William has something to say about it, too

Cristian’s latest column contribution, “Why Didn’t American Life Work? was certainly set to cause some stir among fans and turns out to be as controversial as the American Life album itself is.

Tribers are expressing their extremes point of view in our Forum and by sending email messages. Here is what our reader William has to say about it.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, as Cristian Gonzales clearly explains
in the newest column of “‘Cause I got something to Say about it…“, but
recently I have experienced a couple of instances of “American Life”
bashing, and I was driven to reply.

The other instance of this was a blog actually posted on Madonna’s official
website that described this album as a “stinker”. It amazes me that an
album so rich in sound and themes is still considered a below par album.

Cristian actually has a couple of facts wrong.

• 1) The American Life video was made a month or so before President Bush
announced the US was going to war with Iraq. So to state that the video was
a statement on the events that occurred during the war isn’t even possible
unless we find that Madonna has become clairvoyant.

• 2) American Life, the album, was heralded as a critical success. The music
critics actually gave it stellar reviews upon its release, which was the
opposite of the Erotica album which finally got its due after all the SEX
hoopla. Not to mention, Amer Life did debut at #1 (granted, it was there
for only a week, but it was #1 non the less).

Now for the agreeing part. Yes, the Uber-patriotism in America, I readily
believe led to the untimely departure of the album. Look at what happened
to the Dixie Chicks and there now infamous statement at their concert in the
UK. Their statement simply being “We are ashamed the President of the
United States is from Texas”. Not a direct anti-war sentiment, but people
understood they were against his policies and turned it into something much
more than what was actually said.

Even the Dixie Chicks new song was considered too political. “Not Ready to
Make Nice”. Yes, it is a reflection of how they feel about how they were
treated, but the song never directly mentions the situation, however, I sat
in my car on the way to work while the DJ spoke to his manager/producer
(whomever) that chooses the songs that can be played. This person, ON THE
RADIO, clearly stated that the song was too political. Yes, this is a Clear
Channel station.

Click on the Full Article link below to contrinue reading this contribution with special thanks to our reader William for having something to say about it.

Similarly, Madonna’s “American Life” was toted as an Anti-War album.
Absolutley no song on the album references the President or the war.
Granted, the cover photos and the original video for American Life were
probably reflective of the mind set of Madonna at that particular time. But
I am still flabbergasted by people’s reference that the album was any kind
of Anti-War statement. (I am not referencing Cristian here, I speak of the
press media and statements I hear from them all too often).

Now on to simple differences of opinion.

American Life the song. I think audiences could have easily related to it.
In our society of So You Think Your American Idol Dances with the Stars on
Skates, its actually quite relatable (but I do admit the video with its
anti-war statement threw attention away from that, so the music listening
masses were easily distracted by the shiny objects of the conservative
media’s opinion of her and the album).

Hollywood, the song. Below par? This song, on the album, was one of the
best on the album. Not to mention it spawned the fantastic performance at
the MVA’s that led to the infamous kiss between Madge and Brit and Christina
(which the latter got no press cuz MTV just HAD to get a shot of Justin
Timberlake’s reaction to the kiss tween his ex and the Queen of Pop).

I’m So Stupid, which abruptly begins and screeches its way into that place
in our own being where we have realized that we were being really dumb.

Mother and Father holds a special place in my heart. Besides it being the
sorta sequel to Oh Father, its the other song with a rap on the album, and I
still find myself making sure I can rap right along each time I hear it.

Now, I do feel there is a section of the album, where the more acoustic
songs are put together, and being the fan I am, I usually don’t know the
title of what song is being sung and where one ends and one begins (granted
the pause between the tracks is a good indicator of this, but you get my
meaning). They do sound very similar in tone, so maybe a critique could be
made maybe there be a little more diversity of sounds between songs next to
each other. This section being Intervention and X-Static Process. Another
in this bunch was Love Profusion. If it wasn’t for the video, I would have
easily lumped it in with the others. Great songs mind you, but for some
reason, they simply sound very similar to me.

Easy Ride. I can’t say anything else. I loved this song as the cap of the
album. Summed it up in a positive way. The drums in the chorus are too
powerful for me.

The other day, a friend of mine was speaking about this album. She said
“I’ve been listening to the American Life album again. It sounds a lot like
the songs that are out today”. I said “Yeah, yet another example of how
Madonna is ahead of her own time”. Maybe to her detriment since it was
considered such a commercial bomb (not critical mind you), but I think it
simply doesn’t get the respect it deserves. I recently pulled it out again
myself (Hollywood and Die Another Day are mainstays on my ipod). I am
actually listening to it now. Everyone should pull it back out and take
that trip again.

Thanks for listening. (stepping down off soap box)

William.