08/22/2007
Madonna Always the Bridesmaid in "The Beat Goes On"
A new track from Madonna's forthcoming album has leaked. "The Beat Goes On" is a Pharrell/Madge collaboration.
Idolator's review: "'Beat' is sort of like a mini-tour of the dance-music genres that Madonna hasn't yet tried to assimilate--DFA handclaps and cowbells, Bee Gees-ish falsettos on the chorus, Pharrell background interjections sprinkled throughout the track. The singsong "always a bridesmaid, never a bride" pre-chorus is a lot catchier than its 'Stayin' Alive'-like follow-up, and it will probably be stuck in my head for the rest of the day now. Overall, in the grand scheme of Madonna songs, 'Beat' is definitely better than 'Hey You,' but I'm not quite sure if it's all that much of an achievement over 'American Life.'"
Not quite sure what to make of this - it's certainly spare, but who knows if it's finished. The simplicity of Madonna's tracks is often deceiving and the hook can creep up on you. That may be the case here.
You can get the track (at least for now) over at Kevipod music.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 11:51 AM EST by Andy in Madonna, Music, News, Pharrell | Permalink
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I do like the disco-fied hook in this track. But I don't get the bridesmaid lyrics. WTF is she talking about?
Posted by: crispy | Aug 22, 2007 12:03:59 PM
Someone needs to tell her to stop writing her own lyrics...
Posted by: JB | Aug 22, 2007 12:10:26 PM
Agreed. These songs come out and then they disappear. Her last album only had like three good tracks; the rest sounded like Chatty Cathy trying her hand at karaoke.
PS Can you imagine a world without Photoshop? I think Madonna would become suicidal. I mean, who the hell is the woman in that photo?
Posted by: Dan | Aug 22, 2007 12:15:19 PM
Finally, Madonna has gone back to being experimental. After the American Life cd kind of flopped and Elton John said that Die Another Day was horrible, it seemed like Vadge had gotten timid about it all and the Confessions cd was too retro. Now she is back and this song sounds great. Can't wait for the new cd!
Posted by: Likes it | Aug 22, 2007 12:20:09 PM
Dan, I think that's Alison Goldfrapp in the pic lol.
Posted by: CallTheDoctor | Aug 22, 2007 12:22:38 PM
Well, she didn't break any pencils writing the lyrics. I just hope this album doesn't become the narcissisitic sludge that made up half of the Confessions CD.
Posted by: Tropico | Aug 22, 2007 12:27:55 PM
Hip-hop destroyed pop music.
Posted by: busytimmy | Aug 22, 2007 12:34:29 PM
31 flavors of suck.
Posted by: Naha | Aug 22, 2007 12:47:00 PM
I'll repeat what I wrote in my blog (okay, more like 'cut and paste from my bog'):
This woman is almost 50 years old - maybe it's time for her to approach middle age with a modicum of class. Well, fuck that, I know…it's hard to continue being a trend setter, a feat she hasn't accomplished in years. First the dull, listless 'Confessions' CD, and now this. Ersatz, generic dance R&B that we've heard dozens of times before by a new artist is frustrating enough, especially with lyrics as mundane and cliched (e.g. "always the bridesmaid, never the bride". How original!) as these. But when you've survived the business for a quarter century like she has, I surmise usurping relevance takes drastic measures she's just either a) too lazy to commit to, or B) too dependent on her massive gay following - which eats up anything and everything she regurgitates no questions asked - to even care. Plus, jumping ahead of the bandwagon before it seeped into pop-culture was originally her aesthete. That has long gone too. Her new CD reportedly has the likes of Pharrell, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake helping her out. Wow, Mo! What a novice idea! They haven't worked in years, so good for you for employing such has-beens!
What a shame - this song sux, and if it's a taste of what's to come on her new CD, I'd rather be sleeping. I'm still trying to wake up from my long nap after 'Hey You'.
Posted by: jeffreychrist | Aug 22, 2007 1:01:55 PM
I remember Madonna's first album and how good it was and still is. It is the only music that I have of hers. GREAT first effort that has sustained me for over 20 years.
When I want to listen to GREAT music written and performed by a true "British" artist I turn to Tracey Thorn!
If you have not picked up her latest album, "Out of the Woods" shame on you!
Posted by: Charles | Aug 22, 2007 1:12:03 PM
I've been a huge fan for 20+ years, but this is by FAR the worst thing she's ever recorded. It makes American Life look good, something I thought impossible. Pharrell must hate her. After this and Hey You, he obviously wants to sabotage what's left of her career.
Posted by: Medusasf | Aug 22, 2007 1:16:50 PM
sounds kinda Tenderflake, and seems she confused writing popsong lyrics with writing children's books.
i like madonna, but she so needs to Garbo.
Posted by: A.J. | Aug 22, 2007 1:17:48 PM
I've said it before and I'll say it again: she's awful. She needs to retire from performing and "writing" and consider a complete career change. Completely.
Posted by: Zak | Aug 22, 2007 1:26:52 PM
I love Madonna and what she represented at one time. Now, as Guy Ritchie has chased away all her gays and Kabbalah + aging has sucked dry her creative/innovative/artistic soul (even you don't feel she had that, she believed she did and it showed,) she gives us this song. Yuck. The "Candy Shop" clip was atrocious. This is mediocre at best.
Note: the 2 leaks thus far are the Pharrell tracks, recorded back in the winter, before her work with Timbaland. Perhaps these are leaking as they aren't planned to appear on her CD.
2nd Note: We should realize she's pumping out this CD very quickly in order to fulfill her Warner contract and move on. At this point, she's guaranteed her $$, so I wonder if she even cares beyond that.
Posted by: Ben | Aug 22, 2007 1:56:21 PM
Hey! Maybe when she tours she'll flip us off and call us f*ckers again!
Posted by: Tropico | Aug 22, 2007 1:58:35 PM
God, you bitches are bitches. Stop riding Madge's dick. She's still the shit 25 years and running.
Having said that, not my favorite song of hers, but who knows if it will even come close to making the album.
Posted by: Marco | Aug 22, 2007 1:59:40 PM
the best part of all these negative posts? you all went and downloaded it! And from the posts you pretty much hated it before you ever heard it. that tickles me.
Posted by: Chux | Aug 22, 2007 2:04:12 PM
Since when has Madonna's lyrics been about artistic innovation or about great meaning. Give me a break. Madonna's lyrics are meant for you to have a good time and enjoy the music. This woman has been in the business for 25 years and she will keep on going and going. People want her to retired like if the new up-and-comers were any better. People never seem to grasp how hard it is be on top and down and top again. Just give it a rest, the woman will be here and remembered long before any of you. Whether you like her music or not the woman is current, sells, an d is a music icon.
Posted by: Stylist78 | Aug 22, 2007 2:06:47 PM
why are you all so bitter. the chorus here is fantastic and for the record the first 5/6 of confessions was some of her best music ever. that she can stay relevant after 400 years in the business is really without precedent.
Posted by: vader | Aug 22, 2007 2:06:56 PM
MY GOD are you guys bitter!!!! Lighten the fuck up. Don't like the song, fine. Like it? OK then. But seriously, to go on like Madonna is supposed to be the musical messiah and she's not pulling it off is boring. Seems like homos are the ones putting that shit on her. And I believe she wrote the lyric "I'm not your bitch, don't hang your shit on me", so how about you hang it somewhere else.
Posted by: JR | Aug 22, 2007 2:13:08 PM
I can just see some of these bitter queens being the first to either: a) buy her cd, b) be in line to buy tour tickets, or c) be the first to step on the dance floor and get down. hahahaha.
Posted by: Stylist78 | Aug 22, 2007 2:16:20 PM
I love when the Madonna apologists rush to her defense. You guys should get together with the Clay Aiken fans and host a convention.
Posted by: crispy | Aug 22, 2007 2:20:55 PM
Predictable comments all around. Aren't there ways to talk about things, other than "I like/don't like the song, person, etc."? And isn't this the hard question Madonna keeps asking herself and us, at least in her music?
Posted by: TJ | Aug 22, 2007 2:22:54 PM
And I love it when the haters find every way or form to bring her down and just can't seem to get rid of her. Can't keep a good bitch down.
Posted by: Stylist78 | Aug 22, 2007 2:23:36 PM
Note silly children: these leaks are all rough drafts, and are all probably nothing at all like what will be presented on the final album, so I don't know why everyone has their panties in such a wad always about them.
True she has slipped a bit, but I liked "Confessions" much better than "American Life" (which was horrendous), and yes, after Guy, she has misguidedly kinda left her gays at the corner (or so it seems), and who the hell knows what the Kabbalah has done to her thinking?
But I haven't given up on her yet, cause she's still my #1 Diva, she still doesn't give a fuck what people think (though she's much less hard-core these days than I'd prefer), and she's still deep-down a grade-A bitch (much like the pre-shipwrecked Amber in that horrible "Swept Away" trash she did with Guy).
Regardless, "Hung-Up" was a GREAT song to crank up & play endlessly while exercising (or cleaning), or when you wish to drive others around you up the wall in public. That's another reason I loves me some Madonna. Her ability to work people's nerves!
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!
Posted by: Jordan | Aug 22, 2007 2:24:34 PM
Sounds like the ditty she did with Britney.
Posted by: AA | Aug 22, 2007 2:25:47 PM
...no ones apologizing for SHIT crispy...and i'll say it, even if no one will, some, NOT ALL, but some of her lyrics have been very relevant...FUCK...is that so hard to admit...whatever...
Posted by: yeahisaidit | Aug 22, 2007 2:29:04 PM
The comments on this blog about Madonna are always predictably tired and bitchy. zzzz
As far as the track goes, it's sort of average and blah, but definetely not bad. I doubt this "leak" is even the final version, and is most likely album filler or a b side.
To the person who said Madonna left the gays, that's just crazy. Her support of the gay community has never wavered. It seems it's unforgivable for some that she has grown up, gotten married, has some spirituality, and is a mother of three.
This record is gonna be just as hot as Confessions was, and just a big globally.
Posted by: michael | Aug 22, 2007 2:47:24 PM
The song didn't grab me on first listen, but it's grown on me and is much more appealing than "Hey You," which was not a bad song but was a leftover-type of song. I think at least some of the negative posts here start from such a flawed premise (that Madonna hasn't made popular or good music recently, that Confessions was somehow bad or poorly received) that the rest of them don't matter. (Also, saying she's left the gays is just stupid. Madonna has done more for gay people in the arts than gay people have done for ourselves! That's the embarrassing truth. And why do so many anti-outers get hernias straining to defend closeted gays and then jump down pro-gay celebrities' throats for not being legit in their statements or for capitalizing on us?) I agree with the person who theorized that some of these leaks might be songs that are either leftovers that won't make the CD or are being leaked as a way to informally test the waters. All that said, I don't like Justin, Timbaland or Pharrell overly much so I'm not ecstatic to hear the new CD...but then I wound up really liking Nelly Furtado's CD so I'll keep an open mind.
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | Aug 22, 2007 3:05:26 PM
The photo is a Photoshop fake.
It's actually a shot of Cate Blanchett with Madonna's face cleverly grafted on.
Check here boys...
http://xolondon.blogspot.com/2007/08/do-not-be-taken-ye-good-people.html
Are all you guys really slating 'Confessions on a Dance Floor'? Jeez. Whenever I go into a gay bar and one of those songs come on people actually cheer!
Who knows where this song came from. It's so-so. If her people leaked it, it's not a great way to create advance buzz. It's b-side material at best. What with this and 'Hey you', it's clear Pharrell Williams is clearly not the right collaborator for her.
Posted by: TRICKY | Aug 22, 2007 3:07:18 PM
First off you're all retarded. Second, of course thats her in the pic so dont be stupid. So what if shes almost 50. Shes the queen of pop, she can do anything. Confessions on a dance floor was her most successful album/tour. So for the ppl who critisize confessions need to get real. If your not a Madonna fan why do you waste your time going to sites about her and bashing her? Get a life!
Posted by: kris | Aug 22, 2007 4:03:34 PM
sometimes Madonna is one legendary hot fuck,
...and sometimes she just puts out.
this was a bad lay.
Posted by: A.J. | Aug 22, 2007 4:15:54 PM
You know, this is actually getting under my skin for the following reasons:
1. All bitter queens that want to bitch about how Madonna has "left the gay community behind" need to think about why, if in fact that is true. If I had to deal with a bunch of fags constantly bitching and moaning about how I'm not doing enough for them, I might leave you all behind too. When does someone stop being in debt to fags?
2. For those bringing up "American Life", Hi wasn't that two albums ago and released in 2003? Yeah. Let's move on. Making comparisons to things past just makes you look tired and out of date.
3. As for her look in this now clearly photoshoped pix, I'm wondering how many of you would opt for altered pix of yourself at her age if you were being looked at by millions of people? Hell, I bet many of you are opting for that now and the only one looking at you is yourself. Get over your self-righteous criticism.
The moral is, when YOU get off your ass and start doing something that you're passionate about and continue doing it for 25+ years and manage not to succumb to the pressure, have a life, leave a legacy and make change, then MAYBE you have would have a platform from which to judge. Until then SHUT THE FUCK UP and try to enjoy the things you like and avoid those you don't. It will make things a lot more pleasant for everyone.
Posted by: JR | Aug 22, 2007 4:41:01 PM
I actually enjoyed the track. It's harmful, catchy pop music. I bet this is nothing like the rest of the album. This is probably to lower expectations!
Posted by: Clint | Aug 22, 2007 5:02:38 PM
Polarizing celebrities are automatically relevant. Brava, Madge!
Posted by: the other jeff | Aug 22, 2007 5:21:03 PM
It's one thing not to take away from what she has accomplished, however much of it was derivative, and another to imagine she's done stuff she hasn't.
"Madonna has done more for gay people in the arts than gay people have done for ourselves!"???? Not only is that hagiographic hallucinations that only distract from what she has done but thanks for insulting countless gays in the arts who were doing for themselves and us before she was born.
I challenge anyone to name TWO things she's DONE in the last FIVE YEARS "for gay people." And I mean actions, not smile fucking. Sharing some of her millions counts but how long ago was the last time she did that? No mere claims or undocumented claims from other hagiographers allowed.
thanks
Posted by: Get Real | Aug 22, 2007 5:30:17 PM
Eh...
At first I was surprised by all the bitchy comments on this post, but then I remembered I'm on Towleroad. You guys are way too harsh, this time. I'll admit, this track is *vomit noise*, but it's not the horrible trite you guys made it like it was. The only thing wrong with this song--and most of Madge's recent material--is that when you hold it up next to her GREAT stuff, there's no comparison. But what Madge has always been able to do is put an irresistable hook onto otherwise silly lyrics ("dance and sing get up and do your thing?" anyone) and make a hit. This song has that hook that gets into you hard despite your realization that you're singing along to a song that, otherwise, isn't all that good.
Madge's got 25+ years down. She's already paid her dues. As long as she still makes $$ on tours, she's happy. My biggest complaint about this track is that it reeks of generic hip-hop/dance that you hear from just about any Ciara or Rhianna on the radio today. But that can't necessarily mean a bad thing if you're someone out to sell some records, right?
Posted by: Derrick | Aug 22, 2007 6:01:46 PM
Say what you want, but the video for "Vogue" and her performance of said song at the MTV Music Awards in Rococo drag (1991?) were GENIUS, and nothing else.
Posted by: jmg | Aug 22, 2007 8:29:56 PM
I CANNOT GIVE JUDGMENT TO LEAKS. I AM ANTI-PIARCY AND ANTI-ILLEGAL DOWNLOADS. ANYONE WHO PATRONIZES LEAKS SHOULD BE PENALIZED AND THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR RELEASING THIS LEAK MUST BE, TOO. I don't see the point of giving an opnion on an unreleased, unfinished single but MADONNA remains the Queen of Pop and this album will rock!! Let us not underestimate her and I hope that this album will be brilliant like Bedtime Stories, Like A Prayer, Music and Ray of Light!
Posted by: Ronald | Aug 22, 2007 10:03:36 PM
I was referring earlier to her distancing herself from gay people, (including her brother) to please her husband, referring to what Rupert had said in his book earlier this year, not the gay community in general, but obviously noone here reads books, and is only interested in a bitch-fest.
Posted by: Jordan | Aug 23, 2007 1:28:29 AM
It is obviously EXCELLENT, even if this song is an unfinished work.
Madonna is still the genius she has alwys been since 25 years and sooooooooooooo sexy!
Posted by: didier | Aug 23, 2007 12:50:51 PM
Alas, music is in the ear of the beholder. End of story.
Posted by: Eddie | Aug 24, 2007 12:43:41 AM
I have to say you guys make me laugh, can i go out on a limb and say that most of you are aaerican??? Madonna stopped making music for american audiences a long time ago as music there is simply BAD. your charts are packed with songs that sound the same.
Confessions album was anything but dull, countries who understand music and producing like the UK etc praised that album as a throw back to the 70s with a modern spin, Dance music which existed to tell a story as well as getting people to dance.
The album was huge all over the world and hung up has become her biggest hit of all time as well as having songs like Let It Will Be been called hidden gems (like Drowned world from ray of light)
This new song is a great direction for madonna who again is offering her fans something new unlike lets say Mariah or Christina or every bloody watered down RnB artist America keep churning out.
Learn about music (all kinds of music) before you insult
Posted by: Craig | Aug 24, 2007 9:09:39 AM
I have to say you guys make me laugh, can i go out on a limb and say that most of you are aaerican??? Madonna stopped making music for american audiences a long time ago as music there is simply BAD. your charts are packed with songs that sound the same.
Confessions album was anything but dull, countries who understand music and producing like the UK etc praised that album as a throw back to the 70s with a modern spin, Dance music which existed to tell a story as well as getting people to dance.
The album was huge all over the world and hung up has become her biggest hit of all time as well as having songs like Let It Will Be been called hidden gems (like Drowned world from ray of light)
This new song is a great direction for madonna who again is offering her fans something new unlike lets say Mariah or Christina or every bloody watered down RnB artist America keep churning out.
Learn about music (all kinds of music) before you insult
Posted by: Craig | Aug 24, 2007 9:09:55 AM
OK, Funny how so many people waste there time bashing on Madonna for no reason at all. If you don'nt like her, then why waste time and energy on bashing her, downloading her singles and listening to them in the first place. YOU are all hypocrites to say the very least. I have yet to hear a single from Madonna that sucked, most of you expect her to do what the others do "keep recycyling the same old sound over and over agaian" THANK GOD she does not, thank God she takes risks. I have played both "HEY YOU" and "The Beat Goes On" to a a lot of people and NOT 1 of them said anything but "they LOVED IT" Funny how this woman is the most pirated artist of all time and that is thansk to people lik eyou who love to hate her without a single good reason why. YOUR all in the closet Madonna fands, its time to come out and just admit it. She is a master mind and being envious of her is gettinmg tired!
Posted by: Megan | Aug 25, 2007 1:50:54 PM
For the idiot who challenged us to give an example of what Madonna has done for gays in the past 5 years, clearly you live in some small country with no TV. Madonna has never stopped being involved with helping her gay fan base. She was one of the 1st artist to sign the GAY Marriage proposal, she continues to fund millions of her own hard earned cash into helping AIDS victims, she continues to promote the gay agenda in her tours/videos. She continues to hire a majority of gay people as employees, the entire "Confessions" album and tour was completely tailored to her gay fan base not to mention the many gay clubs she performed at. GET OVER it you damn "queen" she has done more to help "GAYS" than any other artist ever has and NO One has taken more heat from it than her,,,NO ONE. Just because she does to kiss gay ass 24-7 does not mean she has forgotten the gay people, Madonna has many other causes that she has to spend time supporting as well, like children’s charities, cancer charities, homeless people, drug addiction programs etc the list is massive that she funds, VERY few entertainers blind gay images into there work out of fear MADONNA was 1st to bring gay culture mainstream at a high price too. Many hate Madonna because of her association to the gay and black community, and in the end it has cost her record sales. God knows you gay people have no sense of loyalty all you care about is what’s in at the moment, you stabbed Madonna in the back years ago you rather "steal" her music than buy it. Gays threw Madonna to the wolves along time ago, she is not hip enough for you trendy loving asses anymore. Sadly Madonna still believes in the gay community, that will be her downfall when she should be marketing herself at straight guys and girls and give up the gay music she likes to record so much. I pity Madonna its a mircle she has surviced with all these stealing bitter old queen fan base that she has, when she was admired by straight girls in the 80's her album sales were massive untill she started pushing gay rights and fighting racism her career was flying high, goes to show us if you just sing and keep your mouth shut and act stupid peopel will buy your albums, but have something meaningful to say and your trashed. The best think Madonna could do is ditch the gay market since THERE is no loyalty there and go after the younger straight market that is more loyal.
Posted by: JIoshua | Aug 25, 2007 2:09:59 PM
I was laughing for the last two days about Dan's original comment...who is that woman?
I mean nobody knows who she is except that she is a megalomaniacal overachiever.
As for her giving back to the gay community? What about giving back to her fans? The reason her tours have been so successful is her greed. Ridiculous ticket prices drive up the size of the gross creating the most "successful" tour ever.
Her fans have supported her ass for 25+ years maybe she should support her fans in their devoted single-mindedness.
Posted by: Br!on | Aug 25, 2007 3:06:00 PM
Single-mindedness? Madonna taught us to embrace other forms of music and art! Madonna is still the best and there is no point in giving your opnion to an ILLEGALLY DOWNLOADED AND LEAKED single. I would rather wait for the official release and the date when it starts playing on radio. It is a latent hit and pop radio should better watch out!
Posted by: Ronald | Aug 29, 2007 3:06:22 AM