Bedtime Stories is magnificent. Her most underrated album imo, and for me personally, it's in a three way tie with Like a Prayer and Ray of Light for my favorite Madonna album. It's not as heavy and serious as those other two, but just as fun and more seductive.

But I'm an R&B fan, what can I say?

My favorite track on here is "Love Tried to Welcome Me", but they're all great.

SassierBritches said:

Odd, considering that you always brought Madonna up when I'd post in a Janet thread (it appears that getting rid of my avatar worked well in stemming that little annoyance).
[This message was edited Thu Feb 12 11:43:58 PST 2004 by VoicesCarry]

The only thing I would have changed about this album is...

I would have taken out the filler song "Don't Stop" and replaced it with the superior B-side track "Let Down Your Guard" ,which is funkier and edgier.

DavidEye said:

I really liked "Your Honesty", too.

VoicesCarry said:

yeah,I like that song too.I think it would have been a nice addition to this album.

VoicesCarry said:

actually, it's usually someone else who brings madonna up. i rarely compare the two because i don't think of them as a pair. if someone mentions madonna in a janet thread i will usually defend janet. lately though its just too tiring and i'd rather not encourage the comparison by participating in it.

SassierBritches said:

True enough, but just because someone brings up Madonna doesn't mean they're bashing Janet. It's all good, anyway.

Bedtime Stories is definately amongst her best work to date. My personal fav's are Love Tried To Welcome Me, Forbidden Love, Inside of Me & Take A Bow.

SassierBritches said:

Don't forget the deceptive lyric sheet:
"A penis lies, in your own haaand..."

A little trivia about this CD...


***The song "I'd Rather Be Your Lover" originally featured a rap by her pal Tupac.For some reason,it was replaced by a rap from Maverick recording artist Meshell Ndgeocello (who also plays a mean bass on this song).The version with Tupac has been circulating for years,on various Tupac bootlegs (such as "Makaveli III").

***Originally,this CD was gonna be produced entirely by Shep Pettibone (the main producer of 'Erotica').They recorded songs such as "Bring It" and "Love Won't Wait",both of which remain unreleased.They also recorded rough demos of "Secret","Inside Of Me",and "I'd Rather Be Your Lover" (songs that Madonna later re-worked with her new producers).Mid-way through the project,Madonna had a change of heart.She decided to work with producers like Babyface,Dallas Austin,and Dave Hall,in order to get a more contemporary R&B sound.


***So,if this CD ever gets remastered in the future,there are several bonus tracks that could be added...



MADONNA 'BEDTIME STORIES' (REMASTERED DELUXE EDITION)

"Survival"
"Secret"
"I'd Rather Be Your Lover"
"Don't Stop"
"Inside Of Me"
"Human Nature"
"Forbidden Love"
"Love Tried To Welcome Me"
"Sanctuary"
"Bedtime Story"
"Take A Bow"

BONUS TRACKS

*"Your Honesty"
*"Love Won't Wait" (previously unreleased)
*"Bring It" (previously unreleased)
*"Let Down Your Guard" (previously available as a B-side)
*"Something's Coming Over Me" (from the Shep Pettibone sessions...early version of "Secret")
*"I Will Always Have You" (from the Shep Pettibone sessions...early version of "Inside Of Me")
*"I'd Rather Be Yo Lover" (previously unreleased version with Tupac)

DavidEye said:

I've heard the Tupac version and I have to say I think Meshell does a better job.

PanthaGirl said:

Wow! Those just happen to be my favorite songs too

I don't understand why nobody cites "Survival" as one of their favorites. That song is hot as hell! It's a god a fun groove and Madonna's light singy (along with longtime background singers Donna and Niki) just make the song work it's ass off. My favorite on the album. I also think that "Let Down Your Gaurd" could have easily replaced "Don't Stop" and if anything "Let.." was very single worthy. "Your Honesty" would have been good as a 12th track after "Let" but then it sounds a little bit too much like a dance album and I think Madonna was really trying to make this a softer album (and it worked).

VinnyM27 said:

survival is my least favorite madonna song in history, think. its repetitive beat and half assed lyrics...i mean, "if you give me respect, than you'll know what to expect"...that is just so lazy. this was definitely the wrong choice of songs to open the cd with, imho.

SassierBritches said:

That is one of my all time favorites from her. Yes, it is effortless but it is simple and works.

Hearing "Secret" now is the same as the first time I heard it. I think it is awesome and the production still bumps. That track definitely has stood the test of time compared to other Bedtime Stories fare. At the time of release I loved it though, and it's still in my DNA, but I think some of it is half-assed: "Survival", "Don't Stop", even "Inside Of Me" and "Sanctuary" - bleh!

VinnyM27 said:

"Survival" is a strong track,and it has some insightful lyrics...

"I'll never be an angel...I'll never be a saint,it's true
"so here's my story...no risk,no glory"

It could have easily been a single,if they had not chosen "Human Nature" (which makes the same point,but in a more abrasive style...lol).


In fact,as a whole,'Bedtime Stories' probably has more potential hits than any other Madonna album.

"Human Nature" is an awesome single and a great selection from the album, David

CinisterCee said:

I think "Secret" is the best single Madonna released in the 90s (yes,even better than the 'ROL' singles).I love the haunting melody,the light,acoustic guitar,and the deep,pulsating bass.And I love the lyrics.When Madonna performed this song on the Drowned World Tour,that was the emotional highlight for me.

CinisterCee said:

"I'm not your bitch,don't hang your shit on me"

DavidEye said:

Wait, was that directed at me?

CinisterCee said:

you know what,if you listen to that song real closely (with headphones),you will notice that near the end,Madonna starts whispering things like "would it sound better if I was a man?" and "I have no regrets",etc.But there is a part where it sounds like she is asking...

"would you like me better if I was Prince?"


Not sure if she's really saying that,but there's a possibility.Around this time,she often complained that Prince was able to get away with alot of stuff simply because he's a man.

DavidEye said:

HAHA! That definitely would require headphones. That's hilarious, David ... I gotta check that out when I get home.

CinisterCee said:

It was a great single and the first Madonna single I rushed out to buy. The maxi didn't really have great mixes though compared to "Secret", which I found later. Anyway, I think it was only a poor single choice cause radio didn't play it and I'm not even sure if it charted. I loved it though and it was awesome that she did it live 6 some years after it tanked for her tour.

VinnyM27 said:

It reached #46.

VoicesCarry said:

Interestingly,it was the FANS that pressured Warners to release "Human Nature" as a single.There was a huge letter-writing campaign in 1995,and it apparently worked.I love the song,but I really think "Forbidden Love" should have been a single.

bedtime secrets is handsdown my favorite maddy album...human nature and bedtime story work me ova!! ova i said!!

two other points:

1) voices, you were the one that brought up janet in this thread..not that there is anything wrong with that.

2) not the evita thang again...it still only has a 67% approval on rottentomatoes and the first comment from a critic is as follows:

"The problem is that Madonna's performance is all style. She mugs for the camera, but her acting is rarely convincing and her songs are one disappointment after another."
-- Steve Rhodes,

http://www.rottentomatoes...a-1075265/

and yes she won a golden globe but it was in the comedy/musical category...and can you fathom that she beat frances mcdorment in fargo? considered one of the best performances of all time? that should kill any credibility from maddy's win...and oh yeah, two words: pia zadora

sosgemini said:

1) Wow, one critic rips her performance. Shocking. Pulitzer Prize winner Roger Ebert, the most respected film critic on the planet loved both her and the movie. No, she didn't deserve an Oscar nomination (and probably not the Golden Globe, either), but she sure as hell was better than.....

2) Frances McDormand, whose performance in Fargo is one of THE most OVERRATED performances in the history of film. She spends the entire movie walking around acting tired and looking dumpy. Not really a stretch for Frances, there. I never really understood the acclaim that she got for that role (although I understand why the movie itself is so respected). She's been SO much better in countless other films that I just went "huh??". She won the Oscar though, so who really cares? The Golden Globes are a joke. It's the same thing with Diane Keaton in "Something's Got To Give" this year. Here's a shocker: Diane plays herself (a variant of Annie Hall) again, only now she's "rediscovered" by Hollywood primarily because it's been 30 years since her debut and they'd all forgotten about her. Same old schtick nets an Oscar nomination. Pathetic.
[This message was edited Sat Feb 14 19:55:34 PST 2004 by VoicesCarry]

sosgemini said:

Sosgemini? You have yet to report in on this thread: http://www.prince.org/msg/100/79717

I love this album. Some of my favorite Madonna songs are from Bedtime Stories, and I love the title song, which I think is underrated. "Secret" and "Take a Bow" are also two of my all-time favorite Madonna songs. As for "Don't Stop" being considered filler material, I disagree. It's an upbeat, fun dance song, and I like it a lot.