Medellín (song)
"Medellín" is a song by American singer Madonna and Colombian singer Maluma from Madonna's fourteenth studio album Madame X (2019). The song was produced by Madonna, Mirwais, who wrote it alongside Maluma and Edgar Barrera. It was released as the lead single from the album on April 17, 2019, by Interscope Records. The song is named after the city in Colombia, in which Maluma was born, and is a Latin pop track with elements of reggaeton and dance-pop. Lyrically, it finds Madonna and Maluma reflecting on past struggles while dreaming about a trip to Medellín.
"Medellín"
- English
- Spanish
April 17, 2019
4:58
- Madonna Ciccone
- Juan Luis Londoño
- Mirwais Ahmadzaï
- Edgar Barrera
- Madonna
- Mirwais
"Medellín" received generally positive reviews from music critics, who called the song Madonna's best work in years, while noting an improvement from her previous two lead singles. They also compared the song to Madonna's previous Latin-inspired releases, particularly "La Isla Bonita" (1987). In the United States, "Medellín" failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100, but it became Madonna's 47th chart topper on the Dance Club Songs chart, extending her record as the artist with the most number ones on the chart. It also reached the top 10 in Colombia, Hungary, and Venezuela, as well as on the digital charts in Finland and Portugal.
The accompanying music video was directed by Diana Kunst and Mau Morgó, and was released in April 2019 as part of a live MTV special. It features several scenes of Madonna and Maluma interacting, ending with a Latin-inspired feast taking place. The music video received acclaim from critics, who noted resemblances to Madonna's past work. The song was performed live by the singers at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, with the performance featuring several digital effects that were provided by augmented reality, including four virtual versions of Madonna's Madame X alter-ego. "Medellín" was later performed during Madonna's Madame X Tour (2019–2020) and Maluma's 11:11 World Tour (2019–2021).
Background and release[edit]
In 2017, Madonna relocated to Lisbon when seeking a top football academy for her son David Banda, who wanted to become a professional association football player.[1] While living in the city, she began meeting artists; painters and musicians, who would invite her to "living room sessions". In the sessions, they would bring food and sit around the table, and musicians would start playing instruments, singing fado and samba music.[1] For the album, she worked with longtime collaborator Mirwais, who had previously contributed to her albums Music (2000), American Life (2003) and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005), as well as Mike Dean, who served as a producer on Rebel Heart (2015), and Diplo.[2] During the recording process, Madonna presented an award at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City, where she met Colombian singer Maluma backstage. Madonna mentioned that she and Mirwais started "listening to his music more closely and liked all the reggaeton that he does", as they wanted to do something slightly different, though still have a connection to the music he makes. Afterwards, they started working on music as Maluma began to comment and adding things, and eventually got into the studio together.[3]
In February 2019, Maluma posted a photo on Instagram in the studio with Madonna.[4] He revealed in an interview that they were working together, saying: "Madonna and I are cooking there together, making some beautiful songs. I'm very excited. That's a huge step for my culture, for Latin culture, it's very very big."[5] On April 15, 2019, Madonna revealed Madame X as the album's title, with the Maluma collaboration "Medellín" as the lead single. She also shared the cover art, featuring her sitting next to Maluma while wearing a wedding dress.[6] Madonna revealed after the album was released that she decided to collaborate with Maluma after she realized that Maluma loves horses, which they bonded over a mutual love for.[7] The singer described Maluma as "so great to work with", while adding that he is "one of the most easygoing, open, warm, generous – doesn't leave the studio until the work is done. Has great work ethic. I adore him. Nothing but great things to say about him."[8] "Medellín" was premiered on April 17, 2019, through Beats 1 radio, where Madonna also was interviewed by Zane Lowe.[3]
Composition and lyrics[edit]
"Medellín" was written by Madonna, Maluma, Mirwais and Edgar Barrera, while production was handled by the singer and Mirwais.[10] "Medellín" is named after the city in Colombia where Maluma was born, being written bilingually in English and Spanish.[11][12][13] Musically, it is a Latin pop song, with elements of "classic" reggaeton and a "breezy" dance-pop sound, which is centered around a "classic cha-cha-chá groove".[14][15][16] According to the sheet music published by Musicnotes.com, "Medellín" is set in Time signature of common time with a tempo of 92 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of A♭ major, following a basic sequence of A♭–G♭–E♭ in its chord progression throughout its verses.[17]
Madonna begins the song by whispering the verses, "One, two, one, two, one two, cha cha cha", while she delivers "breathy" vocals in an ASMR-like style and later she sings "reflective" lyrics: "I took a pill and had a dream/ I went back to my seventeenth year/ Allowed myself to be naïve/ to be someone I've never been."[12] Maluma then begins his part by singing in Spanish, asking Madonna to take a trip with him to Medellín, with him acting as her tour guide.[18] At one point, Maluma references Madonna's hometown, Detroit: "And if you want, we'll go to Detroit (You know)/ If I know where you come from, then I know where to go."[12][19] Interspersed with Maluma's vocals, Madonna sings about how "another me can now begin" and does not have to hide herself for once.[20] As the song reaches the chorus, the musicians sing, "Ven conmigo, let's take a trip/ Ven conmigo, I'll be so good for you", in a "lovey-dovey call-and-response" alongside a "deep house euphoria".[14][16][9] Madonna also references Medellín's violent past from when it was the home base of narcoterrorist Pablo Escobar as she sings, "We built a cartel just for love/ Venus was hovering above us."[21]
Live performances[edit]
On April 19, 2019, it was confirmed by Billboard that Madonna and Maluma would perform "Medellín" live for the first time at the Billboard Music Awards, which would take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 1 of that year.[84] The performance featured four virtual versions of her Madame X alter ego – a secret agent, a musician, a cha-cha instructor and a bride.[85] Elements also present included a garden, rain and bursting blasts of color, provided by augmented reality, marking the first time it was used on American television.[86][87] The effects were made through volumetric capture and game engine Unreal Engine. Jamie King, Madonna's creative director, said he looked for something special for the performance and settled on the idea of augmented reality, as he wanted to explore a way to involve her Madame X personas into the performance, as well as the possibility of Madonna being able to perform with them.[85] Attendees of the awards show were able to see only through the screens inside the arena.[85]
After being introduced by Kelly Clarkson, Madonna started the performance laying beneath a virtual garden, wearing a "pirate-like getup" and an eye-patch with an X, as well as "retro pin-curled wave[d]" hair.[88][89][90] As Maluma appeared while wearing silky black button-down, the stage transformed into a patio restaurant, and they danced together on the tables as well as with the virtual versions of Madame X.[89] During the performance, the singers recreated scenes from the song's music video, including Maluma removing a garter from Madonna's thigh.[91] After the performance, the song rose by 261% in streams to 2,200,000, increasing from 596,000.[92] Andrew Unterberger from Billboard ranked it as the second best performance of the night, calling the performance "memorable" and saying it was "good to see that the pop legend certainly hasn't lost her ability to surprise and delight".[93] The performance ultimately won the Best Use of AR in Live Broadcast category at the Lumiere Awards.[94]
Madonna later performed "Medellín" on her Madame X Tour (2019–20). It was included in the "club section" of the show, with Madonna recreating the Billboard Music Awards performance.[95][96] Maluma also appeared on the screens in various places around the set.[97] For Ben Crandell of the Sun-Sentinel, it was an "upbeat favorite of the night".[98] The performance was included on the live album Madame X: Music from the Theater Xperience. Additionally, the song was performed for select dates during Maluma's 2019–21 11:11 World Tour.[99] Madonna and Maluma performed the track along with her 2000 single "Music" during his Medallo en el mapa concert in Medellín, Colombia, on April 30, 2022.[100] Madonna wore a pink dress and braids, and according to Agencia EFE, her appearance on stage was the climax of the concert, as both artists "took over the stage dancing and provoking in the most suggestive Madonna style" during the performance of the song.[101][102]
Credits and personnel adapted from the liner notes of Madame X.[10]