Based on my rate that was the weakest for me so would have preferred it last but still 2nd to last. Not surprising.

Mer Girl is a “good” song but not one I ever really listen to (it’s the only track on the album not on my Madonna playlist).

Mer Girl is a rather off track... but still very good.

I think it was second to bottom in my rate with To Have and Not to Hold...

 

I think I would have preferred THANTH to have been lower overall.

Mer Girl is great, I’d have it higher than this. I agree with Haus in so much as I don’t listen to it outside of the album but for me it’s more essential as a part of this album’s story than many of the other album tracks are.

Yeah I would agree with that too, same applies to ‘Shanti’ - both are integral to the album and I wouldn’t lose either of them, even though there are a couple of outtakes that I much prefer (‘Revenge’ and ‘Like a Flower’).

 

‘Mer Girl’ is a very left-field song for Madonna, reminds me of something Bjork or Kate Bush might produce. Took me ages to pick up on those eerie mechanical noises underneath that sort of dialling tone at the start of the song, an example of how I still discover new things about this album after years of listening to it.

 

11. Candy Perfume Girl // 7.45 average

Highest: one 10 // Lowest: one 5

It's such a amazing song wow. I love it.

Totally makes sense that this song is out!

Candy Perfume Girl deserves better.

Much much better... but a bit better.

Disappointed that's so low :( Such a hypnotic song.

 

Especially with 'To Have and Not to Hold' and 'Little Star' being above it!

Love the grungy, downbeat vibe to 'Candy Perfume Girl', reminds me of a Garbage track.

 

The Drowned World performance is wonderfully weird.

 

A beautiful song but it's about right in terms of its placing here I think!

 

10. To Have and Not to Hold // 7.625 average

Highest: one 9.5 // Lowest: one 5

This one practically does nothing for me.

You can tell this song come straight from her heart !!

I'm not that bothered by To Have and Not to Hold.

Coulda been lower for all I cared

That's such a wonderful song. I really love it.

'To Have and Not to Hold' sounds the closest to the pre-Orbit 'Ray of Light' sessions; Orbit does produce on the track but his input is much more minimal compared to the other tracks he was given to work on (I've shared the demo below). I can see why it might not do much for some people but I love the mood of the song, it's very delicate and vulnerable. I like how it completes the trilogy of songs with 'Frozen' and 'The Power of Goodbye'.

 

I love To Have and Not to Hole (had to keep that typo in!). The production is so mesmerising and haunting <3

 

Little Star aside, things are dropping out in roughly the correct order so far. I do really like To Have and Not to Hold within the context of the album but it doesn't stand up quite so well on its own.