up The Radio is a ghastly 5:13. If ever a single song in her discography needed a quick punk 3:30 edit and video it was that one. She's so wooden and forced and it just didn't come off as wild and fun as she wanted. Directors fault no doubt. It needed fast edits and energy and high camp. It looks like a rehearsal for camera angles.

Some great ideas but they weren't very well realised. GMAYL is her best and most ambitious video since the 90's. Hung Up (was pretty basic but well executed). Bitch I'm Madonna is a vibrant hoot but the features were shoehorned for dear life which really let it down. Notable moments. Forgive Me - Girl Gone WIld Closing moments of Batuka Concept of Dark Ballet Toe Lick - Medellin Cute: Crave , Ghosttown, God Control Too try hard: Medellin / Living For Love Dud: Turn Up The Radio It's been a mixed bag like most decades but I think the concepts for the last 15 years have mostly been too simple or too convoluted, not a lot of fun and miss the iconic nature of her Warner years. . Other artists have annihilated her in terms of video for a long time and that didn't need to be the case at all.

There are good and not that good videos from "MDNA" to "Madame X", as usual. She's always been very practical about it and seen them as promotional tools (what they are). I'm sure the Interscope era videos were funded mostly by her, right? Maybe not "Give Me All Your Luvin'" (that was super expensive and maybe part of the Live Nation/Universal 360 initial deal, as the radio promotional campaign with Clear Channel). But "Girl Gone Wild" were Mert and Marcus and "Radio" Tom Munro, a previous friend/collaborator. The "Rebel Heart" videos are just good, IMO. "Living For Love" is maybe her worst album launch 1st single video ever. "Bitch I'm Madonna" is fun and good. The "Madame X" run is quite good, "Medellín" was a return to the big old Madonna video events.

Can you please get rid of the annoying little gnat around here? Thank you

Everyone knows by now that Madonna and MJ couldn't stand each other. They were simply too different, except for the fact that they are/were both control freaks. But MJ was quite stiff, sensitive, in some ways old fashioned (don't know what his stance on queer people was, did he ever make a public comment?). Madonna on the other hand is very extroverted, blunt and relaxed when it comes to things like sexuality. But I do believe that Madonna deeply regrets that they fell out of touch and didn't really make up before he died. Btw if there's one thing that I do find very disgusting about some black MJ, Janet, Whitney..etc fans is that they always downplay Madonna's influence and talent and I bet you guys it's simply because she is white (I'm biracial myself).

Its not that complicated lol, I dislike and I enjoy a lot of her recent work and it really has nothing to do with the artists she is working with being black or not. I happen to think Crave is an amazing song and should have been lead single. I also think you are overestimating the number of Anti Black Madonna fans.

Into The Groove Borderline or Open Your Heart?

Madame X live