Madonna, Hard Candy on April 29th, 2008!

[Atlantica]

I got the album the day it came out in the UK, and I really love it. Feels as if she has taken elements from her old stuff, and included it on here, which I love.

I ADORE 'She's Not Me' ; think it could be my favourite track on the album.

But what I didnt like was the photoshoot that was in the booklet; I am a massive Madonna fan, but I think those were the worst photos I have ever seen of her. Did she try to look like a man? I know she is supposed to be the 'hard' in 'Hard Candy', but I just think it made her look awful. She looks fabulous for her age etc, but this booklet did her no favours at all. Such a shame. Please don't hurt me MadonnasManOne, its just what I think.

Other than that, I love the album. Well done Madge !

[universALLove]

OMG, I LOVE myself some HARD CANDY! I've been reading reviews on itunes and I can't believe that fans have been slating the album, saying that it goes down as one of her worst efforts along with Bedtime Stories. I couldn't disagree more! In fact, I'd go as far as to say I prefer it to E=MC². Don't get me wrong, I like the album, I am a Mariah fan after all. However I was left feeling a little disappointed after it being so hyped up and all. They made out that it was going to be far better than The Emancipation of Mimi but for me it didn't exceed. Madonna on the other hand surpassed my expectations, after having "4 minutes" sour my perspective on the new album and after having read negative reviews, not just by critics but by fans too. Okay, so the album isn't that deep in lyrical content but who cares!? The album is an absolute smash in my eyes with the exception of 3 tracks which I'm not really feeling. It actually reminds me of Britney's Blackout, relying on heavy beats that make you want to get up and dance. My highlights are Candy Shop, 4 minutes (it's grown on me so much, I went from hatin' on it to lovin' it) Give it 2 me (both the original and the Paul Oakenfold mix), Miles away, She's not me and Beat goes on.

But what I didnt like was the photoshoot that was in the booklet; I am a massive Madonna fan, but I think those were the worst photos I have ever seen of her. Did she try to look like a man? I know she is supposed to be the 'hard' in 'Hard Candy', but I just think it made her look awful. She looks fabulous for her age etc, but this booklet did her no favours at all. Such a shame. Please don't hurt me MadonnasManOne, its just what I think.

She looks incredible in the may issue of Vanity Fair, now that's how the booklet should look.


I really like you avatar "MadonnasManOne" did you make it?

[MadonnasManOne]

LOL, atlanticaunderthesea! I'm not going to hurt you! I have to agree that I really don't like the photoshoot and backgrounds that were done, either. The photos really aren't flattering to her, however, I believe she knew this. I mean, if you look at the photos that were in Vanity Fair, Elle, and other magazines, along with the promo photos from the forthcoming video for "Give It 2 Me", you'll see a Madonna that is very beautiful, sexy, and full of youth. I really don't understand why she didn't go with those photos, but, hey, it's Madonna! She doesn't always, if rarely ever, do what we THINK she should do. I wouldn't have it any other way!

I'm glad to see the positive reaction from those in this thread that have bought the album! I'm very pleased with it, myself. It actually exceeded my expectations, far and away!

I think the harshest critics are always going to be the fans. In fact, the majority of the press that I've read have absolutely praised the album. There are so many positive reviews for Hard Candy, that I can't list them all. However, a Madonna fan on another forum has put together this very cool promo, which features many quotes from the various press who have praised the album!



Thanks for the compliment on the avatar. To answer your question Nick Bryant, I didn't make it. You can go to the Hard Candy mini site, and find the avatars there. Here is the link: http://www.madonna.com/hardcandy/

You will find a selection of avatars/buddy icons under the media section. I did make the signature I am using, though!

[universALLove]

Thanks 4 the link "MadonnasManOne", do you know where I'll be able to see promo shots of "Give it 2 me"? Thanx

[MadonnasManOne]

Here you go, Nick Bryant!

http://vh-m.com/madonna/GI2MPic1.jpg

http://vh-m.com/madonna/GI2MPic2.jpg

[Simba3]

I thought "The Beat Goes On" was going to be her next single. I heard her and Kanye were shooting the video.

[MadonnasManOne]

I thought "The Beat Goes On" was going to be her next single. I heard her and Kanye were shooting the video.

Nope. "Give It 2 Me". She and Pharell have already shot the video! She even talked a bit about it on BET, when she was on Friday.

By the way, I finally got the Hard Candy Limited Edition at Best Buy, today!



http://madonna.fanfire.com/cgi-bin/WebO ... u=MDNCD007

[universALLove]

Here you go, Nick Bryant!

http://vh-m.com/madonna/GI2MPic1.jpg

http://vh-m.com/madonna/GI2MPic2.jpg

I like the first picture. Thanx 4 sharing

[MadonnasManOne]

Great news regarding the album. From the press release issue today:

Wednesday May 7, 2008

MADONNA’S HARD CANDY DEBUTS AT #1 AROUND THE WORLD

Album has biggest one week Canadian sales in 2008

For immediate release:

It seems that the entire world has quite an appetite for Madonna’s new album, Hard Candy, with the record debuting at number one in no fewer than 27 countries. In addition to debuting at the top of the chart in Canada and the United States in North America, the album has also entered at number one in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Holland, South Africa, Sweden, Finland and Slovakia, to name just a few.

In Canada, Neilsen SoundScan, the firm that measures actual sales of music in North America, Hard Candy has debuted at #1 with over 57,000 physical and digital albums sold, already making Hard Candy the fourth best selling album in this country in 2008.

Today’s announcement is just the latest in a series of record breaking performances that this record has been making. In April, “4 Minutes,” the first single from Hard Candy, had also debuted at #1 on the Digital Tracks Sales Chart with the highest one week total sales since the establishment of the chart in 2005. This followed the news a week previous that “4 Minutes” had become the first single to debut at #1 on the CHR chart in the history of BDS in Canada.

Hard Candy features Justin Timberlake on multiple tracks and production by Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Timbaland and Nate “Danja” Hills. “4 Minutes” was co-written by Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hard Candy debuted at #1 in America, according to HitsDailyDouble.com, with first week sales of 282,785!

Great news, indeed!

[MadonnasManOne]

News on the upcoming tour, from Billboard.com:

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news...t_id=1003800612

Madonna Announces Summer Tour

May 08, 2008, 12:00 AM ET

Ray Waddell
Madonna's upcoming tour will begin Aug. 23 in Cardiff, Wales, and will include between 50-60 shows total, Billboard.com has learned. Details of the tour, produced globally by Live Nation, will be announced later today (May 8th).

Billed as the Sticky and Sweet tour, Madonna's trek in support of her current chart-topping Warner Bros. release "Hard Candy" -- which debuted atop the Billboard 200 yesterday -- will play stadiums in the U.K. and Europe until the end of September, arenas and a "handful" of stadiums in 16 markets in North America in October and November, and then stadiums in Mexico and South America late November-December.

"I'm thrilled to be involved in another worldwide Madonna extravaganza," Arthur Fogel, chairman of global music for Live Nation, tells Billboard.com. Fogel has helmed Madonna's last three world tours, which grossed almost $400 million combined. Her 2006 Confessions tour is, at $194 million, the top-grossing tour ever by a female artist.

The upcoming tour is the first major manifestation of the multi-faceted 10-year deal between Madonna and Live Nation, valued in published reports at $120 million.

"The reality is she's delivered her last album to Warner Bros., and it's a smash, which is great for everybody," Fogel says. "We now have a tremendous opportunity with a tremendous artist to do all kinds of new and innovative things on many different levels, and this tour will be the start of that rollout."

The tour follows a familiar Madonna touring blueprint in that it visits a limited number of markets in a four-month time frame, with multi-night stands in major cities. Ticket on-sale details will be announced today, along with a presale through Live Nation's corporate sponsorship partner Citi. Fogel says ticket prices will be "basically the same as they've been the past two tours," which means primarily in the $55-$350 range.

[The Little Merman]

I can't wait. My friends and I'll be right up there, once again!

[Simba3]

I can't wait. My friends and I'll be right up there, once again!

I'd love to go see that last date in Miami, but her tickets are SO expensive that I probably won't.

[Atlantica]

At the moment, I am really feeling 'Heartbeat' and 'Miles Away'. They are fantastic songs.

I know you have said this before Madonna's Man, but the songs are structured so strangely .. .. What the heck is up with the 'Get Stupid' bit in 'Give It To Me'? I know she is being original etc, but sometimes it would be nice to hear a more normal structure to a song on Hard Candy. It could just be me though.

I've dug out her old album and LOVE the Ray Of Light record. Brings back such good memories. Forgot how much I love 'The Power Of Goodbye'.

[my chicken is infected]

Except for Spanish Lesson and Incredible, I absolutely love Hard Candy. I don't know when I'm picking up my copy, as I've depleted most of my extra funds for the month, but maybe in the near future.

[Simba3]

Madonna's new video for "Give It To Me" is up on MTV.

Check it out: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?vid=238649

[aliceinneverland]

I love Madonna and cannot wait to get Hard Candy. . . so thanks for this