I really don't care for Beautiful Stranger, it's way too high on this list! Material Girl is an iconic M song, but again, I never listen to it, and I don't have any love for it.... Bah humbug!

poor Material Girl, I think the early singles are under-appreciated (Madonna herself included)

My favourite out at #27.

 

#27 seems reasonable though, I'm aware it's not exactly one of her most revered or appreciated singles.

(although those Get Together / Crave scores :/)

One is one of the confessions fillers and the other is Madonna's failed attempt to get a hit in the US :arrr:

Edited August 26, 20213 yr by Adelita

Beautiful Stranger is far too high in my opinion. Never really liked it; can't stand Austin Powers.

 

Material Girl is such a classic. For wrong reasons sometimes, but still an iconic record.

Beautiful Stranger sounds fresh to this day, it'll never sound dated. Material Girl on the other hand hasn't aged very well.

I loved 'Beautiful Stranger' so much as a kid. I mean, I still do but it's slipped down in my affections compared to a lot of the others since then.

Beautiful Stranger is such a great bop! I just... rarely listen to it because it doesn't feature on a studio album :drama: Material Girl has aged slightly, but its icon status is undeniable! The music video too <3

Wanting, needing, waiting

 

 

| 23. Justify My Love 8.17

| 24. Rain 8.13

 

Rain, the fifth single from Erotica outdoes expectations with a very respectable average here (it always seems underrated!). Perhaps the most calm and mainstream of the singles released from the era, it tells of the power of love to overcome pain and heartache. This comes coupled with a possible sexual metaphor within the lyrics, given the context of the album it features on. Despite being the 5th single from the album, it was still a success around the world. The song came packaged with a music video featuring Madonna in startling looks which powers through simplicity as opposed to the action that some of her previous videos utlisied. The video was heavily praised and won two categories for Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography at the 1993 MTV VMAs. Next out, it's Justify My Love the lead single from her first greatest hits album. In an almost totally spoken-word/whispering song, Madonna talks of sex and romance. It became a #1 single in the US while peaking at #2 in the UK. The controversial music video, which was later banned by MTV features imagery of sadomasochism, voyeurism and bisexuality. In the video, Madonna has sex with a mysterious man and woman after being seduced in a hotel hallway. The controversial video and song have stood the test of time and showcase how bold and daring she was in such an early time in her career. A true trendsetter and barrier breaker.

Rain is wonderful. That spoken bit in the middle... the bit where it builds up until she sings 'here comes the sun". Glad the video was the original version as the UK single remix was not quite on a par.

 

I remember being quite confused by the spoken Justify My Love after Prayer and Vogue... but it paved the way for Erotica.

Justify My Love is one of her very best.... just everything for me. Rain, I want to like it (love the video), but it somehow never quite hits the mark for me.....

I like these two songs. Rain would be better without the anomaly at 02:46 tho.

Rain is my big favourite here. On the Erotica album it stands out supremely as being one of her best ballads! The music video too is so intoxicating, the colour scheme, the lighting, the wig! Sublime.

 

Justify My Love is great too and again comes with a killer video. She really broke the mould with that one. :clap:

I'm not afraid of what I'll face, but I'm afraid to stay

 

 

| 21. Take a Bow 8.31 (same 11s, more 10s)

| 22. Jump 8.31

 

They received the same averages and the same number of top scores! But separated by the number of 10s they received, first out is Jump! The fourth and final single from Confessions on a Dancefloor, talks of the excitement and anticipation when entering a new relationship while also being self-empowering. The parkour inspired video has Madonna adorning a short wig and singing in front of neon signs. The song itself has done well here despite being the first song from its era to drop out, 3 more tracks from the album remain somewhere within the top 20! We also lose, Take a Bow which very narrowly misses out on an all important top 20 placement! The second single from Bedtime Stories, and one of Madonna's softest moments! In the song Madonna says goodbye, it's a heartbreaking song about an unrequited love. It features music from a full orchestra and delicate strings throughout. It was a phenmonenal success in the US (peaking at #1 and remaining there for 7 weeks), but didn't quite manage to match the success in the UK where it peaked at #16. The VMA winning video was filmed in Spain shows Madonna as the neglected lover of a bull-fighter.

Two great songs! Jump is so underrated and overshadowed by the other singles on the album. It's brilliant! :dance:

 

Take a Bow is beautiful and one of her best ballads!

TAB missing UK top 10 still puzzles me , i onow we have discussed to death but it is an odd fact!!

Take a Bow is truly one amazing song. I love it.

Here are your top 20 tracks remaining in chronological order

 

Borderline

Into the Groove

Live to Tell

Papa Don't Preach

Open Your Heart

La Isla Bonita

Like a Prayer

Express Yourself

Vogue

Deeper and Deeper

Frozen

Ray of Light

The Power of Good-bye

Music

Don't Tell Me

Hung Up

Sorry

Get Together

ghosttown

Crazy For You

 

Any shocks or anything that shouldn't be there? :o What are you rooting for? :cheer:

 

OP is also updated with the results so far!

I don't think there's anything shocking there and it's a very good summary of her career highs, however 'Music' is definitely out of place. Yes it was a transatlantic number one, but it's so weak and has not aged well at all.

That would make one hell of a setlist for a tour !!!