DavidEye said:

i've been so obsessed with kate bush's "aerial" that i haven't really put names to songs yet w/ madonna's album, so bear with me...

my absolute favorite is the one that sounds like 'i feel love'...is that 'get together'? that song is kick-ass. of course, anything that tries to sound like moroder's best work is gonna be killer if done right, which is the case here. 'isaac' is growing on me. i like 'hung up', too - moreso than i thought i would upon initial listens. other than what i'm about to list, there's something about every song i like. even the two songs i DON'T like have some kind of redeeming feature lurking around in the background.

my dislikes: "i love new york" - i guess that's a popular anti-favorite. it's not just because she says "dork". i'm not thrilled with the use of the "i wanna be your dog" riff in the song. i'm always annoyed when madge tries to throw in some punk rock, because she's SO not. iggy pop opening for her show? okay, mommy's a bad-ass, that's cool. trying to cop a stooges riff? give it up, honey. not working. i don't like the song later on in the album where she's phrasing like beyonce and dredging up flourishes from her old songs (intentionally or not) - way too contrived. sounds like another damn gap ad.

overall, i love the energy and i love the seguing from song to song. the whole thing just MOVES in a way that's really appealing to me, and it's nice to hear ol' madge having some fun and being playful again. i'm into it.

The song that sounds like Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" is called "Future Lovers".I think it's the most interesting track on the album....very edgy and dark.I love it!

The song where's she's phrasing like Beyonce? I think you're referring to "Push".

so, I'm not sure of the Madonna-Thread-Norms right now. This may be deserving of a different thread, but I didn't know.

And, after skimming this thread there seems to be a lot of reflection on her past work. So, I present to you Entertainment Weekly's list of the 10 most unjustly ignored Madonna tunes. Discuss

''Think of Me'' (Madonna, 1983)
You probably composed more complicated synth lines on your Casio back in 10th grade, but darned if that monotonous bleep-bleep-bleep doesn't provide a rock-solid foundation for young Miss Ciccone's game warble. The song's message of demanding respect in a relationship is just as simple, and equally timeless. But if there's any doubt about the decade Madonna produced this confection, the righteous sax solo near the end is as effective as carbon dating.

''Over and Over'' (Like a Virgin, 1984)
Admittedly, there are as many clichés as there are beats per minute on this unrepentantly sunny number. But, singing with an enthusiasm that borders on scary, Madonna sells the message — ''I get up again, over and over'' — completely. Spin it liberally...for inspiration.

''More'' (I'm Breathless: Songs From and Inspired by the Film Dick Tracy, 1990)
''Nothing's better than more,'' Madonna sings, channeling her Breathless Mahoney character from Dick Tracy. And indeed, when it comes to the movie's soundtrack, nothing really is better than ''More.'' Just when you think Stephen Sondheim's rapid-fire wordplay is about to get away from her, Madonna pushes through, proving she's got a stronger instrument than a lot of critics would like to admit.

''Waiting'' (Erotica, 1992)
Who knew Hip-Hop Madonna was such a complicated gal? Sing-speaking over a spare beat, jingly piano, and sinister bass line, Madonna at first conveys a desperate, aching longing for her no-good lover, but gradually shifts to a mood of icy disdain, culminating in a scathing closing line that's not fit for print on a family website. Wicked, and wickedly good.

''Bedtime Story'' (Bedtime Stories, 1995)
It may be one of Madonna's few singles from the '90s that didn't crack the Top 40 (it peaked at No. 42 on the Billboard charts), but you've got to admire her for foisting a zesty, Björk-penned electronica track onto the airwaves. Coupled with an eye-popping video that had Madge free-falling through the galaxy and popping doves out of her stomach, ''Bedtime Story'' will always be a smash hit, at least in the minds of her loyal fans.

''Buenos Aires'' (Evita, 1996)
Ambitious girl arrives in the big city with even bigger dreams. It's a story Madonna knows all too well, and, not surprisingly, she infuses Andrew Lloyd Webber's frantic show-stopper with a palpable hunger. ''Give me credit, I'll find ways of paying,'' Madonna demands. Far be it from us to make the lady ask twice.

''Drowned World/Substitute for Love'' (Ray of Light, 1998)
Listening to superstars ruminate on the trappings of fame and fortune is usually a pretty tedious exercise, but here, Madonna breathes new life into the idea that ''some things cannot be bought'' by giving one of the most nuanced vocal performances of her career. The submerged soundscape gives the impression she's singing from the bottom of the ocean, but as she crescendos to the climactic mmm-mmm, it's clear Madonna's also singing from the bottom of her heart. ''Drowned World'' may not have been released as a single in the States, but the fact that Madonna chose it as the name of her 2001 tour tells you it's one of her favorites too.

''Shanti/Ashtangi'' (Ray of Light, 1998)
What is Madonna singing about on this hypnotizing little ditty? Beats the heck out of me, but the whirling percussion, layered vocals, and flourishes of flute take me somewhere distant and sublime — the Ajanta Caves, perhaps, or maybe the Kabbalah Centre?

''I Deserve It'' (Music, 2000)
Forget about co-producer Mirwais' whirs and whistles: At its heart, ''I Deserve It'' is a soulful acoustic track that, lyrically and melodically, ranks as one of Madonna's loveliest compositions.

''Nobody Knows Me'' (American Life, 2003)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, American Life was too preachy for its own good, and this song was among the primary offenders. (Sample lyric: ''I don't watch TV. I don't waste my time, reading magazines.'' Gah!) Still, if you treat Madgebot's vocoder-enhanced instrument as just another space-age effect, the message dissipates into the larger surround-sound spectacle, and you're left with a track that'll give you a workout on the dance floor or the treadmill.

endorphin74 said:

hush, you!

''Waiting'' (Erotica, 1992)
Who knew Hip-Hop Madonna was such a complicated gal? Sing-speaking over a spare beat, jingly piano, and sinister bass line, Madonna at first conveys a desperate, aching longing for her no-good lover, but gradually shifts to a mood of icy disdain, culminating in a scathing closing line that's not fit for print on a family website. Wicked, and wickedly good.

only missing the Look of Love and Spanish Eyes. it would have been perfect with those included.

DavidEye said:

i've been so obsessed with kate bush's "aerial" that i haven't really put names to songs yet w/ madonna's album, so bear with me...

my absolute favorite is the one that sounds like 'i feel love'...is that 'get together'? that song is kick-ass. of course, anything that tries to sound like moroder's best work is gonna be killer if done right, which is the case here. 'isaac' is growing on me. i like 'hung up', too - moreso than i thought i would upon initial listens. other than what i'm about to list, there's something about every song i like. even the two songs i DON'T like have some kind of redeeming feature lurking around in the background.

my dislikes: "i love new york" - i guess that's a popular anti-favorite. it's not just because she says "dork". i'm not thrilled with the use of the "i wanna be your dog" riff in the song. i'm always annoyed when madge tries to throw in some punk rock, because she's SO not. iggy pop opening for her show? okay, mommy's a bad-ass, that's cool. trying to cop a stooges riff? give it up, honey. not working. i don't like the song later on in the album where she's phrasing like beyonce and dredging up flourishes from her old songs (intentionally or not) - way too contrived. sounds like another damn gap ad.

overall, i love the energy and i love the seguing from song to song. the whole thing just MOVES in a way that's really appealing to me, and it's nice to hear ol' madge having some fun and being playful again. i'm into it.

so, I'm not sure of the Madonna-Thread-Norms right now. This may be deserving of a different thread, but I didn't know.

endorphin74 said:

Yeah I agree with that entry!

Madge may not be punk rock now, but in the late 70s and 80 when she was with the Breakfast Club and her first bands Millionaires and the Emmys she was punk rock. Playing at places like Max's Kansas City and CBGB's. Her first manager Camilla Pagionlla wanted her to follow in punk and Pat Benatar's footsteps until Madonna and Stephan Bray started working on Dance tracks on their own.

ehuffnsd said:

and she dated jean michel basquiat, who was in a noise band with vincent gallo, which adds all kinds of hipster cred to her past. still and all, i still cringe when i think of madonna in bondage pants.

CinisterCee said:

i love waiting and i love the remix with Everlast that was on the Rain single.

Anxiety said:

i love thinking of Madonna as a Dominatrix

DavidEye said:

i've been so obsessed with kate bush's "aerial" that i haven't really put names to songs yet w/ madonna's album, so bear with me...

my absolute favorite is the one that sounds like 'i feel love'...is that 'get together'? that song is kick-ass. of course, anything that tries to sound like moroder's best work is gonna be killer if done right, which is the case here. 'isaac' is growing on me. i like 'hung up', too - moreso than i thought i would upon initial listens. other than what i'm about to list, there's something about every song i like. even the two songs i DON'T like have some kind of redeeming feature lurking around in the background.

my dislikes: "i love new york" - i guess that's a popular anti-favorite. it's not just because she says "dork". i'm not thrilled with the use of the "i wanna be your dog" riff in the song. i'm always annoyed when madge tries to throw in some punk rock, because she's SO not. iggy pop opening for her show? okay, mommy's a bad-ass, that's cool. trying to cop a stooges riff? give it up, honey. not working. i don't like the song later on in the album where she's phrasing like beyonce and dredging up flourishes from her old songs (intentionally or not) - way too contrived. sounds like another damn gap ad.

overall, i love the energy and i love the seguing from song to song. the whole thing just MOVES in a way that's really appealing to me, and it's nice to hear ol' madge having some fun and being playful again. i'm into it.

Well fuck me gently with a chainsaw!

so, I'm not sure of the Madonna-Thread-Norms right now. This may be deserving of a different thread, but I didn't know.

And, after skimming this thread there seems to be a lot of reflection on her past work. So, I present to you Entertainment Weekly's list of the 10 most unjustly ignored Madonna tunes. Discuss

''Think of Me'' (Madonna, 1983)
You probably composed more complicated synth lines on your Casio back in 10th grade, but darned if that monotonous bleep-bleep-bleep doesn't provide a rock-solid foundation for young Miss Ciccone's game warble. The song's message of demanding respect in a relationship is just as simple, and equally timeless. But if there's any doubt about the decade Madonna produced this confection, the righteous sax solo near the end is as effective as carbon dating.

''Over and Over'' (Like a Virgin, 1984)
Admittedly, there are as many clichés as there are beats per minute on this unrepentantly sunny number. But, singing with an enthusiasm that borders on scary, Madonna sells the message — ''I get up again, over and over'' — completely. Spin it liberally...for inspiration.

''More'' (I'm Breathless: Songs From and Inspired by the Film Dick Tracy, 1990)
''Nothing's better than more,'' Madonna sings, channeling her Breathless Mahoney character from Dick Tracy. And indeed, when it comes to the movie's soundtrack, nothing really is better than ''More.'' Just when you think Stephen Sondheim's rapid-fire wordplay is about to get away from her, Madonna pushes through, proving she's got a stronger instrument than a lot of critics would like to admit.

''Waiting'' (Erotica, 1992)
Who knew Hip-Hop Madonna was such a complicated gal? Sing-speaking over a spare beat, jingly piano, and sinister bass line, Madonna at first conveys a desperate, aching longing for her no-good lover, but gradually shifts to a mood of icy disdain, culminating in a scathing closing line that's not fit for print on a family website. Wicked, and wickedly good.

''Bedtime Story'' (Bedtime Stories, 1995)
It may be one of Madonna's few singles from the '90s that didn't crack the Top 40 (it peaked at No. 42 on the Billboard charts), but you've got to admire her for foisting a zesty, Björk-penned electronica track onto the airwaves. Coupled with an eye-popping video that had Madge free-falling through the galaxy and popping doves out of her stomach, ''Bedtime Story'' will always be a smash hit, at least in the minds of her loyal fans.

''Buenos Aires'' (Evita, 1996)
Ambitious girl arrives in the big city with even bigger dreams. It's a story Madonna knows all too well, and, not surprisingly, she infuses Andrew Lloyd Webber's frantic show-stopper with a palpable hunger. ''Give me credit, I'll find ways of paying,'' Madonna demands. Far be it from us to make the lady ask twice.

''Drowned World/Substitute for Love'' (Ray of Light, 1998)
Listening to superstars ruminate on the trappings of fame and fortune is usually a pretty tedious exercise, but here, Madonna breathes new life into the idea that ''some things cannot be bought'' by giving one of the most nuanced vocal performances of her career. The submerged soundscape gives the impression she's singing from the bottom of the ocean, but as she crescendos to the climactic mmm-mmm, it's clear Madonna's also singing from the bottom of her heart. ''Drowned World'' may not have been released as a single in the States, but the fact that Madonna chose it as the name of her 2001 tour tells you it's one of her favorites too.

''Shanti/Ashtangi'' (Ray of Light, 1998)
What is Madonna singing about on this hypnotizing little ditty? Beats the heck out of me, but the whirling percussion, layered vocals, and flourishes of flute take me somewhere distant and sublime — the Ajanta Caves, perhaps, or maybe the Kabbalah Centre?

''I Deserve It'' (Music, 2000)
Forget about co-producer Mirwais' whirs and whistles: At its heart, ''I Deserve It'' is a soulful acoustic track that, lyrically and melodically, ranks as one of Madonna's loveliest compositions.

''Nobody Knows Me'' (American Life, 2003)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, American Life was too preachy for its own good, and this song was among the primary offenders. (Sample lyric: ''I don't watch TV. I don't waste my time, reading magazines.'' Gah!) Still, if you treat Madgebot's vocoder-enhanced instrument as just another space-age effect, the message dissipates into the larger surround-sound spectacle, and you're left with a track that'll give you a workout on the dance floor or the treadmill.

what can i say? i'm with her when she's right.

ehuffnsd said:

yes on the Rain casssingle.

ehuffnsd said:

that's totally different. i don't think of her 'erotica' phase as punk rock, though i guess it could be argued that there was some punk crassness to it, and a rawness that could be connected to punk style. i see it more as glam mixed with '70s porn mixed with a bit of warhol-era pop art.

CinisterCee said:

i got it on the Rain Maxi cd part 2 with Up Down Suite and Rain Radio edit

Anxiety said:

bondage pants were stolen from the BDSM scene though. trust me i've heard many a lecture on the history of BDSM from my elders.

ehuffnsd said:

when didja start collecting maxisingles?

CinisterCee said:

92-93

ehuffnsd said:

Cool. I never saw a copy of whatever single has "Let Down Your Guard" on it.

Now that I have a legit copy of the album, I still just think it's okay. But the insert? Terrible! One outfit and a boring photo shoot. No lyric sheet, but that may not be a bad thing.

CinisterCee said:

i believe that was a maxi of Secert. the UK but i could be mistaken.

Anxiety said:

bondage pants were stolen from the BDSM scene though. trust me i've heard many a lecture on the history of BDSM from my elders.