I may not be welcome in your home after this article is published.
all three of my roommates Love Madonna. Over the past two weeks, we’ve started a series of discussions surrounding her music. Some parts were a little more friendly, some more intense. It culminated in them trying to convince me not to write this article.
It’s worth saying the truth to offend those closest to me: I don’t understand Madonna.
That being said, I see this review as an opportunity to find common ground with the “Queen of Pop.”
This week, I’m going to do justice to Madonna’s third album, True Blue, and bash it (sorry). I chose this album because my girlfriend’s roommate had it on cassette.
“True Blue” has several chart-topping songs. This doesn’t tell you anything, because the same can be said about all of Madonna’s albums.
There’s a reason Madonna is the best-selling female artist of all time. However, the reason for this is yet to be found in her music.
According to Albumism, Madonna’s first two albums, 1983’s Madonna and 1984’s Like a Virgin, established her disco sound, iconic image, and provocative approach. It is said that he did.
If you’ve ever heard “Material Girl” or seen the music video, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
Released in 1986, “True Blue” stays true to Madonna’s roots, but marks a radical change from her previous albums. This is also her best-selling album.
This is a disco album after all, and the percussion makes you want to get up and dance. But compared to her previous releases, “True Blue” sounds like a plate fresh out of the dishwasher or a pair of clean, polished, shiny red nails.
There are two things that bother me about “True Blue.”
First, the songs are so repetitive it’s ridiculous.
In the song “Where’s the Party,” Madonna asks “Where’s the party” a total of 24 times, on average, once every 10 seconds. If you find the series “Where’s the Party” to be too repetitive, try Surviving That Song. Someone please take her to the party!
Secondly, I think the lyrics of this song are horribly boring.
The songs range from light-hearted themes such as the beautiful island of “La Isla Bonita” to heavier themes such as world hunger and prejudice in “Love Makes the World Go Round.”
Each topic is treated in the same boring way and is flatter than graphene (a single plane of carbon atoms, the flattest known to humanity).
You might as well stop after reading the titles of her songs. Because that’s all you can get out of it.
In “Love Makes the World Go Round,” Madonna sings: It’s easy to recite. But that doesn’t mean anything at all unless you’re willing to fight. There is hunger everywhere. We must take a firm stand. ”
Note that this has a tone reminiscent of the upbeat songs from Dora the Explorer. I truly believe that people of the same age group who enjoy Dora have much more valuable things to say about world hunger.
I may not enjoy Madonna’s music, but I do appreciate the legacy she built and her progressive beliefs.
Like Prince, the daring disco version of the ’80s, Madonna is just had One of its names. Needless to say, it was given to me at birth, which I am very envious of.
Her name is particularly apt with its irony.
“Madonna” suggests the Virgin Mary, the patriarchal stereotype of a pure and virtuous woman. In contrast, the Queen of Pop challenged societal norms surrounding women. She was a shining example that you don’t have to act the way people expect you to or dress the way people want you to.
At the time, no one else dressed like Madonna.
She’s wearing a glamorous pink slip dress one day, a spiral-cone gatiébra the next, and, my personal favorite, a sign that says, “Italians try harder.” I could also wear a bright black T-shirt.
According to the Irish Times, Madonna’s bold style and lyrics caused controversy.
Early in her career, she struggled to be taken seriously as an artist, which served as ammunition for “True Blue.”
In the album cover photo, she looks enchanting and divine. Her songs maintain a healthy dose of erotica, empowering female sexuality in the face of a patriarchal society.
In addition to that, “True Blue” also tackles political issues.
“Daddy Don’t Preach” is about a girl who seeks support from her father after deciding to keep her baby. Especially in conservative America in the 1980s, teenage pregnancy was often avoided. According to the American songwriter, the song sparked a much-needed conversation starter.
Another song I can tolerate is “Jimmy, Jimmy.” It’s a repetition of vulgar lyrics, but its catchiness is barely above the hump.
The beginning and ending of the song are what I appreciate most about this album.
The intro is a curious opening to my first Fran. “Mmm, delicious!”
The outro is the final moment of triumph after I finish eating the vegetables my mother forced me to eat, even though I was a picky eater. “Thank God it’s over!”
Since “True Blue,” Madonna has rarely left the spotlight, releasing an album roughly every two years. She continues to feature music from pop artists such as The Weeknd’s “Popular.” Madonna, 65, has just finished her 2023 Celebration Tour, where she performed to a sold-out crowd.
While writing these reviews, I have made it a tradition to listen to each album and separate myself from the music.
I’m listening to “True Blue” at this very moment.
Every metallic tap on the keys on my desktop evokes poignant words, and at the same time my feet are doing some sneaky thing, subconsciously drumming along with the song.
If I sound a bit contradictory, it’s because I am. I want to hate “True Blue.”I think I hate “True Blue.” My legs can’t stop shaking again.
evaluation
Impact: 10/10 Gold Doubloons
“True Blue” was a huge hit. This work took Madonna to new heights, redefining her image and tackling difficult issues, especially around sexism in America.
Longevity: 5/5 Spotlight Madonna remains the best-selling female artist, and “True Blue” is her best-selling album. This album signaled a change in her musical direction. Since then, Madonna has released albums regularly and strived to evolve her sound.
My taste: 1/10 taste buds
After reading the reviews for this album, I realized that I was missing a section called my personal favorites. The ratings I gave in previous reviews regarding impact and longevity were consistent with my reaction to this album. But as for “True Blue,” I swear I’ll never listen to it again unless forced to.
Eli Voorhies (he/him) is this quarter’s opinion editor. Previously, he was a City Life reporter and editor. In his free time, Legendary Vinyl He spends more time climbing, taking photos, and playing than working on records. Please contact us at [email protected].