Album- MDNA
Artist- Madonna
With a career that has spanned four decades, Madonna has in
that time produced a vast number of hits, created albums that have become
worldwide best sellers, and has had three tours that are among the highest
grossing worldwide tours of all time. It is safe to say that Madonna is one of,
if not the greatest female recording artist of all time, and has maintained a
star persona that means she has always been the cream of the music crop not
simply just by
Track 1- Girl Gone
Wild
With the opening track Girl Gone Wild Madonna signals that
she is keeping firm with her signature sound as she employs a dance floor,
electro pop sound that is similar to previous work such as ‘Sorry’ and ‘Hung
Up’, and is arguably a sound that caused a resurgence of Madonna as an artist.
The song has a simple just have fun energy that Madonna has done very well for
years, and because of this the track comes across as a bit lacklustre. Opening
with a word spoken prayer to God, Madonna immediately seems to want to signal
to her audience of why she has been popular, in that she distorts the idea of
religion and sexual promiscuity. This is shown within the lyrical content where
she claims to be a girl fuelled by desire, whereby she becomes this girl gone
wild, particularly through the music. The chorus is simple and with the
“hey-ay-ay” hook the song is quite catchy, but when you’ve had the bad girl
routine on previous records, the statement this song is trying to make falls
kind of flat. Vocally Madonna is also a bit hit and miss, as although there is
a sense of vibrancy to her vocal, the track is also heavily auto tuned, and so
you very much get the sense that this is more of a song that anyone could have
sang rather than being a signature Madonna tune. However, whilst the vocals and
lyrics are something to either love or hate, the production of the track is
very good, with the electro pop rhythms giving a pulsating tone to the track
that becomes propulsive in the chorus and makes for an enjoyable carefree tune.
Some people might argue that the songs sound is similar to previous musical
offerings from Madonna and so isn’t good, but when she is one of the queens of
the dance floor, and when this kind of sound is still popular in today’s music
scene, you can just forget the familiarity and simply enjoy the music.
3.5/5
Track 2- Gang Bang
Madonna takes sings into a bit of a darker tone not just
lyrically but also sonically with this track that was according to the singer
in part inspired by Quentin Tarantino. The song revels lyrically in the idea of
the scorned woman as Madonna plays the role of a woman getting together with
her friends to seek bloody vengeance on the a lover. The song is strong in the
intensity of the lyrics that give very potent cinematic tone to the track, and
although there is this lack of a really solid catchy hook, there is a
catchiness through the power of Madonna’s aggression. The themes are slightly
reminiscent of some of her previous work but things still go that bit more full
throttle, and so this is lyrically some exciting new music. Keeping this song
on a dark, simmering energy also works great in terms of keeping the vocals on
a simple level where the auto tune doesn’t have to be so heavy and so there is
less of a risk of the singer coming across as annoying. However, whilst the vocals
and lyrics are strong, the production could be better: the dark dance beats
keep things ticking along nicely, but the dubstep breakdown is weird and comes
across a bit unneccasary, and as a whole the sound is missing that powerful quality
that would elevate the music, possibly a simple lack of force of beats in the
chorus.
3/5
Track 3- I’m Addicted
The singer flips back to a happier tone that is still
intense but shows that she is in a kind of state of euphoria, and is also very
much a leader of things when it comes to the dance floor. This is because the
electronic house vibe of the song feels very suited to a loud club setting, and
she just exudes a cool vibrancy within the track. Lyrically the song is all
about Madonna telling this guy how he is awesome, with his love being compared
to a drug. On paper the song’s lyrics feel very clichéd, and indeed they are,
but the stuttering delivery of the lyrics makes things more unique and
interesting, whilst there is also a little bit of fun to be had in the tongue
and cheek nature of the lyrics. Vocally the singer sounds strong here, with the
vocals being kept on a simple level that doesn’t push the singer too much, and
the distortion of the vocals is here used to good effect. The production of the
track is definitely the best element of the song, with the squelching synths
and electro house quality just haing a quite infectious energy, with the 90’s
house chorus being very catchy. The song is also great in the way that the
track feels both modern and indebted to music of the past, and with the last
sections featuring a great reference to the album title that is equally very
catchy, this is a strong dance offering showing the singer isn’t necessarily
out of the dance floor game just yet.
4/5
Track 4- Turn Up the
Radio
The third single from the record, Turn Up the Radio features
a little bit of a lighter and different sound than the other tracks, and was
seen by some reviewers as being a better lead single choice. For me I feel that
this song shows off the vitality of the singer best, as the vocal performances
as a cute and youthful tone that is reminiscent of when Madonna was breaking
out with ‘Holiday’, and so if nothing else vocally this is great as it has a
nice nostalgic quality and shows she can still make her music infectious. The
production here comes courtesy of Martin Solveig, and the song has a light
sound that starts with simple keyboard instrumentation before morphing into
this great electronic dance pop tune that is quite 80’s influenced. Solveig’s
production is different and cool and has a tone that would make this quite a
good summery tune. However, the problem with this song is that the lyrics just
feel uninspiring and clichéd, as Madonna asks the listener to stop and just forget
about the rest of the world for a bit, using music as our escape. It’s a
statement that just doesn’t come across strong enough, particularly when placed
in today’s pop music market that feels heavily live for the moment influenced.
As well as this, the hook of the song just comes across s annoying and over
repetitive, and so whilst this could have been really great, the lyrical
content drags the song down in brilliance.
3/5
Track 5- Give Me All
Your Luvin (featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.)
MDNA’s lead single and the song that further cemented
Madonna in music history by becoming her 38th top ten single on the
Billboard Hot 100. Give Me All Your Luvin is a predominantly dance pop tune
that incorporates a number of other genres, and finds the singing teaming up
with two very current hip-hop/ rap stars Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. The song
lyrically focuses on the idea of us showing Madonna love for her musical
creativity, with the raps just kind of being nonsense but still sounding cool.
The use of the cheerleading chanting within the track makes things more catchy,
and the vocal performance of the track is nice, with Madonna employing a higher
pitch in the chorus that adds a flourish of a euphoric feeling to the song. The
sound features a nice blend of 80’s inspired synths with hand clapping beats
and marching band drums that is a bit silly but ultimately just a fun sound.
The dubstep breakdown is okay but feels like Madonna is trying to hard to be
difficult. Whilst this is not a song that will go down as Madonna’s best, it is
a nice fun track that acts as a sort of sweet homage to her fans.
3.5/5
Track 6- Some Girls
Madonna brings us a female empowerment tune in the form of
Some Girls, which finds the singer lyrically expressing how she is different to
other woman, and speaks of a range of different actions girls take. The song
has a stomping synth pop sound with a mid tempo groove that features a cool
blend of a heavy electro bass line with stabbing synths. The problem with this
song is that whilst the production is strong and has forceful but appealing
quality, the lyrical content does not command your attention. As well as this,
Madonna’s vocals are heavily distorted within the track, and so she just comes
across as robotic and lacks the personality that this song commands in order
for her not to just come across as a bit egotistical.
2.5/5
Track 7- Superstar
Known for featuring her daughter on backing vocals,
Superstar is an up tempo dance pop track that finds the singer simply telling
this person that to her there are like a superstar, citing many historical
figures within her declaration of this persons greatness. The song features a
nice hook and is just light and fun, perhaps a little lyrically bland in
places, but otherwise just quite simple dance pop done at a good level. The
vocals here are less processed and feature some nice use of layering of vocals
that gives the track this nice ambience. The production of the track is light
and radio friendly, with a shimmering tone brought out through the guitar loop
and electro pop beats, although the dubstep influence within the bridge once
again just feels a bit too weird and like Madonna is trying too hard to be
current.
3.5/5
Track 8- I Don’t Give
A (featuring Nicki Minaj)
Nicki Minaj jumps on board with Madonna once again for this
feisty pop number that also has a bit of a hip hop vibe to it. The song lyrically
provides us within an insight into a day in the life of Madonna, with a few
jibes to her ex-husband Guy Ritchie. The chorus simply focuses on the life
motto that Madonna seems to have of not caring about what other people think of
her. The rap vocal style of the verses is a little clumsy but the chorus is
catchy in its carefree simplicity, whilst the singer brings a light vocal
performance that brings life to the carefree ideology of the track. The sound
of the song features a cool mix of guitar, drums and synth that gives the song
a powerful, feisty edge that is at the same time quite simple, and makes you
feel as if what she is singing is true. Minaj brings us more a rap that feels
related to the song, but doesn’t necessarily add much to the track. The song
also features a grand outro complete with a choir, escalating strings and
cymbals, and it is this end that is just weird and something you will either
love or just find annoying.
3.5/5
Track 9- I’m a Sinner
Harkening back to her Catholic upbringing, I’m A Sinner is a
pop and techno inspired tune. The lyrics find Madonna telling Jesus and the
saints that she wants to be ‘saved’, but likes being a sinner and doesn’t want
to be saved just yet. The lyrical content is simple and a little mischievous, being
ideal for those who wish to rebel against their parents. Madonna brings us one
of the best vocal performances on the record with this song, with the chorus
featuring nice high pitched moments and certain sections of the vocal having a
sensual quality that is appealing. The bridge is perhaps a little controversial
in her references to prayer and a number of saints, but it works with the
ideology of the track. Production wise William Orbit does a fine job, infusing
simple techno rhythms with a cool drum loop and 60’s keyboard. The track feels
both nostalgic and thoroughly modern, and ends on a nice minute of
instrumentation that allows for a chilled moment of reflection.
3.5/5
Track 10- Love Spent
Love Spent definitely as a euphoric quality to the sound and
changes things up a bit with the whole energy of the record, finding the singer
in a more sweet state of mind. The lyrical content of the track finds the
singer telling this guy to spend his love on her like he acts with his money,
and just let go of the doubts and fears he might have. The track is great in
terms of the production, featuring an interesting mix of euphoric synths, heavy
bass drum and folk like guitar strumming and strings, giving the song more of a
dynamic tone. However, the problem with this song is similar to love girls in
that the vocals just feel to distorted and here come across as a bit whiny, not
conveying the true emotion of the song.
3/5
Track 11- Masterpiece
Recorded by Madonna for her film W.E. (which she was
director of), Masterpiece is a mid tempo pop ballad that features basic
recording and vocals. The song is strongly related to the narrative of the
film. The film focused on Wallis Simpson and how she fell in love with someone
she should not, the King of England. Here Madonna plays this girl who feels
pain after falling in love with a work of art. The lyrical quality of the track
is poetic and vulnerable, with an honesty and simplicity that feels like a
masterpiece in its own way and has a kind of haunting tone. The light synth
beats and use of strings just gives the track a simple sound in the production
that really acts as a great base to elevate the songs lyrical content. However,
the only issue with this track is the vocal performance. Many critics praised
Madonna’s vocal performance, but whilst I feel that the vocal performance is
nice, it is still for me a little too processed, and would have worked better
if it was more stripped back.
3.5/5
Track 12- Falling Free
Ending the record on more of a sombre and dramatic note,
Falling Free is a dramatic down tempo ballad that lyrically finds the singer
speaking of being intertwined in someone’s heart and having this feeling of
falling free. The lyrics are once again great like the last track in terms of
their almost poetic quality, and also are nice in the way that you can take
things as being equally negative and positive. The vocal performance is once
again a little too processed but for me is stronger than the last track, and
has a lovely sense of fragility in the final minute. Madonna and Orbit do an
amazing job in the production, keeping the electronic notes minimal and instead
focusing on this grand and impactful, string led sound that also features some
great use of piano. A strong song to finish the record with and a song that
shows us the Madonna that inspired a generation and who could make some really
great music.
4/5
Final Review
To use a clichéd phrase, it is time to face the music:
Madonna has been around for a while, and her music isn’t going to have the
youthful flair that some of her earlier hits made her famous for. This album
isn’t ground breaking but is fun and shows that she can still create some
strong dance pop music. The vocals are sometimes too processed and the lyrics
aren’t catchy, but every time the production is very astute and powerful, with
many songs having a vibrancy that isn’t new but is still infectious. People may
still want Madonna to be this awesome artist who continues to be ground
breaking, and if they listen to this record they will be disappointed. But if
people just want some fun musical offerings and simply new material from the
singer, then Madonna has produced a good album that still has her above some of
the artists that are popular today.
7/10
Best Track- Falling
Free
Worst Track- Some
Girls
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