BuzzJack
Entertainment Discussion

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register | Help )

Latest Artist News
 
Reply to this topicStart new topic
> 'Bedtime Story' at 20!
Track this topic - Email this topic - Print this topic - Download this topic - Subscribe to this forum
Liam.k.
post Feb 20 2015, 04:35 PM
Post #1
BuzzJack Idol
********
Group: Chart Mod
Posts: 50,889
Member No.: 12,472
Joined: 8-December 10
 




“Travelling to the arms of unconsciousness”

On 19 February 1995, 20 years ago yesterday, Madonna's trippy, experimental 'Bedtime Story' debuted in the UK Top 5.

Background
Despite the R&B vibes of the album, Madonna did acknowledge her dance roots with the title track 'Bedtime Story'. However, this was unlike the synthy/disco-esque sounds from her debut and was instead more electronic and trance inspired - according to Caroline Sullivan, this was "a hypnotic abstraction of a tune with a slow-pulsing trip-hop beat". It was new ground for Madonna and is likely to have been the inspiration for her following album, Ray of Light. 'Bedtime Story' was written by Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk with name of 'Let's Get Unconscious' before producers Nellee Hooper and Marius de Vries, who had been involved on her album Debut, put their stamp on it and gave it its current title. In an interview with Attitude Magazine, Björk revealed that Madonna had in fact got the words slightly wrong but that it was nonetheless "a really interesting mistake".

The music video was directed by Mark Romanek, who had previously directed the video for Madonna's 'Rain', and saw it replace 'Express Yourself' as the most expensive music video at the time with a huge $5m costs production (this was beaten again by Michael and Janet Jackson's 'Scream' later in the year which, again, was directed by Romanek). It was just as trippy as the song itself and was inspired, according to Madonna, by "all the female surrealist painters like Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo".



Critical & Commercial Reception
Critics responded positively to 'Bedtime Story', with Billboard appreciating its "ingratiating hook" and saying it's "easily among her boldest and most experimental pop singles". Commercial success, however, was split. In Australia, Finland, Italy and the UK, the song hit the Top 10, becoming the highest peaker from the album in the latter country. Yet the song proved too odd for others as it stalled near the bottom of the Top 50 in some countries, including the US where it became the lowest charting single of her career.

UK Chart Run: 4-8-21-41-61-61-62-72-80-X-66-86-80-93 [13wks]

US Chart Run: 74-42-54-65-75-82-99-x [7wks]

Live Performances
Madonna performed 'Bedtime Story' at the 1995 BRIT Awards - her first time performing at the ceremony. The reaction was extremely positive, described as one of the best show openers and was ranked #4 on Marie Claire '​s 30 Best Brit Award Moments. The song was later included on the Re-invention Tour as part of a video interlude.

Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
PaPa Ri
post Feb 20 2015, 05:39 PM
Post #2
JanWasRobbed
******
Group: Members
Posts: 8,229
Member No.: 8,335
Joined: 20-February 09
 


Can I just say that I'd never seen the video before ohmy.gif Not to mention the BRITs performance. Both flawless. The song is great but a bit too alternative for Madonna, hence it not smashing.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
vibe
post Feb 21 2015, 08:52 AM
Post #3
BuzzJack Platinum Member
******
Group: Members
Posts: 8,764
Member No.: 11,763
Joined: 31-August 10
   No Gallery Pics
 


It's a great song not one I play often
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Jessie Where
post Feb 21 2015, 10:40 AM
Post #4
Break the tension
********
Group: Artist Mod
Posts: 88,624
Member No.: 51
Joined: 7-March 06
 


You can definitely hear the Bjork influence on it, it could slot right in on Post's tracklisting.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Qween
post Feb 21 2015, 11:14 AM
Post #5
Schlagerdrottningen
*******
Group: Veteran
Posts: 31,869
Member No.: 11,709
Joined: 23-August 10
 


It is INCREDIBLE, 10/10 and still only just in my top 15/20 of her singles.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
HausofKubrick
post Feb 21 2015, 02:30 PM
Post #6
********
Group: Global Mod
Posts: 56,148
Member No.: 13,007
Joined: 17-February 11
 


Such an incredible song in her discography. Can't say it's one i return to too often (though listening again now, i'm not sure why) but the way it builds without ever releasing is remarkable. One of her bravest songs for sure and it really pays off <3

The video too. They don't make them like that anymore.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Nina West
post Feb 23 2015, 12:24 PM
Post #7
We're all Glitter and Tears in the Moonlight...
******
Group: Members
Posts: 10,006
Member No.: 19,846
Joined: 24-September 13
   No Gallery Pics
 


To be honest this song is kinda hit and miss for me, I do love the video and the Brit Awards performance was stunning, but honestly the song itself is not one of my faves from her, also weren't that keen on the album despite a few good tracks on there.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
SweetCandy
post Feb 24 2015, 07:14 PM
Post #8
BuzzJack Platinum Member
******
Group: Members
Posts: 7,870
Member No.: 9,605
Joined: 15-September 09
 


Totally amazing performance I do play it a lot.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Liam.k.
post Feb 26 2015, 10:23 PM
Post #9
BuzzJack Idol
********
Group: Chart Mod
Posts: 50,889
Member No.: 12,472
Joined: 8-December 10
 


QUOTE(mr_aly @ Feb 21 2015, 10:40 AM) *
You can definitely hear the Bjork influence on it, it could slot right in on Post's tracklisting.

Yep, definitely. I've not been the biggest fan of 'Bedtime Story' but I've always thought it could easily be mistaken for a Bjork song.

After really warming to the album of the same name in recent weeks, I've been able to appreciate 'Bedtime Story' a lot more, although I think I'd prefer it remaining as an album track than a single (and have 'Love Tried to Welcome Me' replacing it). Mind you, that video is a pretty big deal so perhaps that's worth it being a single.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
MrIndependent
post Apr 22 2015, 12:40 PM
Post #10
BuzzJack Enthusiast
****
Group: Members
Posts: 820
Member No.: 9,520
Joined: 29-August 09
   No Gallery Pics
 


Bump.

Total masterpiece from an album that is also a criminally underrated masterpiece. That music video is totally ahead of its time even now; the best clip she ever did.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
slowdown73
post Apr 24 2015, 11:16 AM
Post #11
BuzzJack Platinum Member
******
Group: Members
Posts: 8,209
Member No.: 1,031
Joined: 3-August 06
   No Gallery Pics
 


I love bedtime story. Its when Madonna started to be a bit more creative and so much better and more credible than the majority of tracks on her last few albums.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Liam.k.
post Apr 26 2015, 05:55 PM
Post #12
BuzzJack Idol
********
Group: Chart Mod
Posts: 50,889
Member No.: 12,472
Joined: 8-December 10
 


QUOTE(slowdown73 @ Apr 24 2015, 12:16 PM) *
I love bedtime story. Its when Madonna started to be a bit more creative and so much better and more credible than the majority of tracks on her last few albums.

As much as 'Bedtime Story' has always been one of my least favourites, I do kind of agree with this. I think Like a Prayer saw Madonna get more creative and credible in terms of lyrics and that this song was essentially the basis of the Ray of Light album that followed which really did show a more unusual music style.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post


Reply to this topicStart new topic

1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:


 

Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 29th March 2024 - 06:51 AM