Top 10 Underrated Madonna Songs
#10: "Bad Girl" Erotica (1992)
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Despite her typically upbeat sound, Madonna surrounded her vocals in dark and smoky production on 'Bad Girl.' Madonna sings about acting out after a breakup by drinking, smoking and hooking up with strangers. Though it offers a progressive view of how women can act, it also shows the perils of a reckless lifestyle. The jazzy instrumentation breaks away from the dance music she was making beforehand. Regardless of the shift in tone, the song managed to hit 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. Along with its intentionally vintage sound, 'Bad Girl' was a refreshing look at the reality of Madonna's party-focused lyrics.
#9: "I Deserve It" Music (2000)
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Through the sombre guitars of 'I Deserve It,' Madonna looks at the long and difficult journey that her career has taken her on. She reflects on how much she's struggled, and insists she more than deserves the love and success she's found. While the guitar was a departure from her iconic sounds, she contrasts it with hip hop beats and lead synths. Considering the amount of media scrutiny Madonna has seen throughout the years, the song shows she hasn't let it get to her. Though it's certainly an understated track, the unique writing of 'I Deserve It' is hard to forget.
#8: "Don't Tell Me" Music (2000)
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While Madonna's switch to guitar meant more tender ballads, she also made some six-string dance music. The electronic beats and weird edits of 'Don't Tell Me' take the simple guitar hook and give it a unique groove. The distinct sound clash came organically after co-writing with country artist Joe Henry and DJ Mirwais Ahmadzai. Madonna asks her lover to stop controlling her, while comparing herself to a force of nature. Although she also accepts her partner's skepticism on love, Madonna insists she'll never change for them. With an empowering message and its strange genre mix, 'Don't Tell Me' stood out to fans around the world.
#7: "Keep It Together" Like a Prayer (1989)
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Soon after her divorce from Sean Penn, Madonna wrote 'Keep It Together' as a reflection of how important family can be. The track creates a strong groove out of its stellar guitars, conga and even a banjo. Madonna also sings about how hollow mainstream fame can be when people just want you for your music. It was the final single from 'Like A Prayer,' and the catchy dance energy helped it go Gold in America. Madonna even dedicated the track to Sly and The Family Stone, who inspired the track aesthetically and thematically. Its upbeat attitude towards loving family has kept the song timeless.
#6: "Turn Up The Radio" MDNA (2012)
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After posting on Facebook looking for collaborators, Madonna made uplifting electronic pop on 'Turn Up The Radio.' DJ and producer Martin Solveig brought a modern dance energy to Madonna's typically retro sound. Madonna embraces the feeling and sings about escaping your troubles for a while with music. Big bass drops and loud drums also added a party atmosphere to grab mainstream audiences. This clever blend of styles helped Madonna secure her 43rd number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs charts. Given the more serious tone Madonna had taken for some time, 'Turn Up The Radio' was a fun return to form.
#5: "Erotica" Erotica (1992)
Shep Pettibone had created great mixes of Madonna's work over the years, but he took producing reins on 'Erotica.' Dark bass grooves and club beats drive the song, while samples of 'Jungle Boogie' and obscure Lebanese music fill the background. Madonna uses the track's sensual energy to talk about S&M and erotic bliss, while playing a dominatrix named Dita. Along with its overt sexuality, 'Erotica' also stands out for its heavy use of spoken-word lyrics as opposed to singing. Though it was quite the controversial single, 'Erotica' has aged gracefully thanks to its progressive lyrics and seductive sound.
#4: "Secret" Bedtime Stories (1994)
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Following her overtly sexual club music, Madonna decided to shift to softer R&B when she wrote 'Secret.' Working with Dallas Austin, Madonna's new sound mixed soothing strings with strong rhythms. Her lyrics took a notably wholesome turn, as she sings about the pure joy her lover brings to her life. While the track hints the secret may be bad, it slowly becomes clear that her partner was only hiding how much they loved her. Though she's used plenty of guitars in her music since, 'Secret' was a memorable departure for Madonna in both sound and writing.
#3: "Masterpiece" MDNA (2012)
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While directing her film 'W.E.' Madonna was convinced to record a love song to match her story. 'Masterpiece' mixes Spanish rhythms with larger-than-life synthesizers to build a romantic atmosphere. Madonna details just how perfect her lover is, while lamenting how painful it would be to lose them. She also reflects on the difficulties of being desired and how it can distort your view of love. Though Madonna felt berated by her management to do the song, even she couldn't argue with the results. Given the largely electronic sound of 'MDNA,' 'Masterpiece' is a refreshing throwback to many of Madonna's '90s tracks.
#2: "Nothing Fails" American Life (2003)
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With 'Nothing Fails', Madonna stripped everything away to create sincere love song. Madonna says her partner takes all the trouble from her life and that the two of them were meant to meet. Though the song closes on strings and choir-like vocals, 'Nothing Fails' is Madonna at her most sparse. While the harmonies earned plenty of comparisons to 'Like A Prayer', the lyrics are much less ambiguous and metaphorical. Despite achieving little success domestically, 'Nothing Fails' dominated charts around the world. The direct writing and acoustic guitar also showed a maturity in Madonna's writing later in her career. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: "I'm Addicted" MDNA (2012) "Miles Away" Hard Candy (2008) "Power Of Goodbye" Ray of Light (1998)
#1: "Oh Father" Like A Prayer (1989)
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A strained childhood with her dad led Madonna to let her feelings out on 'Oh Father.' Madonna details how her father's emotional rollercoaster left her feeling deeply unloved. The song's autobiographical lyrics also play into Madonna's many religious themes. The theatrical story of 'Oh Father' is matched by its powerful vocals, keyboards and an epic orchestra. Though Madonna feels stronger without her father around, she realizes later on that his cruelty came from being hurt himself. Producer Patrick Leonard even said the live recording session is his career highlight. It's the haunting and personal lyrics however that have solidified 'Oh Father' as a fan favourite.
