Madonna

Bedtime Stories

Understated Elegance!

Review Score:

(10/10)
The significance of "Bedtime Stories" to Madonna's music career is often overlooked, probably because it was sandwiched between two far more ambitious albums, 1992's "Erotica", and 1998's "Ray of light". However, its importance cannot be overlooked. "Bedtime stories" represents Madonna's foray into R&B, the music she grew up listening to. On the album, she achieves an understated elegance and charm that has not been found on any Madonna album before and since. The album starts off with the upbeat pop track "Survival", on which she laments about fame and fortune. It leads into "Secret", a Dallas Austin-produced single featuring some of her most sensual singing ever. "Secret"'s laidback R&B groove is a treasure that should be cherished. Uptempo tracks "I'd rather be your lover" and the disco anthem "Don't stop" follow. "Don't stop" is a straight ahead party track on which Madonna throws out invitations to her audience to get up and dance, much like earlier singles "Into the groove" and "Spotlight". The ballads that follow: "Forbidden love", "Love tried to welcome me", "Inside of me" and "Take a bow" represent a string of beautifully contrived songs that Madonna has not bothered to do since 1989's "Like a prayer". Each one is exquisitely crafted, like pieces of fine china. Then there are the dancefloor stompers. "Human nature" is an uptempo R&B track with a Timbaland-like bassline on which Madonna answers to the critics who shot her down in the early 1990s for being too openly sexual with her image. "Sanctuary" is a trippy ambient track that sounds Deep Forest-esque, complete with jungle sounds. "Bedtime story", the title track, is co-produced by Bjork, and therefore features a dreamy, pumping bass that would go on to determine the direction that Madonna took with 1998's "Ray of light". Overall, "Bedtime stories" is an exquisite collection of warm, laidback grooves that provided the perfect antidote to the hard beats and in-your-face sexuality that was displayed on "Erotica". It presents a side of Madonna that is understatedly elegant and sensual, and features possibly her most introspective songwriting yet. It certainly does not have the commercial appeal of "Ray of light" or the innovation of "Music", but it rocks well on its own groove. Even though "Bedtime stories" is not considered as one of Madonna's brightest pop moments, it still stands the test of time, and emerges as possibly one of the best R&B albums of the 1990s. Don't miss!

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