• Madonna
• July 14, 2012
• By: Edward Daily

Turn Up the Radio single

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• Madonna

Rating: A-

Read: The top 10 pop songs of the past 20 years

"Turn Up the Radio" is the third single from Madonna's album MDNA, which hasn't become the blockbuster fans thought it would become, but is still one of the five biggest selling albums of the year. Saying that both Madonna and Interscope marketed MDNA poorly is an understatement; it is an excellent album, but the choice of singles have been underwhelming until now.

"Turn Up the Radio" should have been the first single, not the third. The song is light, fun and has a killer hook. It will remind a lot of listeners of Sheryl Crow's 2002 hit "Soak Up the Sun." But this is not a "Born This Way" situation where Madonna took a song, copied the music note for note, and just changed the lyrics.

Video: Turn Up the Radio

"It was time that I opened my eyes/I’m leaving the past behind/Nothing’s ever what it seems/Including this time and these crazy dreams," Madonna declares in this smashing anthem that makes one want to ride on the top of a car on a hot summer day. Madonna captures the summer mood brilliantly with this song and does so with a pulsating beat that hasn't been heard on a Madonna song for years.

The only slight problem: Madonna's girlie girl voice. Once again, Madonna goes out of her way to appeal to the young kiddies who could care less about Madonna (unfortunately). This song would have been even more convincing if Madonna had sung it in her regular voice. But it's only a blip on the radar of this excellent and addicting song.

In a world where ageism doesn't exist, "Turn Up the Radio" would become one of the biggest pop anthems ever. It certainly competes with Madonna's other classic songs such as "Vogue," "Holiday," and "Into the Groove." However, we live in a world where a new song from a singer over 40 (particular a female singer) is not welcome at contemporary radio.

SoulAlive said:

Perfect realisation of the song, just how I imagined it: escaping the everyday, open top car, sun shining, radio turned up, boobs out, big hair, fans screaming, picking up friends and strangers along the way...she always makes me smile

stevenpottle said:

Perfect realisation of the song, just how I imagined it: escaping the everyday, open top car, sun shining, radio turned up, boobs out, big hair, fans screaming, picking up friends and strangers along the way...she always makes me smile

The video really captures the mood of the song.

looks like granny is trying to channel lady gaga .madonna is 2 damn old 2 dress the way she do she is at the age of being a great grandma now and we all know if our mom/grand or great grand dressed like her we would hop hip her ass this cow needs sit on down and yes she looks old

I tried to give this Madonna album a chance...

I will get eaten alive Hannibal Lectro style by stans for this...

But i can't take her seriously singing a song that sounds like it could be sung by Demi Lavato, Katy Perry or Jessy J.

Madonna is only 5 years younger then my grandma... and hearing her singing songs that could be written by a 16 year old girl i just can't dig

Turn Up The Radio---MDNA tour (Live in Istanbul)

Madonna has confirmed that her next MDNA single, "Turn Up the Radio," will be released August 5.

We've been saying all along that the simple, propulsive dance-pop anthem is one of our favorite MDNA tracks and may have better served the record, which debuted strong with 359,000 units moved (before Justin Bieber's Believe unseated it, MDNA had the year's top debut) before freefalling down the chart, as its lead single. It has "summer jam" written all over it.

As we reported earlier, Madonna was spotted shooting the video for "Radio" in Rome last month while in the city on her "MDNA Tour." On the set, M and her dancers were seen partying down to the synth-driven tune in a convertible.

The song will drop officially just a few days before Madonna hits St. Petersburg for a sure-to-be controversial concert in the Russian city. Earlier this year, lawmakers in the city passed a resolution that forbids the "promotion of homosexuality" by making discussion of the topic illegal in almost all instances and regardless of the context. Many called on Madonna to cancel her August 9 concert there; instead, she promised to tackle the subject head-on.

"I will come to St. Petersburg to speak up for the gay community and to give strength and inspiration to anyone who is or feels oppressed," Madonna said in an email statement to Bloomberg. "I'm a freedom fighter. … I don’t run away from adversity. I will speak during my show about this ridiculous atrocity."

Now, the St. Petersburg city councilman who proposed the so-called "gay gag rule," Vitaly Miranov, has issued a warning to the pop icon that city officials plan to keep a close eye on her … and hold her accountable for any violations to their conservative laws.

"I heard at the concerts on this tour she pulled off her tights, and we will not have that here. We warn the organizers of the concert so that everything goes well. Otherwise they will face the harsh laws of St. Petersburg," Milanov said, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency (via The Daily Beast).

He is, of course, referring to Madonna's concerts in Istanbul, Turkey, and Rome, Italy, where she flashed her nipple and backside, respectively, at the audience.

Madonna is famous for flaunting laws she finds ridiculous. Who can forget her decision – documented in "Truth or Dare" – to not censor her onstage behavior during a 1990 "Blonde Ambition" tour concert in Canada after authorities threatened her with arrest for lewd conduct? She is currently also facing threats of legal action from French National Front leader Marine Le Pen if she includes the images, shown during the "Nobody Knows Me" video montage, of the conservative politician with a swastika on her forehead during either of her "MDNA Tour" shows in France, which are set for the country's national stadium, the Stade de France, in Paris on July 14 and at Nice's Stade Charles-Ehrmann on August 21.

We're sure to hear more on this situation in the lead-up to the St. Petersburg concert. Stay tuned!

cbarnes3121 said:

looks like granny is trying to channel lady gaga .madonna is 2 damn old 2 dress the way she do she is at the age of being a great grandma now and we all know if our mom/grand or great grand dressed like her we would hop hip her ass this cow needs sit on down and yes she looks old

motherfucker, did you see the thread title? It says Madonna in it, i assume you ballpark knew her age before entering and her aversion to wearing knitted cardigans in her videos for the last 30years??

Why post that shit, dont come in, and dont post. easy.

back on topic...

Nice video btw, love the italian location shoot. Fun song too.

"+"
1. I like it Florence, a stunning city
2. The look of Madonna, she looks young. The face, makeup, hair - gorgeous
3. Video fits the song

"-"
1. The city is practically not shown. The absence of panoramic images
2. Short shorts .... Madonna's legs above the knees are not very beautiful, it would be better to wear trousers or overalls with capri pants, IMHO.
3. If you're not a huge fan of Madonna, it becomes tedious very quickly.

Overall 3/5

Very nice.

Very nice! And I agree that it should have been the first single.

It's kinda cute. I think it could've used some kind of edge, though. This is Madonna we're talking about. She looks good. However, I'm not a fan of the wig that looks like it came with the headband.

I HATE the song, it should have been given to someone like Katy Perry. BUT, the video perfectly captures the song and makes the song much more enjoyable than it is just listening to it on the album

Gunsnhalen said:

I tried to give this Madonna album a chance...

I will get eaten alive Hannibal Lectro style by stans for this...

But i can't take her seriously singing a song that sounds like it could be sung by Demi Lavato, Katy Perry or Jessy J.

Madonna is only 5 years younger then my grandma... and hearing her singing songs that could be written by a 16 year old girl i just can't dig

I guess I could be called a stan, and I'm fine with what your saying. The better songs on MDNA are much deeper than this. The highs on MDNA are incredibly high, the lows incredibly low. This is just my opinion and I'm perfectly fine with yours

Woah she looks so good - how can anyone deny that!

NoVideo said:

Very nice! And I agree that it should have been the first single.

Co-sign.

aardvark15 said:

Gunsnhalen said:

I tried to give this Madonna album a chance...

I will get eaten alive Hannibal Lectro style by stans for this...

But i can't take her seriously singing a song that sounds like it could be sung by Demi Lavato, Katy Perry or Jessy J.

Madonna is only 5 years younger then my grandma... and hearing her singing songs that could be written by a 16 year old girl i just can't dig

I guess I could be called a stan, and I'm fine with what your saying. The better songs on MDNA are much deeper than this. The highs on MDNA are incredibly high, the lows incredibly low. This is just my opinion and I'm perfectly fine with yours

And nothing wrong with that

I like Madonna... well sort of. I LOVE Ray Of Light & Erotica album, I like, Like A Prayer, Bedtime Stories, American Life & even some of Confessions.

As far as MDNA masterpiece was an ok song... and the rest where very hit or miss. I really wish Madonna could pretend she was ''spirtual'' again but oh well.

It's just everytime i try to say i don't like something by Madonna a lot of her fans just attack visciously

Madonna has sung countless songs throughout her career "that Katy Perry could sing." Let's not forget the deep lyrics of Holiday, Lucky Star, Into The Groove, True Blue, etc. This song fits in with all of those! She sang banal lyrics at 25 and continues to do so at 53...I say bring it on!

MidniteMagnet said:

Madonna has sung countless songs throughout her career "that Katy Perry could sing." Let's not forget the deep lyrics of Holiday, Lucky Star, Into The Groove, True Blue, etc. This song fits in with all of those! She sang banal lyrics at 25 and continues to do so at 53...I say bring it on!

She did't really write a lot of her early material though. I think what people are saying is that for someone who wrote songs like Drowned World or even Falling Free from the new album to release these more childish songs instead of the more powerful songs as singles, is ridiculous. I'm fine with it. She knows what sells but still knows how to make a good song.

Madonna is a grown ass woman and if she chooses to wear short shorts and show her boobs, thats her right. Ppl that don't like her will say anything to spite her and the fans.

I don't like the video, I love the song and I could care less if she's trying to appeal to the younger demographic. She has fans of all ages. Its sad that in the ageist world we live in , a woman can't get a f***king break! She's never had a fair chance since the beginning of career which makes her work harder at breaking down barriers placed in her path.

Madonna has sold 300 million records, has the Biggest selling Tours ever and she's 53! Who gives a dump! Madonna has made her mark, and it will stay as long as there's music!!!

No one cares about Lady Gaga at this point and she hasn't had as nearly a lengthy career as Madonna, not even a crapping smudge. So to hell with her!!! I'll admit the single choices are all wrong, but M.D.N.A is a project and she's gonna do what she wants with it til she's ready to move onto the next project.

I encourage my 55 year old mother to wear the latest trends, because she's got it! We are all human beings and age isn't that big of a deal! We'd all be so lucky to make it to 50, if some of you aren't already that age and just hating on her. No one hates that hard on Prince! WHY???

[Edited 7/16/12 16:35pm]

Hookah, Amy Winehouse, cute guys, people chasing you...

"Sure, Madonna, I hear your song and empathize. And I would turn up the radio - if I listened to it anymore, but they kinda play crappy music. You know - Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber - that pop music for 12-year olds I just don't like listening to because I'm grown and have bills to pay of my own. Thank you though. Uh-huh, love you too now. Bye."

This song sounds like a Dragonette reject, and I'm not even crazy about Dragonette. I'm closing my lifelong Madonna chapter after the tour is done. I'm not feeling this era much and think she's peaked already and should just hang it up. Don't tell me I'm being sexist and ageist, it's not about that. It's really shitty music with shitty videos now, although I liked Girl Gone Wild, and I think her attitude stinks once again.

MidniteMagnet said:

Madonna has sung countless songs throughout her career "that Katy Perry could sing." Let's not forget the deep lyrics of Holiday, Lucky Star, Into The Groove, True Blue, etc. This song fits in with all of those! She sang banal lyrics at 25 and continues to do so at 53...I say bring it on!

Very good point.I think that,because she did a couple of deep,profound albums ('Like A Prayer' and 'Ray Of Light'),people expect her to always go that route.But in reality,her biggest hit singles did not have profound lyrics.She's never been the female equivalent of Bob Dylan I listen to Madonna to have fun.If I want deep,introspective lyrics,I'll listen to another artist.

I like deep and fun madonna....not DONE madonna!