GHV2 (Greatest Hits Vol.2) - Madonna > Reviews > Madonna- The Chameleon

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Average
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Excellent pictures inside
Disadvantages:	No Rain

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Madonna has been around for twenty years, and she will be around for probably another twenty years, and this album pinpoints why she managed to carry on changing her image and music. This album reached number 2 in 2001 (beaten by Westlife!) and fell out the charts quickly unlike her previous Greatest Hits, The Immaculate Collection, still visits the charts and has sold 40 million copies worldwide and counting. Why is this? This is a strong album of her greatest hits! She was touring when this came out and her tours were very successful. This album was promoted everywhere (I still have postcards from restaurants advertising it). Most people say that it was September 11th which did it (it came out a week later) and America was under scutiny. I don't think this. I don't know what it is, but this isn't it.

Another problem I have with this album is that it is missing many a Madonna hit. The ones I would have added would have been Rain and American Pie (Madonna's ninth number one). Rain is a masterpiece and American Pie is pritty bad, but it did get to number one.

1. Deeper and Deeper (7" Edit)
2. Erotica (Radio Edit)
3. Human Nature (Radio Version)
4. Secret (Edit)
5. Don't Cry For Me Argentina (Radio Edit)
6. Bedtime Story (Edit)
7. The Power of Goodbye
8. Beautiful Stranger (William Orbit Radio Edit)
9. Frozen (Edit)
10. Take a Bow (Edit)
11. Ray of Light (Radio Edit)
12. Don't Tell Me
13. What It Feels Like For A Girl
14. Drowned World / Substitute For Love
15. Music

1. Deeper and Deeper (7" Edit)

This is my favourite Madonna song on the album. It is an absolute floorfiller with disco strings, pom-poms and guitar riffs. This is one of the rare occasions Madonna sings about her Mother dying when she was younger, and how her father repressed her. This is her most personal song until Mother and Father on the American Life album

Number 6, 12 Dec 1992 9 weeks in chart

9/10

2. Erotica (Radio Edit)

Madonna's most controvertial song to date is not the fans choice, but ignoring the stupid 'erotic' lyrics, the bassline to this song is quite good. Madonna raps 'dirty' through it which is embarrasing to hear. But when she gets to the chorus, I enjoy it. There is cackling sounds in the background which makes it sound old, as well as the early nineties synthesisers.

Number 3, 17 Oct 1992 8 weeks on chart

5/10

3. Human Nature (Radio Version)

This song is Madonna when she went RnB in one of her most famous image changes. In the video she is in bondage, but amid this, the song is quite funky and catchy. This is off Madonna's not too famous album 'Bedtime Stories'. Madonna, trying desperately to be controversial, sings such lines as 'I'm not your your b**** don't hang your s*** on me', and stuff like this ruins the song.

Number 8, 26 Aug 1995 5 weeks on chart

7/10

4. Secret (Edit)

The first song to submit Madonna's new RnB sound and the first video to be premiered on the internet, Secret is one of Madonna's all time classics. It starts with a funky guitar loop which loops all the way through. It is a sensual and calm song which isn't hard to be ignored, so make sure you don't! Co-written by Dallas Austin, this song has absolute class.

Number 5, 8 Oct 1994 9 weeks on chart

8/10

5. Don't Cry For Me Argentina (Radio Edit)

This song is the main song from Madonna's golden globe winning performance of Evita. This is the song which started Madonna's grown up image which never really faded until Music in 2000. In this song, Madonna kicks critics whom said she couldn't sing by showing her amazing voice (well, with a lot of training) to the world. With a full orchestra, this song is an excellent cover of Julie Covington's 1970's hit.

Number 3, 28 Dec 1996 12 weeks on chart

7/10

6. Bedtime Story (Edit)

Written by famous Icelandic 'odd-ball' Bjork, this is a very odd song. With heavy breathing through out, Madonna singing that she is in a trance, electronic beeps, this song is way ahead of its time. How many times can Madonna be 'unconcious baby'? Avoid

Number 4, 25 Feb 1995 8 weeks on chart

5/10

7. The Power of Goodbye

Off Madonna's ground-breaking album 'Ray of Light', Power of Goodbye is Madonna being very natural. Produced by herself and William Orbit, this is the start of Madonna's beep obsession, how small it appears in the song. People say that it is a song about her ex-lover and father of her daughter 'Lourdes'. Also note that this was a double a-side with song 'Little Star', which was a tribute to her daughter.

Number 6, 5 Dec 1998 9 weeks on chart

9/10

8. Beautiful Stranger (William Orbit Radio Edit)

Madonna's most famous number two was used as the theme tune for the 1999 film: Austin Powers, The Spy who S****** Me. There is a sixty feeling throughout with guitar loops, electro loops and organs. Also, Madonna looks cool in the video. This is Madonna at her funnest. This is one of her greatest

Number 2, 19 Jun 1999 16 weeks on chart

9/10

9. Frozen (Edit)

Madonna's one of two number ones off this album is amazing. For this song, Madonna went back to Pat Leonard, who wrote with her classics like Papa Don't Preach, Like a Prayer and True Blue to name some, and the magic worked after a ten year break. 'I'm like a bird, she needs to fly', Madonna sings with love. The song is very dark, but she still pulled it off on her famous appearance on The National Lottery.

Number 1, 7 Mar 1998 13 weeks on chart

9/10

10. Take a Bow (Edit)

This song in America spent 15 weeks at number one, selling a few million copies and it hit christmas number one. Did it do well in England? This song only peaked at 16 in the UK, being one of Madonna's few non top-ten singles. This song is a ballard written by Babyface, RnB legend producer. It has violins with a gentle guitar and drum set. Madonna sings smoothly about her last time with her lover. The video, in America, won best video at the MTV awards. The video had Madonna's love as a bull fighter, and Madonna being upset at his absence. Note that this is the last time Madonna takes off her clothes.

Number 16, 7 17 Dec 1994 9 weeks on chart

8/10

11. Ray of Light (Radio Edit)

A Madonna favourite, Ray of Light was deprived Number one by All Saints Lady Marmalade/Under the Bridge. That doesn't change how this is a good song. With loads of special effects through out, an expensive video, and it being used a few year later to advertise Microsoft XP, this is a great song. Also, this is Madonna's last single to be released while she was in her thirties. Within three months of its release, she turned 40.

Number 2, 9 May 1998 9 weeks on chart

7/10

12. Don't Tell Me

Madonna's second song off the Music album, Don't Tell Me was a song written by Madonna's brother-in-law Joe Henry. It has a country beat to it with a guitar loop (again!). It also created a line dancing craze worldwide as well as making Madonna famous for her bucking bronco tecniques. The song charted the week she married for the second time to Guy Ritchie.

Number 4, 9 Dec 2000 12 weeks on chart

7/10

13. What It Feels Like For A Girl

More famous for its Guy Ritchie video and its remix than its Radio Edit, this song is a forgotten song of Madonna's which completed the Music album. Ignoring the remix version (used in the video), this song is a beautiful song about living as a woman in the modern world. My first Madonna record is one of my favourite, having such a sweet chorus to it, which makes me feel happy. Of course there is a guitar loop!

Number 7, 8 April 2001 9 weeks on chart

9/10

14. Drowned World / Substitute for Love

Another forgotten Madonna song is another tribute to Madonna's daughter. It started off as two songs, but as one song, this is a beautiful masterpiece. It is slow, but it has nice melodic lines, and an urban 'Will Orbit (he produced it)' feel.

Number 10, 5 Sept 1998 5 weeks on chart

8/10

15. Music

All rise fun loving, new millenium Madonna Ciccone. This is the Madonna we have been seeing for coming up to five years. Madonna's first outing with Mirwais, the French producer, this is one of the greatest songs of all times with poll reference. Madonna tenth number was a hit worldwide. Mirwais puts in some futuristic beeps to the excess as well. This was new then, but it is now in 2004 old while Madonna is still using it. If you want to party, this is the song for you off the album. I prefer Deeper and Deeper, but it is up to you. It has also been her most successful single ever since holiday, selling 700,000 copied in the UK and being in the chart for a record 5 months.

Number 1, 2 Sep 2000 24 weeks on chart

9/10.

So we have it. A great album from a great artist!