Isidro Guevara 821 Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 Why didn't Madonna's 2003 album, "American Life", work? WHY???! Did people think it was bad? Was it because of the stupid controversy? The lead single? Was she seen as too old? But "Music" worked and was a a huge success and she was in her 40's! I guess it did well outside the US but other than that it bombed in the states! I'm just asking because AL is the only Madonna album that really stuck with me and my overall favorite! I like the others also but none gave me that "punch" if you know what I mean, that punch that keeps you hooked! Where's a MV for Nothing Fails, a proper one for Love Profusion (I kinda like the one we have), and Nobody Knows Me? WTF???!!! I personally don't think it's a political album like many say it is but it had potential! Madonna apparently said she wanted to make "the personal become universal" with this album. What happened? Where did it go wrong? Any Madonna fans and experts here can tell me? I'll WRECK U right Up...G.U.Y.!!!🌋💥 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOVEDRUG 10,659 Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 in my opinion, i think it was the experimental nature of the album. electronic experimental music like ray of light or music will always thrive and be successful in at least some markets, but american life was a weird hybrid of country/folk/folktronica that didn't really appeal to any of the general public. paired with the controversial music video for the title track, the overall political nature of the album AND the fact that the album had no really catchy pop hits (except for hollywood which was moderately successful), it was just doomed to be a low point in her career. which is sad because alongside erotica, it's one of my favourite madonna albums Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookie Tookie 10,546 Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 People can’t handle music that comments on important topics and society. And thanks to cancel culture and censoring, she didn’t get the era that she deserved. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 Personally speaking i think there were many reasons, the lead single being received bad with the "rapping" as well as it being politically charged. Similar with what happened to The Dixie Chicks, but way less extreme. Also i think people didn't get the "sound" even though American Life has some of my favourite M songs on it, but to the average listener i could imagine they'd be quite busy and the whole sound just mixes bad with her voice. Some people were just tired of Madonna at that point as well, its not unusual for artists to have a slump in there career. Thank god for COADF, but i couldn't see her having another revival like that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isidro Guevara 821 Posted May 14, 2020 Author Share Posted May 14, 2020 8 minutes ago, JOSHMATICA said: the lead single being received bad with the "rapping" as well as it being politically charged. I think it was the lead single. I guess it is very brash and confusing to average pop listeners. Do you think 'Hollywood' would've done better as lead? It is far more catchy... I'll WRECK U right Up...G.U.Y.!!!🌋💥 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Bitch 10,513 Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 As others have commented, it's experimental sound, the weird mix of country, folk, folktronica, gospel and electroclash, the music video for AL, the political and socio-critical messages on the album. I could imagine that the absolutely horrendous video for Love Profusion could also have something to do with it Also some of the songs aren't as good as they could have been. Certain demos like Set The Right and It's So Cool are amazing (better than a lot of the songs on the album) but for some reason they were scrapped. When all that's said I really like it. I think it's criminally underrated and one of her best albums. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noir 17,320 Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 I was only a child during the era but now I look back, this is an era I would've loved to experience. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isidro Guevara 821 Posted May 14, 2020 Author Share Posted May 14, 2020 12 minutes ago, Autumn said: the overall political nature of the album I think it's more of a personal album and Madonna's outlook of life in that point in time. Her outlook of life as an American person/woman and celebrity. I'll WRECK U right Up...G.U.Y.!!!🌋💥 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubblegum Bitch 18,934 Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 14 minutes ago, Cookie Tookie said: People can’t handle music that comments on important topics and society. True. That's why Dua Lipa's Boys Will Be Boys didn't work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 7 minutes ago, Isidro Guevara said: I think it was the lead single. I guess it is very brash and confusing to average pop listeners. Do you think 'Hollywood' would've done better as lead? It is far more catchy... Hmmm, kind of still i think the kind of sound was too "aggressive" I don't think any Madonna song produced by Mirswais could be a big hit as his sound is too experimental for the GP. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isidro Guevara 821 Posted May 14, 2020 Author Share Posted May 14, 2020 4 minutes ago, Queen Bitch said: I could imagine that the absolutely horrendous video for Love Profusion could also have something to do with it Its not that bad but it could have been better. I kinda like the aesthetic of it. 6 minutes ago, Queen Bitch said: Also some of the songs aren't as good as they could have been. Which songs? I like all of them in this album! If it's the ugly ones they were meant to sound that way. It was intentional. I'll WRECK U right Up...G.U.Y.!!!🌋💥 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FentyGa 14,340 Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 terrible lead singles, little promo one of my favourite M albums tho! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isidro Guevara 821 Posted May 14, 2020 Author Share Posted May 14, 2020 8 minutes ago, Queen Bitch said: think it's criminally underrated and one of her best albums. Agree! I'll WRECK U right Up...G.U.Y.!!!🌋💥 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isidro Guevara 821 Posted May 14, 2020 Author Share Posted May 14, 2020 3 minutes ago, JOSHMATICA said: Hmmm, kind of still i think the kind of sound was too "aggressive" I don't think any Madonna song produced by Mirswais could be a big hit as his sound is too experimental for the GP. Nothing Fails and Love Profusion deserved! I'll WRECK U right Up...G.U.Y.!!!🌋💥 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Bitch 10,513 Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 7 minutes ago, Isidro Guevara said: Its not that bad but it could have been better. I kinda like the aesthetic of it. Which songs? I like all of them in this album! If it's the ugly ones they were meant to sound that way. It was intentional. I mean the video kinda looks like it was made by a first year animation student. It's give me major "graphic design is my passion" vibes. I don't think Nobody Knows Me, Mother and Father and X-Static Process are as good as they could have been. X-Static Process is a bit too repetitive for my taste. I think the MDNA Tour version of Nobody Knows Me is way better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Featured Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.