I remember around 2 years ago in late 2024 she first announced that she’ll make a sequel to COADF, and everyone had different reactions. Some thought she’s just making an album with a bunch of songs that will sound like Hung Up and making it sound like a sequel. Others thought she’s doing this just to be relevant again because people thought she "fell off" and that it’ll probably sound like Madame X or Rebel Heart. Many others thought it’s not going to be a sequel at all and she’s just calling it Confessions part 2 to promote it as sounding similar to the actual 2005 album. What were your first thoughts? Did you expect the album to be this successful and promotional?

I think she doesn't get enough credit for taking risks musically. It kind of gets overshadowed by her image and controversies. When she was at her height of fame when she did Erotica, which apart from it's sexual lyrics, was also very adventurous musically. Then albums like Ray of Light, Music, Madame X have very experimental elements.

These days people play it safe musically in my opinion. The focus is no longer to challenge your listeners but to pander to them to get the most streams. Lady Gaga, despite claiming to be a multi-instrumentist, makes the most unadventurous music (albeit enjoyable). After the success of Brat, many popstars nowadays have started incorporating PC music like brash production, but only because it's popular now.

I'm referring to mainstream artists , I know there are many experimental indie artists

Just found my boxed copy of American Life after several years. I had forgotten how many extra items they put in the box. Didn't listen to the CD as much as her other ones but still a good album overall.

Too many things that we have all asked for have come true.
If the Cher collab is to be believed, I think she needs to go full circle and just do a duet with Joni Mitchell.
LES Girl, something like that. You icons have more in common than you think.

Listening this first time in a long time. I didn’t remember how awesome this is. It’s like a roller coaster ride; so fast, bassline slaps and the bridge ascends me to heaven. Gotta listen this much more

I know these lists get posted all the time, but I'm not asking what song is your favourite, I want to know what you class to be objectively (or as objectively as you can be with something so subjective) the best song of each album. What you class as the best could be lyrics, production, mixing, impact, vocals - the choice is yours. Also no cop-outs with selecting more than one track. Mine are.

Madonna - Borderline (Lyrically the best on the album, versatile)

Like a Virgin - Dress You Up (amazing guitar break, catchy)

True Blue - Live to tell (combo of lyrics, vocals and production)

Like a Prayer - Like a Prayer (it's one of the greatest pop songs ever written)

I'm Breathless - Vogue (it's one of the greatest pop songs ever written)

Erotica - Where life begins (this was hard - hehe - but I think production and smart lyrics carry it. But I think this album will heavily divide opinion. D&D is my personal fave, but I think it's objectively a kinda messy song)

Bedtime Stories - Sanctuary (production, vocals are on point)

Ray of Light - Frozen (hard to pick just one, but I think Frozen is immaculate and so unique)

Music - Don't Tell Me (great lyrics, great productions, unique)

American Life - Nothing Fails (lyrics, production, choir *chefs kiss*)

Confession on a dancefloor - Hung up (perfect use of a sample, danceable, sexy, thumping, instantly catchy)

Hard Candy - Devil wouldn't recognise you (found this album difficult, but this has the best lyrics I think)

MDNA - Masterpiece (I don't think another song is remotely close to it on MDNA)

Rebel Heart - Joan of Arc (best lyrics, lovely production, meaningful - though Ghost town feel close)

Madame X - Crave (catchiest, nicest production, lush sounding, vocals relatively in tact)

Confessions 2 - One Step Away (this was SO HARD, my fave is bizarre, but I don't think it's objectively the best... OSA has great production, superb lyrics and feels unique)

I can go on and on and on. Give It 2 Me wins the Hard Candy album game.

Ranking

13. Spanish Lesson

12. Ring My Bell

11. Incredible

10. Voices

9. Dance 2night

8. Beat Goes On

7. 4 Minutes

6. Candy Shop

5. Heartbeat

4. She's Not Me

🥉 Devil Wouldn't Recognize You

🥈Miles Away

🥇Give it 2 Me

I hope you enjoyed. Thanks for playing.

I recently wanted to play “Vogue” for a friend. She’d never heard it before which I didn’t know was even possible, but apparently these people exist. And I found myself feeling unsure about which version I wanted to show her

• There’s the I’m Breathless version (which I think is the same version used in the music video, right?), which is 4:49 long.
• The Immaculate Collection version and the version on the Celebration album also seem to be the same (probably some audio editing differences) and they’re 5:17 long.
• Then there’s the 2022 remastered single version on Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones, which is 4:20 long and has a different intro.
• I also absolutely love the version from the 1990 MTV Awards, with the “pose” moments in between. I just don’t know if that’s a version that was ever released on an album or if it’s just a part of a remix edited in the song?

Are there any other versions I’m missing, aside from remixes like the 12” remix? I ended up playing the Celebration album version :)

I think one of the most frustrating things about being a Madonna fan is that we are aware of so many banging tunes that most of the world will never hear.

I even feel this way about some of the singles like Ghosttown and Danceteria (though at least the latter has got some traction).

I mean… Spanish Eyes exists and most people don’t know.

What do you feel sad the world is missing out on? (I know it’s their own fault.)

Danceteria

He deserves it. Becoming a very good artist. His album on repeat in my waiting room!

On iMessage. Finally… 😏

Also, this post is an insight into the very strange way my mind works…

Perhaps YMMV, but my local Target had a stack of Confessions II in their Clearance aisle, priced at $20.99. Scored it for $19.94 with Circle card discount!

I love dark hair Madonna!

For a time, I had trouble listening to Confessions 2. I mean, I listened to it 20 times, loved the hell out of it as a work of pure genius, and voted the sht out of those VMA's... but then I started getting sad and then stopped listening because... is this her last album? And also, she's only going to keep getting older. And I see how much even a few years can change people at that age.

But I've been following a ton of Madonna accounts and have now just grown to love and appreciate goofy, fun, glamorous, beautiful, dorky Grandma Madonna, gimpy knee and all. She f*cking rocks it.

😎❤️‍🔥

That's the post

Madonna – Confessions II Studio Sessions: Stuart Price

Contains: Love Without Words, My Sins Are My Savior

Madonna – Confessions II Studio Sessions: Andrew Watt

Contains: Danceteria

Madonna – Confessions II Studio Sessions: Stromae

Contains: My Sins Are My Savior

Madonna – Confessions II Studio Sessions: Arca

Contains: I Feel So Free, What Will Save Me (unreleased), The Test

Madonna – Confessions II Studio Sessions: Feid

Contains: Read My Lips

Madonna – Confessions II Studio Sessions: Parisi

Contains: Love Without Words