nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/columns-0/105722720620100.xml?jjournal?wjc
olab


Madonna, taking modern music into future, blossoms as true artist

by Ann Behrens

All right, I've officially read enough nasty comments about Madonna
lately to convince me that a column about "American Life" is in order.

I bought this gem at Tower Records on Broadway in the Village on April
25, four days after Madonna made a live appearance there. Peter and I
have been happily listening to it ever since. I think I like "American
Life," Madonna's 16th album, even more than her highly acclaimed "Music"
(2000) or "Ray of Light" (1998).

As Madonna evolves, her music gets better. Collaborating again with
Mirwais Ahmadza, the techno-pop genius who co-produced "Music," Madonna
takes modern music into the future. Some critics don't agree. They
attack her personally rather than review her music. What did Madonna do
to rock the boat this time?
Make a controversial anti-war video and pull it at the last minute?
Marry a Brit and abdicate by taking up part-time residence in London?
Mature in a world where the media is obsessed with youth and thinks
you're irrelevant if you're over 21? It's hard to say.

My guess is Pink is "Missundazstood," but critics have been
misconstruing Madonna's work since I first saw her crawl across the
stage in a white wedding dress at the first MTV Video Awards at Radio
City in 1984.
Caught up in the artifice of celebrity, people forget that Madonna is an
artist. She uses pop music as a vehicle to produce art. Great art is
timeless.
It's not controlled by trends, fads or a "Flavor of the Month"
mentality.

On a recent interview on "Dateline," Matt Lauer asked Madonna why she's
still famous after 20 years? Would he ask Frida Kahlo or Virginia Woolf
such an absurd question if they were alive today? I don't think so.
Maybe it's time for all of us to wise up and realize that artists like
Madonna and Sheryl Crow have turned pop and rock music into a legitimate
art form that allows the best artists in the field to keep creating.

Great art is introspective. The more personal it is the more universal
it becomes. Madonna reveals more about herself in "American Life" than
ever before. She exhibits a vulnerability throughout that's easy to
relate to. She speaks to what it feels like to be a human being; to fall
in love and lose your sense of identity in "Static Process"; to exist in
a world of unanswered questions in "Love Profusion"; to want to be a
star for all the wrong reasons in "American Life" and "I'm So Stupid."
Madonna may have lived, like most of us, in a "fuzzy dream," but she's
wiser now and has so much more to say.

Hollywood," is my favorite track. I love the word and the meaning it
conjures up; so much so, it's been turning up in my poems since 1982.
Madonna nails it when she says, "How could it hurt you when it looks so
good?" "Hollywood" is a catchy number, a brilliant anthem, which paints
a pretty picture. But the song features a dichotomy, a dark side, which
creates tension making it a classic we'll never forget. Madonna doesn't
mince words. In "Mother and Father," one of the best and most personal
songs, she sings in a high, child-like voice, repeating a refrain that
anyone who's tried to escape childhood ghosts can identify with: "I've
got to give it up. I've got to let it go," Madonna wails, scaling notes.
She recites a poem like a nursery rhyme in iambic pentameter recalling
her mother's funeral when she was 5 and the traumatic after-effect:
"Made a vow that I would never need another person. Never turned my
heart into a cage. A victim of a kind of rage."

American Life" is a classic work of art. To miss it is a mistake. It
includes other sophisticated songs like the title track from the latest
James Bond flick, "Die Another Day," as well as "Easy Ride." It sums up
where Madonna is at in the moment - in the here and now, with her finger
on the pulse of society. Thinking what we're thinking.

Thanks for posting that Aaron!!!

i bought it and yeah i think it's a good album, but not quite great. it's better than most people think it is, however. i like it.

the album is great! and i was, if anyone remembers, prepared to bash it...lol. i think i like it more than ray of light but not like a prayer...its somewhre in between for me. i just (dare i say it)...kind of...believe her this time. regardless, the record is fantastic!

i actually thinkg American Life has become my favorite Madonna album. not only because it's new, but... it sort of combines all of the best elements of all of her best albums.

upbeat & dancey like the first one.
has the warmth and seriousness of TB, LAP, BS, and ROL
has the opening up of herself seen in LAP and ROL
has the detatchedness and edge of Erotica
has the retro-future sounds of Music

That's a wonderful analysis of the 'American Life' album.I really don't think alot of people understand her new album or the direction that Maddy is going in.On this CD,she is searching inside her soul and questioning many things in her past.On the title track, she comes to the conclusion that "nothing is what it seems" and that's the whole message and purpose of the album.You really have to listen to the lyrics and FEEL what she's saying.

Now that "Hollywood" is dying a death in the States, can we reconsider "American Life"? The public and media reaction: DEFINITELY NOT about the music- the music: DEFINITELY NOT about the public and media reaction...
She settles into her commercial decline, and at the same time gains confidence in her artistic growth- same ol' story again.

And can somebody PLEASE throw some light on the story I remember hearing that P had a dream about M around The time of "ROL"'s grammy triumph, re. return of his masters from WB- quote "M, make a stand for what you know is right!"

Prince telling a strong and talented woman what to think- this t-shirt is wearing VERY thin...

I'm sorry, but this review is an insult to the great music Madonna made in the (recent) past. Few are 'attacking her personally', i think she's one of the more loved artists around, by public and critics alike. That music can b an artform is clear, but that the music on 'American Life' is "timeless art" is simply not true. Also, this is not a review but a fans subjective rambling. This might not always b the case, but in general, when everybody wants something to b good, and the majority thinks it's not so good after all, it must b pretty bad.

It's sooo nice to see something positive written about American Life. I too was very bothered by all the bad reviews the album received. As this article mentioned, they all seemed to spend a page ripping apart Madonna, talking about her movies, etc and maybe 2 paragraphs actually commenting on the music from American Life. Also, the 1st few bad reviews hit the papers and the rest seemed like identical reviews, as if the reviewers didn't even listen to the album, but based their review on the 1st few reviews. The media was very prepared to hate Madonna this year, and they've done a good job of that. It's too bad cause I really think it's an excellent album.

i just don't understand why people are so against this album! i mean, music was such a successful record and american life is far more cohesive and complete than that was. i really don't get it.

and does our girl look great on the single for hollywood or what! is that a photo from the w shoot?

I just bought the maxi-CD for "Hollywood" and I am really disappointed.Maddy's remixes have become so predictable these days! I was really excited about the "American Life" remix by Missy because that was something different for Madonna.But these new "Hollywood" remixes are done by the usual suspects...Oakenfold,Deepsky,Calderone and Quayle,etc.Nothing new here,just the same cold,mechanical-sounding,over-long dance remixes that we've heard a million times.


Hopefully,when she does her next album,she will use different producers for the remixes.

imnotsayinthisjust2bnasty said:

Even though I love the album,I can certainly see why some people just "don't get it".There are several reasons why an album like this would be a hard sell...


***The personal nature of the lyrics---let's face it,this is not a catchy,everybody-on-the-dancefloor album.There's no "Vogue" or "Music" here.These songs are intensely personal,talking about things like death ("Mother and Father","Die Another Day") and the pitfalls of fame (title track,"Hollywood").Every song is about HER and what SHE is going through.A Billboard reviewer wrote that the lyrics are "whiney and preachy" and even some fans agree.

***The inevitable backlash---Madonna was due for some type of backlash.She experienced a backlash in 1992-93,after the whole 'Erotica/Sex/Body Of Evidence' phase when many people were getting sick of her sexual persona.But she bounced back in 96' and it's been one triumph after another...the well-recieved 'Evita' film,the hugely successful 'Ray Of Light' CD,the 'Music' CD and the 'Drowned World Tour'.Madonna went through six years of non-stop success and critical acclaim,so I think she was due for some kind of media backlash,especially after "Swept Away"...lol...it's not really a big deal and just like in the early 90s,she will bounce back.

***TV and magazine interviews---There's one lesson that Maddy should have learned : people absolutely *HATE* it when celebrities whine about their fame and fortune.But there she was,talking to Matt Lauer and trying to convince people that money,fame and celebrity don't mean a thing to her.In one magazine interview,she explained "I'm saying that celebrity is bullshit.And who knows better than me?" This put her in a weird position,since she was once the *poster girl* for breaking the odds and reaching the top.


***Madonna is "anti-American"?---Because of the controverial nature of the "AL" video,there was the (wrong) perception that Madonna is un-patriotic and against America.This is absurd,of course,but in the end,it probably hurt the sales of her CD and single.But,being a real artist means taking a stand and expressing your true thoughts,even if it goes against popular opinion (just ask the Dixie Chicks).


Of course,none of this matters.Maddy is a true survivor and she will bounce back in a big way.Considering all the success she's had in the past,she can afford to have a few less-than-successful projects.It'll be interesting to see where she goes next (musically).


...
[This message was edited Mon Jul 21 5:29:05 PDT 2003 by DavidEye]

great artist, great album, and great column!

DavidEye said:

I'm very interested to see this. With the basic failure of American Life, I have a hunch that her next CD will go in an entirely different direction than these past 3 have.

endorphin74 said:

What direction would you like to see her go in?

DavidEye said:

hmmm, I'm not sure...I truly hope that she doesn't work with Mirwais. I like his sound and what they've done together, but he seems like a one-trick-wonder to me. And, while I really like American Life, I have a feeling parts of it will sound dated very quickly.

Since she's learning the guitar and all of that, I think it'd be fun to have her rock out a bit on the next album.
But, some straight-forward rocking...with no bleeps and blips in it...

Hmmm...I guess I'll trust her as long as her primary producer isn't Mirwais

i was just talking about "what's she gonna do next" with some people at work. its funny because even though they don't like the new record they are still very interested in what she's up to. madonna will always end up on top, someway. she knows what the f she's doing.

Oxymoron.

endorphin74 said:

I totally agree.I like Mirwais alot and I think he's got a great future ahead of him,producing other artists.But I don't want him to work with Madonna again.His sound is unique and cutting-edge but I get the feeling he's running out of ideas.Plus,I'd like to see Maddy get away from the whole techno/electronica thing.My feeling is,she needs to release a great *BALLAD* as a single,something she hasn't done in awhile.Remember "This Used To Be My Playground" and "Take A Bow"? That's what I'm dying to hear from her from her again!

It's a pity that one of her best albums is being received so poorly, but as DavidEye noted, Madonna has survived similar disappointments and will continue to strive. I only hope that the poor reception doesn't preclude any more singles from being released. I really am interested to see how she pulls off "Nothing Fails," and perhaps another single.

As far as a new musical direction, I can only echo the sentiments of others in that I think it's time to oust Mirwais. He hasn't done a bad job, but I feel that continuing to work with him would cause Madonna to paint herself into a corner. She's never been one to stick with a formula for long, and though she has worked with other producers for several albums in the past, Mirwais seems fairly one-dimensional in his approach.

Moonbeam said:

I really love the 'American Life' CD,but don't you think it would have been even more interesting if a few other producers had been involved? Last year,I heard rumors that Dr.Dre and Air (a French duo) would be contributing tracks.That would have given the album a little more variety.Also,the Missy remix of the title track should have been included on the album,as a bonus track.


...
[This message was edited Tue Jul 22 6:05:35 PDT 2003 by DavidEye]

If you wanna see the first photos from the Gap ads that Madonna and Missy did,click here...


http://www.madonnapower.c...ewsid=1955

see below
[This message was edited Tue Jul 22 7:14:35 PDT 2003 by twink69]

Madonna the artist
Where? I have never seen any?

p.s The new clip HOLLYWOOD is horrorfying
Honey, we know you do Pilates and yoga but close your legs granny, your looking like desperate old smelly hooker, trying to pull in new tricks

It's not sexy, The combonation of Menopause and boney legs and arms, just aint working girl
The title as "talentless, pro tool vocalist, tart crown"
has been taken by Britney Spears
[This message was edited Tue Jul 22 6:47:38 PDT 2003 by twink69]

Boy,shut yo' mouth before I stick something in it

DavidEye said:

You TOPS are all the same lol

Madonna has had her day, someone put her down, she's on heat and it aint cute
[This message was edited Tue Jul 22 7:18:16 PDT 2003 by twink69]

AND THE SONG "hollywood" is just a bad rip off of "MALIBU"by Hole

Moonbeam said:

So she's had like, what, 16 albums? And this is supposed to be one of her best, lets say in the best 25%, so there r 12 Madonna albums out there that are worse than this one. Can u give me a list of those twelve? (this question is not only directed to you, but to everybody who thinks this album is Madonna-at-her-best).

Discography-edit
[This message was edited Tue Jul 22 9:05:49 PDT 2003 by SpcMs]

SpcMs said:

sure.

madonna (catchy, but shallow.)
like a virgin (same thing)
true blue (same thing)
you can dance (pathetic remix album)
like a prayer (starting to get deeper and more personal, but there are still a few shallow confectionary songs)
i'm breathless (wildly uneven album... a few decent songs, a lot of schmaltz)
immaculate conception (just a greatest hits album. essential madonna, but the two new songs, while good, make it imcomprable with a new album)
erotica (some good stuff, a lot of crap.)
bedtime stories (excellent album, but there are some really forgetable songs on it)
something to remember (lame greatest ballads)
music (dancy and catchy, more than any other album she has done, but shallow, shallow, shallow.)
greatest hits volume 2 (greatest hits. not even a new song)

IMHO, ray of light, american life, and like a prayer are her three greatest, in that order.
[This message was edited Tue Jul 22 13:58:53 PDT 2003 by cborgman]

twink69 said:

I couldn't have said it better myself.