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Tara Hanks

~ Author of 'The Mmm Girl' and 'Wicked Baby'

Tara Hanks

Tag Archives: M.I.A.

MDNA

12 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by marina72 in Madonna, Music

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Benassi Bros, Golden Globes, M.I.A., Madonna, Martin Solveig, MDNA, Nicki Minaj, Super Bowl, W.E., William Orbit

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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 →

The Fame Monster

16 Sunday Jan 2011

Posted by marina72 in Music

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Ace of Base, Alex Petridis, Alexander McQueen, Beyonce, Blond Ambition, Blondie, Born This Way, Bruce Springsteen, Caitlin Moran, Camille Paglia, Dance in the Dark, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Elton John, Grace Jones, Heather Chassils, Hedi Slimane, Kill Bill, Lady Gaga, Lissi, M.I.A., Madonna, Monster Ball, Quentin Tarantino, Steven Klein, The Fame Monster, Thelma and Louise, Tyrese Gibson

“I think re-releases are unfair,” Lady Gaga told Rolling Stone in 2009. “It’s artists sneaking singles onto an already finished piece of work in an effort to keep the album afloat.” So-called ‘deluxe editions’ of high-selling albums have become common in recent years, and Lady Gaga’s 2008 debut, The Fame, was indeed a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Within a few months of its release, Gaga had topped charts worldwide with hits like ‘Just Dance’, ‘Poker Face’ and ‘Paparazzi’, transporting her from near-obscurity to household name.

With eight tracks, including three singles, and some rave reviews, The Fame Monster is a very different animal from most re-releases. It has been categorized as an EP, and not so long ago might have been classed as an album in its own right (Michael Jackson’s Thriller was only seven tracks long, while Madonna’s Like a Virgin ran to nine.)

In a press release, Gaga claimed that unlike its sister album, The Fame Monster contains “no songs about money, no songs about fame.” It was written “on the road” and deals with her fears: “my fear of sex monster, my fear of alcohol monster, my fear of love monster, my fear of death monster, my fear of loneliness monster, etc.” Continue reading →

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