Madonna from "Truth or Dare" to "MDNA"
Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 10:01AM 
It's hard to believe that the be all and end all of celebrity documentaries, Truth or Dare (1991) is already over 20 years old. Actual age aside, Truth or Dare is timeless not just because it captured one of the most famous women who has ever lived at the peak of her popularity, but because of how daringly it performed that capture. I'm sure it's impossible for anyone under 25 to imagine how shocking Madonna's behavior in the early 90s was. Believe it or not there was a time when the demistification of Celebrity was anathema to Hollywood.
You can argue that some of the magic went out of the movies the more access we had to the magicians on and behind the screen, but there was no stopping the intrusiveness of the information age. Madonna's acclaimed film and -- to a lesser extent though no one wants to give it credit -- her often reviled "Sex" book predicted all of it by revealing more and More and MORE (and then some more) of herself. Madonna has never been a great actress but she has given a genius film performance and this was it. (Her performances in Evita and the short film Star! are a distant second.)
If you're interested in influential landmarks in pop culture I urge you to read Rich Juzwiak's exhilarating piece on Truth of Dare (it's out on Blu-Ray for the first time) over at Gawker
Madonna has rarely had her finger directly on the pulse—it took her years to dabble in electronica and new jack swing and French house—but over 20 years after its release,Truth or Dare is relevant as ever. (It's out on Blu-ray for the first time today.) It's as close to a memoir as Madonna has ever gotten, and it's brilliantly fitting that the music video master stuck with the trusted audio-visual format that catapulted her to success. Why write when you can be? Madonna's life banged the dust out of vérité entertainment, suggesting the documentary didn't have to be stuffy, that it could be wildly entertaining and overwhelmingly trashy...
But while we're on the topic of the Queen a few notes on MDNA after the jump...
Despite the movies being my great love, my favorite celebrity has always had a troubling relationship to them. But never mind that. Madonna will always have the music. A new Madonna record is an EVENT and I've been listening to MDNA non-stop since it was released. Have you? I powered through a second and third listen even though I wasn't actually sure that I liked it so much. But it generally takes me a handful of listens to any new record to settle. Did I force it to grow on me? Beware the mighty power of repetition! Now "I'm Addicted" and not just to that song.
Girl Gone Wild
The album opens with a "Like a Prayer" reference only to twist this new Act of Contrition into a tongue in cheek reference to wanting to be a good girl. But Madonna has always been and always wanted to be a bad girl... to the world's eternal benefit. And MDNA announces straightaway that Madonna will keep on dancing. No one can put out her fire. Stop telling her to act her age. We'd all be better off if 50somethings kept dancing.
Gang Bang
The second track is the album's strangest and most exhilarating if you're in the mood for it. And I imagine it's divisive because you have to be. This thumping sinister song burns slowly as it lays down its threats... but Madonna's delivery is such that it's hard to tell if she's really angry or taking the piss out of anger. Wonderful. Best part:
I said drive, bitch. And while you're at it die, bitch!"
Madonna has suggested she'd like Tarantino to direct the video and nothing would be more fun given that his debut film "Reservoir Dogs" opens with that instantly infamous Madonna monologue. Doesn't he owe her?
I'm Addicted
Another film that builds beautifully to its chorus. I love the echoing of her voice as if this addiction just keeps self perpetuating. And I didn't even notice all the "MDNA" chanting among the song's layers at first. Three songs in and she's still dancing up a storm. There was a point around the time of "Take a Bow" wherein I feared that she'd go the typical middle age pop star direction of adult contemporary ballads only. Many years later she still just wants to dance. Don't listen to the haters, Madge.Why do people always want her to "act her age"? People live into their 90s why should they sit on couches bored after 50?
Turn Up The Radio
Enjoy this one, too. It feels like a throwback with an 80s sense of melody and a 90s dance beat But, like "Don't Stop" on "Bedtime Stories" I wonder if it will have any lasting value or wear out its charms quickly. Too simple? The bridges are usually my favorite part of Madonna songs but I'm not crazy about the bridge in this one though I love that single moment before the chorus kicks back in.
Give Me All Your Luvin'
I know people viewed this as primarily Superbowl promotion with its cheerleader chanting and drum major sounds. But I think it stands on its own just fine. I tend to love "Fun" Madonna. People always forget how silly she is. Especially since Madonna, like most superstars, has gotten more self serious with age. I usually hate special guest star moments in song but I do like Nicki Minaj and MIA here.
Some Girls
This one seems to share its mood (partially) with "Gang Bang". It's weirdly angry in fits and starts but it's not as committed to it. I'm not sure I get this one on the whole.
Some girls are not like me. I'm everything you've ever dreamed of."
But keep on bragging, girl. I demand a REWRITE! "NO girls are like you."
Superstar
"You're like Marlon Brando on the silver screen." This one has kind of schoolgirl lyrics. Sweet with a beat.
"I Don't Give A"
Confession: This is when I get tired of the CD a little. Perhaps there's not enough variety. But it wins me back over in a big way at the very end when Nicki Minaj interrupts with "there's only one Queen and that's Madonna, bitch" which is then immediately followed by a bizarre and beautiful grandiose staccato chorus. This queen is so special the choir can't even form full words.
"I'm A Sinner"
Only to lose me again with my least favorite song (at least on the standard edition). "I'm a sinner I like it that way"... Madonna finally admits what she was all cheeky about in "Girl Gone Wild".
"Love Spent"
Things get interesting again. This song doesn't always feel fully formed, like it has competing musical urges but that's what's fascinating about it. It's in competition for best track. The romantic narrative is completely fucked up as it keeps mixing up love for money and passion for greed but I imagine that gets confusing for megawatt celebrities who have lots of the green and not enough of the love.
"Masterpiece"
We first heard this song as the Golden Globe winning song from W.E. but I admit, I didn't really like it. Strangely dropped in near the end of "MDNA" it works beautifully despite some questionable lyrics, maybe because it's a classic-sounding ballad when you're coming down from the high of dancing and "Love Spent" has already brought the mood down.
Guy Ritchie in the first flushes of Madonna maniaExtras
Because I bought the CD on iTunes I'm not sure how the extra songs fit in: "Best Friend" another divorce song is good and beautifully honest -- I bet Guy Ritchie never listens to this record; I can live without "Beautiful Killer" and "B-Day Song" which feel like B sides or fillers if this had been released back when singles had non-album tracks on the flip side; the remix of "Give Me All Your Luvin'" ruins the fun of the song if you ask me so I am thumbs down on the deluxe version of the record versus the standard version; But for the near-perfect "I Fucked Up" which feels like a necessity for the strands of "MDNA" which want to be a post-divorce record, both serious and silly and always very very Madonna.
You want to know how to make God laugh?
Tell him your plans."
"Falling Free"
Sung beautifully even if it meanders a bit as a self consciously "beautiful" act of poetry to close the record. She's free to fail... Some people always want her to but one of the best things about Madonna is that she Doesn't Give A.
Though "MDNA" never reaches the peaks of recent triumphs like "Confessions on the Dance Floor"like every last one of her albums, it has its unbeatable moments.
Guy Ritchie, Madonna, Truth or Dare, documentaries
Reader Comments (20)
I will never get Madonna love. She has no talent. She can't dance (like Janet). She can't sing (like Whitney or Barbara). She doesn't write most of her own music. Her film career is a failure She is the reason why we have so many untalented people are flooding our airwaves now. She's famous because of a manufactured image and on top of that she is snooty and has her nose stuck in the air. She is average and mediocre in every way.
I can't say I'm not a little hurt you're dismissive of B-Day Song. Glad you appreciate both Love Spent and I Don't Give A.
Melissa—
Madonna's a gypsy musician. The draw for both critics and fans is Madonna's vision for herself. Whenever a person believes themselves to be capable no matter their obvious limitations—they eventually become the thing they desire. Madonna wanted to be important and change the world. She has. She's everything she ever wanted to be except a competent actress.
This article gives insight into your process as a movie reviewer. Given a project from a Star or Director you LIKE, you immerse yourself into the film until you can find yourself in love? In other words, you wait until you're so far into the movie you can't be objective? Not the best approach to produce a Credible Review.
Will you go to the concerts? The tickets are super expensive! :(
Love the album, and happy to see this post. She seems to be having fun, and that's part of the album's charm. Plus, the first 1-2-3 is just fantastic. (Plus that video! Holy crap!) I'm loving the new tunes and hope we get to hear some radio traction, though the lack of love for "Girl Gone Wild" has me doubtful. Too bad, because this album is a fun listen, top to bottom (and those bonus tracks are pretty great minus that remix).
I actually have a pretty different response to a lot of these songs. I think Girl Gone Wild and Give Me All Your Luvin' are some of the weakest tracks on the album, Madonna has rarely given such a sedate vocal performance like she does in the latter, and GGW has some of the most groan inducing lyrics of any Madonna song in her career. I mean "It's so erotic/This feeling can't be beat"? I read a review that quoted this specific bit that "Dita" would be ashamed of that line, and I agree. The production is also so limp. It's too bad because I actually love that intro from Act of Contrition and it promised a great song. Oh well.
I do love Love Spent, Gang Bang, Falling Free, and I'm a Sinner. Surprised it's your least favorite. Love the bridge with all the saints and the "Wooo-oooh!" that comes in towards the end. I think the last stretch of the album as a whole is just much stronger and takes Madonna in interesting directions. I also really like Superstar for it's silly but lighter than light lyrics and breezy sound, don't really get the hate for hit. Way better than Turn Up the Radio in that respect, which might be tied for my least favorite on the entire album along with the completely tuneless Some Girls.
Masterpiece also sounds wonderful to me now, I also didn't care for it much when I heard it a few months ago but now I really like it. I'm Addicited I think is a grower, and I actually dig the bonus tracks except for maybe Beautiful Killer. But hey, she name checks Alain Delon! As an overall album I might give it a B/B-, better than Hard Candy but nowhere near the consistency of Confessions, Music or Ray of Light. Also not as sonically interesting as American Life, which, barring the title track, is totally undeserving of the hate it's gotten.
I'M ADDICTED is unbelievably addicting!! ... And WOW WOW WOW at the beautiful color photographs inside the CD booklet... she's gorgeous :)
Christioger -- i'd counter that any reviewer who does not admit that they have personal preferences which affect their reactions to art (i.e. i have never pretended that musicals and female driven dramas affect me more easily than other genres) also has no business being considered "credible". I think I was pretty honest here about what I like and what I don't like about the record. I did not convince myself to love it. I like it. I don't quite love it. It's definitely not her best but it has its moments. And its better than hard Candy.
seeeking amy - totally agree that AMERICAN LIFE is the most weirdly underrated record of her career. so many good songs. so stretchy for her, too.
peggy sue -- i will not be going. beyond my budget as much as i love her.
Except few tracks (Girls Gone Wild, Love Spent, Falling Free and Masterpiece), this new Madonna effort is quite disappointing. Not in the way of Hard Candy, but we are very close to that mistep. I don't know but it seems that she has nothing more to say. The last time there was some real content (and real innovation) in her music it was in 2003 with American Life, one of her best albums but the least commercially successful. Critics and public were divisive for Erotica too, but now, after 20 yers, Erotica remains a milestone in music and pop culture, a piece of art on every level. This is the Madonna that I still love, the one that makes you dance and, at the same time, makes you think, the one that is always a step forward. But since Confessions (despite its huge success) she has disappointed me. Where are the raw honesty of American Life, the avanguarde of Music, the galactic spell and the lyrical depth of Ray of Light, the dangerous, thrilling trance of Erotica? Gone. I hope not forever. Anyway, these will remain four of my favourite albums of all time.
ferdi—
Mirwais is a genius. Madonna just moved on to making dribble.
I'm still undecided. Tickets are ridiculously expensive...
I'm glad you all appreciate "Masterpiece" a little bit more now!
PS I forgot that Guy Ritchie pic. He's beyond hot!
"Give Me All Your Luvin" and "Girl Gone Wild" are pretty bad and disposable songs, and that soured me from the rest of the album. I heard it (only the regular edition, didn't buy either), and all I really liked were "Love Spent" (up there with her best) and "Masterpiece." "Gang Bang" is too repetitive for me to love, but a Tarantino video would be incredible. This album doesn't feel like her heart's in it, and her lack of promotion seems to support that. I'm fine with her continuing on and not "acting her age" and all. Make hundreds and hundreds of millions selling out your tours. Just put out better music is all I ask. It's her old catalog that's keeping her afloat with her fanbase, not this stuff. And if you must have a film career, either pick better projects or get some better advisors. I doubt "W.E." will ever open here, but since that seemed to come and go without much fanfare, hopefully her next directing effort will be more successful.
I pretty much agree on everything oddly. I really want to like "I Fucked Up" but the lyrics are so lazily written, "no one does it better than myself"? Really? Why not just "no one does it better than me." But overall I think its good but nowhere near her past glory, and I echo the stuff about American Life. Other than the title track of course, which has that weird ass rap
The Juzwiak's piece was fun to read. All of a sudden I'm dying to watch "Truth or Dare" again.
I saw it when it opened with my poor dad who was in agony for the whole film!
I was oddly excited about reading this, and it's really well-written Nathaniel! Anytime you want to write up more music, please do so!
At first, I loved the whole album immensely. Now, I think that was just a side of not having any really good Madonna music for a decade (seriously, Hard Candy was AWFUL). It's starting to thin out a bit for me, but I still like it a lot. Girl Gone Wild would be a great song for anyone EXCEPT Madonna, which is the only reason why it's disappointing. Gang Bang is easily the most demented thing she's recorded in years, and that Tarantino video simply MUST HAPPEN. They can even use the set of Django Unchained. And if not him, what about Marty Scorsese, who has actually directed music videos before? I see a mini Goodfellas-style masterpiece! I'm Addicted is probably my favorite track next to Gang Bang, but I really dig Turn Up The Radio and Love Spent too. And I LIVE for the outro of I Don't Give A. I like the bridge of I'm A Sinner, but I didn't realize until recently that it's really Beautiful Stranger with new lyrics. Reductive much? Masterpiece is fine, I just don't really care for the lyrics. Falling Free is gorgeous, as is the acoustic version of Love Spent. I bought the Deluxe Edition solely for I Fucked Up. I like the Delon shout-out in Beautiful Killer though. The other two I could do without.
Now, if only her tour tickets weren't so expensive...
To me, MDNA succeeds as a stabilizing effort that will allow Madonna to do more experimental stuff in her next couple of musical endeavors. Her choices are safe and it's certainly not a challenging album, but it does the job of restating her brand and getting people up on their feet, steppin' to the beat.
It did what Hard Candy failed to do, which is to reassert her visual and sonic idiom in a way that feels authentically Madonna. American Life was unpopular and misunderstood; Confessions was more of a (sublime) dance odyssey than a radio album. To me, MDNA brings her back to the single-driven pop she defined in the 80's more than anything she's done post-Erotica. The songs don't flow liquidly from one track to another; they mostly succeed as statements on their own.
As a gay man who doesn't respond to Midler, Streisand, Minnelli, Garland, Cher, etc—I've realized in defending my love of Madonna over the past few weeks that we Madge fans tend to wax intellectual and sociological in our proclamations of love for her. There's something about following her devoutly that requires a lot more concentration, perspective, and analysis. And part of that is learning to reconcile something as simple as "and you can dance—for inspiration!" with Third Wave Feminism. It's totally lost on some people, and that's why the most common criticisms of Madonna miss the point of Madonna altogether.
Whenever I hear anyone say she should retire, act her age, or "put it away, love," I always want to sneer, "Have you ever even listened to 'Don't Tell Me'? Everything you need to know about why she will always be right and you will always be wrong is right there."
Falling Free and I Fucked Up are the best songs in my opinion. Other than that, it's quite a boring album, and not up to par with her previous music to be totally honest.
On a Madonna note, though, I recently rediscovered Take A Bow and I'm so glad I did. I love that song so much. My fav Madonna song after the penultimate Like A Prayer.
I agree Hard Candy was pretty bad...the first Madonnna album I did not buy....Dance 2Night was a classic that never happened...regardless, she should never collaborate with Timbaland and Pharell ever again.
Dpn't you wish she would go back and collaborate with her old co-writer buddies Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray...she wrote and produced her best material with these guys.
I listened to the album once the whole way through and I liked it. However, on the second and third listens, I start skipping songs. Hope to listen to it in full another time and see if I end up truly loving it, or just liking it.
I love "Girl Gone Wild" and I hope it does better on radio. Didn't care for "Give Me All Your Luvin" when it was first released, but within the album I fell in love with it. Kinda reminds me of "Beautiful Stranger" (in terms of production, minus the cheerleader chants and the raps). My favorite part of the album has to be the one-two-three punch of "Girl Gone Wild," "Gang Bang" and "I'm Addicted."