ever the smart business woman, madonna has enlisted justin timberlake and timbaland to help out on the follow-up to confessions on a dance floor. that record sold millions around the world, but its singles failed to break through at radio — mainly in the united states (“hung up” was the only one to crack the u.s. top 40, peaking at no. 7).
justin timberlake has had a string of no. 1s, thanks in part to collaborating with timbaland, so madonna is likely looking to reclaim her former chart glory with both hitmakers at the helm of at least a few tracks. unless she comes up with another dreadful “american life”-style rap, i don’t think anything could stand in the way of success. well played, madge!
I take exception! After having several years, I kind of liked the American Life rap. Rhyming pilates with hotties. brilliant.
What did it for me was the *video* … still relevant 4 years later. The video adds something to the rap … a certain sense of satire that didn’t come through in the song. She’s practically making out with her weaponized PT cruiser, and it’s well …. sublimely ridiculous.
It makes her a Joannie come lately. After Timberlake’s had a string of hits, and now Bjork makes a spectacular splash with “Earth Intruder’s,” Madonna’s gone on a band-wagon a little late instead of driving it like she usually does.
Madonna needs NO ONE to help her- NO ONE. She collaborated as she did for Hard Candy because she likes the music that these other artists produce and wanted to work with them and see what they could come up with. She WANTED to do this project- she never HAD TO. Let’s be serious- she never HAS TO do anything again, considering her fame and fortune. She could disappear tomorrow, and generations of her offspring could live a century or more financially free. Do you really think she listened to Hard Candy once it was all done and said “I think ‘Miles Away’ is going to be a huge single in America”? She knows what kind of music sells in America and she’s not interested. She will do as she pleases and she knows it will sell, on some level. She made so much money off of ‘Confessions…..’ overall, nothing else will matter financially, not even the unfortunate split. Madonna can’t lose. And no, i do not consider the “disappointing” sales of ‘American Life’ a failure. She made the album that she wanted to make. And knowing that it was not filled with music that the masses wanted to hear, she went out and did the ReInvention Tour which was like Greatest Hits Live! Fans of “Early Madonna” loved that tour. Madonna is just too smart for words (although i seem to find plenty!)…… just saw her in concert last night as a matter of fact: AWESOME! Thanks……..