Madonna is nothing if not determined, which is precisely why we love her.
“Crave” is the latest single from the singer’s forthcoming album Madame X, and her third to be released in less than a month.
The song, which hit streaming services at midnight, is about wanting someone who may not necessarily be good for you.
“My cravings get dangerous,” Madonna croons in the mid-tempo track. “I don’t think we should play with this.”
How about we take this to the next level?
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The song features guest vocals by rapper Swae Lee. When asked by Billboard why she wanted to work with him, Madonna replied, “He’s really talented…I think he’s a great writer, a great singer, and he’s so cute. Cute’s important.”
Last week, Madonna released “I Rise,” which sampled words by Parkland Shooting Survivor and activist Emma González.
The song failed to catch on, debuting at #17 on iTunes in the U.S. before dropping to #73, and never even making it onto the U.S. Billboard charts.
Meanwhile, the video for “I Rise,” which was uploaded to Madonna’s YouTube channel last Friday, received barely 300,000 views within its first 24 hours, a far cry from the millions of views the star is used to.
Related: Madonna needs to address her own gun fetish before she starts sampling school shooting survivors
And before that, she released “Medellín,” featuring Colombian rapper Maluma, which made little impact on the music charts, although the accompanying music video has garnered an impressive 20 million views on YouTube.
But it looks like Madge’s luck may be turning around with “Crave” because people actually seem to like the song!
Madonna’s new single “I Crave” is a BOP!
— mauricio ? (@retromaury) May 7, 2019
OK, phew. This is the first song from the new Madonna album I genuinely love. Crave (with Swae Lee) by Madonna, Swae Lee https://t.co/JuQQ5Q1jhe #NowPlaying
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) May 10, 2019
I just heard “Crave” for the first time and I am very very VERY pleased with this song! The first two releases were “growers” for me. This one is definitely my fave so far ???#Madonna #crave #Medellin #MadameX #MadameXWorldTour #swaelee
— ?LUIS ALEJANDRO??? (@iam_laboy) May 9, 2019
So much amazing pop music out tonight – including “Crave” by @Madonna and @goSwaeLee which is probably my favorite Madonna ballad since “Gone”. Hypnotic!
— David Russell (@17days) May 10, 2019
I might be wrong… but i feel like “crave” could bring Madonna back to radio.
— Marlon Vázquez (@marlonvazz) May 10, 2019
Of course, the song has only been out for a few hours, so it remains to be seen how it actually does on the charts and if it gets any radio play.
Madame X is scheduled for release on June 14.
What do you think of “Crave”? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Brian
I’m sure it won’t chart or get any airplay. It sounds too Drake inspired to me. I’ve become one of those olds who doesn’t get modern pop music, I was really hoping this album would be a little more classic pop.
Asphyxia 8
Totally agree! As a mega fan from the beginning, I’ve been quite unimpressed by these 3 new songs. And the idea of hearing her sing them all live(ish) in tiny venues on tour is unappealing, at best.
Rock-N-RollHS
Madonna’s talent has always been for melody and hook; today’s drone-and-draggy music by Beyonce and Drake–of which this is clearly striving to emulate–lacks both
lather
I clearly don’t understand or have an ear for this type of music. Just boring. Give me something that makes me want to get up and dance or moves my heart to sing along.
Boring.
jcoberkrom
Madonna releases a song people like? That hasn’t happened in decades. Maybe she’s not a has-been.
Vince
Not bad and good on her staying current. I just think the rap and hip has just been done to death in pop music. Really loved her last one though. Maluma – Medellín.
Aries3dc
Thus far, the only video Madonna has released for “Madam X” is the video for “Medellin.” For “I Rise” and “Crave,” she simply posted visuals to accompany the auto on YouTube. This is so obvious that I’m confused as to why folks keep calling it “videos.” LOL.
Gabby
This era is Madonna at her best, not giving a f*ck about what anyone thinks and having such a good time – I am having so much fun watching her. This article and some of these comments are so wrong on so many levels, I am not sure why this site is so hard on her when she has done so much for us. For the record, I RISE was not a single and was never intended to be a single, it was a a promotional song off the album, she will be releasing 2 more before the album drops. As for Crave, it is so good and presently on repeat. Just in case, someone asks, Medellin was never released as a single in the USA but still created a lot of buzz for her new record and is doing well all over the world. Madonna and her management are very smart and realize that she may never have another song that is played on the radio so the way they are rolling out this album takes power away from radio stations, its very smart.
NYCdude
“I Rise” was not released as a single, just a promo song. They are actually playing “Crave” on the radio, it’s a fantastic song!
Gabby
I am obsessed with Crave, I love it so much
UweBerlin
So far I like all three published Songs (Medellin with Maluma, I rise, Crave) of the upcoming MadameX-Album.
Madonna does great classic Pop Music. I like this much more than the stuff in the charts of today.
Mdna and Hard Candy was a mixed bag and Madonna was more into directing Movies.
I think with Rebel Heart she was back to form.
She s an unique Artist. Love her.
Nobody delivers like Madonna.
theafricanwiththemouth
This song is definitely better than the other two. Nice soft melody, and cute message. Sadly, like what happens to all stars eventually, Madonna’s time has passed, and we will never get those true pop songs like “like a prayer” or “la isla bonita”… This song is nice at least. The other two were bad.
Hdtex
Make. It. Stop.
Chrisk
You could have stopped it by not coming to comment here.
gk11973
I don’t think M really cares about having a radio hit anymore. Radio stopped supporting her, years ago, as it does with all artists after a certain point. I think Medellin is a great song, it’s fun and sexy. The video was also quite good. I Rise was only announced to be promo single, and there are plans to promote it as a pride anthem with club mixes due soon. As for Crave, it’s the least interesting of the 3 songs so far. I thought it was dull and uninteresting. Unfortunately, with mainstream taste being what it is, this also means it’s her best chance at commercial success of the songs we have gotten so far. If you think about it, her last few albums have all sold about the same numbers, and not really had major commercial singles success. Look at the Rebel Heart era, Ghosttown was by far the best song she has released in years, but radio ignored it Living for Love should have never been the lead single for Rebel Heart, its among her worst songs ever, and Bitch I’m Madonna was just grating and annoying. I’m looking forward to Madame X and I love the idea of a smaller, more intimate theatre tour. It will be something different. The Rebel Heart tour was a sellout on almost every stop, so she can clearly still sell tickets, I think this is just her wanting to do something different this time.
blade0r
What?! It’s actually worse than the last one, that was better than the previous one, that was horrible…
TonyBellucci22
Hard to believe we’ve gone from the days of “Like A Prayer” and “Vogue” — when she was at the top of her game — to this.
It really bums me out to see Taylor Swift and other artists producing work that is far more interesting, innovative — and, frankly, fun — than Madonna is nowadays, when years ago, it was Madonna forging the path forward.
Her tour prices are absolutely outrageous, too. When did she jump the shark so much? I’d rather save money and see Cher, who always plays the fan favorites and whose tickets are always reasonably priced.
Gabby
Taylor Swift, you have to leave now.
Invader7
No wonder she’s playing small venues. She has to approve fans paying $300+ per ticket. NO Miss Thang. WE need to APPROVE you’re overly egotistical BORING ass to play in front of us. Your FORMER fans !! Get over yourself,Madge !!!