126 SCORE: 7.239 2015 PLACEMENT: DOWN 34 - 92 of 210 (7.343) HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 12 (@Andreas @eatyourself @Phonetics Boy @fatyoshi @Sideout @joeee @Jimmyandroid @BEST FICTION @eliminathan @Mvnl @Mr Blonde @Weslicious) LOWEST SCORE: 2 x 2 (@theelusivechanteuse @happiestgirl) MY SCORE: 7.5/10 I guess it's appropriate that my asshole prolapsed when I saw that drop in standings for this, one of the best tracks on Rebel Heart. It's not even that much of a score change, but I guess things are just way more competitive this time around and even the slightest slip in scoring can result in an absolute tumble. This is great; it's such a weird clash of tones that result in a really dynamic, compelling pop song. On paper it's actually quite tender and sweet in the way it's about bringing someone out of their shell, but everything in practice from production to vocal delivery makes it sound like Madonna is going to slither up your urethra and eat your vital organs and that's... kinda hot tbh. I'm surprised to see it go this early in relation to the rest of Rebel Heart but considering how early y'all booted "Best Night" I guess lockdown-enforced solitude has really let your loins freeze. "Inside Out" was actually one of the first tracks that we had an inkling about when the rumour mill started up for the new album in early 2014, when photographer Mert Alas (of Madonna-collab-faves Mert & Marcus fame) posted the below picture with the caption, "In my Room, listening the new album !!!! Im DYING !!! LET ME LOVE YOU FROM INSIDE OUT !!!!" which low key sounds like he's trapped in the room and begging to be released. Hilariously, the photo is now captionless, so Madonna must have slapped him hard for revealing such info. Poor it! "Inside Out" was sadly not performed on the Rebel Heart Tour, which is kind of understandable as if Madonna had tried to perform the majority of the album, it would have been a four hour show. And considering she was typically showing up at 6AM after making audiences wait nine hours, there maybe comes a point where that's just too much of a commitment.
'Inside Out' is such a dark, sticky beauty of a track. The way it slithers to the chorus is just perfect. One of my favorites from the album.
One of my least favourites from the album (although my four might have been a bit harsh). I kept forgetting this was still in.
It does feel people have been a lot stricter and maybe harsher on their scores when having to judge the whole catalogue against it's self rather than specific eras. Let's hope I get through a day without losing another 10.
And @Pop Life can finally breathe! 125 SCORE: 7.285 2015 PLACEMENT: DOWN 13 - 112 of 210 (7.025) HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 10 (@cheida @Sprockrooster @JMRGBY @DJHazey @Suburbia @Jonathan27 @fatyoshi @joeee @Bleu Noir @clowezra) LOWEST SCORE: 1 x 1 (@Pop Life) MY SCORE: 6.5/10 My, what a diverse run of tracks we've had recently. Has anyone seen my booty? It was last seen down like. Despite fending off sporadic calls for its head a few times in the thread, "Heartbeat" finally flatlines, albeit with a score increase and a relatively small standing decrease from 2015. Like I said last night, Madonna singing about how fucking great it is to dance is something of an evergreen topic for her when it comes to music, and that applies here too. If Hard Candy was a deliberate move to perhaps simplify her lyrical inspirations and subjects and return her to her dancefloor origins, this is a song that does better than a lot of the album. Pharrel provides a strangely packed and robust production for his standards rather than something sparser and percussion-driven (which maybe would have made more sense for a song entitled "Heartbeat") but it actually compliments the sweetness of Madonna's vocal take quite well. My issue is similar to the one I had with "Where's The Party" in that "Heartbeat" was performed during the Sticky & Sweet Tour, relatively close to the start of the show featuring the conveyor belt in the middle of the runway, right after one of the songs that I would much rather listen to than this one. And of course, as mentioned many moons ago, it was mashed up with "Best Friend" for an interlude for the MDNA Tour. Both are posted below for your enjoyment.
Whenever I see someone speak against a Pharrell-produced track, I remember 'Heartbeat' and know anything else is/should be forgiven.
So, we have No.124 coming up this evening... but when we have a three-way tie at No.121. HOT. Now, do, people want me to just do the next two songs... or will I do a bumper evening and eliminate everything that's tied and take us down to the Top 120 tonight?
Aww... "Inside Out" and "Heartbeat" are such little gems of album tracks and could've easily made it to the top 100.
