Fontainebleau

One of my favorite things about AL. Her voice in the album sounds so pure, so naked, so full of emotion. Every single day i hear it, X-Static Process still makes me cry. That voice...

@galnerdic Promise To Try is indeed a wonderful, beautiful song!

I'm certainly no fan of Beyonce, but calling her demonic seems far-fetched. Lots of artists play with Illuminati symbols. Remember Madonna wearing the jacket with the all seeing eye? I think it has more to do with artists taking up an an anarchist position than with promoting a new world order. It's just an example of counter-culture. The world of Illuminati is stil a mystery and artists use it as a way to provoke and to tell the world they are so rich, succesful and famous they could be Illuminati. But they aren't. And who cares if they are? It won't change my life or the way I view the world, where everyone is just looking for purpose in life.
The reason Madonna gets more negative press than Beyonce is because  Madonna has always been more provocative. Madonna also was First. She was The Original. A trailblazer. And it's the trailblazer who always has to deal with severe criticism and being vilified. The way Madonna flaunted her sexuality in the late eighties and early nineties was new and very direct. Not everyone was ready to be accepting of that. The Like A Prayer, Justify My Love and Erotica videos caused huge shockwaves throughout the world. These days flaunting your sexuality is rather normal.
There's no more shock and awe as was the case when Madonna did it. And she couldn't have done it better. She changed the world and some people hated her for it, for their comfort zone was at stake. And while Beyonce certainly is a wonderful performer, she plays it more safe than Madonna ever did. If Beyonce is hanging on a cross on stage like Madonna during the Confessions Tour I'm sure there will be lots and lots of criticism. But once again, Madonna would be First. And while Beyonce and others are singing and dancing perfectly, Madonna is already in the midst of another controversy, fighting ageism. And I'm very curious to see the direction she is taking and which boundaries she is going to break. I'm sure artists like Beyonce, Ariana, Katy and Taylor (if they're still around when they turn 60) will be taking notes from the Madonna textbook once again.

Thank you so much! It was wonderful to read these articles, especially the one written by Carlton. I'm glad to know people realize how significant Madonna's legacy is and that she was FIRST. But Madonna's journey hasn't ended yet, let the new era begin!

Girl gone wild, Turn up the radio, Give me all your luvin', I don't give a ...., I'm a sinner, Masterpiece, Falling free and MDNA remixes and MDNA tour.

Laugh To Keep From Crying
What Can You Lose
Everybody
Justify My Love
Rescue Me
Secret Garden
Waltz For Eva and Che
Paradise (Not For Me)
Gone
Hollywood
Die Another Day
Get Together
 
The Game
Miss You
 

Quite some songs over the years. 
Who's That Girl reminds me of the summer of my childhood, growing up in Trinidad and going out with my older brother and sister, being with my aunties, dancing with my mom. 
La Isla Bonita reminds me of the island I left in 1988 when I moved to the UK aged 9.
Like A Prayer (more it's visuals) appealed a child who was questioning things at a young age; religion, racial identity and discrimination. 
Oh Father stood out for me, always, because of the strained relationship I had with my father figures growing up and then leaving home at an early age. 
Love Tried to Welcome Me because I always thought I'd be alone. 
Take A Bow and I Want You were quite meaningful because I had strong feelings for people I couldn't be with. 
You'll See was my anthem when I left home. I thought I'd be strong. 
Frozen was like an awakening, stirring feelings to want to experiment with sound. I was in love with its grand production and visuals. 
Drowned World, again because I always felt alone in a crowded room. 
Mer Girl's lyrics were fascinating. Like Promise to Try and Inside of Me, they gave an insight into someone still dealing with grief. Although I hadn't yet experienced such a loss, I would later learn through therapy that I was grieving the loss of my childhood which ended too soon. 
The Power of Goodbye. I always understood the song to be more about death than a relationship. It's stronger in the demo I think. To be so at a loss, than you would be ready to give it all up. Been there many times over. Same with Paradise and Nobody's Perfect. 
Mother And Father for personal reasons. There was a time I was happy in my life, when I had both mother and father. And I questioned why they couldn't be with me. 
Nothing Fails, X-Static Process, Intervention and Easy Ride all appealed to me as someone constantly questioning things and trying to understand why I feel the way I do. 
Never Let You Go is a song I felt close to, I could close my eyes and just let it take me. Standing in my own darkness and feeling the music sway me. 
I Fucked Up. I do it a lot. 
Tragic Girl because I can be in my mind. 
Those are the songs that mean the most to me. Other notable ones are Live To Tell, I'll Remember, Something To Remember, Little Girl, Spanish Eyes, Dear Jessie, Isaac, Ariosa, Swim, Supernatural, Secret Garden, Sanctuary, The Beast Within, Act of Contrition and Be Careful with My Heart. 

Something to Remember
Love Tried to Welcome Me
Drowned World (Substitute for Love)
Mer Girl
Amazing
X-Static Process
I don't know, I feel like Madonna made some real and intimate effort when recording those lyrics.

Promise To Try was a song a teacher, that became like a mother to me, and I bonded over. I tear up every time I listen to it.

American Life & Nobody Knows Me  Because growing up gay in high school in TEXAS sucks ass.

2:22!!!!!

Probably Drowned World and Falling Free but both for different personal reasons :) x

A song that I used to listen to before important events such as exams, concerts was Express Yourself: I took a lot of energy and encouragement from it, but I think it is common to many of us.
A song that came out in a very dark moment of my life, when I felt I couldn't do it, I was giving up, I felt lonely and desperate, is Hey You. It really felt like she was talking to me, like she knew what was going on. Every single word. I know It is not a fan favourite, but I can really say that it saved my life.
Hey, you, don't you give up
Its not so bad
There's still a chance for us

Hey, you, just be yourself
Don't be so shy
There's reasons why its hard

@groovyguyWow... This is amazing to read! Much respect for all the work you've put into this! It really is fantastic!