MDNA is a solid, if faceless, album. It's not her WORST though: Hard Candy is an outright turd for the most part, Bedtime Stories is equally as faceless, but less interesting, and Music is easily her most dull album, essentially a rehash of leftovers from Ray Of Light with all passion and energy removed.

What a load of bull !!!

 

Music is not full of rol leftovers she worked with Mirwais for most of the album who didn't work on ROL at all!!!

Oh John :( you've upset the natives again.

MDNA is a solid, if faceless, album. It's not her WORST though: Hard Candy is an outright turd for the most part, Bedtime Stories is equally as faceless, but less interesting, and Music is easily her most dull album, essentially a rehash of leftovers from Ray Of Light with all passion and energy removed.

Whore.

I was expecting Bedtime Stories to be last (surely that must be next?) and I don't think MDNA should get quite so much hate. It may not be much of a *Madonna* album but it's still a pretty enjoyable album, with tracks like 'Gang Bang' and 'Masterpiece' showing she can still shock and evoke emotion respectively. That said, I'd be disappointed if her upcoming album was basically another MDNA.

See which flavor you like and I'll have it for you

 

 

| 11 // Hard Candy // 2008 // 6.52 (0: silverrocket, 1: jakewild // 10: regina, ultraviolence, sweetcandy, 9: fgiboy)

 

 

A fairly big jump up in average, and the album that preceded the last, is 2008's 'Hard Candy'. Perhaps her most "urban" album, including collaborations with Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell and Timbaland, the album is quite the move away from the lit-up dancefloor that came before it. Lead single '4 Minutes' gave the world what they wanted, a bold return, channeling the new direction that the album was due to head in and showing yet another evolutionary stage in Madge's career. Follow up singles went on to be just as promising, but as you've had your say here, it doesn't seem the album entirely lived up to these samples. Opening track

with its ridiculous lyrics is definitely more on the sticky than sweet side. Elsewhere, horrific lows in the likes of

are juxtaposed next to insane highs like

and prove how jarring the album is. Other fun moments include

and what has seemingly been proven as the love it or hate it jam that is

; it's just one of those things. I have a lot of love for a fair bit of this album, but there is unfortunately too much filler for me to completely get behind it.

 

Commercially the album was a success, and named the 11th best selling album of 2008. It debuted atop charts all across the world, helped by its massive lead single and follow up smashes. The world tour was equally as grand, and went on to become the highest grossing tour of any solo artist. Originally going to be called 'Black Madonna' with cover art to match, not sure whether that or the one she eventually chose is more the wrong move.

 

 

-x-

41 | Human Nature

42 | Miles Away

43 | Nothing Fails

44 | Dress You Up

45 | American Life

46 | Erotica

47 | Deeper and Deeper

48 | Take A Bow

49 | I'll Remember

50 | Girl Gone Wild

51 | Oh Father

52 | Bedtime Story

53 | Masterpiece

54 | American Pie

55 | Don't Cry For Me Argentina

56 | Causing A Commotion

57 | Angel

58 | This Used To Be My Playground

59 | Love Profusion

60 | You Must Love Me

61 | Give Me All Your Lovin'

62 | Bad Girl

63 | Everybody

64 | Keep It Together

65 | Dear Jessie

66 | Turn Up The Radio

67 | Hanky Panky

68 | Fever

 

-x-

11 | Hard Candy

12 | MDNA

Hard Candy is easily her best album after American Life.

American Life, Miles Away and Take A Bow

 

WAY TOO LOW. I really think "Miles Away" is one of her best. Definitely in my top 10.

Another album that receives too much hate. :( There's some cringy or naff songs like 'Incredible' and 'Spanish Lesson', but there's a lot to make up for it, particularly the three singles. 'She's Not Me', 'Beat Goes On', 'Dance 2Night' and 'Devil Wouldn't Recognise You' are also favourites of mine. I like 'Candy Shop' rhythmically which allows me to overlook some of the cringy lyrics. The "my sugar is raw" chants are a big no no though.

Those chants are EVERYTHING.

I do really like Hard Candy and, to a lesser extent, MDNA personally but they don't have the Madonna magic that many of her other albums do, plus there are admittedly some awful moments from those two eras (especially B-Day song!) so I can see why they're received negatively.

 

Erotica and Bedtime Stories are the two albums I really really don't get but I had a feeling the bottom 2 would be Hard Candy and MDNA so I can't say I'm disappointed.

Am I alone in actually really liking 'B-Day Song'? :lol: It's more ironically liking it as it is admittedly bad, but I just really get into it everytime I hear it!

 

Played it at midnight on my birthday a couple of weeks back in fact. :D

Oh John :( you've upset the natives again.

 

They're all just out to GET ME now that I've finally MADE IT.

 

WOE IS ME

Pleased to see HC only narrowly above. I only return to Give It 2 Me, Devil, Voices and She's Not Me (Tour version) these days. Miles Away is alright I guess and if I'm in it 4 THA LOLZ (lol) then I'm not averse to having a SPIN of Heartbeat and Spanish Lesson (neither of which I would rate less than 7/10 though, if I'm being totally honest with myself and you, my fellow Buzzcitizens)

Really disappointed that Hard Candy finished above MDNA, that really is utterly atrocious.

No surprises there with the bottom two. The only song I listen to regularly from either of them is I f***ed Up, which is quite a special number in my opinion. Obviously should have made the main tracklist.

 

I do also maintain that I Don't Give A is really good fun, catchy, slickly produced and even has a good vocal. It should have been lead single.

Edited August 26, 201412 yr by Jark

Dear Jessie at 65!!!! Take A Bow not in the 40!! Deeper And Deeper to!!

 

Pah!

 

3 classics, I'm going to sulk at not having time to vote now... :lol:

'Miles Away' is the only song so far that I really wish was higher. Although 'Masterpiece' deserves that too I guess.

 

'Hard Candy' is a shit album but it had good singles. Well, I don't like '4 Minutes' but I can appreciate it for the big hit that it was. 'Miles Away' and 'Give It to Me' are REALLY good. The latter not being on the 'Celebration' album is unforgivable and ultimately the reason why I did not purchase it.

Disappointed that Human Nature just missed out on the top 40, that's one that grows with age for me and it's certainly one of the (sparse) highlights on Bedtime Stories.

 

 

(oh and thanks for the reminder of Devil Wouldn't Recognize You, that's actually not too bad...)

 

Edited August 26, 201412 yr by مدهش*

Strong inside but you don't know it

 

 

| 39 // Who's That Girl // Who's That Girl // 7.03 (3: jakewild, 4: tyler // 10: johnkm, luciano, fgiboy, 9: titty)

 

| 40 // What It Feels Like For A Girl // Music // 7.01 (3: johnkm, 4: niallminogue, omie, gavindeejay // 10: regina, luciano, randomfurlong, 9: casey, riser, oliver, haus, gezza)

 

Back to the singles, and into serious territory now (as if we weren't there before). Just cracking into the top 40 in beautiful style, it's the third and final single to be released from 'Music'. 'What It Feels Like For A Girl' is a deeply touching and warm song, it was praised heavily by critics and became one of the real gems off the album. Perhaps a tad on the cliched side (and even moreso when covered by GLEE), but it remains one of her most important songs and sums up just how essential her messages can be. A music video, directed by then partner Guy Ritchie showed a more aggressive side to the song's message as Madonna became a crime queen and attempted to rule the streets; quite the controversial one again, it was banned by MTV. Remixed aplenty, but ultimately the album version stands the test of time over all the others.

 

And another Madonna Movie Moment, with the first single taken from 'Who's That Girl'. It became Madonna's 6th #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and though it isn't quite as well-remembered now, it was nominated for a Golden Globe and Grammy at the time, further cementing the all-round legacy she was establishing. With Spanish lyrics and instrumentation, this would become a theme she'd play with throughout her career. In the music video, with bold fashion choices, we're presented with a boyish Madonna, a look that would later become a bit of a fashion trend as everyone wanted a piece of the leading lady. Fun, whimsical, and a care-free Madonna.