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
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04- 2-2008
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