Madonna

Bedtime Stories

Love this

Review Score:

(10/10)
I always have a problem with Madonna's works: I don't like them the first time I listen to them, then I listen to them again, then they grow on me and from that point on I can't stop listening to them :). This was the case with Bedtime Stories, too. I can still remember listening to "Secret" on the radio and saying `What the *** was this?'. But then, I was wrong again. Because this album is great. It's supposed to be an R&B album and any fan of the lady will know that though it's R&B, it's Madonna's version of it, which is always something else - something better.

Getting a bit more into details, here's my opinion about all the songs on this CD:

1. Survival: good kick-off (as usual from her). It is about survival `skills' in the world, yet it has a light touch to it, that makes me smile every time. Life is fun, after all. And she knows this the best.

2. Secret: one of those `hybrid' Madonna songs that nobody else can do. It has a rhythm guitar in the background, yet the drums are rather hip-hop, and the song has an R&B touch. The singing is great, the lyrics a bit forgettable, though.

3. I'd Rather Be Your Lover: one of my favorites, it's pure R&B, with a catchy rhythm, silly lyrics and a very good chorus. I didn't like it the first time, but it grew on me.

4. Don't Stop: THE dance song of the album. It's nice, but tends to be boring after 5-6 times. Anyway, it's still OK.

5. Inside Of Me: the worst track of the album. It's not bad, but I skip it most of the times. Gets boring, too.

6. Human Nature: fave, too. `Express yourself, don't repress yourself'. I love the way she sings this song. A `strange' voice and the accent of a 17-year old Thai consume girl (oops, but I'm not sorry, it's human nature). Yet the meaning is clear.

7. Forbidden Love: a cooperation with Babyface. This tells everything about this song. Not good, not bad.

8. Love Tried To Welcome Me: from here on, `fasten your seat belts'. This song is the beginning of the fantastic end to this album, and the cause of the 5 stars I gave. This is a sad song about a woman who lost her feelings and can't be happy anymore. I love to listen to it on dark, foggy November days. This is one of the best songs ever by Madonna.

9&10. Sanctuary&Bedtime Story: I write of the 2 songs together, because they are mixed together and I think they belong together. And they are 2 masterpieces. The opening lines of Sanctuary (`Surely whoever speaks to me in the right voice him or her I shall follow') gives the meaning. In Bedtime Story, one of her most misunderstood works she sings (`Today is the last day that I'm using words they've gone out, lost their meaning don't function anymore'). These are one my favorite lines ever. These 2 songs have a mesmerizing effect on the listener and if you don't do anything else but listen to these 2 songs only, you can surely cheer up your day.

11: Take A Bow: Her most beautiful ballad. I love the lyrics, I love the tunes. This is the perfect ending to this album (`The show is over say goodbye'). It went deservedly to #1 and stayed there for a while.

Summary: After a good start and a mediocre middle part, the album's ending is one of the best works the Queen of Pop has ever produced. Many people consider this album a sidestep, though I say, it was a right step and put Madonna on the right trail. Bedtime Stories' last 4 songs revealed a side of Madonna nobody knew before and this side opened in her most beloved album, `Ray of Light'. However, to fully appreciate the latter, you have to listen to this album. It is a very good album, even though not her best, still very good.

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