As an artist, Madonna has always spoken of her disdain for looking back and reminiscing, instead choosing to focus on what lies ahead.
It’s interesting, then, that the Queen of Pop has chosen to launch her 14th studio album, Madame X, with Medellín, packed with reflective lyrics about years gone by - and even more surprisingly, that this moment of reflection sounds like it might have been *ahem* chemically aided.
Madonna debuted Medellín on Tuesday afternoon, and despite having been listening to it literally nonstop since, we’re still not exactly sure where to start with it.
The track is a collaboration with Colombian star Maluma, who features heavily throughout.
And although it does play heavily into the reggaeton trend that has been dominating the charts in recent years, with artists like Cardi B, Justin Bieber and Little Mix, it would be unfair to say that Medellín was a transparent attempt for Madonna to chase a radio-friendly hit.
Clocking in at just shy of five minutes in total, we can’t imagine many stations being in too much a rush to play it in its entirety.
Similarly, while its twists and turns certainly make it an intriguing and arresting listen, it’s potentially a little jarring upon first or second listen, which might make it difficult to win over skip-happy casual listeners who stumble upon it on streaming services.
And then there’s the lyrics, which begin with Madonna singing: “I took a pill and had a dream, I went back to my 17 year, allowed myself to be naive, to be someone I’ve never been.”
While it might not be easy-listening, what we can say is that it’s definitely a statement that Madonna is not playing around with her new material.
There’s also no denying Madonna’s conviction on this track. If you’re among the camp who thought the star seemed a little uneasy on recent albums like Hard Candy and MDNA, she sounds more herself than she has in years.
This is mirrored in the lyrics, which show a more vulnerable side to herself than she’s usually willing to offer as the song unfolds.
Interspersed with Maluma’s Spanish vocals, Madonna is heard singing about how “another me can now begin” and “for once doesn’t have to hide herself”, as she continues her mystical “trip”.
Medellín is potentially not what everyone will have expected (or, indeed, wanted) from Madonna’s comeback, but when has she ever been a singer who did what was expected of her?
Madame X is released on June 14.
