Madonna MDNA - what went wrong?

[@ItsRichieT]

The opening of the MDNA tour was strangely enough one of the most amazing intros of her career. She really knows how to put on a show, even when the music isn't as spectacular as previous items in her catalogue.

[@jonnyharvey]

When she comes out in a confession box, smashes the glass & launches into Girl Gone Wild? Yes good opener 🙌

[@ItsRichieT]

@@jonnyharvey The chant leading up to that moment is rather hype building as well. Then the wildness of the choreo on that amorphous stage. We live!! lol.

[@jonnyharvey]

@@ItsRichieT yeah in fairness it looked like serious hard-work, with different parts of the stage moving up and down. I really want to go and re-watch it now 😂

[@ItsRichieT]

@@jonnyharvey The rehearsal is pretty rad too! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmSnd6h-gaiUqdk

[@Wondwind]

I’m guessing you didn’t make it to Blond Ambition or Girlie Show.

[@biljam972]

I think what damaged Madonna's career the most is unhealthy obsession in showbiz with youth and sexuality and that she wanted so badly to follow this trend (which is quite difficult and gets more difficult the older you get) instead of just making her own trend, and her own way of being older and owning it.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes I like that take on it - thanks for sharing 😀

[@melisagalvalizi6982]

her own obsessions

[@Luqas808]

The downward decline started during Hard Candy to be fair, when she began chasing trends that Madonna magic was gone

[@davincibarnette]

True.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes a lot of fans do say that. A lot of fans don’t really like that record

[@jeffkoons001]

@@jonnyharvey it's not terrible, it's just a bit generic and it doesn't meet her previous standards.

[@alfaduko]

I also remember on some fan forums the disappointment of Celebration single. Hard Candy had a tough road because I think Madonna wanted a Nelly Furtardo album and Warner wanted her to work Pet Shop Boys, which the fan base found very appealing.

[@tylerkochman1007]

@@alfaduko Nelly Furtado as in “Loose”-era or Nelly Furtado’s earlier career?

[@tylerkochman1007]

It is hard to deny that radio avoids playing music by women over the age of 50. The sad thing is Kylie Minogue seems its latest victim. She literally turned 50 and immediately stopped making the same sort of mark on the UK singles chart. No single since “Dancing” has been given appropriate airplay and chart performance. Even if her albums have performed very well since then, her singles have been ignored. I pray her next era will defy this and have hit singles in addition to a good album performance.

[@blahblog4322]

Good luck with that. Have you seen the shit she has been releasing?

[@voxtur__7]

I have not heard much music from Kylie, but I do think she must not lose her glory due to ageism. Her fans should petition to radio stations to play her stuff.

[@Metroid250]

I mean Real Groove got a surprising amount of attention, but that's pretty much it. It's a shame because I love all her albums

[@shaunhoward3166]

@@Metroid250 Kylie's the QUEEN 👑💯 DISCO sold well , as well as good streaming numbers 👑💯🤟

[@popkick8350]

@@Metroid250 I’m pretty sure Dua Lipa may have had something to do with it since she was featured in a remix of the song.

[@olgarodionova27]

I love Girl Gone Wild, such an amazing song and video!

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes seems to be a fan favourite

[@kyliefan7]

Yes!!! I almost feel like it belongs on an album with the song Celebration but nothing else from MDNA. My Ex-bf doesn’t love Benny Benissi but I really love his and Madonna’s songs.

[@SeaBassTian]

"Masterpiece" is the only song I would voluntarily listen to again and I'm a lifelong fan.

[@jonnyharvey]

I never got into Masterpiece. Falling Free is one of my favourite songs ever.

[@moonstone1159]

The album just felt like it was unfinished, imv. I believe at the time she was also directing her movie "W.E." and getting ready for the Super Bowl half-time show. In any case, she got an award for the beautiful track "Masterpiece," and the videos for the album were great. Let's not forget that the MDNA tour was also one of her best. THX!

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes she was busy with a lot of other projects at the time, rather than just focusing on the music

[@michaelwilliams8625]

MDNA was the album that truly got me interested in Madonna as an artist.

[@jonnyharvey]

That's nice to hear - everyone hears music differently

[@sashabertold3731]

It's very good album!!!

[@jeffkoons001]

CONFESSIONS was her last really good album. Hard Candy was a gambit to get young Justin Timberlake-y fans, and one could smell the desperation. Her vocals sounded like she was under duress on that album, it was really weird. MDNA's best moments sounded grafted on from MUSIC and AMERICAN LIFE, but she hadn't really decided on a vision for this album. Her comment that the "well had run dry" is interesting. She'd done it all, and in some respects, I wish she'd retired after Confessions. I know the stans will hate me for saying that, but I've been a stan since 1983 and I get to have my opinion!

[@jonnyharvey]

No it’s really interesting to hear different opinions on it - thanks for sharing 😀I definitely agree that Confessions was her last great album.

[@AndreUtrecht]

I am not a die hard fan... I love certain hits and I really liked the Ray of Light and the Confessions on a Dancefloor albums.... and Madame X is an excellent album also, it is really good... Her most adult and artistic I have to say... it deserved awards...

[@imnobodywhoareyouu]

Obviously I don’t hate you. But I think Rebel Heart it’s amazing. People don’t credit her enough but to me that album is smash after smash.

[@skurinski]

@@AndreUtrecht nah Madame X was awful

[@lexibabyqueen]

I don’t hate you and that’s the popular opinion but I think Rebel Heart and Madame X are fantastic. Rebel Heart isn’t breaking boundaries but it’s a super solid album with some of my fav deep cuts like Joan Of Arc and Wash All Over Me and Madame X is a really interesting and creative project

[@_BSH_1971]

I 🫶🏼 MDNA ALBUM/WORLD TOUR. It was amazing from the start to end. Also, the MDNA World Tour was such a tremendous experience for her fans. Her work with Avicii was also a great surprise for the fans. ❤️‍🔥💥💙MDNA💙💥❤️‍🔥

[@jonnyharvey]

Thanks for sharing. I was kinda disappointed with the tour myself, especially that bit at the beginning with the rifle.

[@likewaterforcoffee1570]

Rebel Heart is one my two favorite albums of all the albums she released in the 21st century (the other being Confessions)

[@moonstone1159]

Yes, of my top favorites too.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes Rebel Heart definitely had it's moments

[@humblehouse]

@@jonnyharvey I went for the Rebel heart tour in Brisbane, Australia in 2016. Absolutely amazing show (but pity the very late start of more than 2 hours). In addition, I totally love the entire album and the title song is a perfect description of my life too. One of the few albums of hers which I can just play the entire album without skipping tracks. While not being optimistic of the ageism of US radio stations against her, and her bizarre physical (especially facial) features changes in the past 3 years also do not help endearing her to many fans, I truly hope we can see another solid album in the class of Confessions, True Blue, Ray of Light and Rebel Heart before her career comes to a natural swansong.

[@craig9563]

agree

[@theodoe946]

It’s the Madonna album that has the most energy, the most fun, the most vapid but by choice. It’s not meant to be taken seriously, I mean look at the album cover, it’s meant to be enjoyed for the production and her ability to craft great Melodies. It’s camp and it’s great, I love this record. So I don’t get the “bad songwriting” critique. But even on this album she has moments of good good writing like on masterpiece, love spent, best friend. It’s my second favorite, edged out only by like a virgin.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yeah that’s cool - everyone hears music differently

[@zubayrcharles9914]

I also love this album!

[@NPGLAMB]

The radio had “gimme all your lovin” playing constantly but no other songs off this album

[@jonnyharvey]

Really - in which country?

[@NPGLAMB]

@@jonnyharvey USA

[@Andrei-sg7lu]

@@jonnyharvey In the United States she had a deal with Clear Channel Radio that tied in with her Superbowl appearance that automatically put it on their playlist. It was played on radio constantly leading up to the Superbowl. So while it was her last top ten in the U.S., it was not achieved organically.

[@archivesunset4214]

​@ithinkDAfucknotUtrickassBITCH mariah carey literally earned all her #1s organically hence the general public knowing most of them and most of them being classics as well likeee

[@DJDiegoGarcia]

I feel like, when she was on top of her career, she would just go chase obscure professionals she would like to work with (producers, photographers, directors, designers) that were known only in a certain niche. I have a DVD Box set from music video directors and there is a book featuring an interview with Chris Cunnningham (the director of the Frozen video). One of the questions were "You only work with underground artists, how this Madonna collab came about?" and he simply answered: "She saw one of my videos and, before anybody else, she was knocking on my door". And, now, she is working with the same producers from other mainstream artists just to try to stay relevant and appeal to a younger crowd. Which is a shame. Lyrics-wise, albums like Ray of Light or Bedtime Stories have much more mature and deeper lyrics than Hard Candy or MDNA. PS> the main component of xtc is called MDMA, not MDNA... Hahaha... But the point still stands as it was clearly a word-play about it.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes I like your point. I would rather she go and work with more cutting edge and interesting collaborators, musically and visually

[@janspitzner783]

I get your point and I agree, but already on Bedtime Stories she was collaborating with trendy producers. So it didn't start with Hard Candy 14 years later.

[@xophiyah7101]

I remember hearing at the time that she wanted to record "Commander" which David Guetta had done with Kelly Rowland, but he said no. So she just did the whole "scorpio" drama.

[@jonnyharvey]

Oh I never heard that story - she’d have to sing it in a lower key though. Thanks for sharing 😀

[@mmmnahfam]

I had the same thoughts at the time, but nowadays revisiting this album - it's pretty good. I find that anything Madonna makes is hard to appreciate at the time and needs a few years for people to get it.

[@jonnyharvey]

That’s interesting, thanks for sharing. I’ve revisited it a few times - still not happening for me.

[@ruddylara5517]

I really loved mdna album and the tour was amazing 🎉

[@jonnyharvey]

Glad you enjoyed them 😀

[@MrDonanthony]

As a life long fan, I felt Hard Candy marked a downward spiral for Madonna. Ray of Light and Confessions were excellent albums.

[@jonnyharvey]

Ray of Light is my favourite Madonna album ever

[@craig9563]

i think Rebel Heart - which came after Hard Candy - is a very good album. (e.g: the songs Ghost Town, Borrowed Time, Rebel Heart and especially Beautiful Scars.)

[@alcopop2006]

Think the charts have changed. Streaming has effected how music is consumed and purchased making it harder for veteran artists to make a dent on the charts unless they become some sort of viral sensation.

[@jonnyharvey]

Very true. Good insight

[@michaelalvarez_]

I enjoyed the MDNA era at the time and I still like it! Maybe it just makes me nostalgic for my freshman year of high school

[@garycambridge5513]

I prefer this album to hard Candy and most of Madame X - the thing is her music is varied so she has something for everyone 😊

[@jonnyharvey]

Oh that’s interesting - MDNA does have some very loyal fans

[@Madonna_QueenOfPop]

I'm also a hardcore dying fan over MDNA. I actually loved MDNA, Hard Candy and Rebel Heart over Madame X lol

[@michaelx3135]

MDNA is one of her best albums. People will come around to it and wonder why oh why it took them so long.

[@jonnyharvey]

Well it has been a decade now since it’s release

[@michaelx3135]

@@jonnyharvey Yes, and though the majority of fans still look down on it, I have read a few retrospective reviews stating that MDNA is actually a great divorce album and that the the problem was that people didn't really listen to it. MDNA is therapy on the dance floor. And not everyone needs therapy.

[@az9169]

I remember when I listened to it two times in a row. And throw it in the bin.

[@charlesdavis545]

It is a good album, but for someone else, such as #KatyPerry, #Rihanna, or #GaGa.

[@izoilica2516]

'some girls' is where i stop listening to the album.

[@richardjamesrochardt7573]

Babe's, I love your perspective on our favourite artists and albums!! Youre my favourite vids on youtube. Thank You!! This has been fascinating 👏 🤔 👌 😊 ☺️ 😄

[@jonnyharvey]

Thanks so much 😀🙏

[@richardjamesrochardt7573]

@@jonnyharvey we need a Frankie Goes To Hollywood Deep Dive

[@joecapel6745]

No other star could do a tour like MDNA. The power and sexuality she showed along with the gorgeous ballads. unbeatable tour.

[@jonnyharvey]

I didn’t like that show actually - but each to their own

[@joecapel6745]

@@jonnyharvey interesting, fair enough. I thought it was a real reestablishment of her in the modern age. i felt that lovespent was the highlight.

[@justinkade0722]

Out of all of Madonna’s albums, MDNA is the one I almost never revisit. Although, in 2012, it was a different story for me. I listened to it practically on repeat and even spent an ungodly sum of money on tickets to the “MDNA” tour, which was excellent. The songs on this project haven’t aged well and just aren’t too good.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yeah I haven’t revisited it in years. Except Falling Free - I listen to that song almost everyday.

[@henrylo3893]

My favorite song will always be La Isla Bonita.

[@jonnyharvey]

I love La Isla Bonita. I think it was offered to Michael Jackson first but thankfully he said no.

[@paulotavares9357]

MDNA has some highlights such as "Turn Up The Radio", "Girl Gone Wild", "I'm Addicted", "Love Spent" and the underrated "I'm A Sinner" and "Falling Free", but the rest of the songs really don't mix to it

[@jonnyharvey]

I love 'Falling Free' - one of my favourite Madonna songs ever

[@caganbulun8687]

Do you really like turn up the radio 💀

[@RicardoAng]

MDNA’s first single should have been a more aggressive single, like “Girl Gone Wild.”

[@jonnyharvey]

I suppose GMAYL fit in with the Super Bowl thing. But ‘Girl Gone Wild’ had more kick to it

[@rvegas81]

This was a really nice video!

[@jonnyharvey]

Thank you 😀

[@deepconnection1169]

I just was not 'bowled over' by any single track on the album. I tried really hard to get into it, wanting badly to discover new material from her. I listened, uninterrupted, to the album several times. And nothing was really 'catchy' in my opinion. I think it was bound to happen the way she fills her schedule so full. The album seems to have suffered by her being so busy do so many different things whilst recording the album. It shows. But the 2 x 12" vinyl; set of this album is selling currently for well over $375.00. So, from a collectors point of view, it is valuable asa product. But even remixes could not save these tracks. And that is really saying something bad about the album as a whole.

[@jonnyharvey]

Wow that’s some pricey vinyls. The only song on the album I got into was ‘Falling Free’

[@zafnatpaneaj4992]

I love the way you expalin everything. MDNA is a great album, im totally agree with you... The Concert Tour was amazingly powerful, I was lucky to see her live 3 times in Argentina. (By the way you are a very gorgeous man. Greetings from Buenos Aires)

[@jonnyharvey]

Cheers - thanks for your kind words 😀

[@pavelhristov361]

Hey, I appreciate your videos having a really good foundation and being informative! Great job! But I respectfully disagree with the statement of that one - a real, INTELLIGENT FAN of Madonna can find beauty in every album made by this music GENIUS!!! Even if you gotta dig a little deeper! Madonna is an extraordinary smart artist and often the real deal isn't at the surface! MDNA was yet another exquisite work of art with unique ideas for sound and lyrics! It's at least my way of looking at the album, but I would definitely say - Nothing went wrong! It's just different, more complicated, more diverse! Absolutely in line with Madonna's life at that time. And that's real beauty!⭐ Honestly, if one looks seriously, closely and invested into Madonna's work, there's NO BAD album! One just needs to get it, to feel it! And believe it! Madonna can talk to me, she always could and I am so happy I get her!!!❤️❤️❤️

[@jonnyharvey]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts & so respectfully. People hear music differently & there are different ways of interpreting it. I do love ‘Falling Free’ though 😀

[@ryansalamat5924]

I think there’s just too many cooks in the kitchen with her recent albums. Her successful ones - creatively - are those with mainly a single collaborator. Pat Leonard for Like A Prayer Shep Pettibone - Erotica William Orbit - Ray of Light Mirwais - American Life (I believe creatively this is well-made and very cohesive) Stuart Price - Confessions With MDNA, I think there’s a good album in there, if only she stuck with her original vision. My hunch is that she was already about 75-80% done with MDNA and then suddenly she got the Super Bowl gig and now she had to pivot. From a dark vision, she felt she needed to inject fun and sporty and football-y vibe. Which is probably why Orbit complained and said those things at that time. MDNA as a theme was intriguing. Gang Bang was incredibly dark. Remember, this was Madonna coming out of her divorce from Guy. And yet, we had to have GMAYL and those other lame mediocre Cheerdance-y stuff

[@jonnyharvey]

Two very interesting points there - thanks for sharing. Yes it could've been interesting if it sounded dirtier and darker. And yes there probably are too many collaborators on her last few albums

[@damyanthelion]

It was the overall quality of Madonna’s musical output post-Hard Candy that affected her legacy. She did that huge deal with Live Nation re: her live tour career and after that her music releases (with the exception of Madame X) seemed to be shallow cash grabs, designed to give each tour a fresh aesthetic to work with, as well as freshen up the hits her long time fans came to hear. It’s the reason while she lost her critical footing, she became the highest grossing live performer. So there was method in the madness, however for fans of Madonna’s album craft (which she has always been great at, despite her limitations as a vocalist) the shift was glaring. An artist like her can’t afford to lose the public’s respect, as reliability that her material would serve quality, is always what kept the general public invested. And for everyone who didn’t pay to see her live (where her true focus was at the time) that’s what happened. Almost a decade of phoning in her album’s diluted anticipation for her artistry. She’s become known for her antics and without quality bodies of work to anchor the furore and add a deeper perspective it’s really hurt her reputation. True fans know she still has it in her to make great music though, that is a skill that can be put to the side but doesn’t die, so let’s see how she comes out of this phase of her career🤔

[@wagu7003]

While true fans will agree with your well written view, few honestly feel she still has it in her to creat another great album on par with classics from her past. She is unfortunately too far gone.

[@damyanthelion]

@@wagu7003 I know what you mean, her attitude definitely suggests she might be too far gone and maybe she is but she did seem to try on Madame X but 10 years of antics, phoning in her albums meant audiences paid it dust. Madonna’s true talents were never really in her vocal or dance abilities but in her prime she had a satisfying voice and could deliver a song with feeling. You would never know that from the way she sounds these days though, she sounds awful. That said, her instincts throughout her career for where the zeitgeist was heading at any given point and her ability to bend producers to her will in creating music that was a little ahead of what everyone else was doing was always impressive. I don’t think Madonna could achieve an original hit like Cher did with Believe, Gen Z just don’t seem to care about her at all, which is a shame. It doesn’t mean she couldn’t take a few months out to record a compelling album purely for the art.., But that would mean facing the difficult truth that she’s no longer relevant and letting go of her need to be relevant🤷🏽‍♂️

[@jonnyharvey]

Thanks for this. Yes I agree that with the Live Nation deal the focus shifted to touring.

[@jonnyharvey]

She’s doesn’t need to - she has nothing left to prove.

[@damyanthelion]

@@jonnyharvey The same thing is said for Mariah and of course both of their legacies are assured at this point. They don’t need new fans to appreciate them nor do they need to “prove” themselves to anyone. That said, one only hopes as they both continue to put out work that they give their best effort and don’t resort to going through the motions, as is often the case as pop stars mature. I feel Madonna redeemed herself artistically with Madame X, it reminded me how a Madonna album era can feel when she truly cares about what she’s doing and is inspired

[@c.rambaldi6788]

I follow her from 1985 and I was present at her Turin concert in 87. Madonna was loved by everybody. Young, old, straight, gays, everybody just loved her. To me that was her greatest era. Never less, I liked this album and the show was great. ❤️

[@tweetingsparks]

I can't remember if I liked that era. I don't care for Madonna as a whole, but I have a former friend who was engulfed with her. Everything she did, he gobbled it up and spoke of her ALL THE TIME.

[@jonnyharvey]

Your friend sounds like me 😂😂

[@donryan3153]

Love Spent, Girl Gone Wild, Masterpiece, Falling Free, Turn Up The Radio Gang Bang are all great songs

[@jonnyharvey]

I love Falling Free

[@ms.b9093]

Ironically, those are majority William Orbit tracks.

[@alfaduko]

I’m glad you mentioned Gaga, I’d never seen any other artist get talked about on Madonna forums more than Gaga. She was giving epic videos and releases were an event, like Madonna, MJ, Prince use to do, besides that she was leaning into Madonna homage/influence more than anyone had ever before. Even on MDNA….Some Girls has real Gaga vibe.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes I felt I had to mention Gaga cause she really changed the music landscape at the time. And everyone is inspired by one another & Madonna has clearly influenced Gaga’s work

[@yussepig6629]

GaGa changed nothing. She just brought Madonna’s glory days back briefly

[@elizabethschubert7803]

Bingo! “Some Girls” sounded like a reject from The Fame

[@lexibabyqueen]

@@yussepig6629 Gaga brought EDM/Dance back to the mainstream, made music videos relevant again, and changed fashion in music. Look at artists like Katy Perry and Rihanna before and after Gaga came out

[@flazeda8743]

@@lexibabyqueen Exactly!

[@michelebergman4336]

She’ll never go away… she’s here to stay 4 ever

[@jonnyharvey]

True

[@jenniferw1956]

I loved the album MDNA! Saw this Concert in Toronto.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yeah I saw the tour in Dublin - I didn’t think it was her best ☹️

[@caiomigueldeoliveira5108]

Love hard candy, MDNA and Rebel Heart ❤️❤️😍😍

[@dionneking8]

I love the art work for the album

[@jonnyharvey]

It was done by Mert & Marcus (the photography), wasn't it?

[@infinitelightcouncil]

We thought she would spend the rest of her days doing metaphysical techpop after ROL but it turned out to not be an awakening really-

[@jonnyharvey]

Omg yes- I’ve always thought I was only one who thought that. I always felt that her subsequent albums felt retrograde spiritually & personally after ROL

[@infinitelightcouncil]

@@jonnyharvey my hubby and I are energy workers and are still waiting for that spiritual pop superstar

[@mikehunt7360]

@@infinitelightcouncil 😂

[@sarizonana]

​@@jonnyharveyMusic was a great follow up to ray of light and it did conquer the young generation of that time the millenials. Music was her Last comercially succesful album.

[@ymd2516]

MDNA is my favourite Madonna album. I’m aware it’s not necessarily the best Madonna album but it’s such a fun album. A lot of the critiques MDNA gets are similar to Hard Candy but Hard Candy seems to get a pass. The Celebration single felt like a statement of Madonna saying she was going EDM and Madonna’s roots are in dance club music. I love the MDNA era but it’s a very congested where the Album took a back seat to the Super Bowl performance (which is my belief why Gimmie All Your Luvin was the lead single over Girl Gone Wild), the tour and the W.E movie. The era was a bit like a self aware midlife crisis after her divorce but I felt madonna carried it well. She still looked amazing and her body was on top form as shown during the tour. Say what you will about the MDNA era but Madonna had public feuds with both Elton John and Madonna and she won both by winning the Golden Globe over Elton and him ultimately apologising for his behaviour and Madonna’s tour outselling Gaga’s and Gaga never hit the heights of 2010/2011 again

[@bernardbernardo6862]

the album sells out but the concert became the biggest earner.

[@alberto_bifulco]

I think many nostalgic fans exaggerate by saying “hey, MDNA is trash, it started the end of her career, it’s her worst album” and so on. We can all agree it misses the quality we can find on Confessions, Ray of light or Erotica BUT it’s probably her most fun record to date. it’s full of positive messages, upbeat songs and some more introspective ones (Masterpiece and Falling free are criminally underrated). I think she made a terrible choice in picking GMAYL as the lead single… despite being catchy, it was not representative enough to the main focus of the album, which should have more driven between dance power tracks and introspective, emotional ones. Girl gone wild on the other hand is one of her most underrated songs, if it only had the promotion it deserved, it would have been as successful as some Rihanna or Gaga’s hits. at least that’s my opinion 😊

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes I agree - I definitely wouldn't have chosen GMAYL as a lead/single.

[@alberto_bifulco]

@@jonnyharvey there’s also this general opinion about lead singles that are collaborations… they’re often not that well received. it should have been a soundtrack for a movie or something like that, but lead single of an explosive era like MDNA? I wouldn’t have picked that.

[@jonnyharvey]

@@alberto_bifulco it was probably also chosen because it featured M.I.A. & Nicki Minaj who was at the height of her career at the time. Madonna was linking up with younger brands also to help retain relevance and interest in her own brand. IMHO that also played a huge part.

[@alberto_bifulco]

@@jonnyharvey surely it was, probably they thought it was a smart choice considering the main idea to conquer younger generations. anyway, if she invested more in Girl gone wild, highly probably she would have got more attention, especially if she lead a breathtaking performance during the Super Bowl… instead, in that occasion she sang the same old songs (masterpieces!), while throwing herself more into a creative EDM sound may have helped her career, which has been suffering since the Hard Candy era.

[@alexd1121]

Totally but the first video should’ve been I’m addicted and GGW should’ve had different lyrics, that intro was like a poor replica of the great Madonna. So rushed and lazy. So was the video. A pity because yes that album was super fun if you ignore GMAYL. I LOVE I’m Addicted, Gang Bang, Turn Up The Radio, Love Spent, Some Girls, don’t give a, falling free. The rest is forgettable but that’s already a big lot of solid songs. Best friend, Beautiful Killer, I’m a sinner were buzzkills.

[@eli4shawt]

I loved this time for Madonna, at the time I was obsessed I actually became a fan in 2012, now that I know her entire discography I can understand why people say things that suggest that she fell short artistically at this time but I really think that it’s only because a lot of people didn’t get it. And sure you could say that a good artist should be able to communicate their message in a way that people can hear and understand, but I really believe the is album as well as hard candy were very inspired and I really have no complaints at all about MDNA. i don’t think she is a sellout, she really cares about her message, and I believe that her staying relevent as she gets older as a woman is a part of her message, and I adore it. I think she played the line between following trends and being original beautifully. The main part of her image that I think she contrasted in these two albums, was the spirituality, by coming off full force worldy, which I believe she is working on now and as clever as ever, if not more. But at the end of the day she is a real artist, not just a business woman anyway. Ah I love her

[@jonnyharvey]

Yeah that’s cool - everyone hears music differently. Thanks for sharing 😀

[@mattemattematte]

the david guetta situation makes me laugh🤣

[@jonnyharvey]

It’s all coming back to me now - the Scorpio thing!!!

[@Manhattan384]

I love MDNA but I will agree it did something and generic specifically Superstar and GMAYL, I also liked GGW and Turn Up The Radio

[@beachstreet101]

This is a good video and you made excellent right on points. When I first heard MDNA, I wasn’t that impressed by it. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t move me. Compared to the caliber of albums Madonna typically does, I felt it fell short. The album did grow on me after a few listens and I do find it to be a fun album, but again compared to Madonna standards, it’s less than. I’ve always felt Madonna was at the top of her game from her self titled album in 1983 on up to the Confessions on a Dance Floor album. From Hard Candy on, I’ve felt Madonna just hasn’t been the same and nor has been able to produce great albums like she used to.

[@yussepig6629]

It’s still a good album by Rihanna , Katy Perry standards but just not the level we expect of M. Apart from the last 3 tracks which are amazing .

[@justinknott5839]

But her MDNA word tour set records and was phenomenal

[@jonnyharvey]

The demand was high for her concerts in 2012. I saw it in Dublin in a stadium. The reviews I read in the British & Irish media at the time were very mixed

[@GlennWD]

Falling Free, Masterpiece & Some Girls are phenomenally great songs from MDNA. It’s a shame Some Girls is overly produced through.

[@jonnyharvey]

I love Falling Free - one of my favourite Madonna songs ever 😀

[@pbworld7858]

I don't understand. MDNA was one of my favorite albums after Like A Prayer and Ray Of Light. Love Spent and Falling Free were some of the really excellent and different non-single songs. And I love the singles that were eventually released from that album.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yeah that’s cool, everyone hears music differently. I do agree with you about Falling Free - it’s one of my favourite Madonna songs ever 😀

[@robertsaenz]

She was also too consumed with trying to make money after her divorce (which meant a huge settlement in Guy Ritche’s favor) more importantly - she was also hell bent on destroying her blonde bombshell image so no Gaga could ever come for it again. While all those two things were happening she also didn’t want to make a heartbreak album discussing the divorce etc., which would thereby have been giving Guy even more than he had already taken. I’m many ways he took so much more than just her money and 8 years … she became so rebellious and miserable after … nothing really but rebellion and destruction for rebellion and destruction’s sake made her truly happy again.

[@jonnyharvey]

That’s a really interesting insight - thanks for sharing. Yes the divorce & divorce settlement (as you would imagine) had a huge effect on her

[@rivera5589]

They don't play older singers in the Radio in America , Australia and Europe . But in Mexico they do . I remember hearing , turn up the radio , living for love, , Medellin that one song with Maluma , in Mexican radio stations in Mexico city. They don't discriminate in Latin America in radio stations like they do in the other countries.

[@jonnyharvey]

Oh that’s nice to hear. They very much do here. After a certain age it’s really hard getting airplay on mainstream, top 40 radio

[@jenaeoconnor9346]

Like a prayer her greatest era

[@vscents5674]

Love the video! ❤❤

[@jonnyharvey]

Thank you 😀🙏

[@MrTiggerr84]

I don't think it's so much her age I think it's they know she will annihilate the competition because all the pop tarts today don't have what she has and never will she is a true phenom!!!

[@jonnyharvey]

Long-term, how could anyone equal that let alone top what she’s done in her career?

[@lancechinnian4043]

Very good analysis.

[@jonnyharvey]

Thanks Lance 😀

[@PureSparkles22]

the scorpio comment 💀💀💀

[@jonnyharvey]

She really doesn’t like Scorpios

[@zanealberto7741]

LOVE Madonna 👍💙 Thx Zane

[@leaoleao]

This album is so forgettable, unfortunately. The single choices were the worse and it didn’t help at all - that 1st single was so unimpressive. The first half is so generic that it’s strange coming from a lady that gave us Ray of light and so many other incredible álbuns. I felt the same with hard candy too… rebel heart is a bit better and way too long. I think with Madame x there were moments of how amazing her music can be. I absolutely love her music, but not all lately 🙃♥️

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes very much how I feel. 'Rebel Heart' was a better album but far too long. Madame X offered snippets of magic but I never got into it.

[@skurinski]

Rebel Heart >>>> Madame X

[@mattbernabe]

10 years ago, when the album first came out, I wasn't the biggest fan. Think I only enjoyed two songs from it. Over the years, I've slowly come to enjoy most of the songs on the record. Turn Up The Radio Girls Gone Wild Gang Bang Give Me All Your Luvin Superstar I Don't Give a I'm a Sinner Love Spent All great songs Masterpiece and Falling Free recently have been growing on me. My number 1 favorite from the album is Turn Up The Radio. It's such a fun and energetic song. Shame it didn't make it on the Billboards, and hardly had any air time. It's one of Madonna's top best songs from the 2010s. It's now one of my top favorites of hers.

[@coreyd3279]

yes i didn’t like TUTR at all when it first came out, but after the whole covid lock down thing i kinda connected to it a lot. And when i listen to it i can only think of how this song might have been a healing process for her in a way as well.

[@jonathanguzmanvazquez8916]

SAME HEREEEE

[@jonnyharvey]

That’s interesting to hear. Some people did enjoy it.

[@joshin436]

Falling Free ❤️

[@jonnyharvey]

Falling Free is one of my favourite Madonna songs ever. By far the best song on that album IMHO 😀

[@JohnSmith-bx6zk]

"I loathe Hydrangeas" that was it for me.

[@jonnyharvey]

What 😂😂😂You no longer liked her cause of that?!?

[@JohnSmith-bx6zk]

@@jonnyharvey no no no, I mean that was when I saw the turn of like, I dont care about my fans or my image. It was like, she just got very disrespectful and too diva-ish. I still dont "dislike" her. I just feel there was a defining moment where she pivoted away from self decency.

[@hilaryhongkong]

I think the project would´ve worked better as a surprise release - release "Give Me All Your Luvin´" when the Superbowl performance was announced to build up hype, release "Masterpiece" with a video and should´ve made it eligible for the Oscars, release "Girl Gone Wild" with Britney Spears on American Idol instead of the GMAYL video, then right after her SB show, release MDNA altogether. The hype surrounding the SB show definitely was there, but people were more likely to buy the album than a single.

[@createallow3126]

Madonna has Pluto in her first house. It's similar to having Scorpio Rising. Pluto is what puts that special sauce into Scorpios. There are often power struggles with Pluto.

[@jonnyharvey]

I didn't know that. Do you study astrology?

[@createallow3126]

@@jonnyharvey A little bit. I just got back in to it. Pluto is also about transformation. It might track with her ability to reinvent herself. It's blending with her Virgo ascendant which might track with her multidisciplinary involvement with the technical aspects of her shows.

[@createallow3126]

lol, thanks for listening. 👍😄

[@livelaughluvdisc]

I still regularly listen to Love Spent, Gang Bang, & I Don’t Give A

[@jonnyharvey]

Yeah I did thin they were the better tracks in there - especially Gang Bang & Love Spent

[@robbyk5343]

in case it hasn't been mentioned yet (and sorry if it has!!..) Madonna part-owns her catalogue through her WeBo Girl. I'm not sure of the ratio, but back in the 80's she was one of the very few, if not the first. the girl ain't stupid!

[@jonnyharvey]

Nope she is super-smart. Thanks for that - I didn’t include in it in the video.

[@robbyk5343]

@@jonnyharvey please don't quote me on this, as there's BoyToy Inc as well, on some song credits you see WeBo Girl and on others BoyToy

[@VVVWWW15]

I think the generic sound started with Hard Candy which by the way, i do not dislike at all.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes a lot of fans say that

[@mariamayub212]

Never been a big fan of this album, so this was interesting and it just so happens I'm a Scorpio LOL

[@jonnyharvey]

I'm sure there are lots of lovely Scorpios.

[@AurumEtAes]

What are these breathtaking songs that William Orbit refers to? Have there been any relevant leaks of demos?

[@jonnyharvey]

that's a good question. I will have to go looking for them sometime. I've heard leaked demos from the Hard Candy sessions and Music sessions with William Orbit but not sure about MDNA demos.

[@jeremevr6]

Also w Whitney died shortly after Madonna’s Super Bowl gig and that certainly took some steam from Madonna.

[@jessejameslatimer8686]

I like MDNA more than Hard Candy but I'm still waiting for an album to top confessions

[@jonnyharvey]

That would be a pretty hard to top

[@brentonwolf]

Masterpiece and Falling Free are among some of my favorites tho love spent and I’m addicted are good to tho

[@jonnyharvey]

I love Falling Free - one of my all time favourite Madonna songs.

[@amedeo29]

I think the die-hard fandom actually likes MDNA because it’s the most danceable album since Confessions. These fans seem to dislike Hard Candy and Rebel Heart, as they lean more R&B than dance. These same fans strongly dislike guest vocals, particularly rappers. Casual fans, or general pop music fans tend to acknowledge this is the weakest album in her canon. For my own part, I think MDNA is her most forgettable album. If it didn’t have her name on it, I don’t think anyone would have bought it. It’s boring. While Madonna hasn’t really been a trend setter since 2000’s Music, I do think Confessions, Hard Candy, and Rebel Heart are well produced, well thought-out, and all around solid albums. They have some strong singles… Hung Up, Sorry, 4 Minutes, Living for Love, Ghosttown… these are really great songs. I just can’t say the same for MDNA. People often site Girl Gone Wild and I’m Addicted as being strong. I think they’re ok. Masterpiece is her worst ballad with overly simple lyrics and a blase instrumental. Falling Free feels like it wants to be this deep statement, but it falls flat with the instrumentation for me. The strongest song IMO is Love Spent, but a few of the lyrics are cringe and keep it from being the highlight it could have been.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes some interesting insights in there. I love Falling Free- one of my favourite ever Madonna songs. I guess people hear music differently. MDNA definitely has some loyal fans

[@amedeo29]

@@jonnyharvey I am harsh about falling free, maybe too harsh. My overall experience with the album could be impacting my thoughts on the track. It does have stronger lyrics than the majority of the album.

[@alexd1121]

We’ll have to agree to disagree. I’m addicted should’ve been as big as Into The Groove. Falling Free is beautiful and Masterpiece got her a Golden Globe. Living For Love features her worst vocals to date and Ghost town is her most generic boring and forgettable single. I’m one of the rare fans that actually prefers MDNA to Rebel Heart.

[@isidroguevara4741]

@@alexd1121 nah, I'm Addicted would NOT have been a hit in 2012. It could've worked as a promo single tho. Turn Up The Radio or Girl Gone Wild could've been HUGE hits if they were the lead single and if promoted correctly.

[@amedeo29]

@@alexd1121 I don’t think you’re rare. 99% of Madonna fans love MDNA. I see it on every thread. Most her fans hated Rebel Heart. Many preferred the leaked Aviici versions. It’s the music critics that scored Rebel Heart high and MDNA low. Everyone loves I’m Addicted and Falling Free, I’m def in the minority. I think Addicted sounded better live than studio version, which sounded cheap, like a teenager made it at home for a school project. Just feels cheesy/corny? But I agree, we all have our own personal experiences with the music, it’s just different opinions.

[@ZadenZane]

I've been a fan of Madonna since True Blue. I'm old enough to remember the Holiday/Like A Virgin era but wasn't drawn to her back then. 2 of my favourite albums are Ray of Light and Confessions. My biggest disappointment was Music. I really didn't like the title track and the actual tunes on the record aren't that memorable. When MDNA came out I was not feeling flush and really didn't like having to pick between a standard version with about 10 tracks and a deluxe edition with about 16. In the end I couldn't make my mind up and ended up not buying it! Also the first single, which I liked, featured in a TV ad at the time, but then I find out that's the dance mix and the album only has the plain mix. If they'd released the full "deluxe" album in plain and dance remix versions straight off then I'd very possibly have bought the remixes.

[@jonnyharvey]

I actually found Music really underwhelming after ROL but most fans seem to love it. Ray of Light is my favourite Madonna fan ever.

[@Bret121]

Great video 👍🏻

[@jonnyharvey]

Thanks 😀

[@rebeccawalton4234]

First of all, I loved the William Orbit half of the album, wish she would've done the whole album with him. Second of all, physically, especially her face, looked her best. She should've just kept that face.

[@jonnyharvey]

I love 'Falling Free'. One of my favourite Madonna songs ever.

[@Longislandteaboy]

The thing with madonna and Micuael jackson their labels dropped big bucks promoting them way more than any other artists. With the emergence of social media and music platforms the playing field was levelled out. It was easier to access other artists than just relying on what a radio dictated, so she just was lost in that. Add to that the lack of great work. The obsession with being a leader of what was current just made it worse. Madonna was great being madonna. Madonna wasnt great being whoever is the latest music taste.

[@jonnyharvey]

yeah social media has changed the game for sure and it's been hard for the older artists to adapt.

[@Filmation77]

What's Happening with Madonna is similar to what happened to George Michael before his death.when you reach a certain age , you just CAN'T be "Contemporary" anymore. This Also has happened with Duran Duran recently (The Wedding Album was their great Second Act ,in their Career) and now people on the Internet are now talking about how "Weird" Madonna looks now and she's trying to Compete with a TikTok Generation,and saying stuff on TikTok that maybe a 15 year old in 2022 might say "if I hit this bucket I'm GAY"....Ummm Ok?!? Every great pop act has an ERA or a Prime (whether pop artists admit or Not) after that it's usually downhill. Cause fans get older and move on to other artists,and sometimes you can't reach that fandom that you had before.

[@jonnyharvey]

That’s a good point. Nobody can stay at the forefront of any field forever.

[@likewaterforcoffee1570]

MDNA is one of my least favorite Madonna albums but the deluxe edition album art is my all time favorite album cover

[@aestheticsilence]

I like her earlier discography...MDNA was truly terrible for me. There are a few gems on there, but nothing much. Masterpiece is my favorite, and you're correct in saying it really does sound like it's from another album entirely. It reminds me of This Used to be My Playground, or The Power of Goodbye from Ray of Light album.

[@jonnyharvey]

I love those ballads- some of my favourite Madonna songs

[@evolutionclouds]

She also did little to no promotion for the album She only really did a couple of interviews Maybe she was busy with other projects and still hoped the album would perform thanks to her name and reputation Personally I liked MDNA and LOVED the concert!

[@jonnyharvey]

I think there was more emphasis put on the tour than the promotion of the album with this record.

[@mikeg8276]

Girl Gone Wild and Turn Up the Radio are fantastic singles that deserve way more. Love Spent and Masterpiece were great tracks. The rest are good to forgettable. IMO Rebel Heart was much better overall.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes I prefer Rebel heart also

[@jamesb821]

It was the beginning of the end, I’m Addicted should’ve been the lead single.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes I’ve heard a lot of people say that

[@RockinDaBoombox]

Turn Up the Radio should’ve, but I do love IA.

[@jonnyharvey]

@@RockinDaBoombox yeah a lot of people say they love 'I'm addicted'. I never got into it.

[@jeffkoons001]

IT's a fun high-energy song, but not a lead single imo

[@jamesb821]

@@jeffkoons001 I still think it needed a little more ‘punching up’

[@TheInterestRates]

You see I liked MDNA, though it's far from any of my favourite albums of Madonna. I like EDM, but I think Madonna worked with the wrong people on that album. She got to work with William Orbit again, but there aren't enough songs on that album that he produced. I feel if Madonna had more songs with Orbit instead of Martin Solveig, and perhaps a couple more with Benny Benassi, MDNA may have been much better. Nicki Minaj & M.I.A contributions didn't elevate the songs they did with Madonna either. But then she did 'Bitch, I'm Madonna' for Rebel Heart and I thought Nicki's part in that song was great. And if Madonna spent less time with her other business ventures, that would've benefited the album too. The best thing about MDNA was Madonna's look. She looked amazing, fit and full of energy there. The music videos she did, you'd think she was still in her late 20's or 30's. And the tour was great as well, though it had some needless controversies that came with it.

[@jonnyharvey]

Some really interesting points there - thanks for sharing 😀

[@TheInterestRates]

@@jonnyharvey Anytime! 😁

[@MrTiggerr84]

Here's the thing though with her album confessions on a dance floor that was electronic pop as well dance music and you could say that all the rest have copied her so really she did not hit a slump

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes but the context was different - it was a different electronica sound- more inspired by 70s, 80s disco with a modern sheen. MDNA just sounded exactly like what everyone else was doing at the time- Madonna just didn’t put her own stamp on the sound that time.

[@stephenfernandez7819]

It’s was rushed. Interscope wanted her to work with Lady Gaga’s producers. It was a crap show all around. Madonna didn’t really promote it. That’s why I guess Madonna didn’t like MDNA at the end of the day. She didn’t preform any on the songs to promote it. That is the biggest clue.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yes it seemed rushed. I didn’t know Interscope wanted her to work with Gaga’s producers - that’s interesting.

[@Patrick3183]

Omg that David Guetta story. Did she really do that to him??? Well she got a crappy album as punishment for disrespecting a popular DJ

[@jonnyharvey]

I can’t remember where I took the story from but I only use reputable sources so it must be true.

[@WalterTarantino-xs6ez]

In my opinion, this album would have done better if she led with a stronger single. I think the strongest song on that album was I'm addicted. One thing that I've noticed is that Madonna doesn't pick the strongest singles. On Rebel Heart, same thing. Living for love was mediocre at best. There were so many songs on that album that could have been smash hits; such as Devil Pray and Ghost town. When she was with Warner Brothers, they gave her a lot of input and often disagreed with Madonna on first singles. In Hard Candy, Madonna wanted to release Candyshop as the lead, but Warner talked her into releasing 4 minutes. She was going to use Vogue as a B-Side to Keep it together on her like a prayer album. Warner saw Vogue's potential and convinced Madonna to put it on I'm Breathless and release it as a single. The execs at Live Nation dropped the ball big time.

[@jonnyharvey]

thanks for this - I never heard this before about Candy Shop and 4 minutes. That's really interesting if it's true. Maybe not having good advice did play a part. Interscope were probably more interested in their other artists.

[@shrineheart87]

From bedtime stories to confessions I they will be my favorites the last 4 albums downers Uhhh should've stayed with warner!!!!

[@jonnyharvey]

Well she’s gone back to them now so she must agree!

[@jakepark3272]

Do you think she still has potential for another comeback after a a long string of not having a bonafide hit?

[@jonnyharvey]

The music industry has changed too much - she has nothing to prove now anyway

[@INTOASECRETLAND]

I quite liked it personally.

[@jonnyharvey]

Yeah that’s cool - everyone hears music differently

[@digitalphanes206]

lol what an astral boss, refusing to work with guetta after he reveals his star sign ahah

[@jonnyharvey]

Oh I love that, an astral boss 😀

[@Gagging4Lit]

i love that song Mona Lisa on MDNA. Sometimes as long as there is 1 song i love on an album I think the whole thing is worth it lol. And I am a scorpio lol wonder what Madonna's big deal is with them. Maybe that was just an excuse she wanted to use not to hurt Guetta's feelings idk...

[@jonnyharvey]

You mean Masterpiece?

[@Gagging4Lit]

@@jonnyharvey Yes that's the one I meant lol.

[@magical-soap5359]

It's funny she did a photo shoot with Katy Perry and kissed Drake, both are Scorpio

[@Gagging4Lit]

@@magical-soap5359 she did that for the cameras lol

[@magical-soap5359]

@@Gagging4Lit Ah clever move. 😅

[@jowse]

Björk is a scorpio too and Madonna tried many times to work with her

[@jonnyharvey]

Interesting - good point. Maybe Madonna got more into her astrology since then

[@isidroguevara4741]

I remember I read a lot of reviews for the album and many critics seemed to like these three tracks: 1. Superstar 2. Turn Up The Radio 3. Girl Gone Wild One of those should've definitely been the lead single. Remember, "the customer's always right".

[@jonnyharvey]

yes maybe. 'Give me all your loving' was underwhelming

[@isidroguevara4741]

@@jonnyharvey yes! Especially during the Superbowl that track was such a downer lol! Girl Gone Wild or Superstar would've sounded awesome!

[@jonnyharvey]

@@isidroguevara4741 Girl Gone Wild seems to be more of a crowd pleaser

[@isidroguevara4741]

@@jonnyharvey yup!

[@CarlosMartinez-tj9ju]

I don't know which reviews you read but the general consensus by critics and fans is that Superstar is one of the worst songs in her entire career.

[@scottgarbo1288]

Another great analysis. MDNA seemed rushed, contrived and really half-baked, IMO. When it was released, it seemed like she rushed out any old album so she'd have an excuse to launch another tour. As you said, the songs from this album were mostly pedestrian and forgettable but you make a great point by asking 'how much greatness can come fro one person?!' The woman is brilliant but all good things must come to and end, right?

[@jonnyharvey]

Thank you 😀Yeah she led the way for 25 yrs, she had a great run

[@iJay2000]

it's funny that MDNA and American Life are two of her most disliked albums because they're two of my favorite lol

[@jonnyharvey]

that's interesting - yes everyone hears music differently