“The show is over, say goodbye”
Madonna‘s 1994 foray into R&B wasn’t as well received as she would have wanted. Still with ‘Bedtime Stories’, the icon delivered many an underrated cut. On the singles-front, we feel like one in particular doesn’t get as celebrated as it should. Of course, we’re referring to the stunning ballad ‘Take A Bow’.
Penned by Babyface (who also provides background vocals), the gem shares the same theme as Rihanna’s and Leona’s songs of the same name. Indeed, the lyrics see Madge congratulating her love interest for fooling her with flying colors and breaking her heart – urging him to take one final bow and leave.
Although it seems to be forgotten by many – including Madonna, who never performed it on any tour – it’s interestingly the diva’s longest running #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with 7 weeks at the top. Its mellow groove paired with the Babyface affiliation helped it reach the Top 40 of the Billboard Hip-Hop/R&B chart. Unfortunately its US success didn’t translate into an overseas triumphant. Expect for a few countries, the track was only a moderate hit in Europe ending her run of 35 consecutive Top 10 singles in the UK.
A gorgeous song deserves a gorgeous video and that’s exactly what the track’s accompanying clip is… GORGEOUS.
Echoing the Spanish-flavor of the song, the visual – shot in Spain – had a Corrida theme and featured Spanish bullfighter Emilio Muñoz. Directed by Michael Haussmann, it depicts a dysfunctional relationships between an aristocrat M-Dolla and a passionate Muñoz.
With beautiful lyrics, a solid vocal performance, and an amazing video, we don’t quite understand how this missed the “signature songs” boat; qualitatively, it sits comfortably beside classics such as ‘Live To Tell’ and ‘Drowned World’.
Either way, with Ms. Ciccone putting in motion plans for her next studio effort, we ask you to join us at TGJ HQ in a prayer circle to guaranty that she delivers tunes and videos as solid and qualitative as these. Clearly a woman who once was able to bless the world with something this good shouldn’t settle for trend-chasing and “recession videos”
The one and only Queen of Pop !!!!!!!
this is such an iconic song. With many songs (this included) even if it wasnt a HUGE commercial hit, you cant take away from the fact its a timeless song.
90s Madonna is like a different person to the one we have today.
The whole leather gloves thing and her desperation to jump on any old trend (usually late) is so UNmadonna.
Hopefully some of Lourdes cool will rub off on her mum and she will create some innovative beautiful music for us.
*off topic* but im so dissapointed with gagas recent efforts…her SNL performance was cringe worthy….what happened to the ‘paparazzi’ lady gaga? She seems really lost.
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The queen
One of her best videos
Lady gaga could never
Call me when any of today’s girls put out a video/song half as good.
This is off topic ladies, but what do you think Queen Gaga can do to save AP?
I liked TGJ’s idea of starting the tour early but IDK. A little disheartened by the sales 2bh.
Rehire Uncle Troy.
Her problems started when she fired LG 2bfair, so I think she better rehire her.
Take a Bow is beautiful! Secret and Human Nature were also tracks too however the sound and accompanying video for the title track “Bedtime Stories” was so far ahead of the electronica curve in mainstream pop and foreshadowed her next studio Album and masterpiece “Ray of Light”. The video for Bedtime Story reminds me of stuff GaGa would do 15 years later
The Queen stays on your mind like cottage cheese stays on your thighs.
Keep trolling
Her Slow Songs/Ballads are Criminally Underrated/Overlooked , Everyone Is so Caught up on Her Bitchy Attention Grabbing Antics.
I Totally Love this Song. 😀
WHO?
Truly iconic. Gaga could never.
Why did SAMANTHA delete the previous T***** GAG-GAG post? lmao.
she should focus less on her tour and more on her albums/singles/videos!!
And WHY???
She is a billionaire by her latest 3 tours, while album and single sales don’t produce that amount of money anymore…
Back in the day artists made tours to promote their albums. Nowadays – and Madonna realised the changing market rule that – you make an album to promote your next tour. (e.g. with Hard Candy and MDNA) and she broke records with those tours.
Tour makes money, not singles and albums. That’s why she is the Queen of Music Industry, she realise everything before it’s time.
Sit down and learn!
Not this dried up “vain narcissistic don’t wanna grow up” woman. She has her head so far up her own ass I wonder why people like her. She is a little b****
What I’ve loved about Madonna always is her ease at reinventing herself each time. For someone vocally challenged in certain respects, she always transitions so well.
She has been very genius in that way & although her live vocals do not match her studio vocal (because of the double layers she put on it) she executes her directions.
The problem with this at the time in Europe was that so many babyface produced songs sounded like that, so while the US lapped it up as he was popping then, other nations didn’t gravitate.
LEGEND
Double layers? Try at least 40 vocal layers. This is COMMON in all pop/R&B, not just with her.
Not this dried up “vain narcissistic don’t wanna grow up” woman. She has her head so far up her own ass I wonder why people like her. She is a little b****
Bored sweety?
She did so many amazing songs like this on her last album, MDNA (e.g.: Masterpiece, Fallin’ Free, Love Spent)
She should fire her manager…
She could have had a huge success back in 2011 with releasing Matserpiece as a single with a video, and MDNA would have had a strong single to start with (and Give Me All You Luvin’ should have been a promo single just for fun, just for the SuperBowl.)
Masterpiece is an iconic song like Take a Bow, and that year was the year of Adele and slow jams, and Masterpiece deserved to be heard in the mainstream world.
So you take down the Lady Gaga album slumps post to put up a “From The Vault” of Madonna…
Funny how the QUEEN is on your mind 24/7, yet you claim you hate her. Quite weird
One of my absolute faves from the woman who is the true Queen of Pop (I love Whitney, Janet, and Mariah probably more than Madonna but no one can deny Madonna’s longevity, innovation, and impact on the pop music landscape over the past 3 decades. She is truly in a league of her own. In all honesty, I truly feel that she is the only female who can come close to MJ’s legacy and renown around the world. And believe it or not, this is Madonna’s biggest Billboard Hot 100 hit (it stayed at #1 for 7 weeks in 1994.
Flawless!
I love this song, one of my favorites from her.
From a time when Madonna still loved music and loved making high-quality, interesting music. Her R&B jams like “Survival” are amazing. This is kind of an adult contemporary/r&b influenced song that is very beautiful.
my go to RnB jam!!
WTF is “guaranty “? That’s nota f****** word. The writing on this website is such s***.
Beautiful post.