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Madonna disappoints, but Mariah and Robyn do notI have to admit that I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Madonna's latest album, Hard Candy, but after downloading it on Tuesday, boy was I disappointed. The reviews have been almost across-the-board positive — or at least thoughtful, referencing Madonna's influence and stature in the pop culture world — but I found myself fast-forwarding through repetitive choruses ("get stupid get stupid get stupid" — argh! — on "Give It 2 Me") and, frankly, not quite getting the album.
Perhaps, as the Houston Chronicle noted: "As a sit-down listen (in the car, through headphones or via a computer), Hard Candy doesn't have the same immediate spark or insightful lyrics as 2005's gorgeous Confessions on a Dance Floor. ... Under the disco ball, however, Hard Candy proves a sparkling after-hours soundtrack." Maybe my problem is that I've been listening to it while at the office rather than out at a club. If that's the case, it's gonna be a long time before I "get" this album, since my club-going days have dwindled down to, oh, a couple of times a year. I suspect that most of Madonna's die-hard fans also long ago stopped loving the night life (Madonna, after all, is turning 50 this year), and I'm not sure if those longtime fans will get this album, either. I do like a few songs on the album, including "Dance 2night," which is way more of a disco track than a hip-hop one, and "Miles Away," a melancholy song that sounds like it belongs on Confessions on a Dance Floor. Most reviews also mention that Madonna has made a concerted effort with this new album to attract younger fans, especially by working with current hit-makers such as Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Kanye West and others. The funny thing is, I personally really enjoy Justin, Timbaland and Kanye. The problem, in my opinion, is that Madonna's somewhat cold, emotionless voice just isn't suited to hip-hop — and Hard Candy is a total wannabe hip-hop album, right from the start of its first single, "4 Minutes" (which I think is the best track on the whole thing). I'm far from a hip-hop expert, but the melding of Madonna and hip-hop beats just doesn't seem quite right to me. Especially in comparison to another recent album released by a pop music icon, Mariah Carey's E=MC2, which melds hip-hop and pop almost perfectly.
Mariah has also received a ton of praise for her latest CD, which was released on April 15 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. Back in the 1990s when Mariah was all about music boxes and butterflies, I admit I kept the fact that I actually owned a Mariah CD a secret, but after The Emancipation of Mimi (and getting 10 years older), I decided it was fine to like her songs — and about time to acknowledge that she knows how to make a hit. Plus, anybody who watched her week on American Idol also saw that it's really hard for anybody else to sing a Mariah Carey song. Though E=MC2 has some weak points (the sing-song melody of "O.O.C." just annoys me), the album has several truly addictive tracks, including "I Stay in Love," which is a worthy successor to her hit "We Belong Together," and "Side Effects," which could be the most Mary J. Blige–like song Carey has ever written. I even like the booming, bass-heavy "Migrate." Its simple lyrics draw a surreal picture of a group of friends moving from club to after-party to hotel as if they were part of some vast wildlife migration. But I shouldn't compare Madonna to Mariah. There's just no comparison; both have carved out their own pop music kingdoms on their own and quite separately. One artist who does compare to some extent to Madonna, though, is Swedish pop star Robyn, who just released her self-titled CD in the U.S. on the same day that Hard Candy came out.
Robyn's eponymous CD was originally released in Sweden in 2005 and came out in the U.K. in March 2007; many of the songs that Americans are only now getting to hear have already been hits across Europe and Australia, including "With Every Heartbeat." If her voice sounds familiar, that's because you may remember her 1997 pop-dance hit, "Show Me Love." Now, it's not Robyn's early years that I'm comparing to Madonna — it's her new stuff. Many of the songs on Robyn remind me of very early Madonna, like from 1982. Maybe it's because that early '80s synth sound is back, but Robyn also has some of the same attitude, especially on songs like "Handle Me" ("It's a simple fact that you can't seem to handle me/No matter how you act with them you can't handle me"). She even has a song called "Who's That Girl" (although I suppose it could be referencing the Eurythmics' song as much as Madonna's). To be fair, there are a couple of duds on Robyn. I thought the opening track, a recitation of Robyn's (false) qualifications, "Curriculum Vitae," is a bit self-indulgent, and I'm not a big fan of "Robotboy" because it's, well, a bit too boppy. But 90 percent of the CD is brilliant, from Robyn's hilarious lyrics and infectious beat on "Konichiwa Bitches" ("Right now you probably thinking how she get in them jeans/Well I'm gifted all natural and burstin' the seams") to the moody, ethereal "Eclipse" ("There's an eclipse in your eye/where I used to shine"). Robyn is currently touring the U.S. in promotion of her album, and she's got the attitude and the androgynous haircut that I think will make her quite a hit with lesbians.
Is it enough to make her a gay icon in the mold of Madonna and, even, Mariah (come on, gay men love the diva)? Have you had a chance to listen to the new albums from Madonna, Mariah and Robyn? What did you think? Submitted by on April 30, 2008 - 9:00am. |
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Mariah, all the way
I actually didn't like 4Minutes, from Madonna. I didn't get it =/
However, I LOVED E=MC2. Mariah Carey can't do no wrong in my book (OK... glitter... but that's it!). I'm really happy she's still kickin some pop ass with her records.
myRants
mySpace
Oh Mo...
I haven't bought the album yet. I'm a HUGE fan of Madonna's, but I've been really scared about this one. I have heard a bit of "4 Minutes" and I really don't like it so far. I was watching Ellen's show and she was dancing to "Give It 2 Me" and I like what I heard of that...I'm going to give the rest of the album a chance, but I'm not expecting much.
Thanks for the review!
--
I am my own experiment. I am my own work of art. - Madonna
Robyn
Love love love Robyn. First heard this record when it was released back in Sweden in 2005. She played in London a couple of months ago and she was great, her voice is even better live.
And I love the haircut ;)
I looove Mariah!!
Based on the songs posted..
I like Madonna's the best. Never been a Mariah fan, but Robyn's songs aren't bad either. Can't say that any of these would make me go out and buy the cd though.
Thanks for saving me some bucks, Malinda. ;)
Madonna
Madonna
I love her new album. It's different from her previous albums but still I think its fantastic.
After listening to it like 20 times in a row since friday my favorite song is Miles Away. Followed by Give it 2 me,Beat goes on (ft kanye west) and Devil wouldn't recognize you. I kind of like them all :) nice beats
Not sure about Robyn yet but Mariahs is nice, too. So far I like Migrate and Side Effects
btw *off topic*: has anybody been listening to the new coldplay single ? it's for free at their website...how great is that ? (the song I mean^^)
Robyn is amazing...
...her whole album is just excellent. I think my favourites are Be Mine! and Bum Like You. And there's a really good Trentemoller remix of Konichiwa B*tches.
I'm not so sure about Mariah Carey, although to be fair, she's never really been a favourite of mine anyway.
I've ordered Hard Candy,
I've ordered Hard Candy, but still waiting for it to arrive - looking forward to hearing more but I agree that I don't think it will be as strong as Confessions. I liked that whole album after the first listen!
Robyn's album is AMAZING! It came out in the UK ages ago and I got it because I was loving With Every Heartbeat...I have to say on first listen I thought it was all a bit bouncy and poppy (reminded me of the first Britney album, chesse-amundo)! But the more I listened and grasped the lyrics the more I liked the tracks. I went to see her in Bristol back in February and she was great. Very low key, small stage, just two band members - but she rocked it. She's very talented and has been in the music business for years! I absolutely love Cobrastyle (it's a cover of a teddybears track), it makes me just want to dance my ass off - also love Be Mine. Look up the acoustic performance version of it online, it sends shivers down my spine, the lyrics are awesome and stand out more as a ballad track.
Me, personally...
I can't stand Mariah (especially the stuff she's released in the last like 5-10 years, her early, early stuff was ok...sometimes...) so I have no interest in her latest album & the songs I've heard on the radio etc have only confirmed my thoughts on that matter.
Madonna, however, I adore, so was eagerly anticipating this album. Must say, I'm not blown away by the album but it is overall pretty good. A few songs (maybe 4-5 of them) are great/excellent, the rest are ok/good. But it doesn't match up at all to her last album which I think was near perfect!
Oh and Robyn rockz, good that she's finally getting over to America. I've been listening to her album nonstop for months now!
MADONNA -Hands Down
This is scary , you need to play the Madonna albuma few more times I think it just scared you that its different, at first I was like what? Then I played it again and now I dream about the songs I love it better than her last 2 albums combined.
Unlike Mariah, Madonna takes chances if you want to get bored go buy that Mariah album but if you have any of Mariahs older albums then you just wasted the few bucks it costs to buy her new album when you could have some candy from Madonna.
I agree 4 minutes took some getting used to but the rest of the album is far sweeter!
My advise skip Mariah and head straight to the candy store and get Madonna's album it will satisfy you far more over time.
:D
I agree that Madonna's attempt to get a piece of the trendy hip-hop cake is a big flop for me. I just couldn't get it. Because I'm not a long-time fan, I've only listened to her music during the last decade. "American life" is by far my favourite album. Very thoughtful music (both in terms of lyrics and musical arrangements). It definitely sets her on a different par compared to the general chart acts. And now "Hard Candy" comes along with mindless hip-hop beats. Pfft.
Robyn has an attractive voice, but again I can't get her music. I first knew her through an acoustic rendition of "With every heartbeat", the captivating melody of which made me download her album only to find too many electronic beats for my liking.
Thankfully, E=MC2 is a decent album that I've listened to for quite a while. I feel that Mariah has stayed committed to her style. Her powerhouse vocal on piano-driven R&B ballads is a great combination that has stood the test of time. "I stay in love" is unsurprisingly addictive, but other tracks such as "I wish you well" and "Bye bye" have also got me hooked to the album :D
Finally, Malinda, I can't remember ever reading your opinion on music before, so this article has been very interesting :D
***
"All my possessions for a moment in time"
[Elizabeth I]
Eww
First of all, let's not compare Mooriah to Madonna. With that said, Hard Candy is actually a decent album. I can't stand JT and Timberland and even I like this album. 4 Minutes kind of sucks, but the majority of the songs are catchy and have the Madonna "flavor". It's not her best cd, but it's def good enough for the average listener to "get it".
Robyn
I.Love.Robyn. I saw her show in Melbourne last month, she's so AWESOME!
You're Everywhere to me.
Grr...
I do enjoy me some Mariah. Though not as diverse as Madonna, she does do what she does very well. If she's still so successful after 18 years she must be doing something right.
I'm just glad to see our older divas still kicking ass!
Lesbian Tees & Gifts - For ladies who like ladies who like t-shirts
Great post
mariah
Wow I don't get you guys...
Show me Love
That was my sh*t! Im gonna have to check Robyns album out to see what she's talkin bout.
And I don't like Mariah Carey's style or her personality, she wears me out, but the girl can BLOW. There's no denying that. And she put a dent in the industry where there are now 1000 mariah carey's, she has beaten the beatles in several categories..you cant deny MC her props she's one of the greatest artist's (statistically) of all time (yeah i said it)
NOW, MADONNA! That's all I have to say. Madonna. good album or bad. MADONNA. Before Mariah Carey, there was MADONNA. When Mariah Carey was working at a hair salon. MADONNA was making movies with Sean Penn. You can't compare Madonna and Mariah Carey on an iconic level. Lets stick to their most recent albums instead.
My heart
Robyn, all the way Robyn
And I'm not just saying that as a fellow Swede.. hmm ok, maybe a little! But seriously, the girl's got talent, to say the least. And I don't really like to compare these three, they're too... Different!
Robyn's got attitude, but she's no diva-diva. When they first promoted her in the states, back in the 'show me love'-"era", the record label people wanted to treat her like a big star with the limos and everything but she didn't really like it. At least that's how I remember it, this was a long time ago.
As it also was when I first heard Robyn's album, love love love it! And 'Be Mine!' wasn't the easiest track to dance to (for a RnB-rythm-dancer such as myself, haha), but I don't think there was a single person on the packed floor who didn't sing along. Man I regret not going to the club when she performed here!
As far as Madonna goes, I've only heard a few tracks, but I do love dancing to "4 minutes". And Mariah's latest is the best one for a while, from a dancing perspective at least.
Aanywho, enough rambling self promoting from me. Toodles!.. or, something
Mariah
Madonna
Is Amazing and I love the new album. I love Candy Shop, 4 Minutes, Miles Away, Heartbeat, She's Not Me, Dance2Night, Devil, etc.. Can't wait for the tour.
www.myspace.com/madonna3
Mariah for sure