It always makes me laugh when a "critic" pushes his opinions onto a review.
Maybe HE doesnt like the album, but to say no one truly loves it is bullshit.
And when you go see a show called "Madame X", you do your homework and you familiarise yourself with the music. I always think it's weird that people complain about the setlist when the name of the show says it.
It's like going to see "Cats" and wonder why they're not doing songs from "Evita".
On a sidenote, Im still not over the genius of "Dark Ballet". It's a standout track in her discography. It's so messed up, yet a pleasure to listen to. Just wish there was a proper piano intro on the album, or like, a 6 minute version of it.
Madame X is a statement.
Omg She will be 61 this year and she is not going anywhere!!!! Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity. Let’s live every moment like our time is borrowed. Ps shout out to the little anniversaries Happy birthday mdna!!!
If I read one more god damned apologetic media story that mentions Madonna's age, Madonna making up for a lack of talent by being a great performer or Madonna attempting a "comeback".... I am gonna effing scream. I really am.
1. Madonna is not some succubus that is feeding off of younger artists. These popular artists are lining up to work with her. The current movers and shakers recognize that M is still a force and consider her to be cutting edge. There would be no features if they she was not still a prize to be had in others' discographies.
2. Madonna is the most successful living music artist on the planet and ever article news story finds it necessary to slam her musical ability as if she is only about controversy, image manipulation and special effects. Fourteen glorious studio albums (I will always count Breathless) and the media is still acting like she has not revolutionized the industry to a large degree and brought bountiful offerings. 35 years of writing her obituary (since Like a Virgin) and they still seem to get all of their facts wrong or just skip facts altogether. It seems that stories about M are filled with personal criticisms and a complete avoidance of her substantive accolades.
3. And what exactly is she coming back from? She has been, is and will be the Queen. M15 will extend her legacy only.... as it is not in jeopardy. Bitch.... she's Madonna!!!!! And there is nothing that is gonna change that gospel truth. Nothing. M does not have to crawl back up from the muck and mire because she has never fallen (aside from the Britts). She is Queen and King too if she so desires.
Sorry... I just had to vent.
Yup. All of this. I’m loving it. Don’t get me wrong, the end product is one of my favorite albums of all time. But there’s something else on these demos.
In the midst of discussions on wigs, fur, implants, fillers, age, and all other superficial things that might rock your world, I challenge everyone to watch this entire interview. One might not agree with all she says but it is definitely a glimpse into who Madonna is and what she stands for/stood for, what moves her, as an artist, as a human being.
So next time, one goes on about with their ageist and superficial judgements, take a second to remember who this great artist and freedom fighter is.
It’s a long video. I dare you to watch it all and truly think about what she is saying.
I woke up early morning and I thought to myself: why not make a list of the top produced Madonna tracks in order. So, this is what I'm doing. XD
CRITERIA:
Lyrics - 30% (includes flow, message/moral of the song and delivery)
Sonics - 40% (includes the synths and stems appropriate for the song and the final mastering of the songs)
Impact - 20% (how it made a general impact on me, the viewer)
Runtime - 10% (if the duration of the song is acceptable for me)
TOP PRODUCED TRACKS (from any album):
10. Physical Attraction (Madonna/The First Album - 1983)
- This song, to this day, didn't sound too dated in my opinion. In fact, it sounds like how synthwave tracks nowadays are being produced (if you listen to them). I love how the the swooping synths kicks off the song before bringing in the big guns with the kick, snare, claps and wobbling bass synth. With the addition of the electric guitars separated at each channel, it's a simple yet chill bop about being open to your significant other about realizing that you are both meant to be together. Although the runtime of the song is approximately 6 minutes long, it doesn't feel like it's 6 minutes most of the time.
Rating: L - 20%, S - 32%, I - 13%, R - 7% = 72%
09. Material Girl (Like a Virgin - 1984)
- TIMELESS and to this day, still doesn't sound like it's date. Although a few of her tracks from this album sounds a little dated, this withstood the test of time. I was actually having a hard time choosing this and Like a Virgin but to me, Material Girl is a solid candidate for this list. I mean, when the drums kicked in to start the song, it's obvious that people know that it's Material Girl. Pair it up with a sweet bassline, a quirky low synth and a soft chime that rings twice with Madonna's obvious Marilyn Monroe - inspired lyrics and you got your self a legendary bop. Although the Immaculate Version Q -Sound remix of this song sounds better and crisper, the original still stands tall.
Rating: L - 23%, S - 34%, I - 15%, R - 7% = 79%
08. Justify My Love (The Immaculate Collection - 1990)
- That rumbling bassline, eerie string that breaks through the bass and Madonna's moaning and yearning for some loving just made me put this song on this list. It's controversial, sexy, seductive and slow but keeps the pace running as Madonna asks her love "What are you gonna do?" Justify her love, damn it! Poeple were obviously triggered by this song, with the accompanying video, but to this day, still remains as a historical mark on pop culture. And hey, Beyonce seems to like it that she recreated it for her Haunted video. Although I like it how she puts a twist on it, the original still stands tall with its black two piece lingerie, thick stockings and high heels.
Rating: L - 25%, S - 35%, I - 15%, R - 8% = 83%
07. Oh Father (Like a Prayer - 1989)
- DID SOMEONE CUT ONIONS IN FRONT OF ME?! Madonna's breaking vocals are supported by Patrick Leonard's production of a dark piano, haunting orchestra arrangement, deep bass and prominent drums that keeps the rhythm on an emotional pace. Plus, it's not helping by the fact that the song tackles about Madonna's grieving for the loss of her mother when she was four years old and how she lived everyday with her abusive dad. However, she knew exactly that he's hurt as much as she was but the difference lies on how they cope the loss of a motherly figure. This song gripped me as much as it gripped you and her near - to - crying vocals at the end of the song became the conclusion that even until now, she still seeks for a motherly figure, even at the age of 60. It's also a follow up of Dear Jessie as the intro indicates the connection of the two tracks as the former tells about Madonna's childhood innocence and the latter about the sudden drops of her life at the tender age of four. My heart... </3
Rating: L - 28%, S - 37%, I - 16%, R - 8% = 88%
06. Bad Girl (Erotica - 1992)
- "I'm not happy this way!" We have a lot of regrets in our lives and even after we drown it with vices, temptations and distractions, it still lingers within us and Bad Girl proves that jumping from relationship to relationship, smoking cigarettes and passing out from excessive drinking can't mend a broken heart. Madonna seems to channel a different person in the album as she starts Bad Girl with a mysterious intro with the drum loop, the windchimes that moves from the left channel to the right channel and that piano that starts high and ends low, foreshadowing the outcome of this character's downfall from happiness. The song starts with a low string synth and bass that breaks through as Madonna wonders that something's missing and she doesn't know what it is or why. She cries out how she wants her true baby back but she can't as the chorus turns to a darker tone, being a one - night stand, smoking a drinking her hard feelings away and with that outro fading, we never knew what happened to the character as she constantly do so (although the music video answers it and it's freaking TRAGIC). This shows that not even artificial highs can bring us up from the real downs.
Rating: L - 28%, S - 37%, I - 17%, R - 8% = 90%
05. Skin (Ray of Light - 1998)
- I gotta tell y'all, this track is a highlight of the Ray of Light album. The song is about letting your lover know that you are in love with him/her and thus, you want a connection that lingers on for a long time. With the nature of the album being Kabbalah - centered, the song is produced in a Middle Eastern - inspired way with thumping beats, pulsating synths, haunting strings that lay low at the first half of the song, high oscillating lead synths that details the inspiration and the seduction of the lyrics and the last few minutes of the song as a breakdown was just a killer. I listened to it for the first time when I was just rediscovering Madonna's discography and to this day, I still gravitate to this. Although there are deserving contenders for this list like Drowned World/Substitute for Love, Ray of Light and Sky Fits Heaven, this takes the cake. Even though the runtime is a monster with 6 minutes, it doesn't feel stretched out for me.
Rating: L - 28%, S - 38%, I - 18%, R - 8% = 92%
04. Die Another Day (American Life - 2003)
- Some Bond fans hate this but I don't care, this is a monster. This is iconic for the use of chopped orchestra strings and sinister deep bass that was held well with the hard drum loop and the screeching lead synth that leaps from the left channel to the right. To me, this is not just about Bond's experience being tortured in the camp in the movie but is a statement regarding how people wanted Madonna to be irrelevant by making fun for her figure and her stand as a "bad feminist" but you know what? She is not going anywhere and she's gonna snarl at those remarks and keep pushing the boundaries of music forever.
Rating: L - 28%, S - 39%, I - 18%, R - 8% = 93%
03. Like It or Not (Confessions on a Dance Floor - 2005)
- Madonna's deep tone rumbles at this sinister song with a guitar playing at the background and a hard beat that slowly gives way to the progression of the dark synths as she sings about whether you like her or not, she's here and she's here to stay. She tackles about how people expect too much from her and how they tried to drag her down but she's unshaken and to this day, she is still standing. No one can shake her away from her throne. The entire listening experience is different when you listen to it in the album wherein the end of Push is signaled by the dark orchestra that sounded like the opening for Sorry but transitions gracefully into the distorted guitar that opens the final track of the album. There are many songs in this album that could be contenders to this list but the last track of the album becomes the victor.
Rating: L - 29%, S - 39%, I - 18%, R - 8% = 94%
02. Gang Bang (MDNA - 2012)
- Knowing just recently about how this album is basically a well - crafted divorce album, this song takes things into a darker tone as she kills her lover because of his lack of support and contribution to their relationship. This hit hard on Madonna as she was divorced by Guy Ritchie at that time and the latter tried to take full custody of their kids but Madonna ain't having that so in her mind, she killed him with a straight bullet to his head and basically became a 1950s gangster. The thumping beat with the deep rumbling sub bass becomes the base for the hard hitting track with gunshots, pulsating synths and an epic breakdown and monologue how she wants to kill him over again. In a nutshell, it's a "you're dead to me" kind of a thing but don't let Madonna make a conventional track about it because she's too grown for that. Plus, the near 6 minute song is enough to picture out a short movie in your head with her as the main character.
Rating: L - 29%, S - 40%, I - 19%, R - 9% = 97%
01. Wash All Over Me (Rebel Heart - 2015)
- This track stands tall as one of the top produced Madonna tracks with medieval production made from a Baroque - like piano, heavy bass and synths and booming drums that reminds me of Game of Thrones. Madonna sings about her reflection if she should carry on with her life as an artist but at the end, she decides to stay with her loving fans and continues her journey as the goddess of Pop. The lyrics are so deep and metaphorical and suits very well with the production. I have no words to say but... damn!
Rating: L - 30%, S - 40%, I - 19%, R - 10% = 99%
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
1. Iconic (ft. Mike Tyson & Chance the Rapper)
2. Keep it Together
3. Erotica
4. Bedtime Stories
5. Sky Fits Heaven
6. Sorry
7. Devil Wouldn't Recognize You
8. Falling Free
9. Ray of Light
10. What It Feels Like For a Girl
Let me know your list in the comments and let me know as well if you want a top produced Madonna album too. :D
I love and respect Madonna. So I'm going to name five things that makes me feel that way about her. I'd love for you to join in. Let's celebrate her with some good vibes. It's great for karma.
1. Fearless
So many examples, but risking arrest during Blond Ambition and the crucifixion during Live To Tell comes to mind. Like A Prayer video, and Sex too.
2. Smart
Reported intelligence quotient of 140.
3. Embraces change
Now lives in Portugal.
4. Writes great ballads and hooks
I don't really appreciate any pop artists as much as I do her for this.
5. Challenges herself
She never takes the easy road.
Found this online today .... looks like it was made around her birthday this year , it is a most impressive curation of clips of her “works”... FANTASTIC!!
i haven’t seen it discussed here (?) just want to share and hope some others enjoy as I did ... makes me even more excited for #magic coming
soon ?
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