Promise To Try is my favourite from that bunch, I love how personal, vulnerable and delicate it is. Quite unique among her back catalogue for me.

74. Paradise (Not for Me)

 

 

74!

 

Time to remind everyone just how special this song is

Edited October 11, 20195 yr by blacksquare

Gang Bang is a very worthy choice for top MDNA track. It's EXPLOSIVE and I thought very divisive, so i'm shocked it's done it tbh. All of MDNA out though, what a disaster ~

 

Lucky Star has really grown on me literally in the past FEW DAYS! I have always adored its inclusion and use in the Confessions tour but its coming into its own as the album version for me now too.

 

Erotica is a fantastic title track and introduction to what that era stands for. I can't believe how progressive it was for such a relatively early track in her career.

 

My thoughts on the gorgeous Promise to Try are summed up here:

Promise To Try is my favourite from that bunch, I love how personal, vulnerable and delicate it is. Quite unique among her back catalogue for me.

 

We're gonna swim to the ocean floor

 

 

65. Swim // Ray of Light // 7.846

64. Don't Cry For Me Argentina // Evita // 7.885

63. Justify My Love // (Other 90s) // 7.885 (More 10s)

61. Where's The Party // True Blue // 7.906

61. 4 Minutes // Hard Candy // 7.929

 

Swim drifts away first here. The song was written on the day her friend and fashion designer Gianni Versace was killed in Miami, and it understandably packs a hugely emotional punch. It's a song about making mistakes, sinning, but ultimately moving on with life and washing away the negativity that life brings with it. Rebirth and starting anew, it's a beautifully constructed sound. Don't Cry For Me Argentina was released as the second single of the soundtrack as Madonna took control of the musical number and made it her own. Madonna's desire to play the role of Eva was fully realised with vocal training that allowed her to reach registers she had never previously explored. It terrified her to sing the song live and led her to tears and anxious breakdowns as she tried to aim for perfection. Receiving the same score is the wildly different Justify My Love from her greatest hits compilation. The lead single from The Immaculate Collection, and almost acts as a predecessor for the Erotica era that was to follow; her vocals are more spoken and and whispered as opposed to "sung". It seemed to work for her as it became M's 9th #1 in the US! Where's the Party is one of the more uplifting tracks in Madonna's back catalogue and it represents her desire and strive to enjoy her work and continue partying on when times get hard. It's a lovely message sandwiched inside an already joyous and feel-good album! Finally, the lead single from Hard Candy and Madonna's last #1 in the UK, 4 Minutes took support from Timberlake and Timberland to create an urban sound mixed with bhangra, cowbells, foghorns and a whole array of instruments: it's a riotous cacophony of sounds to bring about the message of changing the world inspired by visits to Africa and wanting to change the injustice she saw. It received Grammy Award nominations and could be considered as the last time she truly hit the mark with the public. Who knows whether that will remain the case in the future?...

 

Madonna: 2/8

Like A Virgin: 1/9

True Blue: 5/9

Like A Prayer: 5/11

Other (80s): 3/10

I'm Breathless: 1/12

Erotica: 2/14

Bedtime Stories: 4/11

Evita: 0/13

Ray of Light: 7/14

Other (90s): 1/12

Music: 6/13

American Life: 3/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 8/15

Hard Candy: 3/13

Other (00s): 1/5

MDNA: 0/16

Rebel Heart: 3/25

Madame X: 5/18

Other (10s): 0/3

 

80s: 16/47

90s: 15/76

00s: 21/57

10s: 8/62

Hollywood SO LOW! :(

Swim is one of many 'stop you in your tracks' beauties on Ray of Light. The lyrical significance is only recently making sense to me and the images it creates of the ocean floor being a place where your sins are washed away / what happens to you once you die.. chilling!

 

Justify My Love - been getting into this a lot more recently, as i've been playing The Immaculate Collection a fair bit.

 

Where's The Party - not a unique or totally standout song but a joyous one and always makes me groove when listening to the album.

 

4 Minutes - I remember being FREAKED OUT by the music video to this. It has stood the test of time though and it's still pretty striking when I hear it.

Interesting set of results!

 

I flip a bit on Swim, sometimes I enjoy it but other times I find it washes over me a bit - possibly because it's situated between two of my absolute favourite Madonna songs on the album and I think they would make a better 1-2 opening.

 

Don't Cry For Me Argentina is okay. At the time I used to quite like the dance mix with the flamenco vibe, it sounds quite tacky in retrospect though.

 

Justify My Love is absolutely amazing. It used to be the one track I'd skip on The Immaculate Collection (or fast forward through as I had it on cassette!) but that was more to me not appreciating it at a young age. Now I think it is far and away her best example of that type of track and I can see it for the brave move it was at the time. Definitely the highlight of this section for me.

 

Where's the Party is okay - it's fun enough in a typically throwaway 80s Madonna kinda way.

 

4 Minutes - another I flip on. I often think I don't care for it much but then it never sounds as bad as I remember it being when I listen to it.

 

 

Swim was initially my fav song on ROL , a video would have been amazing .

 

Love all the songs on the list .

Every track on Ray of Light is stunning in its own right, but I've really been enjoying Swim recently even though it wasn't one of my top favourites. The sounds of the ocean and her humming particularly in the song's closing moments are so soothing; one of those songs that can take you to total peace of mind.

 

Madonna does a great job on Argentina. Not one I revisit often but she sings it with the right conviction, you believe every word.

 

I'm the same as you Dandy regarding Justify My Love, I didn't used to be keen on it either due to being too young to truly appreciate it. A really bold song but very sensual, honest and romantic.

 

Where's the Party is a great slice of fun 80s pop. Really feel good and a great hook.

 

4 Minutes remains one of Madonna's most relevant singles with the general public today. Always goes down a storm with my age group when it's played in town. It is bandwagon jumping but that doesn't stop it from being a well produced, catchy song.

Just watch me burn

 

 

60. I Deserve It // Music // 7.964

59. Let It Will Be // Confessions on a Dancefloor // 8.036

58. Who's That Girl // Other (80s) // 8.063

57. Runaway Lover // Music // 8.071

56. Faz Gostoso (feat. Anitta) // Madame X // 8.077

 

From Music, 'I Deserve It' is a reflective love song, considering how an often lonely and painful journey was necessary to find someone who is completely compatible. The simplicity of the song's production mirrors the honesty and vulnerability of the lyrics, with Madonna's completely unprocessed vocals supported by gentle acoustic strumming, a soft beat and the occasional strange, siren-like synth. Moving into the 8 averages, 'Let It Will Be' hints at a more serious direction on Confessions with its dramatic strings and analysis of fame and success. Madonna has experienced highs and lows, realising fame's instability and the quick turn of media opinion. The love of music should be the main drive of creativity, which is enforced by the increasingly energetic disco tones until the song explodes into a dance extravaganza, a place that Madonna feels most at home. 'Who's That Girl' capitalises on the Hispanic theme explored on preceding single 'La Isla Bonita and, although lesser remembered, it's a delightfully uplifting song with a contagious Spanglish hook. Returning to Music, 'Runaway Lover' is the highest placed of the album's William Orbit tracks. From the moment Madonna sings, the song fires out a relentless, high-octane production, heavily influenced by the trance scene and full of Orbit's notable electronic wizardry. A huge number one in Portugal for Blaya just a year prior, 'Faz Gostoso' sees Madonna team up with Anitta for a very faithful cover. Its infectious, frenetic melody pumps through the track as the two ladies flip between English and Brazilian-Portuguese. It has quickly become one of Madonna's best streaming hits, a commendable feat considering it received no form of promotion.

 

Madonna: 2/8

Like A Virgin: 1/9

True Blue: 5/9

Like A Prayer: 5/11

Other (80s): 2/10

I'm Breathless: 1/12

Erotica: 2/14

Bedtime Stories: 4/11

Evita: 0/13

Ray of Light: 7/14

Other (90s): 1/12

Music: 4/13

American Life: 3/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 7/15

Hard Candy: 3/13

Other (00s): 1/5

MDNA: 0/16

Rebel Heart: 3/25

Madame X: 4/18

Other (10s): 0/3

 

80s: 15/47

90s: 15/76

00s: 18/57

10s: 7/62

Lots of my favorites went out on that one (Let It Will Be, Who's That Girl, Faz Gostoso)

Let It Will Be (paperface) remix is so much better than the album version.

 

Faz Gostoso is a highlight off Madame X.

 

I deserve it is gorgeous. She does the stripped back stuff incredibly well.

 

Who's That Girl is her underrated number 1 hit.

 

 

 

 

I Deserve It is simply incredible. A total moment - I have so much love for it. It's done well here and rightfully so!

 

Let It Will Be is one of many Confessions highlights :wub:

 

Who's That Girl is great - don't return to it too much but always a delight when I do.

 

Runaway Lover - LOVE. Was wondering what would do better out of this and Impressive Instant (two album track stand outs) and glad both have done well. Wonder where Impressive Instant will end up :o

 

Faz Gostoso - screaming to be a single, and one of the biggest ""hits"" off Madame X. A riot *.*

I'm gonna tell you about love

 

 

55. Future Lovers // Confessions on a Dancefloor // 8.107

54. Human Nature // Bedtime Story // 8.154

53. Medellín // Madame X // 8.192

52. What It Feels Like For A Girl // Music // 8.214

51. Intervention // American Life // 8.214

 

Opening the Confessions Tour, and for me, the ultimate opening to an era, Future Lovers as the name suggests, is a futuristic, forward thinking song setting the scene for what is to be an era of love, change and the future. On the album it appears after the three big singles from the era and it completely shifts the pace and tone. Inspired by Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love' the song expresses a strong mission and vision of love and ecstasy. Secondly, Human Nature, which was the final single from Bedtime Stories drops out. The song attacked and provoked critics that came for Madonna's image and sexuality at the time. The lead single from M's latest album, Medellín featuring Maluma is out. The song takes Latin-pop vibes with huge chemistry from the pair to open the era with a bang. It was performed at the 2019 Billboard Awards but sadly didn't set the world alight. The video features toe licking ;o ~ What It Feels Like For A Girl was the final single from Music and came with a complete remixed version for the video release. It addresses issues of femininity and female inferiority while in turn empowering females and showcasing Madonna's triumphant desire to stand strong as a female in a male dominated world. Finally, one of the quietest and slowest moments on an otherwise brash album, Intervention slows everything down to explore her love for Ritchie. Incredibly reflective and almost mournful, the song is a tender yet hopeful beauty.

 

Madonna: 2/8

Like A Virgin: 1/9

True Blue: 5/9

Like A Prayer: 5/11

Other (80s): 2/10

I'm Breathless: 1/12

Erotica: 2/14

Bedtime Stories: 3/11

Evita: 0/13

Ray of Light: 7/14

Other (90s): 1/12

Music: 3/13

American Life: 2/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 6/15

Hard Candy: 3/13

Other (00s): 1/5

MDNA: 0/16

Rebel Heart: 3/25

Madame X: 3/18

Other (10s): 0/3

 

80s: 15/47

90s: 14/76

00s: 15/57

10s: 6/62

Let It Will Be (paperface) remix is so much better than the album version.

I love the original but the Paper Faces remix from the tour is fire and I love how bat-shit crazy she goes with her dancing!

 

'I Deserve It' is a real beauty. The ballads/down-tempos from the Mirwais era represent some of the very best of Madonna's back catalogue, in fact. I love how the song doesn't seem to say much yet we feel like we know her journey; we feel her pain, we feel her loneliness, and then we understand the relief and fulfillment of finding someone. That closing line of "and I thank you" followed by the outro of swirling siren synths is gorgeous. I should have given it a 10.

Two great sections there - although I'd expect to be getting towards sections like that now.

 

Intervention is definitely my pick of the bunch, my favourite thing on American Life :wub:

 

Faz Gostoso is definitely a highlight from Madame X, should probably be pushed as a single really given it's more modern appeal. Agree with the love for I Deserve It also :wub:

Faz Gostoso and Medellín way too high

 

Hard Candy I think will be the next studio album to lose every track.

 

So many tracks I love leaving now though. Pretty much every era bar MDNA and Rebel Heart I had so many album tracks what I adored many of which have recently left.

 

Intervention beats any American Life single and I’ve always loved I Deserve It and Runaway Lover.

Can’t argue with those pleadings

 

Medellin is a slow burner but then becomes so hypnotic . It takes so long to build which turned people off the song initially.

 

Human Nature is a classic for me , I’m surprised it’s not higher.

 

Intervention is very pleasant , I have always preferred easy Ride and x static process tho.

 

'Future Lovers' as a tour opener was such a spectacle. I love the Donna Summer influence and I like how the spoken verses introduces us to the heart of the album following the 1-2-3 punch of its opening songs.

 

Surprised that 'Human Nature' and 'What It Feels Like for a Girl' appear this high but it's a pleasure to see. I love how 'Human Nature' pokes fun at the critics in true Madonna fashion, a lot of humour and so many hooks! 'What It Feels Like for a Girl' embraces femininity with its soft and sweet composition and calls for understanding in such an honest, human way.

 

'Intervention' really secured its place as one of my favourites after Madonna performed it on the Tears of a Clown mini-tour and dedicated it to her son, Rocco. That's the meaning that I take away from the song now and it gives it greater impact - I may not be a parent but I believe everything that Madonna sings.

 

A nice start for 'Medellín'. It was so refreshing to hear something that took its time to settle instead of instantly accessible. Not to say accessible is bad, of course, but it was starting to be synonymous with predictable when it came to Madonna's music. It's hypnotic, it's sultry, it's escapist in the way 'La Isla Bonita' is and was the perfect introduction to the themes of the album and era.

Intervention is my favourite there :wub:

 

Quite shocked at how well Human Nature (and to a lesser extent WIFLFAG) have done). Neither are essential for me.