I don't even know where to begin with all of these results — I feel like I have missed a lot.

 

I keep wanting to call everything underrated, but then more and more songs appear and I realise just how strong her catalogue really is. I would be really interested to see how everyone would rank their favourites at the end.

'Devil Pray' has long been a Rebel Heart fave for me - like you Bal, it was one I instantly took to when the first handful of songs were released in December 2014. I think I actually preferred it to 'Living for Love', which at that point we knew would be the lead single. I love how it takes a current trend but feels authentic to Madonna, perhaps helped by Madonna already exploring this sort of sound on Music. Definitely should have been a single, just imagine the video!

 

'Crazy for You' might be quite simple compared to Madonna ballads since and be very 80s-based in its sound, but it remains one of my favourites. You just can't teach that passionate, yearning tone. It's a heart-warming song and I believe every word.

 

'Isaac' is my favourite Confessions album track. What a journey! :wub: That moment where the production intensifies, abruptly cuts and then drops - love it!

 

'Bedtime Story' is such a curveball on its parent album yet somehow it works. I think 'Sanctuary' eases us into the sounds present on the song and the lyrics fit under the album's overall theme of "late night thoughts and feelings" where sometimes we'll get overly deep and meaningful. It's a song that has taken a long time to grow but I'm definitely a fan now.

 

'Holiday' is such a feel-good classic. I feel like Madonna has exhausted it as a tour closer but, in studio form, it remains pure joy.

 

I keep wanting to call everything underrated, but then more and more songs appear and I realise just how strong her catalogue really is. I would be really interested to see how everyone would rank their favourites at the end.

Same! Everything now is receiving huge averages though and 90% of the Top 100 received 10s by at least one member.

Devil Pray really should have got the single treatment . I don’t know anyone who dislikes it.

 

Crazy For You is a classic . At a minimum it deserves top 20. This is my fav song ever.

 

Isaac and BS are way to high !!! I do like both tho.

 

Holiday is iconic and classic but as a crazy fan I've overplayed it for years so not one of my faves now. Holiday has always rocked live (apart from the RH performance)

 

Could we maybe make the batches of songs smaller on the reveals ? It would make the comments more interesting (maybe).

 

Interesting that Devil Pray is the second highest from Rebel Heart - a missed single opportunity, perhaps? It's probably in my top 5 of the album. I can't say for sure, I'm still not a point where I've got to grips with this album as a whole (bear in mind that I didn't hear it in full until this year)... 25 tracks is just a lot to process!

 

Aww, Crazy for You is far too low for my liking. :( It's one of my ultimate favourites, it really hits me in the feels each and every time I listen to it. I just love how emotive she sounds on it! Such a classic.

 

Isaac is certainly a highlight on an album that has many highs! I love her "mmmm" vocals on this track.

 

Bedtime Story never grows old for me, it's such an interesting and mesmerising listen. :wub:

 

I have to admit that Holiday wasn't a huge fave of mine over the years, but funnily enough something clicked for me when I listened to it while doing the 80s rate! It's undeniably a classic, a very fun listen, and I certainly respect it for kick-starting her career!

Could we maybe make the batches of songs smaller on the reveals ? It would make the comments more interesting (maybe).

They will be coming in pairs after the next series. Hopefully you find the comments more interesting as a result ^_^

Got no boundaries and no limits

 

 

35. Celebration // Other (00s) // 8.679

34. Cherish // Like A Prayer // 8.688

33. Skin // Ray of Light // 8.692

32. Give It 2 Me // Hard Candy // 8.714

31. Die Another Day // American Life // 8.750

 

First out, it's the lead single from Madonna's latest greatest hits compilation. Celebration draws influences from early dance Madonna and also manages to sound very current - it's the perfect single to be released from a greatest hits set! Remixed by Benni Benassi, the song also received a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording and remains her last top 5 hit in the UK. We then lose Cherish, the third single from Like A Prayer. A song about pure love and gratification, Madonna is completely enamoured by her partner. It's one of her most optimistic and joyous songs and because of this it became a huge hit across the globe. The music video plays homage to the LGBT community and the oppression that it faces. Skin is the only album track here but it stands up against the others and puts up an almighty fight. From Ray of Light, the song is about the power of a simple touch. Its simplicity is brought out in the confusion of the lyrics, the countless questions that she asks, the distorted effects in the music - the song is powerful and grand, yet all of this comes back to a simple touch of the skin. Feelings of unadulterated ecstasy, be they from an innocent love to sexual desire, they all come crashing forth in this masterful track. Give It 2 Me features Pharrell and is a pumping dance tune about partying but also Madonna's career up until that point. She sings about how she has no boundaries and can't be stopped and the fighter that the album represents is brought out in all of its glory. Finally, Madonna's Bond theme tune: Die Another Day which claims the title of American Life's highest rated track here. Madonna continually evolved the song, including after viewing the film, and its central theme is that of destroying one's ego. It became a commercial success and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and two Grammy Awards for Best Dance Recording and Best Short Form Music Video. Very different to many Bond tracks out there - it's distinctively M.

 

Madonna: 2/8

Like A Virgin: 0/9

True Blue: 4/9

Like A Prayer: 3/11

Other (80s): 2/10

I'm Breathless: 1/12

Erotica: 1/14

Bedtime Stories: 2/11

Evita: 0/13

Ray of Light: 6/14

Other (90s): 0/12

Music: 4/13

American Life: 0/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 6/15

Hard Candy: 1/13

Other (00s): 0/5

MDNA: 0/16

Rebel Heart: 2/25

Madame X: 2/18

Other (10s): 0/3

 

80s: 11/47

90s: 10/76

00s: 10/57

10s: 4/62

I love how well 'Celebration' does in these countdowns. It may not be the most innovative but I think it does a great job at celebrating the sounds and themes explored throughout Madonna's career and it's always an absolute joy to hear (in its original form that is, the remix is okay but loses a lot of the euphoria).

 

'Cherish' is so cheerful and light, always puts me in a good mood and helps restore balance to the Like a Prayer album.

 

'Skin' is such an experience, I'll never forget how drawn to it I was even at 11 years old when my pop tastes hadn't developed beyond what I saw on the music channels. The thumping trance beat, the mournful synth sounds, the intensity of the final couple of minutes... I'm always totally transfixed and put in my own little bubble. Rightfully placed as one of Madonna's best rated album tracks.

 

'Give It 2 Me' is so addictive and I love how it's like a reaction to her turning 50, reflecting on her career so far and reassuring that she's not going anywhere.

 

'Die Another Day' gets such a hard time from most Bond fans but I think it's a fantastic theme. It takes the 'Bondian' elements but interprets them in a way that's unexpected, as well as in keeping with the sound Madonna was going to explore on American Life.

Celebration was produced by Bennasi who has just remixed Crave. Loved this song at the time , the akon remix is good too.

 

Cherish is such a feel good song with that beautiful Herb Ritts video.

 

Give it 2 Me seems to be that song that non m fans like .

 

Skin is an amazing track . Could have been a single .

 

Die another day is cool , has that amazing video probably a bit to high in this rate .

I never felt so good about myself

 

 

30. Devil Wouldn't Recognise You // Hard Candy // 8.786

 

'Devil Wouldn't Recognise You' was Madonna and Justin Timberlake's first recording for Hard Candy, a song that spent a long time in the making. The original version was written with Mirwais in 2004, intended for a 1920's style musical titled Hello Suckers and rehearsed for the Re-invention Tour. Neither materialised, but the song continued to be developed, first reworked by Madonna's brother-in-law Joe Henry and finally completed with her Hard Candy collaborators. The finished product is a dark and atmospheric ballad that deals with a complex relationship, one that can be twisted and turbulent, but ultimately they are the only ones who understand each other. Whilst the production unmistakably evokes the sounds of previous Timberlake/Timbaland team-ups like 'Cry Me a River' and 'What Goes Around...', Madonna makes it her own, expressing the song's vulnerability and determination and finding her own truth within the lyrics.

 

 

29. Oh Father // Like a Prayer // 8.844

 

At the heart of Like a Prayer is 'Oh Father', cleverly linking the themes of the album by exploring her childhood, the role of religion and the male figures in her life. Most prominently, Madonna examines her fractured relationship with her father, ruptured by the loss of her mother. She exposes her conflicting conscience, revealing resentment and anger; empathy and understanding. Madonna confronts her emotions with blunt honesty, allowing her to realise they both share a loss and she must let go in order to fix her relationship with her father, which in turn will restore her faith and trust in other men she lets near. 'Oh Father' highlights Madonna's talent for emotional storytelling, sang with a raw, passionate vocal that leaves her imperfections untouched and lifted by a beautiful orchestral arrangement at the hands of Patrick Leonard.

 

Madonna: 1/8

Like A Virgin: 0/9

True Blue: 4/9

Like A Prayer: 2/11

Other (80s): 1/10

I'm Breathless: 1/12

Erotica: 1/14

Bedtime Stories: 1/11

Evita: 0/13

Ray of Light: 6/14

Other (90s): 0/12

Music: 3/13

American Life: 0/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 5/15

Hard Candy: 0/13

Other (00s): 0/5

MDNA: 0/16

Rebel Heart: 1/25

Madame X: 2/18

Other (10s): 0/3

 

80s: 8/47

90s: 9/76

00s: 8/57

10s: 3/62

2 of my absolute favourites.

 

Oh Father is top 5 for me ! Gorgeous song , video and vocal . Madonna when vulnerable is majestic .

 

Devil would be top 20 , Devil is the hugest places HC track , and it is so deserving.

I always thought Miles Away was the first track worked in for HC ....

I always thought Miles Away was the first track worked in for HC ....

Seems like 'Miles Away' was the first composed for Hard Candy but 'Devil' was the first to be recorded between Madonna and Justin. The song was already written ahead of the Hard Candy sessions, it just had adjustments made to it by Justin and co.

I’m in catch up mode now but what a great start to the top 30! Really enjoy both tracks. Devil is definitely my high point on Hard Candy whilst Oh Father is simply sublime. The strings, the lyrics, the delivery, it’s just perfect and is probably in my top 10 these days.

Oh Father :wub: Heart-wrenching but beautiful.

 

Devil is a great choice for top track from Hard Candy. Even though some of the production flourishes are of its time, I feel like overall it holds up really well today, more so than the majority of the album.

More catching up to do...

 

45. Crave // Madame X // 8.423

44. Material Girl // Like A Virgin // 8.438

43. Rain // Erotica // 8.462

42. Living For Love // Rebel Heart // 8.462 (higher score)

41. Nothing Fails // American Life // 8.536

Like most of the ones in this section, although I can do without Living For Love - it's serviceable as a generic lead single but it doesn't draw me back at all. Crave has grown on me loads since its release, it's very hypnotic and really suits the album. Material Girl is tacky but so much fun! It's possibly her most 80s sounding hit for me, I could imagine it being a Cyndi Lauper track also as it is quite Girls Just Want To Have Fun in style and attitude. Was a big favourite of mine as a kid but it works less effectively as an adult. Rain is lovely, not a huge favourite of mine but it's a nice track that I listen to occasionally. Nothing Fails is one I haven't listened to in ages! :o It was my absolute favourite when American Life was first released but I grew to love the second half of the album more as I got to know the album. It's still a good track though and makes for an epic centrepiece on the album.

 

40. Devil Pray // Rebel Heart // 8.577

39. Crazy For You // Other (80s) // 8.625

38. Isaac // Confessions on a Dancefloor // 8.643

37. Bedtime Story // Bedtime Stories // 8.654

36. Holiday // Madonna // 8.656

Varied section again! Devil Pray is definitely a high point from Rebel Heart, that and Ghosttown were the two most commercial tracks on it I think Crazy For You :wub: it's just such a pure song, it stands out in her catalogue for being kinda basic but owning that in such an effective way. One of THE classic 80s ballads for me. Isaac is deservedly high, love the sheer scale of the track and it adds a different twist to the Confessions album in the latter part of the album, definitely a fave. Bedtime Story is another good one, I've commented before that it's existence as a Bjork track that isn't Bjork does make me like it a little less but I do think Madge pulls the track off and I think it is great that she looked to work with someone like Bjork back in 1994. And last and actually possibly least in this section, Holiday! It served its purpose as a fun introduction to Madonna back then but it definitely isn't aa fave these days for me.

 

35. Celebration // Other (00s) // 8.679

34. Cherish // Like A Prayer // 8.688

33. Skin // Ray of Light // 8.692

32. Give It 2 Me // Hard Candy // 8.714

31. Die Another Day // American Life // 8.750

Surprised Celebration did this well. I do like it but not top 35 status! It's pretty generic sounding but I can understand the commentary that it works as a celebration track on a best of. Cherish has a special place in my heart, I was the right age for it when it was released and it still makes me smile today. Skin is absolutely glorious, a real progression for Madonna and a highlight on the Ray of Light album. I can remember listening to it on my first play of the album and was blown away that she had gone for something that, er, almost trance like in progression. Give it 2 Me is decent enough, I didn't care for it upon release but it has held up better than most of the rest of that era. And finally Die Another Day which I think has just gotten better over time. It was a brave take on a Bond theme, I like that they didn't change Madonna to be Bond, they took Bond and made it Madonna *.*

 

What a start to the top 30! Devil is easily the best track on Hard Candy so i'm glad Buzzjack has agreed! A real moment on the album and I wish the entire thing explored similar sentiments and lyrical power.

 

Oh Father has been one of my favourite Madonna tracks for a while. It's so heartfelt and raw. One of her best ballads and has aged beautifully too - what a way to tell a painful story!

'Hard Candy' may not be one of Madonna's better albums, but it does have some pretty great tracks namely 'Devil Wouldn't Recognize You' which has some fantastic production & along with 'She's Not Me', these 2 should have been singles instead of 'Miles Away' (which in my opinion didn't really work) & should have stayed on the album.

My 'HC' singles run =

"4 Minutes"
"Give It 2 Me"
"She's Not Me"
"Devil Wouldn't Recognize You"

I think I'll follow my heart

 

 

28. Sky Fits Heaven // Ray Of Light // 8.846

 

The highest album track from Ray Of Light, of course, it's the heavenly Sky Fits Heaven. A song that is all-encompassing, grand, mature, ethereal and special. Lyrically, Madonna sings of a connection she feels between herself, nature, some religious force, her daughter and the world around her. At the time, Madonna was studying about different religions and placing herself within this. She was open to the religions she studied and became absorbed in yoga - the song explores that spirituality in a way that ebs and flows as the journey takes flight. The song was criminally never released as a single, however it has gained a huge following from fans and critics and is often hailed as one of her greatest album tracks. The song takes lyrical inspiration from British poet Max Blagg's 1992 poem, What Fits?. Although the poet is not credited on the album, the song pays homage to his poem but Madonna with the help of Orbit and Leonard transcend it to dizzying heights. It's a phenomenal piece of music that has rightfully performed incredibly well in this list of Madonna's all-time songs. I do wonder how much higher up it would have been with a full release and single treatment. Can you imagine a video for the song?

 

 

27. Impressive Instant // Music // 8.857

 

Another album track out, and this time Impressive Instant does enough to make an impression well into the top 30! The song was intended to be the fourth single but due to disagreements between Madonna and the label, it was only released as a promotional single - in the US it managed to peak at #1 on the Hot Dance chart! The song features the crazed production work of Mirwais, and is actually the first song the pair worked on together! It is a song about instantly falling in love with someone but it's told through warped, robotic vocals from Madonna and inter-spliced with zany, random moments throughout. It's a futuristic frenzy of a song, constantly exploding with sounds and vocally warping every 10 seconds. A true journey of a song and one of Madonna's most random pieces ever.

 

Madonna: 1/8

Like A Virgin: 0/9

True Blue: 4/9

Like A Prayer: 2/11

Other (80s): 1/10

I'm Breathless: 1/12

Erotica: 1/14

Bedtime Stories: 1/11

Evita: 0/13

Ray of Light: 5/14

Other (90s): 0/12

Music: 2/13

American Life: 0/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 5/15

Hard Candy: 0/13

Other (00s): 0/5

MDNA: 0/16

Rebel Heart: 1/25

Madame X: 2/18

Other (10s): 0/3

 

80s: 8/47

90s: 8/76

00s: 7/57

10s: 3/62

Another couple of 10/10 tracks for me.

 

Sky Fits Heaven is the single that never was from Ray of Light where as Impressive Instant is the single that never was from Music! The latter excels by pushing the Mirwais production further than any other track on the album, coupling it with suitably bonkers lyrics! :lol: Sky Fits Heaven is absolutely essential though, it takes some of the harder edges of the William Orbit production and wraps them around a really compelling chorus. At least it got the remix treatment on her singles even if it didn't receive its place as a stand alone.

 

The top 30 is absolutely exceptional so far.

2 absolute corkers !!! 2 of my absolute faves I would rate them similarly in my own individual chart .

 

If only Madonna got her way and released Impressive Instant

 

How many album tracks are left ? I can def think of one .....

 

I’m surprised 2 Madame X tracks are still in the running !

 

 

Both of these are amazing tracks & both could have made great singles. Sky Fits Heaven - couldn't been a single because the song was based on a poem by Max Blagg who agreed to let her use parts of it, but on the condition that wouldn't be released a single, which is shame as its fantastic & love the way that its chilled out yet energetic at the same time & really blooms into a soaring chorus in a way that only Madonna can.

The 'Ray of Light' era was great as it was & happy with the singles that were chosen, they really put her back on the map. A fantastic era, definitely one of her best.

'Impressive Instant' - Now this was a definite sure-fire hit & Madonna herself really wanted this to be released, but the label said NO, what were they thinking. The 'Music' album had 3 great singles & this would have been perfect for the 4th, 'Amazing' was fine, but this was so much better & in the end nothing else got released & left the 'Music' era feeling unfinished.

Why not give them both a release.