Madonna returns with new single featuring Maluma
The Queen of Pop is back! Madonna makes her long awaited return with her brand new single ‘Medellín’ featuring Colombian super star Maluma. The track is the first taken from Madonna’s upcoming 14th studio album Madame X, which will be out on the 14th of June. It is Madonna’s first release since Rebel Heart came out in 2015. For the new single she worked with producer Mirwais, with whom she collaborated on the majority of the records Music and American Life too. Will Madonna rise to the top of the charts once more with Maluma by her side?
As expected with Maluma as a featuring artist, ‘Medellín’ (named after the city in Colombia) contains lyrics in both Spanish and English. Madonna opens the track with rhythmically whispering the words ‘One, two, cha-cha-cha’. The first verse is a dreamy synth based affair with heavily autotuned vocals by Madonna, while Maluma whispers a word or two in between her sentences. Maluma does some verses of his own too and the almost five minutes long track takes its time to build to its main hooks. The chorus comes around after the first couple of verses, but it is actually the Spanish languaged post-chorus (if you could call it that) which is only introduced in the second part of the song, that is the most catchy.
I am expecting ‘Medellín’ to divide fans an critics alike. It is a well produced latin infused pop tune which does feel like a Madonna song, but also seems to buy into the hype of Spanish bops that we have seen in recent years. It might not go down in history as one of her best songs, but I am pretty sure that I will enjoy this with warmer weather coming up! With every spin, the track gets more infectious and that of course includes her next catch phrase ‘Slow Down Papi!’. At least it makes me want to hear more of Madame X!
Update: Madonna launched the music video in which she introduces the character Madame X through a confession. Her chemistry with Maluma is off the charts (including some toe licking) and the over 6 minutes long video is full of eye-catching visuals and exciting choreography. She brings back the wedding dress as well! Easily one of the most memorable music videos of the year so far!