71 SCORE: 8.033 2015 PLACEMENT: DOWN 7 - 64 of 210 (7.854) HIGHEST SCORE: 10 x 31 (@nikkysan @funkyg @No hay banda @eatyourself @JMRGBY @Remyky22 @Cutlery @Suburbia @matthew. @soratami @Phonetics Boy @Jonathan27 @elear @Andy French @godspeed @Dreampopboy @Skyline @BreatheBox @Daniel_O @Sideout @RetroPhysical @Xanax @Bleu Noir @Pop Life @wintersleep @Remorque @acl @ufint @Ramalama @nametag @japanbonustrack) LOWEST SCORE: 2 x 1 (@gezza76) MY SCORE: 9/10 Mmm I love this track; probably one of my top favourites from Bedtime Stories as a whole; "Sanctuary" is the first of two parts where the album's M.O. of slinky, warm RnB starts to get a little... distorted. There's just this disorientating sense of something not being quite right. The smile is a little too wide. The gaze is being held for too long... Mother, what big teeth you have. It's love, but it's teetering on obsession, and it's on that razor's edge that "Sanctuary" finds its sweet spot. It's like a song two serial killers would sing about loving each other. Which is why I frequently find myself serenading @Laura Vanderbooben with it while I wonder if I could just crawl into her rib cage and curl up for a wee nap after I removed her innards. She's probably thinking likewise, if the knife at my throat is anything to go by. The additional edge of "Sanctuary" is of course that idea of sanctuary in love to begin with, and how the song's entire mood and slightly morbid lyrics play with the idea that that same sanctuary of someone's arms can become a tomb. Who needs all the things that are bright and good in this world when you're offering me sweet oblivion? But yes, it's easily the crown jewel of Bedtime Stories for me. The electronic flourishes really make you stand up and take notice after the album has largely veered around them for most of its run, the Walt Whitman quote sums up everything I've spoken about perfectly - devotion to the point of sacrificing autonomy - and it generally just carries a threat so well. Madonna even sounds a little spooky here; like a siren luring you into the deep, watery nothing of her embrace. Yas. The song has sadly never been performed live as Bedtime Stories is actually the only Madonna album outside the debut to not have been toured. Still though, it has pride of place in fan circles thanks to the role it has in segueing beautifully into the title track, where the world of Bedtime Stories really goes into the upside down. And that is your Top 70.
Anyone who rated Sanctuary lower than, like, 8 can go to HELL. "Who needs the sun when the rain's so full of life?" is one of my favorite opening lines of hers ever. Same, sis.
TOP 70 Lucky Star Borderline Burning Up Holiday Material Girl Like A Virgin Dress You Up Papa Don't Preach Open Your Heart Live To Tell La Isla Bonita Like A Prayer Express Yourself Till Death Do Us Part Cherish Oh Father Vogue Erotica Deeper And Deeper Bad Girl Waiting Thief Of Hearts Rain Secret Human Nature 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 Music Impressive Instant Don't Tell Me What It Feels Like For A Girl Paradise (Not For Me) Gone American Life Hollywood Love Profusion Nothing Fails Intervention X-Static Process Die Another Day Easy Ride Hung Up Get Together Sorry Future Lovers Forbidden Love Jump Isaac Give It 2 Me Miles Away Devil Pray Ghosttown Medellín (Feat. Maluma) God Control Crave (Feat. Swae Lee) Into The Groove Crazy For You Justify My Love Rescue Me Beautiful Stranger
Nothing left is bad, but I'm ready for Devil Pray and Miles Away to vacate next. Beautiful Stranger can stick around until the Top 50. Secret Garden and Bitch I'm Madonna should also both still be here, but whatever.
This is definitely my biggest loss so far. Sanctuary is so dark and sensual and segues perfectly into Bedtime Story. What a 1-2 punch combo. Hopefully you all did that track better than this...
I... can appreciate "Material Girl", especially in terms of what it was to her career, and the production is still pristine. "Love Profusion" is honestly revolting.
I wouldn't say there are any bad songs, but I am not particularly fond of Like A Virgin, even though I understand why it's still here.
Ugh everything is gonna hurt from here on out, I want Like A Virgin, Material Girl, Take A Bow and Love Profusion out next but the former three are gonna stick around for a while longer.
@RJF's write-ups becoming more excellent, as the songs they are about do, too. Thank you! What a Top 70 (seven-ty!!). Phew.
