Category Archives: deep dive

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Song of the Day #4,799: ‘Masterpiece’ – Madonna

Madonna followed up what I consider her worst album so far, 2008’s Hard Candy, with 2012’s MDNA, an electronic pop album informed by her divorce from filmmaker Guy Ritchie several years earlier.

After the lackluster results from the star-studded producer lineup of her previous effort, Madonna enlisted a host of lesser-known producers for this album. Most notably, she brought back William Orbit, who helped deliver one of her best albums in Ray of Light. Orbit’s contributions to MDNA are by far its best tracks.

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Song of the Day #4,798: ‘Give It 2 Me’ – Madonna

It took 25 years and 11 albums before Madonna finally bored me. 2008’s Hard Candy is the first of her releases that left me cold from start to finish.

I think that’s because it’s the first album that feels like she’s chasing something rather than blazing a new path.

On previous albums, Madonna sought out little-known producers who helped push her music in new directions, often redefining the pop music landscape in the process. On Hard Candy, she teamed up for the first time with established stars.

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Song of the Day #4,795: ‘Hung Up’ – Madonna

After the relative slump of American Life, Madonna was ready for another reinvention. She started working with French producer Mirwais Ahmadzaï for the third straight album, but realized it was time for a change.

She turned to English electronic artist and producer Stuart Price, who had co-written a song on her previous record, and set out to create the ultimate dance album. After diving into serious subject matter on American Life, she was ready to have fun again.

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Song of the Day #4,794: ‘X-Static Process’ – Madonna

Yesterday, I wrote about Madonna’s knack for not standing in the same place, changing producers and musical styles from album to album with a professed goal of never repeating herself.

Well, she broke her own rules on her next release, 2003’s American Life. Teaming up again with producer/co-writer Mirwais Ahmadzaï, she delivered an album similar in sound to Music but less impactful.

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Song of the Day #4,793: ‘What It Feels Like for a Girl’ – Madonna

Two things that have impressed me throughout this Madonna deep dive are her commitment to collaboration and her interest in evolving her sound.

After her debut album, Madonna was turned down by her label when she wanted to produce the album herself. She took advantage of that opportunity and sought out Niles Rogers, the first of many big-name producers with whom she would record over the years.

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