Madonna album by album

(Work in progress.......heavy breathing....)

If you were conscious toward the end of the 20th century, you would have been aware of Madonna, as her music, films, tours, and sheer presence were everywhere. The most successful and most famous female musical artist of all time. Not the best, not the most admired, not the most respected, and possibly not even the most liked. But certainly the most well known and most bought. Most influential? Hmmm. Certainly she had a huge social impact, and was seen as a positive force along with The Spice Girls for promoting "girl power", though there is still debate about both what she achieved in that direction, and if she truly enabled all women, or just those who like to flash their tits on a Friday night.  Provocative, controversial, and certainly a discussion starter, the image of Madonna is almost certainly more important than her music, and the way she created and exploited that image was something worth taking note of and was perhaps what influenced others more than her music.

I'm going to take a look at her albums, and perhaps reflect a bit on her image as I go along....

Background

Wikipedia

Madonna Louise Ciccone (born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop" since the 1980s, Madonna is known for pushing the boundaries of songwriting in mainstream popular music, as well as imagery in music videos and on stage. She has also frequently reinvented both her music and image while maintaining autonomy within the recording industry. Besides sparking controversy, her works have been praised by music critics. Madonna is often cited as an influence by other artists.
Born and raised in Michigan, Madonna moved to New York City in 1978 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing as a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist in the rock bands Breakfast Club and Emmy, Madonna signed with Sire Records in 1982 and released her eponymous debut album the next year. She followed it with a series of successful albums, including the global bestsellers Like a Virgin (1984) and True Blue (1986), as well as the Grammy Award winners Ray of Light (1998) and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005). Throughout her career, Madonna has written and produced most of her songs, with many of them reaching number one on the record charts, including "Like a Virgin", "La Isla Bonita", "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", "Take a Bow", "Frozen", "Music", "Hung Up", and "4 Minutes".
Madonna's popularity was further enhanced by her roles in films such as Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Dick Tracy (1990), A League of Their Own (1992), and Evita (1996). While the latter earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, many of her other films received poor reviews. As a businesswoman, Madonna founded her own entertainment company Maverick, including the label Maverick Records, in 1992. Her other ventures include fashion design, writing children's books, opening of health clubs, and film-making. She contributed in various charities and founded Ray of Light Foundation in 1998 and Raising Malawiin 2006.
Having sold more than 300 million records worldwide, Madonna is noted as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) listed her as the second highest-certified female artist in the U.S., with 64.5 million album units. According to Billboard, Madonna is the most successful solo artist in its Hot 100 chart history. She is also the highest-grossing solo touring artist of all time, accumulating U.S. $1.4 billion from her concert tickets. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility, Madonna topped VH1's countdown of 100 Greatest Women in Music. Additionally, Rolling Stone listed her among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.

AllMusic

After stars reach a certain point, it's easy to forget what they became famous for and concentrate solely on their personas. Madonna is such a star. She rocketed to stardom so quickly in 1984 that it obscured most of her musical virtues. Appreciating her music became even more difficult as the decade wore on, as discussing her lifestyle became more common. However, one of Madonna's greatest achievements is how she has manipulated the media and the public with her music, her videos, her publicity, and her sexuality. Arguably, Madonna was the first female pop star to have complete control of her music and image.

Early life and career

Born in Aug 1958. She studied dance, and was part of her school's cheerleader team.  She toured as backing singer and dancer with Patrick Hernandez in 1978 when she was 20: "Born To Be Alive", she was interviewed at the time.  In 1979 she briefly joined her then boyfriend's band Breakfast Club and recorded several tracks.

Albums

Madonna (July 1983)

It's bright, breezy, empty, disco-pop. Madonna's success ensured that superficial pop acts who prioritised success over creativity would copy the synthesised beats and format to create a genre known as dance-pop which continues to be an enormously successful genre commercially.  Generally ranked in the top three of her albums. Contains "Holiday" which first gained her some attention. A tedious listen for anyone other than uncritical Madonna fans or those who prefer simplistic beats over more considered music.  Poor stuff, but stops short of being offensive.

Videos of the singles:

**Song written by Madonna  *Co-written by Madonna

*"Everybody"** Released October 1982 as Madonna's first single when she was 24. Included on the debut album. Simple dance routine done on the spot with two backing dancers in a studio created to look like a stage. Written by Madonna.
*"Burning Up"** Released March 1983, included on the debut album. Single and video didn't attract much attention at the time, but the video has subsequently attracted attention as the film by Steve Barron ("Ant Music", "It Ain't What You Do", "Hold Me", "Take On Me"; "Billie Jean") has Madonna writhing on a deserted road at night in a white shift dress while a man presumed to be the character's boyfriend drives a car. At the end the car appears to be about to hit Madonna, then the closing shots are of Madonna driving the car.  This is seen by Madonna fans as an example of how she challenges sexual roles.  Looks like a fairly typical Barron video to me.
*"Holiday"  Released September 1983, it became Madonna's breakthrough single, reaching the top ten in many countries. The song was written by members of the Pure Energy band who had had minor dance-pop hits including "You've Got The Power" (1980),  "Too Hot" (1982),  and "Love Game" (1983).  The video simply consists of Madonna dancing on the spot in a studio flanked by two male dancers. The dancing is simplistic and unadventurous but adequate and in keeping with an Eighties dance-pop song.
*"Lucky Star"**  Released Sept 1983 this is a typical early Madonna video of her in a studio doing simplistic dance moves with two backing dancers. There's not a lot of movement or imagination.
*"Borderline" Released February 1984 was filmed by Mary Lambert who had made the video for "Turn To You" for the Go's Go's. Madonna said she wanted the video to involve an Hispanic boy, Lambert did the rest.  The video has Madonna as a street kid with an Hispanic boyfriend. She is enticed away by a successful white photographer, but she rebels and returns to the streets and her Hispanic lover. The video was very popular on MTV, and helped establish Madonna.  There has been critical interest in the imagery Lambert used in the video. Lambert went on to direct the rest of Madonna's early videos from "Like A Virgin" (1984) to "Like A Prayer" (1989), and is key to the imagery associated with Madonna that has helped propel her success.

Released	July 27, 1983
Recorded	May 1982 – April 1983
Studio	Sigma Sound Studios (New York City)
Genre	Dance-pop post-disco
Length	40:47
Label	Sire Warner Bros.
Producer	John "Jellybean" Benitez Mark Kamins Reggie Lucas

Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer	Length
1.	"Lucky Star"	Madonna	Reggie Lucas	5:30
2.	"Borderline"	Lucas	Lucas	5:18
3.	"Burning Up"	Madonna	Lucas	3:41
4.	"I Know It"	Madonna	Lucas	3:45
5.	"Holiday"	Hudson -  Stevens	John "Jellybean" Benitez	6:08
6.	"Think of Me"	Madonna	Lucas	4:53
7.	"Physical Attraction"	Lucas	Lucas	6:35
8.	"Everybody"	Madonna	Mark Kamins	4:57
Total length:				40:47

Wikipedia
Lyrics
AllMusic: 10
Mad-Eyes
Pitchfork: 8
Telegraph: Ranked 6th out of 15
Score: 3

First Rolling Stone cover article 
Nov 1984

Like A Virgin (Nov 1984)

While this album had the big hits "Like A Virgin" and "Material Girl" which firmly put Madonna on the road to global stardom, it's not as complete as the debut due to the rest of the songs being weak or indifferent. However, the album's huge commercial success based on the popularity of the two big hits means it is often people's favourite Madonna album. The strength of the two big hits (which are better than any of the other songs on the debut) balanced against the weakest of the rest of the album means that essentially there is little difference between them in overall quality. The bulk of the album is simplistic beats and unsophisticated music.

"Like A Virgin" is one of the key Madonna songs. It was written by the songwriting partnership of Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg. Other songs they have written include, "True Colors", recorded by Cyndi Lauper (1986); "So Emotional", recorded by Whitney Houston (1987); "Alone", recorded by Heart (1987) ; "In Your Room" (1988) and "Eternal Flame" (1989), recorded by The Bangles;  "I Drove All Night", recorded by Cyndi Lauper (1989), and by Roy Orbison (1992); "I'll Stand by You", recorded by The Pretenders (1994); and "I Touch Myself", recorded by Divinyls (1990).

Steinberg and Kelly are clearly a talented writing partnership, and were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011. Their songs are mostly romantic and fairly superficial, and - mostly - could be sung by either gender, though mostly seem to be sung successfully by female artists.

Videos of the singles:

**Song written by Madonna  *Co-written by Madonna

* "Like A Virgin" Released Oct 1984, just before the album, this became a global success. The video by Mary Lambert has Madonna dancing on a gondola in the canals of Venice. It is a beautifully shot and striking piece, and Madonna's energy and sexuality shines through. She's 26.
* "Material Girl" Released Jan 1985, the video was again directed by Lambert utilising Madonna's affinity with Monroe. The central video is a pastiche of "Diamond's Are A Girl's Best Friend". The story framing the video is a somewhat tongue-in-cheek reversal of the materialism of the song just to add a little interest, in which Madonna's character is not interested in material things.
* "Crazy For You" Released Jan 1985 as a promotional single for the soundtrack to the film Vision Quest (1985). It was not included on the Virgin album.  The song is a ballad, and the video consists of romantic images from the film cut with Madonna singing the song in what might be a night club setting. It's fairly ordinary and a little bit dull. The single sold well.
* "Angel"* Released April 1985. A video montage of previous videos was made for promotional use in UK, but it was decided not to create a new video for the general market because that was already saturated with existing videos.
* "Into The Groove"*  Released July 1985 as a promotional single for the film "Desperately Seeking Susan". The song wasn't included on the Virgin album, though has been added in some UK pressings. The video consists of clips from the film which co-stars Madonna largely playing herself.
* "Dress You Up" Released July 1985. The video is a live recording from the Virgin tour in which she strains to sing and dance at the same time.

Released	November 12, 1984
Recorded	April–September 1984
Studio	Power Station Studio (Manhattan, New York)
Genre	Pop[1] dance-pop[2] dance-rock[3]
Length	43:10
Label	Sire Warner Bros.
Producer	Nile Rodgers

Like a Virgin – Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producers	Length
1.	"Material Girl"	Peter Brown Robert Rans	Nile Rodgers	4:01
2.	"Angel"	Madonna Stephen Bray	Rodgers	3:56
3.	"Like a Virgin"	Kelly- Steinberg	Rodgers	3:38
4.	"Over and Over"	Madonna Bray	Rodgers	4:12
5.	"Love Don't Live Here Anymore"	Miles Gregory	Rodgers	4:47
6.	"Dress You Up"	LaRusso- Stanziale	Rodgers	4:01
7.	"Shoo-Bee-Doo"	Madonna	Rodgers	5:16
8.	"Pretender"	Madonna Bray	Rodgers	4:30
9.	"Stay"	Madonna Bray	Rodgers	4:07

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Mad-Eyes
Rolling Stone: 7
Slant: 7
Telegraph: Ranked 3rd out of 15
AllMusic: 9
Score: 3

True Blue (1986)

With this album Madonna set out to appeal to a wider audience, and to satisfy music critics who felt her music was light. It is generally regarded as evidence of Madonna's ambition and manipulation, but as Erlewine says, that's what she does, and she does it brilliantly. Her desire to be noticed and accepted is stronger than her musical talent, but it is both that makes Madonna. Take away the naked desire, and you have a much lesser musician, one that would not have gained and held the public's attention, and one that would not have sold so many records.  "Papa Don't Preach" is the carefully constructed stand-out track - the musicianship is lumpy and uninspired, the strings are questionable, the music is simple and predictable, but the lyrics are interesting. The rest of the album is surprisingly competent and assured - the virgin has grown up and wants to be taken seriously; it is a listenable and modestly attractive album.

Videos of the singles:

**Song written by Madonna  *Co-written by Madonna

* "Gambler"** Released Sept 1985 as the second promotional single for the soundtrack to the film Vision Quest (1985). As with the first single, "Crazy For You", it wasn't included on any albums. The video again has clips from the film inter-cut with shots of Madonna singing. Boring.

Released	June 30, 1986
Recorded	December 1985 – April 1986
Studio	Channel Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Pop dance-pop
Length	40:25
Label	Sire/ Warner Bros.
Producer	Madonna- Stephen Bray- Patrick Leonard- Jay Graydon

True Blue – Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Papa Don't Preach"	Brian Elliot- Madonna[b]	Madonna- Stephen Bray	4:29
2.	"Open Your Heart"	Madonna- Cole- Rafelson	Madonna- Patrick Leonard	4:13
3.	"White Heat"	Madonna- Leonard	Madonna- Leonard	4:40
4.	"Live to Tell"	Madonna- Leonard	Madonna- Leonard	5:51
5.	"Where's the Party"	Madonna- Bray- Leonard	Madonna- Leonard- Bray	4:21
6.	"True Blue"	Madonna- Bray	Madonna- Bray	4:18
7.	"La Isla Bonita"	Madonna- Leonard- Gaitsch	Madonna- Leonard	4:02
8.	"Jimmy Jimmy"	Madonna- Bray	Madonna- Bray	3:55
9.	"Love Makes the World Go Round"	Madonna- Leonard	Madonna- Leonard	4:31
Total length:				40:18

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Mad-Eyes
Telegraph: 4th of 15
Rolling Stone
AllMusic: 9
Score:  5

Who's That Girl - Soundtrack (1987)

Madonna contributes four songs to the soundtrack to the third film in which she had been a major actor. There's nothing significant here - a modestly listenable dance-pop album.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Who's That Girl" ( Madonna)	Madonna- Leonard	Madonna- Leonard	3:58
2.	"Causing a Commotion" (Madonna)	Madonna- Bray	Madonna- Bray	4:20
3.	"The Look of Love" (Madonna)	Madonna- Leonard	Madonna- Leonard	4:03
4.	"24 Hours" (Duncan Faure)	Kessler -Wilson	Bray	3:38
5.	"Step by Step" (Club Nouveau)	Jay King	King	4:43
6.	"Turn It Up" (Michael Davidson)	Davidson	Stock, Aitken & Waterman	3:56
7.	"Best Thing Ever" (Scritti Politti)	Gartside- Gamson	Gartside- Gamson	3:51
8.	"Can't Stop" (Madonna)	Madonna- Bray	Madonna- Bray	4:45
9.	"El Coco Loco" (Coati Mundi)	Coati Mundi Hernandez	Hubert Eaves III	6:22
Total length:				39:48

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 4
Score: 3

Like A Prayer (1989)

Madonna's attempt at a grown up "serious" album. The title track is her most complex and developed song to date, both lyrically and musically, but the rest of the album, including the enjoyable hit "Express Yourself", doesn't live up to the promise of the two opening songs, and lacks the infectious simple energy of her early material. This ends up a worthy but dull album.

Released	March 21, 1989
Recorded	September 1988 – January 1989
Studio	D&D Recording (New York City) Ocean Way Recording (Los Angeles)
Genre	Pop[1]
Length	51:16
Label	Sire Warner Bros.
Producer	Madonna Patrick Leonard Stephen Bray Prince

Like a Prayer – Standard edition

All tracks written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, except where noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Like a Prayer"	5:41
2.	"Express Yourself" (writers and producers: Madonna, Stephen Bray)	4:37
3.	"Love Song" (with Prince; writers and producers: Madonna, Prince)	4:52
4.	"Till Death Do Us Part"	5:16
5.	"Promise to Try"	3:36
6.	"Cherish"	5:03
7.	"Dear Jessie"	4:20
8.	"Oh Father"	4:57
9.	"Keep It Together" (writers and producers: Madonna, Bray)	5:03
10.	"Spanish Eyes"	5:15
11.	"Act of Contrition"	2:19
Total length:		51:16

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Mad-Eyes
Pitchfork: 9
Telegraph: 2nd of 15
Rolling Stone: 7
AllMusic: 10
Score: 4

I'm Breathless  (1990)

Madonna acted in the film Dick Tracy with her then shag partner Warren Beatty. Stephen Sondheim was commissioned to write three songs, which Madonna sang on the film, and those tracks are included in this album. The other tracks (with the exception of "Vogue") are related to the film (the official line is "inspired"), but were not included in the film. Other songs appeared in the film, and they appear on the Dick Tracy original soundtrack album (though minus the Sondheim songs) and there is an album of the orchestral score by Danny Elfman. This does not appear to be an official soundtrack album, though Madonna's own website seems to feel it is. The feeling I get is that Madonna wrote the music for the film (the music style is very musical rather her her usual dance-pop) but for one reason or another it wasn't used, so rather than waste it she had this album put together. And at some point it was decided to include a more typical Madonna track, "Vogue", which became one of her most successful hits. The songs are fairly lightweight and throwaway, but - to be fair - Madonna makes a good fist of writing in a musical style. It's a lightweight album, and one that doesn't entice for repeated listening, but it is fairly inoffensive and moderately attractive listening wallpaper.

Released	May 22, 1990
Recorded	1989–1990
Studio	Johnny Yuma Recording Ocean Way Studios Los Angeles, California
Genre	Jazz pop swing
Length	45:08
Label	Sire Warner Bros.
Producer	Madonna- Leonard- Bill Bottrell- Kevin Gilbert- Shep Pettibone

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"He's a Man"	Madonna- Leonard	Madonna- Leonard	4:42
2.	"Sooner or Later"	Stephen Sondheim	Madonna- Bill Bottrell	3:18
3.	"Hanky Panky"	Madonna- Leonard	Madonna- Leonard	3:57
4.	"I'm Going Bananas"	Kernan- Andy Paley	Madonna- Leonard	1:41
5.	"Cry Baby"	Madonna- Leonard	Madonna- Leonard	4:04
6.	"Something to Remember"	Madonna- Leonard	Madonna- Leonard	5:03
7.	"Back in Business"	Madonna- Leonard	Madonna- Leonard	5:10
8.	"More"	Sondheim	Madonna- Bottrell	4:56
9.	"What Can You Lose" (with Patinkin)	Sondheim	Madonna- Bottrell	2:08
10.	"Now I'm Following You" (Part I)	A. Paley	Madonna- Leonard	1:35
11.	(Part II) ( both with Beatty)	A. Paley	Madonna- Leonard- Gilbert	3:18
12.	"Vogue"	Madonna- Pettibone	Madonna- Pettibone	4:50

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Telegraph: 11th of 15
MadEyes
AllMusic:  4
Score: 3 1/2

The Immaculate Collection (1990)

A compilation of  songs from the early (disco-pop) part of Madonna's career. This is all you need.

The Immaculate Collection – Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Holiday"	Curtis Hudson Lisa Stevens	John "Jellybean" Benitez	4:06
2.	"Lucky Star"	Madonna	Reggie Lucas	3:38
3.	"Borderline"	Lucas	Lucas	4:00
4.	"Like a Virgin"	Billy Steinberg Tom Kelly	Nile Rodgers	3:11
5.	"Material Girl"	Peter Brown Robert Rans	Rodgers	3:53
6.	"Crazy for You"	John Bettis Jon Lind	Benitez	3:46
7.	"Into the Groove"	Madonna Stephen Bray	Madonna Bray Shep Pettibone[a]	4:10
8.	"Live to Tell"	Madonna Patrick Leonard	Madonna Leonard	5:19
9.	"Papa Don't Preach"	Brian Elliot Madonna[b]	Madonna Bray	4:09
10.	"Open Your Heart"	Madonna Gardner Cole Peter Rafelson	Madonna Leonard	3:51
11.	"La Isla Bonita"	Madonna Leonard Bruce Gaitsch	Madonna Leonard	3:48
12.	"Like a Prayer"	Madonna Leonard	Madonna Leonard Pettibone[a]	5:52
13.	"Express Yourself"	Madonna Bray	Madonna Bray Pettibone[a]	4:04
14.	"Cherish"	Madonna Leonard	Madonna Leonard	3:53
15.	"Vogue"	Madonna Pettibone	Madonna Pettibone Craig Kostich[c]	5:19
16.	"Justify My Love"	Lenny Kravitz Ingrid Chavez Madonna[b]	Kravitz André Betts[d]	5:01
17.	"Rescue Me"	Madonna Pettibone	Madonna Pettibone	5:32

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Telegraph: 1st of 15
AllMusic: 10
Score: 6

Erotica (1992 

Madonna used house music DJ and producer Shep Pettibone who had worked with her on "Vogue" as her main co-writer on this album. It is musically (and to some extent lyrically) her most accomplished album so far, incorporating various late 80s dance music ideas and presenting them to a wider pop audience. Critics were intrigued and sometimes excited by the sexual content of the lyrics; however, the album was released in tandem with Sex, a soft porn book she had commissioned, which public and critics felt was not merely controversial, but also exploitative, brattish, and in poor taste, and the backlash against the book damaged sales and critical opinion of the album. Which is a shame, as it's her most developed and interesting album so far. That is not to say it's her best, nor even a good album, but it is to a big degree a more artistically compelling product than anything she had done so far.

Released	October 20, 1992
Studio	Sound Works Studio, Mastermix (Astoria, New York)
Genre	Pop  dance
Length	75:24
Label	Maverick- Sire- Warner Bros.
Producer	Madonna- Pettibone- Betts

Erotica – Standard edition
All tracks composed and produced by Madonna-Betts or Madonna-Pettibone-Shimkin unless noted

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Erotica"			5:20
2.	"Fever"	Davenport- Cooley	Madonna Pettibone	5:00
3.	"Bye Bye Baby"			3:55
4.	"Deeper and Deeper"			5:33
5.	"Where Life Begins"			5:57
6.	"Bad Girl"			5:23
7.	"Waiting"			5:46
8.	"Thief of Hearts"			4:51
9.	"Words"			5:55
10.	"Rain"			5:25
11.	"Why's It So Hard"			5:23
12.	"In This Life"			6:25
13.	"Did You Do It?"			4:54
14.	"Secret Garden"			5:32

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Telegraph: 8th of 15
Rolling Stone: 8
AllMusic:  6
Score: 5

Bedtime Stories (1994)

Released	October 25, 1994
Recorded	February–August 1994
Studio	Axis Studios, The Hit Factory, Soundworks (New York City), Chapell Studios (Los Angeles), The Music Grinder (Hollywood), DARP Studios, Tea Room (Atlanta), The Enterprise (Burbank), Wild Bunch Studios (London)
Genre	Pop R&B
Length	51:50
Label	Maverick Sire Warner Bros.
Producer	Madonna Dallas Austin Babyface Dave "Jam" Hall Nellee Hooper

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Survival"	Madonna-  Austin	Nellee Hooper- Madonna	3:31
2.	"Secret"	Madonna- Austin	Madonna- Austin	5:05
3.	"I'd Rather Be Your Lover"	Madonna- Hall	Madonna- Hall	4:39
4.	"Don't Stop"	Madonna- Austin	Madonna- Austin	4:38
5.	"Inside of Me"	Madonna- Hall- Hooper	Hooper- Madonna	4:11
6.	"Human Nature"	Madonna- Hall	Madonna- Hall	4:54
7.	"Forbidden Love"	Babyface- Madonna	Hooper- Madonna	4:08
8.	"Love Tried to Welcome Me"	Madonna- Hall	Madonna- Hall	5:21
9.	"Sanctuary"	Madonna- Austin	Madonna- Austin	5:02
10.	"Bedtime Story"	Hooper- Björk- Marius De Vries	Hooper- Madonna	4:53
11.	"Take a Bow"	Babyface- Madonna	Babyface- Madonna	5:21

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Telegraph: 9th of 15
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic:  8
Score: 

Something To Remember (compilation) (1995)

An album of previously released singles, some appearing on album for the first time, and some new songs.

Standard edition^[22]

No.	Title	Note	Status	Length
1.	"I Want You"	with Massive Attack	Massive Attack cover	6:23
2.	"I'll Remember"	from film With Honors	Non-album single	4:22
3.	"Take a Bow"	Babyface Madonna	Babyface Madonna	5:21
4.	"You'll See"	Madonna David Foster	Madonna Foster	4:38
5.	"Crazy for You"	John Bettis Jon Lind	John "Jellybean" Benitez	4:02
6.	"This Used to Be My Playground"	film A League of Their Own	Non-album single	5:08
7.	"Live to Tell"	Madonna Leonard	Madonna Leonard	5:51
8.	"Love Don't Live Here Anymore"	Remix from Virgin album	Rose Royce cover	4:53
9.	"Something to Remember"	Original	Madonna- Leonard	5:02
10.	"Forbidden Love"	Babyface Madonna	Hooper Madonna	4:08
11.	"One More Chance"	Madonna Foster	Madonna Foster	4:27
12.	"Rain"	Madonna Pettibone	Madonna Pettibone	5:24
13.	"Oh Father"	Madonna Leonard	Madonna Leonard	4:57
14.	"I Want You" (Orchestral)	with Massive Attack	Hooper	6:04
Total length:				1:11:08

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic: 
Score: 3 1/2

Evita  (soundtrack) (1996)

This is a proper soundtrack album on which Madonna sings after receiving coaching on how to sing properly. It is not a Madonna album, though is frequently listed as such. The creatives are Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice and Alan Parker. Madonna was hired to sing, and was coached and instructed how to sing in the style the creatives wanted.  The album as a whole has better production values than the original Evita album, but the performances are not as effecting.  On the whole this is neither a good album for Madonna, nor a particularly good version of Evita, of which there are several.

Released	November 12, 1996
Recorded	October – November 1995
Studio	CTS Studios (London, United Kingdom)
Length	107:30 (2-disc) 77:17 (1-disc)
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Alan Parker- Andrew Lloyd Webber

All lyrics are written by Tim Rice; all music is composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Evita: The Complete Motion Picture Music Soundtrack – Disc 1^[78]

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Length
1.	"A Cinema in Buenos Aires, July 26, 1952"	—	1:20
2.	"Requiem for Evita"	—	4:16
3.	"Oh What a Circus"	Antonio Banderas- Madonna	5:44
4.	"On This Night of a Thousand Stars"	Jimmy Nail	2:24
5.	"Eva and Magaldi / Eva Beware of the City"	Madonna -Nail- Banderas- Littman	5:20
6.	"Buenos Aires"	Madonna	4:09
7.	"Another Suitcase in Another Hall"	Madonna	3:33
8.	"Goodnight and Thank You"	Madonna- Banderas	4:18
9.	"The Lady's Got Potential"	Antonio Banderas	4:24
10.	"Charity Concert / The Art of the Possible"	Nail- Pryce- Banderas- Madonna	2:33
11.	"I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You"	Madonna- Pryce	4:18
12.	"Hello and Goodbye"	Madonna- Corr-P ryce	1:46
13.	"Peron's Latest Flame"	Banderas- Madonna	5:17
14.	"A New Argentina"	Madonna- Pryce- Banderas	8:13

Evita: The Complete Motion Picture Music Soundtrack – Disc 2^[78]

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Length
1.	"On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada (Part 1)"	Jonathan Pryce	1:28
2.	"Don't Cry for Me Argentina"	Madonna	5:31
3.	"On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada (Part 2)"	Madonna	2:00
4.	"High Flying, Adored"	Banderas- Madonna	3:32
5.	"Rainbow High"	Madonna	2:26
6.	"Rainbow Tour"	Various- Madonna	4:50
7.	"The Actress Hasn't Learned the Lines"	Madonna- Banderas	2:31
8.	"And the Money Kept Rolling In (and Out)"	Antonio Banderas	3:53
9.	"Partido Feminista"	Madonna	1:40
10.	"She Is a Diamond"	Jonathan Pryce	1:39
11.	"Santa Evita"	—	2:30
12.	"Waltz for Eva and Che"	Madonna- Banderas	4:31
13.	"Your Little Body's Slowly Breaking Down"	Madonna- Pryce	1:24
14.	"You Must Love Me"	Madonna	2:50
15.	"Eva's Final Broadcast"	Madonna	3:05
16.	"Latin Chant"	—	2:11
17.	"Lament"	Madonna- Banderas	5:17
Total length:			108:53

Wikipedia
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic:  6

Score: 3

Ray Of Light  (1998)

This is more grown up stuff than what I've heard so far. Her voice is deeper, warmer, and is doing more. The music is far more complex and interesting, with sonic resonance and texture, and varied rhythms and patterns. She has a sound that embraces and invites serious listening rather than superficial reacting. Hmmm.  This has an attractive ambient techno sound, though it gets tedious after a while, and while the sound is generally quite good, and Mad's voice is warmer and more interesting, the songs are actually quite boring. This relies  heavily on William Orbit, so feels more like a collaboration than a solo Madonna album. The music and production appears to be Orbit, while the lyrics and voice are Madonna.  Orbit's solo work, such as Strange Cargo III (1993), is more interesting, though this collaborative album has a wider appeal. He also worked with Beth Orton on her first albums Superpinkmandy (1993) and Trailer Park (1996), which have the potential for the same wide appeal, and from which Orbit and Madonna take ideas. I prefer the Beth Orton albums to this one. But this is a decent album - just that it's not original.

Released	February 22, 1998
Recorded	June–November 1997
Studio	Larrabee North Studio (Los Angeles)
Genre	Electronica trip hop techno-pop dance
Length	66:52
Label	Maverick Warner Bros.
Producer	Madonna William Orbit Patrick Leonard Marius de Vries

Ray of Light – Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Substitute for Love"	Madonna- Orbit	Madonna- Orbit	5:09
2.	"Swim"	Madonna- Orbit	Madonna- Orbit	5:00
3.	"Ray of Light"	Madonna- Orbit	Madonna- Orbit	5:21
4.	"Candy Perfume Girl"	Madonna- Orbit- Melvoin	Madonna- Orbit	4:34
5.	"Skin"	Madonna- Leonard	Madonna- Orbit- Vries	6:22
6.	"Nothing Really Matters"	Madonna- Leonard	Madonna- Orbit de-Vries	4:27
7.	"Sky Fits Heaven"	Madonna- Leonard	Madonna- Orbit- Leonard	4:48
8.	"Shanti/Ashtangi"	Madonna- Orbit	Madonna- Orbit	4:29
9.	"Frozen"	Madonna- Leonard	Madonna- Orbit- Leonard	6:12
10.	"The Power of Good-Bye"	Madonna- Nowels	Madonna- Orbit- Leonard	4:10
11.	"To Have and Not to Hold"	Madonna- Nowels	Madonna- Orbit- Leonard	5:23
12.	"Little Star"	Madonna- Nowels	Madonna- Vries	5:18
13.	"Mer Girl"	Madonna- Orbit	Madonna- Orbit	5:32
Total length:				66:52

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Mad-Eyes
Pitchfork
Telegraph: 5th of 15
Rolling Stone
AllMusic
Score: 5 1/2

Music (2000)

Continuing her involvement with electronica, but less successfully - this time collaborating mostly with little known French electronica artist Mirwais, whose track "Disco Science" was used by Madonna's then husband Guy Ritchie in Snatch (2000), which is presumably where she first heard him. I find this album a little dull and tedious - the music not as fresh and embracing as William Orbit's Ray of Light.  It sold well. But critics were unsure.  Best track is "Music".

Released	September 18, 2000
Recorded	1999–2000
Studio	Sarm East and West (London) Guerilla Beach Studios (Los Angeles) The Hit Factory (New York City)
Genre	Pop- electronica- dance-pop
Length	44:40
Label	Maverick- Warner Bros.
Producer	Madonna- Mirwais Ahmadzaï

Music – Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Music"	Madonna- Ahmadzaï	Madonna- Ahmadzaï	3:44
2.	"Impressive Instant"	Madonna- Ahmadzaï	Madonna- Ahmadzaï	3:37
3.	"Runaway Lover"	Madonna- Orbit	Madonna- Orbit	4:46
4.	"I Deserve It"	Madonna- Ahmadzaï	Madonna- Ahmadzaï	4:23
5.	"Amazing"	Madonna- Orbit	Madonna- Orbit	3:43
6.	"Nobody's Perfect"	Madonna- Ahmadzaï	Madonna- Ahmadzaï	4:58
7.	"Don't Tell Me"	Madonna- Ahmadzaï- Henry	Madonna- Ahmadzaï	4:40
8.	"What It Feels Like for a Girl"	Madonna- Sigsworth- Torn	Madonna- Sigsworth	4:43
9.	"Paradise (Not for Me)"	Ahmadzaï- Madonna	Ahmadzaï- Madonna	6:33
10.	"Gone"	Madonna- LeGassick	Madonna- Orbit Stent	3:24

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Telegraph: 12th of 15
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic: 
Score: 3 1/2

GHV2 (compilation) (2001)

Madonna's second compilation album. A lot of the tracks were in edited or remixed versions. It's a decent enough summary of Madonna's early electronica period which after a (for Madonna) hesitant commercial start, really flew with the release of Music in 2000. However, despite the commercial and critical success of this period, these are unlikely to be the songs that people would associate with Madonna either now or in the future. If someone said "Name five Madonna songs" to a member of the general public, then it's likely to be songs from her dance-pop period on the 1990 The Immaculate Collection compilation. 

GHV2 – Standard edition

No.	Title			Length
1.	"Deeper and Deeper"	Erotica	Nov 1992	4:54
2.	"Erotica"	Erotica	Sept 1992	4:33
3.	"Human Nature"	Bedtime Stories	June 1995	4:31
4.	"Secret"                          Bedtime Stories		Sept 1994	4:30
5.	"Don't Cry for Me Argentina"	Evita		4:50
6.	"Bedtime Story"              Bedtime Stories			4:07
7.	"The Power of Good-Bye"	Ray of Light		4:11
8.	"Beautiful Stranger"	Single for Austin Powers		3:57
9.	"Frozen"	Ray of Light		5:09
10.	"Take a Bow"	Bedtime Stories		4:31
11.	"Ray of Light"	Ray of Light		4:35
12.	"Don't Tell Me"                Music			4:40
13.	"What It Feels Like for a Girl"	Music		4:44
14.	"Drowned World/Substitute for Love"	Ray of Light		5:09
15.	"Music"	Music		3:45
Total length:				68:06

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic: 
Score: 3 1/2

American Life (2003)

Released	April 21, 2003
Recorded	2001–2003
Studio	Westlake Recording (Los Angeles) Olympic Recording (London)
Genre	Folktronica Eurotechno electroclash
Length	49:39
Label	Maverick Warner Bros.
Producer	Madonna Mirwais Ahmadzaï

American Life – Standard edition^[133]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"American Life"	Madonna Mirwais Ahmadzaï	Madonna Ahmadzaï	4:58
2.	"Hollywood"	Madonna Ahmadzaï	Madonna Ahmadzaï	4:24
3.	"I'm So Stupid"	Madonna Ahmadzaï	Madonna Ahmadzaï	4:09
4.	"Love Profusion"	Madonna Ahmadzaï	Madonna Ahmadzaï	3:38
5.	"Nobody Knows Me"	Madonna Ahmadzaï	Madonna Ahmadzaï	4:39
6.	"Nothing Fails"	Madonna Guy Sigsworth	Madonna Ahmadzaï Stent	4:49
7.	"Intervention"	Madonna Ahmadzaï	Madonna Ahmadzaï	4:54
8.	"X-Static Process"	Madonna Stuart Price	Madonna Ahmadzaï	3:50
9.	"Mother and Father"	Madonna Ahmadzaï	Madonna Ahmadzaï	4:33
10.	"Die Another Day"	Madonna Ahmadzaï	Madonna Ahmadzaï	4:38
11.	"Easy Ride"	Madonna Monte Pittman	Madonna Ahmadzaï	5:05

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Telegraph: 14th of 15
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic: 
Score:

Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)

Released	November 15, 2005
Recorded	2005
Studio	Mayfair Studios (London) Murlyn Studios (Stockholm)
Genre	Dance-pop electronica nu-disco house
Length	56:28
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Madonna Stuart Price Mirwais Ahmadzaï Bloodshy & Avant

Confessions on a Dance Floor – Standard edition

All tracks written and produced by Madonna & others, mostly Madonna and Stuart Price

No.	Title			Length
1.	"Hung Up"			5:36
2.	"Get Together"			5:30
3.	"Sorry"			4:43
4.	"Future Lovers"			4:51
5.	"I Love New York"			4:11
6.	"Let It Will Be"			4:18
7.	"Forbidden Love"			4:22
8.	"Jump"			3:46
9.	"How High"			4:40
10.	"Isaac"			6:03
11.	"Push"			3:57
12.	"Like It or Not"			4:31
Total length:				56:28

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Telegraph: 7th of 15
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic: 
Score:

I'm Going To Tell You A Secret (live) (2006)

Released	June 20, 2006
Recorded	September 4–5, 2004
Venue	Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy (Paris, France)
Genre	Dance electronica pop
Length	65:59 (album) 127:35 (video)
Label	Warner Bros. Warner Music Vision

CD

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Beast Within"	Kravitz- Chavez	5:04
2.	"Vogue"	Madonna Shep Pettibone	5:31
3.	"Nobody Knows Me"	Madonna Mirwais Ahmadzaï	4:04
4.	"American Life"	Madonna Ahmadzaï	5:21
5.	"Hollywood" (remix)	Madonna Ahmadzaï	3:59
6.	"Die Another Day"	Madonna Ahmadzaï	4:03
7.	"Lament"	Andrew Lloyd Webber Tim Rice	2:27
8.	"Like a Prayer"	Madonna Patrick Leonard	5:22
9.	"Mother and Father"	Madonna Ahmadzaï	5:21
10.	"Imagine"	John Lennon	3:51
11.	"Susan MacLeod"/"Into the Groove"	MacLeod / Madonna- Stephen Bray	7:19
12.	"Music"	Madonna Ahmadzaï	4:54
13.	"Holiday"	Curtis Hudson Lisa Stevens	5:44
14.	"I Love New York" (demo version)	Madonna	2:52

Wikipedia
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic:
Score:

The Confessions Tour (live) (2007)

Released	January 26, 2007
Recorded	August 15–16, 2006
Venue	Wembley Arena (London, England)
Length	73:14 (CD) 122:38 (DVD)
Label	Warner Bros. Warner Music Vision
Director	Jonas Åkerlund

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Future Lovers" / "I Feel Love"		8:04
2.	"Get Together"		5:19
3.	"Like a Virgin"		4:08
4.	"Jump"		4:56
5.	"Confessions"		3:55
6.	"Live to Tell"		5:10
7.	"Forbidden Love"		4:24
8.	"Isaac"		6:45
9.	"Sorry"		5:02
10.	"Like It or Not"		4:51
11.	"Sorry" (remix)		3:37
12.	"I Love New York"		5:43
13.	"Ray of Light"		6:26
14.	"Let It Will Be"		7:32
15.	"Drowned World/Substitute for Love"		5:00
16.	"Paradise (Not for Me)"		5:05
17.	"Music Inferno"		7:49
18.	"Erotica"		4:47
19.	"La Isla Bonita"		5:02
20.	"Lucky Star"		4:36
21.	"Hung Up"		9:24
22.	"Credits"		3:31
Total length:			2:02:38

Wikipedia
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic:
Score:

Hard Candy (2008)

Not fully studied the lyrics and videos yet, but there seems little here that is uniquely Madonna.

Released	April 29, 2008
Recorded	2007
Studio	The Record Plant (Los Angeles) Sarm Studios (London)
Genre	Dance-pop- pop- hip hop
Length	56:13
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Danja- The Neptunes- Timbaland- Justin Timberlake

Hard Candy – Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Candy Shop"	Madonna- Pharrell Williams	The Neptunes- Madonna	4:16
2.	"4 Minutes"	Madonna- Mosley- Timberlake	Timbaland- Timberlake	4:04
3.	"Give It 2 Me"	Madonna Williams	The Neptunes Madonna	4:48
4.	"Heartbeat"	Madonna Williams	The Neptunes Madonna	4:04
5.	"Miles Away"	Madonna Mosley Timberlake	Timbaland Timberlake	4:49
6.	"She's Not Me"	Madonna Williams	The Neptunes Madonna	6:05
7.	"Incredible"	Madonna Williams	The Neptunes Madonna	6:20
8.	"Beat Goes On"	Madonna- Williams- West	The Neptunes- Madonna	4:27
9.	"Dance 2Night"	Madonna- Mosley- Timberlake	Timbaland- Timberlake	5:03
10.	"Spanish Lesson"	Madonna- Williams	The Neptunes- Madonna	3:38
11.	"Devil Wouldn't Recognize You"	Madonna- Mosley- Timberlake	Timbaland- Timberlake	5:09
12.	"Voices"	Madonna Mosley- Timberlake	Timbaland- Timberlake	3:39

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Telegraph: 13th of 15
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic: 
Score: 3

Celebration (2009) 

The most recent compilation, covering all of Madonna's career up to 2009.

Celebration – Disc one ^[59]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Hung Up"			5:38
2.	"Music"			3:45
3.	"Vogue" (1990  Mix)			5:16
4.	"4 Minutes" (Radio Edit )			3:09
5.	"Holiday"			6:08
6.	"Everybody" (2009 Edit) **			4:10
7.	"Like a Virgin" (1990 QSound Mix)			3:09
8.	"Into the Groove"			4:45
9.	"Like a Prayer"			5:42
10.	"Ray of Light" (Radio Edit)			4:33
11.	"Sorry" (Single Edit) **			3:58
12.	"Express Yourself" (2009  Edit)			4:00
13.	"Open Your Heart" (1990Mix)			3:51
14.	"Borderline" (1990 Mix) **			3:59
15.	"Secret" (Radio Edit) **			4:28
16.	"Erotica" (Radio Edit) **			4:30
17.	"Justify My Love" **			4:54
18.	"Revolver" (with Lil Wayne) **			3:40
Total length:				79:38

Celebration – Disc two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Dress You Up" (2009 Edit)			4:02
2.	"Material Girl"			4:03
3.	"La Isla Bonita"			4:03
4.	"Papa Don't Preach"			4:29
5.	"Lucky Star" (1990 Mix)			3:38
6.	"Burning Up" **			3:44
7.	"Crazy for You" (1990 Mix) **			3:44
8.	"Who's That Girl" **			4:00
9.	"Frozen"			6:18
10.	"Miles Away" (Radio Edit) **			3:45
11.	"Take a Bow" **			5:20
12.	"Live to Tell" **			5:51
13.	"Beautiful Stranger" **			4:22
14.	"Hollywood" **			4:23
15.	"Die Another Day" **			4:36
16.	"Don't Tell Me" (Radio Edit) **			4:11
17.	"Cherish" (2009 Edit) **			3:51
18.	"Celebration"			3:34
Total length:				77:54

Celebration – Standard edition

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hung Up"	5:36
2.	"Music"	3:45
3.	"Vogue" (1990 QSound Mix)	5:16
4.	"4 Minutes" (Radio Edit − featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland)	3:09
5.	"Holiday"	6:08
6.	"Like a Virgin" (1990 QSound Mix)	3:12
7.	"Into the Groove"	4:45
8.	"Like a Prayer"	5:42
9.	"Ray of Light" (Radio Edit)	4:33
10.	"La Isla Bonita"	4:02
11.	"Frozen" (Radio Edit)	5:10
12.	"Material Girl"	4:00
13.	"Papa Don't Preach"	4:29
14.	"Lucky Star" (1990 Alt QSound Mix)	3:38
15.	"Express Yourself" (2009 Edit of Video Version)	3:59
16.	"Open Your Heart" (1990 QSound Mix)	3:51
17.	"Dress You Up" (2009 Edit)	4:02
18.	"Celebration"	3:35

Wikipedia
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic: 
Score:

Sweet And Sticky Tour (live) (2010)

 A recording of a concert in Argentina. Kanye West's voice is  provided by tape - he didn't go on tour with her.

CD

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Sample(s)	Length
1.	"Candy Shop" (medley)			3:45
2.	"Beat Goes On" (medley			4:24
3.	"Human Nature"			3:52
4.	"Vogue" (2008)			4:31
5.	"She's Not Me"			4:38
6.	"Music" (2008)			5:10
7.	"Devil Wouldn't Recognize You"			5:42
8.	"Spanish Lesson"			3:52
9.	"La Isla Bonita" (medley)			5:34
10.	"You Must Love Me"			3:45
11.	"Get Stupid" (medley)			3:04
12.	"Like a Prayer" (2008)			5:31
13.	"Give It 2 Me"			8:19

Wikipedia
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic:
Score:

2012 Superbowl Halftime Performance

Madonna used the Superbowl to help promote the upcoming MDNA album. Her show achieved a record audience, higher even than the Superbowl itself, underlining the continuing interest in her.

MDNA (2012)

Released	March 23, 2012
Recorded	2011
Studio	Various[show]
Genre	Pop EDM
Length	50:47
Label	Interscope
Producer	Madonna Alle Benassi Benny Benassi The Demolition Crew Michael Malih Hardy "Indiigo" Muanza William Orbit Martin Solveig

Standard edition

No.	Title			Length
1.	"Girl Gone Wild"			3:43
2.	"Gang Bang"			5:26
3.	"I'm Addicted"			4:33
4.	"Turn Up the Radio"			3:46
5.	"Give Me All Your Luvin'"	(featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.)		3:22
6.	"Some Girls"			3:53
7.	"Superstar"			3:55
8.	"I Don't Give A"	(featuring Nicki Minaj)		4:19
9.	"I'm a Sinner"			4:52
10.	"Love Spent"			3:46
11.	"Masterpiece"			3:59
12.	"Falling Free"			5:13
Total length:				50:47

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Telegraph: 15th of 15
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic: 
Score:

MDNA World Tour (live) (2013)

MDNA World Tour – CD edition (disc 1)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Note(s)	Length
1.	"Virgin Mary (Intro)"			5:46
2.	"Girl Gone Wild"			3:57
3.	"Revolver"			3:52
4.	"Gang Bang"			5:54
5.	"Papa Don't Preach"			1:50
6.	"Hung Up"			3:47
7.	"I Don't Give A"			5:27
8.	"Best Friend (Video Interlude)"			3:19
9.	"Express Yourself"			4:06
10.	"Give Me All Your Luvin'"			4:11
11.	"Turn Up the Radio"			3:58
12.	"Open Your Heart"			8:51
13.	"Masterpiece"			4:32
Total length:				59:30

MDNA World Tour – CD edition (disc 2)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Note(s)	Length
1.	"Justify My Love (Video Interlude)"			3:34
2.	"Vogue"			4:08
3.	"Erotic Candy Shop"			4:40
4.	"Human Nature"			4:08
5.	"Like a Virgin Waltz"			5:15
6.	"Love Spent"			4:47
7.	"Nobody Knows Me (Video Interlude)"			3:36
8.	"I'm Addicted"			4:42
9.	"I'm a Sinner"			6:45
10.	"Like a Prayer"			6:10
11.	"Celebration"			7:24

Wikipedia
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic:
Score:

Rebel Heart (2015)

This is mainly pleasant mainstream pop after the rather dreary and heavy electronic period. She's never been a great singer - her singing strength has been in her energy and commitment - but her voice has always been acceptable, if a little thin in the early years. Here she has some decent control over the voice (which is unfortunately treated with vocoders) so combined with a generally accessible pop content (the album does unfortunately waver around into electronica now and again) this is an OK album to listen to. Nothing great, and no song really stands out yet, but I'm finding it mostly pleasant enough even if some of the electro stuff is a mite irritating.

Released	March 6, 2015
Recorded	2014
Genre	Pop
Length	55:06
Label	Interscope
Producer	Madonna Diplo Ariel Rechtshaid Avicii Blood Diamonds Billboard Jason Evigan Shelco Garcia & Teenwolf Kanye West Mike Dean Toby Gad AFSHeeN Josh Cumbee Salem Al Fakir Symbolyc One Magnus Lidehäll Vincent Pontare Astma & Rocwell Carl Falk

Standard edition^[210]

No.	Title	Writer(s)		Length
1.	"Living for Love"	Madonna & others		3:38
2.	"Devil Pray"	Madonna & others		4:05
3.	"Ghosttown"	Madonna & others		4:09
4.	"Unapologetic Bitch"	Madonna & others		3:51
5.	"Illuminati"	Madonna & others		3:44
6.	"Bitch I'm Madonna" (featuring Nicki Minaj)	Madonna & others		3:47
7.	"Hold Tight"	Madonna & others		3:37
8.	"Joan of Arc"	Madonna & others		4:01
9.	"Iconic" (featuring Chance the Rapper and Mike Tyson)	Madonna & others		4:33
10.	"HeartBreakCity"	Madonna & others		3:33
11.	"Body Shop"	Madonna & others		3:39
12.	"Holy Water"	Madonna & others		4:09
13.	"Inside Out"	Madonna & others		4:23
14.	"Wash All Over Me"	Madonna & others		4:00
Total length:				55:09

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Telegraph: 10th of 15
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic: 
Score:

Rebel Heart Tour (live) (2017)

Rebel Heart Tour – Double-CD version (disc 1)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Rebel Heart Tour Intro"		3:57
2.	"Iconic"		4:39
3.	"Bitch I'm Madonna"		3:39
4.	"Burning Up"		4:28
5.	"Holy Water" / "Vogue"		6:05
6.	"Devil Pray"		4:17
7.	"Body Shop"		4:07
8.	"True Blue"		3:00
9.	"Deeper and Deeper"		4:52
10.	"HeartBreakCity"		4:38
11.	"Like a Virgin"		4:52
Total length:			48:34

Rebel Heart Tour – Double-CD version (disc 2)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Living for Love"		5:11
2.	"La Isla Bonita"		5:03
3.	"Dress You Up" / "Into the Groove"		5:35
4.	"Rebel Heart"		3:47
5.	"Music"		3:36
6.	"Candy Shop"		2:54
7.	"Material Girl"		4:02
8.	"La Vie en rose"		3:17
9.	"Unapologetic Bitch"		7:06
10.	"Holiday"		5:44
11.	"Like a Prayer" (Bonus track)		4:12
Total length:			50:27

Wikipedia
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic:
Score:

Madame X (2019)

The initial CD release has the unpleasant image with the album title scrawled across her lips as though her mouth is sewn shut. Subsequent releases, vinyl, specials, deluxe, etc, have the more traditional Madonna image.

Released	June 14, 2019
Recorded	February,[1] April – August 2018, February 2019[2]
Studio	Lisbon London Los Angeles New York[3]
Genre	Latin trap art pop world
Length	56:01
Language	English Portuguese Spanish
Label	Interscope
Producer	Madonna Mirwais Mike Dean Diplo Billboard Jason Evigan Jeff Bhasker Pharrell Williams

Madame X – All tracks written by Madonna with others

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Medellín" (with Maluma)			4:58
2.	"Dark Ballet"			4:14
3.	"God Control"			6:19
4.	"Future" (with Quavo)			3:53
5.	"Batuka"			4:57
6.	"Killers Who Are Partying"			5:28
7.	"Crave" (with Swae Lee[d])			3:21
8.	"Crazy"			4:02
9.	"Come Alive"			4:02

10.	"Extreme Occident"			3:41
11.	"Faz Gostoso" (featuring Anitta)			4:05
12.	"Bitch I'm Loca" (featuring Maluma)			2:50
13.	"I Don't Search I Find"			4:08
14.	"Looking for Mercy"			4:50
15.	"I Rise"			3:44
Total length:				64:32

Wikipedia
Lyrics
Rolling Stone:
AllMusic: 
Score:

Discography

• Madonna (1983)
• Like a Virgin (1984)
• True Blue (1986)
• Who's That Girl (soundtrack) (1987)
• Like a Prayer (1989) 
• I'm Breathless (soundtrack) (1990) 
• The Immaculate Collection (compilation (1990)
• Erotica (1992)
• Bedtime Stories (1994) 
• Evita (soundtrack) (1996)
• Ray of Light (1998)
• Music (2000) 
• GHV2 (compilation) (2001)
• American Life (2003)
• Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
• Hard Candy (2008) 
• Celebration  (compilation (2009)
• MDNA (2012)
• Rebel Heart (2015) 

Madonna topless bathroom selfie with a crutch

Similar artists / influences

Janet Jackson emerged around the same time as Madonna, and has some disco beats and bright pop in common, though Jackson's music is more complex, more soul and R&B orientated, and has fewer simply catchy songs and attention grabbing lyrics.

The NME puts Madonna together with Prince and Michael Jackson as the "Holy Trinity of  80s pop". 
Stock, Aitken and Waterman  produced the same sort of simplistic dance-pop, though they seemed to be somewhat shadowing Madonna's early hits, and were not as ambitious, interesting, globally successful, or long-lasting. 

The Pointer Sisters had moderate success with simplistic hand clapping dance-pop and post-disco material, such as 1982's  "Should I Do It" and 1980's "He's So Shy".  But Madonna had way more energy.

Summary

Voice/Musicianship
Up to Like A Prayer she mostly she sings in a little girl voice in a chirpy manner, or pushes some breathless urgency. There is little subtlety, depth or emotion - she simply delivers the song.  The voice is not unattractive, but there's nothing compelling or interesting about it. It simply works, and I think for most of her listeners, that is enough.


Image

Lyrics

Music

Impact/Influence

Importance

Popularity

Star quality

Emotional appeal

Legacy


Links
* Madonna.com
* Facebook
* Twitter


Fansites
* Infinity
* Tribe
* Underground
* Licious
* Drowned


Album listings

* Billboard



488 March 2019