Madonna's Hard Candy

iTUNES Reviews

Approaching 50 years old with this release, Madonna can no longer pretend to be the young seductress. So 50 is the new 40? The new 30? Madonna doesn't aim for a precise number. Instead, she works to make time itself irrelevant. 2008's Hard Candy, a few technological tones aside, could just as easily have come out in the mid-80s, the mid-90, or anytime during her long, enduring career. It's Madonna on the dancefloor, letting the rhythms and producers do the heavy lifting while her voice skates over the grooves with a sultry reassurance that at this point is the sound of an old familiar comrade letting you know she's still fighting the good fight. Timbaland, the Nepturnes, and Nate "Danja" Hills add their production touches, but it's Madonna's reflective touch that delivers the somber twists of "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You," the nostalgic glaze of "Incredible" where she admits, "I Wanna go back to then," and the "Everybody" tint of "heartbeat" where she states, "It may be old to you but it feels new to me." At this point she's riding the wave, hanging on for dear life and making it every bit the adventure we've come to expect from her career.


Amazon Reviews

Madonna’s eleventh, and final, studio album for Warner Bros., Hard Candy is a brilliant up-tempo collection that adds a hip-hop beat to the cultural icon’s club sensibilities, thanks to collaborations with Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, and Nate "Danja" Hills. Following her previous studio album, 2005’s Confessions On A Dance Floor, which debuted #1 and has sold more than 8 million copies around the globe, Hard Candy punctuates the first 25 years of the album career of the most successful female artist in history with a musical exclamation point.

www.madonna.com

MADONNA JOINS WITH H&M TO CREATE FASHION LINE

2007-02-26
MADONNA JOINS WITH H&M TO CREATE FASHION LINE

- A modern twist on feminine classics

The creative collaboration between Madonna and H&M continues with the arrival of the 'M by Madonna' fashion collection which will be available at all H&M’s stores selling women’s wear within all markets in mid-March. Margareta van den Bosch, H&M's head of design and Madonna have joined together to create a line of clothing that reflects Madonna's fashion sensibilities, modern elegance and femininity.

'Madonna has an impressive feel for fashion and trends. She is a total professional, inspiring and enthusiastic. She was involved in even the smallest details of every design. The result is 'M by Madonna' which is all about fashion that people can really love and wear season after season,' stated van den Bosch.

The unique yet classic 'M by Madonna' line includes glamorous tops, street-cool lumber jackets, tailored blazers and other apparel including shirt dresses and kimono-shaped dresses. A Madonna favourite is a stylish trench-coat in cotton poplin or leather. 'M by Madonna' is primarily in neutral palettes including white, black, khaki and grey. Fabrics vary from silk, wool, viscose jersey and body-sculpting lycra. The entire line is embellished with a small 'M' logo on linings, zippers and buttons. In addition the 'M by Madonna' look includes a complete line of accessories from sunglasses, party bags and clutches and even skinny leather belts.

This dream collaboration of music and fashion between these two giants began last spring when H&M supplied a complete line of off-stage clothing for Madonna's entire touring troupe including band, dancers, crew members and the Material girl herself. Madonna and H&M's first collaboration at that time was a specially designed Madonna track suit which was sold at H&M stores world wide.

Founded in Sweden in 1947, H&M which has today over 1,300 stores in Europe, North America, Middle East and soon also in Eastern Asia, is synonymous around the world with fashion and quality at the best price. The company’s collections are created by their own designers. The ‘M by Madonna’ collection will be sold in 28 countries around the world.

Madonna, a multi-Grammy award winning artist, children's book author, fashion icon and visionary is a cultural innovator of astonishing diversity and enduring appeal. Her most recent CD Confessions on a Dance Floor debuted at No. 1 in 29 countries. Her Confessions Tour was the most successful tour ever by a female artist. 'The Confessions Tour - Live From London' dvd/cd has just been released.

Photographer: Steven Klein