NPR: BPP Music Review: Madonna Teams Up with J.T.

BPP Music Review: Madonna Teams Up with J.T.

Filed under: Music

The first single off Madonna's new album is a duet with Justin Timberlake. Ugh. Now we must withstand the forthcoming onslaught of critics and fans who will once again marvel, as they have each time in the last 15 years when Madonna has released something, at her "incredible ability to reinvent herself."

Madonna was once the ultimate trendsetter. She was a revolutionary who changed music, changed culture, and changed sexuality. But she did all those things 20 years ago. Now she's become a parody of herself. (How will she defile a crucifix on this tour? By making it listen to her new album?)

The truth is, Madonna went from setting trends to following them a long time ago. "Reinvention" in this context is just a euphemism for "copying whatever is popular this week."

For Madonna in the year 2008, reinvention means attending the Britney School of Atonal Digitally-Modified Vocals. On her single with JT, the original queen of pop seduction sounds about as alluring as a Cuisinart. She's ripping off the people who are ripping off her from 20 years ago. As with Britney's new album, the truly impressive aspect of the music is the production. It's a great groove. But all Madonna brings is gravitas.

True reinvention requires risk. You know what I'd like to see? Madonna with an acoustic guitar and no beats whatsoever. How about a duet with Neil Diamond? Or maybe a career in parlor magic? Anything but this. Please.

Dan Pashman

9:17 AM ET | 04- 2-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

The sad truth is, Madonna has already had her late-career comeback with "Ray of Light," but even that was ten years ago now! It's just time for her to wrap it up.

And that goes double for you, Janet Jackson. Emulate your brother. The not making records anymore part, I mean, not the inappropriate contact with children part.

Sent by Stewart | 1:32 PM ET | 04-02-2008

Madonna gets too much credit for being a trendsetter, for sure, but even if that description is a complete airball on the part of the critics and fans you're fed up with, Pashman, it doesn't mean the music is all bad.

I can get behind a pop star afflicted with a bad case of restless experimentation, even if she's just poaching from the flavor of the week. But an automaton Madonna's not. If she were just a tool for producers to manipulate, she wouldn't put out disasters like American Life.

Anyway Dan, your wish = my command:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp7FjQ-3zLQ

You sure this is still what you want?

Sent by Jacob Ganz, NPR | 2:10 PM ET | 04-02-2008

Well Jacob, I didn't say I'd *like* the content itself necessarily, I just meant I'd applaud the effort. Also, if you read carefully, you'll see that I wrote "acoustic guitar and no beats whatsoever." That song has beats.

Also, is she sitting on bales of hay?

Sent by Dan Pashman, NPR | 2:35 PM ET | 04-02-2008

I'm surprised you made it past the first 30 seconds to hear the "beats." But yes, bales of hay. And a bad fake southern accent all the way at the end.

Sent by Jacob Ganz, NPR | 2:59 PM ET | 04-02-2008

""Reinvention" in this context is just a euphemism for "copying whatever is popular this week.""

very wise words. I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

Sent by jeff stiefer | 2:07 AM ET | 04-03-2008

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Host

Alison Stewart

Welcome to 'The Bryant Park Project'

The Bryant Park Project started as a blog in the summer of 2007 and ended as a radio show and online community in July 2008. Read our frequently asked questions and discussion rules.