VogueMusic

No. I really don't get why this era is such a hard one for so many fans to 'get'. Probably because I personally don't worship at the alter that is Confessions. That said, interesting points above, but I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the previous era was certainly something special to many fans, and has since been glorified into this untouchable thing. And particularly with those that seem to think M is disco, disco, disco. Yeah, I know, that will piss some folks off, but as the years go by, it becomes that much more obvious. And yet, all her music up until then (and since) had shown she really is so much more than just that. Don't get me wrong, it was a very special era, but she really is more than just 'Confessions'. Just as she is more than just 'Blond Ambition' and 'Vogue' and 'Ray of Light'. The irony is that Hard Candy is pure dance, through and through. It's just another take on it. It's rooted more in American R&B and funk-influenced dance (aka the Black/urban tradition) vs the more Euro-influenced sounds of the previous record. Ok, so it wasn't the most cutting-edge sound at the time, but that rhetoric itself regarding M and her music (in my opinion) has also been somewhat romanticized over the years. A great deal of her work at commercial/critical peaks has always essentially been 'of the moment'. She's just more often executed it better than anyone at any given time. That said, it's still an incredibly solid record that personally has much more replay value than the previous. And lastly, it's rooted in the very music that started her out on that first record. It is the 'return to her roots' more than Confessions ever really was. In the end, it was just part of the continual evolution that is 'Madonna' the artist. It was also clearly time for her to "exorcise the demons" of what she was going through. Not to mention what it was saying (visually and musically) about a woman her in 50s. Performance-wise it was unmatched - she was an absolute beast. Incredible promo concerts. And quite frankly, one of her greatest tours that solidified her as the touring beast (#1 number for a female/solo), and proved she was capable of doing something in her 50s that very few, if any, of her peers (male or female) could ever attempt to do on stage. I may be in the minority...so be it. I LIVE for funky, R&B Madonna. Her sugar will forever be raw. Long live Hard FUCKING Candy.

I don't know if I would use the term "out of touch" when describing Madonna's music of the last decade or so. She's clearly 'in the know' regarding what is going on in contemporary music, and you can clearly hear it throughout much of the last few albums (and no, I don't think that is a bad thing whatsoever). In fact, some of those albums best songs are perfectly in line with where music/culture is now (or at the time being)...it's just that the work doesn't get its just due when it comes to promotion (and we already know the reasons why). Let alone it's almost as if a pop artist, particularly female, isn't even supposed to be doing such at this point in a career, and yet she continues to create and express as a contemporary artist ... unapologetically. Considering where most popular music is right now, I'm glad she continues to interpret what is current but still through her own very specific lens. It's what continues to set her apart. As said above, she could easily pander to the folks who just want disco dolly 'bops' or spit out a junky album in a week like these lesser "stars" and ride it out the easy way...but she doesn't. And thank god for that.

Exactly. It is a very good move. ViacomCBS is the parent company of Paramount+. They already own MTV, VH1, BET, Logo, Showtime, Paramount Studios, etc. Lots of channels. Lots of material. And ViacomCBS is one of the "Big 6" media companies, meaning they are one of the most powerful on the planet. The only reason why their numbers aren't as huge as other streaming platforms is because they're newer...but no doubt they are probably going to grow into one of the major players soon enough. All of the 'Big 6' media companies are staking their claim of the streaming market over the next few years. Netflix is no longer the only major player in the game. Anyone comparing this to Meerkat or any of those other small-time start-up digital services simply has no idea what they're talking about... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ViacomCBS

And that's IT right there.

It's a fucking joke. He's not bothered. Stop taking the bait from self-righteous, literalist brats on social media. Much ado about nothing. NEXT.

Uh, they've got the last two in that graphic completely backwards. Just sayin.

Why are folks using the term "overyhyped"... It's like a few little cryptic insta posts, and an insta story. That's it.

If she's going to do a true 'Greatest Hits' type show, she's going to tour it. There's massive money to be made with that. Pandemic aside, once touring is able to resume to as close to normal as possible (in a couple years, probably), I don't see why she wouldn't continue to do so in the future, as plenty of other acts older than her already do. At the very least she has a couple more large-scale arena/stadium shows left in her. Now to sell it, she most likely will have to pull out the hits for it, but at this point, it's befitting. And she doesn't necessarily need to physically dance as hard as those previous tours. They can choreograph and stage great numbers, and design a beautiful, stunning show, without having her all over the place. That being said, I think she will continue to explore the theater route to satisfy her more personal live artistic endeavors.

Sticky & Sweet is an incredible tour. And a perfect example of what separates Madonna from all the rest, especially those listed above. And in her 50's at the time too. Long live M-Dolla.

There is no worst.

I love finding out about things like this.

Is that available somewhere? Anyone have that?

Fucking STUNNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now THIS is my Madonna. The epitome of SEX. Independence. Living and aging however the fuck you want. OWNING it. And still pissing the usual suspects off beautifully.... LOVE IT.

THANK YOU!!! Say whatever you want about the writing, but the overall direction - particularly visually and acting-wise - is absolutely stunning. She knows how to direct a film.

It's an iconic musical, and think some are missing what the story is actually saying. That being said, I don't see Madonna doing a story like this (nor acting) any time soon (for multiple reasons)... and in all honesty, the film version role belongs to the incomparable Glenn Close, who is the most famous face of the stage musical version. If you haven't seen her in it, watch clips from youtube and have your mind blown. It's been rumored for a long time as well that the film version of Sunset Blvd would most likely be Glenn's ticket to a best actress Oscar (and perhaps her last shot), so I don't want to see that opportunity taken away from her. M would be amazing...but Glenn deserves it.

Whoopie-de-doo. This is how major Hollywood movies are made. The writer you start with is rarely the writer you end with... let alone the process of re-writes and 'notes' from the studio. Brace yourself, there are going to be lots of changes and people in-and-out of the process, period. Projects of this size take years as well, so some folks need to stop complaining about the timeline. You're not getting it anytime soon...and to get it right, we probably shouldn't be.

1. Shep Pettibone / Andre Betts 2. Stephen Bray / Jellybean / Reggie Lucas 3. Nelle Hooper 4. Pharrell 5. Patrick Leonard (though I consider him more a writer than producer) 6. Mirwais / Orbit 7. Diplo / Blood Pop 8. Stuart Price

Sometimes folks just may happen to have a perspective on something that is, dare I say, positive or affirming in nature, or that finds value or worth in something. That's not a crime, nor a shortcoming. I also find the "sycophant" argument flawed, and really a form of unnecessary name-calling...and if we are encouraged to not engage in such at various boards from one side, then why is it ok for others to do it from the other end? There are plenty of folks who seem to find fault in damn near anything she does, and I suppose I could spend all day calling them 'Bitter Bettes' or something like that, but I choose not to. Instead I make the choice to focus and give credit to the things I do like and that I believe are done well, and give rational, sane criticism where it is appropriate. I think we need to be careful at going down this road that if people like something, for whatever reason (simple or complex, intellectual or purely emotional), or find some sort of positive value or worth in something (whatever that may be), that that immediately is seen as some sort of intellectual/critical weakness or shortcoming on their part as a fan is just sad, unfair, and simply not true. We are all capable of "walking and chewing gum at the same time". Again, some of us may make a conscious choice to focus on the things we do enjoy and find value in, even if they're not perfect by any means. We are also more than capable of doing that while giving constructive criticism too.

THANK YOU!!! Finally, someone gets it. The last four albums truly do have incredible music on them, and it's a real shame that so much of this work doesn't get the proper respect and credit it truly deserves, especially from some 'fans'. As someone who has consumed the pop music of the last 30 something years, and certainly seen what some of these acts of the last 10 to 15 years have put out, I will gladly take M's contemporary work any day over this other "stuff". Particularly from some of the obvious names previously mentioned in this thread, who, in my opinion, are nothing but derivative, glorified tribute acts to everything better that has come before in the last 30-something years. Thanks, but no thanks. Not to mention her tours, that in the last decade are just as ambitious and artistically driven as they've ever been. I can't see any of these others continuing on as such, on that level, into their 40s, 50s, and 60s, while refusing to settle into nostalgia act territory. Let alone pulling back and reinventing once again in a theater format. Then there's her music video game that brought some of her strongest visual work she's done with just the last album alone. That doesn't touch on her tour visuals which are a work of art unto themselves. (Let alone conception, design, staging and choreography). Sadly, I feel that she can't even catch a break with her own fanbase at times. And sadly, this 'third chapter' (and the incredible, unprecedented things it's bringing that you will NOT see from these others) won't truly be understood, nor appreciated, until many years from now. Such is life.

Absolutely no one. That's why she's the one and true QUEEN.

Her words were not kind to Madonna in the 80s. Yes, she said those things...but there were also at a time when Clive and company were putting her out there as essentially the anti-Madonna - the good, Christian girl that was appropriate for everyone. As time went one, we quickly figured out that was pure image making, and the real Nippy was the furthest thing from a saint. Over time, she seemed to soften on Madonna and had much kinder things to say. But I think it's important to remember (as there are many young fans now) that Madonna in those times was extremely polarizing. And that's an understatement. M could even get under the skin of the most liberal, especially post 90-95. A lot of folks who have come to love and understand Madonna over the years weren't all exactly on board so easily in those times.

Beautifully articulated.