peter
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Posts posted by peter
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Just now, FreeMySoul said:
good ear I couldn't understand what she said
her hand is in everything nothing gets done without her seeing it
Not your fault — it’s those darn grillz! (Thought she wouldn’t perform with them...?)
Yes, she is still the performance perfectionist—managing all aspects! She amazes me with her attention to detail for stage production ... where does she find all that energy?!
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Just now, Kim said:
That makes two of us.
BYE BYE.
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1 minute ago, Amelia said:
Most definitely!! Me thinking, she has that hair pulled back, because she plans to put a wig on. Though, I would think for a "dress rehearsal" she would want to wear a wig to make sure it's fitting okay and not going to fall off during her performance.
I don’t think she’s done “dress rehearsal” yet. This is still just rehearsals — when she wears similar pieces (shoes might be the real deal, or might just be same style in terms of heels and straps). It’s totally possible the hair is pulled back because that’s the way it might be (under the wig). As others have said, that might not be THE dress, but might approximate what she plans to wear. Hard to say this early — she still has time. And rehearsal footage of the Grammys leaked (when she sang OYH with Macklemore et. al.) and she wore something very different — of course, she didn’t dance for that one, so dress vs. pant suit didn’t make much difference. In this case, it would be a huge difference.
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In response to this Instagram video:
Haha! So funny! That’s Tony Villanueva’s voice. Love them together.
Also catch at the end that she says she has to go to the edit suite to see what Danny [Tull, presumably] is doing. Guess he is working on editing footage for the backdrop screens for this performance...?
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16 hours ago, imakicola said:
The only part I speculate on is how she says Martha says “I’m going to call you madame X...look different as much as possible from now on every time I see you,” and “I was tied to a tree for months and then turned into a chacha instructor.”
You are conflating two different sources/clips. Her “I decided to call my album Madame X” and the Martha Graham story about the background of the name come from her shoot in that tower in Lisbon.
The anecdote about the kidnapping and tree is behind the scenes at the Medellín video shoot with Maluma.
One (the latter) is clearly “in character” — the other is Madonna talking to friends about her creative process.
Zero people should be confused about which part is autobiographical and which one is fiction to create context for an album construct.
When she told Kurt Loder on the set of the Frozen video that she was a mystical creature in the desert, and the embodiment of female angst, did you throw something at the TV screen and yell, “LIAR! You are from Michigan!”?! When she is creating art, there is sometimes a narrative or a story. It doesn’t make her a liar if it isn’t factual to the events of her life. She is presenting a scene or character that shares an emotional truth she wants to express.
It also doesn’t mean that, because she presents fictional scenarios in a music video, that her stories about her own personal history are not trustworthy or reliable.
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1 hour ago, RoyalMadonna said:
Madonna was my student when she was young. At first, she arrived 2 hours earlier to see me enter. Once famous, she came back to pay me a visit. Everyone was terrified of what my reaction would be.
It was totally unjustified. I liked her very much. She's direct. She reaches her goals and she couldn't care less. She's a non-conformist. Yes, she's criticized. She's provocative and dares you to react. But she only shows on stage what most women hide; it's true, it's not too respectable.
In 1980, a well intentioned finance guy seeked me and said: "Miss Graham, your best asset to find you subsidies is your respectability." I wanted to spit. Respectable! Show me one artist that wants to be respectable.Thank you for the translation!!!
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20 minutes ago, Kim said:
Oh really? Can you imagine Martha being so BROKE that she was about to sell her jewellery for some cash till MADONNA stepped in and wrote her a cheque? Well guess what, it HAPPENED. Just because you can't imagine something in your limited mind, doesn't mean it didn't happen -
The New York Post spoke with Martha Graham’s heir, Ron Protas, who revealed that Madonna once bailed the dance legend out from having to sell pieces of her jewelry collection to stay afloat. Madonna’s rep Liz Rosenberg told Protas at the time, “Give it one day.” The next morning, Madonna’s office called – and Graham soon had a check for $150,000. “It was an extraordinarily generous gesture. Martha cried when she saw the check.”
Reading this makes my eyes well up with tears! I had read it one other time, but it’s just so moving. Madonna has a kind and generous heart, and as much as she enjoys attention when she is performing, she clearly does not want to call attention to her acts of charity. She wants others to be inspired to help people, sure, but she doesn’t want to exploit her own generosity. My two cents anyway.
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LOL @ “painting her driveway” @jacket. So true! They can take several seats. Madonna’s performances are always epic.
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8 minutes ago, flexy said:
I agree with you. I actually think she is trying to put a positive spin on Medellin after the notorious drug cartel. I think as usual some people miss the point.
4 minutes ago, Eltacubo said:Absolutely. She is re-appropriating something that is negative and horrible and making it into something beautiful as an act of love (venus) all in her dream vision that is the song.
Agree, too — I was trying to look up the etymology of “cartel” to understand it better. I didn’t get very far, because the modern definitions are negative drug references, or just shady business practices in general. But it seems like it is derived from the word for “letter” or “card.” So I haven’t quite figured out if she meant something different (with a double meaning), or just disarming something negative, as you said.
If it were so terribly offensive, wouldn’t Maluma have said something to her at some point? I can’t take how the critics clutch their pearls that she dared use the term in connection with Columbia and romanticizes it ... but it’s Maluma’s hometown, so if it were offensive, it would have offended him, right? Don’t see what the fuss is about with this word choice. I thought the Venus imagery was lovely.
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43 minutes ago, VogueMusic said:
I have a feeling something like "Back That Up" has been heavily reworked. I doubt they'd just slap a leaked demo as a bonus track. Or so I'm guessing...
I can imagine Mirwais re-working “Back That Up,” which was already an innovative type of track — unfinished lines that have their blanks filled in later ... very Mirwais-ish. Do you know what I mean? Compare opening verse of “Die Another Day” — “I’m gonna kiss some part of” — with “Back That Up” where many of the lines end with “of” on the first time they’re sung. Later they are inserted: (fun) (drum) (gun) (one) ... if I’m remembering it right. Would have to listen to it again.
Of the Pharrell outtakes from RH recording sessions, I’m kind of surprised she didn’t pick “Take It Back” to re-furbish for this project. Sounds a little more disco to me, and it has a mention of “Mercury in retrograde” which she continues to mention on IG from time to time.
”Take a Day” (the third Pharrell demo we haven’t mentioned yet) was a very peculiar sound — almost throwback, vintage. But I feel like that escapist vibe is in the DNA of Medellín, and the repeated “Ven” echoes that ricochet through the cha-cha breakdown section recall the “bang bang”s from “Take a Day” (to me), too. It’s funny — someone else here mentioned the “bang”s in his review and I wanted to post and say it is probably “ven” but I thought it was “bang” at first, too, and it reminded me of “Take a Day.” Also, perhaps less so, the original (more Mika sounding) pre-“Gang Bang” demo “Bang Bang Boom.”
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12 minutes ago, eroticerotic said:
thats the kind of stuff my ears tend to hear first. it's a blessing and curse because it doesn't allow you to focus on the song. Most people won't bat an eye to those kinds of things and assume they were intentional if a song is officially released as is.
I've listened to this song quite a lot now in anticipation of the new material. I feel like, Maluma's parts should have started with "Dime" at :46. I don't think his ad libs prior to that mark really...add to the song. Also I think his vocals were recorded with different presets and that is why you can hear the static on his vocals especially when placed onto the calmer verses...whereas Madonna's vocals are recorded intimately and fit the smooth minimal music of the verses.
It also irks me she doesn't rhyme anything in the first verse lol!
I took a pill and had a dream
I went back to my 17th year
Allowed myself to be naive
To be someone I've never been (if she sang "here" at the end of this line it would still work with the song message. and rhyme! lol)
All technical stuff no ones going to really care about. The song is still a very nice vibe!
I hear the static on his vocals, too, and wondered...
The rhyme scheme of the song is more complex — it’s an internal rhyme instead of an end rhyme. Seems like it is the last syllable of the first line that rhymes with the penultimate syllable of the second line — “dream” and “sevenTEENTH” ... Second verse “champagne” and “rain” ...
I don’t know if I am describing this quite correctly. Even in the second verse, there is two syllables after “rain” so it is not perfect.
Third verse: “love” and “above” ...
So rhyme scheme is sort of like this:
A-A(x)-B-B
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1 hour ago, frzndrwnwrld said:
Do we know if this is the radio edit or the album version?
I don’t think we are *certain* — but I thought I remember someone saying the “radio edit” is 4:10 in length, and this version we have now is longer, so ... Although “radio edit” implies servicing the track to radio will happen. Certainly hope so! The much-needed repetition will help the song work its way into people’s ears. It takes a couple listens to wrap your head around it — by then those hooks are embedded (cha cha cha)...
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3 minutes ago, todsmod said:
Now, after posting.....I see it's all been done before. I feel stupid (or delirious).? Would be my luck that at the dawn of a new M era, I start working again (long hours) combined with the anticipation, late hours, delirium, catching up, trying not to miss anything.....is making me think about quitting work until after June 14th!!!
Thanks @Flip The Switch, @spotlight, @robster, @runa, @peppermint .....and anyone/everyone else I've not mentioned.....for making this week fucking amazing!!!
No, don’t feel stupid, @todsmod! It is so difficult to keep pace with all of this!! She is so spoiling us right now. I feel your pain — work is intense at the moment, and I haven’t been able to keep up fully either. I’m glad you posted the YouTube video, btw — I gave it a view on there, even though I’d seen it on IG. (That YT vid is kind of two IG vids together.)
Yes, thanks to all who are sharing so much and helping to organize threads and keep us all informed. Such a shame that when she returns some of us are unable to stop the world and just absorb M and only her. >sigh< Adulting is overrated.
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43 minutes ago, frzndrwnwrld said:
I find all of this confusing. I'm gonna wait to pre-order anything until I can figure it out. lol
My strategy for the moment, as well, but I’m nervous about missing out on the box set simply because I’m in the U.S. Not even sure if I can get it as an import on Amazon or ... another way. Wish there was more info.
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20 hours ago, cocolattee said:
I don't get the La isla comparison
Just because they both have a latino/spanish influence doesn't mean they're similar, I think the vibe is very different.... love them both though
1 hour ago, Rugbyguy said:It sounds nothing like La Isla, nor does it have the same or similar vibe. It’s like saying Material Girl and Ray of Light are similar because they are both pop and sung in English.
I think it’s deeper than the language connection. There’s a thematic similarity as well:
”Last night I dreamt of San Pedro...”
”I took a pill and had a dream ... and woke up in Medellín”
Nostalgia, longing, love (“te dijo te amo” and “te enamora” etc.), escapism ... I mean, it’s not like we’re reading “Oh, it’s a 2019 version of “Cuidado” simply because she is singing a duet in Spanish. There are lyrical ideas that reflect LIB somewhat.
That said, I find it sonically a completely different beast altogether—and the production and song structure are unconventional, unlike LIB.
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13 hours ago, Nonoka said:
Do we have any info on when we get the full interview? Wasn't it already supposed to be available on Wednesday?
Yeah — I caught the second half of the premiere of the song on that Beats1 show (I think I had trouble connecting at first because of increased traffic), and the DJ said the full interview would be coming — he mentioned the female interviewer’s name. I listened for a few more songs, thinking they would start airing the interview, but I gave up, because I wanted to hear Medellín again. I caught it once on Spotify after being forced to listen to other music on their playlist. Fortunately the Vevo video was up by then.
I feel like we’re going backward — to the times when you had to tape record your favorite songs off the radio during a countdown b/c you couldn’t buy it in the stores (yet). DCFMA Miami Mix was the last time I remember that happening — waiting for that single to be released.
Anyway, I hope we get this full interview eventually!
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13 hours ago, Genevieve Vavance said:
I like the hair very much!
Does anyone know anything about this fantastic jacket????
13 hours ago, the-queen said:I noticed an eye on the jacket she is wearing in the B&W IG photo she posted recently for MDNA Skin (please don’t stone me for mentioning the skincare line! — that just happens to be the post she is wearing a similar jacket) ... I don’t think it is the exact same jacket, but I could be mistaken. Very surrealist. Gives me Dalí vibes.
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22 hours ago, rekha said:
I was pretty sure that they would drop a lyric video either today or tomorrow but when I looked at her YouTube channel (which as we all know still needs a bit of work) I could only find one official lyric video (for Turn Up The Radio). Did she not do any for Rebel Heart??
There was one for Girl Gone Wild I remember ... I don’t remember any for RH, to be honest.
You’re right — they really ought to do one, especially given the bilingual nature of the lyrics — would help audiences to better appreciate it.
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I don’t want to be a downer — I’m glad I have this community to help me see the positive side of these reviews ... I must be having a “glass half empty” season in life or something, because all I can detect in these written reviews is the shade and criticism aimed at M. It makes me sad. I feel like the reviews that ultimately give the song a favorable review are doing it in spite of M, not because of her. The ones that credit Maluma for making it work (umm ... it’s a duet? It takes two to cha-cha in this case) ... words like “vampiring” and “cringe” etc. Oh and how could I forget the mention of cultural appropriation?! I mean, I didn’t even read the reviews which we were warned are negative. I’m just talking about the positive ones!
I’m glad the song is somehow managing to get a fair shake / listen from the critics. It really is a pretty and sweet song — that “post chorus” really soars and M delivers several hooks as effective as ever she has offered in her career — the 1, 2, cha-cha-chas, and the “slow down, papi” especially.
Also, have to say I wouldn’t say she is “heavily autotuned” — I think of “Nobody’s Perfect” and the bridge of “Impressive Instant” (“I like to singy, singy, singy...”) as heavily autotuned. (Love those songs — not criticizing. Just explaining my levels of noticeable production intervention.) They make it sound like she is doing it because she can’t sing, rather than the light use for an intended effect. I agree it is noticeable — but I would label it as “subtle” rather than “heavy.” Reminds me of the light touch in the verse of “Ghosttown.” Which she was able to perform live (un-auto-tuned) quite well, I might add.
Sorry if I sound negative. I love the song, and I’m looking forward to more of what Madame X will offer. Hope her upcoming performances (and the video!) feature extended cha-cha sequences — and hope they shut her critics up. Trying to tune it out but failing right now.
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Just noticed in Arianne Phillips’ Instagram, when she posted the album cover, she tagged Giovanni Bianco ... hmm ...
Weren’t we wondering whether he was involved this go-round?
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2 minutes ago, FeTuoni said:
Omg, I don’t have Instagram.
I do, but can’t see stories. Hoping someone can capture this and share...?
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10 hours ago, strictmachine said:
And the icing on the cake is that we get a new mirwais album in the fall. Hopefully, they saved one or two collaborations for that as well.
Oo! Hadn’t thought of that possibility! Exciting!
9 hours ago, Barbie said:With the album only being 2 months away I hope we get the album snippets very soon. Official ones, obviously. Nothing illegal. I can only imagine how the snippets are going to sound
Hadn’t remembered this, either. The RH leaks kinda spoiled that in the last era — forgot this is a milestone to look forward to. The iTunes 30-second (or 60-second) snippets will definitely be a treat to enjoy in the next two months sometime!!
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1 minute ago, Msig said:
No, the Target version is sold only in Target stores and at Target.com, who don't ship overseas.
Btw, as far as I can tell, the Deluxe Edition Hardcover 2CD isn't available in the US.
And neither is the box set yet ... ? What’s the deal with that?
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4 hours ago, Nightshade said:
Don't fret, babe. I remember back in 1998, some music outlet did an album listening for Ray of Light with a bunch of "club kids" and reported on their reactions: all but one was negative (faint praise for "Skin" or something).
There will always be haters. Always. And guess what? M is still here and still putting out great pop.
Madame X: Album Discussion
in ARCHIVE - The MADAME X Forum
Posted
Your friend heard “I Rise” (legally), though, right, @JohnnyUtah?
I was wondering if “I Rise” makes use of Maya Angelou’s poetry or a recording of her voice ... and, if so, perhaps her estate may have needed to grant permission, would’ve needed to hear it, etc.
I was surprised when Google honored Maya not long ago and they had celebrities reading lines from her poem, and I thought it would have been perfect for M to have been involved. Maybe she already had her own homage in the works...