I’ve spent the last two decades locked in an oddly Pavlovian relationship with Madonna: She puts out a single, and I start salivating in anticipation of her album release date. So imagine my confusion that upon the release of "4 Minutes," her new duet with Justin Timberlake (pictured, with Madonna, at the latter’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction earlier this month), I’m experiencing symptoms of dry mouth and general ennui. The expected rush of anticipation over her upcoming Hard Candy disc (due April 29), well, it’s just not there. So what gives? Listen to the single, "4 Minutes," after the jump, and we’ll discuss.
Well, for starters, "4 Minutes" just isn’t all that. Madge and Justin’s vocals are so buried in the bloopy-horn mix, the single might as well have been released by Computers No. 1 and 2. But I think maybe, deep down, it makes me feel a little depressed that Madonna is working with Justin and Timbaland in the first place. I mean, isn’t she supposed to be out mining the underground dance scene looking for the next funky producer whose sound she can co-opt and foist on an unsuspecting public? Shouldn’t she be inherently opposed to latching onto the producer du jour, especially when said producer just finished working on the new Ashlee Simpson?
I dunno, perhaps it’s too much to expect Madonna to give us the old razzle-dazzle some 25 years into her music career. I’ve got "Burning Up" and "Bedtime Story" and "Beautiful Stranger" and "Music" and "Nobody Knows Me" in regular rotation on my iPod — and maybe that’s enough. I’m just wondering if anyone else is feeling as ambivalent as I am about Hard Candy, or if I’m perhaps the only Madonnaphile experiencing such blasphemous thoughts? Discuss!
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The song isn’t completely tragic…it just seems I’ve heard this song before. I mean aren’t there any producers out there besides Timbaland? And isn’t Madonna the self-proclaimed reinventing artist? Using the same producer as everyone else hardly qualifies as being original.
Am I excited? No.
Same old, same old.
I’m just so sad that she choose to work with Timbaland…and being a fan of hers since I was 4 and a fan of JT since a few years now, I seem to have the same non-excitment for this new album…We’ll see on April 29th.
Great article. I’m not in love with “4 Minutes”, and I agree that the vocals are drowned, but I’m sure after a few more plays on the old IPOD, I’ll be loving it. As for the balance of the album, I am really excited for it, and that has nothing to do with her choice of collaborative partners. It has to do with the fact that Madonna is Madonna, and she makes her own decisions and creative choices (excellent ones for the past 25+ years) and that’s enough for me to be thrilled! I must admit, I think she’s a bit of a sell out for going with Timbaland, etc., but chances are it will be her talent shining through on the album, and no one else. Let’s hope we’re all not disappointed!
critics and radio alike seemed against “4 minutes.” me? i kind of love it. i realize that justin and madonna’s vocals seem buried behind the beat, but madonna has never been the best singer anyway. the song didn’t thrill me on first listen, but now i can’t get it out of my head. i don’t know… maybe i’m just hungry for some new pop music…
I’ve never been a true Madonna fan. Her “Ray of Light” era was fun, but she comes off as arrogant, faux-British and irritating now. I too was disappointed when I heard Justin was working with her, because I really love him. I do feel that the horns in “4 Minutes” are overpowering, especially for Madonna. I also think Justin sounds 10 times better than she does.
I was intrigued by the pairing, but ultimately disappointed, because it’s not anything new or uber-cool. It’s just kind of…predictable.
I’m with you. The whole thing reeks of desperation.
They played this at the club last weekend. Probably the most perfect place to hear a new Madonna song and all I thought was, “Ehhh”. It is fine, but nothing special at all. I love Madonna, but hope her other new songs will be a bit more imaginative.
They played this at the club last weekend. Probably the most perfect place to hear a new Madonna song and all I thought was, “Ehhh”. It is fine, but nothing special at all. I love Madonna, but hope her other new songs will be a bit more imaginative.
Michael, I’m surprised you’re ragging on poor Madonna. I think there is more excitement for Hard Candy than there was for Confessions. I really like the song, and I think this album will be a big hit for her. The pre-sales have been through the roof.
4 minutes could have been done by Justin T. and “nameless girl” just rattlin names off on here…nelly furtado,keri hilson….
I have already pre-ordered the album, so yes, I am excited. I love the song, because it is easy to dance to and it’s Madonna. I happen to like Timbaland and JT, and have been a fan of Madonna’s since Like A Virgin, the three of them seems like a good match. I tend to listen to music that I enjoy and don’t dissect it, sure there are aspects that could probably be better, but, hey, it is Madonna! Enjoy!
right now i like it, but i can’t tell if more listens will result in me loving it or hating it. does that make any sense? most annoying part of the song? that whole “ma-DON-na!” thing. yuck.
Although I like the song, I do agree that it lacks any re-inventiveness that Madonna and Timbaland have been previously known for. I don’t know if I’m more dissappointed in Madonna or Timbaland though… Ever since his pop transformation I’ve been less than impressed. Remember when he produced Aaliyah’s ‘Are You That Somebody’ and there was a collective “what the hell was that?!!” Well, that is gone…
I am also dissapointed that she’s working with Timbaland. It’s like after Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake found success with him – she just jumped on the bandwagon. And way too late! So many people have worked with him since 2006.
She was always one to lead not follow.
I die a little inside every time I hear about ANOTHER pop icon taking the safe route and jumping on the hip hop bandwagon. It’s a boring and predictable move, and it renders their music virtually indistinguishable from the countless other melody-deprived tracks I hear in the clubs. Granted, it took me a while to grow into “Confessions,” which wasn’t particularly heavy on the melody either. For now I’m just hoping that “4 Minutes” is not symptomatic of a larger boringness problem for the “Hard Candy” album as a whole. Because I heard it in WeHo and I was dancing to it with my BEST friends…drunk…surrounded by hotties…and STILL bored.
people are reading into this too much. the song does the trick. it came on in a club this weekend, and everyone danced like hell to it. that’s what madge is aiming for. yes, it could use a bridge of sorts to make it have more of an arc and a kick, but it’s still a good song.
Looks like I’m in the minority here, but I LOVE this song.
Also, whether or not you think his current work is really innovative or original, Timbaland’s beats SELL. Madonna kind of needs a big hit in the States, not just Europe where she consistently sells well, to justify her continued commercial viability. Choosing to work with JT, Timbaland, and Kanye West might be preditable, but it’s good business sense, something Madonna’s got in spades.
“4 minutes” may not be a radical step forward, but for all the madonna doubters here, check out her song “miles away.” i guarantee it will get you exciteb about the album!
I’m not feeling this one. The beats sounds just like the one Timbaland did for Flo Rida’s “Elevator”
I can’t wait. 4 Minutes is more fun that anything else on pop radio right now, and has a very Bedtime Stories vibe about that I like.
Michael,
“4 Minutes” is a grower, not a shower – trust me. You’re going to LOVE “Miles Away” and “Give It 2 Me.”
m.
http://moviemartin.blogspot.com
I was excited… until I heard “4 Minutes.” What a disappointment. It doesn’t even sound like Timbaland. It sounds like bad, trying-too-hard imitation Timbaland. YUCK. It’s probably her worst single in a decade, maybe of all time. I hope there’s better stuff on the album. I’m still irritated that Confessions was so ignored by radio. It was some of her best, most catchy pop music ever.
Can’t wait for HARD CANDY!
I grew up LOVING Madonna. Memorized every dance routine by practicing to Betamax copies of the “Virgin Tour” and “Live Aid” in my parents’ living room. Had the “Madonna” poster in my dollhouse! Dressed liked M in Desperately Seeking Susan for Halloween in college- repeatedly mistaken for a hooker. Loved “Like a Prayer”, “Erotica”, “Ray of Light” and “Music”. She lost me at “American Life” by rapping (!)about Pilates and Lattes. When she went on tour using an electric chair, I was done. Anyhoot- love the old music. Keep hoping for a return to form. But a superbuff granny (hate the hair) can be an a–hole too, kids. I am looking forward to JTimberlake’s input. Maybe he can get her to lighten up again.
I thought she was on the “Earth-Goddess-Mommy” kick. Make up your mind…..write a children’s story or sleaze around on the ground, grinding to techno music. One or the other, lady.
I was just as disapointed as you to find out she was working with Timbaland. How do you go from William Orbit and Mirwais to the most overused producer in modern music? I’m also mildly dismayed to hear that the first single off Hard Candy prominently rhymes “wait” and “hesitate” and makes use of “tick tock tick tock” in exactly the same ways that “Hung Up” did
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This is not the OFFICAL VERSION. The version you posted from youtube was an early rough cut that was leaked. The Real Version has a Timbaland Intro, and the beat is lower and is actually slower so you can hear the Vocals Better. The offical version is SO much Better!!!!
I love Madonna to the point where I know all the lyrics to album cuts (like “White Heat” for instance), but I feel like there’s too much going on in this song. I think the blame lies with Timbaland. His beats used to be special, and now he just gives them away. Also, everything he does is starting to sound exactly the same. Its almost a parody of one of his songs. I can’t fault Madge for jumping on the Timbo bandwagon. Her last album was amazing and barely got radio play, so she has to do what she has to do to get back on the air. I like the song enough, but I’m hoping the rest of Hard Candy blows me away.
Here is a link to the Offical Version: