Madame X, Madonna‘s new performance persona tied to her upcoming album of the same name, is a lot of things. Like, a lot of things.
She’s a professor, an equestrian, a saint, a prostitute, a head of state, a housekeeper, a prisoner, a student, a mother, a child, a teacher, a nun, a singer, and a spy.
Oh, and you can add one more to the list now: LGBTQ rights supporter.
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As we previously reported, the second single off her album (the first was “Medellín” featuring Maluma) is a gay anthem called “I Rise.” The video will feature some Drag Race favorites like Monet X Change, and the audio has just been released.
“I wrote ‘I Rise’ as a way of giving a voice to all marginalized people who feel they don’t have the opportunity to speak their mind,” Madonna, a.k.a. Madame X, said.
“This year is the 50th anniversary of Pride and I hope this song encourages all individuals to be who they are, to speak their minds and to love themselves.”
Listen:
Vince
Not too bad. She kicked ass at the music awards with her Madonna Maluma latin song.
graphicjack
One of her best for quite some time. This song really deserves airplay and support. Medellín was pretty, but it challenges you a little before you get into it. This one grabs you immediately and is so powerful on many layers. It is certainly about queer rights but also about gun violence, far right oppression, and about her own personal and professional challenges and adversity. 2019 has the queer anthem we needed.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
“Oh, and you can add one more to the list now: LGBTQ rights supporter”
MEMO TO: Dan Tracer
What are you mostly or completely clueless?? Madonna has been a vocal supporter of the Gays since day one!
Brian
Well the song sounds like an Ariana Grande ripoff, so maybe Dan thought she was ripping off Ari’s position on gay people too.
But seriously. Madonna is the reason Frankie Grande wasn’t stoned to death in the streets years ago.
whatsaywhat
I liked Medellin better – fun as a remix dancefloor song – and sounds like classic latin-flavor Madonna. This new one sounds a bit generic and, yes, reductive.
Good on her for still going and going (…and going and going…) no matter how many haters there are.
lather
I find it utterly boring. Medellin was a tad better, but nothing that stands up to many her former hits, which I loved. I felt sorry for her at the recent awards show. It was not enthralling to anyone other than her most ardent fans. Even Paula Abdul’s lipsync was much more spectacular.
truthseeker
I agree with this. The 2 releases we heard so far are underwhelming. I Rise sounds like a demo from Hard Candy or something that didn’t make the cut for Rebel Heart.
Her performance at the BBMA was average. Nothing iconic like her stand out performances. The augmented reality / hologram Madonna’s seemed hokey, like when she appeared doing the funky chicken playing an accordion.
Where is the woman who made Lucky Star, Like a Prayer, Vogue, Secret, Ray of Light, Music, and Hung Up? I want her back
batesmotel
I agree. I love Madonna, but this song and the Medellin I’m just not vibing. Maybe it’ll grow on me, but it’s kind of bland.
thisiswhatithunk
Possibly contender for the dumbest comment ever. Paula Abdul lip-synced her way through a bunch of 30 year old hits. Madonna is still creating and realising boundary pushing music at 60 years of age!! Whether you like it matters not one iota. She still has the skill, verve, tenacity and hunger to go out there and do something NEW. Compare that to Cher for instance, who’s been flogging the same old shit for 20 years now, along with that god awful ABBA karaoke album. Madonna is still awake and alive creatively!
boymikefl
Eek! A mess (I Rise)! And to be honest, that guy (Maluma) made that song. Madonna’s “Cha cha cha” didn’t tip the scales. I feel so guilty but to be honest, the dress at the Billboards was sloppy and she looked slightly arthritic. But, she’s still the Queen of Pop and a mother of octuplets.
david_warner
That was pretty … LAME!! And the video was boring AF. She looks like Bette Davis on club drugs.
TomOH
Leave it to Madonna to make the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots all about her and her new album. It’s a forgettable, obnoxiously auto-tuned, dull boring mess.
richardNobbs
Honey you took the words right out of my mouth. Me, Me, Me and a little more about Me.
batesmotel
I’ve always like Madonna, but this new music is on the dull side. It lacks the magic she was able to infuse in her albums like Ray of Light and Confessions. Maybe the rest of the new album will have better songs.
ShowMeGuy
Queer Anthem? NOT. Too slow. I actually got bored after hearing the chorus for the third time, two minutes in…..and I gave up. Will not be adding this one to my “queer anthem” music library.
DarkZephyr
You guys are a bit overly harsh. Jesus. You don’t like it, fine, but the insults to a woman who has been on our side since the 1980s….it kind of hurts to see and I am not even that big of a Madonna music listener. But I certainly love and respect her for her DECADES of support. For that I will always love her.
Gryffin
Wow a bunch of harsh talent less hacks being over critical of someone who obviously has more talent than 90% of today’s disposable music artists. Let me ask you this, what have you done for our community? what is your legacy? I am happy with mine, 30 years playing this Divas music as a DJ, right back from the days of vinyl, the culmination of my work…. becoming a director of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and an alumni of the music scene. This is a beautiful tribute to our heritage. Stop bashing our allies
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
1000% Co-sign. These vile pigs sit at their keyboards and cast hate towards a woman who has been a staunch ally of the Gay community for decades. It’s disgusting the venom coming from the noxious minds of these pigs whom am willing to bet have never done a sliver of good for the community…
richardNobbs
No one’s “bashing” her commitment to LGBT right, except she never lifted a finger for her dancers who died of AIDS, most of the comments here are about the music. Folks don;’t like the music. Big deal.
Hdtex
If this is our “big gay anthem” we might as well hang it up. There’s so much vaseline on the camera lens that we can’t be sure it’s even Madonna. The “anthem” is a hot mess of autotune and desperation.
shamrockinked
I am a 50 year old gay man who listened & loved Madonna as a young gay man in Oklahoma. I even like some of her newer stuff. This song though….ZZZZZZZZ. Unless the article specifically tied it to Stonewall I would have no idea that’s what it is about. Why didn’t she mentioned that in her lyrics? Hopefully the video will show the Stonewall Inn to give people a clue.
justgeo
Meh back to sounding like a teen age Mini Mouse.