Posted April 28, 201213 yr http://www.mad-eyes.net/disco/hard-candy/images/album_hardcandy.jpg "I'm going to kick your ass, but it's going to make you feel good". That's how Madonna introduced her 12th studio album Hard Candy. "The title is a juxtaposition of tough and sweetness... And of course I love candy!" After her successful future disco record Confessions On A Dance Floor, she teamed up with some of the biggest names in today's hip hop scene: Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland & Danja. "I think Pharrell is a natural musician. I like his inventiveness - he would grab my acoustic guitar, which he couldn't play, but start playing percussion on it. He would find bottles and start playing them with spoons. [...] I can totally relate to Justin as a songwriter. We would sit down together and say OK, let's come up with a concept. What story do we want to tell? We would riff off to each other and play woth words. He likes to play with words and the rhythm of words and so do I. [...] I felt more introspective because I was writing with Pharrell and Justin. On Confessions, I just wanted to make a frivolous dance record, but with this one I had to dig deeper and go to a different place... For me, it's a true collaboration, intellectually and artistically." Madonna named Justin's second album FutureSex/LoveSounds as her main inspiration, which was produced by Timbaland & Danja. The record was released worldwide on April 28th, 2008 (some regions received it on the 25th or the 29th). It is her last studio album released under Warner Bros. Records. A special edition of the album was released at the same time and the Japanese version contains a bonus track called Ring My Bell, which was also available for fans who pre-ordered the album on iTunes. The lead-off single is 4 Minutes, which is a duet with Justin and was produced by Timbaland. The opening track Candy Shop, which was the inspiration behind the album title and leaked on the Internet in 2007 already, is one of Madonna's personal favorites. An early version of Beat Goes On also leaked but was later reworked, including a rap by Kanye West. 4 Minutes hit #1 pretty much everywhere, became Madonna's record breaking 37th Top 10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified double Platinum in August 2008 for 2 million paid downloads. The second single is Give It 2 Me, produced by The Neptunes, which hit big in Europe. Third and final single is the beautiful ballad Miles Away, which was a moderate hit around continental Europe and became the best selling digital single of 2008 in Japan. Hard Candy immediately became a huge success all around the world, reaching #1 in 27 countries, including Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK and US. It debuted on the US Billboard 200 with 280,000 copies and became her 7th US #1 album, while in the UK Madonna simultaneously topped the albums and singles charts for the 4th time in her career, which is unmatched by any other female artist. Hard Candy is Madonna's 10th #1 album in the UK, the most among female artists. Track List Candy Shop 4 Minutes Give It 2 Me Heartbeat Miles Away She's Not Me Incredible Beat Goes On Dance 2Night Spanish Lesson Devil Wouldn't Recognize You Voices Ring My Bell What do you think of the album back then and now 4 years later ?
April 28, 201213 yr I love the album Just seen in Liam's thread that it took 22 weeks to go out of the top 40 MDNA looks like it will be out in 4 !
April 28, 201213 yr I think I bought the album in 2010, and I don't think it should get all the hate it does. It's not like it's a *bad* album. It's got some great songs like 4 Minutes, Give It 2 Me, She's Not Me, Devil Wouldn't Recognise You, and Voices! :wub: I still really enjoy the album now.
April 28, 201213 yr I love the album Just seen in Liam's thread that it took 22 weeks to go out of the top 40 MDNA looks like it will be out in 4 ! It seems wierd considering MDNA is much prefered by a lot of people than Hard Candy. The album did have a boost from Give It 2 Me, whereas the only song that could save MDNA is Masterpiece (this *has* to be the third single!)
April 28, 201213 yr MDNA is beyond saving at this point. Hard Candy came off the back of 4 Minutes - in sales terms one of the biggest hits of her career - wheras whichever way you cut it GMAYL was a massive flop (yes even in the US - without the Superbowl it would have had an American Life style run). A lot of it is down to her lack of promo though as well, she was only slightly visible for Hard Candy but without a doubt it helped.
April 28, 201213 yr Author I love this album one of her best in years (I don't care if people hate it). Awesome performances on the S&S tour. My main favourites are she's not me, Give It 2 Me, Miles Away and Devil Wouldn't Recognize you. As everyone else is going on about MDNA who gives a .. As much as I hate the idea myself if she doesn't what to promote the album then thats her fault. She doesnt need to shift albums like she did in the 80's. Personally I think it's pretty cool that 30 years on she's still releasing new material. Somebody's always going to critics her what ever she does.
April 28, 201213 yr Definitely one of my top 3 Madonna albums, I'd probably put it 2nd behind American Life actually! Certainly doesn't deserve all the hate it gets, I especially love Miles Away :wub:
April 28, 201213 yr The first Madge album I bought, I got it release week after loving 4 Minutes :wub: It remains my 3rd fave Madonna album.
