'I Don't Search, I Find' appearing so high is totally justified in my eyes! :wub: "Finally enough love" - what an opening, I like how it follows from the sex-mad 'Bitch I'm Loca' and the "you can put it inside" lyric, I thought that was really clever. The production is heaven, like, I can't believe we got something as magical as this from Madonna in 2019. Proof that there's no need for tinny, trend-hopping production! I love how effortlessly it flows from any of Madonna's early 90s tracks. Just pure joy!

 

'Jump' is relatively simple compared to other tracks on Confessions but it works in its favour. I love the empowering nature of the song and is such a rush of joy and hope. I agree with vibe about the Confessions Tour performance, I love the parkour theme and how Madonna does her own routine towards the end.

Also won't dwell on Bedtime Stories - in short it's an album highlight and has matured into such a fine song over the years.

 

Liam, your description for Forbidden Love is perfect. What a great commentary, for such a great song :wub: This song, I will focus on. The song for me is the greatest album track Madonna has done. In an album that is so majestic and enticing, this track is the most so. Lyrically it's simple yet tells a twisted story of love and acceptance. Musically the sounds of the album reach a peak. The song is haunting - for years I haven't ever really understood what it truly means and instead whatever state of mind I am in, or whatever stage of life I am in, the song speaks to me in a certain different way. It should have been ranked as the highest album track but other factors that I won't spoil have meant a couple of others have pipped it to the post. Still, it reaching such dizzying heights in this countdown is incredible to see. What a song, what a hidden gem. I am glad it was never released as a single - sometimes remaining hidden on an album waiting to be discovered like a piece of forbidden fruit is what makes a song so special; it creates a 'stop you in your tracks' moment that you forget exists amidst the album's louder more well-known moments. I love the song so much.

Thank you Bal and likewise! :wub: It's the perfect centerpiece, isn't it? Agreed about your last point; I still think 'Forbidden Love' would have made a great fifth single and showed another part of the album but there is something quite special about such songs being hidden treasures waiting to be uncovered during a full album listen.

 

I want to comment on this further — these commentaries are some of the best I have ever seen on a forum. The amount of effort, care, and in-depth analysis throughout this thread has been nothing short of fantastic. Thank you!

 

Agreed! This is one of the best threads ever for me :wub:

Seconding what Bal said - thank you so much! Really means a lot, particularly from you two as I've always been in awe of how you put things into words. This has been such a rewarding thread, I love talking about Madonna's music as there's so much to take from it and it's been lovely to pass thoughts and memories with you all. Big love! :heart:

Sky Fits Heaven, Impressive Instant and confessions era Forbidden Love are all gems. Some of her best ever album tracks which I prefer to some singles! :heart: :heart:

 

I Don’t Search I Find being so high is a shock but I did rate it really well When it come to 10’s decade Madonna mainly because Madame X was her only strong album released this decade.

I'm pleased to see I Don't Search I Find get off to such a great start as it's a clear highlight from Madame X. I'd love her to release a compilation of these early 90s sounding tracks although I'm not sure she has quite enough to do so... IDSIF, Vogue, Deeper and Deeper, Rescue Me, Justify My Love, Words - I'd have to think where to go after that! Still, I think it will hold up well although maybe not quite as high as it has started.

 

Jump used to be one of my favourites when Confessions was first released, I could definitely hear the West End Girls influence in it. I do still like it but it hasn't aged as well as some of the other tracks on the album, it would be mid range on the album for me now.

I hold the lock and you hold the key

 

 

22. Open Your Heart // True Blue // 9.000 (more 10s)

 

Originally a rock and roll song written for Cyndi Lauper, 'Open Your Heart' eventually received the dance-pop treatment from Patrick Leonard and became the first recording for True Blue. In its final form, 'Open Your Heart' is pure pop bliss. Madonna appreciates the importance of hooking her audience from the very first moments of a song and this intro is one of her most striking. From the sudden drum beat and twinkly keyboard melody, the listener is thrown immediately into the song and Madonna's whispered "watch out!" assures them they're about to hear something truly remarkable. Madonna reveals her burning, intense love for a guy, determined for him to confess the same. She uses an analogy of keys and locks fitting to represent two people being compatible for each other and encourages him to let the love flourish. It's a straightforward love song that thrives on its simplicity, lifted by the passionate nature of its message, the vibrant, infectious music and Madonna's yearning vocal.

 

 

21. Borderline // Madonna // 9.000 (higher top score)

 

Head boss of Sire Records, Seymour Stein, declared that 'Borderline' would be "huge beyond belief" upon hearing the track and here it is recognised as the best from Madonna's debut. The moment the dainty piano intro slinks in, 'Borderline' evokes a sentimental and nostalgic feel - a sense of familiarity, which is extended in the lyrics by dealing with the all-too-known tale of unfulfilled love. Madonna's expressive vocal boasts truth and soul, recalling the classic Motown style. 'Borderline' captures the spirit of Madonna's pop appeal, offering something fresh and human, and acts as one of the first building blocks to her becoming the biggest female artist in the industry.

 

Madonna: 0/8

Like A Virgin: 0/9

True Blue: 3/9

Like A Prayer: 2/11

Other (80s): 1/10

I'm Breathless: 1/12

Erotica: 1/14

Bedtime Stories: 0/11

Evita: 0/13

Ray of Light: 5/14

Other (90s): 0/12

Music: 2/13

American Life: 0/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 3/15

Hard Candy: 0/13

Other (00s): 0/5

MDNA: 0/16

Rebel Heart: 1/25

Madame X: 1/18

Other (10s): 0/3

 

80s: 6/47

90s: 7/76

00s: 5/57

10s: 2/62

Interesting to see those two songs finishing next to each other when Glee did a 'Borderline'/'Open Your Heart' mash-up in 'The Power of Madonna' episode *.*

Two more 10/10 tracks for me. Open Your Heart is my favourite of the two these days, although I didn't really like it much at all when I first heard it on The Immaculate Collection and often used to skip it. It's now my favourite thing from the True Blue era so it's had a complete turn around in my affections, I think it has stood the test of time really well.

 

Borderline is just lovely, definitely the correct track to finish highest from her first album and it's a good distance out in front of the rest for me. One thing about it though, in the video at about 18 seconds I always wonder if they were supposed to kick at the same time but just got it wrong on the day.

Borderline deserved top 20 at the very least !!!! Def is the best rack from her debut.

 

The intro is orgasmic and the song gives me feels still today.

Two incredible 80s songs.

 

Borderline is my favourite song from that decade. It's an incredible song that gives me every sort of feel whenever I hear it. It's dreamy and just sends me places. A clear highlight from the debut, so i'm glad we seem to be in agreement as far as the rate goes!

 

Open Your Heart has always been a favourite - it has ranked above the other True Blue singles at a time but I think now it's probably 2nd! I am intrigued to see how the rest of the True Blue singles do in comparison ~ there's not much between the ones remaining and this for me personally!

I'll be your fire when the lights go out

 

 

20. Music // Music // 9.071

 

The title track and lead single from Music starts our top 20. Produced by Mirwais, she sings of the power of music to unite people in an uncertain world. The song, due to its commercial nature, went on to become a huge hit for her and really kickstarted a new era of Madonna music. It was a worldwide #1 hit and has gone on to become a staple classic for her. The music video, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, features Ali G and shows Madonna in a fun, carefree light, which especially contrasted the Ray of Light era that came before. She performed it live on several award shows including at the Grammys where the song received a couple of nominations. It's a totally fun and carefree song and showed yet another musical evolution for the artist. Contemporary and yet timeless, it's a worthy start to what is to be an incredible 20 songs that make up the best of the best.

 

 

19. Ghosttown // Rebel Heart // 9.115

 

The second single from Rebel Heart, a haunting ballad of loss and mourning, Ghosttown has proved naysayers of modern Madonna wrong and has cemented itself as a huge contender amongst the more well known songs we have had over the decades. It's a soaring ballad. The song tells of an apocalyptic world, where love is the only thing that carries people on. Uplifting at heart, but incredibly sorrowful, it fits along nicely as a signature M ballad. Another Jonas Åkerlund directed video, this time, all the fun of the previous video has been removed and Madonna is only one of two survivors in a world devoid of life. The song gives hope of continuing after horrifying events and so works as a centrepiece to an album about continuing journeys and finding hope in the darkness. In today's political climate too, it stands out as a very powerful and relevant message of hope in an ever-changing, dangerous world.

 

Madonna: 0/8

Like A Virgin: 0/9

True Blue: 3/9

Like A Prayer: 2/11

Other (80s): 1/10

I'm Breathless: 1/12

Erotica: 1/14

Bedtime Stories: 0/11

Evita: 0/13

Ray of Light: 5/14

Other (90s): 0/12

Music: 1/13

American Life: 0/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 3/15

Hard Candy: 0/13

Other (00s): 0/5

MDNA: 0/16

Rebel Heart: 0/25

Madame X: 1/18

Other (10s): 0/3

 

80s: 6/47

90s: 7/76

00s: 4/57

10s: 1/62

Music , great fun song that is reinvented brilliantly on each tour. She has to open her GH tour with this track in 2223. Ali G was also hilarious in the video .

 

Ghosttown is one of my faves , it’s so gorgeous and my fav off RH !!! Shame this was ignored on both the rebel heart tour and now Madame X .

 

Ghosttown would've worked better as a lead single I think. Especially as we had promo lined up at the BRITs. It could've been a really big political or just emotional moment on the stage.

 

Music is standard fun Madonna. Great way to start a great era of fun, yet at times complicated music.

 

Both very worthy of top 20!

Two more great tracks! I see I gave Music a 9 but it could easily have been a 10 on another day. For a while I thought it had aged pretty badly but I loved it at the time and I'm getting back on board with it again recently, it's a good pure fun track as you rightly point out and it's a great contrast to the more serious Ray of Light tracks.

 

I'm really pleased that Ghosttown has done this well. It was probably helped by being a stand out among her weakest decade in terms of the voting process but I still like the track as much now as I did when it was released. It definitely does hold its own against some of her earlier 'classic' hits and it's one of the few tracks from the 10s that I could have seen becoming commercially popular.

music is one of my ultimate favourite madonna songs. i know a lot of people don't love it so i'm THRILLED to see it so high!

Musics one of her worst singles for me definitely one of her weakest leads.

 

I’d have put Open Your Heart and Borderline higher than that and Ghosttown

Oh I forgot Borderline was from her debut. One of my top faves from her and yes prob the strongest track there musically.

 

Jump a bit too high for me esp over some of the Ray of Light gems like Swim, Secret too & some of the acousticcier AL cuts.

 

Want to echo as well how brilliant these writeups are. Definitely Billboard quality commentary guys, well researched & phrased. Clearly work going in behind the scenes or maybe you just connect so well with the songs to know them inside out!

'Music' is one of my earliest introductions to Madonna's music and it's message of how music has the power to unite and allow you to escape life's problems is so defining to Madonna's career. It still sounds so fresh and cool almost 20 years on. Another radical change following the spiritual, soul-searching Mother Earth vibe of the Ray of Light era.

 

'Ghosttown' proving that the early declarations that it was one of Madonna's best still stands up today. This really should have been big. I love the storytelling; Madonna really sells it with her vocal and it's one of the most moving and passionate of her current output. The video remains one of my favourite this decade too. I was so pleased to see her bring plot back as focal point to a video, something she hadn't done for some time, and it's tells a uplifting tale of how love will save us all when we have nothing; Madonna uses an apocalyptic world to symbolise this but it could be referred to any situation where you feel lost and defeated.

Ghosttown would've worked better as a lead single I think. Especially as we had promo lined up at the BRITs. It could've been a really big political or just emotional moment on the stage.

The more I think about it the more I agree! Performing this on a platform like the BRITs and Grammys would have worked wonders for the song and show people Madonna's talent as a storyteller within her lyrics and her voice. It's a powerful message and would have made a great statement as a lead single. I can see why 'Living for Love' was chosen but it's statement is a little generic within Madonna's discography, whilst 'Ghosttown' would have pushed this "love wins" message in a unique way.

I traded fame for love

 

 

18. Deeper & Deeper // Erotica // 9.154

 

Erotica is known for its gritty, beat-driven club sound, however it's the euphoric disco house of 'Deeper & Deeper' that's considered the album's best here. It's a return to the driving dance sound of Madonna and Shep Pettibone's early collaborations, even ending with a call-back to their worldwide smash 'Vogue'. Whilst 'Vogue' celebrates self-expression and being empowered by music, 'Deeper & Deeper' is for those who are still finding themselves. Through the stabs of house piano, glittering beat and swirling synthesised synths, a repressed desire begins to be released, the start of a sexual awakening that builds in urgency on its way towards an irresistible climax. The flamenco breakdown is brilliantly bonkers, reflecting both the anxiety and thrill before taking a leap into freedom. The GHV2 liner notes suggest this is a song of a man coming to terms with his sexuality, another powerful example of Madonna's support for the LGBT community. By concluding this journey with the aforementioned 'Vogue' sample, it signifies the eventual self-acceptance and new-found independence.

 

 

17. Drowned World/Substitute for Love // Ray of Light // 9.154 (higher top score)

 

Opening Ray of Light's journey into self-discovery and rebirth is 'Drowned World/Substitute for Love'. The song sees Madonna re-evaluate her perception of fame, dissatisfied by superficial media adoration and people only being interested in their idea of her and what she represents. The shining light to her problems was the birth of daughter Lourdes, someone with no comprehension of celebrity status and who looked at Madonna with all the love in the world. William Orbit sensitively details a soothing, delicate production to compliment the track; it gradually emerges from ambient sonic waves, cleverly emulating the gentle sounds of the womb or a sonar searching through the weight of the deep, dark ocean. His carefully allocated electronic elements glide around Madonna's soft, soulful vocal, rejuvenated by her recent training for Evita. The introduction of acoustic guitar invites a change of pace and the momentum builds through an intense bridge where Madonna releases every last bit of negative energy, allowing her to start again. It's a unique opening moment from Madonna's album history and prepares you for a powerful listening experience.

 

Madonna: 0/8

Like A Virgin: 0/9

True Blue: 3/9

Like A Prayer: 2/11

Other (80s): 1/10

I'm Breathless: 1/12

Erotica: 0/14

Bedtime Stories: 0/11

Evita: 0/13

Ray of Light: 4/14

Other (90s): 0/12

Music: 1/13

American Life: 0/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 3/15

Hard Candy: 0/13

Other (00s): 0/5

MDNA: 0/16

Rebel Heart: 0/25

Madame X: 1/18

Other (10s): 0/3

 

80s: 6/47

90s: 5/76

00s: 4/57

10s: 1/62

Will comment more later but right now I’m soooo happy to see Drowned World this high up! ^_^ :heart: