A quick update tonight, but a pretty juicy one, nonetheless. Hot off the success of her Confessions on a Dance Floor album (and the resulting tour), it sounds as though Madonna is about to bring hip hop flavor to her next effort.
"I fancy more dancing," was the quote she gave to MTV a while back when asked about the new album. But in a recent interview on Sirius Radio, Madonna claimed that Pharrell Williams (he of The Neptunes and N*E*R*D) was downstairs working on her new album!
And he's not the only hip hop guru who's been taking court with the Queen of Pop: Timbaland claims Madonna recently reached out to him (just as he was planning to give her a call) about a collaborating together. And since Madonna doesn't appear on his latest release, I think it's fair to say where this collaboration will end up!
Okay, so here's my question?: What does a 48 year old yoga-and-pilates-sipping-a-soy-latte mom of three have in common with these hip hop producers?? I'm a fan of Madonna (though probably not as much as Jade!), and I really respect that she made such an unabashed dance album the last time around. So I hate to see it, but it seems kind of like a cop-out for her to turn to hip hop now. Madonna's not known to compromise herself just to sell some records (usually she managed to sell the records anyway!), so it seems kind of lame that she'd jump on the genre just because it's the one sure to get her radio play.
Maybe she's still smarting from the lukewarm reception that radio gave Confessions, despite its commercial success?
Anyway, that's the word right now. Here's hoping she does what she always does: Her OWN thing. Maybe she'll integrate hip hop elements, but I'll keep the faith that Madonna will make it her own unique brand of the sound... just as she has with other genres in the past.
I mean really, we don't need any more "ironic" American Life raps about Starbucks drinks, do we? ;)
In the meanwhile, enjoy this director's cut TV commercial for her new H&M fashion line.
Damn... she's still hot!!
Later all,
JOHNNY
Loved Confessions On A Dance Floor. The Pet Shop Boys remix of "Sorry" was my favorite single from last year.
ReplyDeleteI suspect Madonna's US label had a hand in choosing Pharrel and Timbaland for Madge; they're probably still pissed at her for not using her friendship with Missy Elliot four years ago to its fullest potential; i.e., a radio-ready single a la J-Lo or Ashanti--all the results from their collaboration were just a GAP commercial and a crap remix of asforementioned "American Life."