Buy Medellín here (Amazon GB)
Read my 25th anniversary posts of Madonna's albums here
She can be Evita. She can be Dita. She can be the epitome of sex. She can be Madame X. But at the end of the day, face it - she's Madonna and nearly 40 years into her career she can still cause a stir when a new song drops. Medellín (featuring Colombian singer Maluma) is the first peek into her upcoming 15th album (because I count I'm Breathless) and has already divided the internet into love it/hate it camps. The Madame X album represents her ability to be the ever changing chameleon of the pop world, immersing herself into new styles and identities which fuel the music she produces. Medellín isn't her most instant lead off single, but it is an irrepressible charmer which unveils hidden layers with each listen. Co-produced by American Life collaborator Mirwais (such an underrated album), the song is an understated gem - the engaging call and response between the actual living legend and Maluma might disarm some at first, but repeated listens evidence what an integral part of the music this duet actually is. The breezy synths and bubbling, buoyant groove is certainly one you can get into whilst the chorus, 1-2-cha-cha-cha and "slow down Papi" refrains blissfully drift into your brain where they will no doubt take up residence and camp out all the live long summer. At 5 minutes long, it is a tough programme for radio but those lovely first moments of the song are pure Madonna and gently ease you into the ever textured production. It never overstays its welcome and the length actually works in its favour as the song really breathes, like the musical representation of a balmy sunny day. Favourite moment? "I felt so naked and alive"/"Show me"...
5 ~ American Life (first single from American Life): It's an odd choice for some, but there is something I really love about this song. And that something was the rap/quasi-rap/spoken middle 8 - whatever you want to call it. Even to this day, I can recite it verbatim at the drop of a hat. The rest of the song is a somewhat subdued Madonna, but those glorious opening fuzzy synths & the first verse detailing her career never fail to absolutely hook me in each time.
4 ~ Living For Love (first single from Rebel Heart): Madonna's finest moment in a long moment, a should-have-been-number-one if ever there was one (only matched by the follow up Ghosttown). Everyone remembers the Brits Award cape moment, but this three-songs-in-one bliss is a flawless fusion of musical styling which blend together exquisitely...
3 ~ Hung Up (first single from Confessions...): Sigh. Dreamy retro meets modern disco classic. I don't know whether it was the Abba sample or the comical telephone box commercial ("Biggie! Nooooo!") or the fact that it seemed to me to be the most perfect Madonna single in years. Brilliantly performed, expertly executed - it's one for the ages and definitely in my top 10 Madonna songs ever. 1-888-CONFESS...
2 ~ Vogue (first single from I'm Breathless): It was a little at odds with the rest of the album/soundtrack (which I still love. I'm Going Bananas? Genius!) but there was no denying it was a true zeitgeist moment for the Queen of Pop. She took something "underground" and made it truly mainstream. It sounded utterly glorious and her MTV performance of it is still one of my fave Madonna performances ever.
1 ~ Like A Prayer (first single from Like A Prayer): Not just my fave "first single from album" song, but my favourite Madonna song ever (my 2nd fave is Take A Bow) & one of my fave pop songs ever. The electric guitar, the choral vocals, pure pop vocal from Madonna, the handclaps, the video, the iconic imagery? What is not to love?! BRILLIANT x a million.
No comments:
Post a Comment