Madonna Reaction Sanctuary + Bedtime Story (THIS SOUND DIFFERENT) | Empress Reacts

[@danielhennessey4282]

I think you will appreciate Bedtime Story more when you see the video. It’s part of the New York Museum of Modern Art, it was one of the most expensive videos made at the time. This album is so chill it’s hard to describe the tracks as fire bops, but overall it’s a great listen. I love it.

[@EmpressReacts]

Can’t wait to see it

[@slimlouis6441]

Madonna didn’t create the sound but she pulled it (again) off dance floors in raves & clubs and made her own inspired version that unless you were there u can’t grasp how this changes pop music. Back when u could get the good ecstasy & not worry about fentanyl, this album was the soundtrack to a ton of great nights both at home and in clubs. Club USA, Soundfactory, LimeLight were playing Madonna when they had formerly been totally underground artsy club kid DJ edgy experimental dance edm. The videos from this ERA were do high quality as well, a giant step up from Eroticas grainy homemade feel. What a great era.

[@EmpressReacts]

Can’t wait to see the videos

[@sxnico]

It's always been my opinion that the best Madonna songs on her 90's albums are on "Side 2", what would be the flip side of a vinyl record. "Love Tried, Sanctuary and Bedtime Story" is fabulous trilogy and for me, the best part of the album finishing off with the beautiful Take a Bow. Bedtime Story is my absolute favorite song from this album. I find this album, sonically and lyrically, way more sexy than Erotica.

[@jeffreysmith8719]

The bass in Sanctuary is a sample from Herbie Hancock's song Watermelon Man. A great use of that song! I always picture this sequence as Madonna finding a giant temple in the middle of a rainforest, entering it and having an out of body experience (Bedtime Story). Bedtime Story was a club hit, but the remix was the hit on the dancefloor, not this version. However, Madonna had a huge dance party and read a bedtime story to promote the premiere of the video for this song which was her highest budget video at the time (and still one. ofthe highest budgets ever for a music video). Bjork has stated she wrote those lyrics for Madonna because she was too controlled, and she wanted Madonna to tap into her subconscious. These two were my favorite part of the album (along with the last song Take a Bow) when the album came out. I didn't appreciate the rest of the album until years later.

[@EmpressReacts]

That bass is 🔥

[@Vertigotheatre1]

Bedtime Story (song) was a huge hit. These got some of the best reviews. The remix of Bedtime Story was another big reason for its chart success. The song is basically a dream, it will make more sense (I think) when you see the video.

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting

[@rowanmayfair9249]

@@EmpressReacts The video is, as always, a Madonna video. It will be a visual treat. No a fan of song but I do love that video.

[@PungiFungi]

It was a dance hit but not a mainstream hit like Take A Bow. Junior Vasquez was the best Madonna remixer since Shep Pettibone...you can tell it's their work when you hear it. All the ones that came later like Nissim, Tracy Young, Above and Beyond...all sounds generic and I immediately rolled my eyes when the remix starts with the inevitable dull club drum beats.

[@Vertigotheatre1]

@@PungiFungi Here in the UK Bedtime Story did well, unlike Take a Bow.

[@kevindobson6568]

Bedtime Story is one of my fav Madonna songs ever ! ❤❤❤❤

[@verticalelements]

Love these songs. I’ve became a hardcore fan after I heard Bedtime Story for the first time. That song is going to the precursor when Madonna moved on to the next phase of her career.

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting

[@Dr_Madonna]

Bedtime story was a big summer hit in Australia hitting #5. At the time this bjork written gem was a total departure from mainstream pop. The video was ahead of its time and was a heavy inspiration for the movie ‘the cell’ starring JLO which came out 5 years later. In the bedtime story video which is permanently on display at moma in NY, Madonna takes an adventure through astral projection and we go inside her imagination and see imaginative settings and landscapes inspired by her Favourite surrealist artists. It’s epic.

[@EmpressReacts]

Oh wow! Interesting!

[@fjvbfjvb]

I see the trio of songs Love Tried to Welcome Me, Sanctuary, and Bedtime Story as precursors to M’s next studio album 4 years later sonically and for their introspective themes

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting 🧐

[@zivo24]

It’s surreal how well Madonna channeled Bjotk, who wrote this song, in both the song and video.

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting

[@adrianoluz1108]

Now cut to everyone waiting on the edge of our seats for the next song 👀

[@EmpressReacts]

😂😂

[@salonglosswoodstock5773]

She actually did take a part of this song into Ray of Light. In Sky fits heaven she uses the "traveling, traveling, im traveling". I do think this song was the introduction to her next album Ray of Light.

[@NocturneSoul]

A lot of her albums have what the fans like to call "the mystery song". In Like a Prayer it was "Act of Contrition", in Erotica it was "Secret Garden", in Bedtime Stories it's "Sanctuary", in Ray of Light it's "Mer Girl" (some say it's "To Have and Not to Hold", in Music it's "Paradise Not For Me".

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting 😂

[@baritoneblazzin1965]

Sanctuary uses so many metaphors in the lyrics.. you just gotta love it! I LOVE YOUR REACTIONS 💯 you are a truly enlightened soul you have good taste in your musical choices when you review 😎

[@EmpressReacts]

I appreciate that

[@brandonkylie3456]

To me BTS is a perfect introduction to what sound she will be going for with Ray Of Light. It's a great track but it's a mood track, meaning you have to be in the mood for it.

[@EmpressReacts]

Agree💯

[@DanielleA2023]

Say Goodbye is one the decades best songs ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@EmpressReacts]

Is that on this album?

[@Marc-zi5cq]

Both songs are a vibe and 10s for me. Bedtime Story was VERY avant garde when it came out, probably still is 30 years later. Very unique sounding for a single by a mainstream artist at the time. Sanctuary is beautiful imo if you listen to them on the album or Spotify they transition into each other. Once again for me a vibe like late night Lounge with a glass of wine, its my vibe haha Great musicvideo and Brit Awards 1995 performance of Bedtime Story to look forwad to. It was single #3 from the album.

[@EmpressReacts]

Def a vibe 😂💯

[@WCD199317]

And for ''Bedtime Story'', this song was wrote by Bjork and Nellie Hooper. This album was very RnB, but Madonna also wanted to explored the british underground scene of this album. This was explored to ''Sanctuary'' and the title track who theses two songs was very different then the rest of the album. After she was introduced to Nellie Hooper by Babyface, she starting to work with Nellie. She told to her that she loved the first solo album of Bjork (who Nellie Hooper produced a year before) who she listen a lot during this period and wanted to work with her. When Nellie Hooper ask Bjork to work with Madonna, she declined, but accepted neitherwise to wrote a song for her. The first title of the song was ''Let's Get Unconscious''. When she received the demo, Madoona loved it and she recording the song. This was the only song she didn't participate in the songwriting of the song. She changed the title of the song to ''Bedtime Story'' while mixing the song. This was the third single of this album. Originally, the single was planned for in end of february 1995, but the ballad ''Take a Bow'' was so much a massive single then Warner decides to delayed of two months the released of the song in order to continue the reign of ''Take a Bow''. This song marked the end of 35 consecutive top 40 singles, this was her first single since 1983 to missing the top 40, only reaching n.42 in US in april 1995. The first week, this song debuting in n.72 and the next week, it's reaching her highest peak at n.42 before falling out rapidly the charts. Neitherwise, it's was a massive hit in the clubs. Everywhere, it's was a okay impact (better then in US), not a big hit like ''Secret'' and ''Take a Bow''. If the song was a flop, at the other hand, the video was successful and received great impact by MTV. The video was labaled by the critics a piece of arts and a lot of museums adopted the videos and played permanently the video in thiers museums.

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting… I can’t hear either of these songs as singles

[@redmuttly75]

im sure youre going to love the bedtime story video,one of her best ever.

[@EmpressReacts]

Can't wait!

[@WCD199317]

About ''Sanctuary'', this song was originally wrote by Anne Preven, but Madonnaheard the song by a friend of her and wanted the song. She give the song and she re-wrote totally the song. At the debut, Anne hated that she totally re-wrote the song, but after she heard finished, she understand why and she love the final product. Madonna was inspired by a poem by Walt Whirtman when she re-wrote the song. When she wrote the song, she wanted to sample the song ''Watermelon Man'' by Hankcook (made in 1974) and this is the reason why the song credites also the original authours of ''Watermelon Man'' in the song. Dallas Austin originally produced the song, but Madonna think he made too much overdubs depist she liking the song and think it's was better if the song was remixing, so she asked to Nellie Hooper to re-work the song, she remixing the song and removed a lot of overdubs on the song including the electric guitar (who it's used was limited in the final product) and the African singings (that the demos originally have) and adding a lot of electronic and trip-hop. Nellie Hooper was credited officially has a additionnal producer and remixing because of that.

[@XxVirginBabyxX]

Interesting... never knew all of this. Thanks for the fun fact :)

[@alfaduko]

Yeah same, I never knew about the Anne Preven connection, her ex married Mia Farrow?

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting if I’m Anne and Dallas I’m mad. She literally said bump what yall did 😂😂

[@openyourchakras918]

Super excited for this reaction because Sanctuary is one of my favs and it is for sure a grower. Let’s see what you think…let’s get to it!

[@EmpressReacts]

You’re normally first! 🧐😘

[@kevindobson6568]

Bedtime story definitely a fire Bop! It was a huge hit!

[@latnscorpio1]

The Junior Vasquez remixes of BTS were straight FIRE in the clubs in the 90’s!!!🔥🙌🏽

[@EmpressReacts]

Can’t wait to hear

[@JoeyGarcia.]

Your very sincere in your delivery of your reviews. That’s why I like you. I want honesty not BS. ☺️👍. You like what you like. I’m definitely not wanting you to love every single Madonna song Hell I don’t. Keep up the exellent work! Next song and last on album big hit for her and a beautiful video! Enjoy

[@EmpressReacts]

Thank you so much 😊

[@user-dc9sb5fw5x]

You still have one more song which is take a bow which is her longest #1 of of her career this was also a huge hit in the r&b charts

[@EmpressReacts]

Oh interesting!

[@bensellers7151]

I cant wait for you to see MTV Madonna Pajama Party (she premiered the Bedtime Story video here) and No Bull: The Making Of Take A Bow. These were absolutely iconic moments in MTV history. I still watch them from time to time. Nothing like Madonna and Kurt Loder together.

[@EmpressReacts]

Cool! Please remind me about it

[@TheSgarpia]

Dear old Kurt... I loved his interviews, and he was close to a lot of people. Wasn't he the co-author of the Tina Turner autobiography, later made into the Tina movie?

[@WCD199317]

And for info, the title track and ''Sanctuary'' was her first teaser of what she adopted in her next album (''Ray of Light''). ''Sanctuary'' was my favorite song of the album and in my top 5 (my top five was ''Hung Up'', ''Frozen'', ''Has to Be'', ''Sanctuary'' and ''Like a Prayer''), so unique, poetic, mysterious and haunting. It's relaxing me so much when i listen the song and was so unique. And i like also the title track of the song, the video was a piece of art.

[@EmpressReacts]

Can’t wait to see

[@teralmiles]

The dance mixes for Secret & Bedtime Story we’re big in the club. The video for Bedtime Story is very interesting. Can’t wait for you to see it. 💙

[@EmpressReacts]

Can’t wait to hear and see both

[@EthanTodd.]

Yay! 🔥

[@mr.mealldaylong8013]

I'm so excited to see you listen to SANCTUARY AND BEDTIME STORY ❤...I would describe them as ATMOSPHERIC ETHEREAL TECHNO 😊

[@EmpressReacts]

Good description

[@bentoth6377]

These two songs add an ethereal, trippy edge to this already dreamy album...that lush R&B vibe opens up to darker electronic elements like a shifting dream...but before we wake, we're about to get real romantic ...this album is such perfection 💙 great reaction as always

[@EmpressReacts]

Thanks for watching!

[@tomrobinsondc]

First! 🎉Sanctuary seems very internalized, as if Madonna is looking inward for sanctuary from the outside world. At first I thought she was referring to another person, but then knowing Madonna, perhaps she is referring to herself? Clever play on contrasts- it felt poetic.

[@EmpressReacts]

Ah! Excellent point

[@kevindobson6568]

The music video to Bedtime story will make more sense it makes the song even better ❤

[@elizabethschubert7803]

I love your channel so much! You have such a great vocabulary for describing musical experiences. When Madonna performed “Erotica” in 2006 on her Confessions tour, she remixed it into a new song with new lyrics called “You Thrill Me” which sounds quite a bit like “Sanctuary”

[@EmpressReacts]

Wow thank u!

[@EthanTodd.]

So, back in the day, MTV used a clip of the Bedtime Stories video in a few of their ads. It was everywhere! This jam ushered in mainstream “Bjork-ness” haha

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting

[@todddepue681]

These tracks were quite forward thinking and precursors to her late 90s albums (which are far superior to this imo) Poetically introspective, atmospheric and very electronic. In Sanctuary, the spoken word section is a poem from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass. Bedtime Story was written by Bjork, and was much admired for that bit of experimental cred. I think at the time, we were quite intrigued by the idea of Bjork and Madonna "working together." Only to learn that Bjork only really did it as a favor to her friend who was producing with M. They never met, Bjork wasnt a fan and merely wrote a song with lyrics she thought would be interesting to hear Madonna say. No spoilers but the video really takes it over the top in an amazing way.

[@EmpressReacts]

Dang Bork 😂😂

[@andreww3225]

Hey Empress ❤ You gave another great reaction! I do love these tracks but I prefer the remix of bedtime stories. As others have said it gives you a glimpse of what’s to come on the next album. Can’t wait for the last track!! ❤❤

[@EmpressReacts]

Glad you enjoyed ‼️

[@adrianoluz1108]

The speaking words in Sanctuary are an extract from a Walt Whitman poem called "Voices", and it's so beautiful: "Surely, whoever speaks to me in the right voice, him or her I shall follow, As the water follows the moon, silently, with fluid steps, [anywhere] around the globe." ❤

[@EmpressReacts]

Ah, I thought it sounded like a poem

[@kevindobson6568]

Highlight of Madonna recent tour was her performing Bedtime Story

[@EmpressReacts]

Oh she performs this

[@kevindobson6568]

Yup

[@kevindobson6568]

In concert and on Brit Awards

[@kevindobson6568]

Cant wait for you to deep dive into my fav singer Lisa stansfield She has so many hits and has done so many songs for soundtracks❤

[@maiph05]

You got one more HIT to go honey, and yes Bedtime Story is a 🔥 bop!!!

[@EmpressReacts]

Bloop‼️ thought we were done

[@felixmeow660]

Bedtime Story was given to her by Bjork... the video is her in a dream machine with lots of great visuals...there was an MTV special called Bedtime Story Pajama Party which was filmed at Webster Hall in New York and they premiered the video there and she read a bedtime story to the audience.. everyone showed up in pajamas

[@EmpressReacts]

😂can’t wait to see

[@helmutferreira1354]

The song"Bedtime Story". was the only time Björk wrote a song for a Madonna album. She re-wrote a demo of the song to the current version, which was then produced by Madonna, Nellee Hooper and Marius De Vries. The original song was "Sweet Intuition" is a B-side from Björk's second album, Post. It was released as a B-side on the "Army of Me" and "It's Oh So Quiet" singles

[@darrenkane2109]

Not sure exactly when she did it, but Björk also did another version of the song called "Sweet Sweet Intuition". Very different vibe from "Sweet Intuition" and worth checking out if you haven't!

[@EmpressReacts]

Oh she wrote this song!? Interesting 🧐

[@softshallow7435]

Bedtime Story sound paved way for her Ray Of Light era. She did the same with her Erotica era she introduced us to that sound with Justify My Love.

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting

[@randysiler5551]

In Bedtime Story she's talking about Dreamland. Sanctuary is a place you feel safe and secure like your bedroom?

[@dbeaver317]

Gotta watch the video of Bedtime Story. Also, watch her live performances of the song as well. From 2004 Reinvention Tour, 1995 Brit Awards, and her current Celebration Tour.

[@EmpressReacts]

Yep! That’s the plan 😍

[@kevindobson6568]

Cant wait for you to react to the video to Bedtime story ❤

[@derikcowan]

Bedtime Stories wasn't a hit as a single, so I'm not surprised it isn't tens for you. I'm glad folks got you to listen to these songs together. Sanctuary carries this goth meets sex vibe that I loved from Madonna that only Evanescence has ever gotten close to, because I like pop first. BS was all about the Bjork connection. But lots of cool shit when you get to the video for Bedtime Stories.

[@derikcowan]

Bedtime Stories was a hit on the dance charts, but ignore (for this album) any remix that doesn't have Junior Vasquez in the title

[@derikcowan]

Even though I Think the William Orbit mix for this song is better

[@felixmeow660]

it was a huge hit in the clubs.. I was 18 when it came out and I heard either Junior's remix or the Orbital mix in the clubs

[@felixmeow660]

@@derikcowan you mean Orbital? up to that point William had remixed Justify My Love, Erotica and I'll Remember.. Orbital was big in the rave scene in the 90s and their mix was so ahead of it's time and still one of my favorites...she later used the Orbital mix in the Reinvention Tour in 2004 which was the first time I got to see her live

[@derikcowan]

@@felixmeow660 Reinvention was also my first tour that I got to see live. And yeah, I get confused because William Orbit predates and then comes back, so I always want to give this credit as well

[@MisterCiccone]

I see 'Bedtime story' as a dream, which perfectly fits on this album in that way, concept wise. These songs are leading up to my all-time favorite Madonna album 'Ray of Light' in a few years. Next up album closer and one of her biggest hits 'Take a bow', those lyrics!

[@TheSgarpia]

GSanctuary has a deep groove which I have always loved, but it's the lyrics that really weave their spell on me... Bedtime story sounds very much like some other bjork compositions at the time, though lyrically the parent song is called 'sweet intuition', and it sounds a bit different (and wonderful, if you like Bjork).

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting

[@scotlight1895]

Oh yeah, I should also make a comment with my story about this song. I was 16 and had my first job at a grocery store when the single for Bedtime Story came out and I had saved up enough money to buy my first ever CD player around that time, a used but like-new Sony Discman that I got from a pawn shop. I also got little speakers to plug into it and they just happened to have a used copy of the Bedtime Story remix album, so I got that too. So Bedtime Story ended up being the first CD I ever owned!

[@EmpressReacts]

Awww sweet

[@TheMike_I]

Take A Bow is the closing track and the standout on the album for me.

[@EmpressReacts]

Oh okay, so there is 1 more song

[@Jamesjb5005]

I love both songs! I've quote the lines of her songs on my Facebook page so many times! Folks be like "lay of that ganja my boy 😂"! But forreal though these poetic lyrics are so clever and unique! "The earth was void and empty, and darkness was on the face of the Earth" and from bedtime story "Today is the last day that I'm using words, they've gone out, lost their meaning, dont function anymore " again makes me think Madonna was lonely and depressed writing these songs!

[@WCD199317]

Bedtime Story wasn't wrote by Madonna, it's was Bjork. This was the only song of the album that she didn't wrote.

[@EmpressReacts]

😂😂

[@joshuas8258]

Neither are my favs but Bedtime Story was a groundbreaking pop song bc it def relied on electronic sounds that wouldn’t make their way into mainstream pop until the late 90s including Madonna’s landmark 1998 album Ray of Light (her masterpiece). I think this song is what truly pushed her in that direction

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting

[@FindingMadonna]

These are two of my favorite songs on the album ("Secret" is the only one I'd rate higher, and "Love Tried to Welcome Me" is right below those three). I'm not surprised BS isn't your favorite knowing your taste and appreciation for M's more R&B-influenced songs (which makes me nervous for your reaction to some of the next few M albums! 😅), but I agree with you that it fits the album despite sounding so different. Here's my theory based on everything we know about this time period (and what followed): If not for the Erotica/Sex backlash and Warner encouraging her to go in a more commercial R&B direction, I think this album probably would have sounded entirely like these last two songs. M was very much into trip-hop at this time (Massive Attack, Portishead, Bjork, etc.). In fact, BS was co-written by Bjork and the whole reason M wanted to work with Nellee Hooper (who oversaw this whole album) was because of Bjork's first album.

[@citydweller99]

I'll think she'll like the ballad collection 'Something to Remember... but her reactions to Ray of Light will be interesting.

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting theory!

[@Vertigotheatre1]

Oh Bjork also wrote Bedtime Story

[@dallasrobertson4085]

Now that you've reacted to each track off the album, in your own time go back and listen to the album as a whole. Songs like Bedtime Story sound better in context than when isolated as individual songs. This is basically how anyone over 40 grew up with music - through whole albums.

[@EmpressReacts]

They tell me I still have 1 more song

[@dallasrobertson4085]

Oh yes, of course, Take A Bow! One of the best songs on the album. Deservedly a massive worldwide hit.@@EmpressReacts

[@sirex02]

I love the poetry and trip hop/electronica soundscape of these two tracks. Madonna is an avid reader, so the Walt Whitman poem was a nice touch. We all know Empress loves when Madonna talks on track lol. Also Madonna was very forward thinking with this sound. Bedtime Stories was definitely marketed as an R&B album but she was also looking towards the future. Take A Bow next. Her biggest hit yet the most elusive!

[@EmpressReacts]

Forever the calculated sales woman🥰😍😂 and you know I love the talking on a track

[@sirex02]

Woke up excited! Madonna front row tonight at Madison Square Garden!! She performed last night and the crowd was lit times 100!. Rumor is Donna and Niki might show out for the ballroom/vogue segment tonight. Donna and Niki in NYC doing shows too. These three ladies ain't been together on stage since 2001! Crazy right?!

[@EmpressReacts]

@@sirex02 aye!!!! I’m excited for you🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@duane_313]

It's giving after hours club at 3am. very dreamy

[@RBS_]

....It WAS played in after Hours Clubs at 3am! ...GOOD times! ...ha-HAAA!

[@EmpressReacts]

😂💯

[@petersavieri]

🌀 Sanctuary continues the clever inclusion of literary elements, or bedtime stories, on Bedtime Stories. This time it’s in the spoken word section, where she recites a section of the poem Voices from iconic queer writer Walt Whitman’s poetry collection Leaves of Grass: Surely whoever speaks to me in the right voice Him or her I shall follow As the water follows the moon Silently, with fluid steps, around the globe The album’s goal is to go deep but in an almost hypnotic way, so this journey from Survival and Human Nature, picking up the pieces and moving on, through praying to her mother on Inside of Me and looking for a deeper, perhaps Forbidden Love, into the mesmeric pan pipes and bass of Santuary, and finally the throbbing dissolution of Bedtime Story… it’s all designed to carry you on a lush sonic journey into dream. A place far from the rational, pragmatic, limited world, to the subconscious, where only feeling and instinct make sense. The song Bedtime Story was written by Björk, Nellee Hooper and Marius de Vries. It’s a departure for Madonna, taking the sort of abstraction she did so well in her own writing on Rain or Secret Garden, and introducing Björk’s very special kind of dream logic. I see this song as a bridge to some of Madonna’s later work. But no spoilers I promise 🤫 The song is electronica, yes, but it definitely has roots in Trip Hop too (the genre Madonna helped pioneer with her Justify My Love and Rescue Me releases). The semi spoken singing style, the rhythm driven spacial sound, the chill yet faintly disturbing tone of the lyrics are all reminiscent of the Trip Hop chic people were listening to in the early to mid 90s, but the rising momentum of the song takes it into a different place, and gets addictive on multiple listens. Yes there were some monster remixes for the clubs. And now that we’ve traveled to the realm of the unconscious, we will emerge into the final song, which brings us back to the lush sound that defines the album. A romantic resignation blended with just the sort of glistening ballad she needed to remind more conservative audiences that she can thrill the cool kids while still seducing the suburbs✨

[@EmpressReacts]

We need to publish a book of all your comments! They’re so good 💯❤️ I got the poetic feel of the lyrics but didn’t realize they were lines from actual poems 😂. Love your explanation of the “phases” of the dream

[@petersavieri]

@@EmpressReactsAs long as my comments don’t get deleted by KZbin (algorithms ugh 😵‍💫) I might just do that!

[@blueeyes4910]

beditme story It was produced by Björk

[@WCD199317]

It's was wrote by Bjork and Nellie Hooper and Produced by Nellie Hooper.

[@gregorygniotczynski33]

This was the next single after 'Take A Bow' that you will hear next as the last song of the album. 'Bow' spent seven weeks ar #1, Madonna's highest single on Billboard! After success like that, it was surprising that 'Bedtime Story' was rarely played on the radio and only reached #42 on the chart. You will definitely be in awe when you see the video, though!

[@EmpressReacts]

Can’t wait

[@Marc-zi5cq]

Why are y'all spoiling which songs were singles and hits before she heard them?

[@Dr_Madonna]

Outside of the USA bedtime story song was a massive hit. And take a Bow was only a mediocre hit. Different tastes

[@user-ck7rb2wj4f]

You have one more song to go. The song is Take A Bow which became Madonna’s 11th number one 😂; co-written and co-produce by Baby Face

[@EmpressReacts]

Oh, though we were done

[@gozzywozzy485]

Finally w're in the good part of the album :D

[@EmpressReacts]

😫😀

[@kevindobson6568]

Bring on the music video ❤

[@EmpressReacts]

Coming soon!

[@kevindobson6568]

Cant wait

[@scotlight1895]

Hey Empress - sorry I'm late! Thanks for doing both songs! I think these 2 songs really sounded more impressive at the time and they really blended in with the alternative / electronic / Bjork sound that was popular in the mid 90's. Listening to it again now I'm not as impressed but I can put myself in the 90's mindset and remember how cool they sounded back then! Also, I think the remix was probably more popular - especially in the clubs. I'm sure you'll hear it when you watch the live performances - no spoilers but think of it like "Express Yourself." And yes, there is one more song on this album and - again no spoilers - but it's one of her greatest hits of all time! Excited to see your reaction and it's been fun hearing this album again with you!

[@EmpressReacts]

Good context about this song sounding cutting edge for its time

[@citydweller99]

Bedtime Story.... a song cowritten by Bjork... and also a foreshadowing of the electronic direction Madonna takes as the 90s continues

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting 🧐

[@darnell49]

Sanctuary has that real 90s hip hop Soul II Soul sound merged with a classic Madonna wordplay. The bass kept the song pumping. I think that Sanctuary was a good lead in to Bedtime Stories with it's change of pace. Bedtime is more about not being understood so I won't use my words , but I turn inside and deal with the part that I rarely use and don't understand as much.

[@EmpressReacts]

Nice explanation of bedtime story

[@mrmagassi]

As people have stated, "Bedtime Story" was a Bjork demo that she gave to Madonna and it was reworked by Nellie Hooper. What is humorous is that Bjork claims the song was really a critique of the Madonna aesthetic LOL. Also, Madonna heard some of her lyrics incorrectly (maybe it was the accent) and it made them exactly the opposite of what Bjork was trying to say... for instance Bjork wrote "learning logic and reason" and Madonna heard "leaving logic and reason." We will never know if this was a mistake or intentional... 🤣😂

[@EmpressReacts]

Oh wow! 😂😂😂

[@edugator6]

Bedtime Stories was and remains a bit weird and chaotic for my liking. I can get in the vibe at times for sure. And the video IS a vibe. Sanctuary is 💯 repetitive! Also a vibe. Good background chill imo

[@EmpressReacts]

Fair enough!

[@lamusiclover2264]

Bedtime Stories is basically "Chill Out Lounge" style music" that was very popular at the time. It's like music to get high to. People still listen to it. It gets repetitive and sleepy.

[@EmpressReacts]

Makes sense 😂

[@randysiler5551]

Wait until you see the Video of Bedtime Stories.

[@EmpressReacts]

Can’t wait!

[@jeremympage5016]

Today is my birthday so thank you for doing this reaction 😊

[@EmpressReacts]

Happy birthday!!How we turning up?!

[@RBS_]

**MADONNA (DANCE CHART) TRIVIA TIME!!*** ....is the LAST DAY.......that I'm giving CHARTS..... not really, but I can give the Dance charts, May 1995, when "Bedtime Story" went beddy-bye, at #1... (14:11) 10. I'm Ready - Size 9 (aka Josh Wink) 9. My Love (Tall Paul mixes) - Kellee 8. Move It To The Rhythm (Remixes) - Technotronic feat. Ya Kid K 7. I Got Love - KLEO 6. Open Your Heart (Fire Island & Brothers In Rhythm mixes) - M People 5. What Hope Have I (Vasquez mixes) - Sphinx feat. Sabrina Johnston 4. Respect (Love To Infinity & Roger S. mixes) - Judy Cheeks 3. Runaway (Vasquez mixes) - Real McCoy 2. Body To Body (Keep In Touch) (Vasquez mixes) Shades Of Love feat. Meli'sa Morgan 1. ***Bedtime Story (Vasquez & Orbital mixes)*** - Madonna (1 week) (11:33)

[@EmpressReacts]

I’ve never heard any of these songs 😂

[@WCD199317]

@@EmpressReacts Because it's was the Dance/club charts.

[@j_nightshade]

Oh I told you! Phenomenal end to the album!

[@EmpressReacts]

🔥

[@WCD199317]

Take a Bow was the last song, ''Bedtime Story'' was the track 10 of this album.

[@tlewisisdope]

Oh...you are going to have an interesting time with her next three albums lol I'm fascinated by millennials' love of short songs. the 90s love a bridge and a 90 sec vamp LMAO

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting 😂

[@iBENchant]

Take A Bow is the closer song . A masterpiece and video too!

[@EmpressReacts]

Okay, so 1 more song

[@richardroggow6079]

Bedtime Story unfortunately peaked at #42 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video was ahead of it's time, plus she performed this at The Brit Awards in 1995.

[@EmpressReacts]

Dang, so ppl just wasn’t feeling getting unconscious 😂

[@oscardelgado1075]

You Can see bjork influence in this

[@DanCrowleyNYC]

Your 10s for this album have been SPOT ON. These two songs are wonderful and innovate, but I wouldn't give them 10s. Also, Bedtime Story is the only song on the album that Madonna did not have a hand in writing. Enjoy the closing track!

[@EmpressReacts]

We’re such a vibe 😍

[@zanealberto7741]

This is the 3rd song on the album I think, and AWESOME to dance to!!!! TTHE killer video and THE great remix that I can’t REMEMBER the name of. OH the ORBITAL REMIX is AAAAAMAZING TO DANCE TO IN A CLUB!!!! please play a bit and you’ll see why! SO WHAT DO U SAY WE DO A SHOT ……. and dance to this one ,SUPERMODEL? 😁. 🕺🏽💃🏻 Lotsa L U V Zane Thx Emp💜❤️💚🧡🩵💙

[@zanealberto7741]

I really love if this comes on!🫶💃🏻🕺🏽👣 👏👏👏👏👏

[@EmpressReacts]

😘😍😂

[@anthonmessing3353]

And now listen to Big Time Sensuality and Voilently Happy from Björk’s Debut album. I think with Bedtime Stories Madonna was looking to make a more crowd pleasing album after Erotica. R&B was a hot thing but so was triphop. Triphop more in Europe but R&B was a global thing. So she chose R&B but there were these other songs…Sanctuary and Bedtime Story…a little peek into Ray of Light. There is the Massive Attack remix of I Want You. Although I love Take a Bow, (her public application for Evita😂) another tip-hoppy song would’ve ballanced it out better.

[@EmpressReacts]

I actually have heard BTS kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHO3kGqBeMang68si=EweEAuPC979RmioH

[@SayGoodbye1958]

For me Bedtime Story is the saving grace of this album closely followed by Sanctuary then Human Nature although I prefer the remix of HN, Secret remixes lift the rather slow track and yes Take A Bow is beautiful but there ends my love for this album.

[@EmpressReacts]

Interesting! Wonder if my sentiments will be similar when I rank the songs

[@rowanmayfair9249]

I love this album, I've made that clear.... this title track was NOT my favourite, but I do agree it's a great preview for Ray Of Light. ROL is my number 2 album. It's almost tying with BS. Very close. I had just started really loving EDM and as always Madonna hit it perfectly in time with what I was getting into. She has a fantastic finger on the pulse of dance music. I didn't dance to BS but the title track from ROL was sooooooo club worthy.

[@EmpressReacts]

Can’t wait to hear!

[@charcasc7462]

You're absolutely spot on that while these two songs are different from what precedes them on the album, they do fit the album. Neither are fire bop bangers, but they both are good album tracks--moody, and trancey. Bedtime Story was the third single and did well in the clubs and the video for it is one of Madonna's best, but it wasn't exactly a pop hit.

[@EmpressReacts]

We’re a vibe😍

[@RBS_]

***MADONNA GOES TO BED TRIVIA TIME!!**** .......ahhhhh.....(7:58)......TODAY........ - ....WELL, I'm not even gonna knock myself out giving trivia on "Sanctuary" because the Madaonnaholics will uncover those tidbits, but...."Bedtime Stories" is another MATTER! ....the follow-up to "Take A Bow" (as a single), the tune stiffed on the Pop charts (at #42)...... - ...written by *BJORK* (who didn't even want to meet Madge, she e-mailed the tune, and kept it movin'), it was an ethereal, electronica - Pop affair....then, came the REMIXES.....uh -OH...... - ... *JUNIOR VASQUEZ* drove everyone INSANE!! ...his "Wet Dream" remix was a dreamy, thumpin' Stomper (ready for Clubs), and the SOUND FACTORY MIX just.....just...BLEW everyone away.....of COURSE, it hit #1 Dance, and the (limited) UK 12" version, had a HOLOGRAM covered Picture sleeve of Madge....even though many of the copies had damage on it, from the heavy paper used on the sleeve! - ...She also performed the 'Wet Dream' mix (a first from Madge, performing a 'remix' in a televised performance) on the 1995 Brit Awards (in a Versace Gown, long 'Rapunzel' hair....and, 2 hot Go-Go Boys), and SLAYED (..as the 'Kids' would say...) - ...next!? ... *CHARTS* .....

[@EmpressReacts]

Wait email was out then?!?

[@RBS_]

@@EmpressReacts ...only to RICH People: on a Oct. 1994 Episode of Beverly Hills 90210", Andrea was leaving (the show), and she said, "..OK, everybody remember to E-MAIL me..." ...FIRST time I ever heard of E-mail! ...ha-HAA!!

[@TonyThomson-gn8gp]

U need to see the video

[@EmpressReacts]

Planning on seeing it

[@jonathangill6584]

Will you be reacting to the videos from the album? I’d love to see your reaction to the Bedtime Story video and its representation of “unconsciousness” and to see if it changes your perception of the song (for better or worse).

[@EmpressReacts]

Yep! After I finish the last track, I’m going to react to the video

[@mjb78]

I remember my first listen to this album and thinking many of the songs sounded the same, except for the first single Secret. After a few more spins it became one of my favorite Madonna albums. I’ve always found this album a vibe, when I’m in that mood I listen to it a lot. I’ll be interested to see your reaction to future albums, because IMO her 80s stuff is perfect - going forward Madonna is just as good, but you may or may not like the sound she chooses. There is one more song on the album, and it remains M’s longest running #1 in America. Also, all the VISUALS are amazing for Bedtime Stories.

[@EmpressReacts]

I’m interested to see what the future holds

[@tapanim6576]

😎👍

[@felixmeow660]

Bedtime Story also has great remixes

[@EmpressReacts]

I'll check it out!

[@richardwalker9038]

@@EmpressReactsbedtime story live at the Brit awards used the remix

[@gregoryreed4866]

I always felt Bedtime Stories was an A side B side album. It starts out very funky and r&b heavy then starts to transcend into a dreamlike state of fantasy and romance

[@EmpressReacts]

That’s a good description

[@markstar6056]

One more song to go

[@EmpressReacts]

Can’t wait

[@gregoryreed4866]

The song may seem too different and detached from a listener because it’s so not a pop song. It almost has its own category. I feel it’s a must to watch the video when listening to, especially the first time , then I feel it can be appreciated differently. I believe there is a remix video available on KZbin. The junior Vasquez single mix definitely makes it feel more mainstream. This song is just not what radio embraces. It didn’t chart well on top 40, but I love it

[@EmpressReacts]

Agree

[@Quanism1995]

I’m glad u listened to both songs since breaking them up would not make sense lol but as an r&b guy I liked sanctuary more when I first heard it somehow BS grew on me and is a taste of what her next album sounds like but I can’t wait for to review the next song and the videos for this album cause the BS video is trippy😂

[@EmpressReacts]

Agree about sanctuary being more rnb of the 2

[@dudedandify]

I agree. Sanctuary is not a 10. It's a 20.

[@EmpressReacts]

😂clearly your fav off the album

[@Jamesjb5005]

@empress do you revisit any of your songs because some of these songs needs more than 1 listen?

[@EmpressReacts]

Nope I haven’t done that

[@felixmeow660]

you still have Take A Bow, that's the last song on the album

[@EmpressReacts]

Oh, thought I was done 😫

[@felixmeow660]

@@EmpressReacts Take A Bow also has an MTV special of the making of the video called No Bull

[@felixmeow660]

@@EmpressReacts there are also a few b-sides.. Your Honesty, Let Down Your Guard (which was only available on a import single for Secret), Freedom (which was on a charity album), Love Won't Wait ( it got sent to Gary Barlow), but I like Madonna's version better

[@barneyhubble8009]

Hey! IMO sactuary/bedtime stories are virtually the same track the intro and the outro/climax) it goes with the album shes now going into her sanctuary and what they do in there to make them unconscious till shes wet. Its a hint of sexiness without being as graphic as previously and the sound shed go on to do in ROL. Yes theres a track after that as a quiet finale which was such a massive hit in the US. One of her biggest. Strange that. In Other places Secret and esp Bedtime stories was the hit, they were more into electro. Bjork writing the song isnt really true. M heard one of her demos (sweet intuition) which sounds NOTHING like it, used a couple of lines in the lyrics and credited her as songwriter. (Shes kind like that for many tracks) Bjork probably made a lot of money for just saying yes. (Shes a Madonna and MJ fan).

[@EmpressReacts]

Oh gotcha! Well at least she gave her credit 😂

[@gregoryreed4866]

You simply must review and react to Bedtime Story the video.

[@EmpressReacts]

I am 😊