Madonna‘s career-defining fifth studio album Erotica turns 30 this week and, to mark the occasion, the singer quietly dropped the maxi-single to the album’s sixth track, “Bad Girl”, onto music streamers. It includes a six-and-a-half minute extended cut of the song and is the first time the maxi-single has been made available on digital platforms.
Related: Today officially marks 40 years of Madonna and ‘Everybody’ is celebrating
“Bad Girl” was Erotica’s third single and tells the story of a big city woman desperate to escape her reality, so she engages in all sorts of naughty, self-destructive behavior, including drinking, chain smoking, and sleeping with strangers (which, for the record, we don’t consider self-destructive today, but, remember, this was the puritanical ’90s.)
Upon its release, “Bad Girl” received positive reviews from critics, although commercially it only reached #36 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Madonna’s first single to miss the top 30 or top 20. Today, however, it’s a fan favorite and often considered one of her most underrated songs.
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The accompanying music video was directed by David Fincher, who would later go on to direct major blockbuster films including Fight Club, Panic Room, and Gone Girl. In it, Madonna plays Louise Oriole, a successful Manhattan businesswoman addicted to expensive cigarettes and one-night stands. Christopher Walken (random) stars as her guardian angel, but he’s clearly not very good at the job because she ends up being murdered by one of her stranger d*cks in the end. Eek!
In addition to the extended cut of “Bad Girl”, the maxi-single also includes several additional edits and remixes of the song “Fever,” the album’s fourth single and a house-style remake of the Peggy Lee classic.
Watch the music video for “Bad Girl” below…
While you’re here, check out her performance of “Fever” on Saturday Night Live…
sfhairy
One of her best albums!
graphicjack
IMO, it’s her best. Going back to listen to her back catalogue, I think Erotica and Bedtime Stories have held up exceptionally well and started her artistic peak as an artist.
Man About Town
Great song; I especially love the version she performed (with a very sharp band) on SNL (later in the show, after Fever). Harvey Keitel was the host & I think they were basically promoting the film “Dangerous Game”
bachy
When Bad Girl was originally released, I was working with several “Louise Oriole” types: successful “businesswomen addicted to expensive cigarettes and one-night stands.” The song captures the dark, edgy thrill of the 90s like no other. Will be DLing the new remix the moment I finish submitting this comment!
wooly101
Yawn
humble charlie
not one of her best, not much of a melody, not her best vocals, bland