MUSIC - 2000
1. Music
2. Impressive Instant
3. Runaway Lover*
4. I Deserve It
5. Amazing*
6. Nobody's Perfect
7. Don't Tell Me
8. What It Feels Like For A Girl**
9. Paradise (Not For Me)
10. Gone***
11. American Pie*
12. Cyberraga****
Produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzai
* Produced by Madonna and William Orbit
** Produced by Madonna, Guy Sigsworth and Mark "Spike" Stent
*** Produced by Madonna, William Orbit and Mark "Spike" Stent
****Produced by Madonna and Talvin Singh
When I first posted this website in December of 1998 I had the advantage of living with all of Madonna's records for years (or months in the case of RAY OF LIGHT). I had memorized and listened to and pondered the records for hours. This early review of Music doesn't have the advantage of that time so some of the opinions may change in the coming months. I am writing this on September 18, three days after I got the cd and my first impression is very good. There are some instant classics here like Impressive Instant, I Deserve It and What It Feels Like For A Girl. I also feel that there is an overabundance of vocal effects. I think this is a trend that has already gotten old and I feel it ruins Nobody's Perfect which could have been great. The cd on a whole is energetic and exciting, with a facinating sound courtesy of Mirwais and William Orbit; the biggest surprise is the abundance of acoustic guitar! Call it folktronica. The lyrics are strong and mature and the vocals terrific (especially on I Deserve It), but so far the album has not gelled like Madonna's greatest albums do. I think its similar to LIKE A PRAYER in that its soulful and moving and thrilling, but on a song by song basis. The album as a whole doesn't make a strong statement like EROTICA, BEDTIME STORIES or RAY OF LIGHT. It sounds terrific and new, and I hope it solidifies as a complete album in subsequent listens.
Music - This lyrically simple track exploded onto the charts immediately rocketing to #1 everywhere in the world, even in the U.S. making it her first perch on the top of the charts since Take A Bow over five years ago and at four weeks it is her third longest stay at the top, as well as being her first platinum selling single since Justify My Love. Thematically the song is similiar to Vogue and Into The Groove. It's a dance song that celebrates the dance. "Music makes the people come together." It's stated as fact and Madonna certainly knows it. It's a perfect opening to MUSIC the album: energetic, exciting and concise. Music states its purpose, makes its point and leaves one tapping at the end. Unfortunately the video is mess, her worst since Deeper and Deeper and they are similiar in execution as well. Jonas Akerlund's reunion with Madonna after the spectacular Ray of Light is dissapointing in the extreme. Madonna in full retro pimp gear as she, Debi Mazar and Nicki Harris go clubbing, drinking and pick up some strippers. Garish and tacky, this witless parody of rap videos actually wallows in the same cliches without satirising them. In short, the video is nowhere near as innovative as the song. The video was released as a DVD single.
Impressive Instant - A mammoth club song, Impressive Instant sounds like no other Madonna track before it. The "I'm in a trance" refrain is reminiscent of Bedtime Story and its references to comets, galaxies, astral bodies and creation explore themes similar to those in Candy Perfume Girl and Sky Fits Heaven but the song is definately one of a kind. Just when you worry she's getting to spacey and tranced she brings it home with "I like to singy singy singy/Like a bird on a wingy wingy wingy." reminding us all not to take it too seriously and to just get up and dance. It's absolutely criminal that this track was never released as a single!
Runaway Lover - The dance vibe continues as William Orbit makes his MUSICal debut after stunning us all with RAY OF LIGHT. Scorning a cheating lover over his one night stands, Madonna sends her lover out to sea (metaphorically). Orbit's signature beats and swooshes surround a strong vocal performance that create an instantly likable song, even if its not up to Orbit's previous work.
I Deserve It - A Madonna rarity: a ballad where she concludes that she deserves her happiness. Coming after the aural density of the first three tracks I Deserve It is disarming in its honesty and its unadorned vocals. A simple acustic guitar accompanies Madonna as she celebrates a "guy" (pun intended)and the love they have found. Not since Cherish has Madonna allowed herself to be so in love. The chorus acknowledges her past and she again tells us she has no regrets and that she deserves it. Madonna has really lived and this song simply states that. Its a terrific contrast to her more somber and lonely ballads. I Deserve It is a stunner! One of MUSIC's best!
Amazing - A frantic retro dance track, Amazing is almost uncomfortably similar to Beautiful Stranger with its guitars and hand claps but when you get on the dance floor the similarities are entirely inconsequential. It's also a return to tainted love after I Deserve It, and we all know that no one can make you dance to lost love like Madonna. "I wish I didn't want you like I do" "If only I could let go" Its a great Madonna can't-let-go-even-though-I-should song, and one of this albums best.
Nobody's Perfect - Madonna's lonely again (see most of RAY OF LIGHT and almost all of BEDTIME STORIES) and this song would be a spectacular ballad if it weren't for the overabundance of vocorder effects. Only when the Believe Cherbot effects stop does the song hit home at what could have been. I for one am hoping for a remix that takes out all the effects to see if this track could be as great as I think it could minus the intrusive bleeps and with a more passionate interpretation by Madonna.
Don't Tell Me - A great on/off stutter beat begins this song of not letting go. Its the perfect example of the folktronica that Mirwais and Madonna created for MUSIC. She stands up for love; simply and honestly. An elegant song with the passionate vocals missing from Nobody's Perfect. The second single featured a video by Jean-Baptiste Mondino (Justify My Love, Human Nature, LDLHA), a great line dance and Madonna riding a mechanical bull are the highlights of this simple, but gorgeous video. This track hung around the US charts forever, eventually peaking at #4 and going gold. One of Madonna's absolute best singles!
What It Feels Like For A Girl - Madonna's tribute to all things feminine (and gay) this is the track that's going to be in the drag acts for decades. Its a fun but also really empathetic and moving. Like the lyrical descriptions of females contained within, the song is "silky smooth" and "sweet" but most importantly its "strong inside". Despite its feminine tilt, the song is universal in its sentiments. "Hurt that's not supposed to show/And tears that fall when no one knows/When you're trying hard to be your best could you be a little less" are certainly feelings that everyone is familiar with. This one could be MUSIC's anthem, its Express Yourself or Human Nature.
Paradise (Not For Me) - Released earlier in the year on Mirwais' own album, this song again abuses the vocoder and Madonna's spoken word vocals don't have near the power of her delivery in the classics Justify My Love or Erotica. MUSIC's weakest link, this one is growing on me however.
Gone - Closing out the U.S. version of the album perfectly, Gone features an introspective Madonna pondering her life and choices. She stays strong and determined. She won't turn to stone or lose her faith. She's really lived a life and cautions not to "Dream away your life/Someone elses dream." Thank William Orbit for this songs gorgeous strings and a killer chorus that's all Madonna.
Cyberraga - Included on the International version of the album, this track was the b-side to Music in North America and has been unfairly overlooked. Talvin Singh and Madonna have created a companion to Shanti/Ashtangi that is soothing, elegant and stunningly delivered. The lyrics translate to Madonna asking for goodness in the world and ends with Madonna offering herself to the spirits.
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