Gang Bang (song)

Last updated

"Gang Bang"
Song by Madonna
from the album MDNA
ReleasedMarch 23, 2012 (2012-03-23)
Recorded2011
Studio 3:20 Studios
(Los Angeles, California)
MSR Studios
(New York, New York)
Genre
Length5:26
Label Interscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Madonna
  • Orbit
  • The Demolition Crew
MDNA track listing
16 tracks
  1. "Girl Gone Wild"
  2. "Gang Bang"
  3. "I'm Addicted"
  4. "Turn Up the Radio"
  5. "Give Me All Your Luvin'"
  6. "Some Girls"
  7. "Superstar"
  8. "I Don't Give A"
  9. "I'm a Sinner"
  10. "Love Spent"
  11. "Masterpiece"
  12. "Falling Free"
Deluxe edition
  1. "Beautiful Killer"
  2. "I Fucked Up"
  3. "B-Day Song"
  4. "Best Friend"

"Gang Bang" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna, from her twelfth studio album MDNA (2012). It was written by Madonna, Mika, William Orbit, Priscilla Hamilton, Keith Harris, Jean-Baptiste, Don Juan "Demo" Casanova, and produced by Madonna, Orbit and The Demolition Crew. Madonna cited American director Quentin Tarantino as an inspiration for the song, revealing that she wanted him as the director for the song's music video.

Contents

A dance, electronic, electropop and techno song, it lyrically portrays a scorned woman seeking revenge on her lover. Police sirens, whispered vocals, throbbing beats and a dubstep breakdown provide the song with a suspense-filled atmosphere. The song received critical acclaim, most calling it a highlight of the album and also the boldest track of the album. Some even hailed it as one of Madonna's best songs.

"Gang Bang" charted on the French Singles Chart and the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart, due to digital downloads from MDNA. Madonna performed the song on the MDNA Tour, in a motel setting where she is seen shooting the male dancers who infiltrate her room, with blood being splattered on the backdrop. The performance was heavily criticized for its use of guns, but received favorable reviews from critics.

Background and inspiration

Madonna wrote the song with the American film director Quentin Tarantino in mind to direct its music video. Quentin Tarantino by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Madonna wrote the song with the American film director Quentin Tarantino in mind to direct its music video.

While working on her then-upcoming album, MDNA, Madonna enlisted William Orbit to work with her again; Orbit had previously worked with Madonna on songs like "Ray of Light", "Frozen" and "Beautiful Stranger", among others. [1] The producer insisted that despite the abundance of pop music on the charts at that time, they did not pay much attention to what was being played on Top 40 radio. Instead, they focused on their own music and the "bubble of creativity" they were living in. Orbit also revealed, "We liked what we're doing in this current time and space," he continued. "What we tended to do was watch old French films from the '60s or listen to music that was so far away that it wasn't, in any way, relevant." [2]

Among the songs recorded for the album, "Gang Bang" was confirmed by Madonna to be part of the track listing, which was revealed on her official website in February 2012. [3] On March 8, the singer and co-writer of the track, Mika, tweeted that it was "weird as fuck, underground and lyrically cool; it's amazing and bizarre. I love it, she sounds so good singing words so harsh." [4] The same day, a snippet of the track was released. [5] Orbit also commented about the song's dark tone and lyrics:

"[It's] aggressive". "It's like she sang that off the bat. I mean that. She created it in the moment. And the lyrics were all there, but I think she fell into a character. It was actually a good day. It wasn't a dark day. There wasn't like aggression in the air. The demo created out of the blue pretty much. She loved the spirit of it. We were all dancing around the control room. ... It was a total atmosphere of spontaneity. Pretty good fun, but it's dark." [6]

Madonna said that she wrote "Gang Bang" with director Quentin Tarantino in mind, saying, "That's who I was thinking about when I was writing the song. I was picturing one of his movies, and one of the female characters. I have a whole thing worked out. All Quentin has to do is show up with a camera. I can't afford a director's fee." [7] However, when asked about the video, Tarantino said, "I don't know. I've been asked to direct commercials and music videos, Madonna and Jay-Z wanted me to direct their videos, but I refused. I'm not interested, just as I'm not interested in commercials. If it's not to make movies, I don't want to be on set." [8]

Composition

"Gang Bang" was written by Madonna and Orbit with Priscilla Hamilton, Keith Harris, Jean-Baptiste, Mika, Don Juan "Demo" Casanova, and produced by Madonna, Orbit and the Demolition Crew. [10] It is the longest song on the album, lasting for 5 minutes and 26 seconds. [10] Lyrically, it follows a woman getting her cronies together to seek bloody vengeance against someone, [6] with the singer declaring, "Shot you dead, shot my lover in the head / I'm going straight to hell / I've got a lot of friends there," before yelling, "Drive bitch, die bitch!". [5] It ends with the line: "If you're going to [act] like a bitch then you're going to die like a bitch." [11] According to MTV News' Bradley Stern, the song "revisits the role of the scorned songstress from Erotica 's 'Thief of Hearts' (1992)." [12]

"Gang Bang" is a dark dance, [13] electronic, [14] electropop [15] and techno [16] song with a dubstep breakdown in its middle eight [11] [13] and industrial-tinged beats. [11] Michael Cragg from The Guardian commented that the track "recalls her American Life album in its slightly uneasy marrying of genres". [11] Writer Alexander from Idolator thought that the song "gives us a flashback to her under-appreciated Celebration collaboration with Lil' Wayne, 'Revolver' (2009)". [17]

Critical reception

The song received critical acclaim. Michael Cragg of The Guardian wrote that it is "a ridiculous collection of sound effects (police sirens, gunshots) and imposing menace that's actually pretty fun in a kind of slightly unhinged way." [11] Neil McCormick of The Telegraph wrote that the song is "a solid techno groove and one of the album's odder and most interesting tracks." [18] Stern commented that the song "is not only the highlight of the record, but a highlight of Madonna's career." [12] Matthew Perpetua of Pitchfork wrote that "it's the album's boldest, most experimental track, and it's marred only by a just-off vocal performance that renders her very familiar voice a bit anonymous, and a halfhearted attempt at a dub-step bass drop." [9] Nick Levine of BBC Music called it "a preposterous piece of pop schlock." [19]

Priya Elan of NME wrote that "the music is cold and minimal, recalling the grubby house beats of Erotica, and Madge bleats on like some antagonistic disco Fury driven to the edge by her thirst for vengeance. And gosh, it's thrilling stuff." [20] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called it "a standout cut in which Madonna quite convincingly portrays a jilted bride turned femme fatale in the vein of Beatrix Kiddo," writing that it "plays more like a piss take of Ritchie's gangster fetish than a glorification of it." [21] Melinda Newman of HitFix called it "one of the most compelling tracks, with Madonna singing in a low whispery register, detailing that she’s shot her lover dead in the head and, furthermore, she has no regrets. It’s violent and explicit and it’s what Madonna used to represent: a sense of danger." [22] Jim Farber of New York Daily News called it "historic" and "may be the world’s first murder-ballad-as-disco song." [23] Samuel R. Murrian from Parade ranked it at number 72 on his list of Madonna's 100 greatest songs, calling it "a vintage grindhouse exploitation revenge flick within a tune. This vividly cinematic track builds and builds until she’s screaming at the end. It’s a lot of fun". [24]

Commercial performance

"Gang Bang" entered some record charts due to digital downloads from MDNA. It entered the French Singles Chart at number 93 for issue date of March 31, 2012. [25] In the United States, the song charted on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales at number 30. [26] In South Korea, the song debuted at number 90 on the Gaon International Downloads Chart with sales of 3,653 copies. [27]

Live performance and controversy

Madonna shooting a gun while performing "Gang Bang" during the MDNA Tour in 2012. Behind her, blood can be seen spattered on the backdrops. MDNA DSCN1049 7328965880.jpg
Madonna shooting a gun while performing "Gang Bang" during the MDNA Tour in 2012. Behind her, blood can be seen spattered on the backdrops.

"Gang Bang" was added to the setlist of the MDNA Tour (2012), and performed as the third song. [28] In the performance, Madonna attacks several of her dancers with a fake gun in a moving "Paradise Motel", as blood spattered in the backdrop screens. [29] The performance was condemned by groups like Mothers Against Guns, who said the singer should "know better." Audience member reactions were pretty severe, with one commenting, "We're dancing and all of a sudden people started realizing what the song was," said concert-goer Aaron Fransua, 25, who was in section 120. "We all just stood there. Everybody who was around me all had shock on their face. I heard a lot of 'wows'," Fransua said. A member of her tour staff told The Huffington Post that "Madonna would rather cancel her show than censor her art. Her entire career, she has fought against people telling her what she can and cannot do. She's not about to start listening to them now." [30] Madonna herself explained the use of guns in a letter:

"I do not condone violence or the use of guns," she wrote. "Rather they are symbols of wanting to appear strong and wanting to find a way to stop feelings that I find hurtful or damaging. In my case I want to stop the lies and hypocrisy of the church, the intolerance of many narrow minded cultures and societies I have experienced throughout my life and in some cases the pain I have felt from having my heart broken." [31]

She further commented about the controversy in an interview for Good Morning America , saying that she would not remove the weapons from the performance, adding: "That would be like asking people to not have guns in action movies... I mean, the thing is, guns don't kill people, people kill people. That whole first section of the show is like an action movie, and I was playing a super-vixen who wanted revenge." [32]

While reviewing the MDNA World Tour DVD, Arnold Wayne Jones of the Dallas Voice wrote that the "blood-spattering projections during 'Bang Bang', Madonna reminds us why we've followed her machinations for nearly 30 years." [33] Entertainment Focus criticized those who complained about the violence on the performance, writing that, "This is a Madonna show and she's never been anything less than ballsy." [34] Jim Farber of New York Daily News wrote that the song "could be history’s first disco murder ballad," saying that in the performance, "Madonna blows away an army of intruders with enough relish to secure a starring role in the next Quentin Tarantino gorefest." [35]

Saeed Saeed of The National agreed, calling the performance, "a Quentin Tarantino revenge romp." [36] Glenn Gamboa of Newsday called it "a season of Dexter condensed into five minutes, complete with blood splatters on the massive video screens." [37] Mario Tarradell of The Dallas Morning News wrote that the performance "was all perfectly staged, and it had a clear message: Madonna will not be hindered." [38] Andrew Matson of The Seattle Times wrote "the violence was so over the top, it overshadowed the rest of the show." [39] [40]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of MDNA. [10]

Charts

Chart (2012)Peak
position
France (SNEP) [25] 93
South Korea International (GAON) [27] 90
US Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [26] 30

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madonna</span> American singer and actress (born 1958)

Madonna Louise Ciccone is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen of Pop", she has been widely recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting and visual presentation. She has pushed the boundaries of artistic expression in mainstream music while maintaining control over every aspect of her career. Madonna's works, which incorporate social, political, sexual, and religious themes, have generated both controversy and critical acclaim. A prominent cultural pop icon spanning both the 20th and 21st centuries, she remains one of the most "well-documented figures of the modern age", with a broad array of scholarly reviews, literature, and art works about her, as well as an academic mini subdiscipline devoted to her called Madonna studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray of Light (song)</span> 1998 single by Madonna

"Ray of Light" is a song by American singer Madonna. It is the title track from her seventh studio album, Ray of Light (1998), and was released as the album's second single on April 27, 1998, by Maverick Records. The song was also included on the compilation albums GHV2 (2001) and Celebration (2009). Written by Madonna, William Orbit, Clive Maldoon, Dave Curtiss, Christine Leach, and produced by Madonna and Orbit, "Ray of Light" is based on Curtiss Maldoon's "Sepheryn" and is an electronic dance song with techno, trance, Eurodance, and disco influences. "Ray of Light" consists of a main synth sound oscillating on the primary musical note and an electric guitar riff. Lyrically, the song has a theme of freedom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Like a Virgin (song)</span> 1984 song by Madonna

"Like a Virgin" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna from her second album of the same name. The song was written and composed by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, and it was released as the album's lead single on October 31, 1984. A dance song with two hooks, Madonna sings in a high register while a continuous arrangement of synths are heard along the bassline. The song's lyrics are ambiguous, consisting of hidden innuendos and open to various interpretations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hung Up</span> 2005 single by Madonna

"Hung Up" is a song by American singer Madonna from her tenth studio album Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005). Initially used in a number of television advertisements and serials, the song was released as the album's lead single on October 18, 2005. Written and produced by Madonna in collaboration with Stuart Price, "Hung Up" prominently features a sample from the instrumental introduction to ABBA's single "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! ", for which Madonna personally sought permission from its songwriters, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. This is one of the few times Andersson and Ulvaeus have given permission to sample one of their songs, following "Rumble in the Jungle" by the Fugees and "Fly With Me" by 98 Degrees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human Nature (Madonna song)</span> 1995 single by Madonna

"Human Nature" is a song by American singer Madonna for her sixth studio album Bedtime Stories (1994). It was written as an answer song to her critics, who had panned her provocative image of the previous two years and Madonna's release of sexually explicit works. Written and produced by Madonna and Dave Hall, "Human Nature" includes a looping sample from Main Source's 1994 track "What You Need", therefore its writers Shawn McKenzie, Kevin McKenzie and Michael Deering are also credited. The track was released on June 6, 1995, by Maverick Records as the fourth and final single from Bedtime Stories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anjulie</span> Canadian musician (born 1983)

Anjulie Persaud, known by the mononym Anjulie, is a Canadian singer and songwriter who has released one self-titled album, and has collaborated with Diplo, Zedd, Boombox Cartel, Kelly Clarkson, Nicki Minaj, TheFatRat, and Benny Benassi, among others. Her music has been featured on HBO, ABC, NBC and MTV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celebration (Madonna song)</span> 2009 single by Madonna

"Celebration" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Madonna for her third greatest hits album of the same name (2009). It was written and produced by Madonna, Paul Oakenfold and Ian Green, with additional writing from Ciaran Gribbin. The song was released digitally on July 31, 2009, by Warner Bros. Records. Madonna collaborated with Oakenfold to develop a number of songs. Amongst all the songs developed by them, two were chosen for the greatest hits album with "Celebration" being released as the first single from it. It is a dance-oriented song with influences of Madonna's singles from the 1980s and 1990s, and consisting of a speak-sing format bridge. The lyrics of the song invite one to come and join a party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Revolver (song)</span> 2009 single by Madonna

"Revolver" is a song by American recording artist Madonna from her third greatest hits compilation, Celebration (2009). It was released on December 14, 2009, by Warner Bros. Records and marked her final single release with the label, which had been her record company since 1982. The song features American rapper Lil Wayne and was written by Madonna, Carlos Battey, Steven Battey, Dwayne Carter, Justin Franks and Brandon Kitchen. It was produced by Madonna and DJ Frank E.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Give Me All Your Luvin'</span> 2012 single by Madonna

"Give Me All Your Luvin'" is a song by American singer Madonna from her twelfth studio album, MDNA (2012). It features guest vocals by Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj and English rapper M.I.A. The song was written and produced by Madonna and Martin Solveig, with additional writing by M.I.A., Minaj and Michael Tordjman. After working with Solveig on one song, Madonna continued recording others including "Give Me All Your Luvin'". Madonna chose to work with M.I.A. and Minaj on the track since she felt they were both strong women with unique voices. She also liked their music and what they represented.

<i>MDNA</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Madonna

MDNA is the twelfth studio album by American singer Madonna, released on March 23, 2012, by Interscope Records. The album was conceived while the singer was busy throughout 2011 with filming her directorial venture, W.E. Madonna started the recording in July 2011 and collaborated with a variety of producers such as Alle Benassi, Benny Benassi, Demolition Crew, Free School, Michael Malih, Indiigo, William Orbit, and Martin Solveig, the last two serving as primary producers of the record. The album features guest features by female rappers M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masterpiece (Madonna song)</span> 2012 single by Madonna

"Masterpiece" is a song by American singer Madonna for the soundtrack of the 2011 film W.E. The song was later included on her twelfth studio album MDNA (2012). It served official radio release in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2012, to promote the album. Madonna composed the song alongside Julie Frost and Jimmy Harry, and produced it with William Orbit. "Masterpiece" is a midtempo pop and folk-pop ballad which is reminiscent of her works from the 1990s. The song garnered positive reviews from contemporary critics, who praised its lyrical content and Madonna's vocal performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The MDNA Tour</span> 2012 concert tour by Madonna

The MDNA Tour was the ninth concert tour by American singer Madonna, launched in-support of her twelfth studio album, MDNA (2012). Comprising 88 shows, the tour began on May 31, 2012, in Tel Aviv, Israel's Ramat Gan Stadium and concluded in Córdoba, Argentina on December 22, 2012. Rumors of the singer embarking on a concert tour first began in October 2011, but nothing was confirmed until four months later, following her performance at the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show. As Madonna's fifth tour with Live Nation, the MDNA Tour visited not only Eurasia and the Americas, but marked the first time she performed in the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine and Colombia. Additionally, it was her first visit to Turkey since 1993's The Girlie Show. An Australian leg was planned for January 2013, but was cancelled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girl Gone Wild</span> 2012 single by Madonna

"Girl Gone Wild" is a song by American singer Madonna from her twelfth studio album, MDNA (2012). She co-wrote the song with Benny Benassi, his cousin Alle Benassi, and songwriter Jenson Vaughan, while the Benassi Bros. co-produced the track with Madonna. Vaughan had worked on the lyrics before sending them to Madonna, who developed the demo into the final version of "Girl Gone Wild". The song was confirmed by Madonna as the second single from the album and was released on March 2, 2012, by Interscope Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superstar (Madonna song)</span> 2012 promotional single by Madonna

"Superstar" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her twelfth studio album MDNA (2012). It was released on December 3, 2012, in Brazil only as a special edition free CD with Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo. The song was written and produced by Madonna, Hardy "Indigo" Muanza and Michael Malih and is a dance-pop track, which has electronic and pop influences. Instrumentation featured in "Superstar" includes guitars and drum machines. Lyrically, Madonna compares her boyfriend with famous men, such as John Travolta, Abraham Lincoln, Al Capone, among others and claims to be his "biggest fan".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turn Up the Radio (Madonna song)</span> 2012 single by Madonna

"Turn Up the Radio" is a song recorded by American recording artist Madonna for her twelfth studio album, MDNA (2012). It was written by Madonna, Martin Solveig, Michael Tordjman and Jade Williams, and produced by Madonna and Solveig. The song was released as the fourth and final single from the album on June 29, 2012. The single was also released as a digital EP, and included a remix featuring the group Far East Movement. "Turn Up the Radio" is a dance-pop, electropop and Euro house song with a French house-inspired chorus.

"Nobody Knows Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. The song was written and produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï for her ninth studio album American Life (2003). It was released as a promotional single in the United States on October 15, 2003, with a remixed version appearing on the remix compilation Remixed & Revisited (2003). "Nobody Knows Me" carries on the main theme of American Life, with its usage of negative tones on the songs. It is a dance and electronic song, with vocoder effects, spacey synths and a bubbly bass, and lyrically, Madonna rejects tabloid culture's "social disease", denouncing both TV and magazines.

"I Don't Give A" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Madonna for her twelfth studio album MDNA (2012). The song features rap vocals by American recording artist Nicki Minaj. It was written and produced by Madonna and Martin Solveig, with additional songwriting by Minaj and Julien Jabre. "I Don't Give A" is an electro-funk song with syncopated electronic hip hop and industrial beats.

<i>MDNA World Tour</i> (album) 2013 live album by Madonna

MDNA World Tour is the fourth live album by American singer and songwriter Madonna. It was released on September 6, 2013, by Interscope Records as a full concert on all formats including a double-disc CD, DVD, and Blu-ray. Madonna had embarked on the MDNA Tour for promotion of her twelfth studio album MDNA. The tour was a commercial success although it courted a number of controversies. The performances at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida during the North American leg of the MDNA Tour were documented for video release. The recording was directed by Danny B. Tull and Stephane Sennour who included footage from other shows of the tour.

<i>Rebel Heart</i> 2015 studio album by Madonna

Rebel Heart is the thirteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released by Interscope Records on March 6, 2015. She worked on the album throughout 2014, co-writing and co-producing it with various musicians, including Diplo, Avicii and Kanye West. The album also features guest vocals by boxer Mike Tyson and rappers Nicki Minaj, Nas and Chance the Rapper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bitch I'm Madonna</span> 2015 single by Madonna

"Bitch I'm Madonna" is a song by American singer Madonna from her thirteenth studio album, Rebel Heart (2015), featuring guest vocals from rapper Nicki Minaj. The artists co-wrote the song with MoZella, Toby Gad, Ariel Rechtshaid, Diplo, and Sophie. It was released as the third single from the album by Interscope Records on June 15, 2015, along with a number of remixes commissioned. Produced by Madonna and Diplo, it is an EDM song with lyrics about Madonna having continuous fun because she is Madonna.

References

  1. Vena, Jocelyn (January 26, 2012). "Madonna Made 'Magic' With William Orbit On M.D.N.A." MTV News . Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  2. Vena, Jocelyn (March 27, 2012). "Madonna Rocked To Kreayshawn, French Films Making MDNA". MTV News. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  3. Bychawski, Adam (February 3, 2012). "Madonna reveals 'MDNA' album tracklisting". NME . Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Billboard Staff (March 9, 2012). "Madonna, 'MDNA': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard . Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  5. 1 2 Bein, Becky (March 2, 2012). "Madonna's First 'MDNA' Review: 'This Is A Dark Album'". Idolator . Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  6. 1 2 Vena, Jocelyn (March 26, 2012). "Madonna Proclaims 'Queen Bitch' Status On MDNA". MTV News. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  7. "Madonna Wants Tarantino For 'Gang Bang' Video". MTV UK. March 26, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  8. "Quentin Tarantino Interview". L'Express (in French). January 23, 2013. ISSN   0245-9949.
  9. 1 2 Perpetua, Matthew (March 26, 2012). "Madonna: MDNA". Pitchfork . Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  10. 1 2 3 MDNA (Liner notes). Madonna. Interscope Records. 2012. p. 18. B00756GKBA.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Cragg, Michael (March 7, 2012). "First listen: Madonna's MDNA". The Guardian . Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  12. 1 2 Stern, Bradley (March 26, 2012). "'MDNA' Track-By-Track Review: A Cheat Sheet To Madonna's New Album". MTV News . Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  13. 1 2 Green, Laurence (March 26, 2012). "Madonna - MDNA". musicOMH . Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  14. Levine, Nick (March 14, 2012). "Track-by-track review of Madonna's MDNA". The National . Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  15. Pareles, Jon (March 26, 2012). "'MDNA,' Madonna's 12th Studio Album". The New York Times . Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  16. Green, Laurence (March 8, 2012). "TRACK-BY-TRACK: Madonna - MDNA". musicOMH . Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  17. Alexander, X. (March 8, 2012). "Madonna's 'Gang Bang': Hear A Preview". Idolator. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  18. McCormick, Neil (March 7, 2012). "Madonna's new album MDNA: track-by-track review" . The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  19. Levine, Nick (March 21, 2012). "Review of Madonna – MDNA". BBC Music . Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  20. Elan, Priya (March 23, 2012). "Album Reviews – Madonna – 'MDNA'". NME . Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  21. Cinquemani, Sal (March 21, 2012). "Madonna: MDNA". Slant Magazine . Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  22. Newman, Melinda (March 23, 2012). "Album Review: Madonna finds beauty in the beat on 'MDNA'". HitFix. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  23. Farber, Jim (March 25, 2012). "'MDNA,' Madonna's great new CD, is an exhilarating return to her pop-dance past". Daily News . New York. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  24. Murrian, Samuel R. (August 16, 2019). "We Ranked the 100 Best Madonna Songs of All Time". Parade . Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  25. 1 2 "Madonna – Gang Bang" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  26. 1 2 "Madonna – Chart history". Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs for Madonna. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  27. 1 2 2012년 14주차 Download Chart (Select 2012.03.25~2012.03.31 from the drop-down on the right) (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  28. Newman, Jason (May 31, 2012). "Madonna Disses Lady Gaga, Preaches Peace in MDNA Tour Kickoff". Fuse TV. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  29. Levin, Jordan (November 20, 2012). "Madonna MDNA show in Miami". Miami Herald . Archived from the original on March 5, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  30. "Madonna & Guns: Denver Concert Begins With Fake Gunplay, Angering Fans (UPDATED)". HuffPost . March 26, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  31. Gicas, Peter (August 28, 2012). "Madonna Defends Using Swastika and Guns on Tour in New Manifesto". E! . Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  32. Chumley, Cheryl (June 24, 2013). "Madonna shocker: 'Guns don't kill people; people kill people'". The Washington Times . Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  33. Wayne Jones, Arnold (September 13, 2013). "Uh,oh, it's Madge-ic". Dallas Voice . Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  34. Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (September 12, 2013). "Madonna – MDNA World Tour review". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  35. Farber, Jim (August 29, 2013). "Madonna expresses herself, often darkly, in powerful Philadelphia show". Daily News . New York. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  36. Saeed, Saeed (June 4, 2012). "MDNA audience bears witness to Madonna's inner turmoil". The National . Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  37. Gamboa, Glenn (August 29, 2012). "Madonna MDNA tour in Philadelphia is transformative". Newsday . Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  38. Mario Tarradell (October 22, 2012). "Madonna examines religious extremes, turns political and sings with a vengeance during sold-out American Airlines Center concert". The Dallas Morning News . Archived from the original on November 24, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  39. Matson, Andrew (October 3, 2012). "Madonna 'Kills' At KeyArena". The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  40. Pian Chan, Sharon (October 3, 2012). "Madonna Rocked Us As A Feminist Icon at KeyArena". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2022.