Madonna’s “MDNA”: Power Pop Or Pop Pablum?
by Charles Karel Bouley
The problem with being Madonna is that you are, in fact, Madonna. You really were that hit powerhouse of the 1980s and 1990s, Pop Royalty, the Queen. And while Pop has always had its strong, independent, outspoken artists you did, in fact, invent the bad girl of Pop mold with videos being banned (remember “Erotica?”) and a book, music and videos showing us all kinds of sexual stereotypes being toyed with and smashed. You’re the “Material Girl” the “Like a Virgin” boytoy, you are, in fact, Madonna.
And the weight of being Madonna is never greater on you than when you record an album. After all, you inspired a generation, including the GaGa, brought William Orbit to world wide mainstream attention, you brought us Junior Vasquez and Shep Pettibone and countless others, you have everyone known and unknown in music at your disposal and the money to make any vision a reality.
The 2012 vision is “MDNA” 16 original tracks produced by a variety of the latest and greatest including “Ray of Light’s” William Orbit, Martin Solveig, Benny and Alle Benassi and guest vocalists Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. The title stands for Madonna but also sounds very much like a drug, and the the same could be said of the album and why Madonna recorded it.
Track 3, “I’m Addicted” says it best, “Fame is a drug and it fits like a glove, I’m addicted to your love…” There can be no doubt that this album is Madonna in her element, electro-Dance-Pop, because whether anyone wants to acknowledge it or not Madonna is the most famous Dance music artist (add in GaGa now) in the world. She is the reigning Queen of the genre and while many artists do remixes of their Pop songs, everything from ballads made in to house hits to country songs with tribal vibes, Madonna usually starts with a solid Dance track and then Popifies it.
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