MADONNA X FACTOR

Does her new, Portugeuse-inspired album, Madame X get Madonna back into the groove?

Does new album Madame X get Madonna back into the groove?

FOR THE LAST DECADE OR MORE IT’S BEEN

tough being a Madonna admirer.

Her last three albums were neither fan favourites nor critical successes. 2008’s Hard Candy was too busy chasing the R&B hits of its era, 2012’s MDNA was too busy chasing the shapeshifting EDM sound, and 2015’s Rebel Heart was too busy trying to sound hip it forgot to write catchy songs.

Four years later, and after moving to Portugal, Madame X gives Madonna the opportunity to get her groove back. So, has she? Yes; she’s sounding inspired again.

“Lisbon is where my record was born,” Madonna explained to DNA. “I found my tribe there and a magical world of incredible musicians that reinforced my belief that music across the world is truly all connected and is the soul of the universe.”

Indeed, some of the album is inspired by the traditional Portuguese musical style known as Fado.

First single, Medellín, featuring Colombian mega-hottie, Maluma was a sly, sultry taster of Madame X, which might be described as Madonna’s “Latin quarter” album, with lyrics leaping between English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Madonna still has plenty to say about the world, especially her world. And, in her 60th year, she now has, as she recently put it, “zero fucks to give”. By twirling back to her early NYC roots and lifelong passion for Latin music, she’s easily crafted her best album of the last two decades – admittedly a fairly low benchmark.

Perhaps the most revealing lyric of the album comes in Medellín: “forgave myself for being me,” defines the essence of Madame X. After the ear-bashing, strident sentiments that spoiled much of Rebel Heart, this is a kinder, gentler, yet still on-point Madonna.

Reuniting with producer/songwriter Mirwais, responsible for some of her most arresting music like Music and American Life, Madonna proves she’s still willing to push the envelope and not play it safe. Mirwais’ French-Algerian roots combine with Madonna’s pop sensibility to create true musical alchemy. Dark Ballet, which Madonna debuted last year at her Met Gala performance, is both lyrically and sonically provocative. She even dips into Jamaican dancehall on Future, featuring rapper Quavo, who she teamed up with on Champagne Rose last year, also featuring Cardi B.

There’s more of the swoon-some Maluma on

Every day you change your identity. You’re a mystery to me. I’m going to give you a new name: Madame X. – Martha Graham to 19-year-old dance student, Madonna.

Madame X, while another Madonna/Maluma collaboration, Soltera, snuck out on his album, 11:11, back in May. The anthemic I Rise will rally the masses at gay Pride events for decades to come. The Portuguese Fado-inspired tracks, plus sexy soul ballad Crave, are reminders that when Madonna is at her plundering best, she’s virtually peerless in pop music.

The Madame X concept/title of the album is derived from a nickname given to Madonna when she was 19 by legendary American dancer/choreographer Martha Graham, who told her, “I’m going to give you a new name: Madame X. Every day you come to class and I don’t recognise you. Every day you change your identity. You’re a mystery to me.”

Graham foresaw Madonna’s inclination for appropriation and transformation and, with so many influences present on this album, it seems a fitting title.

In a somewhat cumbersome press release Madonna states: “Madame X is a secret agent. Traveling around the world. Changing identities. Fighting for freedom. Bringing light to dark places. She is a dancer. A professor. A head of state. A housekeeper. An equestrian. A prisoner. A student. A mother. A child. A teacher. A nun. A singer. A saint. A whore. A spy in the house of love. I am Madame X.”

Of course, it’s all just another costume/ skin for her to inhabit momentarily before discarding like Breathless Mahoney for Dick Tracy, her dominatrix Dita for Erotica or Eva Peron for Evita. But in 2019, Madame X cleverly allows Madonna to evade preconceptions about what a female, 60-year-old pop star “should” be doing.

Will Madam X stand alongside 1989’s expressive Like A Prayer and 1998’s inspired Ray Of Light? Let’s see. But there’s music here that makes it worth being a proud Madonna fan once more.