[Edited 4/11/08 4:15am]

SoulAlive said:

Interesting to see Joe Henry get a writers credit on Devil. Seems this wasn't a Pat Leonard collab as originially thought. I have to say if this song lives up to expectations - all the songs we've had from the proposed musical are excellent - (Hung Up, Jump, How High, Devil) . Maybe she should have carried through with it!

Im actually glad that Pharrell dominates more than Timbaland. Im probably a bigger fan of timbaland, but im excited to hear M sing amongst Pharrels more lo-fi production. While i love 4 minutes - i think a whole album dominated by that big sound could have been too much.

I'm betting that the the Pharrell tracks are more pop-ish.From reading many of the reviews so far,his songs have been described as very 80s-sounding.That brief clip of "Give It To Me" doesn't sound hip-hop-inspired at all.I think his material will sound more like Old School Madonna,while the Timbaland songs are more "modern-sounding".It sounds like an interesting balance.

SoulAlive said:

The whole "hip-hop" hysteria that worked so many fans up into a frenzy was ridiculous. That they ever entertained the notion she'd make some kind of hard core hip hop record is laughable, and i think shows up the limited taste of quite a broad section of her fans. Most M fans seem to be allergic to R & B, or any other form of music that isnt just 4/4 dance or out & out pop music.

I say that not out of prejudice, but of having encountered them on various fan forums. I've wanted M to inject abit of funk into her music for years now and shes finally done it. She may be jumping on the bandwagon a bit using these producers - but im thrilled she's finally done it.

I was sceptical about Pharrell at first as i thouight his best work was behind him. I disliked Hey You, quite enjoyed Beat Goes On, and Candy Shop has grown on me imensely - but it was all very underwhelming. That said i cant wait to here a properly mastered version of Candy Shop - the beat is brilliant and with more bass i think itll sound amazing.

The other noteworthy thing to watch out for is that any guitar playing on the Pharrell tracks is most likely Madonna herself. She pointed out in an interview recently that Pharrell couldnt play acoustic guitar (which did surprise me), so if any does come up there's a good chance its her.

CrozzaUK said:

like i've said all along i think this album will sound similar to the Sorry Interlude on the Confessions Tour.

Hard Candy Interviews...

San Francisco radio Interview

God they r gay swish lissssspp..

http://www.zshare.net/aud...50ed2e81a/


This one is interesting talking 'bout a MJ concert in Mexico
city having a 'body double' onstage


http://www.kiddlive.com/m...index.html

SoulAlive said:

the minute i read that pharell was involved i figured their songs together
would probably end up sounding like "everybody" and "physical attraction",
updated for the new millennium. something a bit stripped down with quite a
few great flourishes thrown in there like 80's synths and pharells great
little ideas popping in and out.

personally i'm glad for this record since it seems like she's going back a
bit to the Erotica/Bedtime Stories days instead of releasing a dance disc
once again.

I bought the single today. I like the remixes as well...

Madonna said she played the guitar on various tracks, but she was overdubbed by a better player.

in this interview with these gay moderators she told them that she's rehearsing for her promo tour were she will play the guitar on some of her tracks.

just liek she did with I Love New York on the KoKo or G.A.Y. gig!

I bet she'll play "Miles Away"!!!

graecophilos said:

Fan Check.

She didn't play the guitar at KoKo or GAY. She only played it at Coachella.

ehuffnsd said:

She didn't play guitar at some of the Confessions Promo like Koko and Gay because it was right after her horse riding accident and so she didn't have time to practice the guitar with a broken shoulder!

CrozzaUK said:

oooh, hold up a minute...

SoulAlive said:

I wonder if we're going to see more Pharrell singles. He did most of the album, but from what we heard and judging by the reviews, the Timbaland songs are more commercial, so maybe Warner will prefer to release those?

I love "Candy Shop" but it probably wouldn't work as a 3rd or 4th single, it could have been first or second, but without being leaked more than half a year ago!

I just saw & heard "4 minutes" this morning (I know, I know...I don't keep up w/ Madonna that much) & the song is HOOOOOT!! I like it, this might be the first Madonna album I buy in 15 yrs.

Check this item out.
[Edited 4/12/08 21:31pm]

Competition to win tickets to Paris show
French radio station NRJ are offering fans the chance to win tickets to Madonna's Paris concert promoting Hard Candy that takes place on Tuesday, May 6.

To enter the competition, visit: www.nrj.fr/op/madonna_crt_69_avril08
[Edited 4/13/08 12:29pm]

Since SoulAlive is posting irrelevant fan info on my thread, I'm presuming this thread must be inactive. Why else would he not post it here? This is just to check if there's some problem that the moderators need to know about.

Nope, I see my post got through perfectly fine. Seems there must be something wrong with SoulAlive's computer, or else he forgot this thread existed.

Got the new issue of Vanity Fair,but I couldn't find the other magazines (Elle,Q,Interview)....have those made it onto newsstands yet? I'm in the US.

4 Minutes remixes are supposed to be available on itunes tomorrow.

So,did anyone pre-order any of the special editions? I just ordered the 3-LP vinyl set! And the special edition box set thing I also bought the "4 Minutes" maxi-single.

newpower99 said:

I just ordered the maxi-single.

hey did you know she told a German interviewer when she was asked which artists she admires: "I think Prince is a fantastic musician..." ??

graecophilos said:

id love it if she paid some kind of homage to him in concert. Even if its just mashing up one of their songs together. Maybe Everybody and Erotic City?

I can remember when Madonna was promoting her last album on radio 1 and the presenter asked her about prince,and Madonna said she was trying to get her bike up this apartment block and she here'd when doves cry playing and she broke down crying. something like that anyway can't remember exactly

Here is the cover of the Hard Candy limited edition package.

eah she always said how much she loves When Doves Cry. I believe she once said it gave her strength when she was living in New York.

madsgreat said:

MikeMatronik said:

great pic!