[Beriilosal]

Pharrell's Demos:





Early version of "Beat Goes On":

[BCVB9SOc]

The best things to come out of this era were the outtakes Across The Sky and Lela Pala Tute.

[jPNy2BP5]

I actually really liked Across the Sky!

[Saqwnht]

they reduced the size of her legs...

And removed the muscle tone from her arms.

[Lauramalina]

In terms of the visuals/videos, this was the least focused she's ever been, which is a shame.

I'm going to have to voice an unpopular sentiment ... I really like this album. I think it gets unfairly shit on. No way do I think it's her worst album. In fact, I like it much better than it's predecessor, COAD. I actually feel Madonna's presence on HC more than on COAD. Her vocals are more colorful and alive here, and there's an urgency to the songs. It's funny, I always heard the album as Madonna's struggling against time. Clearly, she has been criticized for fighting too hard against aging, not being graceful, whatever, but the songs really do seem to be ABOUT those struggles to me. She wants to dance off into the sunset, she's aware that her relationship is in trouble and is looking back in time at when things were better, she's aware that competitors (both romantic and professional) are nipping at her heels. To me, this album feels so much more personal than COAD.

Yeah, there's some silly lines about seeing her booty get down, etc ... but I always found those sort of tongue-in-cheek. And more effectively tongue-in-cheek than that damn "American Life" rap.

I'd get rid of "Spanish Lesson," which is her requisite "totally unnecessary filler track." Everything else I like or love.

[Beriilosal]

See, for me "Spanish Lesson" is one of the few songs that works because it's completely aware of how ridiculous it is.

I just can't see past the production and again with the tired "time/tick-tock/waiting/hesitating" lyric motif. The album sounded dated even when it was released. It was as if she had jumped a bandwagon that had already been on its way out for some time. But aside from that I really don't "feel" her in this album much at all. I honestly think that the project as a whole was utterly beneath her save for "Miles Away" and "Voices."

[Lauramalina]

Well, that seems to be what 95% of her fans think. Trust me, I've read many a disparaging post here and on a Madonna forum I sometimes go to. lol.

[pokerbonuscod]

I completely agree with Sleep on this one (I certainly couldn't have said it any better!) - "Hard Candy" ranks among my favorite Madonna albums.

[Lauramalina]

I think "Heartbeat" and "Incredible" are great. shrugs

[Fouttysotlalf]

Baby ooh whoa let's finish what we started girl
Hey there ooh whoa I'm comin' to your party girl

INCREDIBLE! UNACHIEVABLE! METAPHYSICAL!!

She should have kept the line as it was in the demo : "It's so metaphysical to penetrate you gurl!"

[leoto5Fm]

"It's so metaphysical to penetrate you gurl!"

...incredible.

[Beriilosal]

Gives one pause, but also proves my point about the era aesthetically.

[Lauramalina]

I like the ones on the left so much better.

[Broker15015]

i don't know...at this time, i actually prefer the colorful edited ridiculous candy ones on the right.

[Fouttysotlalf]

they reduced the size of her legs...

[Woziwfaq]

I think the images are pretty heinous regardless. That album cover remains one of my least favorite by anyone.

[Imampaictjg]

I think it's a great album. Feels a bit old school. Reigned in a bunch of hot and trendy producers but still made it her own. I don't like "Incredible" and could probably do without "Spanish Lesson," but other than that, it's pretty solid. A fitting farewell to Warner Brothers.

[Ubgvuncd]

I actually don't mind the album art, it's quite aesthetically appealing colour-wise, if very dull and drab in actual design/execution. It's quite ridiculous her in these boxing/fighter poses in front of candy.

Some of the photoshopping is WAY too much though, especially on the last pair. :s