Give It 2 Me ● (2008) ● 'Hard Candy'

 

http://i44.tinypic.com/2dcd3qf.jpg

 

Background

Pharrell Williams was one of the main collaborators for Madonna's 11th studio album, Hard Candy, with second single 'Give It 2 Me being one of the results of this. Lyrically, it appears to be suggesting sex and partying, however Madonna later explained in an interview that "the words are autobiographic", referring to her musical career with record-breaking and pushing limits. The parent album was originally due to be titled 'Give It 2 Me' but after the release of same-titled single by Timbaland - another artists who had input on this album - it was then rejected.

 

Most critics responded well to 'Give It 2 Me': Rolling Stone calling it a "thumpy self-empowerment anthem...with clubby synths" and Entertainment Weekly believing it revived "the celebrative spirit of early singles like 'Lucky Star' and 'Holiday' filtering it through hip-hop's sonic boom". However, on reviewing the album, Slant Magazine deemed the "Get stupid, don't stop it" part as "just plain stupid".

 

'Give It 2 Me' received great commercial success, reaching the Top 10 in most of its charting countries: Finland (#2), Italy (#3), Switzerland (#4), UK (#7), Canada, Germany (#8), and Austria (#10), as well as number one in the Netherlands, Spain and the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart - her 39th number one on the latter chart. However, its success on the Billboard Hot 100 was very poor, only making #57 on album release. It was still able to sell 316k on downloads, Madonna's sixth most downloaded single as of April 2010. In the UK, 'Give It 2 Me' also managed to chart upon album release - #73 - becoming her first to do so. After 19 weeks in the Top 75, the track sold 170k - her best selling non-number one since 'Die Another Day'.

 

The Hard Candy Promo Tour and Sticky and Sweet Tour saw 'Give It 2 Me' on both set-lists. For the latter tour, 'Give It 2 Me' was performed as the tour's closer, although elements of the track was used throughout, including the performance of 'Vogue'. On a couple of dates, Madonna was joined by Pharrell Williams and daughter Lourdes during the 'Give It 2 Me' performances.

 

Opinion

This is probably my favourite single from Hard Candy and also one of my favourites overall. It seems to incorporate the right amount of R&B with Pharrell's involvement, but doesn't stray too far away from the dance Madonna which she is much better at. I think '4 Minutes' worked really well as lead single, but seeing how this is many people's favourite on the album, I do wonder how well 'Give It 2 Me' could have performed if released as first single. Believe it or not, I had never caught on to the fact it described Madonna's musical career, but it seems so obvious now! :lol:

 

Versions

Album Version [4:47]

Eddie Amador Club [11:05]

Eddie Amador Club 7 Edit [7:18]

Eddie Amador Club 5 Edit [4:56]

Eddie Amador Dub [10:37]

Eddie Amador Dub 7 Edit [7:26]

Eddie Amador Houselover Mix [7:52]

Eddie Amador Houselover 5 Edit [4:50]

Eddie Amador House Lovers Mix [7:52]

Eddie Amador House Lovers Remix [7:56]

Fedde le Grand Remix [6:40]

Jody Club Mix [9:29]

Jody Club 7 Edit [7:25]

Jody den Broeder Club [9:33]

Jody Dub [9:57]

Jody Edit [4:07]

Jody Edit TV [4:08]

Oakenfold Dub [6:14]

Oakenfold Remix [5:46]

Oakenfold Drums In [5:45]

Oakenfold Drums In Mix [5:44]

Oakenfold Extended Mix [7:08]

Oakenfold Extended Remix [6:59]

Radio Edit [4:02]

Sly and Robbie Bongo Mix [4:54]

Sly and Robbie Ragga Mix [4:57]

Tong & Spoon Wonderland Mix [7:35]

 

Videos

Official Music Video:

 

Sticky and Sweet Tour performance:

 

If you have any requests for Song of the Week, feel free to PM me or SweetCandy! Also, I've added links to previous Songs of the Weeks below, so if you missed one, please do comment in them.

 

Songs of the Week

Week 1: I Know It

Week 2: Bad Girl

Week 3: Jump

Week 4: Sky Fits Heaven

Week 5: Causing a Commotion

Week 6: Die Another Day

Week 7: Dress You Up

Week 8: Frozen

Week 9: Ray of Light

Week 10: Drowned World/Substitute of Love

Week 11: The Power of Goodbye

Week 12: Nothing Really Matters

Week 13: American Life

Week 14: Hollywood

Week 15: Nothing Fails

Week 16: Love Profusion

Week 17: NONE

Week 18: Burning Up

Week 19: NONE

Week 20: Girl Gone Wild

Week 21: NONE

Week 22: NONE

Week 23: Crazy For You

Week 24: Papa Don't Preach

Week 25: NONE

Week 26: Holiday

Week 27: Give It 2 Me

Edited July 18, 201311 yr by liamk97

Her best tour closer ever!!!!

 

I love this track and am surprised it was not a bigger hit!!

 

The single version is quite poor IMO and the video is nice but doesn't really suit the song! After the success of four minutes I'm surprised that this video was not given a higher budget!!!

The single version is quite poor IMO and the video is nice but doesn't really suit the song! After the success of four minutes I'm surprised that this video was not given a higher budget!!!

It is a bit of a minimalistic video, seems to have got more so throughout the era as 'Miles Away' didn't have a music video filmed, just the tour performance!