Bedtime Stories - Madonna (CD 1994)

The Main Idea:
Two years after the Erotica scandal and the simultaneous overexposure, Madonna released Bedtime Stories, an eclectic mix of many genres, in 1994. The album is revered as one of Madonna's most underrated and really showcases her vocal and lyrical abilities. Bedtime Stories is decidedly R&B-influenced, yet there are still the typical catchy pop hooks that we've all come to expect from Madge, as well as some hints of techno that would be further explored in following albums. Bedtime Stories is the perfect record for a new Madonna fan as it really does show how diverse she can be on just one album. Though weak in one spot, I think this record is definitely one of Madonna's best.

Song-By-Song Breakdown:
1. SURVIVAL - This smooth smash is reminiscent of early Madonna work in that it's very danceable, but it has more of an R&B vibe than her previous dance efforts. The lyrics are quite a bit deeper as well - Madonna talks about just trying to survive and telling her critics to give her more respect. The chorus is catchy and the background vocals compliment it well. A great way to start off an album, as it's one of the strongest tunes on the disc. An all-around excellent track - 5/5

2. SECRET - Madonna collaborated with Dallas Austin on this mid-tempo song to create an interesting pop/R&B/folk hybrid with superbly written lyrics: "You gave me back the paradise/That I thought I lost for good/You helped me find the reasons why/It took me by surprise that you understood." The guitar and echo-sounding background vocals give it an interesting, unique sound that has yet to be matched by anyone, even Madonna herself. Lyrically, one of the best songs on the album - 5/5

3. I'D RATHER BE YOUR LOVER - This is yet another creative R&B-infused dance tune with a strong bassline and a nice little rap part towards the end, both courtesy of Me'Shell NdegeOcello. The vocal arrangements on this song are great, and Madonna shows that she really can sing and that she really does have a decent vocal range. Some of the lyrics are kind of strange (especially the bit about "I'd even be your brother"), but they're still cleverly written and suit the smooth production very well - 4/5

4. DON'T STOP - Ah, what a great way to throw it back to the days of "Holiday" and "Lucky Star"! This is simply a feel-good pop song with catchy lyrics - "Get up on the dance floor, everything is groovin'/Get up on the dance floor, got to see you movin'/Let the music shake you, let the rhythm take you/Feel it in your body, sing la dee da dee" - and is just charming. It's cute and infectious and brings out the childlike side in Madonna that was all but lost during the 90's - 5/5

5. INSIDE OF ME - This mellow, jazzy ballad is a little too sample-heavy for my tastes, but is still pretty good. Madonna sings in a high, girlish voice, similar to her vocals back in the early days, over some slightly mixed up production as she talks about losing someone, but still feeling their love inside her. The vocals are actually very well-arranged, considering their sound. A good tune, but they really overused the samples, which include Aaliyah's "Back & Forth" - 4/5

6. HUMAN NATURE - This slightly darker, heavier track sounds a bit out of place, but is excellent nonetheless. In the lyrics, Madonna remains unapologetic about the Erotica controversy - "Did I say something wrong?/Oops, I didn't know I couldn't talk about sex/Did I stay too long?/Oops, I didn't know I couldn't speak my mind/And I'm not sorry/It's human nature" - which is very cool. She delivers them just as bluntly over some brooding, almost hip-hop-sounding production, along with some interesting background whisperings - 5/5

7. FORBIDDEN LOVE - This tasteful R&B ballad features some background vocals from Babyface and is very classy and well-arranged. Madonna gives probably her most convincing delivery of the entire album on this song, as she sounds full of longing, especially at the end. This is one of my favorites, simply because it's so different from the rest of the record and is a totally unique sound for Madonna altogether. Most of all, she demonstrates that she really can sing and sound soulful - 5/5

8. LOVE TRIED TO WELCOME ME - This is another song that really thrives in its lyrical power. Once again, it's a ballad, but it has a sort of Latin vibe to it because of the guitar. I used to think ballads really weren't for someone like Madonna, but now I've changed my mind. She gives another stunning delivery, and I also like the production as well. It's fairly simple and understated with well-arranged instrumentals, but, as I said, the poetic lyrics are really this cut's strong point - 5/5

9. SANCTUARY - I don't care for this song's production, but the lyrics really hit me right where it counts: "Who needs a smile/When a tear's so full of love/Who needs a home/With the stars up above/It's here in your heart/I want to be carried/You are my sanctuary." I'm not a big fan of Nellee Hooper, who remixed this tune, and some of the vocals are a little iffy, but the lyrics are really what save it. On this track in particular, you see a hint of things to come in Madonna's career (AKA Ray Of Light) - 4/5

10. BEDTIME STORY - This is my least favorite song on the album. It doesn't fit in with the rest of the record because it's a really moody, techno-ish type of dance song. I also don't get the lyrics, which probably isn't that bad, since they were written by Nellee Hooper and Bjork. The production is kind of creepy, though it does set the mood rather well. I admire Madonna for trying something new, but it just didn't work this time. I could have lived without this song - 2/5

11. TAKE A BOW - This is one of my all-time favorite Madonna songs. It's a classic, piano-accompanied ballad that was co-written and co-produced by Babyface. It's very emotional, and I like the way Madonna likens a love affair to a play in the lyrics. Her delivery is superb as well. This is another different sound for Madonna, as it's more mature and grown-up than the happy-go-lucky dance ditties we've come to expect from her. An excellent way to close an album - 5/5

The Big Picture:
As we all know by now, Madonna is the mother of reinvention, and she reinvented herself from an oversexed 80's pop queen to a deeper, mellower R&B songstress on Bedtime Stories. Nearly every song holds at least a hint of Madonna's soulful R&B background, and every song demonstrates her gift as a songwriter. The sweet, slightly braindead 80's pop of the first decade of Madonna's career is gone and is now replaced with this more introspective, mature sound. Don't get me wrong - I love bubblegum dance anthems like "Holiday" and "Get Into The Groove" just as much as the next person, and quite a few songs on this record are equally as catchy and infectious, but, for the first time, we really get to see Madonna grow up (literally, not in the horndog Erotica way). Bedtime Stories is obviously ushering in a new era of rediscovery for the Material Girl.

Bedtime Stories ranks as one of my favorite Madonna albums of all time. It has that R&B edge, as I mentioned, but she doesn't stray too terribly far from the pop platform that made her a star. Lyrically, though, this record is unlike any of Madonna's previous efforts. She talks about the struggles of fame in SURVIVAL, remains unapologetically herself in HUMAN NATURE, and tackles the hardships of love and loss in TAKE A BOW and LOVE TRIED TO WELCOME ME. For those of you who still cast Ms. Cicconi off as a piece of processed bubblegum fluff, I suggest you listen to the Bedtime Stories record all the way through. Not only does Madonna further her horizons lyrically, but she also expands her vocal abilities and shows that she really can sing when she wants to. Bedtime Stories is a white girl singing R&B at its finest while still keeping in touch with her core audience. Whether you love her or hate her, you can't deny the fact that Madonna is a brilliant woman and has mastered the art of reinvention.

Final Notes:
Average Song Rating: 4.45
Best Song(s): "Survival," "Secret," "Don't Stop," "Forbidden Love," and "Take A Bow"
Worst Song(s): "Bedtime Story"

How Would I Rate This Record's...
Vocals? 3 1/2 stars
Lyrics? 4 stars
Production? 4 stars
Timelessness? 3 1/2 stars
Artistry? 4 stars

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