Look out boy 'cause I'm going to the top

 

 

205. Best Friend // MDNA // 5.115

204. Can't Stop // Other (80s) // 5.156

203. Hanky Panky // I'm Breathless // 5.192

202. Up Down Suite // 90s (Other) // 5.231

201. Illuminati // Rebel Heart // 5.231 (more 7s)

 

MDNA takes another hit as Best Friend leaves proceedings. It's the final song on the deluxe version of the album and has Madonna reminiscing about a lost friendship. Possibly about her relationship to Guy Ritchie, it features some poignant lyrics and offers quite a vulnerable side to her. Can't Stop was the only Madonna song to not become a single off 'Who's That Girl' and was inspired by 60s Motown. It's obvious Madonna has a thing for S&M as it returns throughout her lyrics, but here in Hanky Panky it's tongue-in-cheek and jokey. From 'I'm Breathless', it was the second single released from the album and had surprisingly decent chart success. Up Down Suite was the B-Side to 'Rain' and is also the longest song in the countdown! Previously unreleased, it is a 12-minute dub version of "Goodbye to Innocence", which was in itself an omitted track recorded during the Erotica sessions. Finally, just missing out on the top 200 is Illuminati. After being accused of being part of the group, Madonna wrote this as a response to show what it truly was. It features some high profile producers and writers including Kanye West and Travis Scott and is a riotous explosion of music. It featured as an interval during the Rebel Heart Tour whereby acrobats attached to towering poles wowed the audience.

 

Madonna: 8/8

Like A Virgin: 7/9

True Blue: 9/9

Like A Prayer: 10/11

Other (80s): 7/10

I'm Breathless: 8/12

Erotica: 12/14

Bedtime Stories: 11/11

Evita: 6/13

Ray of Light: 14/14

Other (90s): 9/12

Music: 12/13

American Life: 11/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 15/15

Hard Candy: 11/13

Other (00s): 2/5

MDNA: 10/16

Rebel Heart: 19/25

Madame X: 17/18

Other (10s): 2/3

 

80s: 41/47

90s: 60/76

00s: 52/57

10s: 47/62

Hanky Panky and Up Down Suite are my picks there. The former is utterly ridiculous but, as I've mentioned before, I'm Breathless was my first Madonna album so I have a childhood soft spot for it. I need to make an edit of the latter at some point, I never actually listen to it as it really doesn't justify its length but it could be so much better if it was given a sharper edit.

Agreed on both points Dandy! Hanky Panky should be awful but it's obviously tongue n cheek and is genuinely fun. Up Down Suite definitely didn't need to be 12 minutes long, I agree that an edited version (and a bit more of the original song, although I appreciate that defies the point of a dub mix) would improve it.

 

The biggest loss in the countdown so far is Best Friend for me. Tracks like this and I f***ed Up are what the album should have been more about: after all the angry revenge songs and the party like no tomorrow songs, Madonna's reflective and realises that actually she does feel regret and sadness that her relationship broke down.

I love best friend it’s one of my favourites on MDNA

Regarding Revolver I fell In love with it after seeing the MDNA tour !

Regarding Revolver I fell In love with it after seeing the MDNA tour !

I really like the MDNA tour performance of it too!

I've only just noticed that Revolver has gone! I don't care for it but I'm surprised to see it bow out quite so soon.

Most of the first section of the MDNA Tour, even though it's probably the most memorable and meant to be the biggest moment of the tour, I just don't have much opinion on. It's only until Papa Don't Preach that I get engaged with the tour and that's only about a minute long segment.

 

The full MDNA tour is very style over substance for me. A shame that it is likely the last proper full-on Madonna tour experience.

My daddy says you just need a good lickin'

 

 

200. What Can You Lose (with Mandy Patinkin) // I'm Breathless // 5.231 (higher top score)

199. Now I'm Following You (Part 1) (with Warren Beatty) // I'm Breathless // 5.231 (higher top score)

198. Love Song (with Prince) // Like a Prayer // 5.250

197. Lament // Evita // 5.250 (higher top score)

196. Jimmy Jimmy // True Blue // 5.281

 

Kicking off the Top 200, we see two songs from I'm Breathless depart. 'What Can You Lose' reveals the difficulty of unrequited love; the dilemma of taking a chance or leaving things as they are. It even received a nomination for Best Original Song at the 48th Golden Globes. Part 1 of 'Now I'm Following You' is a jazzy 1-and-a-half-minute number about dancing with a partner that preludes a more bonkers rendition of the song. Madonna joined forces with her pop powerhouse peer Prince for the left-field 'Love Song' - it's a funky, slow-grinding song with passionate vocals, although it's considered a bit too off the wall than a lot of fans would have hoped. 'Lament' marks Eva Perón's dying moments in Evita as she looks back on her life; Madonna delivers a cracked, whispering vocal as she fights through the tears. True Blue has its first loss in the shape of 'Jimmy Jimmy', an early 60s pop influenced tribute to the late film star James Dean.

 

Madonna: 8/8

Like A Virgin: 7/9

True Blue: 8/9

Like A Prayer: 9/11

Other (80s): 7/10

I'm Breathless: 6/12

Erotica: 12/14

Bedtime Stories: 11/11

Evita: 5/13

Ray of Light: 14/14

Other (90s): 9/12

Music: 12/13

American Life: 11/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 15/15

Hard Candy: 11/13

Other (00s): 2/5

MDNA: 10/16

Rebel Heart: 19/25

Madame X: 17/18

Other (10s): 2/3

 

80s: 39/47

90s: 57/76

00s: 52/57

10s: 47/62

I'm impressed that Madonna's debut is the last of the 80s albums to have all its songs remain. Similarly, Bedtime Stories and American Life having all their songs is surprising, given one is largely overlooked and one can often be quite polarising.

 

The performance of 'Lament' on the Re-invention Tour is one of my favourites. Madonna really smashed it vocally.

 

We spoke recently about 'Love Song' - I go through phases of liking it and not, but I definitely would have hoped for something more impressive given the names involved. They worked on a few songs apparently so it's telling that this was the best of the bunch.

Lament is stunning should be way higher but again if you don’t go to the tours you will be less familiar with the track . As the RIT really was a highlight !!

 

I can’t believe ‘I’m so stupid’ is still in . I thought this was a detested track.

No songs there that I am devastated about losing. Some with real potential (Love Song) but don't quite match the highs of their parent albums. True Blue losing its first song </3

2000’s Madonna is clearly in the lead at this point .

2000’s Madonna is clearly in the lead at this point .

We're all sinners

 

 

195. Borrowed Time // Rebel Heart // 5.308

194. I'm A Sinner // MDNA // 5.308 (more 7s)

193. Sooner or Later // I'm Breathless // 5.308

192. Back In Business // I'm Breathless // 5.308 (more 8s)

191. Addicted // Rebel Heart // 5.346

 

4 songs with the same average here! Separated them based on first highest scores received and then by the number of said higher score :drama: it's Borrowed Time first, which for me at least, is one of the most forgettable songs on Rebel Heart, featuring on the super deluxe version. MDNA loses I'm A Sinner, which as the title suggests is Madonna owning her flaws and bad deeds as she goes back to her Catholic roots. She does declare that she wants to be saved, albeit not yet. It's produced by long-term collaborator William Orbit! Two tracks from I'm Breathless are out next, Sooner or Later and Back in Business. The former is a 1930s-style jazz ballad, highly theatrical, while the latter varies the pace throughout to keep us on our toes - neither are particularly essential for me oop. Finally, a song that is essential - Addicted is about falling for the wrong guy, perhaps someone bad for you, but constantly going back for more as you become addicted to the thrill. It's an electronic song with a huge pulsating beat that cacophonies constantly. With the help of Avicii, it's loud, in your face, an experience.

 

Madonna: 8/8

Like A Virgin: 7/9

True Blue: 8/9

Like A Prayer: 9/11

Other (80s): 7/10

I'm Breathless: 4/12

Erotica: 12/14

Bedtime Stories: 11/11

Evita: 5/13

Ray of Light: 14/14

Other (90s): 9/12

Music: 12/13

American Life: 11/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 15/15

Hard Candy: 11/13

Other (00s): 2/5

MDNA: 9/16

Rebel Heart: 17/25

Madame X: 17/18

Other (10s): 2/3

 

80s: 39/47

90s: 55/76

00s: 52/57

10s: 44/62

'Borrowed Time' is a sweet song; I never really took notice of it at the time but I've come to appreciate it for being so focused on melody and vocal. I like 'Addicted' too and am glad one of Avicii's original productions survived - I still remember when his demos of 'Rebel Heart' and 'Wash All Over Me' leaked and it were the first songs we had heard from era; they got me so hyped for the album and I still return to them now. I favour the final version of 'Wash All Over Me' but 'Rebel Heart' could do with Avicii's touch.

 

'I'm a Sinner' is really catchy, particularly like the Saints name-check verse.

 

I like 'Sooner or Later' but it has to be the Oscars performance for me. So theatrical and Madonna's charisma is huge - she really sells it! I've found myself returning to 'Back in Business' since the rate started and would score it higher now. The chorus really sticks in my head!

Back in Business used to be one of my favourites! It's just too catchy!

 

I like all of those songs .

 

Addicted is rightly placed. The others deserve a little higher .

 

Borrowed Time has lovely lyrics and melody.

 

Again no ‘I’m so stupid’ 😉

I rolled the dice but never showed my hand

 

 

190. I Know It // Madonna // 5.375

189. One More Chance // Other (90s) // 5.423

188. Incredible // Hard Candy // 5.429

187. Stay // Like a Virgin // 5.438

186. He's a Man // I'm Breathless // 5.462

 

Madonna's debut album loses its first track, 'I Know It', which sees her become wise to her partner's games and behaviour and concludes that she is better off without. 'One More Chance' portrays Madonna as the one in the wrong as she explains her faults and pleads for forgiveness. It was a new track for the Something to Remember ballads collection and Madonna utilises her Evita vocal training with only an acoustic guitar and soft strings to support the song. Hard Candy's longest running track 'Incredible' is a song of two halves, starting like a love song that depicts the rosiness of a relationship's beginnings, before changing pace at the interlude to reflect Madonna's confusion of how she feels about this person. 'Stay' is a simple love song where Madonna confesses how much better her life is with her lover in it. Opening track to I'm Breathless, 'He's a Man' sees Madonna's character in Dick Tracey describe Warren Beatty's title character and decide that she should be with him, as is shown on-screen in the film itself.

 

Madonna: 7/8

Like A Virgin: 6/9

True Blue: 8/9'

Like A Prayer: 9/11

Other (80s): 7/10

I'm Breathless: 3/12

Erotica: 12/14

Bedtime Stories: 11/11

Evita: 5/13

Ray of Light: 14/14

Other (90s): 8/12

Music: 12/13

American Life: 11/11

Confessions On A Dancefloor: 15/15

Hard Candy: 10/13

Other (00s): 2/5

MDNA: 9/16

Rebel Heart: 17/25

Madame X: 17/18

Other (10s): 2/3

 

80s: 37/47

90s: 53/76

00s: 51/57

10s: 44/62

I'm Breathless down to just 3 tracks now! :o How far can the remaining non-Vogue songs go?