That rap kills every single career in the game.

Nicki and Iggy cud neva.

Iggy literally could never.

I've never been afraid to cry

 

 

46. Secret 6.95

47. Miles Away 6.948

48. What It Feels Like For A Girl 6.89

49. Causing A Commotion 6.87

50. I'll Remember 6.83

 

 

As we crack the top 50 we lose I'll Remember the wistful ballad taken from the soundtrack to 'With Honors'. It came as a marked change from the over-sexualised erotic sounds that saturated the album before it and showed that she was still the tender woman that the world initially fell in love with. A critical success scoring multiple high-profile award nominations and even a commercial success peaking very well across the globe. In the androgynous, gender blurring music video, Madonna showcased the beauty of the song and the richness of its message in exquisite style.

 

Causing A Commotion turns up the sound somewhat and as the title suggests it's a raucous, fun song with cheeky lyrics and vocals. Another soundtrack single and while not as well appreciated as the former song it was still a middling hit and perfectly represents the joyous vibes of the era.

 

Onto her studio album tracks now, firstly the pretty divisive What It Feels Like For A Girl a song that I myself have gone through varying emotions with. The message is clear, as the opening monologue from Charlotte Gainsbourg tells of the disparity between the genders and the inequality that exists. The song is a simple one with a very definite ballad sound and it plods along while shining in its simplicity. The music video features M literally causing a commotion and wreaking havoc and did set the controversial alarms ringing as people critisised the blatant violence and anarchy it apparently promoted.

 

The first single to fall out from 'Hard Candy' is the final single off it, Miles Away. Very Justin Timberlake in sound, it tells of long-distance love and the desire to close the gap in one of these. I adore the song, it's a beautiful, powerful plea for love and retribution and a longing to be closer to the one you love. A bit of a commercial flop, it seemed the general public did not agree and neither did you guys as it fails to make the higher echelons of the countdown. Madonna claims the song addresses the global consciousness of people who have intimacy problems and I think if you bring the song closer to you, you can really appreciate the message of it.

 

Finally in this segment we have Secret a song that I often see getting love, but it does seem to blend into the background and can be overshadowed by her more in-your-face moments. A top 10 hit around the world, everyone was ready to hear the sultry, seductive secrets of M as she spilled it all within her bedtime stories. A beautiful song, one of wonder and intrigue and one that leaves you wanting more with every listen. The elusiveness of the lyrics are matched with the mysterious vocals and the steady beat.

Did not expect WIFLFAG to be that low :o

Causing A Commotion caused quite the controversy when counting the results, as it was showing up as having won, and I/we couldn't work out how/why. Quite the shock. Turns out John liked it so much he'd given it a 97.5 as its score. :rofl:

 

What It Feels Like For a Girl is lovely, so under-appreciated. I love the way she sings 'when you open up your mouth, could you be a little weak?' I also enjoy hearing Charlotte Gainsbourg on the opening.

Causing A Commotion caused quite the controversy when counting the results, as it was showing up as having won, and I/we couldn't work out how/why. Quite the shock. Turns out John liked it so much he'd given it a 97.5 as its score. :rofl:

You could say it... CAUSED A COMMOTION in the results :rofl:

Miles Away is fantastic so glad it made the top 50 :wub:

'Secret' is a nice song, but the dance remix of it is a lot better for me.

 

Similar with 'What It Feels Like...', the Above & Beyond remix used in the video transforms it from something average to something remarkable.

 

I'd have loved to see the reaction to 'Causing A Commotion' winning the thing. :lol: A nice basic little ditty.

Interesting that secret , miles away and WIFLFAG are grouped together . These songs certainty have a similar feel .

 

Can we start having the highest lowest rates yet ?

 

An update of what singles are left of each album would be cool too. Or at least in figures :)

Are u sure you've added the scores for American Life correctly 🙈

Can we start having the highest lowest rates yet ?

 

An update of what singles are left of each album would be cool too. Or at least in figures :)

We'll be doing both of these as we start the top 40 :D So just one more reveal to go ~

WIFLFAG is waaay too high, but I'm pleased it ended up that low at the same time. It's honestly in my Madonna bottom 10, or at least very close to it, these days there's SO MUCH CRAP that it kind of moved up by virtue of least not being utterly musically OBTUSE. The intro is awful and always set me on edge and then the basic, plodding production combined with a basic melody and vocal line just adds up to a big fat nothing. I appreciate it lyrically of course, but when everything else is so weak that isn't enough.

Some great songs here =

 

I'll Remember = So lovely and beautiful, really touching also and will always fondly remember this one.

 

Causing A Commotion = A fun 80's Madonna track, always liked this one, sure it's not one of her greatest moments but when I often listen to 80's Madonna and this comes on shuffle, it always puts a smile on my face.

 

What It Feels Like For A Girl = Upon the album's release, funnily enough this was one of the tracks that I'd picked as a single and was right, I loved the video to it and it's a decent tune.

 

Miles Away = Honestly never that keen on this one, always thought that there were better songs on the album than this, and plus the lazy concert performance music video, just killed all momentum for me. Just find the song very bland and not very memorable at all. Plus why this made 'Celebration' over 'Give It 2 Me' always angers me to this day.

 

Secret = When I was a kid, I wasn't keen on this, but when I grew up I started seeing the beauty and wonder of it, one of her most sombre moments, her vocals sound fantastic here, and in all the track is just very laid back and soothing.

I agree Sam 'give it to me' not making Celebration was a very odd decision !!!

I'd kinda love an American Life win.

I'll Remember is growing on me a fair bit with this rate. It's one of a few songs that i've started to connect with a lot more. Her vocals and the production are divine :heart:

Caught up with this and omg true blue this low one of my made faves :cry:

I'm not religious, but I feel so moved

 

 

41. Cherish 7.24

42. Take a Bow 7.22

43. American Pie 7.13

44. Nothing Fails 7.1

45. Rain 7.06

 

We're just outside the Top 40 and already the averages have hit the "good" mark of 7. Rain is the first of the bunch and I'm running out of new things to say about it, given this is the third commentary this year I've written for it, so I'll just reword what I've previously commented! From an album of such bold moments, you'd be forgiven for assuming this much more tender song would be overlooked, but in fact it glistens magnificently, largely down to it being perhaps, both production-wise and vocally, the most melodic track on the album. Madonna uses the rain imagery as a metaphor of a partner's love being able to wash away your past sorrows and learn the true meaning of love. The video is equally as gorgeous and hugely aesthetically pleasing but, I'm sorry Haus, I'm saving the video slot for another song...

 

Nothing Fails is the single that never was for the UK, despite getting a release in many other countries around the world. A shame really, as I think this could have potentially been the song to turn the era around given it is a lot more easy on the ear than the preceding two singles. That said, I do have a very slight love/hate relationship with this song: the melody is gorgeous with just that repeated acoustic guitar and the aid of a cello but, come the latter part, I find the gospel choir quite off-putting because it's too loud and abrupt which effects the mood the song is going for. Still, I cannot deny the song is rich with beautiful lyrics, most notably the quite mysterious "I'm not religious, but I feel so moved" which could be applied to many experiences.

 

Some deem it the worst cover ever (although I think that is more to do with how much they love the original rather than think this version of the song is bad per say), but American Pie has its strong fans here. It has a much more easy-going vibe thanks to Madonna's softer vocals and William Orbit's dreamy production, which does mean it loses its original sentiment, but I feel it possibly leaves room for new meaning to emerge because, for instance, the lyric "I knew that if I had my chance/I could make those people dance/and maybe they'd be happy for a while" seems rather apt to Madonna's career beginnings.

 

I'm gutted that all singles from Bedtime Stories have gone now, but it's pleasing to know Take a Bow has been placed as the best from said album. This is a song I've been able to appreciate much more with age and it has pretty much secured itself as one of my favourites. Madonna's deeper vocals finds their soulmate in Babyfaces' elegant production as she sings in the style of a monologue, easing into the conversation with her lover that will allow him the chance to finally be honest with his feelings. She compares him to an actor who knows exactly the right things to say and do to deliver a convincing performance, when in fact there's little belief in these words/actions. This enables both song creators to show off some deeply poignant, poetic lyrics which just leaves you clinging onto every word. Not forgetting to mention the music video, which is as artistic as the song it supports and highlights how stunning Madonna really is (that 'Justify My Love'-esque bed scene omg *.*).

 

Ending on a lively note is one of the happiest-clappiest songs of Madonna's back catalogue. Cherish reveals Madonna's absolute devotion and unconditional love towards her partner, suggesting it is best suited to the True Blue album than Like a Prayer, but it gives us a much needed moment of pure pop fun on the latter album and it's nice to remember that Madonna can deliver the goods without the need of any deep meanings.

Nothing Fails far too low, these results are so f***ed up.