american life for sure. the blowback she received for that album might’ve been the most she’s ever gotten. to the point where she feared for her family’s life because of the original american life video which was quickly pulled from television.
Bedtime Stories is the yin to Erotica's yang. Bedtime Stories is the warm and romantic complement to Erotica is cold, distant sexuality. Bedtime Stories was the lovelier, safer crisis management album that had to be made to win back the fans that were put off by the dark, gritty and risky yet still brilliant Erotica. Bedtime Stories had the misfortune of coming between her most controversial album, Erotica, and her best album, Ray of Light. It is criminally overlooked despite it being a crucial part of her career. It made the public warm up to Madonna again and proved that she was still a force in the industry. Madonna looked her classiest and most elegant during this era. With Bedtime Stories, she made her most seductive album. It's also her last one where she was effectively pull off the sex symbol image and arguably the last one to showcase her sense of humour. The sound she created was plush, luxurious and alluring - Bedtime Stories is what silk, satin, cashmere and velvet would sound like - expensive. Ray of Light does showcase her most impressive, expressive vocals, but Bedtime Stories features her most alluring, inviting vocals.
Perfect description! Ive always made the Satin/silk comparison too. I love her lush vocals on this album. Its so overlooked, yet such a perfect fit for her. Love this whole era. 💖
Totally agree! I am a big R&B fan and it was the popular music at the time and she does a great job taking a crack at it. It was very smart to enlist Babyface and Dallas Austin for production.
Fun fact 2Pac was supposed to be on Rather Be Your lover as they were dating at the time but her label didn't want to take the risk of her being associated with him as they were working on cleaning up her reputation. The version with 2Pac is on youtube and it's amazing and really could've been a smash hit
Fun facts: In her song "Love Tried to Welcome Me" she refers to a book called "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by author Carson McCullers. It's her favorite book. She also refers to that book in the video for her song "Crave" from the Madame X album writing the title on a piece of paper. And in "Take a Bow" she quotes Shakespeare when she says "all the world is a stage and everyone has their part". That's from Shakespeare's play "As you like it". "Human Nature" is her response to the backlash she recieved for her Erotica album and SEX book. But specifically for the infamous interview with Letterman. It's a direct response to him and what happened that night in the interview. The video for "Bedtime Story" was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It was the first music video ever to be acquired by a museum as a piece of art.
@@ericmason6540 I don't know if someone has mentioned it already, but SECRET is actually about the character being transgender, her "secret". Like how on DEEPER AND DEEPER, the character was a gay man. Also, Madonna at the time had her own vanity label, Maverick, and she signed Alanis Morissette when no one else would. If you look at the liner notes of JAGGED LITTLE PILL, Alanis thanks Madonna.
@Sylver tbh, you can't blame people for that, as singles tend to be the strongest and more representative songs from an album, she leaned too much on this insurgent, political and critical of consumerism persona (that she ditched by the end of the era cause if that's one thing worse than sex you CAN'T mess with is the “American Dream” lmao) so she just portrayed the wrong message i guess
I remember 90's R&B. When this came out in the 90's it sounded different from the musical landscape. I did grow up in the 70's and this album reminded me of 70's R&B, like Marvin Gaye, like Earth, Wind and Fire or the Bee Gees. Of course, it's still incomparable in its way
Forbidden Love and Sanctuary should have been released as singles - amazing tracks. Your reaction is fantastic as always. You're such a great RUclipsr!
As an R&B fan, I have to say this is her best album for me, it's so beautiful and soft 😌✨ I wish she would've done more songs in this vibe, because it really fits her and her voice 🤧 We all know she's always chasing clout and R&B is kinda getting back to the top these last years so let's hope she makes more of these 🤞🤞
This is my all time favorite Madonna album! It’s so moody and I love that it sounds like a literal transition from Erotica to Ray of Light. Favorite track is Inside of Me with Sanctuary and Survival at a close second!
Omg Eric I gasped in excitement when I saw this notification! Bedtime Stories is in my Top 10 Favorite Albums Of All Time! After you're done with all 14 studio albums I wanna know what your favorite is!
I love all of these reaction videos popping up all over RUclips regarding Madonna's discography. In the end it's all about the work and her songs are sensational.
WOW, non only you look awesome, but you also are so deep in your analysis of madonna's music, lyrics and productions... I am afraid I might be in love with you! 😇😇 keep on the good work dude!!
Inside of me is about her mother remaining in her heart despite having passed when she was 5! It’s also on the other side about a lover she’s lost but his love remains, in both a sexual and romantic way! I love how all her songs have tons of perspectives and meanings for everyone
Definitely my favorite album by Madonna...came out when I was a boy and first really understood that I was gay. Sounds evoke very broody and sensual emotions
This album started my first love & collecting Madonna CDs. Her stuff is just an exciting adventure like an outer space exploration. So many different territories to be discovered!! Bedtime Stories is insanely arty funky. The album cover is delicious, and the powder blue & pink on the artwork catapulted the unicorn color craze that we see today. No artist were brave enough to explore & diversify like Madonna 🥇in 40 years (and counting!) long.
4 года назад+4
Your analysis is always so good. Please react to her 2000, Music album. Criminally underrated. Especially lyrically.
Great analysis Eric! Love Tried to Welcome Me and Sanctuary are inspired by George Herbert and Walt Whitman poems. Bedtime Stories, in a way, was an attempt by Madonna to refocus on her music after Erotica (Erotica was simultaneously released with her SEX book of erotic images; as well as the film Body of Evidence in which she played a "sexual predator") and all of this resulted in an avalanche of negative press and overexposure which she "survived" by returning to making great pop music. I think you should react to True Blue... that album has some of her most iconic hits and it paved the way for her to be taken more seriously as an artist.
This is such a underrated album. So lush and romantic. Since she got the Evita role, she didn't tour for this one. I would LOVE her to do a concert of these songs.
Awesome analysis as always, Eric! I've been immersed in Madonna's discography for so long that it's fun to see someone experiencing her works for the first time, because it helps me see trees again vs the entire forest. I think you would really enjoy listening to her albums "American Life" and/or "Music" next :) Keep up the great work!
I love your interpretation of Madonna's album Bedtime Stories. Its one of my favorite Madonna albums. Love tried to Welcome Me is my favorite and it is very haunting. Which song is your favorite Eric? Excellent review. Love your thoughts. Look forward to hearing more of your reviews. I'm new to your channel.
Such great album reviews, you get it in the first listening! I highly recommend you to react with 2-3 videos from each era in the same video, starting with American Life and Rebel Heart
Thank you so much! Luckily, I already have. :) Here are the links to both of those reactions: Confessions: ruclips.net/video/P51yasHeKCk/видео.html Rebel Heart: ruclips.net/video/qvs-9j7GdoU/видео.html
Wonderful, wonderful! I love your take on Madonna’s lyrics. Next should be “American Life” and “Madame X”. Political/existential Madonna wants to be heard hehe
Eric, thank you for making this video, I love your lyric analysis, as a life long Madonna fan, watching your video brought me back to to the 90's. More Madonna album please 🙏 and thank you. Also, you're super cute and absolutely adorable. 😘
Okay, so I am a huge Madonna fan, your videos are amazing and I love how you read her music, but I would love to see you eventually analyze Madame X. I know it is not her most loved album, but it is so unique and talks a lot about her experiences in Lisbon and her past time spent in Latin America. It is a very hyper political album. So unique.
Eric Mason Im actually producing a Madonna drag show right now online. We did 80s recently but we are doing 90s on 9/12 and 2000s 2 weeks after. Madonna has changed my life. She helped me accept my own sexuality and I’m glad someone loves her like I do.
Thanks for you interpretations, I'm a madonna fan from Argentina, a song hits you in very different ways and your perspective its very interesting. Been a latin listener I first experience the sounds then the lyrics, and you help me to se the hole picture thru the entere album. So thank you again.
This era makes me think, that, before Madonna was a Kabbalist, she mostly delved into Alchemy (the most obvious sign of this is on Sanctuary). There are a lot of Alchemical symbols during this era, one of them being the sun and the moon. Not to say a Kabbalist can't also be an Alchemist, but I think she singularly dived into this before finding that later. A stage in Alchemy, from what I remember, is a fork of decay before you have a rebirth (Ray Of Light). Another song talks about death on there as well (Mer Girl), but on Bedtime Stories, Sanctuary seems to fit that requirement. She buries that older part of herself in order to be reborn. Nigredo, or blackness, means putrefaction or decomposition. In analytical psychology, the term became a metaphor for the 'dark night of the soul, when an individual confronts the shadow within'. It would only make sense for the album to pave the way for Ray Of Light. It was her first step on this personal journey through the other steps, albedo (bringing light and clarity to the prima materia "personal material"), citrinitas (yellowing of the lunar consciousness), and rubedo (signaling great success, and the end of a good work). Certain psychologies of Carl Jung are also reflected throughout the Bedtime Stories era (anima, shadow, opus), specifically the Bedtime Story music video, with which it takes about the unconscious, and references Eastern religion. Especially in the nineties, after what was considered her failure with Erotica, Madonna needed to bring together a union of conflicting opposites to ensure harmony within her own career and personal life, so she could find solid footing again after what seemed like neverending tumultuous-ness with Erotica. Music would also continue this spiritual direction, with not caring of what other people thought, of reclaiming oneself against an onslaught. Erotica was a battle of the ego, and it was with Bedtime Stories that Madonna truly began to break free.
“Sanctuary “ is perhaps the least talked about song from her. I love the entire album , but the production on this song and “Bedtime Story “ are cutting-edge ! Sanctuary has that distorted guitar riff which I love that appears on the interlude and some parts of the song , sensual and sultry ! The 90s really nailed it for Madonna in music experimentation and away from those cliches in sexuality.
Bjork wrote the song and Madonna altered the odd word! Hooper asked bjork to write it with him then Madonna got it but misunderstood/ altered the odd sentence! :)
"I'd Rather Be Your Lover" was supposed to be a huge collaboration with 2Pac. But then... the business got in the way. It was actually recorded too. For me, it's "Love Tried To Welcome Me" until the end that's the best of this album. "Take a Bow" was at #1 for 7 weeks straight in 1995.
Thus album followed Erotica and the Sex book. They led to almost uniform scorn publicly. This album was completely non contraversial. Sedate. It purposely showed her range and her ability to do whatever she put her mind too. Her bravery is a protective veneer. She has always been vulnerable and religiously reverant, even traditional underneath. Inside of Me is about her mother, the source of her loneliness and her fight to survive, her drive
In fact, this album was a more traditionnal RnB album. I prefer this album to ''Erotica''. 'Erotica'' was not so conventionnal in the radios and more dark in the sound. Because of his bad reception of her album ''Erotica'', she ready to have the movement at the time and oriented this album was a more RnB conventionnal. In fact, this album was not the success of ''Like a Prayer'' or ''True Blue'' but this album sold more well to ''Erotica''. ''Sanctuary'' and the title track was two electro tracks and annonced the flavor of her next album ''Ray of Light''. For info, the song ''Human Nature'' was a autobiographical song about the ''Erotica'' era she address at the crtitcs about this era. ''Secret'' was originally a another ambiance, because she written this song with Shep Pettibone (the producer of ''Erotica). But when she wanted to a different direction, she finisshed to write the song with Neelie Hooper and was produced by him.
Huh... double entendre of the album title. Didn't even think about that: bedtime stories as in putting children to bed or going to bed with a lover. A great juxtaposition
One thing that I've noticed is Madonna's album covers are similar to the themes of the albums. With her debut, you know you're going to get a classic 80s album. With Like a Virgin, you know you're getting an album about love because of the wedding dress. With True Blue, you know you're getting an iconic classic style album. With Like a Prayer, you know you're getting a more personal album. With erotica, you know you're getting a sensual type album. With bedtime stories, you know you're getting a soft R&B style album. With ray of light, you know you're getting a spiritual album. With Music, you know you're getting a more acoustic, electronic and country album. With American Life, you know you're getting a more serious and political album. With confessions on a dance floor you know you're getting a disco album. With hard candy, you know you're getting a more hip hop/pop style album. With MDNA you know you're getting a EDM album. I feel like Madonna really thinks everything through.
Secret is technically not a romantic love song, it was written about the person who introduced her to Kabbalah I think I’d Rather be Your Lover was originally with 2Pac while they were dating. That version is on RUclips if you search for it
Music, rebel heart (deluxe), and American life are a must listen. Music is very interesting because it combines elements of electronic music, dance music, folk music, and country music. It's her most underrated album imo, probably because it came after Ray of light so it's overlooked. Tbh, bedtime story sounds like it could've fit on Ray of light not only sonically, but her vocals sound similar.
In fact, ''Music'' was a huge success and continued the glory return with ''Ray of Light'', it's sold 12 millions copies worldwide. This album was one of her most populars albums of his career. The title track was n.1 in 25 countrys (and her last of 12 singles in n.1 in US charts), and ''Don't Tell Me'' was also a huge success. The album was also her most sales in her first week, sold 4 millions copies the first week worldwide and also sold 420 000 copies in US the first week, debuting at n.1.
Rebel Heart is my favorite of the albums you have not yet reacted to. However, the people commenting that American Life is her most personal work are correct.
There are two great R B demos she was saving for ray of light but they got nixed because they didn’t fit the concept. Never Trust A Stranger and I’ll Be Gone are worth a listen as they emphasize the vocals
What Madonna album should I react to next? :)
American Life.
music
american life for sure. the blowback she received for that album might’ve been the most she’s ever gotten. to the point where she feared for her family’s life because of the original american life video which was quickly pulled from television.
Rebel Heart (Deluxe version) or American Life
Music! :)
Bedtime Stories is the yin to Erotica's yang. Bedtime Stories is the warm and romantic complement to Erotica is cold, distant sexuality. Bedtime Stories was the lovelier, safer crisis management album that had to be made to win back the fans that were put off by the dark, gritty and risky yet still brilliant Erotica.
Bedtime Stories had the misfortune of coming between her most controversial album, Erotica, and her best album, Ray of Light. It is criminally overlooked despite it being a crucial part of her career. It made the public warm up to Madonna again and proved that she was still a force in the industry.
Madonna looked her classiest and most elegant during this era. With Bedtime Stories, she made her most seductive album. It's also her last one where she was effectively pull off the sex symbol image and arguably the last one to showcase her sense of humour. The sound she created was plush, luxurious and alluring - Bedtime Stories is what silk, satin, cashmere and velvet would sound like - expensive.
Ray of Light does showcase her most impressive, expressive vocals, but Bedtime Stories features her most alluring, inviting vocals.
Perfect description! Ive always made the Satin/silk comparison too. I love her lush vocals on this album. Its so overlooked, yet such a perfect fit for her. Love this whole era. 💖
Totally agree! I am a big R&B fan and it was the popular music at the time and she does a great job taking a crack at it. It was very smart to enlist Babyface and Dallas Austin for production.
Fun fact 2Pac was supposed to be on Rather Be Your lover as they were dating at the time but her label didn't want to take the risk of her being associated with him as they were working on cleaning up her reputation. The version with 2Pac is on youtube and it's amazing and really could've been a smash hit
I agree. His lyrics were so on point. Adding to the fact they were dating at the time.
Fun facts: In her song "Love Tried to Welcome Me" she refers to a book called "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by author Carson McCullers. It's her favorite book. She also refers to that book in the video for her song "Crave" from the Madame X album writing the title on a piece of paper.
And in "Take a Bow" she quotes Shakespeare when she says "all the world is a stage and everyone has their part". That's from Shakespeare's play "As you like it".
"Human Nature" is her response to the backlash she recieved for her Erotica album and SEX book. But specifically for the infamous interview with Letterman. It's a direct response to him and what happened that night in the interview.
The video for "Bedtime Story" was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It was the first music video ever to be acquired by a museum as a piece of art.
And what a video Bedtime Story is.
This guy is something else❤️ Loved your reaction to the album.
Thank you so much! :)
@@ericmason6540 I don't know if someone has mentioned it already, but SECRET is actually about the character being transgender, her "secret". Like how on DEEPER AND DEEPER, the character was a gay man.
Also, Madonna at the time had her own vanity label, Maverick, and she signed Alanis Morissette when no one else would. If you look at the liner notes of JAGGED LITTLE PILL, Alanis thanks Madonna.
FYI: Madonna albums already analyzed by Eric.
Like A Prayer
Erotica
Bedtime Stories (this video)
Ray Of Light
Confessions On A Dancefloor
Own Your Crazy ooh still got True Blue, Music and Madame X still to come. I personally wanna forget the others.
American Life has to be the next album. It’s her most personal, IMO.
It's my second favorite album of hers. Very underrated!
American life isn't as personal as Like a Prayer.
Like a prayer and Ray of light are more personal and mindful
@Sylver tbh, you can't blame people for that, as singles tend to be the strongest and more representative songs from an album, she leaned too much on this insurgent, political and critical of consumerism persona (that she ditched by the end of the era cause if that's one thing worse than sex you CAN'T mess with is the “American Dream” lmao) so she just portrayed the wrong message i guess
Sanctuary is something else and so underrated in her catalogue.
Right.
I think you're the first reactor who picked that reference about her mother on inside of me. Yes, she's talking about her mom there.
I remember 90's R&B. When this came out in the 90's it sounded different from the musical landscape. I did grow up in the 70's and this album reminded me of 70's R&B, like Marvin Gaye, like Earth, Wind and Fire or the Bee Gees. Of course, it's still incomparable in its way
The Bedtime Story video is an ABSOLUTE MUST!
Damn Eric, Imagine having you as a song lyricist. You could write some amazing classic timeless lyrics.
Thank you so much! :)
Forbidden Love and Sanctuary should have been released as singles - amazing tracks. Your reaction is fantastic as always. You're such a great RUclipsr!
In my opinion, a beautiful album with a soft charm.
Maybe one of the most underrated albums by Madonna
As an R&B fan, I have to say this is her best album for me, it's so beautiful and soft 😌✨ I wish she would've done more songs in this vibe, because it really fits her and her voice 🤧 We all know she's always chasing clout and R&B is kinda getting back to the top these last years so let's hope she makes more of these 🤞🤞
omg i missed your madonna videos 😭😭❤
This is my all time favorite Madonna album! It’s so moody and I love that it sounds like a literal transition from Erotica to Ray of Light.
Favorite track is Inside of Me with Sanctuary and Survival at a close second!
Bedtime Stories is in my Top 10 Favorite Music Albums Of All Time ❤
This album is my Sanctuary.
Omg Eric I gasped in excitement when I saw this notification! Bedtime Stories is in my Top 10 Favorite Albums Of All Time! After you're done with all 14 studio albums I wanna know what your favorite is!
Music is a must
Vocals are magic are some of my all time fav Madonna vocals.
I love all of these reaction videos popping up all over RUclips regarding Madonna's discography. In the end it's all about the work and her songs are sensational.
WOW, non only you look awesome, but you also are so deep in your analysis of madonna's music, lyrics and productions... I am afraid I might be in love with you! 😇😇 keep on the good work dude!!
Thank you so much! 🤗
Inside of me is about her mother remaining in her heart despite having passed when she was 5! It’s also on the other side about a lover she’s lost but his love remains, in both a sexual and romantic way! I love how all her songs have tons of perspectives and meanings for everyone
Definitely my favorite album by Madonna...came out when I was a boy and first really understood that I was gay. Sounds evoke very broody and sensual emotions
Another excellent reaction. I would like to see you react to Madame X!
This album started my first love & collecting Madonna CDs. Her stuff is just an exciting adventure like an outer space exploration. So many different territories to be discovered!!
Bedtime Stories is insanely arty funky. The album cover is delicious, and the powder blue & pink on the artwork catapulted the unicorn color craze that we see today.
No artist were brave enough to explore & diversify like Madonna 🥇in 40 years (and counting!) long.
Your analysis is always so good. Please react to her 2000, Music album. Criminally underrated. Especially lyrically.
Thank you so much! :)
Great analysis Eric! Love Tried to Welcome Me and Sanctuary are inspired by George Herbert and Walt Whitman poems. Bedtime Stories, in a way, was an attempt by Madonna to refocus on her music after Erotica (Erotica was simultaneously released with her SEX book of erotic images; as well as the film Body of Evidence in which she played a "sexual predator") and all of this resulted in an avalanche of negative press and overexposure which she "survived" by returning to making great pop music. I think you should react to True Blue... that album has some of her most iconic hits and it paved the way for her to be taken more seriously as an artist.
Thank you so much! :)
This is such a underrated album. So lush and romantic. Since she got the Evita role, she didn't tour for this one. I would LOVE her to do a concert of these songs.
You have the best Madonna album reactions! Love your videos
Thank you so much! :)
Ahhhhh!!! I’ve been waiting for this!!! LOVE seeing ur interpretation and ur beautiful face as always 😍
Thank you so much! 🤗
Bedtime stories her last album before her voice change from vocal training for Evita soundtrack
It was already on its way here though. The vocals on this album have grown significantly since the 80s.
Awesome analysis as always, Eric! I've been immersed in Madonna's discography for so long that it's fun to see someone experiencing her works for the first time, because it helps me see trees again vs the entire forest. I think you would really enjoy listening to her albums "American Life" and/or "Music" next :) Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much! :)
I love your interpretation of Madonna's album Bedtime Stories. Its one of my favorite Madonna albums. Love tried to Welcome Me is my favorite and it is very haunting. Which song is your favorite Eric? Excellent review. Love your thoughts. Look forward to hearing more of your reviews. I'm new to your channel.
Thank you! I think my current favorite song on Bedtime Stories is "Secret." :)
Very good review. You are easy to listen to. I would suggest your next album be American Life. Very good songs,lyrically.(I think)😊
Thank you! :)
Such great album reviews, you get it in the first listening! I highly recommend you to react with 2-3 videos from each era in the same video, starting with American Life and Rebel Heart
Thank you so much! :)
This is one of my fav albums of her!!
Oh Eric. You should review Madonna album Confessions on the Dance floor and Rebel Heart album. You are very perceptive explaining lyric meaning.
Thank you so much! Luckily, I already have. :) Here are the links to both of those reactions:
Confessions: ruclips.net/video/P51yasHeKCk/видео.html
Rebel Heart: ruclips.net/video/qvs-9j7GdoU/видео.html
The relationship that was sung in Secret is more of a mentor than a romantic one for me.
Howdy partner. Long time no hear. Great reaction again. 🙌🏽
Thank you so much! :)
You are so well spoken and so well versed 👌
fun fact: inside of me features a sample from aaliyah’s back & forth on her debut album.
Yes!!!
My favorite song on the album... Inside of Me 😊
Oh what really ???
Very nice analisys as usual! It would be great if you react to "American Life" one of her most political albums. Thanks
Thank you so much! :)
Wonderful, wonderful! I love your take on Madonna’s lyrics. Next should be “American Life” and “Madame X”. Political/existential Madonna wants to be heard hehe
Thank you so much! :)
Yay! Been waiting for this one! Great review as usual!
Thank you so much! :)
Eric, Thank you Thank you for this video ☺️ was waiting for it for so long ❤️
My pleasure! :)
Eric, thank you for making this video, I love your lyric analysis, as a life long Madonna fan, watching your video brought me back to to the 90's.
More Madonna album please 🙏 and thank you. Also, you're super cute and absolutely adorable. 😘
Thank you so much! :)
i have to say you and otde are the most interesting analysis
your reaction verbalise my exact thoughts!! so amazing! i really love your reactions and reviews and am always looking forward to new postings. hugs x
Thank you so much! 🤗
" I Rather be your lover " was going to be a duet with Tupac, there's a leak version. Is much better tbh.
Take a bow is her most succesfull single ever in Billboard
Not quite
Okay, so I am a huge Madonna fan, your videos are amazing and I love how you read her music, but I would love to see you eventually analyze Madame X. I know it is not her most loved album, but it is so unique and talks a lot about her experiences in Lisbon and her past time spent in Latin America. It is a very hyper political album. So unique.
Thank you so much! I’d definitely like to get to Madame X at some point. :)
Eric Mason Im actually producing a Madonna drag show right now online. We did 80s recently but we are doing 90s on 9/12 and 2000s 2 weeks after. Madonna has changed my life. She helped me accept my own sexuality and I’m glad someone loves her like I do.
Focus on her Focus: The Hearts Beat Into The Rhythm Of Life’s Keenness❣️
Thanks for you interpretations, I'm a madonna fan from Argentina, a song hits you in very different ways and your perspective its very interesting. Been a latin listener I first experience the sounds then the lyrics, and you help me to se the hole picture thru the entere album. So thank you again.
My pleasure! :)
This era makes me think, that, before Madonna was a Kabbalist, she mostly delved into Alchemy (the most obvious sign of this is on Sanctuary). There are a lot of Alchemical symbols during this era, one of them being the sun and the moon. Not to say a Kabbalist can't also be an Alchemist, but I think she singularly dived into this before finding that later. A stage in Alchemy, from what I remember, is a fork of decay before you have a rebirth (Ray Of Light). Another song talks about death on there as well (Mer Girl), but on Bedtime Stories, Sanctuary seems to fit that requirement. She buries that older part of herself in order to be reborn. Nigredo, or blackness, means putrefaction or decomposition. In analytical psychology, the term became a metaphor for the 'dark night of the soul, when an individual confronts the shadow within'. It would only make sense for the album to pave the way for Ray Of Light. It was her first step on this personal journey through the other steps, albedo (bringing light and clarity to the prima materia "personal material"), citrinitas (yellowing of the lunar consciousness), and rubedo (signaling great success, and the end of a good work). Certain psychologies of Carl Jung are also reflected throughout the Bedtime Stories era (anima, shadow, opus), specifically the Bedtime Story music video, with which it takes about the unconscious, and references Eastern religion. Especially in the nineties, after what was considered her failure with Erotica, Madonna needed to bring together a union of conflicting opposites to ensure harmony within her own career and personal life, so she could find solid footing again after what seemed like neverending tumultuous-ness with Erotica. Music would also continue this spiritual direction, with not caring of what other people thought, of reclaiming oneself against an onslaught. Erotica was a battle of the ego, and it was with Bedtime Stories that Madonna truly began to break free.
“Sanctuary “ is perhaps the least talked about song from her. I love the entire album , but the production on this song and “Bedtime Story “ are cutting-edge ! Sanctuary has that distorted guitar riff which I love that appears on the interlude and some parts of the song , sensual and sultry ! The 90s really nailed it for Madonna in music experimentation and away from those cliches in sexuality.
This was so fun. I just love when this guy says "ooh"
Do you mind if I share your Madonna videos to my Madonna Facebook clubs?
Not at all-please do! Thank you so much! :)
Great analysis, as always :)
Bjork wrote Bedtime Story with Madonna.
Bjork wrote the song and Madonna altered the odd word! Hooper asked bjork to write it with him then Madonna got it but misunderstood/ altered the odd sentence! :)
I can't wait for you to start reacting to her live performances & videos.
Eric analyse some more Madonna videos; Ray of Light, Express Yourself, You’ll See, Open Your Heart. Great work by the way!
"I'd Rather Be Your Lover" was supposed to be a huge collaboration with 2Pac. But then... the business got in the way. It was actually recorded too.
For me, it's "Love Tried To Welcome Me" until the end that's the best of this album.
"Take a Bow" was at #1 for 7 weeks straight in 1995.
Love tried to welcome me is the most beautiful of the album.
You say that this is the transition between Erotica and Ray Of Light and it’s very true especially the sonic qualities of Sanctuary and Bedtime Story
Cool analysis!! So deep 👏 please review melanie c northern star (1999) version of me (2016) or the new album she is releasing this october 2nd!
Thank you! :)
my favorite album of hers.....:)
My Top 5 Madonna’s albums
Great reaction as always and so informative.
Thank you so much! :)
Confessions on the dance floor
Omg this s my fav album
Thus album followed Erotica and the Sex book. They led to almost uniform scorn publicly. This album was completely non contraversial. Sedate. It purposely showed her range and her ability to do whatever she put her mind too. Her bravery is a protective veneer. She has always been vulnerable and religiously reverant, even traditional underneath. Inside of Me is about her mother, the source of her loneliness and her fight to survive, her drive
its interesting how you think with your eyes. they move in specific ways when you are thinking.
In fact, this album was a more traditionnal RnB album. I prefer this album to ''Erotica''. 'Erotica'' was not so conventionnal in the radios and more dark in the sound. Because of his bad reception of her album ''Erotica'', she ready to have the movement at the time and oriented this album was a more RnB conventionnal. In fact, this album was not the success of ''Like a Prayer'' or ''True Blue'' but this album sold more well to ''Erotica''. ''Sanctuary'' and the title track was two electro tracks and annonced the flavor of her next album ''Ray of Light''.
For info, the song ''Human Nature'' was a autobiographical song about the ''Erotica'' era she address at the crtitcs about this era. ''Secret'' was originally a another ambiance, because she written this song with Shep Pettibone (the producer of ''Erotica). But when she wanted to a different direction, she finisshed to write the song with Neelie Hooper and was produced by him.
nice reaction + review! Love this album
Thank you! :)
Thanks Eric, another great and insightful reaction 🙂. I would love to hear your thoughts on Madam X
Thank you so much! :)
Please react to Rebel Heart. Deluxe version. All 19 tracks or even the extra 4 songs.
Huh... double entendre of the album title. Didn't even think about that: bedtime stories as in putting children to bed or going to bed with a lover. A great juxtaposition
her first album raw gritty and incredible. established her more so than like a virgin
One thing that I've noticed is Madonna's album covers are similar to the themes of the albums. With her debut, you know you're going to get a classic 80s album. With Like a Virgin, you know you're getting an album about love because of the wedding dress. With True Blue, you know you're getting an iconic classic style album. With Like a Prayer, you know you're getting a more personal album. With erotica, you know you're getting a sensual type album. With bedtime stories, you know you're getting a soft R&B style album. With ray of light, you know you're getting a spiritual album. With Music, you know you're getting a more acoustic, electronic and country album. With American Life, you know you're getting a more serious and political album. With confessions on a dance floor you know you're getting a disco album. With hard candy, you know you're getting a more hip hop/pop style album. With MDNA you know you're getting a EDM album. I feel like Madonna really thinks everything through.
Bedtime Stories was released in 1994. Madonna didn't have her fist child until 1996
Secret is technically not a romantic love song, it was written about the person who introduced her to Kabbalah I think
I’d Rather be Your Lover was originally with 2Pac while they were dating. That version is on RUclips if you search for it
Music, rebel heart (deluxe), and American life are a must listen. Music is very interesting because it combines elements of electronic music, dance music, folk music, and country music. It's her most underrated album imo, probably because it came after Ray of light so it's overlooked. Tbh, bedtime story sounds like it could've fit on Ray of light not only sonically, but her vocals sound similar.
In fact, ''Music'' was a huge success and continued the glory return with ''Ray of Light'', it's sold 12 millions copies worldwide. This album was one of her most populars albums of his career. The title track was n.1 in 25 countrys (and her last of 12 singles in n.1 in US charts), and ''Don't Tell Me'' was also a huge success. The album was also her most sales in her first week, sold 4 millions copies the first week worldwide and also sold 420 000 copies in US the first week, debuting at n.1.
love madonna
It was Babyface who was the one whispering in Forbidden Love.
Speaking of 90s R&B, I would *love* to see you do an analysis of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”. It’s a classic I think you’d really dig.
Please react to Music and I'm breathless, two of Madonna's best albums
React to Music. In September 18th will be the 20 anniversary. How old are you? 🥰
23 :)
Rebel Heart is my favorite of the albums you have not yet reacted to. However, the people commenting that American Life is her most personal work are correct.
Take A Bow gives me a very "Gone" from Music album vibe.
i think Music and American Life should be next!!
💕💕💕
React to Madonna's first album!
The music trend during this time was New Jack Swing.
Next I’d plump for Music or American Life.
There are two great R B demos she was saving for ray of light but they got nixed because they didn’t fit the concept. Never Trust A Stranger and I’ll Be Gone are worth a listen as they emphasize the vocals
Music, American life, Madame X
Hey Eric, would you please react to Madonnas Madame x. Would be great 😘
I hope you react to her music videos.
I will very soon! :)
Inside of Me is about her mother.
Love all of your reactions!! Can you react to Demi Lovato's discography? 🥺