10 years ago this week, Madonna released her twelfth studio album MDNA, the hotly anticipated follow-up to 2008’s Hard Candy that is widely considered to be her “divorce album” since it was her first major release since splitting with filmmaker Guy Ritchie.
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The album debuted at #1, selling an impressive 359,000 copies. A week later, however, it broke records by dropping to #8 with sales of 48,000 copies, making it the then-largest second-week percentage sales drop for a #1 debuting album of the Nielsen SoundScan era. Not long after that, it fell off the charts altogether.
Madonna ignoring MDNA's existence on its 10th bday pic.twitter.com/sYoK8nM2XV
— madonna stans? (@MAD0NNAARMY1) March 24, 2022
Most fans (though not all) would agree that MDNA is not Madonna’s finest work. It failed to produce any hit singles. The songs felt rushed and uninspired. And unlike some of her other albums (i.e. American Life and Erotica), it hasn’t gotten any better with age.
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Perhaps the most memorable part of the whole MDNA era was actually the promotion behind it. Madonna, newly single and looking incredible, gave a ton of sassy interviews (including the one where she called Lady Gaga “reductive”), and she embarked on an 88 show world tour that earned over $305 million and rave reviews.
happy 10th anniversary to MDNA pic.twitter.com/POlxjUZhfq
— Madonna Archive (@Madonnarchive) March 23, 2022
At one point during the promo campaign, she appeared on the show “Rock Center with Brian Williams” where she was questioned by a humorless Harry Smith in one of the most awkward interviews ever.
“The title of the album is MDNA,” Smith asked in an accusatory tone at one point during the sit-down. “M-D-M-A are the initials that go along with the chemical formula for ecstasy. Was there any coincidence there?”
“No, not at all,” Madonna replied, cooly. “I don’t know how that happened. So weird.”
Smith then proceeded to grill her on whether she was trying to appeal to a crowd that enjoys using recreational drugs. But Madonna didn’t take the bait.
“People that go to festivals all day long… enjoy themselves,” she said, adding that she takes heat for everything she does.
Watch.
Troyfight
Mm. She was alright here…. Next.
SFMike
Does anybody else notice she is starting to look like Mae West when she was an old lady too.
Gabby
Does anyone else notice the a*shiole in the room? Dude she’s a self made woman who has done so much for the gay community and all you got is some lame/unimaginative remark about how she has gotten older? I mean, couldn’t you have at least been funny or even a touch witty. I understand why you can’t though – because you’re dumb.
Max
hey superfan @Gabby, chill. what’s with the furious name calling?
ScottOnEarth
Definitely. Before she completely ruined her face a few years ago, she had the same hard, aging look Mae had in her later years.
JPDonahue
@gabby sound like a trumpie in their blanket defense.
EVERYTHING SHE DOES IS THE MOST AMAZING THING EVER!
No. She’s had some crappy albums… like ALL musicians.
richybruce
That was when she learned a new word. “Ironic”. Like: “Isn’t ironic her face now looks like a stretched-out puffed-up housewife from New Jersey?” Kinda like the ones she used to mock.
Bonuscheque
I saw her in concert like 2 years ago and had good seats. I was so struck with how beautiful she still is. It bothers people that she is still here and thriving so they attack her looks. I can’t imagine clicking on an article and leaving a negative comment about someones face.
Gabby
I workout to this album all the time and the tour (wihch is one of the most successful tours ever by a solo artist) was amazing.
Seth
MDNA is better than Bedtime Stories, Hard Candy, and Rebel Heart…all of which I still love.
graphicjack
I beg to differ. Rebel Heart is on par with MDNA for me but Hard Candy is a better album and Bedtime Stories is among her best work. In my personal top five but while some may sleep on it (no pun intended) almost any fan or critic would put it well above MDNA.
Jerry
Agree! MDNA is an amazing album and the tour was crazy!
kish
This is when she was still fun in interviews. I miss this.
Bonuscheque
I don’t get it I love the album. MDNA fan 4 life
202gay.com
Poor old woman, it’s time for her to go to the landfill, and she continues to shake her folds and old age
whitenoiz
Surely “Turn Up The Radio” and “Give Me All Your Lovin” topped the dance charts at least…
DomitoJo
I Don’t Give A and Girl Gone Wild are my muthfkn work out jams!
MynameisSid
Gang bang…. Love that song. Now drive, bit@h!
ScottOnEarth
Yes, this was truly a terrible, contrived, weak album but ‘Hard Candy’ was actually the beginning of the end. Instead of setting trends in music, she started frantically chasing them, trying to be relevant by collaborating with Timbaland, Kanye and god-awful Justin Timberlake, among others. She was trying to tap into an audience that had no interest in an aged, white, fading pop star. And the musical results were awful from that point forward. But, of course, Madonna lives in a frightening artificial world of extreme wealth, fame and surrounded by yes-people who gladly coddle her titanic ego at every turn. As shrewd and brilliant as she is, Madonna is the unfortunate victim of that ego, now ruining her legacy with forgettable music and inane antics that are unbecoming of a woman of her accomplishments.
DTNuh
You took the words right out of my mouth, couldn’t have said it better myself. Hard Candy is where she started collaborating with producers and artists that had already been established, rather than her bringing fresh new names into the spotlight. It hasn’t gotten much better since then. She’s done so much and is worthy of praise, but that doesn’t leave her immune to criticism either. Her mega stans won’t have any of that though haha. Plus being surrounded by yes men, people who wouldn’t dare be honest with you doesn’t help either.
jackscott
She knows how to work an interview 🙂 Just wish she would put out new music where she didn’t try so hard. She has plenty of talent & I’d like to hear on the radio and top of the charts again. I know this is very hard as an artists gets older, however, I wouldn’t put it past Madonna to find a way to pull a “Cher” and get another top dance/radio hit later in her career. Would really love her to collaborate with a few other gay advocates (Cyndi Lauper, Patti LaBelle, etc.) and strut down the dance charts with a portion of the sales going to LGBT/HIV charities 🙂
goxi
Girl Gone Wild,
Turn up the radio,
MASTERPIECE which is one of my favorite tracks she has ever made. Plus the word REDUCTIVE….Soooo, how does this album really get to be the worst?! Gurl please. ???. Give her all your loving and move on ??
Jack
I can find something brilliant on every Madonna album…..except MDNA. Girl Gone Wild and Masterpiece are good songs. The rest…girl you phoned this one in and the line went dead several times. The only redeeming thing about MDNA is I sold my vinyl copy on eBay for $250,.
pakhshmbm
this is interesting for me 10q
pdp8
that was amazing, Madonna. The interviewer’s an idiot. Gasp! she made a reference to drug use.
BoomerMyles
Vapid narcissistic face tragedy.
TJ81164
“I think I take heat for everything I do.” That’s the perfect Madonna quote!