Madonna has been ruling pop music since 1983 and her reign is showing no signs of slowing down.
As she readies to launch her Celebration Tour, which will highlight her storied 40-year career of hits, the Queen of Pop can now add one more to her legendary list of bangers.
On Friday, The Weeknd released his new single “Popular” with the one and only Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone and it’s already being unanimously heralded as a bonafide summer bop.
Listen to the The Weeknd and Madonna making beautiful music together:
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The 2003 album was one of Madonna’s most contentious releases.
The upbeat track also features rapper Playboi Carti and is from the soundtrack to The Idol, the HBO series starring The Weeknd, Lily-Rose Depp and Troye Sivan.
In addition to collaborating on the chorus, Madonna puts the haters to bed and lets her vocal powers speak for themselves as she triumphantly sings the verse: “I know that you see me (Oh), time’s gone by/ Spent my whole life runnin’ from your flashin’ lights/Try to own it (Uh), but I’m alright (Yeah)/You can’t take my soul without a f*ckin’ fight.”
Sing Mother, sanggggggg!
Despite continuing to put out hit albums and jams that have topped the dance charts, Madonna has not had a top 10 hit on the Billboard 100 since “Gimme All Your Luvin'” in 2012. That could all soon change as “Popular” has already entered the top 10 on iTunes.
.@theweeknd, @madonna and @playboicarti's "Popular" has entered the top 10 on US iTunes. pic.twitter.com/R3CJ7hL7c3
— Billboard Charts (@billboardnewsb) June 2, 2023
As expected, Madonna’s army of dedicated fans couldn’t help but rejoice over her latest musical magic.
Let the choir sing:
While many may have assumed Madonna was the one “desperate” to work with The Weeknd because he’s been riding a career high in the last few years, turns out it was the other way around.
“I’ve always wanted to work with her,” The Weeknd said of the “Vogue” singer to Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1.
He also teased that more music between the two could be on the way.
“I’ve always wanted to write and produce a Madonna album … well, co-produce with her, of course … because she’s a visionary and she has such a singular vision, and I just want to come into her world and create a classic Madonna album. That was always my dream,” The Weeknd added. “Hopefully, this is the appetizer for that.”
Madonna appears to be in an extra collaborative spirit as she’s also set to release a new track with Sam Smith.
The duo gave fans a taste of their upcoming single “Vulgar” and it’s got a dirty club vibe to it. While it isn’t set to be released until June 9th, some fans have been sharing leaks of the deep house banger.
Between “Popular” and “Vulgar,” Madonna’s ready to give Kylie Minogue’s “Padam Padam” a run for its queer song of the summer money!
But there’s actually no competition as we can stan them all equally, because gay rights!
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“Padam Padam” is in the running to be the song of the summer and the gays have been whipped into a euphoric frenzy.
Rambeaux
Wow!
I can hear Madge’s voice for 10 seconds, total, in the song. Oh, wait! She is “collaborating” with the chorus. HA! Nice try.
Plus, hearing Madge say “f*ckin'” is not exactly groundbreaking.
It is not a bad song. There is just no Madge in it.
Gabby
I am obsessed and can’t stop listening.
Jimmy T
Madonna hasn’t really been “ruling pop music” for at least the last 20 years. Actually, if you look at record sales and airplay, it’s probably The Weeknd who has been ruling pop music for at least the last ten years. Along with Taylor Swift, of course, who probably already has more money and more record sales than Madge could ever dream of. And the reason she’s collaborating with The Weeknd is just another one of her desperate attempts in her declining years and popularity to retain any semblance of relevance.
graphicjack
that’s because radio hasn’t been playing her music for ages, but she’s actually had some great music (amongst some admittedly not great stuff). Ghosttown and Masterpiece should have been hits, and God Control was an absolute masterpiece. Interestingly, she’s getting airplay from kids using her music on TikTok… tracks like Frozen and Hung Up are getting new traction from younger fans discovering her, and they even brought a previously unreleased track called Back That Up to the Beat to mainstream recognition.
I think at this point people think M is desperate for attention, but I actually think she’s just like any other artist who still wants to create, regardless of whether she will hit #1 again. She knows she has a fan base still and if she has something to say artistically, and some people want to listen, why not let her? People obviously still care about her if she gets so much press coverage and notice. You don’t have to listen if you don’t want. There’s room for everyone.
abfab
graphic=jack———you have a wonderful way about you.
Joseph1971
She’s only using “The Weekend” as a promo for her own career. If she was legit, she would not need him. She’s using him just to get some interest.
It’s not a good look for Madonna…..
graphicjack
As the article says, he was the one who wanted to work with her. Maybe he wants to use her clout as a legendary artist to boost his status and credibility… OR… maybe they are just two people who thought they could work together and create something, and it has nothing to do with chart results or money. I think at this point neither artist has anything to prove. Madonna is the number four music artist of all time, male or female. I kinda think that makes her ‘legit’.
Gabby
Joseph1971 It worked because you clicked on the article and left a comment. You seem “interested”
abfab
Dear Gabby………..I can’t wait to hear your reviews. Your energy is contagious. Enjoy the show, the party, the event. Just don’t have a heart attack, please! ox
dbmcvey
Nobody’s “using” anyone. They’re collaborating. They don’t “need” each other. They’re working together.
wooly101
Amazing that this passes for music these days. I guess I’ve grown too old.
abfab
You don’t say.
surfnspy
Good for her. I’m not into it, but glad to know she is still interested in making new music. (I did like Medellin! ) Tho I think the aging diva summer jam is going to Kylie and the strangely infectious Padam, Padam.
abfab
Medellin was super hot.
mz.sam
Poor Madge’s now ‘Senior’ vocal talents are so…’reductive’. Her noticeable vocal quality and tone has divulged with her solo singles of late if one has been listening carefully for the past five years plus. To that extent, now she has to team up with Billboard hit-makers like Weekend, etc. to enhance her faded career (and all those disastrous plastic surgery hasn’t helped). Even then, her collaborations has been assisted by studio AI or the what was known as autotune. In addition, it’s not like she sings a complete musical passage alone. What a musical rip-off.
abfab
Take out your Osmond Brothers lps and hush up.
dbmcvey
Did you mean to write “divulged?”
abfab
I love it when people use the word use.
CNY1983
ok, thanks madonna. i can die now.