"Angel" is the weakest single from "Like a Virgin" and I'm glad we collectively agreed about that. It's a great song, though - the only things that let it down are the lame chorus and the demo-ish production.
Urgh, I wish we still lived in a time with some of the most watched TV shows in the country just being mostly various Madonna videos on loop.
95 SCORE: 7.636 2015 PLACEMENT: UP 3 - 98 of 210 (7.253) 11 x 1 @Tigerlily HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 11 (@HEARTCORE @Euphoria @Remyky22 @Andrew.L @Andy French @fatyoshi @1991 @scottdisick94 @joeee @BEST FICTION @japanbonustrack) LOWEST SCORE: 2 x 1 (@gezza76) MY SCORE: 8/10 Mmm we love a subversive Madonna jam, don't we, females? Entirely built to sound like a sexy romp, complete with suggest title... only for it to be a meditative, yearning ode to always carrying the memory of a loved one with you long after they're gone. In which case, the loved one appears to be Madonna's mother, the subject of so many of her songs that have death as their subject. It apparently started life with Shep Pettibone like a lot of Bedtime Stories, before being reworked by Dave Hall and Nellee Hooper that Miss Shep doesn't even get a look in on the credits. Sad! Not only is the entire track soft and comforting as a freshly turned pillow on a summer's night, I just find Madonna's multiple ways of investigating her own grief fascinating. Here, it's a slightly more simplistic approach. A "nice" sentiment, comforting words that you give to people at funerals, they're here with you, watching over you, they would be so proud of you. I hear some of this stuff sometimes and I'm always a little... appalled? Like, how would you know if someone was proud of me? Why would I want them always with me when they're not with me? When do memories become weights dragging you down rather than encouragement spurring you on? I'm getting ahead of myself; we'll be covering that in upcoming songs, I think. For now, we have the reasonably well-adjusted response to loss, I guess. We'll get to the pressure of expectation and how grief and can become a stinging, infected sore on your soul in later songs. Kii! Oh, and shout out to @Tigerlily for the rather unorthodox 11/10 choice too. I wouldn't have thought of it, but I can definitely see why it would strike a strong enough chord to warrant it!
Proud of Inside of Me for making it this far. It's absolutely lush and one of her most underrated moments.
Lucky Star Borderline Burning Up Holiday Material Girl Like A Virgin Dress You Up Papa Don't Preach Open Your Heart Live To Tell True Blue La Isla Bonita Like A Prayer Express Yourself Till Death Do Us Part Promise To Try Cherish Oh Father Keep It Together Spanish Eyes Vogue Erotica Deeper And Deeper Bad Girl Waiting Thief Of Hearts Words Rain Secret Human Nature Sanctuary Bedtime Story Take A Bow Drowned World/Substitute For Love Swim Ray Of Light Skin Nothing Really Matters Sky Fits Heaven Frozen The Power Of Goodbye To Have And Not To Hold Mer Girl Has To Be Music Impressive Instant I Deserve It Don't Tell Me What It Feels Like For A Girl Paradise (Not For Me) Gone American Life Hollywood Love Profusion Nobody Knows Me Nothing Fails Intervention X-Static Process Mother And Father Die Another Day Easy Ride Hung Up Get Together Sorry Future Lovers Let It Will Be Forbidden Love Jump Isaac Give It 2 Me Miles Away Devil Wouldn't Recognize You Living For Love Devil Pray Ghosttown Bitch I'm Madonna (Feat. Nicki Minaj) Joan Of Arc Rebel Heart Medellín (Feat. Maluma) God Control Crave (Feat. Swae Lee) I Don't Search I Find Into The Groove Crazy For You Who's That Girl Causing A Commotion Justify My Love Rescue Me I'll Remember I Want You (With Massive Attack) You'll See Beautiful Stranger Time Stood Still Celebration
Three of the best "Bedtime Stories" album tracks are gone even before the top 90... tragic. In retrospect, "Inside of Me" should've gotten a 10 from me instead of a 9.5 I gave it. It's a stunner. Her vocals are heaven and the production is a total delight. And I love that it received an 11 - awesome choice, @Tigerlily! Ironically, "Sanctuary" is my third lowest rated non-single from "Bedtime Stories" (still got an 8, though), but I would like it to stay for a bit.
Angel is so nostalgic for me. The cassette featuring the 12 inch version with Into the Groove. Released at the height of Madonnamania with no video and still a hit (proving Madonna didn’t need to rely on videos). A gem.
Tomorrow's two eliminations will come an earlier time, most likely late afternoon/early evening because... I'm vanishing into the Highlands for the weekend later on tomorrow night. However, this does not mean that you will be without content, for I have arranged for an illustrious and talented professional to come in and take the reins from Friday to Sunday so the rate doesn't stall again. Be kind to them; they've not done a lot of rates.
It still bugs me that they cancelled the music video for Angel because they didn’t want to risk her being over-exposed but then released a compilation of all her most popular videos instead.
As long as no more of my bloody 10's go, they'll be fine by me. Inside Of Me is beautiful guys, like really beautiful. But this heartache isn't going anywhere In the public eye I act like I don't care When there's no one watching me I'm crying
This may trigger some of the fans, but I consider "Inside of Me" a far better tribute to her mother than "Promise to Try", solely based on the sonic aspects of both songs.
I don’t understand the logic of not doing a video for Angel. If you don’t want to “oversaturate” the market why release it as a single at all? Or maybe release later in the year? Or better yet relegate it to the BSide of that MASSIVE BOP single you should be releasing in the USA that isn’t on the album and would promote her current film and you were forced into making a video for.....
The production on 'Angel' is sooo much fun. I'm pleasantly surprised 'Give it 2 Me' is still here. I only gave her a 7 but in hindsight it's an easy 8.
