This was the last Madonna album I purchased to complete my collection of fine Veronica tunes. Inicialy I resisted the purchase because I had Vogue on "The Immaculate Collection".

"I'm Breathless" is the oddball on Madonna's Catalogue. It was her first concept album and I was surprised with the quality of it. Madonna's voice (and her vocal limitations) are top here. Once again it proves that Madonna is really a Neo-Cabaret performer.



Apart from Vogue, that doesn't fit the soundspace of the album, all of the tunes are excellent. It's uncanny how Madonna's compositions are almost equal to the ones of Stephen Sondheim. Our old girl did her research...The weakest songs have to be Something to Remember and Back in Business.

Others get inside our favorite guilty pleasure realm like More, I'm Going Bananas and Now I'm Following You, Pt. 2 (the worse track on the album...)

My opinion: A Super-dooper YAY!


[Edited 3/15/06 0:52am]
[Edited 3/15/06 0:54am]

A resounding "nay"!!

MartyMcFly said:

While it's not one of my favorite Madonna albums,I appreciate 'I'm Breathless' alot.With this album,Madonna proved that she is versatile,and not afraid to venture out and try other styles of music besides dance and pop.In many ways,this project paved the way for her to do 'Evita'.

My brother is a huge Madonna fan ,i remember this album being played to death in his bedroom

this is sorta off topic,but i didn't wanna start another Madonna thread,so I will post it here...

RUMOR!!

Madonna's tourdates will be announced this Monday March 20
Tickets for all shows go on-sale Saturday March 25

1) hell to the no her songs were not on par with sondheims....good god!! (-said in best dansa style)...

2) i liked it for what it was, a compliment to Dick Tracy...

(wow..two compliments in a row for a work of madges.... )

sosgemini said:

You have just been forgiven 4 ur sins towards Madonna!

I really enjoy this album. It's silly, it's fun, it's a departure for her. It's certainly NOT one of her best albums ever. BUt, for what it is, it's a great little record. I probably give this a spin at least once every few months cos it always makes me smile.

endorphin74 said:

I give her credit for trying something new.She took the whole "Breathless" character and created a whole concept album around it.The songs are retro-sounding,but she closes the album with an eye to the future: "Vogue".

DavidEye said:

holy crap!

MikeMatronik said:

For me, "Something To Remember" is the best song on there outside of "Vogue".

GangstaFam said:

Is that too soon for you?

her 'performance' is the best thing about the album..

Sondheim's 'what can u lose' is on of the worst things she's ever recorded..

My favorite songs on this album are "He's A Man","Sooner Or Later","Something To Remember","Now I'm Following You(Part 2)" and of course,"Vogue".

DavidEye said:

What do you mean?

I remember purchasing this album the day is came out and the cashier at the wrekka stow said 2 me "Have you heard anything off this album other than 'Vogue'?". I said "no" (remember, this was before the internet ) and he said 2 me "You may not want to get it. I've been listening to it all morning and it's terrible". I ignored him and bought it anyway and I quite liked it.

I think musically and vocally this album demonstrated that Madonna is actually capable of some depth and could successfully step outside of her comfort zone. It was nice change from the brilliant but angst-ridden heavyness of "Like a Prayer". This album is the reason I'm sad whenever I hear plans 4 Madonna's stage musical project r shelved again and again.

Believe it or not the only track that spoils the album's flow 4 me is "Vogue".

Now, before all the Madonnaqueens start picking up bricks 2 hurl at me, let me xplain myself. "Vogue" is obviously 1 of the greatest songs of all time, but it was included as an after-thought and it sounds like it. I would've far preferred that "Vogue" had been released as an independent single (a' la "Into The Groove"), but overall, I like this album. So yeah, I say "Yay".

-my 2 cents

npgmaverick said:

Great review!

'Vogue' was specifically written & recorded 2 serve as the B-side 4 'Keep it Together'..
according 2 M Warners flipped out when they heard it..

Martinelli said:

yup, and they tacked it on to I'm Breathless to ensure that it sold.

MikeMatronik said:

Thanks!

MikeMatronik said:

nahh..not with davideye around.

DavidEye said:

Its an album to be thought about within its context. Their are some good songs on there as well, her and Pat Leonard always produced listenable songs, but i never consider it a proper madonna album. It came out within a year of Like A Prayer, so i think it was very much a side project for her (however she said she spent over a year off and on recording it).

He's A Man should have been a single IMO. One of her best vocals from this era. If you didnt understand the character Breathless before your heard this, you sure did after.

Hanky Panky is pretty much slated everywhere, but i think it has a certain charm of humour and catchiness. Not exactly a classic, but i like how much she enjoys performing it live.

Something To Remember is easily one of her best and most sorrowful ballads. I cant fault this track at all.

The Sondheim songs are all perfectly structured, interesting numbers. Who can forget her performance of Sooner or Later at the Oscars. Camp and magnificent.

Now Im Following You for me is a blatant attempt to do what Prince did with Batdance the year before. Apparently it was planned as a single, but thankfully that one never happened. Warren Beatty singing is just too fucking much.

Vogue isnt a part of the album in my head. Its a tag on to help it sell, and no matter what era it references, it simply doesnt fit.

Overall its good album for what it is. I think some of her songs were better than those in the movie, and justified being the actualy soundtrack, as they remained pretty faithful to the films plot. She said in 1998 it was her favourite thing she'd done, which I find a little surprising, but i guess that to do with her fixation on 1930's Hollywood glamour, and wanting in some way to be accepted by the Hollywood elite.

Id give it 3/5....so not exactly a YAY, but definitely not a NAY.

CrozzaUK said:

very true, Prince also played her the Batman Album b4 its release
she made comments on it being brilliant 'using dialogue from the film'

MikeMatronik said:

Yay, because THIS album also has Hanky Panky!!!

CrozzaUK said:

Absolutely. And it was the perfect song to showcase her softer side as a ballads collection.

my whole family and i love this album. it's the shiznit. love hanky panky, he's a man, sooner or later, something to remember, back in business, now im following you and of course vogue.

now im following you part 2 sounded like a rip off of Prince's "Batdance" style.