This week saw us ask you who you who you considered to be the reigning Queen of Pop. For many, that title belonged to none other than Madonna!
By constantly reinventing herself, she has tackled numerous musical genres and has amazed the masses by being equally comfortable singing Pop-by-the-numbers tunes or fearlessly riding a Hip-Hop beat.
Today we will travel back to a time when her Madgesty was experimenting with R&B, cue this week’s From The Vault - ‘Human Nature’.
The final single from her underrated sixth album, 1994′s‘Bedtime Stories’, the G-Funk tinged cut is an open-letter to the press after the backlash she had suffered following the ‘Erotica’ era (especially the Sex book). She adopts an unapologetic attitude and explains that she shouldn’t be stoned for exploring her fantasies, for expressing herself – urging the listener to do the same.
‘Nature’s accompanying visual is even more notorious than the song. Deemed by many as avant-garde, the latex-heavy video depicts a corn-rowed material girl as a bondage queen, backed by a group of dancers, executing intricate choreography and acrobatics. What sets it apart from other clips is its remarkable art direction and cinematography as well as its simplicity, once again proving that less can indeed be more.
No matter which blonde currently rules the world charts and no matter what her naysayers think of her, Madonna should forever be respected, if not for her impressive back catalogue, amazing videos and critically-acclaimed tours; at least for universally raising the bar for Pop acts, especially female acts, and making it the norm to constantly want to push social or cultural barriers release after release.
45 COMMENTS
Madonnalover
August 14, 2011 at 2:05 pm
Sam, staff, whoever the fuck did this post, I FUCKING LOVE YOU!!!
Respecting momma pop, I swear, I need a fucking hankie!!! Yall are just…..my heart…..
Bow down to the queen bitches, the one, THE ONLY, madonna louise fucking ciccone :”")
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BitchIcantevenspellwelfare
August 14, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Love it!
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Malibu Barbie
August 14, 2011 at 2:09 pm
you can respect madonna but u cant respect lil’ kim ????
lil kim herself was called the black madonna…
anyway i love madonna i always have! n this video has been cloned so many times ive lost count
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IN THE SOUTH,WE DON'T STAN FOR BIRDS;WE FRY THEM.(IS†ANN4GAGA)
August 14, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Thank gawd there’s no shade.anyway *hits play*
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IN THE SOUTH,WE DON'T STAN FOR BIRDS;WE FRY THEM.(IS†ANN4GAGA)
August 14, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Renig that last comment.I see slight shade here.
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RATEDXXX(AKARATEDX)
August 14, 2011 at 2:19 pm
oh my Gosh, thats my shit right here…..thank u for posting it..
where are the people who claimed madonna was not versatile in her music?
shes done R&B, Rock, country, dance, pop, hip hop, so on..
she passed the torched down to britney in 2003..hence her being the next queen of pop…
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Madonnalover
August 14, 2011 at 2:20 pm
@Istan4gaga
Everything he said was the fucking truth!! no shade sweets…..
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Madonnalover
August 14, 2011 at 2:20 pm
@ratedxx
YES!!! and bitch, you know the main motherfucker saying that was @shit.
SMH.
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gotterdammerung
August 14, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Madonna the real Queen of Pop.
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Leila
August 14, 2011 at 2:31 pm
I agree totally with this post. Madonna is the queen.
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IN THE SOUTH,WE DON'T STAN FOR BIRDS;WE FRY THEM.(IS†ANN4GAGA)
August 14, 2011 at 2:34 pm
@Madonnalover
Sorry,I percieved some of it as shade.I sometimes tend to read too much into things…..Anyway,your fave’s Bday is right around the corner so that might have played a part in the creation of this post.
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ERIC
August 14, 2011 at 2:56 pm
SHE’S THE QUEEN! AND THIS VIDEO IS FANTASTIC! THE ROPE CHOREOGRAPHY IS LEGENDARY!
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Madonnalover
August 14, 2011 at 3:00 pm
@Istan4gaga
Oh, its alright. I do too. AND YES, I KNOW!! I’m so fucking excited for her birthday, im gonna dance in my jammys in my flat to her discography and rejoice at her living another year :”)
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onyx
August 14, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Finally this Site recognize who is The Real Queen of Pop, the one and only Madonna,
she’s pop.
Her Royal Majesty Madonna Queen of Pop
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN.
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Misfit
August 14, 2011 at 3:07 pm
One word: ICONIC!!!!
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Misfit
August 14, 2011 at 3:11 pm
@ MadonnaLover
I love your enthusiasm for Madonna! You make me smile!
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MISHKA
August 14, 2011 at 3:15 pm
This is actually one of my favourite videos by Madonna
Good choice, TGJ !
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MadonnaLover
August 14, 2011 at 3:22 pm
@MisFit
AWH! :”)
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Misfit
August 14, 2011 at 3:23 pm
@ Onyx
I hear you, but I seem to remember two pics on the, who is the queen of pop post! It’s all good. I’m here for Madonna right now, so that’s the last I will speak on that issue! Love you Madonna u are a queen from the start of the video age till now!!!
Bring that new album, we are waiting!!!
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onyx
August 14, 2011 at 3:29 pm
@MISFIT. you right i just have 2 say to that grape juice (stop comparing Madonna with these young ladies, but i know there’s nothing wrong compare her with other legends of music like Janet Jackson)
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pop royalty (I HAVE 72 FAVS )
August 14, 2011 at 3:33 pm
@madonna lover :
we did it , we did it baby ! WE DID IT !
erotic , erotic put your hands all over my body
! LMFAO ! SO FUCKIN’ XD !
i fuckin’ love u @sam ! this means a lot to me !
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Misfit
August 14, 2011 at 3:34 pm
@ONYX
August 14, 2011 at 3:29 pm
@MISFIT. you right i just have 2 say to that grape juice (stop comparing Madonna with these young ladies, but i know there’s nothing wrong compare her with other legends of music like Janet Jackson)
——–
Nuff said! 1000% co-sign!!!!
*Goes back and presses play on “Where’s The Party”!!
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Misfit
August 14, 2011 at 3:38 pm
@ Sam
I gotta give it to you, this is the best “From The Vault” in a minute!! Kudos!!!
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CRAZYWORLD
August 14, 2011 at 4:03 pm
LOL the last part is basically for rihanna.
RIhanna = BLACK MADONNA
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pop royalty (I HAVE 72 FAVS )
August 14, 2011 at 4:07 pm
@crazy world :
agree ! but rihanna just need to have a “vision” like madonna and she will be the next madonna ! but i see madonna in her !
good point
!
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Word
August 14, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Rihanna the black madonna????
FIRST OF ALL
RIHANNA CANNOT SING!!!!!
LASTLY
RIHANNA CANNOT DANCE.
Where’s the talent????? catchy songs and being naked makes ICONS???
queens stay pressed.
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ANTHONY
August 14, 2011 at 5:02 pm
i will always luv madonna & she will always be the queen of pop, she the one female pop star that change the game & stayed changing herself…there is no other on fake flakes that what to be her but hate too say it!
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Gagalo!!!!(Aka African...)
August 14, 2011 at 6:11 pm
This is my favorite video from Madge( but Miles away and American Life are my favorites songs)!!! this song can touch all generations, the choregrapy was iconic, and i enjoded that they dance in a box!!!!!
Euuuuuh it’s very disrespectful toward Madge, who FUCKIN WORKED HARD for her statut of legend and ultime queen of pop, who had full hands on her career, who REALLY had figth for race equality ( see the black jesus in “Like a prayer) for women’s freedom, for Gay’s freedom… saying :” rihanna(a puppet)= black Madonna, while she can’t sing, can’t write, can’t dance, didn’t have any values, she’s a singles “singer”, arrogant, trash and unclassy and think she can be the next Madge….
You re fuckin delusional, uneducate and disrespectful if you think rih is the “black Madonna”
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Gagalo!!!!(Aka African...)
August 14, 2011 at 6:13 pm
And the delusional, don’t forget Madge have longevity bitches!!!!
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Fkarol
August 14, 2011 at 6:47 pm
One of few artists who can control their own career succesfully. She is the most intelligent popstar and has a huge string of hits, around 75 singles, 66 music videos and still making hits! Even though MJ was more of a musician Madonna knows how to re-invent herself. She can do everything. I think she should be in politics.
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dabunique
August 14, 2011 at 8:37 pm
I forever read this website and agree or disagree but first time commenting. Madonna has been my bitch since I was 4 years old and my mom’s boyfriend gave me as a present Everybody lp (record baby). From dat day on, she has always been my favorite. Growing up I mimicked every video she made. from stealing my mom’s gloves to act out Material Girl, to make a dress out of my mom’s red bedsheets and light candles on da floor and act out La Isla Bonita, to pretend I was a merman to my friend’s Madonna in Cherish, this woman has molded the person I am. the best comment I read was Madonna’s sixth underated album. I love Bedtime Stories. This album and Erotica are sooo underarted. She is da only Queen of Pop. there is no passing it to others, There will always be Madonna. Regardless if Mariah has more number ones, Lady Gaga outsells her, Britney has more top 10 hits,Beyonce proclaims her royalness, there will always be Madonna. A true icon and pioneer.
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SHIT
August 15, 2011 at 12:03 am
*TRASH*
NEXT! ==>>
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nice_gurl
August 15, 2011 at 12:58 am
I love this song and video. There’s no denying that Madonna is an icon.
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Vegas girl
August 15, 2011 at 3:21 am
I Looovved this song and video!! Yay!
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Vegas girl
August 15, 2011 at 3:36 am
After watching the video it cracks me up that over a decade later some “pop stars” are using the same imagery and themes/issues to be edgy and different! I’m talking about all of them, not just one particular lady so insert whoever you want. I’m not saying Madonna was being completely original, she had to get the ideas from somewhere but she was excellent for bringing underground to mainstream.
You would think that this message ( imagery, theme,etc.) would be soooo old but either it still resonates or everyone is using the same template to etch out their career.
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Almond Joy
August 15, 2011 at 5:01 am
This sucks ass
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Kijano
August 15, 2011 at 5:03 am
Madonna is the one, and many forget she’s STILL in the game. Can’t wait for her new album
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antertain
August 15, 2011 at 11:20 am
I was all over this song when it came out.
Always thought this would have suited TLC when I heard it.
Good vault choice TGJ
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Leo
August 15, 2011 at 11:59 am
yes, one of her best songs. and the whole bedtime stories era (1994-1995) was amazing!
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Hug
August 15, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Whitney could never.
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Poorvaphalguni
August 15, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Madonna is one of the most artistic artists, if not the most!
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StarrM
August 15, 2011 at 12:12 pm
The real Queen of Pop.
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Gem
August 15, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Secret, Forbidden Love, Human Nature, Sanctuary, Love Tried to Welcome Me, Take a Bow, Bedtime Story are GEMS. Madonna, love & respect <3
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Andzani
August 15, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Ey
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alex
September 25, 2011 at 10:08 am
Wow, I didn’t know Madge could be so snooty. Saw a funny parody of her snobbish remarks at the Venice Film Festival, by the way. http://youtu.be/RhyJhJYBTlY
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