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Posted by: Liam.k. Feb 20 2021, 06:36 PM

Today marks 15 years since the UK physical release of 'Sorry', the second single to be released from 'Confessions on a Dance Floor'. It was written and produced with Stuart Price as one of the first tracks developed for the album, but one of the longest to finish. Critics hailed it as a highlight upon reviewing the album and it was another commercial smash across the world, particularly in the UK where it became Madonna's 12th #1 and in Italy where it debuted at #1 a week after 'Hung Up' had completed an impressive 14 weeks on top!

15 years on, what are your thoughts and memories on 'Sorry'?

Posted by: Liam.k. Feb 20 2021, 06:36 PM

Posted by: Liam.k. Feb 20 2021, 06:57 PM

This is one of my all-time favourite Madonna singles, Top 3 I think. It has such a pulsating production that's just so addictive, really dramatic and intense with the strings and the thumping beats. It was everywhere on radio, I have really prominent memories of hearing it in the car and it would always be turned up loud! Love the video too, the purple colour palette has stuck with me as I think it suits the sound and mood of the song so well.

I wish she'd perform it on tour again - can't believe it's only been included once! I know she's not a fan of the song though.

Posted by: Liam.k. Feb 20 2021, 08:07 PM

Here's how 'Sorry' performed in the UK:

94-79-43-27-05-01-01-01-01-01-02-05-05-09-15-22-35-41-56-70-69-87-80-84 radio
00-00-00-00-27-24-13-02-02-04-09-11-15-17-19-24-31-42-45-52-59-71-86 downloads
00-00-00-00-00-00-40-02-02-05-05-08-13-15-19-22-35-37 TV
00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00-01-04-07-09-14-20-18-24-29-38-36-44-51-65-75-97-100 official

Great response from radio ahead of its release! Also interesting it got as high as #2 on downloads ahead of its physical too - this was back when a song could only chart if it was physically released. Two weeks, later, the rules changed which allowed a song to chart on downloads one week ahead of its physical release (this was scrapped in 2007, allowing songs to chart on downloads regardless of physicals, although it was common practice for songs to be released on download-only followed by a physical a week later).

'Sorry' debuted at #1 with 36,928, 10,657 ahead of Corinne Bailey Rae's 'Put Your Records On' at #2. I don't think it was ever revealed how many physicals it sold, but clearly it was what gave Madonna the #1 spot as the song remained #2 on the download chart. In its remaining weeks in the Top 10, it sold 23,374 (#4) 13,326 (#7) and 9,634 (#9). It completed 2006 as the 44th best seller with 136k (FYI, 'Put Your Records On' finished 24th with 174k). Not got an update total for it unfortunately, it's definitely over 200k but I've no idea how far.

Posted by: CJK Feb 20 2021, 10:39 PM

I think it's great that this gave Madonna back-to-back No.1s in the UK and guess it really rode the wave of Hung Up. That the video was an extension of HU was a good marketing idea.

I really like the song, though it is a prominent step down from its predecessor. My only real irk with it is how she says "Ik ben droevig" and "Slihah". I'm sure she was just trying to get the pronunciation right, but it just sounds a little at odds to me alongside the other languages for apologizing.

I recently heard an early version of it with very different lyrics which was interesting and not so good as what we ended up with.

All in all... a bit of a

Posted by: vibe Feb 21 2021, 09:09 AM

Love Sorry!

i need to play it more! it also had great remixes!

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Feb 21 2021, 11:48 AM

I think it's my favourite song from the whole era these days.

Posted by: dandy* Feb 21 2021, 11:59 AM

Definitely an immediate highlight, we used to blast this out during car journeys. I loved the Pet Shop Boys remix at the time too, although I haven't heard it for a long time now.

Posted by: Hotlady Feb 21 2021, 04:02 PM

I truly love this song Sorry. It's really amazing song.

Posted by: Chemistry Feb 21 2021, 07:33 PM

The funniest element is that 'ik ben droevig' means 'I'm sad' instead of 'I'm sorry'. Never really understood how she managed to mess that up

I love love love this song so much, and not just the song, but the whole moment in pop. The video, the artwork, and just the general feeling around this time was so good. Even reading just now that Put Your Record On was #2 gave me a smile, such a tune as well. And her having back-to-back #1's was just fantastic. Ah the good old days, how much do I miss them.

Posted by: Among Haus Feb 21 2021, 08:20 PM

It is a complete behemoth of a song. Has so many moments throughout it and the production is stellar.

Having said that, it's my 3rd favourite single from the album!

Posted by: Liam.k. Feb 21 2021, 10:20 PM

Love to see the adoration for 'Sorry' in here! It's a shame it's paid dust to from Madonna and critics nowadays. I know Madonna doesn't like it but critics loved it at the time, yet it never seems to appear on any 'best Madonna songs' lists. Rolling Stone didn't include it in their Top 50, despite an appearance from 'Act of Contrition' lol.

Agreed, I think they should have continued this with the videos for the following two singles!


I've included the demo in the second post - I actually quite like it but I do think the finished version is much better. I think the verses are probably too crammed; I mentioned that the song has an intense, dramatic feel to it but that works because the verses in the final cut are given space to breathe.

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Feb 22 2021, 12:08 AM

Madonna literally has the worst taste in her own music!