f***ing amazing that Celebration snuck top 30. What. A. BANGER.

Yeah we all know your one had a fair few :rolleyes:

 

Excuse you. Apart from the 6.5 for Hung Up, there's nothing controversial about my rate.

 

 

More results coming today, and predictions on what will just fall short of the top 20?

I disagree that 4 minutes was her last big hit , I guess it was her last smash !! What an amazing intro video and concept !!!!

 

Give it 2 Me is amazing the performance on the sticky and sweet tour is one of her best ever. The video and radio version did the song no favours !! All my for ends who dislike Madonna usually comment that they like this track !!

 

Celebration - justifies its position

 

DW - amazing song I'm glad so many people here appreciate its sincerity and beauty !

You'll See probably underperformed !

Celebration was #14 when we did this last time so it's taken a bit of a tumble. Was probably too high last time but I still think it sounds as good as it did a couple of years ago.

I'd say 27th is more reflective of it's actual place in her OUVRE. It's definitely a latter day Madonna SMASH, but obviously compared with about 70% of her pre-Confessions output it starts to look even more basic than it actually is. Not that basic and fun is always bad of course, I mean the LAUGH alone merits an 8.

Just try to understand, I've given all I can

 

 

21. Jump // Confessions on the Dancefloor // 8.344 (6: harryflynn0908 6.5: Jay , 360Jupiter // 11: HausofKubrick 10: ♦ ketalina ♦ , Mango, mr_pmt, Jark , Liamk97)

22. Borderline // Madonna // 8.29 (3: jakewild 5: Griff ,River lea // 11: HausofKubrick, SamJudd , 10: Joe., Vibe, dandy*, Mango, Bjork, Qween, Ultraviolence )

23. Die Another Day // 8.22 (5: Joe., 6: harryflynn0908 // 10: River lea, SamJudd, jakewild, Mango, Bjork, Ultraviolence)

24. Oh Father // Like A Prayer // 8.11 (5: harryflynn0908 6: Jark, 360Jupiter, Kylie Jackson , // 11: Vibe , HausofKubrick, Alejandjob 10: dandy*, jakewild, Mango , Qween , Liamk97 )

25. Beautiful Stranger // 8.03 ( 1: River lea 5: harryflynn0908 // 11: mr_pmt, 10: SamJudd , Mango, jakewild, Kylie Jackson , Maurice , Ultraviolence , Jark)

 

 

'Beautiful Stranger' was a stand alone single written for the film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. I remember loving the silly Mike Myers video for this back in the day, but these days, I find it cheapens a song which has aged a lot better than the film its self (a common trend for Madonna with her soundtrack songs outlasting their films), though still a bit of a comedy classic. This came between the Ray of Light and Music eras, when Madonna was again at one of her highest highs commercially. This is still a pleasant listen, but I really wouldn't go back to it the way I might for so much other 90s Madonna, and I think being #25 in the rate might be stretching it a bit.

 

It only really struck me upon writing the commentary for this rate, just how many strong ballads Madonna has. Madonna isn't someone people would immediately think of as a ballad singer, because of the sheer quantity of pop bangers she's put out over the decades, but she really does have quite a talent for emotional storytelling and this is no exception. 'Oh Father' is the poignant fourth single from Like a Prayer which tells us of the complicated relationship with her father. It's a very personal song and something you can really feel in every lyric, which is then lifted by a beautiful orchestral instrumental. 'Oh Father' wasn't as successful as the other singles off of Like a Prayer, spending just 3 weeks in the top 40 here in the UK, but it did receive wide critical acclaim and is remembered fondly still today.

 

Climbing one place since the last Madonna rate is 'Die Another Day', which I would probably say was my least favourite song in this batch, but listening back on this now, it really isn't as bad as I remember. 'Die Another Day' was a decent sized hit around the world and when compared to other Bond songs it's quite an interesting and experimental take on a Bond song, something that a lot of artists played it a little too safe with.

 

In at #22 is one of my all time favourites, and the true highlight from Madonna's debut album. I'd have love to have seen this sneak into the top 20, but at least 'Borderline' succeeds in being the highest rated single from Madonna (the album, not the artist obviously). 'Borderline' is a huge sing-a-long anthem at that was Madonna's second big hit in the US but only managed a decent peak in the UK (#2) when it was re-released in 1986. What I really love about this single is the complexity of the melodies and structure; When you compare it to 'Holiday', which is comparatively quite simple and repetitive, 'Borderline' really takes you on more of a journey. And though this sounds like an uplifting pop song at first beat, there is a longing in Madonna's vocals which make it something I always go back to. 'Borderline' had loads of fans here on Buzzjack, but was brought down by Griff, Jakewild and a couple others' low scores.

 

Just outside the top 20 is the fourth and final single from Confessions, and personally, my favourite 'Jump', which is the first from that album to fall out of the rate. Though I still find this song quite simplistic (for Madonna, at least), there is something empowering and euphoric about the chorus that I find quite irresistible. I still remember fondly how pleased I was that this made the top 10 (#9) after predicting it not to have done so. The video was shot in Tokyo, where Madge sports a blonde bob weave, dressed in leather. Not my favourite video from this era, but it's still fun and vibrant.

 

Okay SERIOUSLY, Jump is not the worst Confessions single. It's second behind Sorry for me. Does not deserve to be out before Get Together or Hung Up (but I guess that's coming for a top 3 finish)

I'd rank it third, ahead of Get Together but comfortably behind both Sorry and Hung Up. It's an excellent song though and I even really like the video, remember the days when she put more effort into a fourth single video than an ENTIRE CAMPAIGN?

Jump is my fav Confessions single, so booooo at it coming last here. Still, amazingly high for all the singles off that album!

Will do a full post later but 'Jump' is also my favourite Confessions single.

 

ALSO MY 3 11s DROPPING OUT IN ONE FELL SWOOP JUST BEFORE THE TOP 20 :///// Fuming.

Ouch, that's BAD. I think that is about as high as I'd ever have expected for them though, especially Oh Father an Borderline (even if both should probably be about top 15)

Catching up, 'Dress You Up' and 'Beautiful Stranger' finished too low.

Surprised by how well Die Another Day has done ! I never choose to play this track but really enjoy it when I do!

 

Borderline - you commented that griff bought this down ! He bought down every single 80's track !

 

Beautiful Stranger - once held the record for the song most played on uk radio ever! Would have liked to have seen this in the top 20

 

Oh Father has performed well but I would rate it in my top 10!

 

Jump for me is the weakest out of the confessions singles . The tour performance was incredible but the video was dire !!

Yeah so my 3 11s out and all missing the top 20 </3

 

Oh Father I have always admired but it's recently hit me as being her best ballad period. A glorious, heartfelt (and heartbreaking) song sung with such raw emotion and pain. Lyrically it's totally relatable and I feel it'd be a song that follows me throughout my life and will always make me cry or well up. A true stunner.

 

Borderline is my favourite early Madonna song, it's joyous and up-lifting and again beautifully sung. A clear highlight off the first album, it's the song that showed she had true potential as an artist with things to SAY. I love the message of it, the images it conjures up and the feels it gives me whenever I hear it.

 

Finally JUMP. I went through a long time where it was my favourite Madonna song OF ALL. It is still up there but my top few change often now. It's simple but effective - no tricks or gimmicks just an incredible fun pop song with lovely sentiments. The music video IS crap, the song really deserved better but I agree the live performance at The Confessions Tour is amazing "thank you for coming *.*". Love the song to pieces and really gutted it's missed the top 20 but we are in CLASSIC region now so I won't begrudge it.

 

At least Deeper and Deeper is still in ~

All this talk about Celebration brings me to an excuse to ask if anyone has the extended version from the time of release? I used to have it but have swapped laptops and it's now conspicuously absent ~ it was only about 30-45 seconds longer or so but it was just that bit better than the normal single version.

Of the Benny Benassi mix? With the extended intro and outro?

No, it was an extended version of the normal version.

 

I can't find it on youtube or anything to show you but it definitely existed...

I've checked on all the EPs available for the single worldwide and can't seem to find an extended original version :unsure: If it exists and is found, would be good to share on here!

Love Die Another Day and Beautiful Stranger, would probably have both around there!

 

Wish 4 Minutes and Give It 2 Me were a bit higher, love both so much :heart: