Friday Canon Special AKA Biggest Ticky Ever AKA The Queen Is Not Dead AKA He didn't, did he?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

It's the Madonna canon.

Sixty tracks. Twenty picks. No further explanation necessary really.




[Poll #718610]


Results - of all canons - after the Bank Holiday. And the PWC! And a Now poll! And and and - oh the orgafun!

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

It actually involved less whittling down than I thought it would - the number of Madge singles I absolutely love seems to be about 15, and then it was easy to pick a few from the "like" section (about another 15-20 strong).

The "90s slump" is a bit true, innit? I know Lex will say no to this.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I detect no schaffel in 'Don't Tell Me', just the usual Mirwais electro stylings. It was quite a grower for me tho.

The 90s slump is only 'post Bedtime Stories' imo - the singles from that are exquisite. And 'Ray Of Light' really WAS a return to form for me!

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

The 90s slump basically consists of Evita - Ray Of Light is a bit pompous but all the singles were SO classic, Bedtime Stories is maybe a better album than a couple of its singles would imply but then again one of its singles was possibly her best ballad ever, and Erotica is quite clearly the pinnacle of her career.

And Evita wasn't, y'know, bad or anything! Just a bit funny.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

It did surprise me, however, that my votes were basically completely evenly spread over all four sections!

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

It's not just me that spotted the Dot Allison thing, is it?

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

i wouldn't know but we know JLC is a total magpie when it comes to hit-making innit.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I think I am going to play one of these tracks at The Ol' Sugar Me Do...but which one? find out on the 12th (it will be one of the lesser celebrated ones...but no less classic imo).

'Everybody' could've been included in place of 'Burning Up' also perhaps.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Burning Up is better though!

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

As am I!

[maura.livejournal.com]

oh no i forgot to vote for 'rescue me'! i totally glossed over that in my 7am-on-day-of-presenting-emp-paper haze. :(

[bengraham.livejournal.com]

Good to see that with early results in, there's nearly unanimous hatred of 'American pLife'.

I'm surprised 'Hung Up' isn't doing better though... perhaps people aren't voting for it because it's "too recent" and has not yet cemented its place in the legend that is Madonna, but I think 'Hung Up' is the best thing she's ever done (even if that is largely down to Abba).

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I quite liked American Pie! Shocking video though.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

But 'Hung Up' >>>>>>> 'Gimme Gimme Gimme'! (I agree that it's one of the best things she's ever done.)

I think both American Pie and Life are GREAT, the former takes a slightly shonky and over-played song and subsumes it into the Madonna's own mythos, and the latter...well it has That Rap, and sonically it is pretty glitchy and fucked-up.

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Ha, not only do I like American Life, it seems I am the only one to consider it one of Madge's Top 20 best.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I LOVE THIS WOMAN SO MUCH. I am coming over all wibbly in the office just thinking about how COMPLETELY AMAZING SHE IS! I will not hear a word against her, even the allegedly embarrassing things she's done (not v many, really) are not enough to counter the sheer amount of greatness she is responsible for.

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

I... agree completely actually.

Baffling Underperformers

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Gambler - the surge into the "you can't stop me now" middle eight is one of the most exciting things ever!

Justify My Love - come on, that beat! Sechsy Madge is nothing to be scared of!

Bad Girl - have you no appreciation for doomed glamour?

Die Another Day - the logical endpoint of "Nu Trendy Madonna", sounds like nothing else she's ever done.

& Burning Up too but I can understand that cos it's less well known, even so, "I'm not the same / I have no shame!"

Re: Baffling Underperformers

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

How does Gambler actually go? It's obv. unlikely that I've not heard it, but nothing springs to mind.

THE PILATES DIED THE CAT DIED

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

in the "you are lying to yrself" camp = all argentina hatahs obv
(the movie is admittedly a bit poor)

Re: THE PILATES DIED THE CAT DIED

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

It's my 3rd favourite version and my 30th favourite Madonna single.

Re: Baffling Underperformers

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Deeper And Deeper - the climax of "my love is alive and I'm NEVER GONNA HIDE IT AGAIN" is the single most liberating moment in pop music evah, and she backs it up with AMAZING FLAMENCO GUITAR

Re: Baffling Underperformers

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

Deeper And Deeper is really underloved here.

The Flamenco guitar moment is indeed magical, really turns the whole thing into something quite epic.

LEST WE FORGET

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I'm drinking a Soy latte,
I get a double shotte,
It goes through my body,
And you know I'm satisfied
I drive my Mini Cooper
And I'm feeling super-dooper
Yo they tell I'm a trooper
And you know I'm satisfied
I do yoga and Pilates
And the room is full of hotties
So I'm checking out the bodies
And you know I'm satisfied
I'm digging on the isotopes
This metaphysics shit is dope
And if all this can give me hope
You know I'm satisfied
I got a lawyer and a manager
An agent and a chef
Three nannies, an assistant
And a driver and a jet
A trainer and a butler
And a bodyguard or five
A gardener and a stylist
Do you think I'm satisfied?
I'd like to express my extreme point of view
I'm not Christian and I'm not a Jew
I'm just living out the American dream
And I just realised that nothing
Is what it seems

:)

(This lyric contains both the best and worst couplets in the whole of pop right now)

Re: LEST WE FORGET

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

BEST - "I do yoga and Pilates and the room is full of hotties so I'm checking out the bodies" OR "I'm diggin' on the isotopes, this metaphysics shit is dope"

WORST - "I'd like to express my extreme point of view, I'm not a Christian and I'm not a Jew"

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

Those first six are a truly astonishing run of brilliance.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

They are indeed and I didn't even tick three of them!

more underperformers

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Ballads, mostly!

Take A Bow is maybe the ultimate dignified-in-heartbreak song, and also a superb example of that super-plush mid-90s Babyface production (see also TLC's 'Red Light Special')

Oh Father clearly 'meant' to be Madonna's most 'personal' song at the time, there aren't very many pop ballads which deal with subject matter that dark without being mawkish

This Used To Be My Playground - I can never work out whether this is actually sad or not

[zenith.livejournal.com]

I am pleased to see 'Beautiful Stranger' doing so well, because a lot of people I talk to about Madge don't seem to rate that one (Austin Powers to blame?), whereas I love it and thought it was her last great single until 'Hung Up' grew on me.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

BA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-da-da-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA!

ALSO

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Erotica - OK yes you might find the heavy breathing embarrassing (I don't) but you can't argue with that bassline

Fever - sexless and soulless but that's the POINT, she's burning up but staring into the void

You'll See - this is basically 'Don't Speak' except a few months in advance

Human Nature - oops, I didn't know I couldn't talk about sex! oops, I didn't know I couldn't talk about YOU. her most contemptuous song.

Don't Tell Me - the most fun to dance to

Best video?

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

During one of my recent Hits!TV marathons they had a King & Queen Of Pop weekender where they alternated Jacko and Madge vids. And I saw the Hanky Panky vid for the first time and was VERY SCARED.

Best vid: Vogue
Worst vid: Music
Most unsettling vid: Hanky Panky
Most inappropriate vid to watch with yr Mum in the room: Justify My Love

Re: Best video?

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

Justify My Love: oh yes, blimey. Very uncomfortable experience watching the post-Word first showing with parents in room.

Devil Worship

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I remember getting freaked out when on The Word they reported on rumours that 'Justify My Love' contained Satanic messages if you played it backwards. Which they then did and apparently the line 'HEAR US SAVE US SATAN' was clear as a mud-ridden bell.

Freaked out, I'm telling you.

Re: Devil Worship

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Have you heard the BEAST WITHIN mix of Justify My Love?!