Jan 09 2009
Madge Tracklisting Redux
While UK publication Music Week mentioned the release of Madonna’s forthcoming compilation as happening in the first quarter, a reliable source tells me it’s not happening during that time frame after all- supposed “difficulties.”
However, that’s no need to cease from posting my tracklisting for a double-disc release. Compiling a single disc of music spanning Madonna’s 25-year career was difficult, but I did so several days back (http://entertainmentdissected.today.com/2009/01/05/compiling-madonna-tracklisting-an-arduous-task/), with what I felt were key, essential tracks in defining her artistry.
While I feel my tracklisting would be a good representation, I’d much rather see a double disc (at the least) issued- and, hopefully, Warner Music follows suit, whenever it decides to release it.
To go along with the 21 tracks I put on a single disc, I offer 17 additional that would snugly cap off a second. Some albums have pretty heavy representation (I include five of the debut’s nine tracks, all five of the True Blue singles, etc.), but it’s what I feel encompass essential Madge.
What follows is my full tracklisting, which includes commentary for the 17 additional tracks:
1. Everybody: Madge hit the clubs with this debut single, which failed to crack Billboard’s Hot 100 (though it bubbled under, peaking at No. 107). The theme would become quintessential Madonna- “dance and sing, get up and do your thing.” “Everybody” was just one track on her eponymous debut that would set the pace for dance-pop to come over the next 25 years.
2. Burning Up: The second single to be culled from Madonna, this 12-inch release was backed with “Physical Attraction,” and was Madge’s first video to be aired on MTV. The song found itself part of the 2004 re-Invention Tour, as well as last ywar’s Rock and Hall of Fame induction ceremony: Iggy Pop and The Stooges stood in for Madge on stage, and performed this and “‘Ray of Light.”
3. Holiday 4. Borderline
5. Lucky Star: Taking inspiration from a nursery rhyme, this track hit the top five in 1984, and continues to be one of Madonna’s most-played recurrent tracks in the USA. This was the first instance of Madonna using music video as a means to cultural domination. Wriggling, grinding and gyrating, Madonna- with THAT belly button in tow- also gave a first look at the style that would be embodied by an endless stream of “wanna-be’s” (both everyday people and wanna-be pop stars). From this point on, it would be a challenge to hear those opening-note chords of any Madge song (the whole song, in fact) and not think of its accompanying videoclip. This is where the woman’s simultaneous audio and visual stranglehold on our collective consciousness began.
6. Like a Virgin 7. Material Girl 8. Crazy for You 9. Into the Groove
10. Dress You Up: Left off The Immaculate Collection, this track received some notoriety for its inclusion in the “Filthy 15″ tracks cited by the Parents Music Resource Center (an organization led by Al Gore’s wife, Tipper). Apparently, PMRC didn’t like the fashion-sex connection. On the endurance side, ”Dress You Up” ususally gets more U.S. radio play in a week than “Like a Virgin.”
11. Live to Tell 12. Papa Don’t Preach
13. True Blue: The title track to Madge’s third album also got shafted when it was time to compile The Immaculate Collection tracklisting, despite reaching No. 3 on the Hot 100 and No. 1 in the UK. “True Blue” is one of those rare, Madonna-giddy-in-love songs, taking its sonic cue from 60’s songs like “Chapel of Love.”
14. Open Your Heart 15. La Isla Bonita
16. Who’s That Girl: Despite hitting No. 1 in both the USA and UK, the title track from the flop film was another Immaculate Collection-less track. Recurrent airplay for this track has been mild, to say the least (as it has for the next track).
17. Causing a Commotion: If “Who’s That Girl” couldn’t make the cut on The Immaculate Collection, there was no chance for this track, which peaked in the runner-up slot on the Hot 100. On tour when this track hit the charts, Madonna didn’t even bother filming a video.
18. Like a Prayer 19. Express Yourself
20. Cherish: A light-hearted, bouncy track that winks at old-school love songs of the 1960’s (thematically similar in nature to the earlier ‘True Blue”), there wasn’t much culturally notable about this No. 2 hit itself- though Madonna made the accompanying videoclip memorable by playing with gender roles. As Madge frolics on the beach, it’s mermen who bellyfloip around the water. The video’s imagery of Madonna as a maternal figure to a young merboy was at odds with some of the lyrics, but that just added to the allure. Not the first or last time Madonna enjoyed leaving things open to viewer interpretation.
21. Vogue 22. Justify My Love
23. This Used to Be My Playground: This lush ballad- heard in Madonna’s baseball film A League Of Their Own- became Madge’s 10th No. 1 in summer 1992. Anyone who was fooled into thinking Madonna was headed toward family-friendly territory needn’t have looked any further than what came after “Playground” ran its course- the simultaneous release of the Sex book and Erotica album…
24. Erotica: Right at the direct opposite end of the spectrum compared to “This Used to Be My Playground,” “Erotica” sizzled with S&M lyrics and, thanks to the steamy video- imagery. The video actually served as a mini-soundtrack to the Sex book, featuring outtakes from the various shoots. Upon initial release, MTV played the clip just once (after midnight), but the lack of exposure didn’t stop the single from vaulting to No. 3 on the Hot 100. Howerver, “Erotica” ususally registers no recurrent play in an average week at U.S. radio.
25. Rain: Madonna returned to the Hot 100’s top 15 with this fourth single from Erotica, following the disappointing No. 36 peak of prior single, “Bad Girl.”
26. I’ll Remember: Madge made a return to the top 10 with the theme from With Honors, which logged four weeks in the runner-up position on the Hot 100. While a pleasant and enjoyable track, it- like This Used to Be My Playground-is not as essential or great as some other big hits, hence my leaving them off the single-disc tracklist.
27. Secret: The lead single from Bedtime Storiespeaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 and receives so-so recurrent U.S. airplay. However, it’s a relatively low-key track (in original form), so it wouldn’t make my single-disc tracklisting, but definitely belongs on this expanded edition.
28. Take a Bow
29. Human Nature: This answer song- the fourth single from Bedtime Stories- followed the even riskier “Bedtime Story.” Neither track cracked the top 40, but this one stands as a Madonna mantra (both the track’s message and clever video, which features Madonna in latex garb- imagine that), and definitely belongs on a career-spanning double disc, despite its lack of success and recurrent airplay.
30. You’ll See: The lead single from the ballads compilation Something to Remember, this video sequel to “Take a Bow” reached No. 6 on the Hot 100, but has dipped in recurrent play, some weeks failing to garner a single spin at radio.
31. Don’t Cry For Me Argentina: The classic ballad version didn’t get much airplay (only at AC), but it was the Miami Mix that helped push the Evitatrack into the Hot 100’s top 10. The ballad version appeared on GHV2, so the dance mix should get the exposure on a double-disc compilation.
32. Frozen: Somewhat overshadowed by “Ray of Light,” this lead single from the Ray of Lightalbum fared pretty well, peaking at No. 2 on the Hot 100 (and No. 1 in the UK), but has somewhat been forgotten by U.S. radio in the recurrent life.
33. Ray of Light 34. Music 35. Don’t Tell Me 36. Die Another Day 37. Hung Up 38. 4 Minutes
