The Best You Never Heard is back! Each instalment will once again see That Grape Juice spotlight an array of little known gems. Featuring picks from the TGJ editorial team, we want to know…who chose the best song! Let us know below…
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Lady Gaga – ‘Fashion!’
For yours truly, the idea of popularity being a valid measure of quality has always grated. Especially when it comes to Lady Gaga.
Though on the comeback trail now, the mass rejection of her 2013 effort ‘ARTPOP’ saw many miss out on a number of gems. Case in point ‘Fashion!’
Not to be confused with a song of the same name (housed on her 2008 debut ‘The Fame’), this will.i.am production packed an altogether more potent punch. Melodically it favours Madonna’s ‘Holiday,’ and yet for all its retro still managed to sound fiercely fresh.
Lush production, lyrically light, and laced with hooks, this could have served as a fine wine follow-up to ‘Applause.’ Still, it’ll always earn a standing ovation from me. [SAM]
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Madonna – ‘Love Tried to Welcome Me’
When assessing Madonna‘s impact on Pop culture it’s easy to credit her penchant for shock value as its driving force.
It wasn’t. For, the real force behind the “force” was the entertainer’s bona fide forays into different genres and tap into new audience bases / radio platforms with her sound.
The best example of this can be found in 1994 with the LP ‘Bedtime Stories‘, the studio album which solidified her place in R&B’s history books.
Inspired by Toni Braxton and keen to offer fans a softer and sensual side of herself following ‘Erotica‘, the star sought out Braxton’s producer Babyface and TLC hitmaker Dallas Austin and enlisted them to tell her ‘Stories.’
What they created? A poignant and plaintive Contemporary R&B album soaring through the themes of rejection, abandonment, perpetual sorrow and the price of promiscuity.
One of the album’s greatest triumphs, for me, is ‘Love Tried to Welcome Me.’ Produced by Dave Hall, the song told the tale of a painful secret a sex worker shared with Madonna during a conversation in a strip club.
She’d developed a fetish for rejection. A compelling listen. [DAVID]
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Madonna – ‘S.E.X.’
Despite a disappointing promotional campaign to support it, ‘Rebel Heart’ was easily hailed by critics as Queen of Pop Madonna’s best album since her ‘Hung Up’-led 2005 comeback project ‘Confessions On a Dancefloor.’
Yet, while proof of why could be argued via ‘Heart’ cuts ‘Holy Water,’ ‘GhostTown,’ and ‘Inside Out,’ the unexpectedly bumping bop, ‘S.E.X.,’ shines as one of the project’s clear standouts.
Covering subject matter far from shocking at this point from the middle aged vixen, the tune – decorated with a trap-inspired bass line and some very direct sexual instructions – is the purest definition of what Madge is combatting at this stage of her career – ageism.
Think it’s impossible for a woman pushing 60 to be sexy?
Listen to ‘S.E.X.’ and you may reconsider. [RASHAD]
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JoJo – ‘Like That’
Following the release of JoJo’s debut in 2004 (which was praised for its maturity, as well as the then 13 year old’s mind-blowing voice), 2006 saw her unleash her sophomore effort ‘The High Road’.
Gaga is garbage.
Madonnas LOVE TRIED TO WELCOME ME is incredible why was this not released???? Brilliant
Who´s the girl in your avi?… Please!
I’ve heard “leaked” snippets of both LG5 and KP4, and Payola Perry is going to slay the monster once again
Yay cant wait love seeing Katy scalp caca.
Poor thing, she’s so talented but so into her own b******* that she forgot about the real world.
@LB Where did you hear them? I’ve been told LG5 never really has anything recorded bc Gaga is doing another jazz annum album.
You haven´t heard a damn thing LMAO
“Fashion” slays, but “Artpop” the single slays even more. And “The Queen” from BTW also SLAYYYYS
No ones checking for Gaga
My faves from Artpop probably were Sexxx Dreams and Do what U Want. So good. The Queen is far from the best on Born This Way imo though.
Did you enjoye Mariah Carey´s concert?
Flopga the hasbeen needs to announce her retirement already.
My picks for Madonna from “Bedtime Stories” and “Rebel Heart” would have been “Inside of Me” and “Devil Pray”, no comment on Gaga’s tribute to Madonna’s Holiday, I despised the whole Artpop album.
Now playing: Two Steps Behind Me by Madonna ?
HOW about BEAUTIFUL SCARS by MADONNA
I think the demos were so much better, I like more the songs that didn’t make it on the album like “Nothing Last Forever” or “Queen”, she did a big mistake by not including those songs on the album IMO.
OMGGGG YASSSSSSSS
Obviously, Madonna. Bedtime Stories is a classic
Rihanna – Complicated
https://youtube.com/watch?v=drtIAZcaBIo
She SANG in that song. I wish there was a live version.
Rihanna SANG? This is a whole new level of delusion. Especially the “live” comment.
Where’s JohnVidal’s ugly ass?
In the trap like Ciara’s career.
Coming from a 5flop Harmony stan? B**** die,
Can´t you see how pathetic you sound asking for me in every post? Damn it, people who stan for talentless “artists” really show some slow skills in general…
Yas to all except Lady Gaga. Ew!!!!!!
That awkward moment when everyone who’s talking s*** about Gaga, stan’s for talentless thots “Madonna, Ciara, Rihanna”..LOL The shade writes it self.
Oh, and who the fk stans for Selena Gomez LMAOOOOO.
That moment when some bent out of shape Gaga stan posts under a random and obvious troll name to talk s*** instead of their usual identifier. Your mama raised a little b****.
Look,it’s a Rihanna fan, how embarrassing. Fyi, you wish I was a troll. With that said, go find your father.
Then why has the talented Lady Gaga spend her entire career copying an untalented thot like Madonna?
A clock. ?
And. Still doesn’t take away the fact that Gaga shits all over Madonna talent wise, if what you consider what Madonna has, as talent.
s******
Because Madonna is ver smart, harworker and has great songs. But talent wise, she is not that good and you know it. Stop playing. Gaga only imitated some parts in a few songs and outfits, Nothing else. Nothing Madonna has not done herself. Gaga has done many more things which are not related to Madonna in any way.
Madonnas Love tried is a great song wasted on a bad voice, you could imagine so many singer of that era breathing real life into that song.. oh well.
JoJo… you better sing. `i’m hoping that her comeback album delivers.
I’ve never had time for Gaga and oh I’ve tried.
“Love tried to welcome me” by Madonna is the best choice imo.
Here is one damn great hidden gem:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxUK08uqe2w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PQLqrjW6B0
The High Road was that ALBUM. Whew. So many knocks on there. *flame emoticon*
Joking had a good album