The title of Madonna’s twelfth studio album was announced, tentatively, by the artist herself on television. ‘MDNA’ is, of course, an abbreviation of her own name, taking us back to that eponymous début from 1983. It is also reminiscent of MDMA, the drug with a street name, ‘ecstasy’. MDNA was recorded in late 2011, after a fairly long break from music following the making of Madonna’s film, W.E. She worked with a number of producers, including William Orbit, Martin Solveig, and the Benassi Brothers.

The album was released in March 2012 in both standard and deluxe formats, with cover photography by Mert and Marcus. On the standard edition, Madonna stands in a red dress, with her arms spread over an unseen record deck; while the deluxe version offers a close-up shot, bequiffed and gazing imperiously. Continue reading →