Time goes by so slowly. And yet it’s still hard to believe that it’s been 17 years–17 years!–since Madonna released her tenth studio album, Confessions on a Dance Floor, this week in November 2005.
The album, which is considered by many to be one of the greatest in the singer’s 40+ year career, was heavily influenced by 1970s disco and 1980s electro pop, infused with modern day club music and, of course, that galloping ABBA sample on the lead single “Hung Up,” which, BTW, reached #1 in 41 countries and sold over 5 million copies. But NBD, right?
The album itself peaked at #1 in 40 countries and won a Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album. With over 10 million copies sold, it remains one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century.
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Related: Madonna just went on TikTok’s favorite live-show and huffed a bottle of poppers
Speaking about it to MTV in 2005, Madonna said, “I feel that I just want to have fun; I want to dance; I want to feel buoyant. And I want to give other people the same feeling. There’s a lot of madness in the world around us, and I want people to be happy.”
And, boy, did she deliver on that! In total, four singles and four music videos were released from Confessions…
“Hung Up”
“Sorry”
“Get Together”
And “Jump”
It also included two of Madonna’s best bonus tracks: “Fighting Spirit”, which was only included on the limited edition CD version of the album and is not currently available to stream anywhere online, and “History,” which was included as a b-side on the single for “Jump” and still makes for a surprising relevant club anthem in today’s current political climate.
On top of aaaaall that, the album also spawned Madonna’s critically-acclaimed Confessions Tour, which broke records at the time for being the highest-grossing tour ever for a female artist, raking in almost $200 million from 60 shows, and surpassing fellow gay icon Cher‘s Living Proof: The Farewell Tour.
Here’s how Madonna stans on Twitter have been remembering Confessions on a Dance Floor this week…
madonna released her tenth album ‘confessions on a dance floor’ 17 years ago today. pic.twitter.com/gwXYSGFeCq
— Madonna Archive (@Madonnarchive) November 9, 2022
Perfections on a Dance Floor pic.twitter.com/8lnDbeDR6M
— Madonna Nation ❌ (@MadonnaNationX) November 9, 2022
The impact Madonna confessions on a dance floor had on me in 2005 can not be overstated
— Rando (@raaaaaaaaaanndy) November 10, 2022
Youtube search:
"Madonna The Confessions Tour"
Every bootleg video: pic.twitter.com/Hfpx5D6IQX— Rober ??? (@roberrgd) November 2, 2022
Ray of Light, Confessions on A Dance Floor and Madame X knowing they're the stand out albums on each decade of Madonna's careerpic.twitter.com/hRjstGTY0i
— Jim (@cicconeprayer) July 18, 2022
I am literally incapable of describing the euphoric high of being a 16 year old when Madonna dropped Confessions on a Dance Floor.
— VINNY'S (??) GROOVE (@vsavag2) November 10, 2022
Happy birthday Confessions On A Dance Floor. One of the most iconic and impactful albums ever!! What an era!! A really important record in history and of course for me. I LOVE YOU CONFESSIONS!! @Madonna pic.twitter.com/YHQQbVflO7
— Rober ??? (@roberrgd) November 9, 2022
me in 50 years when i have dementia and get to experience Confessions on a Dance Floor for the first time again pic.twitter.com/Af0lPrHffW
— ian (@itsianraymond) November 9, 2022
the actual pop bible
— omar iván (@omarivanfq) November 9, 2022
takeout, red wine, the crown and then madonna’s confessions tour on youtube pic.twitter.com/FyVKIAA9nJ
— ?????? ? (@joshcharles_21) November 10, 2022
John
WTF is up with the shade in that headline? She made many great albums after Confessions.
Gabby
They hate her on this website. She is still so amazing.!
Man About Town
I think a requirement for queerty writers is a complete lack of interest in being unbiased.
Gabby
Huh? Her last good album? Why does this website hate her so much. Rebel Heart and Madame X are amazing records, . Madame X is one of my most favourite Madonna albums..
lykeitiz
Came here to say the EXACT same thing.
Ridiculous
ScottOnEarth
This is spot-on. Every song on ‘Confessions’ is pure perfection and Madonna was better. After such a long, astounding career, the Confessions period was Madonna’s true peak. She was at the top of her game, never looked better and her music was still just about making incredible, trendsetting tunes. All of her subsequent work was mostly mediocre and forgettable and infused with “I’M STILL YOUNG” subtext. Of course, people love her later albums but the truth is she started chasing trends and currying favor with younger, more urban, fans by her misguided collaborations with people like Kanye, Timbaland and Timberlake. No one stays on top forever and Madonna’s run of groundbreaking, amazing music ended with ‘Confessions on a Dance Floor.”
lykeitiz
Agree with some of this, until you ruined it at the end. Madame X is the very definition of groundbreaking. On that album, she tossed aside all the chasing youth you mentioned, and she put together her first album NOT in search of the perfect single. There isn’t an album or an artist that could be compared to Madame X. It is an amazing original.
John
I will say, I miss when Madonna didn’t do collabs. It’s getting old. Especially considering who she choses to collab with. It’s never someone on her level. The urban collabs would be fine if it was restricted to one era. It’s been repetitive lately.
jomo8019
I fell in love with MDNA the moment I received the cassette of her debut album “Madonna” in the mail when I was 5yo! She is amazing and the reigning queen of reinvention!
She’s just off her rocker at the moment…
eboger37
I don’t agree . She had some amazing albums after Confessions . Madame X sounds nothing like anyone else . She was definitely not “chasing” a trend with this album .