New Album: 'A very different sound for Madonna'
'Hard Candy' is Madonna's first new material since 2005's Confessions On A Dancefloor, which debuted at #1 around the world. It will also be her final studio release for Warner Music, where she has been signed since her debut album 'Madonna'.
Madonna chose to stick with the sweet theme because "she loves candy," says her longtime rep Liz Rosenberg. "It's about the juxtaposition of tough and sweetness, or as Madonna so eloquently expressed 'I'm gonna kick your ass, but it's going to make you feel good.'"
Madonna's new album will feature 'a very different sound for her', according to the production team working on the record. Much of it has been produced by Pharrell Williams, Timbaland and studio sidekick Nate 'Danja' Hills, who worked on Justin Timberlake's 'FutureSex/LoveSounds'. Justin Timberlake is featured on at least 4 tracks.
Rolling Stone's recent sneak peak at the album revealed that, the record's first single is 'Four Minutes' - a loud, busy, energetic track that is apparently getting an equally adventurous video: The clip (which is still being completed) is directed by hot French duo Jonas & Franois (Justice's 'D.A.N.C.E.'). Timbaland makes an appearance, and Madonna and Timberlake play superheroes tackling physical obstacles. The clip features choreography by Jamie King, who worked on Madonna's Confessions, Re-Invention and Drowned World tours as well as her video for Confessions' 'Sorry.'
Justin to induct Madonna in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Perhaps Timberlake is returning a favour from his 27th birthday last month, when Madonna presented him with a cupcake and champagne and sang him 'Happy Birthday' on the set of the video for her song '4 Minutes to Save the World.' The track features JT as well as Timbaland; the two collaborated on several songs for Madonna's forthcoming LP.
Other inductors include Tom Hanks (for '60s group the Dave Clark Five - appropriate because he played the manager of a similar group in the 1996 film That Thing You Do), Lou Reed (for folk legend Leonard Cohen), Billy Joel (for John Mellencamp), Ben Harper (for blues harmonica player Little Walter), Jerry Butler (for legendary soul producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff) and John Fogerty (for instrumental group the Ventures).
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony will take place at New York's Waldorf Astoria hotel on March 10.
More on the Danja collaboration
The The Rhapsody Editorial Music Blog has published a new interview with Danja, which included a couple of questions about his work on Madonna's new album:
Are you still working on Madonna's album?
Actually Madonna is finished. Tim and me did four or five (songs) together. He also did three more with a new producer, Hannon, out of Virginia. Then Pharrell did the rest. So it's like a Virginia-produced album. I'm actually kind of proud of that. Even though me and Tim and Pharrell didn't work together, just for us to completely conquer an artist such as Madonna... I'm good. Either way, whether we got a single or (Pharrell) got a single, Virginia got a (Madonna) single.
What was the vibe like?
She was cool. She had a dark sense of humour that I can't explain. She might just say something crazy that you might feel is out of line. But it's not. It's just her sense of humour. She was in the studio chilling with us, being open and the whole nine. With any session when you don't know somebody, the first session is the hardest. You gotta break the ice, but after that initial session, it was all good. Another person that I worked with, Mariah, was really cool and so down to earth.