Untrue rumours, jumping to conclusions and premature ejaculations about the new album

[Confessit II]

46 minutes ago, Crux said:

Oh Jesus no! lol. I hope she knows Gen Z aren't going to listen to her regardless, so she may as well give us a good track with a decent length. Short songs suck anyway. lol

If Madonna’s Untold Chapter is anything to go by, Madonna has already jumped on the trend of short songs. 

Those track lengths were short !

[Steve]

8 minutes ago, Confessit said:

If Madonna’s Untold Chapter is anything to go by, Madonna has already jumped on the trend of short songs. 

Those track lengths were short !

So short I streamed once and forgot  

[Confessit II]

2 minutes ago, Steve said:

So short I streamed once and forgot  

some of my maxi singles are longer for godsake !

If you want some length to make your eyes pop, UC ain’t the EP for you!

[Crux]

18 minutes ago, Confessit said:

If Madonna’s Untold Chapter is anything to go by, Madonna has already jumped on the trend of short songs. 

Those track lengths were short !

Oh yeah, I forgot about those.

Sometimes I could quite happily throttle her when she does things like that.   (JK ofc)

[strictmachine]

But could they not do proper song lengths for the album but release a “radio edit” with the singles for playlisting? Castrated song lengths is my biggest fear and I was so relieved when Madame X came out she didn’t hop on that bandwagon at the time. 

[Confessit II]

3 minutes ago, Crux said:

Oh yeah, I forgot about those.

Sometimes I could quite happily throttle her when she does things like that.   (JK ofc)

She made a conscious effort to have super short songs on the EP.

Hope I am wrong but I think Stuart could have easily made the tracks longer on the EP, I think the super short edits were definitely on purpose, which for me indicates the new album will follow suit….

I was thinking though, could Madonna release 2 edits of the lead single, a bit like the old days of radio edits, and would it all be merged together for a 1 grand total on Spotify? A main short 3 minute version made for mainstream streaming with the video & a longer 5 minute version? 

Would they add it all together so it didn’t harm her commercially?

[Who Is That Girl?]

59 minutes ago, Crux said:

Oh Jesus no! lol. I hope she knows Gen Z aren't going to listen to her regardless, so she may as well give us a good track with a decent length. Short songs suck anyway. lol

Gen Z just doesn’t seem to connect with her - and she’s 67 for God’s sake. But more than that, I think they’re almost scared to really dive into Madonna as an artist. Because once you do, you kind of have to admit that so many of today’s “faves” are watered-down, second-rate versions of what she already perfected decades ago. It honestly feels like they don’t know what real excellence looks or sounds like anymore. Seeing Taylor Swift and Gaga constantly praised as geniuses sometimes feels like waking up in a Fellini film, familiar, but totally warped. I never imagined I’d live in a moment where Madonna feels strangely out of place in a cultural landscape that celebrates so much, yet demands so little and that Madonna would come to feel marginalised within a zeitgeist moment characterised by a huge output, yet a striking reverence for mediocrity.

[Je5u5]

Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft has an average track length of 4:22 and it did great in all the streaming platforms. Taylor Swift's The Fate of Ophelia is 3:46 and some songs on the album are 4:00+. Bruno Mars' Die with a Smile is 4:11. Bad Bunny's Baile Inolvidable is one of the 5 most streamed songs released in 2025 and is over 6 minutes long. You don't HAVE to have short songs in order to get plays.

On the other hand, Katy did the whole ultra short songs thing and not only it didn't work commercially but got her the worst reviews of her career. Same with Nelly Furtado. And I think it's mainly because people expect a certain song structure for them.

[Confessit II]

4 minutes ago, Who Is That Girl? said:

Gen Z just doesn’t seem to connect with her - and she’s 67 for God’s sake. But more than that, I think they’re almost scared to really dive into Madonna as an artist. Because once you do, you kind of have to admit that so many of today’s “faves” are watered-down, second-rate versions of what she already perfected decades ago. It honestly feels like they don’t know what real excellence looks or sounds like anymore. Seeing Taylor Swift and Gaga constantly praised as geniuses sometimes feels like waking up in a Fellini film, familiar, but totally warped. I never imagined I’d live in a moment where Madonna feels strangely out of place in a cultural landscape that celebrates so much, yet demands so little and that Madonna would come to feel marginalised within a zeitgeist moment characterised by a huge output, yet a striking reverence for mediocrity.

I hear you and I agree.

But today, society is very different from the world Madonna came and slayed in.

We live is a world of reality TV, influencers, fast food dopamine and absolutely anyone and everyone can become a star and everything is easily accessible within 2 seconds flat!

The Kardashians get Vogue covers, music critics have been replaced by YT reaction videos, influencers hold the same level of reverence with their audience that Hollywood stars did & the once highly regarded institutions such as the music charts (Billboard), award ceremonies (Grammys/BRITs) & celebrated publications (Rolling Stone) have been reduced to clickbait garbage primed and ready for the Z-Gens.

It’s the age where everything is watered down and everything the everyday mundane of life has become a big deal on tictok. 

The mystery & glamour of old has gone and that just doesn’t turn the youth of today on. Madonna is a superstar of old, she ultimately belongs to an age of music with MJ & Prince, when style & artistic license was celebrated. It’s gone now, the Z-gen are presented with mundane everyday shite and that is what dominates popular culture today.

[tuckeye]

so rumor has it that JANUARY 9, 2026 new single?

 

[Confessit II]

7 minutes ago, tuckeye said:

so rumor has it that JANUARY 9, 2026 new single?

 

I think the confirmed rumour is for the D&G advert will be released on Friday January 9th from the insiders. And the fact the lead single is now to be featured in the campaign.

I don’t think there’s a rumour the actual song will be released, but that’s assumed due to the D&G advert.

I guess the 2 projects go hand in hand! 

[Rain]

Madonna
Like a Virgin
True Blue
Like a Prayer
I'm Breathless
Erotica
Bedtime Stories
Ray of Light
Music
American Life
Confessions on a Dance Floor
Hard Candy
MDNA
Rebel Heart
Madame X
Absolution

Yeah. Perfect title.

[Silverfox]

3 minutes ago, Rain said:

Madonna
Like a Virgin
True Blue
Like a Prayer
I'm Breathless
Erotica
Bedtime Stories
Ray of Light
Music
American Life
Confessions on a Dance Floor
Hard Candy
MDNA
Rebel Heart
Madame X
Absolution

Yeah. Perfect title.

Ha, I wasn’t a fan of that title but when you put it like that.

[MCHL]

I suggested Absolution on Reddit a few weeks ago. 

[Confessit II]

13 minutes ago, Rain said:

Madonna
Like a Virgin
True Blue
Like a Prayer
I'm Breathless
Erotica
Bedtime Stories
Ray of Light
Music
American Life
Confessions on a Dance Floor
Hard Candy
MDNA
Rebel Heart
Madame X
Absolution

Yeah. Perfect title.

 

9 minutes ago, Silverfox said:

Ha, I wasn’t a fan of that title but when you put it like that.

 

2 minutes ago, MCHL said:

I suggested Absolution on Reddit a few weeks ago. 

It’s a fantastic title as well.

But I don’t think it works alone. It would need to be Confessions on a Dance Floor: Absolution or Absolution on a Dance Floor

As a one world title it doesn’t tell anybody it is the sequel, I think Madonna will want an obvious link to the first album/era.

Just my thoughts about it.

[Alexa]

Yea I’d rather her put a good album out then worry about the charts. Gen Z are not gonna listen to her either way. I constantly see people praising Gaga and Beyoncé and Taylor like their the ones who are the standard no disrespect to them. And I always see Britney and MJ videos on TikTok celebrating them I never see Madonna it’s like they don’t want to giver her credit. 

[jonski43]

I like Absolution. Some good old fashioned Catholic reference which is very Madonna. And I suppose after you've confessed, you're absolved of all your sins! So it works in context.

[Icykiller]

I hope there is no reference to COADF in the new album's title. Let the album stand on itself. 

[Rain]

18 minutes ago, Icykiller said:

I hope there is no reference to COADF in the new album's title. Let the album stand on itself. 

I agree

The link could be implicit, or used as a marketing thing, but I hope the album has a lore of its own.

[Crux]

25 minutes ago, jonski43 said:

I like Absolution. Some good old fashioned Catholic reference which is very Madonna. And I suppose after you've confessed, you're absolved of all your sins! So it works in context.

This. It works beautifully. 

[Gabriel Ciccone]

3 hours ago, Crux said:

Oh Jesus no! lol. I hope she knows Gen Z aren't going to listen to her regardless, so she may as well give us a good track with a decent length. Short songs suck anyway. lol

Neither the old generation, since they doesn't listen to spotify at all 

[Gabriel Ciccone]

Absolution it's horrible title

I know she said "Forgive Yourself" is one of the title tracks, but I hope it doesn't incorporate at the whole.. Yes, it's a religious topic and fits in Madonna's universe, but she doesn't need absolution. It seems like everything she's done throughout her career has been wrong/sinful and she needs some kind of forgiveness. Perhaps I'm being too literal in interpreting things, but in my opinion, I don't think it suits her.

[RoyalMadonna]

3 minutes ago, Gabriel Ciccone said:

Absolution it's horrible title

I know she said "Forgive Yourself" is one of the title tracks, but I hope it doesn't incorporate at the whole.. Yes, it's a religious topic and fits in Madonna's universe, but she doesn't need absolution. It seems like everything she's done throughout her career has been wrong/sinful and she needs some kind of forgiveness. Perhaps I'm being too literal in interpreting things, but in my opinion, I don't think it suits her.

I liked the title Absolution, but your point is extremely good and I no longer want Absolution as the title xD unless it is contained in a title that would mean "i don't need absolution" xD

[Confessit II]

8 minutes ago, Gabriel Ciccone said:

Neither the old generation, since they doesn't listen to spotify at all 

I think Apple Music & Amazon Music are more popular with the older generation that still choose to listen to new music online.

The iTunes chart is still massively controlled mainly by an older demographic, whereas the Spotify chats is controlled by the younger generation. 

[Cyber-Raga]

1 hour ago, Alexa said:

Yea I’d rather her put a good album out then worry about the charts. Gen Z are not gonna listen to her either way. I constantly see people praising Gaga and Beyoncé and Taylor like their the ones who are the standard no disrespect to them. And I always see Britney and MJ videos on TikTok celebrating them I never see Madonna it’s like they don’t want to giver her credit. 

I guess this is what happens when you neglect your legacy and assume you‘ll be queen bee because reasons. 
Having said that, at this point the charts don’t matter no longer anyways. Certifications have lost their meaning. It will take the next generation to re-discover her on their own. We won’t be around for that to witness. At this point all I can hope for is that the new album is coherent and good. I don’t have any expectations beyond that. 

[peter]

9 minutes ago, Gabriel Ciccone said:

Absolution it's horrible title

I know she said "Forgive Yourself" is one of the title tracks, but I hope it doesn't incorporate at the whole.. Yes, it's a religious topic and fits in Madonna's universe, but she doesn't need absolution. It seems like everything she's done throughout her career has been wrong/sinful and she needs some kind of forgiveness. Perhaps I'm being too literal in interpreting things, but in my opinion, I don't think it suits her.

I’m not convinced it’s going to be the title, anyway. The rumor is that the working title was the same as the first single… However … 

It’s not like the 2005 album’s “confessions” implied everything on the album she sang about was a sin. There are multiple meanings of “confession” (and more than one are religious, even) … you’re right that “absolution” would narrow the scope to one meaning of “confession” … but, Madonna has been clear, too, that she doesn’t regret anything artistically, but that she does have private/personal regrets. Madonna’s not any more perfect than the rest of humanity. We all fall short, and we all need forgiveness. She seems to be talking about forgiveness as a concept, so it’s on her mind. Perhaps it’ll only be one song, and that may not merit an album title referring to it broadly. But I don’t think that, if she did reference it, she’d be renouncing the whole of her four-decade career. Not like she’s getting herself off to a nunnery and taking vows to become a nun or something. (I’m being a little facetious, in case the “humor” isn’t translating.)

[Confessit II]

4 minutes ago, Cyber-Raga said:

I guess this is what happens when you neglect your legacy and assume you‘ll be queen bee because reasons. 
Having said that, at this point the charts don’t matter no longer anyways. Certifications have lost their meaning. It will take the next generation to re-discover her on their own. We won’t be around for that to witness. At this point all I can hope for is that the new album is coherent and good. I don’t have any expectations beyond that. 

I agree the charts don’t matter in the great scheme of things, certifications are a joke and it isn’t 2005 anymore.

However, good visibility of Madonna’s new album can still be achieved, even as a veteran artist. 

The lead single should still be playlisted and the album given the best possible strategy. Madonna isn’t using her lead single in the new D&G campaign for nothing, I am sure M, Stuart & WB all have their eyes on the prize. 

There is still work to be done to bring the album to as many people as possible and let the audience decide, it’s about promoting the fact Madonna has new music out, so there is a campaign to be rolled out to ensure that happens.

11 minutes ago, peter said:

I’m not convinced it’s going to be the title, anyway. The rumor is that the working title was the same as the first single… However … 

Oh really!?! I haven’t read this?

I assumed the working title would be Confessions on a Dance Floor 2?

[peter]

2 minutes ago, Cyber-Raga said:

I guess this is what happens when you neglect your legacy and assume you‘ll be queen bee because reasons. 
Having said that, at this point the charts don’t matter no longer anyways. Certifications have lost their meaning. It will take the next generation to re-discover her on their own. We won’t be around for that to witness. At this point all I can hope for is that the new album is coherent and good. I don’t have any expectations beyond that. 

If she focused on legacy too much, she’d have been seen as “past it” and “cringe” and “living in the past” or “resting on her laurels.” I highly doubt that the youth culture would be celebrating her any more if she had been *more* self-referential and self-celebrating earlier in her career. (One recent YouTube reactor reviled the self-references in VVV when listening to RH, just as one anecdotal instance.)

She’s done some legacy stuff — it has to be a balance. I know they aren’t mutually exclusive (to make new music and to celebrate your legacy) — but to say she didn’t do enough of one also means we may have gotten less of the other. And fans haven’t exactly been embracing the increase of self-references since 2012. Of those efforts, the Celebration Tour seems to have been the most well received — which is very much legacy on her own terms. (But unless they upload the Rio show footage for free on YouTube, I kinda doubt that generation is gonna connect with it — and even then, the attention spans probably would require bite-size portions of it to be digested in increments.) Fans want the rare vault material, sure, but are those the best introductions to M for a neophyte? We fans want to hear Right On Time and Love Won’t Wait (et al.) in pristine quality, but is that really gonna capture the Gen Z admiration? Not likely. 

[peter]

On 12/19/2025 at 2:32 PM, Anne said:

"The title of the club driven lead single. Gonna be huge and instantly a classic Madonna hit. She ain't playing this time. She's out for blood and your hearts. New working title of the album, most likely now the final name of her album. Very Madonna. Makes much sense. All new material. No cover. Seperate project.

@Confessit — in response to your question above — this is how I interpreted the insider comment immediately above. Could be wrong, of course.

[peter]

4 minutes ago, Confessit said:

I assumed the working title would be Confessions on a Dance Floor 2?

I tend to think of it as the “code name” of sorts … yes, it could be a public working title, too, in a sense. But I never really bought that she will actually title it COADF 2. (Again, I could be wrong.) So, if that assumption is correct (that she won’t literally use “2” as the title) — then she likely had a private working title (that she and close associates like Stuart might know, but she’d not be hashtagging it on IG).