There's an interesting article in Rolling Stone about the 20th anniversary of Madonna's Ray of Light album quoting Susannah Melvoin: https://www.rollingstone....ow-w516946

Susannah, listed third in the credits for "Candy Perfume Girl," says that Madonna demanded a third of the publishing after Orbit played her the track that he'd worked on with Melvoin. She didn't know he'd submitted it for inclusion on the album.

In the interview, Melvoin also claims that while she wrote the lyrics to Orbit's track for "Swim," one of the album's strongest songs IMO, she wasn't credited at all. She concedes that Madonna changed some words and "manipulated" the melody line (and claims not to have hard feelings), but adds, "...had I gotten proper publishing on Ray of Light, I wouldn't be worried about my financial life." Ouch!

While I respect Madonna's abilities, I'm not down with people taking too much credit for work they didn't write just for the publishing. I know it's pretty standard in the industry, but it makes me question all of your contributions and credits when you get exposed.

While I think Madonna's capable, I have noticed a trend that if the lyrics are particularly interesting, she might not have written them or changed much. Case in point: "Don't Tell Me" (if you hear her brother-in-law Joe Henry's "Stop," you'll wonder why she's credited first; granted the melody is altered but...).

She seems to have added a couple of lines to "Ray of Light," but if you hear Clyde Muldoon's "Sepheryn," you'll realize almost all the lyrics belong the original '60s folk song.

I wonder if Melvoin could still pursue songwriting credit and royalties for "Swim" (seems pretty unfair if true). But if media coverage of the 20th anniversary of the album leads to more purchases, maybe she'll make some more money on "Candy Perfume Girl." I've heard she's struggled not to lose her home in recent years.

Ingrid Chavez said in an interview that she had to fight hard against Lenny Kravitz/Madonna for even 25% of "Justify My Love," when she wrote all the lyrics (minus some sort of minor addition). And years lated felt like she should have pressed for more.

Maybe it's not too late for Melvoin?

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[Edited 2/22/18 16:18pm]

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I'm not sure why line breaks between paragraphs don't appear when I post on here btw.

Do pop stars even remember half the shit they do or who contributed what--I wonder sometimes???

positivity88 said:

There's an interesting article in Rolling Stone about the 20th anniversary of Madonna's Ray of Light album quoting Susannah Melvoin: https://www.rollingstone....ow-w516946

Susannah, listed third in the credits for "Candy Perfume Girl," says that Madonna demanded a third of the publishing after Orbit played her the track that he'd worked on with Melvoin. She didn't know he'd submitted it for inclusion on the album.

In the interview, Melvoin also claims that while she wrote the lyrics to Orbit's track for "Swim," one of the album's strongest songs IMO, she wasn't credited at all. She concedes that Madonna changed some words and "manipulated" the melody line (and claims not to have hard feelings), but adds, "...had I gotten proper publishing on Ray of Light, I wouldn't be worried about my financial life." Ouch!

While I respect Madonna's abilities, I'm not down with people taking too much credit for work they didn't write just for the publishing. I know it's pretty standard in the industry, but it makes me question all of your contributions and credits when you get exposed.

While I think Madonna's capable, I have noticed a trend that if the lyrics are particularly interesting, she might not have written them or changed much. Case in point: "Don't Tell Me" (if you hear her brother-in-law Joe Henry's "Stop," you'll wonder why she's credited first; granted the melody is altered but...).

She seems to have added a couple of lines to "Ray of Light," but if you hear Clyde Muldoon's "Sepheryn," you'll realize almost all the lyrics belong the original '60s folk song.

I wonder if Melvoin could still pursue songwriting credit and royalties for "Swim" (seems pretty unfair if true). But if media coverage of the 20th anniversary of the album leads to more purchases, maybe she'll make some more money on "Candy Perfume Girl." I've heard she's struggled not to lose her home in recent years.

Ingrid Chavez said in an interview that she had to fight hard against Lenny Kravitz/Madonna for even 25% of "Justify My Love," when she wrote all the lyrics (minus some sort of minor addition). And years lated felt like she should have pressed for more.

Maybe it's not too late for Melvoin?

[Edited 2/22/18 16:16pm]

[Edited 2/22/18 16:17pm]

[Edited 2/22/18 16:18pm]

[Edited 2/22/18 16:19pm]

[Edited 2/22/18 16:39pm]

[Edited 2/22/18 16:39pm]

offtopic: have you talked in the Another mass school shoot...n Florida. thread or shared your perspective being a teacher?

purplerabbithole said:

Do pop stars even remember half the shit they do or who contributed what--I wonder sometimes???

positivity88 said:

There's an interesting article in Rolling Stone about the 20th anniversary of Madonna's Ray of Light album quoting Susannah Melvoin: https://www.rollingstone....ow-w516946

Susannah, listed third in the credits for "Candy Perfume Girl," says that Madonna demanded a third of the publishing after Orbit played her the track that he'd worked on with Melvoin. She didn't know he'd submitted it for inclusion on the album.

In the interview, Melvoin also claims that while she wrote the lyrics to Orbit's track for "Swim," one of the album's strongest songs IMO, she wasn't credited at all. She concedes that Madonna changed some words and "manipulated" the melody line (and claims not to have hard feelings), but adds, "...had I gotten proper publishing on Ray of Light, I wouldn't be worried about my financial life." Ouch!

While I respect Madonna's abilities, I'm not down with people taking too much credit for work they didn't write just for the publishing. I know it's pretty standard in the industry, but it makes me question all of your contributions and credits when you get exposed.

While I think Madonna's capable, I have noticed a trend that if the lyrics are particularly interesting, she might not have written them or changed much. Case in point: "Don't Tell Me" (if you hear her brother-in-law Joe Henry's "Stop," you'll wonder why she's credited first; granted the melody is altered but...).

She seems to have added a couple of lines to "Ray of Light," but if you hear Clyde Muldoon's "Sepheryn," you'll realize almost all the lyrics belong the original '60s folk song.

I wonder if Melvoin could still pursue songwriting credit and royalties for "Swim" (seems pretty unfair if true). But if media coverage of the 20th anniversary of the album leads to more purchases, maybe she'll make some more money on "Candy Perfume Girl." I've heard she's struggled not to lose her home in recent years.

Ingrid Chavez said in an interview that she had to fight hard against Lenny Kravitz/Madonna for even 25% of "Justify My Love," when she wrote all the lyrics (minus some sort of minor addition). And years lated felt like she should have pressed for more.

Maybe it's not too late for Melvoin?

[Edited 2/22/18 16:16pm]

[Edited 2/22/18 16:17pm]

[Edited 2/22/18 16:18pm]

[Edited 2/22/18 16:19pm]

[Edited 2/22/18 16:39pm]

[Edited 2/22/18 16:39pm]

positivity88 said:

I'm not sure why line breaks between paragraphs don't appear when I post on here btw.

Paragraph spacing http://prince.org/msg/3/437228 , and you're welcome

We have been talking about it at the school where I work. The kids all seem to be for at least a degree of gun control.

OldFriends4Sale said:

offtopic: have you talked in the Another mass school shoot...n Florida. thread or shared your perspective being a teacher?

purplerabbithole said:

Do pop stars even remember half the shit they do or who contributed what--I wonder sometimes???

[Edited 2/22/18 16:39pm]

[Edited 2/22/18 16:39pm]

said: