God Control

Last updated

"God Control"
Song by Madonna
from the album Madame X
ReleasedJune 14, 2019 (2019-06-14)
Genre
Length6:19
Label Interscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Music video
"God Control" on YouTube

"God Control" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her fourteenth studio album, Madame X (2019). It was written by Madonna, longtime collaborator Mirwais, and American musician Casey Spooner. Madonna and Mirwais produced the song along with Mike Dean. Lyrically the song talks about gun control and also touches on the political climate of the United States at the time. It is an experimental pop, disco, hi-NRG and electropop song and features the Tiffin Children's Chorus repeating "We lost god control" all throughout. In the music video, we can see Madonna typing "we lost gun control" and not "god control" as the song title suggests.

Contents

It received positive reviews from music critics, who deemed it one of the best songs of the album. On June 26, an accompanying music video directed by Jonas Åkerlund was released; it interspersed footage of Madonna as her alter ego Madame X with scenes of a nightclub where a shooting takes place. The video was reminiscent of the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting and was criticized by the media and the survivors of the massacre. However, it was praised by some gun control advocates. Madonna performed "God Control" during her appearance at Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019, and as the opening number of her 2019−20 Madame X Tour.

Background and composition

In 2017, Madonna relocated to Lisbon, Portugal, seeking a top soccer academy for her son David, who wanted to become a professional soccer player. [1] While living in the city, she began meeting artists, painters and musicians, who would invite her to "living room sessions". In these sessions, they would bring food, sit around the table and musicians would start playing instruments, singing fado and samba music. [1] Finding herself "connected through music", the singer decided to create an album; "I found my tribe [in Lisbon] 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". [1] [2] On April 15, 2019, Madonna revealed Madame X as the album's title. For the album, she worked with longtime collaborator Mirwais Ahmadzaï, who had previously worked on her albums Music (2000), American Life (2003) and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005), as well as Mike Dean, who served as a producer on Rebel Heart (2015), and Diplo. [3]

"God Control" was written by Madonna and Mirwais and produced by the latter two along with Mike Dean. [4] It has been described as an experimental pop, disco, hi-NRG and electropop song. [5] [6] [7] [8] Lyrically, it talks about gun control, as well as democracy and the political state of the United States. [7] Musically, it's been described as an "euphoric, densely layered samba-disco-gospel mash-up" with violins and a retro sound. [9] [10] It features a gospel choir, gunshot sounds and vocodered vocals. [5] The song begins with Madonna singing "Everybody knows the damn truth/Our nation lied and lost respect" in a "clenched teeth" style, [11] followed by the Tiffin Children's Chorus [4] repeating the phrase "we lost gun control". [6] It is followed by a "schmaltzy" chorus inspired by Philadelphia soul in which Madonna sings "It's a hustle" amid backing verses about "a new democracy". [12] On one particular section, there is a rap  ;– compared by some critics to the vocal style she used on her 1990 album I'm Breathless and electronic duo Daft Punk  – to sing "Each new birth it gives me hope / that's why I don't smoke that dope" and talks about her brain being "her only friend". [6] [7]

Songwriting claim

In November 2019, Casey Spooner claimed he had been a co-writer on "God Control" but was never credited or compensated for it. [13] Spooner said he had created the song's melody when Mirwais asked him to rewrite the lyrics and mix the audio of a demo for his solo album, in which he wanted to sing in English about American politics. [14] Soon afterwards, Mirwais abandoned the project to go work with Madonna; Spooner expressed interest in working with the singer but never received a response. [14] When Spooner first heard the melody to "God Control", he felt it was too similar to the one he had created and accused the producer of using his work without permission; he then posted a snippet, comparing both songs, on his Instagram account. [14] According to Spooner, once Madonna heard this, she contacted him claiming she was unaware of his contributions, and offered him $10,000 as an advance – which was later increased to $25,000 – as well as 15% of writing credits and royalties. Spooner turned this down, as he claimed he would only receive $10,000 of the $25,000 settlement after covering taxes and his legal fees. [15] He also claimed that "there's no money in record sales. Not even for Madonna", and demanded he be paid 1% of the singer's touring profits to "cover [my] contribution and damages". [14]

Critical reception

Madonna, flanked by her dancers, singing "God Control" during her appearance at Stonewall 50 - WorldPride NYC 2019 Madonna - 30 June 2019 - World Pride NYC (48174731291) (cropped).jpg
Madonna, flanked by her dancers, singing "God Control" during her appearance at Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019

The track received positive reviews from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic, wrote that "darkness hangs heavy [on the album], surfacing fiercely in the clenched-mouth phrasing on 'God Control'." [16] Variety 's Jeremy Helligar deemed it, alongside previous track "Dark Ballet", as one of the moments in Madame X where "true weirdness sets in", and "the closest Madonna may ever come to her own 'Bohemian Rhapsody'." [17] Ben Beaumont-Thomas, from The Guardian , called it one of the album's "shockers suitable only for schadenfreude lovers or scholars of extreme camp." He further concluded that "it is – only just – brilliant, and will become an equally beloved and despised curio among fans". [7] Mike Wass from Idolator , said it was a "daring, successful experiment  ... sprawling and perhaps unnecessarily baroque, but it burns with ambitious and anger. And still manages to be pop ". [18] Rolling Stone 's Rob Sheffield hailed it as "a rare moment of Madonna understatement". [19] Louise Bruton from The Irish Times , stated that the song is "an experimental stand against authoritarianism and gun control through distorted Black Mirror -style pop ... to basically shake our shoulders and tell us to wake up, sheeple". [5] Samuel R. Murrian from Parade ranked it at number 96 on his list of the singer's 100 greatest songs. [9] According to Nicolas Hautman from Us Weekly , "God Control" is Madonna's "most daring and epic" song since 2012's "Gang Bang". [20]

Gay Times ' Daniel Megarry deemed it "creative, dance-able and unexpected ... pure perfection", as well as the best song on the album. [21] Jonny Coleman from The Hollywood Reporter called the track a "a six-plus-minute odyssey". [22] Paper 's Bradley Stern described it as a "happy-go-lucky disco ode to gun control". [23] While reviewing Madame X for The Independent , Alexandra Pollard said "God Control" was an "attack on America's feeble gun-control laws". [24] Sal Cinquemani, from Slant Magazine , opined it was the "album's pièce de résistance ", as well as "the most exhilaratingly batshit thing she's done in years". [10] For The Atlantic 's Spencer Kornhaber, it felt "like a few songs in one". Nonetheless, he called it an "irresistible take on Philadelphia soul" and praised it for being both "a camp commentary on the way people can dance in the face of crisis" and "catchy and amusing". [12] Wren Graves, from online magazine Consequence of Sound , listed "God Control" as one of the standout tracks in Madame X; "Madonna's ambitions aren't merely musical. Several songs [on the album] contain social messages with varying amounts of bite ... But the message is even better expressed on the ambitious 'God Control'." [25] HuffPost 's Daniel Welsh opined it was one of the album's "party tracks tinged with sadness". [26] Robbie Barnett from the Washington Blade compared it to Madonna's 2000 songs "Music" and "Impressive Instant", calling it "perfectly fit for dance floor consumption", the singer's best dance track since "Hung Up" (2005), as well as the best song on the album. [11] On a less favorable note, Rich Juzwiak from Pitchfork said it was "supposed to be fun, but it's exhausting". [6]

In March 2023, Billboard ranked "God Control" as Madonna's 89th greatest song, with Joe Lynch writing that "this unusual odyssey announced that Madonna was far from finished when it comes to taking risks and speaking her mind." [27]

Music video

Background and synopsis

Screenshot of the "God Control" music video, depicting a dead, blood spattered Madonna just after a shooting broke out at a nightclub Madonna - God Control screenshot.png
Screenshot of the "God Control" music video, depicting a dead, blood spattered Madonna just after a shooting broke out at a nightclub

During an interview with People , Madonna said one of the main reasons she made a video for "God Control" were her kids; "I send my children to school with the same fear every mother in this era has [...] It's really scary to me that the once-safe spaces where we gather, worship and learn are targets. Nobody's safe". [28] In another statement, she said that also wanted to draw attention to an ongoing problem in America. [29] Regarding those who could criticize it for being too graphic, she answered: "this is what happens. Guns kill". [28]

The music video for "God Control" was released on June 26, 2019. [30] It was directed by Jonas Åkerlund, who had previously worked with Madonna in videos such as "Ray of Light" (1998), "Music" (2000), "American Life" (2003) and "Bitch I'm Madonna" (2015). [31] [32] It counted with the appearances of drag queen Monét X Change, actress Sofia Boutella, and YouTuber Gigi Gorgeous. [30] It opens with a text reading "The story you are about to see is very disturbing. It shows graphic scenes of gun violence. But it's happening every day. And it has to stop". [29] Told through flashbacks in reverse chronological order, it begins with Madonna as her alter ego Madame X, wearing a short black wig and sitting at a typewriter typing the song's lyrics, interspersed with footage of the shooting at a New York Studio 54-like nightclub. [28] [31] These scenes were said to have evoked the 2016 Orlando nightclub and 2018 Thousand Oaks shootings. [33] [32] The video then moves backwards in time and shows Madonna getting ready to go out; she's wearing a 1970s-inspired gold pantsuit and a blonde bob wig. [34] Other scenes feature Madonna being assaulted on her way to the nightclub, a children's choir singing at a church vigil and footage of protests against guns and the National Rifle Association of America (NRA). [29] [31] It ends with the phrase "Wake Up", and a quote from civil rights activist and Black Panther member Angela Davis, "I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept". [33] [35]

Reception

"This is your wake up call. Gun violence disproportionately affects children, teenagers and the marginalized in our communities … Honor the victims and demand GUN CONTROL. NOW. Volunteer, stand up, donate, reach out. Wake up and insist on common-sense gun safety legislation … Innocent lives depend on it."

—Madonna talking about the "God Control" music video on her Twitter account. [36]

The video was criticized for its depiction of violence. Ryan Reed from Rolling Stone, said it touched the theme of society's inability to restrict gun ownership, and that certain scenes were a contrast of "the joy of nightclub dancing" and "the brutality of a mass shooting". [29] Slant Magazine's Alexa Camp noted similarities to the original music video for "American Life"; while that one was a "satire of modern society's consumption of war as popular entertainment", "'God Control' depicts the carnage weapons of war can wreak here at home". Camp also highlighted easter eggs, including some to Madonna videos from the past. The scene in which the singer is assaulted could be seen as a reference to her 1989 video for "Like a Prayer", in which Madonna witnesses a young woman being sexually attacked by a group of men. The shot of a crucifix seemingly crying blood was another reference to "Like a Prayer", according to Camp. [31] The author also pointed out framed photos of Frida Kahlo, Simone de Beauvoir, Patti Smith and Martha Graham hanging on the walls around Madonna's desk; this last one, according to the artist, christened her with the nickname "Madame X" in the late 1970s. [31]

Christopher Rudolph from The Backlot called it a "disturbing disco bloodbath". [37] Spencer Kornhaben said that the graphic tones of the video took away the song's "ambiguity and subtext", and criticized it for glamourizing trauma and "amplifying it", without "pushing the conversation anywhere new". [12] He concluded: "people unsympathetic to Madonna's cause are not likely to be moved; people sympathetic to her cause are left feeling drained". [12] Gay Times' Daniel Megarry called it the singer's "most shocking [video] yet". [38] Billboard 's Sal Cinquemani listed "God Control" as one of Madonna's nine most controversial videos. [34] Idolator named it the best music video of 2019; Mike Nied said it showed Madonna was still capable of "creating work that is both visually striking and capable of speaking to larger cultural issues". [39] Shannon Watts, who founded Moms Demand Action, thanked Madonna for raising awareness about the horrors of gun violence. [28] Actor George Takei, who set up the anti-gun group 1Pulse4America after the Orlando shooting, and March for Our Lives, the lobby group founded after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, were among those who praised the singer and the video. [40] Patience Carter, survivor of the Orlando shooting, tweeted: "I applaud the attempt, but I am truly disturbed". Similarly, fellow survivor Brandon Wolf said that he appreciated the message, but felt the singer was using the tragedy and the victims as "props". [12] X González, Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor, panned the video for being "fucked up and horrible". [41]

Live performances

Madonna first performed "God Control" during her appearance at Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019; she wore an eye-patch with an X, which was designed in the colors of the rainbow flag, while her background dancers were decked as police officers wielding combat shields. [42] Billboard praised the "visually powerful live performance ... replete with detailed choreography and a disco groove that had the crowd gyrating and shimmying". [43] The song was then performed as the opening number of the singer's Madame X Tour. [44] The show began with a quote by James Baldwin: "Art is here to prove that all safety is an illusion... Artists are here to disturb the peace". Then, a silhouetted woman sat at a typewriter; each key press sounding like a gunshot, accompanied by a dancer jerking and flinching as if he's been shot. [45] Madonna then appeared, decked in a glittery Revolutionary War attire and a feathered tricorne hat, to sing the song while being bounced between two police officers' shields; [46] the performance featured two staircases, that moved and dismantled throughout the show, and cops attacking dancers under a video montage of news footage. [23] [47] [48] On her review of one of the concert at Los Angeles' Wiltern Theatre, Kelli Syke Fadroski opined that "it was a bit unnerving to hear dozens of gunshot sound effects echo through a very dark venue. But that was the point". [44] The performance was included on the live album Madame X: Music from the Theater Xperience .

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from the Madame X album liner notes. [4]

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, record producer, and actress. Regarded as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting and visual presentation. Madonna's works, which incorporate social, political, sexual, and religious themes, have generated both controversy and critical acclaim. A cultural icon spanning both the 20th and 21st centuries, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame called her one of the most "well-documented figures of the modern age" in 2008. Various scholarly reviews, literature, and art works have been created about her along with an academic mini subdiscipline devoted to her called Madonna studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mirwais Ahmadzaï</span> French record producer and songwriter (born 1960)

Mirwais Ahmadzaï, known mononymously as Mirwais, is a French electronic dance music record producer and songwriter. Born in Switzerland to an Afghan father and an Italian mother, Ahmadzaï was a member of the defunct 1980s group Taxi Girl. He met Madonna in the late 1990s, when he submitted a demo to her then record label, Maverick Records.

<i>American Life</i> 2003 studio album by Madonna

American Life is the ninth studio album by American singer Madonna. It was released on April 21, 2003, by Maverick and Warner Bros. Records. The album, produced by the singer and Mirwais Ahmadzaï, features references to many parts of American culture. The album is a concept album, with themes panning the American Dream and materialism. These themes reject the reputation Madonna held in the 1980s, earned by her 1984 Billboard Hot 100 number-two hit, "Material Girl". American Life is a folktronica and eurotechno album, influenced by acoustic music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Life (song)</span> 2003 single by Madonna

"American Life" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It is the title track from her ninth studio album American Life (2003), and was released digitally as the lead single from the album on March 24, 2003, by Maverick Records. It is a pop, techno and folk song written and produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï; the lyrics to "American Life" feature violent transitions and a political and religious view from Madonna. She questions the shallowness of modern life and the American Dream during the presidency of George W. Bush. Towards the end of the song, Madonna raps, naming the people who were working for her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music (Madonna song)</span> 2000 song by Madonna

"Music" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her eighth studio album of the same title (2000). Inspired by a Sting concert Madonna attended, it was written and produced by her with Mirwais Ahmadzaï. It is an electropop, disco, electro-funk and dance-pop song in a static key of G-minor. Madonna's vocals are electronically manipulated on the track, with the lyrics having political and social undertones and reiterating the uniting power of music. The song was released as the lead single from Music on August 1, 2000, by Maverick Records and Warner Bros. Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollywood (Madonna song)</span> 2003 single by Madonna

"Hollywood" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna. The song was written and produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï for her ninth studio album, American Life (2003). On May 27, 2003, it was released as the second single from the album by Maverick Records. It later appeared on the greatest hits album, Celebration (2009). "Hollywood" is a folk rock, synth-pop, electro-folk, electropop and psychedelic folk song that lyrically discusses American culture and greed, focusing on Hollywood, California, as a place of pop stars and illusory dreams. Ahmadzaï did the main programming for the track and kept the track as simple as possible, without using too many instruments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Die Another Day (song)</span> Theme from 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day / 2002 single by Madonna

"Die Another Day" is the theme song from the James Bond film of the same name by American singer and songwriter Madonna. The song initially leaked onto the internet in early October 2002 prior to the official release, prompting radio to play the track. It was released commercially as a single on October 22 by Maverick Records. The single was then included on her ninth studio album American Life (2003) as well as on her greatest hits compilation, Celebration (2009). Following the release of the previous Bond single, "The World Is Not Enough", MGM wanted a high-profile artist for the theme of Die Another Day, and Madonna was their choice. She wrote and produced the song with Mirwais Ahmadzaï while French composer Michel Colombier was enlisted as composer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Isla Bonita</span> 1987 single by Madonna

"La Isla Bonita" is a song by American singer Madonna from her third studio album True Blue (1986). Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch created it as an instrumental demo and offered it to singer Michael Jackson, who turned it down. When Leonard met Madonna to start working on True Blue, he played the demo for her. Madonna came up with the title, wrote the lyrics and produced the song with Leonard. It is her first song with Latin influences. Its instrumentation features flamenco guitar, Latin percussion, maracas, and includes four lines sung in Spanish. The lyrics talk of an island named San Pedro, whose location has been debated. Madonna said the song was her tribute to Latin Americans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Like a Prayer (song)</span> 1989 single by Madonna

"Like a Prayer" is a song by American singer Madonna from her 1989 fourth studio album of the same name. It was released as the album's lead single on March 3, 1989, by Sire Records. Written and produced by both Madonna and Patrick Leonard, the song heralded an artistic and personal approach to songwriting for Madonna, who believed that she needed to cater more to her adult audience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casey Spooner</span> American artist and musician (born 1970)

Casey David Spooner is an American musician and artist. He resides in Paris, Los Angeles, and New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crave (Madonna and Swae Lee song)</span> 2019 song by Madonna and Swae Lee

"Crave" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna and American rapper Swae Lee, from the former's fourteenth studio Madame X (2019). The song was written by the two artists and Starrah, while production was handled by Madonna, Mike Dean, and Billboard. It was released by Interscope Records for digital download and streaming as the album's second single on May 10, 2019. The song has been noted as a pop, trap, and hip hop ballad inspired by Fado music, with the lyrics talking about desire and craving for someone who's running away. It was one of the first songs Madonna wrote for Madame X, but she put the work on hold when she began working with other musicians in Lisbon. When she revisited the song, Madonna came to the conclusion that a male voice was needed for inclusion and approached Swae Lee to sing with her, as she was a fan of his voice.

<i>Madame X</i> (album) 2019 album by Madonna

Madame X is the fourteenth studio album by American singer and songwriter Madonna. It was released on June 14, 2019, by Interscope Records, as Madonna's final album with the label. The record was creatively influenced by her expatriate life in Lisbon, Portugal, after Madonna relocated there in mid-2017 to put her son David Banda into a top football academy. Madonna co-wrote and co-produced the album with a number of musicians, including Mirwais, Mike Dean, Diplo, the Picard Brothers and Jason Evigan, during a process that lasted 18 months. Madame X also features guest appearances by artists Maluma, Quavo, Swae Lee and Anitta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medellín (song)</span> 2019 song by Madonna and Maluma

"Medellín" is a song by American singer Madonna and Colombian singer Maluma released as the lead single from Madonna's fourteenth studio album Madame X (2019). The song was produced by Madonna, Mirwais, who wrote it alongside Maluma and Edgar Barrera. It was released as the lead single from the album on April 17, 2019, by Interscope Records. The song is named after the city in Colombia, in which Maluma was born, and is a Latin pop track with elements of reggaeton and dance-pop. Lyrically, it finds Madonna and Maluma reflecting on past struggles while dreaming about a trip to Medellín.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dark Ballet</span> 2019 song by Madonna

"Dark Ballet" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her fourteenth studio album Madame X (2019). It was released on June 7, 2019, as the album's third promotional single. Written and produced by Madonna and longtime collaborator Mirwais, the song contains a sample from The Nutcracker (1892) by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and was inspired by the historical figure Joan of Arc. It is an experimental pop and electro-gospel piano ballad, with the use of vocoder on her vocals and lyrics about rebelling against the patriarchy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Future (song)</span> 2019 promotional single by Madonna and Quavo

"Future" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna and American rapper Quavo, from her fourteenth studio album Madame X (2019). The track was written by Madonna, Diplo, Quavo and Starrah, and was produced by the former two. "Future" was released as the second promotional single from the album on May 17, 2019, by Interscope Records. Musically it was described as a roots reggae and hip hop song, while lyrically it deals about looking to what is ahead, celebrating the present and also contemplating the past.

"Batuka" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Madonna for her fourteenth studio album, Madame X (2019). The song was written by Madonna and her son David Banda, alongside her longtime collaborator Mirwais, while produced by Madonna and the latter of the three. It features the Batukadeiras Orchestra, an all-women group that play drums on the song. It is a batuque song with influences of Afrobeat, featuring a call and response structure, and the lyrics of the song are about "overcoming adversity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Search I Find</span> 2020 single by Madonna

"I Don't Search I Find" is a song by American singer Madonna from her fourteenth studio album, Madame X (2019). The track was written and produced by Madonna, alongside Mirwais Ahmadzaï. It was released to Italian contemporary hit radio by Interscope Records as the fourth single from the album on May 22, 2020. Two EPs containing several remixes had previously been released to accompany the song. It is an EDM and house influenced track that takes inspiration from Madonna's previous works, including "Vogue" (1990), Erotica (1992) and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Rise (song)</span> 2019 song by Madonna

"I Rise" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her fourteenth studio album Madame X (2019). The song was written by the singer herself, alongside Starrah and Jason Evigan, while produced by Madonna and Evigan. It was released on May 3, 2019, by Interscope Records, as the first promotional single from the album, and later sent to Italian radio on October 4, 2019, as the album's third single, by the aforementioned label. The song is a mid tempo pop track which lyrically deals about self-empowerment and draws attention to gun violence in the United States, and contains a sample from a speech by American activist X González.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madame X Tour</span> 2019–2020 concert tour by Madonna

The Madame X Tour was the eleventh concert tour by American singer Madonna, in support of her fourteenth studio album, Madame X (2019). It began on September 17, 2019, at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House in New York City, United States, and ended on March 8, 2020, at the Grand Rex in Paris, France. An all-theater tour, it was the singer's first time playing small venues since the Virgin Tour (1985); she had previously shown interest in doing a smaller-scale show during a 2017 interview. The tour consisted exclusively of dates in the United States, Portugal, England, and France; mobile phones and smart watches were banned from the concerts, which was met with mixed reactions from fans.

<i>Madame X</i> (2021 film) 2021 documentary concert film

Madame X is a 2021 concert film starring American singer-songwriter Madonna, chronicling her Madame X Tour. Written and produced by Madonna herself, the film was shot in January 2020 when she held her concerts in Lisbon, Portugal at the Coliseu dos Recreios. The film was directed by Ricardo Gomes and SKNX.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Smirke, Richard (April 24, 2019). "Madonna Talks Giving 'Zero You-Know-Whats' on New 'Madame X' Album at London 'Medellin' Video Premiere". Billboard . Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  2. ↑ D'Zurilla, Christie (April 17, 2019). "'Medellín' introduces Madame X, Madonna's new global pop persona". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  3. ↑ Polk, Milan (April 22, 2019). "Everything We Know About Madonna's New Album Madame X". New York . Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Madame X (Liner notes). Madonna. Interscope Records. 2019. B0030140-42.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. 1 2 3 Bruton, Louise (June 10, 2019). "Madonna: Madame X review – Big, ballsy and more than a bit bizarre". The Irish Times . Archived from the original on 10 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Juzwiak, Rich (June 18, 2019). "Madonna – Madame X". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (June 4, 2019). "Madonna: Madame X review – her most bizarre album ever". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  8. ↑ Callwood, Brett (November 14, 2019). "Madonna's Madame X Wows Wiltern". LA Weekly . Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  9. 1 2 Murrian, Samuel R. (August 16, 2019). "We Ranked the 100 Best Madonna Songs of All Time". Parade . Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  10. 1 2 Cinquemani, Sal (June 12, 2019). "Review: Madonna's Madame X Is a Fearless, Eccentric Musical Memoir". Slant Magazine . Archived from the original on 13 May 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  11. 1 2 Barnett, Robbie (June 17, 2019). "'X' marks the spot for daring new Madonna album". Washington Blade . Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Kornhaber, Spencer (July 3, 2019). "The Paradox of Madonna's Gun-Control Music Video". The Atlantic . Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  13. ↑ Brown, Steve (November 25, 2019). "Casey Spooner claims he co-wrote Madonna's 'God Control' but hasn't been paid". Attitude . Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Sonoma, Serena (November 23, 2019). "Casey Spooner Says Madonna Didn't Pay or Credit Him for 'God Control'". Out . Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  15. ↑ Hussey, Allison (November 24, 2019). "Fischerspooner's Casey Spooner Says Madonna Didn't Pay or Credit Him for Madame X Song". Variety. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  16. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (June 14, 2019). "Madame X – Madonna – Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  17. ↑ Helligar, Jeremy (June 13, 2019). "Album Review: Madonna's 'Madame X'". Variety . Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  18. ↑ Wass, Mike (June 17, 2019). "Album Review: Madonna's 'Madame X' Pushes The Boundaries Of Pop". Idolator. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  19. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (June 14, 2019). "Madonna Takes A Weird, Wild Ride on 'Madame X'". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  20. ↑ Hautman, Nicolas (June 14, 2019). "Madonna's New Album 'Madame X' Is 'Wonderfully Weird': Review". Us Weekly . Archived from the original on 15 June 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  21. ↑ Megarry, Daniel (June 25, 2019). "We ranked every song on Madonna's new album Madame X". Gay Times . Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  22. ↑ Coleman, Johnny (June 14, 2019). "Critic's Notebook: Madonna's Cringe-Worthy 'Madame X'". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  23. 1 2 Stern, Bradley (September 20, 2019). "Madonna X-periments With 'The Madame X Tour". Paper . Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  24. ↑ Pollard, Alexandra (June 14, 2019). "Madonna review, Madame X: An intriguing, often brilliant, occasionally awful album". The Independent . Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  25. ↑ Graves, Wren (June 19, 2019). "Madonna Does It Her Way on the Scattered but Joyful Madame X". Consequence of Sound . Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  26. ↑ Welsh, Daniel (June 14, 2019). "Madame X: Madonna Is An Artist Who's Always Had To Fight, And On Her New Album She Proves She's Not Done Yet". HuffPost . Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  27. ↑ Lynch, Joe; Unterberger, Andrew; Gracie, Bianca; Feeney, Nolan; Atkinson, Katie (March 8, 2023). "Madonna's 100 Greatest Songs (Critics' Picks)". Billboard . Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Baker, KC (June 26, 2019). "Madonna Releases New Video to Spotlight Issue of Gun Violence: 'I Can't Take It Anymore'". People . Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Reed, Ryan (June 26, 2019). "Madonna Protests Gun Violence in Disturbing 'God Control' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  30. 1 2 Nolfi, Joey (June 26, 2019). "Madonna features shocking mass shooting scene in 'God Control' music video". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 Camp, Alexa (June 28, 2019). "Decoding Madonna's Disturbing "God Control" Video". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  32. 1 2 Welsh, Daniel (June 27, 2019). "Madonna's God Control Music Video Is A 'Wake Up Call' About US Gun Reform". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  33. 1 2 Jones, Isbel (June 28, 2019). "Madonna's Graphic New Video Has Sparked Backlash from a Pulse Nightclub Shooting Survivor". InStyle . Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  34. 1 2 Cinquemani, Sal (June 26, 2019). "Madonna's 9 Most Controversial Videos, From 'Papa Don't Preach' to 'God Control'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  35. ↑ Richards, Jared (June 27, 2019). "Madonna's 'God Control' Music Video Is Incredibly Violent (And Necessary)". Junkee. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  36. ↑ "Madonna calls on fans to demand gun control". Evening Express . June 26, 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  37. ↑ Rudolph, Christopher (June 26, 2019). "Madonna's "God Control" Music Video Is a Disturbing Disco Bloodbath". TheBacklot. Archived from the original on October 27, 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  38. ↑ Megarry, Daniel (June 26, 2019). "Madonna tackles gun violence in shocking God Control music video". Gay Times . Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  39. ↑ Nied, Mike (January 9, 2010). "From "Motivation" To "Small Talk," The 55 Best Music Videos Of 2019". Idolator. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  40. ↑ "Madonna defends 'disturbing' gun massacre video". BBC. June 27, 2019. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  41. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (July 2, 2019). "Parkland Survivor Emma González Calls Madonna's "God Control" Video "Fucked Up"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  42. ↑ Setoodeh, Ramin (June 30, 2019). "Madonna Closes World Pride With Message About Gun Violence in America". Variety. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  43. ↑ "Madonna Pays Heartfelt Tribute to the LGBTQ Community at Pride Island 2019". Billboard. July 1, 2019. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  44. 1 2 Syke Fadroski, Kelli (November 14, 2019). "Madonna's Madame X Tour goes on late at The Wiltern, but do her L.A. fans even care?". Los Angeles Daily News . Archived from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  45. ↑ Daily, Rihan (October 4, 2019). "Madonna's 'Madame X' residency in New York: a colourful riot of rebellion, politics, and high camp theatrics". NME . Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  46. ↑ Pareles, Jon (September 18, 2019). "Madonna Is Still Taking Chances". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  47. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (September 20, 2019). "Why Madonna's Madame X Tour Is the Gloriously Insane Mess of Your Dreams". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  48. ↑ Kaplan, Ilana (September 20, 2019). "Concert Review: Madonna's 'Madame X' Is a Political Spectacle and a Test of Fans' Indulgence". Variety. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.