Rain

Madonna - Rain (Source)

May has started in a pretty soggy way here in Seattle. I'm technically in recovery mode since the semester has ended, and I find myself transitioning into the summer months. My official duties as a teacher are over for now, and all I want is to bury myself deep into my comforter, which I've done successfully for most of this rainy day.

I re-discovered this music video of "Rain," by Madonna, which seemed pretty fitting for how I've thought about things - myself and larger forces out of my control - today. It brought me back to my budding Spramp self, completely enamored by Madonna's Erotica album, circa 1992 . "Rain" is on that album, and I always thought it was pretty oddly placed, but I loved it tremendously, and would play it on repeat all the time. When I found it today, I kinda let out a little whimper and found myself staring out into the cold, rainy Seattle day, fairly happy, a lot tired, and just ready for the craziness of the summer. Madonna should go Asian again ... lol.

BTW: I've had two different people ride in my car while I've had Madonna's Hard Candy on, and they've both been pretty unreceptive to it. I really do want to give it a chance.

Definitely more to come.

Candy Hard

I finally got a taste of the complete Hard Candy album by Madonna, out today, and it'll take some getting used to. I was (and still am) completely enamored by her Confessions on a Dance Floor album - it's one of the best ones she's done - and this new album, I feel, is a radical departure from it. And sometimes radical transitions just sound awkward. I haven't been wow'ed by any of the songs yet ... maybe it'll grow on me.

I still heart Madonna.

Addendum: I just read the Washington Post review of Hard Candy. I'm glad that I'm not the only one who thinks some of the stuff on the album sounds "awkward."

It works best when Madonna isn't trying to act like she's down with the hip-hop kids, which just sounds weird. In "Heartbeat," for instance, over a stuttering beat accented by a cowbell, we find Madonna quasi-rapping the line "see my booty get down" over and over as Pharrell eggs her on: "A little lower, baby." Awk-ward! (Source)

I recommend: 4 Minutes, Give It 2 Me, Miles Away - and the remixes are fun (only available on the deluxe album version.

Check it:
Madonna [Official Site]

Watch The Clock

4 Minutes, Madonna ft. Justin Timberlake (Source)

Does Madonna age? Initially I thought the song was pretty repetitive and mindless (and maybe I still think that ... hmmm), but it really has a way of infecting you, doesn't it? If anything, it's a pretty interesting video. What am I saying - I love Madonna! She brings out my inner-gay.

This vid might be pulled, so enjoy while you can.

Buy the video on iTunes.

Check it:
Madonna

Madonna Does Vanity

Vanity Fair, May 2008 Cover (Source)

I am gay, after all.

Hard Candy releases April 29, 2008!

Lucky Stars: Hamutsun Serve

JAPAN DANCE DELIGHT-2005 2nd-[POPPING](Hamutsun Serve) (Source)

Word on the street is Japanese hip-hop and popping YouTube sensation Hamutsun Serve (featured above) will be featured in Madonna's "4 Minutes to Save the World" video, the first release off of her Hard Candy album due out in late April. Apparently, Madonna scoped the duo out on YouTube. Lucky lucky. I think they're fantastic, very anime, very Matrix-y, very Japanese. Aishiteru yo!

Read it:
"Dance duo Hamutsun Serve to appear in Madonna video" Tokyo Graph News (March 10, 2008)

Check it:
Madonna

Check It: 4 Minutes

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