Because she's Madonna, people expect her to 're-invent herself' because that's what she's become known for. I just see it as being her gimmick. That's always been her image, so to me, it's not a new thing; and, I still don't get all the praise she gets for doing something that everyone should try to do at some point in their lives naturally. Change is life and re-invention is just change after all. Personally, I stopped being surprised by Madonna after 'Bedtime Stories'. I find her pretty predictable nowadays because she's always going to incorporate something shocking and trendy into her music, style, and concerts because that's what she's always done.

From the rolling across the floor and dry humping it on the first VMAs in a wedding gown; to having a black Jesus in a video with burning crosses; to putting sex on full display in the form of a coffee table book; to writing children's books about her daughter; to making out with two former Mousketeers on stage and then dry humping another; to hanging from a cross, Madonna has built her career and life around staying in the public eye by doing and saying shocking things. She loves attention, always has and always will; and what grabs peoples' attentions more than constant change and shock value?

MJ and George Michael have pretty much shocked themselves out IMO. Plus, MJ has re-invented himself more than Madonna ever will...look at his face. Not dogging him, but let's be honest, dude looks NOTHING like his original self (that's some hardcore re-invention right there), so where does he go from there when many people have a hard time understanding why he took his appearance to such an extreme. George Michael has been battling drug addiction for quite some time now, so it's hard to focus on music when getting high seemed to be his number one priority a large amount of the time. Madonna is just in a totally different place from MJ and GM, personally and professionally, so it's hard to compare her to these two.


Plus, I don't think she's original, never really have, but she is smart at marketing herself. I'm not that into new Madonna, but I do respect and commend her for her amazing business savvy. Her new music really doesn't do much for me and I wouldn't be able to whole-heartedly defend it in a debate, but let someone bring up old Madonna and I'm ride-or-die about that stuff. Let the "Holiday" remix with "Music Sounds Better With You" come on and I'm gonna lose my mind...damn, I love that song! Awesome remix! With 'Hard Candy", Madonna is guilty of the same things that Janet and Mariah are guilty of on their recent albums...jumping on the bandwagon of what's popular at the moment. They are all trying to gain a younger audience, because very few artists, no matter how big their fanbases, are going to be content with their same number of die-hard fans and no newbies. They want new fans because new fans bring in more money. Being innovative and original is not following trends and that's ultimately what they all did...very disappointing to me, but that's just me. I'll always admire her and respect how far she's made it by simply being a very smart hustler, but my love for her musically has faded for now. Just my

estelle81 said:

I agree with all of that pretty much. Madonna sets out to shock people unpurpose. Her whole sthick is being controversial. On the other hand, George Michael and MJ especially for the most part, have shocked the public also but most of the time it hasn't been intentional and the controversies surrouding them have not helped their career, but I do believe some of the controversies have helped Madonna . Like I said before though, I don't think of her as some great natural MUSICAL talent so she isn't comparable to MJ or George Michael in that sense AT ALL, I think it's ridiculous really to even compare Madonna to them talent wise. Madonna is indeed very smart and a great business woman though. Like her or not , no one can deny that and for her to still be going strong after all these years is pretty impressive.
[Edited 12/17/08 6:34am]