Madonna Tells Bedtime Stories

 

In 1994, the music industry was once again, disrupted by that singer and songwriter who loved to shock and push the boundaries of the time, but this time she was shocking for very different reasons. Her image: toned down, softer but still maintaining that flirty sexiness that she was renowned for.

The collection of songs that would make up the body of Bedtime Stories was a collaboration between American and British producers, who were heavily involved with the R&B scene at the time, a sound that was current and at the center of the charts. Madonna, as usual, wanted a piece of the pie for herself and did not struggle to deliver her own homage to the new wave of rhythm and blues, which by this point had turned sassy and grunge. She was a white woman, who dared to embrace a sound that was predominantly the style of choice for many incredibly talented black singers and producers.

Madonna had upset a lot of people during the early phase of the 90's. With her Blond Ambition Tour, which shocked parents, authorities and even the pope, the singer didn't stop delivering the productions that would make granny shake her head in disgust. The raunchy song Justify My Love and it's video, which has often been described as pure porn, caused no end of controversies, but people loved it! Finding a formula that brought her great amounts of coverage, she then put out an entire album of sexual inuendo and hard-hitting truths, with the release of Erotica in 1992. Then there was THE book. She put her erotic fantasies into photographic form, with a few dirty essays thrown in for good measure. SEX was a book that divided many. Straight men hesitantly bought it, just to see how sexy it was, but keeping it hidden from their wives. Meanwhile, the wives were getting their own copies to feel empowered! I, myself remember my father owned a bookmakers (the gambling kind) that attracted the usual cliental of that time: mature men who wanted a few hours of peace away from the wife, while reveling in sport, smoking and betting. I can recall one of those said clients, bringing in a copy of SEX that he had got cheap from a hustler in the local pub for £20. Men gathered round to flip through the photos. They seemed to be amused, and from the huddled group I heard laughs and terms such as "filthy slag", "dirty bitch" and "what a joke". Were these old men trying to cover up the fact they really had a hard on, only because it was someone that their wives' thought was amazing, a threat to men with the empowerment and freedom she encouraged.

So, this era in Madonna's career had mixed results. Through the 80s, She had been teaching women how to have a good time, dance and look great doing it. But by the 90's, she was teaching women (and gay men) how to express themselves, be themselves and fuck the norms that society had put on us. Was the patriarchal man loosing his control? Did Madonna cross a line? Many thought so, and she was quickly knocked from her high perch, or at least they tried!

Then came along 1994, and the release of Bedtime Stories, where Madonna had the last word, of course.  She had lost the gold tooth, dominatrix attire and presented herself as a sultry lady, with a look inspired by the silver screen bombshell, Jean Harlow. But of course, she wasn't going to behave completely. with Human Nature, She took a good stab back at those who tried to silence her sexual desires, and what a strike back at was! A winning strike. The song Bedtime Story cemented her as a pioneer of the music video with it's technologically advanced effects and surrealism. One of the most expensive videos ever made, a record she held previously with her Express Yourself promo clip.

The album brought forward the single, Take A Bow, which became one of her biggest hits to date, topping the billboard chart with seven consecutive weeks. So, you see, Madonna really did have the last word. The critics tried to take away her credibility, her fame, her talent and artistry. But she came back with everything we loved about her, but in a way that the patriarchs felt was nice and sugar coated, but little did they realise that Madonna was having the last laugh.

Bedtime Stories is the next album in the series of Remixed and Remastered productions by myself. It will be uploaded to YouTube in May.

Track List: -

SURVIVAL (EXTENDED VERSION) 

LET DOWN YOUR GUARD (EXTENDED MIX) 

SECRET (LONG VERSION)

I'D RATHER BE YOUR LOVER (LOVE YOURSELF) [EXTENDED SOLO MIX]

DON’T STOP (MADONNA KEEPS ON GOIN' VERSION)

INSIDE OF ME (EXTENDED VERSION)

BEDTIME STORY (RAPID EYE DUB)

HUMAN NATURE (12” NOT SORRY MIX)

SURVIVAL (MADONNA’S GONE PRIMAL DUB)

FORBIDDEN LOVE (EXTENDED VERSION)

NEVER LOVE A STRANGER (EXTENDED MIX)

I’D RATHER BE YOUR LOVER (FEAT. TUPAC) (EXTENDED SOUL FUNK MIX)

YOUR HONESTY (TRUTH & SECRETS 12”)

FREEDOM (12” LIBERATION VERSION)

LOVE TRIED TO WELCOME ME (12” VERSION)

SANCTUARY (SOLITUDE MIX)

BEDTIME STORY (ASTRAL TRAVEL MIX)

TAKE A BOW (ENCORE  12”)

YOU'LL SEE (LONG VERSION)