kesiak

It's definitely the one Madonna album I listen to more than any other, in its entirety (and yes, that means "Did You Do It?" included). I didn't get into it when it was released in 1992 - I was just a kid - but I grew to love it more than any other of her records. The Andre Betts tracks are probably some of my favourite stuff she's ever done and I wish their collaboration continued.

I totally get the original point here and I would love her to make another amazing, coherent album. Having said that, I've used that phrase "she's got nothing to prove" myself and what I mean by that is that there simply hasn't been a career as long lasting and as successful as hers. She's achieved more than anyone could've dreamt of, both commercially and critically (in the music realm at least), so it almost seems greedy and unrealistic to expect her to deliver another "Like A Prayer" or "Ray of Light". I'd be thrilled if something like that happened but I'm not counting on that personally.

I think the recent case when Ed Sheeran had simultaneously 16 songs in UK's Top 20 ( yes, SIXTEEN - https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2017/mar/10/ed-sheeran-has-16-songs-in-the-top-20-and-its-a-sign-of-how-sick-the-charts-are) is a prime example of how streaming is destroying the music industry. Nothing against Sheeran but that situation was completely ridiculous, even by his own admission. And that's all thanks to streaming and how charts are trying to keep up with the new way of accessing music. On the other side, there's the pittance that streaming services pay out to artists - Spotify may jump and shout about how much money they've paid out in royalties but it doesn't change the fact that it's pretty much impossible to make a living wage, let alone any real money from streaming unless you're Drake or Sheeran (Linda Perry said Pandora paid her $300 for 30 MILLION streams of Aguilera's "Beautiful"). What that means in turn, is that artists have fewer resources to live and create, less incentive to be adventurous in their music and it also makes labels more wary of investing in and promoting new talent.

Streaming is not a revolution but the final nail in music industry's coffin. ;)

Thanks!

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, however uninformed or misguided. Yet men aren't the ones who get paid less performing the same job as a woman; men are never in position where the possibility of them having children in the future affects whether they will be hired for a job or not, men aren't branded "sluts" for having a sexual past; it's women who are denied positions of power in most major religions, not men. We can talk about men experiencing same levels of sexism when we get to a point where we have to start teaching men what not to wear and how not to act in order NOT to be raped rather than girls. Until then you might as well be saying the Earth is flat - it may be your opinion but it doesn't make it a fact :wink: .

Here's a woman, Madonna, who's lived a bit longer than both of us and who says she experienced sexism. It's not for you to agree or disagree with, that's her truth and that's what she feels. Crying out "but men experience sexism too" completely ignores her experience and stops the conversation there. It's no different from shouting "but white people experience racism too" every time racial issues are raised.

Your comment only proves her point really. Saying "men experience this/that/whatever too" is a way of silencing women, minimising their experience and is disruptive to the discussion about women's issues.

This. Plus - what's the big deal if she did indeed have something done? It's her ass, she can do whatever the fuck she pleases to/with it.

Uhm, again - really not sure why you're insisting on making such sweeping generalisations. Kathy Griffin for example, has never written a single joke (by her own admission) - when she goes on stage she's got a few bullet points on topics/situations she wants to talk about and that's that. If you watch her stand up and interviews with her you will see it's the exact same person speaking, same voice. Same could be said about Chelsea Handler (although I'm not sure what her process is when it comes to getting ready for a stand up show). Any Schumer on the other hand, recently admitted in an interview that while her stand up in the beginning of her career was very much a persona/heightened version of herself (this slutty, slightly dumb blond), most recently it's more about her and who she really is as a person, her experiences. Whether you find Madonna funny or not it's a matter of personal taste. She's not a stand up comic, she's trying something new and having fun with it and I find that both ballsy and endearing. I thought she was sweet.

That's actually not entirely true - there are plenty of stand up acts out there who are entirely build around the comic's personality and life experiences (Chelsea Handler, Kathy Griffin, to name a couple).

Teenager smoking weed - OMG stop the press!!!

Same here. I'd probably say 1990 - 1993 is my favourite Madonna period. My least favourite era would be American Life - nothing to do with the album or imagery (love both) but more to do with how seriously Madonna seemed to take herself in the interviews from that time, I really cringe re-watching them.

If the author of the article used his brain in the first place he wouldn't have written such nonsense. I get that he's coming from a good place and means well but the tone and the assumption of the article are ludicrous and, yes, racist: Just look at Nelly Furtado, whose makeup is a combination of different races (which includes some black blood), but is mainly regarded as a white artist Who in this day and age thinks this way? "Loose" was a huge hit because it was much more commercial than Furtado's previous 2 albums and because she worked with hottest producers around. Had nothing to do with her being "a little bit black"! I mean, I can't even type it without laughing out loud at how preposterous this idea is! When the public thought Madonna was black, she was allowed to make black music. But, when the public found out she was white, she was no longer allowed to make black music Again, hilarious! For how long was Madonna perceived to be black (due to lack of her photo on the cover of "Everybody")? Like 2 mins? Everyone knew what she looked like before her first album hit the stores. From there on, somehow that poor, discriminated against woman went on to become the biggest-selling female artist of all time. She wasn't "allowed" to make "black" music? What about the gospel, soul and r&b references and influences on Like A Prayer, one of her most critically acclaimed pieces of work? What about the shy, #1 single Justify My Love which lifted its beat from James Brown (via Public Enemy)? I also don't remember anyone criticising Madonna for Bedtime Stories or Hard Candy being too "black" for a white woman to make - if there was criticism it had more to do with the fact Madonna was jumping on a bandwagon working with of-the-moment producers rather than relatively unknown, edgy ones which some people associate her with (that was more obvious in the case of Hard Candy than Bedtime Stories). Also, nobody suggests white people can't experience racism (although that's a whole different debate altogether and another slippery slope) but simply that it's not the case with Madonna. Especially when the reason for her not being treated seriously as an artist is a much simpler and obvious one - she's a woman who used sexuality in a lot of her work and for some people the idea that you can be sexy AND talented is beyond comprehension.

Seriously? It's racist first and foremost. Secondly, it's simply dumb as fuck - if Madonna was a black woman she'd never have accomplished half of what she has simply because she wouldn't have been allowed to. What planet does the guy live on?

Preach!

That's how you determine the quality of a record? By how well it does on the charts? Anyway - bring on the DVD!

Re-Invention Tour in London was my first time seeing her live and I think I was too excited and too nervous I actually forgot to enjoy myself, if that makes sense.

It was fun to see Sticky & Sweet live and I enjoyed it but it's probably the least interesting tour for me. Gypsy section was stunning and is the only saving grace on that tour.

Calling woman who holds titles of the best-selling female artist of all time and the highest grossing solo touring act "underrated" is a bit of a stretch but I get what you're saying ;).

First cassette album I've ever bought (well, made my mom buy it for me) so it holds a special place in my heart (and the cover image is by one of my favourite photographers).

I thought it was beautiful, fun, relaxed and confident. LOVED it

Since it's going to have a political angle I thought that perhaps she will talk about Kerry Max Cook - she posted about it recently: "Kerry Max Cook served more than 20 years in death row for a crime he didn’t commit. Convicted because he was "living a homosexual lifestyle"! Next week he will finally get a hearing with a new judge in Texas to hear new evidence of Kerry’s innocence, including DNA evidence. Join me and Steven Klein in his long struggle to prove his innocence and clear his name." Since Klein is involved she might want to draw more attention to the case?

No matter what she would've done she'd be ripped to shreds - it's obvious, the knives were out the moment her tribute was announced. She chose the most toned down, respectful way to honour Prince (sombre, all covered up, no gimmicks accompanied by another legendary performer) and yet she gets criticised. People can't handle her - whether it's Met Gala outfit or an awards show. Who cares though? It's all noise in the end. I'm really surprised though that she chooses to engage with that.