Welcome back on Blogger fans!
The day has finally arrived.
Madonna's 14th studio album "Madame X" is now available everywhere.
Are we ready to go around the world with our queen? I sure am!
Let's start by saying that this album is a journey, there is a lot to discuss, a lot to experience, a lot to feel, a lot to learn. The first time I listened to it I couldn't believe my ears.
Let's jump right into the tracks....ven conmigo, let's take a trip!
Medellin: The album starts with the first single, Medellin, an electronic-reggaeton track. It is a collaboration with Colombian singer Maluma. I already reviewed the song days after it came out ( read my article here) and my opinion hasn't really changed since then. I appreciate the lyrics, I appreciate the watery production, I appreciate Madonna's melodic and smooth vocals but there is a bit too much Maluma on the track for my taste. I don't think the tone of his voice blends well with Madonna's. The song is good but could have been even better had it been a solo track.
This is one of the reasons I absolutely prefer the Madame X In The Sphinx remix by Offer Nissim. Maluma's presence is handled better, he's almost in the background, it's all about Madonna and the irresistible arabic melody. Easily my favorite version of the track.
Dark Ballet: This is such an incredible song, an experiment I may say. It starts dubstep, then a gorgeous piano leads us to the final part of the song, which samples The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky. I'm still trying to make up my mind around the lyrics as I'm not sure what they actually mean, at least some of them. It seems to be about the right to live the life you want to live, no matter the consequences. Life is too precious, don't waste it by living a lie, always live your truth.
According to Madonna, the song was inspired by Joan of Arc and Stanley Kubrick's movie A Clockwork Orange. Madonna's last monologue is particularly haunting and I interpret it as her telling us to let go of the evil inside of us, before it's too late.
It's a beautiful life.
God Control: The albums proceeds with one of the longest songs of Madonna's career. God Control is easily the political manifesto of the record. It deals with society, how we are fooled by our politicians, how we are trapped in our own rules and beliefs, how the economy is collapsing and young people struggle to find a job even if they go to school. People have given up dreaming and wanting to fix this situation because they think it would be useless and nothing would change. This song, according to Madonna, should be our wake-up call, it's a call to action, if we come together we can make a new democracy.....and what better way to convey such a powerful message than to sing it over a huge disco beat? The lyrics are depressing because they bluntly describe our world but the euphoric disco beat to me is hope, the hope people have given up on. Throughout the song Madonna is accompanied by a piano, strings and a gospel choir singing "We lost God Control".
One of my favorites on the album as of now.
Future: Madonna doesn't hold back on this album. Here comes an impeccably produced reggae number featuring Quavo about the future of humanity. The lyrics aren't as straightforward as you may think, as the future Madonna and Quavo sing about isn't the time after the present in my opinion. It's rather humanity's next spiritual evolution. That is why the lyrics are an invitation to open our minds, to light up the dark, to give hope, to be an inspiration and to spread positive vibes. Quavo may not be your perfect featuring artist but he definitely grows on you with each listen. Thematically, this song is essential to the album.
Batuka: So far we've been in the US (God Control), Colombia (Medellin), Jamaica (Future) and briefly in France and Russia (Dark Ballet)....on Batuka we are in Africa (I don't understand why music critics say this song sounds latin, it really does not). Anyway, Batuka is a feminist anthem and deals with women wanting to reclaim their rights. The line "Get that old man / Put him in jail" is said to be about Donald Trump. Madonna explained that she didn't want to be literal on this song, she wanted to convey more of a universal message. Even the word feminist, that I used to describe this song, is highly disliked by Madonna, as she thinks people use that word erroneously. People think feminism means that you hate men and that is not what being a feminist is about in her opinion (to quote Madonna herself at the Billboard Woman of the Year awards in 2016: "Fuck it, I'm a different kind of feminist, I'm a bad feminist").
The song is an anthemic mid-tempo track and Madonna is accompanied by multiple african female singers. Batuka is one of my favorites on the album and it is a massive grower. If you didn't like it at first, listen to it again, believe me.
Killers Who Are Partying: ....ven conmigo, let's take a trip. Now we're in Portugal. This mid-tempo, relaxing fado song is easily the most controversial song on the album. On this track Madonna literally tries to impersonate a saviour: "I will be gay / If the gay are burned / I will be Africa / if Africa is shut down / I will be poor / if the poor are humiliated / And I'll be a child / if the children are exploited".
As she sings during the chorus, the world is wild and you have to walk alone but she will be there to help you if you're in danger. Some called this song a masterpiece, others called it pretentious (a very trendy word since SJW started to pollute the digital world). I think you don't have to necessarily think about Madonna singing this song, you can pretend it's God or even your higher self. That is the beauty of music people have forgotten about: you can interpret a song as you prefer.
As for me, it's the song that captured me the most during my first listen. Gorgeous track.
Crave: The second official single, Crave is a r&b ballad and a collaboration with Swae Lee. A pretty short track, it is the best duet on the album and one of the best duets of Madonna's career in my opinion. As Madonna explained, the song is about longing, wanting to be with someone, even if that someone is maybe not the right person (as she says in the music video: "Don't we all want what we know is not good for us? What we know might break us, in the end? And yet, we fly towards it"). The chemistry between Madonna and Swae Lee is surprising, their voices sound gorgeous together. I love when featured artists actually give more life to a song. Isn't that the main purpose of a duet? That's what (the album version of) Medellin failed to do.
Crazy: Crazy is a latin-pop ballad with doo-wop elements. Lyrically, it deals with a chaotic relationship that is driving Madonna crazy. Her lover is trying to fool her but she won't allow that anymore. In a way, at least from a lyrical point of view, it is highly similar to some tracks from her self-titled debut album. Musically, it is also the only classic Madonna pop song on this album, as it's the only one to have a proper chorus. Old school fans are definitely going to love this track.
Come Alive: Another favorite of mine, Come Alive is a really deep song. The lyrics seem to be about an alien who lands on Earth and realises that humans don't fully live as they could and should. In a way, this alien behaves as a wake-up call (quoting God Control) and encourages humanity to dream and come alive. Musically, the song is mid-tempo and features an amazing choir that accompanies Madonna. The atmosphere this song evokes is dreamy, heavenly and even spacey at times. The first time I listened to it I almost cried at the lyrics. Definitely one of my absolute favorites on the album.
Extreme Occident: Easily Madonna's most personal track on this album, Extreme Occident is an introspective overview of her pre-fame days. Madonna thinks about how she felt lost at the time but in reality she wasn't, because she had herself and the only thing she had to do was to believe in herself and most of all, be herself. The line "But I wasn't lost / You believed me" apparently refers to Christopher Flynn, Madonna's ballet teacher in high school, "the first person that believed in me, that made me feel special as a dancer, as an artist and as a human being. I know this sounds trivial and superficial but he was the first man to tell me I was beautiful."
Musically, the song can be divided in two parts. The first one is piano and voice, while the second part features tribal instruments, with Madonna singing over a mid-tempo beat.
It's another favorite of mine.
Faz Gostoso: The fourth collaboration on the album, Faz Gostoso is a duet with brazilian singer Anitta and it is actually a cover. The original version became a hit in Brazil last year and was sung by Brazilian singer Blaya. This song is one of the most obvious commercial hits on the album and it is an explosion of energy. Surprisingly, Anitta doesn't sing that much on the song, to the point that you could consider this a solo track.
I absolutely love this song, the street-party sequence in the middle is the highlight. My only complaint is that it kind of "ruins" the dark/atmospheric flow of the album. Other than that, I appreciate it a lot and hope it becomes a single at some point.
Bitch I'm Loca: The fifth and last collaboration on the album, Bitch I'm Loca is Madonna's second duet with Colombian singer Maluma. It is the easiest track to digest on the album and it's not really a compliment. This sexy reggaeton song adds nothing to the album, even though the lyrics are fun and the chemistry between Madonna and Maluma is apparent. It isn't bad, it's just the perfect song to dance to when you're drunk. In a way though (and don't tell anyone) I vibe with this song more than (the album version of) Medellin. It's our secret, shhhh.
I Don't Search, I Find: Classic Madonna right here! This is an incredible trance/house track that sounds straight out of 1992. It is highly reminiscent of Vogue and some tracks from Erotica. Lyrically it is about finding your perfect match in the chaos of the world. Madonna sounds phenomenal on this song, her parlato is incredibly sexy. Dita definitely travelled through time and space to come to 2019 and make this song. Gorgeous.
Finally enough love.
Looking for Mercy: This is probably the track I relate the most to from a lyrical point of view. Madonna is lost and she is basically asking God help on how to live. She wants to feel the divine presence and finally get rid of the negativity inside and around her: "Every night before I close my eyes / I say a little prayer that you'll have mercy on me / Please dear God, to live inside the divine / Not like I want to die / Teach me to forgive myself, outlive this hell".
This is also Madonna's best vocal performance on the album.
I Rise: This song is her wish come true. She's finally able to rise above the negativity that is polluting the world: "'Cause I'm going through it / Yeah, I know you see the tragic in it / Just hold on to the little bit of magic in it / I can't break down now / I can't take that / I rise, I rise / up above it, up above it".
The girl that we hear at the start of the song is social activist, advocate for gun control Emma Gonzales, who survived the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. On the previous track, Madonna was asking help from God, on this track she is the one trying to inspire the world and make people rise with her. She is finally liberated.
BONUS TRACKS
Funana: This track moves me every single time I listen to it. The melody instantly puts you in a good mood but the lyrics totally make this song. Madonna remembers many of her peers who have passed away: Prince, George Michael, Whitney Houston, David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Tupac, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, Elvis Presley, James Brown and even young, talented souls gone too soon like Avicii and Mac Miller. The main message of this song to me is to treasure artists while they are alive instead of celebrating them after their death.
Let's go dancing!
Back That Up To The Beat: One of my absolute favorites on the album, this was a demo Madonna wrote with Pharrel Williams during the Rebel Heart sessions. I absolutely love this new version! It has that world music feel that is present throughout the whole album, replacing the demo's funk/r&b production that, while good and catchy, was reminiscent of Hard Candy. The flute during the chorus and at the end of the song gives me goosebumps! One of my favorite instruments (and the only one I can play, but let's not go off-topic). Love this track!
Ciao Bella: This dance/house song describes the feeling of peace we get when we are home. In this case, home can mean anything...a house, a country, a person you're in love with. It is rumored (mostly because of the italian title) that this song is actually about Pacentro, the village of origin of Madonna's grandparents. Throughout the song Madonna is accompanied by a Cape Verdean singer. I like this song a lot and the first time I heard it I instantly thought about Haddaway's What is Love.
In conclusion...
What a ride!
This album should be renamed Madame X - Around The World in 70 minutes.
I can say that it's probably the most experimental album she's ever done. To come up with something like this after 37 years of career is absolutely crazy.
She created a persona, Madame X, a secret agent that changes identities and travels around the world to inspire and to spread wisdom and positivity. Musically, there are influences from all over the world. There is fado, reggaeton, dancehall, disco, house/trance, r&b, hip-hop and genres I had no knowledge of such as funana and batuka. The production is the star of this album, without a doubt (along with the various social and political messages). I've never heard Madonna have a sound like this, even if she played with world music a bit on Ray of Light and Rebel Heart. There is a difference between those albums and Madame X though. They both came from within, after a spiritual enlightenment (Ray of Light) and while doing an introspective analysis (Rebel Heart). Madame X, on the other hand, came from outside, from the contact with different people and different cultures. Because of that, it truly is the definition of a global album.
It is an album that requires multiple listens, as the songs aren't your typical pop songs, not only because of the variety of genres but because of the arrangements. With this album, Madonna completely destroyed the typical structure of a pop song. Once you get used to a melody, there is a sharp and sudden change. The only song to have a proper chorus on the album is Crazy and to a certain extent, I Rise.
I won't be doing meaningless comparisons with previous albums as every album to me is amazing, they are all pieces that reflect different periods of her life. They are her autobiography. All I can say is that I loved what I heard on the album and that she closed her fourth (!!!!) decade with a bang. Her creativity has no boundaries and I can't wait for the next chapter.
"Come alive, come alive".
Let your body move to the music
Come Alive: Another favorite of mine, Come Alive is a really deep song. The lyrics seem to be about an alien who lands on Earth and realises that humans don't fully live as they could and should. In a way, this alien behaves as a wake-up call (quoting God Control) and encourages humanity to dream and come alive. Musically, the song is mid-tempo and features an amazing choir that accompanies Madonna. The atmosphere this song evokes is dreamy, heavenly and even spacey at times. The first time I listened to it I almost cried at the lyrics. Definitely one of my absolute favorites on the album.
Extreme Occident: Easily Madonna's most personal track on this album, Extreme Occident is an introspective overview of her pre-fame days. Madonna thinks about how she felt lost at the time but in reality she wasn't, because she had herself and the only thing she had to do was to believe in herself and most of all, be herself. The line "But I wasn't lost / You believed me" apparently refers to Christopher Flynn, Madonna's ballet teacher in high school, "the first person that believed in me, that made me feel special as a dancer, as an artist and as a human being. I know this sounds trivial and superficial but he was the first man to tell me I was beautiful."
Musically, the song can be divided in two parts. The first one is piano and voice, while the second part features tribal instruments, with Madonna singing over a mid-tempo beat.
It's another favorite of mine.
I absolutely love this song, the street-party sequence in the middle is the highlight. My only complaint is that it kind of "ruins" the dark/atmospheric flow of the album. Other than that, I appreciate it a lot and hope it becomes a single at some point.
Bitch I'm Loca: The fifth and last collaboration on the album, Bitch I'm Loca is Madonna's second duet with Colombian singer Maluma. It is the easiest track to digest on the album and it's not really a compliment. This sexy reggaeton song adds nothing to the album, even though the lyrics are fun and the chemistry between Madonna and Maluma is apparent. It isn't bad, it's just the perfect song to dance to when you're drunk. In a way though (and don't tell anyone) I vibe with this song more than (the album version of) Medellin. It's our secret, shhhh.
I Don't Search, I Find: Classic Madonna right here! This is an incredible trance/house track that sounds straight out of 1992. It is highly reminiscent of Vogue and some tracks from Erotica. Lyrically it is about finding your perfect match in the chaos of the world. Madonna sounds phenomenal on this song, her parlato is incredibly sexy. Dita definitely travelled through time and space to come to 2019 and make this song. Gorgeous.
Finally enough love.
Looking for Mercy: This is probably the track I relate the most to from a lyrical point of view. Madonna is lost and she is basically asking God help on how to live. She wants to feel the divine presence and finally get rid of the negativity inside and around her: "Every night before I close my eyes / I say a little prayer that you'll have mercy on me / Please dear God, to live inside the divine / Not like I want to die / Teach me to forgive myself, outlive this hell".
This is also Madonna's best vocal performance on the album.
I Rise: This song is her wish come true. She's finally able to rise above the negativity that is polluting the world: "'Cause I'm going through it / Yeah, I know you see the tragic in it / Just hold on to the little bit of magic in it / I can't break down now / I can't take that / I rise, I rise / up above it, up above it".
The girl that we hear at the start of the song is social activist, advocate for gun control Emma Gonzales, who survived the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. On the previous track, Madonna was asking help from God, on this track she is the one trying to inspire the world and make people rise with her. She is finally liberated.
BONUS TRACKS
Funana: This track moves me every single time I listen to it. The melody instantly puts you in a good mood but the lyrics totally make this song. Madonna remembers many of her peers who have passed away: Prince, George Michael, Whitney Houston, David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Tupac, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, Elvis Presley, James Brown and even young, talented souls gone too soon like Avicii and Mac Miller. The main message of this song to me is to treasure artists while they are alive instead of celebrating them after their death.
Let's go dancing!
Back That Up To The Beat: One of my absolute favorites on the album, this was a demo Madonna wrote with Pharrel Williams during the Rebel Heart sessions. I absolutely love this new version! It has that world music feel that is present throughout the whole album, replacing the demo's funk/r&b production that, while good and catchy, was reminiscent of Hard Candy. The flute during the chorus and at the end of the song gives me goosebumps! One of my favorite instruments (and the only one I can play, but let's not go off-topic). Love this track!
Ciao Bella: This dance/house song describes the feeling of peace we get when we are home. In this case, home can mean anything...a house, a country, a person you're in love with. It is rumored (mostly because of the italian title) that this song is actually about Pacentro, the village of origin of Madonna's grandparents. Throughout the song Madonna is accompanied by a Cape Verdean singer. I like this song a lot and the first time I heard it I instantly thought about Haddaway's What is Love.
In conclusion...
What a ride!
This album should be renamed Madame X - Around The World in 70 minutes.
I can say that it's probably the most experimental album she's ever done. To come up with something like this after 37 years of career is absolutely crazy.
She created a persona, Madame X, a secret agent that changes identities and travels around the world to inspire and to spread wisdom and positivity. Musically, there are influences from all over the world. There is fado, reggaeton, dancehall, disco, house/trance, r&b, hip-hop and genres I had no knowledge of such as funana and batuka. The production is the star of this album, without a doubt (along with the various social and political messages). I've never heard Madonna have a sound like this, even if she played with world music a bit on Ray of Light and Rebel Heart. There is a difference between those albums and Madame X though. They both came from within, after a spiritual enlightenment (Ray of Light) and while doing an introspective analysis (Rebel Heart). Madame X, on the other hand, came from outside, from the contact with different people and different cultures. Because of that, it truly is the definition of a global album.
It is an album that requires multiple listens, as the songs aren't your typical pop songs, not only because of the variety of genres but because of the arrangements. With this album, Madonna completely destroyed the typical structure of a pop song. Once you get used to a melody, there is a sharp and sudden change. The only song to have a proper chorus on the album is Crazy and to a certain extent, I Rise.
I won't be doing meaningless comparisons with previous albums as every album to me is amazing, they are all pieces that reflect different periods of her life. They are her autobiography. All I can say is that I loved what I heard on the album and that she closed her fourth (!!!!) decade with a bang. Her creativity has no boundaries and I can't wait for the next chapter.
"Come alive, come alive".
Let your body move to the music
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