Gives Good Face...1983

The 25 Best Non-Singles by Madonna

Madonna's done it all and we've pretty much covered it all. So when we sat down to decide the best way to celebrate the anniversary of Madonna's debut album, released 30 years ago tomorrow, we elected to dig up some of the forgotten or unheralded gems scattered liberally throughout her three-decade-spanning catalogue rather than predictably rank her best albums, singles, or videos—which we've more or less done on various other lists over the years anyway. With the exception of one B-side, one compilation cut, and one remix, all of our picks can be found on a Madonna studio album—a testament to the singer's strength as an album artist, particularly in the '90s. These are songs that, in a more adventurous world, could have been hits, and in some cases where the releases were nixed last minute, almost were, their breadth and depth reflective of an artist unwilling to allow herself to be defined. And just for shits and giggles, we ranked 'em.






25.  "Love Song" from Like a Prayer
A daring and unconventional duet with Prince, 'Love Song'  is not regarded as a classic in the same way as Like A Prayer but it’s every inch as clever. Almost gone completely is the pop suss of the opening two tracks and in comes the art. That is what Love Song is, true art. It has the feel of Prince’s slightly more obtuse songs from the 80’s and yet always sounds just a tad out of whack even for his purpleness’ most odd moments. Saying that, take away the odd beeps and low key approach to it and Love Song is at heart a belting ballad. During those days Prince wasn’t about to put his name to anything run of the mill, considering at this point he and Madonna were the two biggest names in pop it couldn’t have worked out any better.  Anyone notice how madonna used same lyrics here as in hung up ?? " Time goes by so slowly for those who wait"?


24.  "Inside of Me" from Bedtime Stories

With full, round production by Nellee Hooper, "Inside of Me" on the surface sounds like a warm, intimate sauna of slack slow jack built on a foundation of Aaliyah and the Gutter Snypes samples, but radiating a sensuality that's all Madge. But like every track on her prior album, Erotica, this song's breathy hedonism masks an inner devastation: Underneath those tear-stained suggestions of sex mournfully deferred is actually a heartfelt tribute to her mother. Staring down a crossroads in her career, Madonna couldn't help but make grief sound like fornication. Henderson

23.  "Forbidden Love" from Confessions On A Dancefloor
This version of “Forbidden Love” sends the message that religious creeds, political persuasion, sexual and racial prejudice, and the violence that often accompanies the ignorance and exclusionary tactics of these agendas, have no power over love and desire. Love knows no color, no belief system, no agenda but its own, and that is to break the ego of its self-centeredness and show it the beauty of sacrificing the self’s own needs and wants for those of another greater than oneself. True love conquers all, defying all boundaries that anyone puts in its place; in the eyes of love no embrace, no kiss, no touch, no expression of desire is forbidden or taboo because love is blind to the differences in others which humans see with the clouds and dust of ignorance and hatred in their eyes and their minds. It is ironic that the cliché “Love is blind” has lasted so long, when truth be told, Love is the only thing in the world that truly sees.

22.  "Where Life Begins" from Erotica
Madonna waxes erotic on the perks and pleasures of oral sex on "Where Life Begins," the Erotica's most overtly sexual track, but also the only one to reference safe sex: "I'm glad you brought your raincoat/I think it's beginning to rain." Both "Where Life Begins" and "Waiting" draw heavily from Motown and were produced by Andre Betts, who cut his teeth as associate producer of "Justify My Love."

20.  “Swim” from Ray of Light
Here you have it: a sign that Madonna may have her feet planted in this world. Like an ethereal, patrician version of Marvin Gaye, she croons the headlines: “Children killing children while the students rape their teachers / Comets fly across the sky while the churches burn their preachers.” It’s heavy and heavy-handed, but it’s also fitting for Ray of Light’s fixation on consciousness.

I'll Remember...1983