Renato Iodice

- Madonna's musicianship is often underrated, even by her own fans. The general public is probably not aware that she started out in a rock band, that she can play some instruments, that she's a classically trained dancer or that she's a consummate songwriter since her first album. Also, she has come a looong way since the "Minnie Mouse on helium" days. Not a powerhouse vocalist but she can definitely carry a tune.

- "Papa Don't Preach" is her best music video. No flashy budget, just great, effective storytelling.

- Who's That Girl Tour is her performing peak. She didn't have the massive production but she totally carried the show with her live vocals, the live band, the energetic dancing and the killer setlist.
- "Dear Jessie" and "Cherish" kill the vibe of the Like A Prayer album, therefore I can't consider it her very best.

- Something To Remember should be considered an essential Madonna album. Whoever came up with the idea of a ballad compilation is a genius.

- Evita is her biggest career triumph. She proved all her naysayers wrong once and for all and delivered a stellar performance, vocally and acting-wise, further cementing her legend status. She deserved an Oscar nomination / win.

- Music deserves as much recognition as Ray Of Light. The cyber-cowgirl aesthetic, mixing classic Americana with futuristic electronica - just brilliant.
- Mirwais is the best producer she has ever worked with. Music, American Life, Madame X >>> t.heir work together always turns out to be interesting and experimental.

- I would've traded the Drowned World Tour for her to play the role of Velma Kelly in Chicago.

- Swept Away is by the far the worst thing she has ever been in. Second is that humiliating "STAR" BMW commercial. Damn you, Guy Ritchie!.

- Hard Candy was NOT a flop like some fans claim. All things considered, it did better than past albums released in a much healthier sales climate, such as American Life, Erotica or Bedtime Stories. Although I'm sure it would've sold more copies with a less jarring / amateur artwork.

- Warner probably had way more influence on her European radio success than we are aware of. It's suspicious how the U.K dropped her after 30 years as soon as she signed with Interscope (#3 Celebration > #37 Give Me All Your Luvin)

- Sticky & Sweet is one of the best tours ever, by any artist. None of the current pop stars (sans Beyoncé) could pull off such a high-energy show at age 50. Most 20 year olds would be gasping for air after the "Into The Groove" jump rope segment.

- Biggest missed opportunity: Not submitting "Masterpiece" for Best Original Song at the Oscars. It was a surefire win since the only competition was a Muppets song.

- "W.E" is a visually stunning film.

- MDNA is a solid dance album and one her most personal records if you pay attention to some of its lyrics chronicling her divorce.

- The Gaga "feud" backfired. M could've been positively introduced to a new generation of baby gays but instead, some Little Monsters hold a grudge against Madonna fans to this day and viceversa.

- Madame X is better than many of her "classic" albums, such as Like A Virgin, which in my opinion, its only held to a higher regard for its commercial success and cultural importance.

Well, I know it's not a popular opinion, but I've always disliked Time Stood Still and Masterpiece... Orbit's production is blander than cheap vanilla ice cream.

Sorry but I still remember the garbage he produced in MDNA... and Amazing and Runaway Lover are the weakest tracks of Music.

Absolutely.


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William Orbit was the BEST thing that ever happened to her, thanks to him we have her most exceptional artistic songs. He should work for her on every alum for life.

Exactly... I think most of the fans are exaggerating the work of Orbit (even if I endlessly love his production on Ray of Light). 
Of course, he is the best thing that happened to her... in 1997/1998. 
But sticking with him (as the only producer) for next 2-3 albums would be disaster. He is good when other producers are involved and ideas of Orbit and others are merged together, but as a single producer he is not so creative and diverse as Mirwais, for example. 
Moreover, I always liked Madonna for changing producers for (almost) every album. This way she keeps surprising me constantly. Of course, this approach doesn't always pays off (Hard Candy) but she is at least trying. I cannot stand nowdays singers that sound totally the same for three albums. 

Sorry but I still remember the garbage he produced in MDNA... and Amazing and Runaway Lover are the weakest tracks of Music.

Well, I love "American Pie" too... and I think like someone said before that "Ray of light" didn't age so well. I enjoyed it in 1998 very much but now, for me, it's her most boring album. I think some people loves it just because it was beginning of her last big years for the general public.
And  other thing that I hate is when people say "This album/song/tour/performance" is overrated without arguments. I mean, some times a song, album, tour... are remembered for the impact when it was released. I can understand that a 20 years fan can say that "Like a virgin" (it's just an example) is overrated but it's because he only knows the album and saw the youtube clips and things like that... People that lived that time has a different point of view... 

Agree; for instance, I fuc*ing love NOBODY'S PERFECT.

Runaway Lovers, Spanish Lesson, Incredible and Some Girls are cool
Masterpiece is overrated
American Life is a gem
BAT is overrated
 

Confessions is perfect cos it takes you on a journey of self discovery from more fun to serious and it's amazing to me. I always loved the second portion of the album more. 

It’s funny when fans complain about the Sound being to influenced by Justin and Timbaland and then they single out Devil as their favorite track. Which is literally Cry Me A River Part II.
I totally agree with your take on this. I find all the Justin/Timbaland tracks unoriginal and dated at the time of the release.
But the Pharrell tracks are amazing and totally make up for it.

That's the point. She was trying to please the people who hated her because she did Erotica/Sex. At first, she wanted to do another album with Shep Pettibone, but the backlash was too much for her. In Europe and Asia she was still the queen but in USA, Erotica and Sex almost destroyed her career. 
Nowadays, Erotica and Sex are seen like masterpieces from a woman who broke the rules. In the Erotica era, if you loved madonna, people insulted you ("You are a fan of a whore").

I'm sorry, but I still see this album as her: "I'm sorry, I've been a bad girl. Now I'm good girl again. Forgive me."
It's not a bad album (for me one of her worst). It has three or four amazing songs and the first Madonna's track that I hate: "Human Nature" (I love the lyrics, I really hate the music). Thanks God for "Ray of Light" years later. It was boring to be a fan during the "Bedtime Stories" era. Of course, this is my opinion, not a fact...

Well, some "fans" told me that, after bad albums such as Music, American Life and Confessions, Madame X is a return to form... I thought they were joking, but unfortunately they were serious 

Nope Objectively it is her worst. Not everything is personal

Madame X. 
But I wish the entire Evita soundtrack was remixed for clubs like DCFMA and Buenos Aires just to watch everyone's heads explode about it for 25 years.

It is undisputedly HER WORST ALBUM. If we look at all of her albums OBJECTIVELY MDNA is the absolute worst. 

I disagree.
If it's an album it's shit. If it's just a soundtrack it's still shit :-)

Here I am. MDNA is imho her worst album, but Rebel Heart is not better.

Why have I looked at a whole page in this trash thread and not one person said MDNA. ARE YOU PEOPL ON CRACK!!!?

I'm Breathless. If it's an album it's shit. If it's just a soundtrack it's meh.

Confession and American Life deal with very similar topics but one is wearing a beret and one is wearing a leotard and coming at the topics from slightly different angles.
 
Xstatic Process - Push (contentious dynamics in your romantic relationship)
How High - American Life (Questioning your place in the world and peoples commentary on that)
Nobody Knows Me - Like It Or Not (you think you know me...you don't know me / This is the real me eat it etc)
Let It Will Be - Hollywood (The rise / fall and perils of fame / ambition / disposability)
Mother & Father - Jump (nostalgia and reliving/ relaying the affects of formative years and family. some good..some bad)
Easy Ride / Isaac (analysing ones own mortality and life being a toil and test spirituality, reincarnation, learning)
Get Together - Love Profusion (an intoxicating complicated love or attraction and deciphering what's real) 
There's plenty of similar themes and lyrical crossovers.

Am I the only one who isn't that crazy over Human Nature? The music video is iconic and the song itself is just fine, but the beat and the repetitive buzzing gets a little annoying after some time. I might even say I prefer the remixes

Of course you're allowed to like it. But it doesn't change anything. It's still a bad album