She’s back. Not that Madonna ever really goes away.
Much was made before Christmas about the leaking of several
tracks from the upcoming thirteenth studio album from the Queen of Pop. Leaking,
or ‘artistry theft’, of music is not a new thing, and indeed many of Madonna’s
near-peer superstar artists have suffered similar experiences, but rarely has
an artist (and her army of fans) been quite so publicly outraged about it.
In a recent interview with The Guardian journo Alexis Petridis, Madonna expressed the leaking of her latest creations as:
“Someone comes into your house and
steals a painting off your wall: that's also a violation, but your work, as an
artist, that's devastating. I'm sorry if words alarm people, but that's what
it felt like. It was not a consensual agreement. I did not say 'hey, here's my
music, and it's finished.' It was theft.”
Musical artistry is possibly hard to understand if – put simply
– you are not artistic in your nature. But those who appreciate the effort more
than the casual listener (and there’s nothing wrong with that stance by the
way) would find it hard to blame her feeling as frustrated as she clearly does.
The Internet is a wonderful and horrendous platform in
equal measure, but the concept of handling property online and the ownership of
said property seems to be something that millions (or billions) around the
world sometimes turn a blind eye to.
I’d be lying if I
said I’d never heard a bootleg / leaked / pirated product on occasion in the
past – who hasn’t? But as a matter of principle, I will wait until the full and
formal release of Rebel Heart later this year. Completeness is preferable.
Dodgy leaks and artist anger
aside, the question I’m looking to have answered is just how will 'Rebel Heart' compare with the previous twelve studio albums?
This blog isn’t a review, as
I’d be here forever raving about True Blue alone, but I am rather partial to delivering the occasional
executive summary here and there, as some of my previous blogs would
attest to!
So I’ll wrap this blog with
some #unapologetic comments on my favourite songs from MLVC’s earlier studio
portfolio: (hyperlinks are to Madonna's official You Tube site)
The first Madonna song I liked.
Probably the first I heard too. Reminds me of a school trip to northern France during the 80's,
where we played The First Album incessantly. Also it’s the
song I use on my phone as the alarm tone every morning!
Holiday
Could easily be a chart hit
right now. Still sounds as fresh as ever.
One of the most iconic song
intros of the 80’s – do I need to say any more?
Into the Groove
An absolute must on any party
playlist. In my nightclubbing days, it was guaranteed I’d request (demand) the
DJ got it on as soon as I got in the club, because “only when I’m dancing can I feel this free”
True Blue is my favourite Madonna album
period. I feel that nigh on the whole album was absolute pop perfection and
very much of it’s time, and before I had my own copy I frequently borrowed a
friend’s copy of the album on cassette during 1986 and 1987 and fell in love
with all the songs.
La Isla Bonita is up there amongst the most
beautiful songs of all time. In the accompanying music video, Madonna’s look as
the un-made up, timid, austere and passive girl (contrasting
with the red senorita) absolutely did it for me. I can’t think of a more
stunning image of such a cosmetically unenhanced character. Just wow!
I digress.
So yes obviously this has stayed with me
since forever ago – and the poor girl that I initially kept borrowing the
cassette off eventually bought me a copy for my 12th birthday! (Thanks EA x!)
If I HAVE to be pinned down to name a few
other songs amongst this gem of an album that stand out, then I’m going with Open Your Heart, Papa Don’t Preach and Live To Tell.
Proof that even a twelve year
old knows brilliance when he hears it.
And for good measure, when my daughter was
born in 2012, the title track True Blue was playing on the radio in the background
Brilliant children’s record,
though maybe that doesn’t do it enough justice. Always on my Christmas playlist
as it evokes memories of the time of year it was released here in the UK.
Till Death Do Us
Part
A hidden epic on the Like a Prayer album, it is a shame it wasn’t released in its own right.
Powerful, melodic and catchy
song about the breakdown of a marriage.
Waiting
I clearly recall to Erotica for the first time in it’s entirety on the day of its release in
the summer of 1993. Talk about change of direction! The title track set the
tone in its own ‘gotta listen to that
again’ sort of way, but Waiting really struck me instantly. Brilliantly produced and after just
one listen it immediately catapulted its way right into my all time favourite
Madonna songs… ”Only love can hurt like this can”
Beautiful ballad,
and I’ve found it to be a favourite of people who aren’t even Madonna fans. Has
been well used elsewhere too, like in a couple of FRIENDS episodes.
Nobody’s Perfect
Every time I play this for
someone, they always ask ‘when did she do this then?’ – which is criminal!
Again another track that didn’t get enough exposure. Love the vocoder effects –
very much of its time.
...and maybe not technically studio albums, but personally I couldn’t
do this without mentioning worthy gems on the following releases:
I’ve already mentioned the original earlier, but the Into The Groove remix is spectacular here!
Love the title track Who’s That Girl, Causing a Commotion and The Look of Love – I always felt that WTG was like a True Blue bonus disc
Can’t beat a bit of one of the most iconic dance anthems of all
time in Vogue, and Now I’m Following You (Part 2) is a real quirky
feast containing one of the truest lyrics ever put to music:
“An unimagined life is not worth living”
I’m bound to have missed some belters– such is the vastness and
quality of the back catalogue. And with Madonna, you know there’s always more
to come.
Rebel Heart for starters. Watch this space…
