MDNA (album)
MDNA is the twelfth studio album by American singer Madonna, released on March 23, 2012, by Interscope Records. The album was conceived while the singer was busy throughout 2011 with filming her directorial venture, W.E. Madonna started the recording in July 2011 and collaborated with a variety of producers such as Alle Benassi, Benny Benassi, Demolition Crew, Free School, Michael Malih, Indiigo, William Orbit, and Martin Solveig, the last two serving as primary producers of the record. The album features guest features by female rappers M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj.
MDNA
March 23, 2012
2011
- Studio at the Palms (Las Vegas, Nevada)
- Guerilla Strip
- Sarm West Studios (London, England)
- 3:20 Studios (Los Angeles, California)
- MSR Studios (New York City, New York)
- Free School (California)
50:47
- Madonna
- Alle Benassi
- Benny Benassi
- The Demolition Crew
- Michael Malih
- Hardy "Indiigo" Muanza
- William Orbit
- Martin Solveig
The recording process was smooth although Madonna found difficulty working with Benny Benassi who did not speak fluent English and had to use his cousin Alle Benassi as interpreter. A pop and EDM record, MDNA consists of upbeat songs which lyrically explore themes of partying, love for music, infatuation, as well as heartbreak, revenge and separation. The album's title is a triple entendre and its allusion to MDMA drew negative reception from anti-drug groups.
MDNA was Madonna's first release under the 360 deal she had signed with Live Nation in 2007 and the three-album deal with Interscope in 2012. The record received promotion from Madonna's performance at Super Bowl XLVI halftime show as well as the MDNA Tour, the latter becoming one of the highest-grossing tours of all time. Four singles were released—"Give Me All Your Luvin'", "Girl Gone Wild", "Masterpiece" and "Turn Up the Radio". Its first single reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 extending Madonna's then record as the artist with the most top-ten singles in that chart's history.
Music critics were ambivalent towards the album. MDNA topped the record charts in most musical markets. Madonna set a new record for the most number-one albums by a solo artist in Australia and the United Kingdom. MDNA was the twelfth best-selling album of 2012 globally, and went on to sell two million copies.
Music and lyrics[edit]
MDNA is predominantly a pop and EDM album,[27][28][29] which could be divided into two categories; "introspective" tracks created with Orbit, and "more ironic and funny and upbeat" tunes with Solveig.[30] Christopher Rosa from Glamour noticed that although the album did not reference her ex-husband Guy Ritchie, he was a direct inspiration in the songwriting following their divorce in 2008. Thematically it explored the different facets of a post-divorce scenario, from somber mourning to releasing one's inhibitions after being suppressed in marriage, as well as anger and disdain.[31] The album opens with the track "Girl Gone Wild", which contains influences of four on the floor and sounds similar to songs from Madonna's tenth studio album, Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005).[32] Its introduction includes elements of "Act of Contrition" from her fourth studio album, Like a Prayer (1989),[33] with the chorus speaks of "a girl gone wild" with "burning desire".[9] The next song, "Gang Bang", is an EDM track with a dubstep breakdown[9] and industrial beats.[34] The lyrics describe a woman taking revenge on her lover, shooting him in his head.[35]
In "I'm Addicted", Madonna talks about being infatuated with a person, like narcotic addiction, singing over a beat consisting of electro house and eurodance music.[36] Fourth track "Turn Up the Radio" begins with a keyboard sequence before turning into a 1980s-inspired dance-pop number.[35] Lyrically it urges the audience to relax while listening to music.[33] "Give Me All Your Luvin'" had elements of bubblegum pop, synthpop, new wave and disco.[37][38] The track features cheerleading chants between the verses while Minaj and M.I.A. raps during the intermediate section.[39] The dance song "Some Girls" was inspired by hardstyle and Madonna lists different personality of girls.[40] "Superstar" has backing vocals from her daughter Lourdes. A dance-pop song with a dubstep hook and influences of electronica,[9] the lyrics find Madonna comparing her lover with famous men including John Travolta, Abraham Lincoln and Al Capone, while she claimed to be their "biggest fan".[41]
"I Don't Give A" contains industrial beats and hip-hop influences,[34] and lyrically speaks about Madonna's daily life while responding to her critics.[33] Minaj's guest rapping verse praises the singer, "There is only one queen, and that's Madonna, bitch" as well as makes references to Madonna's "Material Girl", "We material girls, ain't nobody hotter, pops collar!"[9][42] A 1960s inspired rock and roll and country music forms the backbone of "I'm a Sinner", with Madonna naming different saints and their virtues, and calling herself a transgressor.[43][44] "Love Spent" has a contrasting composition from banjo and electronic music, creating a "refreshing, contemporary, radio friendly pop sound". The song discusses how money was a triggering factor in ending Madonna's marriage.[43] The overall tempo on MDNA slows down with the next two songs. "Masterpiece", which was also included in the soundtrack of W.E., is a ballad with traces of Latin music.[45] The song has instrumentation from strings, guitars and percussion,[9] and speaks about the pain of being in love with someone perfect.[46] The standard version of the album ended with "Falling Free", a ballad with a simple melody on a bassline, and complex lyrics that highlighted love, freedom and exaltation.[47]
The deluxe version of MDNA has the song "I Fucked Up", a slow-paced tune whose lyrics finds Madonna admitting the reasons her marriage failed.[43] The concept song "Beautiful Killer" has a string arrangement reminiscent of Madonna's 1986 single "Papa Don't Preach". The singer portrays the point of view of a victim and a murderer.[9] "B-Day Song" is a "goof off" tune featuring M.I.A., with a punk style bassline and percussion.[48] According to Jon Pareles, Madonna laments the loss of a lover in the last song "Best Friend", and admits to feeling guilty and remorseful in the "haunting slow jam".[31][47]
Notes