Same here! Seems to be regarded as one of the album's best elsewhere too so I think its placing is deserved.

 

Easy Ride is one of my favourite album closers.

 

Mine too.

 

The chopped strings at the end with that Mirwais synth. Incredible.

This rate is making me want to re-do my favourite Madge tracks thread for 2019... I'm not sure what the list would look like now but I think there would definitely be some notable changes.

This rate is making me want to re-do my favourite Madge tracks thread for 2019... I'm not sure what the list would look like now but I think there would definitely be some notable changes.

Do it! Would be great to see that, possibly once these results are finished?

Trip the station, change the channel

 

 

80. I'm Addicted // MDNA // 7.615 (more 10s)

79. Burning Up // Madonna // 7.625

78. Hollywood // American Life // 7.679

77. Angel // Like a Virgin // 7.688

76. Like a Virgin // Like a Virgin // 7.688 (more 10s)

 

Down to just one song standing, MDNA loses 'I'm Addicted', a bubbling electro throbber that compares infatuation to narcotic addiction. Benny Benassi's production injects layers of euphoric swirls, bleeps and crashes as the song reaches a frenzied and intense climax where Madonna chants "M-D-M-A". 'Burning Up' gives Madonna's early post-disco sound a rockier edge with electric guitar riffs crashing over the beat. Madonna's fiery attitude and passion matches the punk vibe and was an early indication she would be a formidable force in the music world. In her quest to hold a mirror up to the reality of American culture, Madonna turns her attention to the film industry's capital on 'Hollywood', pinpointing it as a place of greed and illusion. The sweet guitar picking and girly vocals reflect this supposed perfection, before manipulated vocals and a shift in key indicate that all is not as it seems. A double drop out for Like a Virgin now - in fact, both songs scored the same average. 'Angel' is giggly and cute, an ode to a heavenly love and a light introduction to Madonna using religious imagery in her work. It's usually overshadowed by more memorable moments from the album, so it's perhaps a surprise to see one of Madonna's most iconic songs leave next. Title track and lead single 'Like a Virgin' is an expression of being introduced to something for the first time, but it's obvious sexual connotations are what define the song. It contains one of the most notable hooks in pop music which, along with its 'Billie Jean'-esque bassline and sped-up vocals, has reinforced it as one of Madonna's most recognised hits.

 

Madonna: 3/8

Like A Virgin: 2/9

True Blue: 6/9

Like A Prayer: 6/11

Other (80s): 3/10

I'm Breathless: 1/12

Erotica: 4/14

Bedtime Stories: 4/11

Evita: 1/13

Ray of Light: 8/14

Other (90s): 4/12

Music: 7/13

American Life: 3/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 9/15

Hard Candy: 4/13

Other (00s): 1/5

MDNA: 1/16

Rebel Heart: 3/25

Madame X: 5/18

Other (10s): 0/3

 

80s: 20/47

90s: 22/76

00s: 24/57

10s: 9/62

I'm Addicted has done brilliantly... but I'm going to put my neck out there and say for me, it's still too low :kink: what a crazed triumphant song and would have been the perfect way to open the MDNA era! The album only has one track left now :drama:

 

Like A Virgin I expected much higher up, oops!

This rate is making me want to re-do my favourite Madge tracks thread for 2019... I'm not sure what the list would look like now but I think there would definitely be some notable changes.

I too would be interested in seeing your list revisited! Loved your commentary last time and how you incorporated your personal experiences and memories.

shocking to see Like A Virgin that low :o

 

 

I'm Addicted has done brilliantly... but I'm going to put my neck out there and say for me, it's still too low :kink: what a crazed triumphant song and would have been the perfect way to open the MDNA era! The album only has one track left now :drama:

 

Like A Virgin I expected much higher up, oops!

It's definitely my favourite from the album! I think I dropped it from an 9/10 to an 8/10 but that was due to the poor mixing/mastering (the vocal needs to be louder and I'd have liked to hear a more Madonna and less vocal effect) although to be fair it doesn't effect my enjoyment too much, not like how it impacts some other songs from the album. Certainly the best pick for lead single as it represents one half of the album the best and would sound absolutely killer on the dancefloor.

 

'Like a Virgin' is a difficult one for me as I do think it's super catchy and a lot of fun, but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it. I've heard it on a few nights out and it does go down a storm. In a way I think it being one of her most signature songs is a bit detrimental as non-fans think this is all Madonna is about and all this fantastic music that she has created just goes unnoticed.

Like A Virgin is a shock to see that low.

 

But for me it’s not one of my favourites from her mega hits.

 

It’s kinda like her Just Dance to me.

 

One of her first real mega smashes but something she’s went on to top many many times since.

 

I’m always shocked at it not being a UK #1 though it feels so much bigger than some of her tracks that went there.

'Like a Virgin' was unfortunate to be released in a particularly competitive Christmas period. The week it entered the Top 5, Band Aid and 'Last Christmas' both debuted Top 2 and held the Top 2 until its last week in the Top 5, when they both dropped a place to make room for 'I Want to Know What Love Is' to climb to #1. Paul McCartney's 'We All Stand Together' peaked at #3 for a number of weeks which prevented 'Like a Virgin' from receiving its #3 peak earlier.

 

According to estimates, it did sell over 100k for two weeks over Christmas.

One of the most unlucky songs she's done then. Both in terms of chart success and Buzzjack (may we never mention AF idol again :kink:)!

Burning Up and Angel to low.

 

LAV seems to be a fav from public, not from die hard fans.

One of the most unlucky songs she's done then. Both in terms of chart success and Buzzjack (may we never mention AF idol again :kink:)!

Losing out just before we sent the big guns will forever pain me! :cry:

I travel in stillness and I'll remember happiness

 

 

75. You'll See // Other (90s) // 7.692

74. Paradise (Not for Me) // Music // 7.714

73. Dress You Up // Like A Virgin // 7.750

71. I'll Remember // Other (90s) // 7.769

71. Bad Girl // Erotica // 7.769

 

First up, it's the lead single from Madonna's ballad compilation album. An album that was meant to tone down the extreme image of the artist, this song perfectly shows the sensual and subdued side to her. You'll See was a commercial success and was helped by a music video that acted as a sequel to the Take A Bow video. Next, quite surprisingly for me, it's one of the strangest songs on an already strange album. Paradise (Not for Me) was the first collaboration of Madonna and Mirwais and initially was recorded for his album, but later was added to Music too. It is a very self-reflective song about how one's past lasts forever despite being a different person now. It merges all sorts of sounds and styles and languages and vocal arrangements to provide an all-round warped listening experience. Dress You Up in contrast is early Madonna by numbers; a joyous song about the fun of dressing up and the passion that comes with doing so. It was the album's final single and was also the final song to be included on the album's tracklisting! I'll Remember is another song that was made to lessen the controversial media surrounding Madonna, and is another soaring ballad. It was nominated for a Grammy Award and Golden Globe and became another huge hit for her. And finally a song that helped to create some of the controversy, from Erotica it's Bad Girl. The third single from the album it's a song about being sorrowful and having a life spirally out of control due to a lost love. The David Fincher directed video is a cinematic feast of lust, betrayal and death.

 

Madonna: 3/8

Like A Virgin: 1/9

True Blue: 6/9

Like A Prayer: 6/11

Other (80s): 3/10

I'm Breathless: 1/12

Erotica: 3/14

Bedtime Stories: 4/11

Evita: 1/13

Ray of Light: 8/14

Other (90s): 2/12

Music: 6/13

American Life: 3/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 9/15

Hard Candy: 4/13

Other (00s): 0/5

MDNA: 1/16

Rebel Heart: 3/25

Madame X: 5/18

Other (10s): 0/3

 

80s: 19/47

90s: 19/76

00s: 23/57

10s: 9/62

Oh no You'll See to low too :angry: :cry:

I'm fond of all of those 5 to differing degrees. Not a bad result for any of them really, they're very strong but rarely cited among fans as complete faves - although Paradise has a cult following I think (including me!)

 

Pleased to see Hollywood out as I often think that's overrated, the least interesting thing about American Life for me. Like a Virgin has gone earlier than I expected but I'm not disappointed, for me it isn't a million miles away from some of the stuff on I'm Breathless that people don't care for!

You’ll See has won polls / games on this forum. I am surprised to see it that low.

 

Dress You Up deserves more love and Paradise .

I'd like to put you in a trance

 

 

70. Gang Bang // MDNA // 7.769 (more 10s)

69. How High // Confessions on a Dancefloor // 7.786

68. Promise To Try // Like A Prayer // 7.813

67. Lucky Star // Madonna // 7.844

66. Erotica // Erotica // 7.846

 

MDNA is the first album to lose all its tracks as the most experimental and shocking moment departs. 'Gang Bang' is a twisted, fierce tale of a woman seeking revenge on her lover. An aggressive, pounding bassline thumps through the track whilst William Orbit plants industrial beats, piercing electronic sounds and an array of sound effects to build a cinematic soundscape. Madonna's vocal is deceptively calm until a crashing dub-step breakdown triggers an increasingly frustrated tone until she's dementedly screaming for death. Madonna cites Tarantino as the song's inspiration, even approaching him to shoot a video, although he unfortunately declined. On 'How High', Madonna questions fame and fortune, reflecting on how it was such a driving force in her early career but wonders about its importance and longevity. 'Promise To Try' sees Madonna engage with her five-year-old self in attempt to deal with the grief she still feels from her mother's death. It's such a raw, personal insight into Madonna's mind and her fragile vocal cuts straight to the heart. Patrick Leonard's piano and string arrangement really captures the weight and emotion of the song sensitively and respectfully. Returning to happy moments, 'Lucky Star' is the first song heard on Madonna's debut and the introductory exuberant rush of synth immediately gets the senses tingling. With it's catchy hooks and fun, funky production, the song set a blueprint for future Madonna hits to follow. Closing this section is 'Erotica', the lead to one of Madonna's most provocative but innovative of eras. Madonna adopts the alter-ego of Mistress Dita and delivers an alluring, bold ode to S&M, backed by hypnotic, grubby club beats. It calls attention to and celebrates female sexuality and sexual fantasies, something that Madonna would continue to advocate in the years that followed.

 

Madonna: 2/8

Like A Virgin: 1/9

True Blue: 6/9

Like A Prayer: 5/11

Other (80s): 3/10

I'm Breathless: 1/12

Erotica: 2/14

Bedtime Stories: 4/11

Evita: 1/13

Ray of Light: 8/14

Other (90s): 2/12

Music: 6/13

American Life: 3/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 8/15

Hard Candy: 4/13

Other (00s): 1/5

MDNA: 0/16

Rebel Heart: 3/25

Madame X: 5/18

Other (10s): 0/3

 

80s: 17/47

90s: 18/76

00s: 22/57

10s: 8/62

'You'll See' does a great job at softening Madonna's image but still offering something exciting in terms of style and tone (it's not just dull, radio-fodder). I like the dramatic Spanish-tinged production and how you can notice the effects of her vocal coaching lessons whilst still keeping that distinct, yearning tone in tact. Always forget how good this is.

 

'Bad Girl' has been a favourite of mine even before I learned to love its parent album. The music video is a hidden gem in her videography.

 

I prefer 'I'm Addicted' but 'Gang Bang' is a great choice for top MDNA track. I remember at the time being surprised by how much bolder and different it was to the rest of the album and wondered why nothing else was quite as out there. Definitely should have had a video, a shame Tarantino declined but they could easily have found someone else.

 

'Promise to Try' is stop-in-your-tracks stunning. I should have given this a 10 actually. It's Madonna at her most frank and Leonard's production is faultless, really capturing the mood perfectly.

 

FYI, 'How High' was the one song in the Top 90 not to receive a 10, although it received two 9s, including one from myself. I'd have given it a 10 but I was trying not to go too overboard with my love for the Confessions album!

 

I'm really like everything that's departing the countdown now! Those averages are really strong.

No surprise that MDNA is the first song to lose every track .

 

I still love Gang Bang ! If only it was a single !!!!

 

All songs are killer now !!