Madonna has become a worldwide superstar through her music, videos and charismatic personality, but not because of many meaningful song lyrics. It is only since her 'Bedtimes Stories' cd that one occasionally comes across songs in which she is actually trying to say something. But overall Madonna's lyrics are much less important than all the rest – even on American Life.
Songs like 'How High' are among the very few in which Madonna's lyrics equals her music. Madonna is an ice queen. I've seen her on stage in Amsterdam, insulting the audience and walking away whithout dignifying herself to give an encore – and in this convincing song about Fame, she's singing: "It's funny, how everybody mentions my name. They're never very nice". I don't believe for a second that she would have been a nicer person would she not have become a superstar, but the fear this sentence conveys is very real and genuine. In this context, the punchline "Will it matter when I'm gone?" has meaning – Madonna's obviously singing about death, but also about the possible end of her career which may arrive as soon as she brings out a couple of non-selling records. In this respect, her bringing out "Confessions on a dance floor" just after "American Life" is significant. American Life was an excellent record, but didn't sell. Confessions is her answer to the question "Will it matter when I'm gone?". Her answer is: "I definitely don't want to find out just yet!"
Madonna has become a worldwide superstar through her music, videos and charismatic personality, but not because of many meaningful song lyrics. It is only since her 'Bedtimes Stories' cd that one occasionally comes across songs in which she is actually trying to say something. But overall Madonna's lyrics are much less important than all the rest – even on American Life.
Songs like 'How High' are among the very few in which Madonna's lyrics equals her music. Madonna is an ice queen. I've seen her on stage in Amsterdam, insulting the audience and walking away whithout dignifying herself to give an encore – and in this convincing song about Fame, she's singing: "It's funny, how everybody mentions my name. They're never very nice". I don't believe for a second that she would have been a nicer person would she not have become a superstar, but the fear this sentence conveys is very real and genuine. In this context, the punchline "Will it matter when I'm gone?" has meaning – Madonna's obviously singing about death, but also about the possible end of her career which may arrive as soon as she brings out a couple of non-selling records. In this respect, her bringing out "Confessions on a dance floor" just after "American Life" is significant. American Life was an excellent record, but didn't sell. Confessions is her answer to the question "Will it matter when I'm gone?". Her answer is: "I definitely don't want to find out just yet!"