Finally its here. The second collection of Madonna's greatest hits. I've been a Madonna fan since the very beginning, 1983, so please let me be forgiven if this Op is a little biased. I shall attempt to remain fair throughout.
Madonna was of course the most prominent female solo artist of the 80's. In 1990 she released her first "Best of" album, The Immaculate Collection. In the early 90's her frequent courting of controversy caused a massive media backlash which once more heard the critics claim that her career was over. Now, 10 years on, she is releasing her second "Best Of" album, simply entitled GHV2 (Greatest Hits Volume 2).
So how did she get from there to here. The album track list seems a good way to explain it.
Track 1: Deeper and Deeper (7" Edit). Taken from the liberally slated Erotica album, this song features a serious hook. The way the lyrics are recited fast then slow, fast then slow draws you in as the heavy dance beat pulls you into a party mood. The tune is uplifting as she tells of how she follows her parents advice about falling in love (we assume she wasn't talking of her real parents as her mother, also named Madonna, died of cancer when singer Madonna was only 5). This is a great opening track for the album and psyches you up perfectly for the rest of it.
Track 2: Erotica (Radio Edit). Not to be confused with the song Erotic which came on the cd packaged with the Sex book, this is the title track from the Erotica album of 1992. The record opens with a scratching sound deliberately made to make it sound like an old vinyl recording. The highly suggestive lyrics, combined with a deep bass beat and the deliberately grainy recording create a song filled with atmosphere and sexual tension. The song was slated as "shocking trash". The video was banned for many weeks by MTV. In my opinion the song was a masterpiece of dark desire and an expression of the innermost sanctums of each and every one of us.
Track 3: Human Nature (Radio Edit). This was taken from the Bedtime Story album, Madonna's first album since Erotica. This time the video played on the fetish side of Erotica by injecting light hearted humour into it. The tongue in cheek video and wonderful bass sounds disguised the biting lyrics though. This was Madonna's answer to the media's attack on her during the Erotica days. Lyrics like "You tried to shove me back inside your narrow room and silence me with bitterness and lies..." or the chorus "I'm not sorry...I'm not your bitch don't hang your sh*t on me" displayed how she really felt.
Track 4: Secret (Edit). Again taken from the Bedtime Story album this track epitomises what Madonna is all about. An incredibly catchy acoustic pop tune with Madonna herself humming the real hook, all surrounding lyrics that are deep and
meaningful at first listen. Listen harder though and you may be persuaded to think there is an alternative meaning to the lyrics. To quote from the inlay sleeve "'...happiness lies in your own hand...' Think about it. Think harder." In my humble opinion, Secret is one of the best Madonna songs ever.
Track 5: Don't Cry For Me Argentina (Radio Edit). For those old enough to remember, this song belonged utterly to Elaine Paige (of whom I am also a great admirer). Some say Madonna made this song her own during the film adaptation of Evita as produced by Tim Rice. Now I love her performance and I think it marked a massive milestone for her vocally in the move from the squeeky voiced pop queen to the controlled singing of a stage queen. Even I, however, have to say that Elaine Paige simply is in a league of her own (no pun intended) and can never be surpassed as the true Mistress of that song. Still, a beautiful rendition that surprised many a hater and fan alike and certainly silenced the critics.
Track 6: Bedtime Story (Edit). Co-written with Nellee Hooper (Bjork's writer) this is one song that I really do believe Madonna should not have done. When I listen to it I really can picture Bjork dancing to it, hear Bjork singing it etc. It's perfect for Bjork but to me just isn't right for Madonna. This is without doubt the weakest track on both albums. However, the general public loved it more than me and this was one of Madonna's great comeback tracks.
Track 7: The Power Of Goodbye. Taken from the Ray of Light album this is my 2nd favourite track from that album. A beautifully powerful song where the emotion drips off of every spoken word. The touching melody contrasts superbly with the way the lyrics move from sorrowful tears of leaving to a determined "Don't look back" kind of goodbye. You can literally hear her rise through the pain and take control of the situation.
Track 8: Beautiful Stranger (William Orbit Radio Edit). This track was used to promote the movie Austin Powers 2 in 1999. I'm really not sure how to describe this one. I don't know what instruments were involved and I know nothing about electronic music. Therefore let me just say that this is a superbly conceived and incredibly catchy, uplifting song that almost without a doubt created yet another generation of Madonna fans. Where the Ray of Light album finally gave Madonna her 1st UK number 1 since 1990 and whispered that she was back, this song bellowed it from the rooftops. Move aside would be copycats, the best just got better.
Track 9: Frozen (Edit). Taken from the Ray of Light album, this is the very song I mentioned above, the one that took Madonna back to the top of the charts and certainly my favourite from this album. The song oozes class. Describing how her intended love's heart is cold as ice, Madonna sings of what could be if she could only find a way to thaw it out. "If I could melt your heart, we'd never be apart. Give yourself to me, you are the key". The lyrics are poignant and really can touch the coldest heart. The haunting melody and voice like a Siren draw you in and at times, if you close your eyes, you feel like you are floating. Note that by Siren I was talking about the mythical creature that lured sailors to their deaths with their beautiful song as opposed to an Air Raid Alarm! This ballad was a well deserved number 1 (a rarity these days) and if you ever get chance to see the video...do so. It's amazing.
Track 10: Take a Bow (Edit). This is a beautifully sung ballad taken from the Bedtime Story album. The title refers to Madonna's lover in the song after she discovers he has been toying with her affections. Though totally in love with him she realises that his love for her is a pretense, a masquerade so well performed that it fooled her. Hence she tells him to take a bow for the show is now over. The tune is simple but highly effective with gentle chimes and a soft lullaby atmosphere. Surprisingly, this song was the first of Madonna's songs not to reach the top ten in years. Quite why is beyond me and I'm sure if it were released today it would certainly go top 5. The video is a little strange though, depicting the lover as a Matador.
Track 11: Ray of Light (Radio Edit). Well, what can be said of this song. It's pretty unlikely that you haven't heard this one as it was played to death on the radio and is now being used by Microsoft to advertise their XP series of products. Basically its an intense dance track with a thumping beat and lyrics that range from fast but well held to deliberately squealed. The song is basically about Madonna enjoying herself and living it up, simple as that. What you may not know is that it is actually a cover version and Ray of Light was originally released many years ago. I don't know who released it though I have heard it. Without any bias, this version is much better due to simply having more about it. It's not my normal taste in music (I can't stand dance stuff) and at first I was rather reticent about it but trust me, this track grows on you. The more you hear it, the more you love it.
Track 12: Don't Tell Me. This is an incredible song. When I first played the Music album I said to my fiancee that Don't Tell Me would definitely be a single. I was very soon proved correct. It sounds very much like a country & western song but with a funk edge to it. Its a very strange and yet extremely hypnotic cross of styles. You cannot help but find yourself humming the tune, its one of those that gets into your head and stays there. Fortunately, it isn't one you are going to get sick of. The lyrics are unusual and its clear that Madonna not only re-invented her image (again), but is also re-inventing her music. To me it seems that she is saying 'You can tell me to do, or not to do, anything but don't tell me to stop loving you'. I'm sure you'll draw your own conclusions though. This is my favourite song from the Music album.
Track 13: What It Feels Like For A Girl. This is a very unusual song from the Music album. Basically its Madonna explaining to men what it feels like to be a woman. Its a subtle way of pointing out the differences between the sexes in terms of their emotions and feelings rather than anything physical. It starts off quite slowly but once it kicks in you find yourself swept along. I expect that women may feel a little liberated by the lyrics, you know how you do when someone says what you are thinking. Men, if they care to admit it, will probably learn something from this and I think that was Madonna's intention. Now here's the curious thing...I can't even recall how the tune goes (once it gets going). This coming from a fan who can name any Madonna song if you play me 2 seconds of it is a strange occurrence. The reason, I think, is that the music blends with the lyrics so seamlessly that all you really "hear" are the words. A great track.
Track 14: Drowned World/Substitute For Love. This is the first track on the Ray of Light album and is another strange mix of styles. A slightly ambient tune gives the impression of hearing the music underwater. The title is combined because the two songs blend into each other. The lyrics tell us how Madonna sacrificed her chances of love in order to be famous and show a very different side to her than is normally portrayed. In this song you can tell that she now realises (thanks to husband Guy Ritchie and children Lourdes and Rocco) that fame is not as precious as those you care for. Its clear that being a mother has changed her for the better and that she is now much more content with her life. "I traded fame for love without a second thought. It all became a silly game, some things cannot be bought..." is how the song opens and I think it says everything that is needed. It's a beautiful song.
Track 15: Music. After the delicate softness of the previous track, the album ends on one of the most upbeat, funky songs to hit the charts for years. This song was a massive hit and yet another number 1. The video, featuring Ali G, was an instant hit and may have gone a long way towards helping this song up the charts. Although I like the song, even I cannot understand how it became such a hit as it did but then this isn't really my type of music (excuse the pun). Certainly it is a great song to close the album, making sure you finish your listening experience on a high.
Summary: Wow! What an album! If you like your songs to show emotion then this is the album you have to own. Every single track burns with true emotion and listening to the whole album in one sitting is akin to an exhiliarating roller coaster ride covering sorrow, pain, regret, fear, love, joy, determination and power.
Any fan will certainly buy this, that goes without saying. Non-fans should also buy this for two reasons...1) It's a fantastic way to get hold of the best Madonna songs of the last decade, most of which you will doubtless have been humming at some time or another and ...2) its one of the most original, imaginative, varied and emotionally powerful albums ever compiled.
You should also spend some time reading the inlay sleeve. Written by Dan Cadan, it's a complete mickey take out of all the songs on the album. It really is very funny and proves to many Madonna haters what us fans have always known, that she has a great sense of humour and is down to earth enough to laugh at herself (why else would she allow it to feature there?). Try this album for size, you might just find you like it.
Hey Mr DJ, put this record on...
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An excellent op - i too got into madonna in a big way when she first came out, and ran round trying to get my hands on those then unreleased tracks such as Borderline etc!!
Mel x
LostWitness 23.12.2001 23:39
Excellent review - I can tell you're a big fan. I was a bit disappointed when I read the track listing to see no new tracks - bit of a commercial exercise really. Cheers, Phil :O)
Sensmas 23.12.2001 22:46
Thank you all for your comments. Happy christmas to you :)
Perhaps the most interesting decade in her career, GHV2 is a selection of the best songs ... more
from 1992's Erotica to Music in 2000. Throughout the 1990s, Madonna was well publicised for trying her hand at anything musical together with setting new styles an...
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Dec 22nd, 2001
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