It’s Madonna‘s Birth-Week—Let the Music Play

Every year on August 16th, the queers, the girls, and the allies unite to mark the birth of one Madonna Louise Ciccone. 2021 has been a standout year for Madame X, whose much-discussed Pride celebration in New York City—you just had to be there—pushed her decades-long commitment to allyship with the LGBTQIA+ community still further (she also schooled…

Madonna’s ‘Don’t Tell Me’ Turns 20: Co-Writers Mirwais and Joe Henry Tell the Story Behind One of Her Most Underrated Hits

Twenty years ago this month, Madonna released “Don’t Tell Me,” the second single from her triple-platinum, Grammy nominated “Music” album. The song may be less remembered today than the title track from “Music,” but it arguably holds up even better, thanks not only to its minimalist production and forlorn lyrics, but also its fresh melding of country-and-folk…

Music Turns 20

“This is the future of sound.” This was Madonna, talking to Billboard in August of 2000. She was describing the French producer Mirwais Ahmadzaï, her main collaborator on her new album Music — and, by extension, she was describing her new album itself. Madonna has a long history of making imperious and slightly ridiculous statements, and this one certainly…

‘Music’ is 20 years young today!

Madonna released her incredible (and far ahead of its time) ‘Music’ album 20 years ago today!  The follow-up to ‘Ray of Light’ did not disappoint, Madonna and Mirwais created a unique sound together that became a trademark, The album was hugely succesful with three hit singles (Music, Don’t Tell Me, What It Feels Like For…

Happy 20th to ‘Music’

Can you believe it’s been 20 years since ‘Music’ was released? Do you remember how the song first leaked on Napster? The music video premiered in Holland on Dutch music channel TMF and starred Ali G. Debi Mazar and Niki Haris. Madonna was pregnant with Rocco while she filmed the music video.  ‘Music’ became one…

The 40 Best Deep Cuts of 2000 (Impressive Instant at 12)

12. Madonna, “Impressive Instant” (Music) The synth-groan that opens the song is, by all indications, the sound of a pop star who’s just had her first kid and released her most introspective album and wants to hit the friggin’ clubs already. Coming after the set’s title track and lead single on Music, “Impressive Instant” cranks up the electro-pop…