Madonna’s new single: 30th impressions

From the article by Nick Levine, Music Editor, DigitalSpy.co.uk.

A few hours after we posted a link to the Amazon clip, the full version of Madonna’s new single leaked, and we’ve had it on repeat ever since.

Our verdict? It doesn’t break any new ground for the Queen of Pop, but it does do what a new track appended to a Greatest Hits album should do – it reminds you why you fell in love with the artist in the first place.

As expected, it’s a return to full-on dance-pop after Madonna’s swerve R&B-wards for Hard Candy. However, “Celebration” doesn’t take its cues from ’70s disco the way Confessions On A Dancefloor did. It’s got more of a ’90s dance sound, which makes sense considering that Paul Oakenfold is twiddling the knobs here.

To that end, “Celebration” features plenty of rippling beats, a generous smattering of “whooosh!” effects and a chorus that’s the very definition of “trancey” and “arms-in-the-air”. However, our favourite bit is the spoken word middle 8, in which Madonna drops a line that’s sure to provoke a few tsk-tsks from the Daily Mail brigade: “I guess I just didn’t recognise you with your clothes on.” Oh, fifty schmifty!

This aside, the lyrics are utterly perfunctory – she even re-uses her favourite word, the one beginning with “h” and ending in “esitation” – but it doesn’t matter.
“Celebration” is supposed to be feelgood party tune and it does its job very well indeed.

Thanks to Brackie.