Monday, December 29, 2008

Long Live The Queen- Madonna Hard Candy Review : May 2008


Long Live The Queen! Hail to Her Madgesty



Pop Icon, Queen Of Reinvention, The Ultimate Pop Queen..I can definately go on and on listing all her endless recognition in the Music industry..and yes definately ..there's only ONE Madonna...and dear readers..now I'll bring to you my 2nd most admired icon in the world(after Ms Sheila Majid lah kannn, I kan berkongsi takhta ' Ratu" ngan akak iteww..) anyway...

28th April 2008..after Confession On The Dance Floor 1st released in 2005..she is BACK! With another album, which is here 11th studio album so far, and eyeing yet another chance to jump into her long lists of hits single and yes another platinum album with a world wide smash hits.
Hard Candy
Featuring gigantic now-tastic music extralicious producers. Namely: Pharell William(making headlines with the reknown Ms Carey or Mrs..something.Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefanie, Janet Jacksons), Danja Nate Hill, Justin Timberlake(he's sooo delicious) and the ever so yummy,yummy I got love in my tummy ;Timbaland) making the album the whole new musical collabaration(saying goodbye to her eletronica-euro funky fussions meastros Stuart Price , William Orbit, Mirwais Ahmed Zai;
From her post Evita years album: Ray Of Light, Music, American Life and super come back kick your ass and to your face dance anthem Confession On The Dance Floor)
This album is universally described as: Urban R&B, Hip Hop and nothing but making you wanna dance kind of album. She is back with club anthem of her stopless dance tracks , and ambitious sounds that making her a stand out among other pops wannabe(namely Britney and Beyonce maybe..)
Madonna Musical Facts
Hard Candy feature 12 tracks and 1 bonus track especially for Japanese Delux edition and Itune (only made available in certain countries)Hard Facts from Wikipedia
Release
April 26 was the release date in Australia but many retailers chose to sell the album two days early on April 24, while a select few European countries saw the album's release on April 25; on 28 April 2008[6] in the United Kingdom, Brazil and most other European countries, and on 29 April 2008 in the United States, Argentina, Mexico and Canada.[2]

Seven songs from the album were also made available through download via mobile phone. During the week prior to release, one song a day was available to download.[7] Beginning on April 21 and ending on April 27, these songs were distributed: "Candy Shop", "Miles Away", "Give It 2 Me", "Heartbeat", "Beat Goes On", "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" and "She's Not Me". The album was also streamed on MySpace, four days before the United States release.[8]
"Miles Away" is also currently being used as the theme song for Fuji TV's Japanese television drama Change starring Takuya Kimura.

Musical style
The album has an overall hip-hop/pop feel, while remaining a pop/dance record at heart.[9] Stuart Price, the producer of Confessions on a Dance Floor, described the new album as moving in an "urban" direction.[10] The Sun quoted a source as saying: “It’s not all hip-hop though, there are a lot of producers from a lot of genres in there. It could be her most ambitious project yet.”[9]

Timbaland stated in an interview: "It's kinda like 'Holiday' with an R&B groove."[11] In an interview for industry magazine Hollywood Daily People, Justin Timberlake noted: "It’s an R&B/pop/dance record, but it’s still Madonna... A couple of times I pushed her in a direction where it took a minute before we saw eye to eye. Her approach was, 'Well, I just haven’t done that' and I was like, 'Yeah, that’s why you should do it'.”[12] The New York Times viewed the album as a crowd-pleaser by stating, "It’s the kind of album a record company longs for in the current embattled market: a set of catchy, easily digestible, mass-appeal songs by a star who’s not taking chances."[13]

The album features vocal appearances by Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams and Kanye West along with production credits from Timbaland, Timberlake, The Neptunes, and Nate "Danja" Hills as well as co-production from Madonna. Wendy Melvoin is guest guitarist on "She's Not Me".
Track Listing

"Candy Shop" (P. WIlliams, Madonna) — 4:15
"4 Minutes" (featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland) (Madonna, T. Mosley, J. Timberlake, N. Hills) — 4:03
"Give It 2 Me" (P. WIlliams, Madonna) — 4:48
"Heartbeat" (P. WIlliams, Madonna) — 4:04
"Miles Away" (Madonna, T. Mosley, J. Timberlake, N. Hills) — 4:49
"She's Not Me" (P. WIlliams, Madonna) — 6:05
"Incredible" (P. WIlliams, Madonna) — 6:20
"Beat Goes On" (featuring Kanye West) (P. WIlliams, Madonna, K. West) — 4:27
"Dance 2night" (Madonna, T. Mosley, J. Timberlake, H. Lane) — 5:03
"Spanish Lesson" (P. WIlliams, Madonna) — 3:38
"Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" (Madonna, T. Mosley, J. Timberlake, N. Hills, J. Henry) — 5:09
"Voices" (Madonna, T. Mosley, J. Timberlake, N. Hills, H. Lane) — 3:39
Ring My Bell" (P. WIlliams, Madonna) — 3:54


My Review:
Track 1:Candy Shop- Radio Friendly, catchy lyrics and chorus, the bouncy musical beat is almost infectious and you would end up on the dance floor...(I got turkish delight and baby so much more ...) there's a special appearance in the end by Pharrel William


Track 2: 4 Minutes : The opening is so upbeat , with mixture of heavy drums, it sounded like you are in a marching band(imagine wearing something really skimpy and slutty when ur doing the marching) featuring vocals by Madonna and Justin, their voices just blend smoothly. With the spirits of 4 Minutes saving the world, this song would capture anyone attention on the 1st time basis..even for those who are into Madonna would agree..this is a remarkable duet effort by Madonna, she scored big time in this song!


Track 3: Give It 2Me: It took me awhile to really enjoy this track, after a few heavy rotation of this song, I tend to fall in love with the euro dance style and a bit poco-poco(yes ur right, there's obvious gong like sound and indonesian influence dangdut sound in the middle of the track..it's quite catchy) love the bridge lyrics : You only here to win, get what they said, You only here to Win , Get What they said, They do it too If They Were, You Done it all Before, Aint Nothing New...


Track 4: Heartbeat: one of my favourite track, the familiar 80's Madonna album sounds, the adorable opening..and the romantic encounter lyrics..just make me wanna dance with a beautiful stranger on the dance floor and making lewd dance move..okie a bit OTT..who cares! look out for these catchy phrase:You know I feel it in my heartbeatIt may feel old to you, but to me it feels new,You know I feel it in my heartbeat,Don’t you know? Can’t you see?When I dance, I feel free


Track 5: Miles Away: Amazing yet another Madonna classic to be song, I love everything about this song, from the music composition, to the sound of each bleeps , to the smart n catchy lyrics, to the familiar backing vocals , feat the hottie Justin . A song which i recommend to anyone...is about long distance love, dedicate to anyone who works and travela nd frequently away from their loved ones(sounds familiar) I can relate to..and yes...nobody can take this song away from me..it's OFFICIALLY THE SOundtrack of my LIFE... awakening and refreshing opening and a dreamy ending...love love love the song so much!


Track 6: She's Not Me: A great song, I like it less though. I guess I couldnt really excite myself on this particular track, but i'm sure i would change my mind after listening to it, say 1000th times. It's about protecting the one you love, and telling him , you are the only one for him. It's to your face/Bitchy and Fuck You Attitude!


Track 7: Incredible: I adore the lyrics of this songs, it's a great effort but was extended too long. It gets really old after the 5th minute... watch out for this catchy phrase:Just one of those thingsWhen everything goes incredibleAnd all is beautiful(Can't get my head around, I need to think about it)And one of those thingsThat used to get you downNow have no effect at allCause life is beautiful(Can't get my head around it, I need to think about it)


Track 8: Beat Goes On: who ever managed to download this leaked track last year would be very suprised, it sounded nothing like the boring and disgusting reminder of Britney & Madonna duet effort..it features Kanye West and the beat is more upbeat, 70's Dance motown groovy R&B feel( projecting Marvin Gaye) the whole song has been revamp with new lyrics..with the addictive phrase " On and on ..on the beat goes..)


Track 9: Dance 2Nite: Another you wanna dance track, still featuring Justin Timberlake as a special duet cameo, this is another outstanding track, with her vocal is much relaxed and sexy, this it would remind you the good ol days(quote Erotica Album, Bedtime Stories )


Track 10: Spanish Lessons: Madonna herself describe this song as, being silly and playful. So I wont bother to take this song seriously. Reminding the Justin past work..


Track 11: Devild Wouldnt Recognize You: OMG, when I 1st heard this track, I'm totally awestruck by this amazing mid tempo ballad. The lyric is about a cheating love, sad and very dramatic ..written by Justin and it has a clear remembrance of his super hits Cry Me A River, an amazing attempt by both of them
Track 12: Voices: It's very Madonna, it start with a dance, love , lust and heartbreak..and the ending...you are thrown to a dark corner..a gothic song..and emotional songs about love , life and spirits... who is the master who is the slave..telling us..our life is not control by anyone , but yourself. Demons exist in us, is a matter ur using them or not...classic Madonna


Track 13: Ring My Bell: It's like Beyonce - Irreplaceable lyrics inspired, with much attitude by Madonna..it's another amazing track( It should be available as 1 of the track , but unfortunately..u have to buy a japanese export delux edition..or download it...


Overall Hard Candy is another favourite Madonna album of mine, and I really enjoy every single track it...and yes I recommend you buy the album


rating 5 out of 5
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