Madonna returns to dance roots with 'Confessions II'
On Friday, Madonna unveiled her fifteenth studio album, 'Confessions II', a dance-centric project that echoes her 2005 work, 'Confessions on a Dance Floor'. Critics have lauded its sleek production and infectious melodies, representing a departure from the more reflective tone of her 2019 release, 'Madame X'. At 67, she drew from her experiences during the 2023-2024 Celebration Tour. Notable collaborations include 'Bring Your Love' featuring Sabrina Carpenter and 'Bizarre' with Martin Garrix. The album also features 'Fragile', a heartfelt ballad dedicated to her brother Christopher Ciccone, and 'The Test', a duet with her daughter Lourdes Leon. Additionally, 'Danceteria' pays tribute to the New York club where she performed, incorporating a sample from Lou Reed's 'Walk on the Wild Side'. Stuart Price handled the production.
Key facts
- Madonna released her fifteenth studio album 'Confessions II' on Friday.
- The album is self-celebratory, dance-oriented, and nostalgic, echoing her 2005 album 'Confessions on a Dance Floor'.
- Critics have praised the album for its polished production and catchy hits.
- The album marks a departure from the Latin-influenced pop of 'Madame X' (2019).
- Madonna drew inspiration from her 2023-2024 Celebration Tour.
- Sabrina Carpenter co-wrote the track 'Bring Your Love'.
- Martin Garrix composed the music for 'Bizarre'.
- 'Fragile' is a ballad dedicated to her brother Christopher Ciccone, who died in 2024.
- 'The Test' is a duet with her daughter Lourdes Leon.
- 'Danceteria' references the New York club and name-drops Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Debi Mazar.
- The album samples Lou Reed's 'Walk on the Wild Side'.
- Stuart Price produced the album.
- Alexis Petridis of The Guardian called the album 'courageous'.
- Mark Savage of BBC called it 'an anthem to the liberating power of clubs'.
- Nick Levine of NME called it 'the most vital album Madonna has made in twenty years'.
Entities
Artists
- Madonna
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Martin Garrix
- Christopher Ciccone
- Lourdes Leon
- Keith Haring
- Jean-Michel Basquiat
- Debi Mazar
- Lou Reed
- Stuart Price
- Britney Spears
- Rihanna
- Christina Aguilera
- Charli xcx
- Billie Eilish
- Robyn
- Lola Leon
- Stromae
- Feid
- Patrick Thévenin
- Benoît Clerc
- Addison Rae
- Dua Lipa
- Charli XCX
- Shakira
- BTS
Institutions
- The Guardian
- BBC
- NME
- Il Post
- Le Monde
- Warner Music Group
- Les Inrocks
- Vogue Italia
- Coachella
- FIFA
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Costume Institute
Locations
- New York
- United States
- California
- Michigan
- Italy
- Colombia
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Times Square
- Coachella