| Vinylfantasy |
29th February 2008 10:18 PM |
Tons of long articles so bear with me! :laugh
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Another song by song review...
The press from all over the world is having an advance taste of Madonna's "Hard Candy" these days, but - as the old adage says - Tribers do it Better - and they have been filled with information, teasers and exclusive previews over the past few months. It's again time to recap - but this time it will be quicker and easier as the album tracklisting is now common knowledge after Australian journalist Sonia Kruger revealed it on the www.mix1065.com.au website today. So here's what the Tribers are already familiar with, along with some more info...
Candy Store: Yes, the same Madonna/Pharrell production thatsuddenly leaked on the net last Summer, and did even got spins on the radio around the world since then. Candy Store is probably the song even the fans who usually remain spoiler-free when a new Madonna record comes out heard about. "You'll have an hard time telling if the first one is any different from the version you already heard" - an insider source told us about the song. The only thing that changed somehow was the song's name - as fans have always been calling it "Candy Shop", but M-Tribe started to set the record straight as soon as the announcement about the new album was getting closer, and talked about "Candy Store" in our exclusive report of February 11.
4 Minutes: Of the lot of songs produced by Timbaland and Justin Timberlake that M-Tribe reported about shortly after they had their final mixing in Hit Studios Miami in November, 4 Minutes is possibly the one with a stronger "classic" Timbaland vibe. The song has an instantly catchy vibe, with percussion layers and hypnotic synthetized pads. While in other tracks of the album Justin can be heard on backing vocals, 4 Minutes is actually a duet as in this song's verse Madonna and Justin basically sing one line each or better answer one to another on a back and forth basis.
Give It 2 Me: A song produced by Pharrell Williams, a very catchy uptempo track that reminds of early Madonna tracks such as "Love on the run". Fans who were worried that this album would be too hip-hop were happy to learn that it's very 80's in its structure and it's pure Madonna. The "Give It 2 Me" phrase has nothing to do with a supposed "sexual content" as rumoured on a few Madonna forums, but it's said in the sense of "I'll handle the situation for you". Pharrell's also singing backing vocals on part of the second verse and Madonna reprises a couple of lyrics from "The Beat Goes On". The break is very strange, the song basically stops suddenly while Madonna says "Don't Stop It" the male voice says "to the left, to the right". This song is currently considered as the second single release.
Heartbeat: The album's 4th track, is the first moment of quiet after a three track sequence of dance stompers. Not exactly slow but rather paced down, the song is another production by Pharrell, who can be heard on the track with whispers and brief interstitials, while Madonna sings the lead voice in the verse and the backing vocals as well in the chorus. The "see my booty get down" part is already set to be a hook - get your forum signatures ready!
Miles Away: Another Timbaland/Timberlake production, that some consider the best of the whole bunch. A hit written all over it and classic Madonna. Full of acoustic guitars, beautiful uptempo, the song structure may recall "Love Profusion" but it's much better. A bit of sadness in the lyrics, talking about a relationship that is at its best when the two lovers are thousands miles apart.
She's Not Me: A unique song, possibly the best of the album, certainly Madonna at her best. "Better to listen to it rather to talk about it. You could even say it's two songs in one, and you'll figure out why when the record hits the stores", we've been told.
Incredible: A recent addiction to the final album tracklisting, Incredible is a rather different song - the longest in the album, running over six minutes. Starts as a bare-naked track and reportedly goes on between a series of breaks ending up being quite dense and somehow loud and noisy.
Beat Goes On: Somehow the second track from the Pharrell recording sessions that leaked on the net on Summer 2007 did not make the album cut as the "new" Beat Goes On is a completely different song, and sounds nothing like the version some of you might have heard. It is much faster, a classic dance track and one of the strongest takes on the record, and it does even feature a special guest.
While Madonna was putting the finishing touches to her new albumat RecordPlant studios in Los Angeles, Kanye West was working on the new Michael Jackson record. Pharrell invited Kanye in the room and Madonna came up with an idea for Kanye to rap on one of her songs on the spot... and thanks to this Beat Goes On got a very catchy rap insert courtesy of "Mr. West" towards the end.
Dance Tonight: A song that sounds like the funkiest song of the lot. You could say it's a dance track from the beginning to the end - there's dance in the title, dance in the theme, dance in the lyrics, and dance in the instrumentation. It has a captivating late 70's - early 80's disco sound - fingered bass, clàps, triangle - recalling songs that made the history of dance as we know it and groups like Kool & The Gang, Skyy, Delegation, even a bit of the early Michael Jackson and huge references to the signature sound of Narada Michael Walden and to the origins of disco-rapping.
Spanish Lesson: Many years after recording "Who's That Girl" and the full Spanish versions of her hits "You'll See" (Veras) and "What it feels like for a girl" (Lo que Siente La Mujer), Madonna is digging back her love for Latin culture as she will be singing again phrases in Spanish in one of her new songs. In this track the Queen Of Pop is going to give Spanish lessons, explaining the English meaning of Spanish phrases such as "te quiero" (I Love you), "callate" (shut up), "besame" (kiss me), and many more. Spanish guitars are of course also present in the song, produced by Pharrel with a nice urban feel.
Devil: Also known by M-Tribe readers only as "Even the devil wouldn't recognise you" this amazing ballad will instantly remind you of Justin's "Cry Me A River" but also of Madonna's "Power of Good-bye" and will instanly hook you up. "Oh, and remember to have your umbrellas ready", we've also been told.
Voices: Produced by Timbaland and Timberlake, and featuring a strings pad that goes along the entire song making the verse and the awesome chorus flow seamlessly. Simply, the perfect song to end the album. Or maybe not...
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Source: MadonnaTribe forum
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50 is not a bad word
Madonna says she has "come around" to the idea of being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at a March 10 ceremony in New York City, Jam! Showbiz reports today.
Initially, the 49-year-old Material Girl was hesitant about the tribute that will see her career honoured alongside fellow 2008 inductees.
"I heard about it and I kind of felt ambivalent, like, 'What is that, the place they put musical dinosaurs?'" Madonna told reporters from around the globe yesterday, including Sun Media in a Canadian print exclusive. She has just started promoting her new hip-hop and R&B-drenched dance album, Hard Candy, due in stores April 29.
"I didn't really know what to think of it," she said, "but then lots of people explained to me that it's an acknowledgement of singers and songwriters who have made a contribution in the world of music for 25 years, and so eventually I came around to the idea that it was flattering."
And she's pleased that she will be inducted by one of her Hard Candy collaborators, Justin Timberlake, who co-wrote many of the songs and sings on the new album, including the Timbaland-produced first single, Four Minutes. Timberlake also appears in the video alongside her as two superheroes trying to save the world.
"It was Justin who offered and kind of surprised me, when we were shooting the video -- he said he wanted to be the person to induct me, so to speak, so I said, 'Okay,' " said Madonna, who added how the rest of the induction evening will unfold is up in the air.
"It's supposed to be a surprise for me -- somebody sings one of my songs," she said before adding, "Yikes! No, I'm just kidding. I don't know."
The Material Girl - dressed in a snug-fitting, low-cut black top, black pants and large yellow hoop earrings and yellow high heels -- entered a small conference room at a Beverly Hills hotel late yesterday afternoon and uttered a quiet "hi" before being seated. And for the next 35 minutes, she proved to be a challenging, if funny and thoughtful, interview subject.
For example, if she didn't like a question - such as the one about how her views on life and music had changed in her 20s, 30s, 40s - she'd take a pass.
"That's like a gigantic question - I'm not answering that question, be more specific," Madonna said, before getting the journalist to narrow it down to music. "We'll be here for six hours if you want to know how my views on life have changed over the past 30 years."
One popular topic was of her turning 50 on August 16, which seemed to be a much bigger deal for reporters than Madonna herself.
"It's not a bad word, you can say it," she said when one reporter whispered "5-0."
And when the same reporter asked her about reaching "a landmark for a lady," she made the journalist clarify that to it's "a landmark for everybody."
She said she doesn't see turning 50 as a milestone.
"No, but everybody else keeps mentioning it," she said. "I see it as another excuse to have a birthday party."
In fact, Madonna said physically, "I feel stronger now than, maybe, 20 years ago -- but I think your physicality is connected to your consciousness so if your mind is strong, your body will be strong."
She also bristled when asked how much longer she wants to make music.
"I haven't the slightest idea, everyone wants to know the numbers," Madonna said.
Speaking of which, Hard Candy will be her final studio record with Warner after a 26-year relationship. But she says it's neither scary nor liberating to leave.
Her new, reported $120-million deal with Live Nation includes albums, touring and merchandising.
"It's just the end of my contract and the record industry is changing. And so the way that I make music and the way that I get it out to the people and the way that we market it and release it will also have to change," she said. "I'm excited about my new deal because it's more of a partnership, and after 25 years I feel like I deserve to be a partner."
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Source: MadonnaTribe |
