Madonna: Rebel heart (The Fine Tuner version)

Here's my own perfect version of the Rebel Heart album by Madonna. I've included three tracks not on the original album and have omitted quite a few others.

I've added in 'Queen' - one of my favourite Madonna tracks reminiscent of Pet Shop Boys 'Behaviour' era. Have a listen to the lyrics and decide what you think it's about. 'Queen' would have finished the album perfectly, following on from the 'DJ Yiannis Strings Intro Mix' of 'Ghosttown' which I'm including as a late album reprise. I am at a loss as to why 'Queen' wasn't included on one of the three versions of the actual album.

I've also added in 'Never Let You Go' -  a leaked demo from the album which is another gem that should have been included over the likes of 'Holy Water', 'Sex' or the awful 'Autotune Baby'.

The only thing that would have made the album even more perfect IMHO would have been a completed version of the Avicii demo of the title track which was headed to be far superior to the official version that was actually included.

I've included links to the three additional tracks (and the demo of 'Rebel Heart') below.

Let me know what you think of my version of Rebel Heart.

Rebel Heart (The Fine Tuner version)
1. Living For Love
2. Unapologetic Bitch
3. Devil Pray
4. Rebel Heart
5. Ghosttown
6. Illuminati
7. Never let You Go
8. Veni Vidi Vici
9. Bitch I'm madonna
10. Joan of Arc
11. Inside Out
12. Wash All Over Me
13. Ghosttown (DJ Yiannis Strings Intro Mix)
14. Queen

Madonna - Rebel Heart (Avici Demo Version)

Madonna - Never Let You Go

Madonna Ghosttown (DJ Yiannis Strings Intro Mix)

Madonna - Queen

Madonna - Some Girls (William Orbit Remix)

William Orbit seems set on remixing all the tracks he co-wrote and produced for Madonna's MDNA album. His Madonna remixes are always amazing - from "Justify My Love" to "Erotica" to "Frozen" to "I'm A Sinner". This time he's turned his attention to "Some Girls" a much underrated track from the MDNA album - I'm liking this more and more each time I play it.

The Juampius video for L.U.V. Madonna (Jack's 2014 Megamix)

Ok, I know I've already posted Jack Roeby's quintessential L.U.V. Madonna (Jack's 2014 Megamix) - accompanied by the video produced by Cr@zy4Mad*nna which you can check out here: 

http://thefinetuner.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/madonna-luv-madonna-jacks-2014-megamix.html 

However I've really been wanting to see the Juampius video for the mix after his splendid effort on another great Jack Roeby megamix - Kylie's K25 (Jack's Megamix) - and it's finally here. So sit down for 22 minutes and 44 seconds, watch the video at the top of the page, and be amazed at what comprises 30 years worth of incredible music and imagery from  Signorina Ciccone.

Madonna - Lucky Star (Paul Andrews Mix)

I've said before that I love this track as it was the first Madonna single I ever bought. Here's a radically different take on the track remixed by New York remixer/producer Paul Andrews. Funky star!

Madonna: Borderline (Butch Le Butch 5am Garage Rework)

Anyone who is a fan of early Madonna is going to love this. Melbourne's Butch Le Butch has created a fantastic remix of "Borderline" that keeps all the joy and sparkle of the original, while managing to reinterpret the track leaving it sounding noticeably different - partly by bringing some of the funkier sounds upfront. Just fantastic!

Butch Le Butch's SoundCloud page has the following jolly interesting facts about his musical influences...

DJ & Disco Person. Some time recording music artist and remixer but primarily a re-editor of other people's awesome music.

Influences:

My mother and her disco records which she played a lot in the 70's (and then sold all but the ABBA ones in the 80's for $1(total) in a garage sale)

My sister and her 'Disco Gold' and 'More Disco' cassettes (not sung by original artists!) of which I inherited one (and still have it)

My Dad and his 'War of the Worlds' record, which I inherited and still have.

Lot's of Melbourne DJ's and artists who nurtured or affected my musical tastes and knowledge over the years including Ms Krystal, Ransom, Bud, Dicko, Arlen De Silva, Pete Kung and Liz Millar to name but a few...

From: https://soundcloud.com/butch_le_butch

Madonna: LUV Madonna (Jack's 2014 Megamix) with amazing new video

I posted this excellent career spanning megamix by Jack Roeby previously, but now Cr@zy4Mad*nna has gone and put together an incredible video montage to go with it, and it is a thing of beauty and wonder. Oh and just so you're prepared - if you're not gay when you start watching this you just might be by the time you're finished - Madonna has that ability!

'It always does and it always will come back to the music'

Madonna: I'm A Sinner (William Orbit Sinner Remix) / Love Spent (DJ Taj's Stringsational Remix)

It's that time of the month when I can't hold back any longer and I have to post a little Madonna. I know some of you don't worship at the temple of Ciccone like I do, but indulge me these two nuggets...

Above is the astounding just released William Orbit Sinner Remix of "I'm A Sinner". The original Orbit produced track was a highlight of the MDNA album and tour, and below is a remix of another Orbit MDNA track - The DJ Taj Stringsational  Remix of "Love Spent" - which I'm also completely loving.

Madonna: Frozen (Widescreen Mix)

The original version of Madonna's "Frozen" was the lead single from her 1998 album Ray Of Light, and reached no 1 in the UK charts and no 2 in the US, mirroring the performance of its parent album. William Orbit's Widescreen Mix of "Frozen" is lush and extravagant and should be played loud, preferably in the dark. 

One Sunday morning in Edinburgh shortly after "Frozen" had been released my friend Robert played it fantastically loud to wake me up, and I remember lying there spellbound by how beautiful a piece of music this is. 

Both versions feature the strings of Glaswegian composer Craig Armstrong.

That Rogue Romeo: Machine & Magic

In 1990 I saw Madonna perform her Blonde Ambition Tour at London's Wembley Stadium. On stage with her were her troupe of dancers who helped her change and define live music shows forever. One of those dancers was Kevin Stea who also featured in Madonna's 1991 documentary film based around the tour Truth or Dare - In Bed With Madonna. Kevin went on to work as a dancer and choreographer with Michael Jackson, Prince, Rihanna, Lady GaGa, Beyonce and Britney Spears amongst others. 

However there is more to Kevin than even this - he is a successful model, and now he creates music as That Rogue Romeo. Earlier this week Kevin contacted me via Twitter to alert me to That Rogue Romeo's new music available on his remix album R.E.B.U.I.L.T which includes "Machine and Magic" featured in the video above.

Further information on That Rogue Romeo available at: http://thatrogueromeo.tumblr.com/

Interview with Kevin including about working with Madonna on the Blonde Ambition Tour available at bebesweetbriar.com:

http://bebesweetbriar.com/blog/?p=227

Madonna Vs. Parralox: Physical Attraction (Mashup Mix)

Parralox have covered Madonna's "Physical Attraction" on their new album, but someone has put the original Madonna vocal back on to the Parralox backing track and I love it.

Madonna: Vogue (MDNA Tour DVD)

I posted a fan made version of "Vogue" from the MDNA Tour ages ago, but the DVD version of the performance live from Miami has been released to promote the MDNA Tour DVD, so of course I had to take the opportunity to re-post it. "Vogue" is my favourite Madonna song and I've seen it live on every tour that she's performed it: The Blonde Ambition Tour, The Girlie Show, The Reinvention Tour, Sticky & Sweet Tour, and The MDNA Tour. I have to say that this is one of my favourite performances of it - spectacular!

Madonna vs. Daft Punk: Get Lucky Star

You are definitely going to thank your lucky stars that I posted this tasty mash. I pinched it from my friend Ruth's facebook page. I'm especially loving this as "Lucky Star" by Madonna is 30 years old this year and it was my first ever Madonna purchase - I was and still am the proud owner of the original UK release 12" single of L.S.

Starlight

Starbright

Madonna: L.U.V. Madonna! (Jack's 2013 Megamix)

Here's that Madonna Megamix I promised a while back. Jack Roeby made a great job of his Kylie K25 Megamix, and his Madonna Mix is just as good. 

Madonna: Miles Away (A Crowd Electric Mix) / (Telephone Mix)

So let's have a wee shot of Madonna before I go to bed. I've been really good and haven't posted any Madonna for ages* so I make no apologies, and these are two fabulous mixes of "Miles Away". This track is originally from the album Hard Candy (I never liked that album title - apparently she was originally planning to call it Black Madonna but changed her mind as she felt that after the American Life furore people would miss the irony and get all pissed off at her).



Anyway these are my two favourite mixes of "Miles Away" - her rather obvious trouble in paradise ode to her at the time relationship with Guy Richie. The first mix features Madonna vs. A Crowd Electric, while the second has Madonna yet again up against Lady GaGa - this time with "Telephone". Both mixes work really well although the latter mix takes a minute or two to really kick off.

*I just realised I actually posted some Madonna five days ago - oops! I still make no apologies - I know you love me anyway.

Kim Wilde: Kids In America / Neil Diamond: America / Madonna: American Life (Felix Da Housecat Radio Edit)

Wishing all of my American friends a very happy 4th of July. 

80's smash hit "Kids In America" by Kim Wilde

When I was a kid my sister had this soundtrack and I was obsessed with this song - Neil Diamond's "America"

And I had to include this really. After all she is the Queen of America - Madonna "American Life (Felix Da Housecat Radio Edit)"

Madonna: Everybody (Danceteria 1982) / Vogue (MDNA Tour 2012)

To celebrate the EPIX screening of Madonna's MDNA Tour lets have a look at live performances from the beginning of her career and then fast forward 30 years to the MDNA tour. Her first single was "Everybody" and this is her being introduced for her first ever official performance as a SIRE Records artist at the Danceteria, NYC in 1982, followed by a pretty good quality fan filmed video of "Vogue" on last years MDNA Tour - I think maybe her budget has increased a little since 1982. If anyone is lucky enough to see the EPIX screening please let me know what you think.

Madonna: Bedtime Story (Reinvention Tour / Brit Awards)

So there's no point being coy about this - you'll be getting slapped with some Madonna related gem on a fairly regular basis (as any regular visitors may have already sussed) but I promise to try and keep myself in check as much as possible as this isn't supposed to be a Madonna blog.

So now that I've confessed let's just get on with it - this is "Bedtime Story" footage from 2004's Reinvention Tour. 

The backdrop video with the acrobats/dancers perched in front is stunning. I was lucky enough to see the tour twice, once in London and once in Paris.

I love the track too - originally released as a single in 1995 from the Bedtime Stories album it had a great video directed by Mark Romanek which you can easily find online. This mix from the 2003 Reinvention Tour features a version of the Orbital Mix which appeared on the original single release. The full original Orbital Mix is featured in the video directly below.

And if you're still with me and you're a Madonna fan then have a quick peek at this live performance from the 1995 Brit Awards. It's worth it just to see the poor woman try and keep her exceptionally long haired wig/extensions? out of her face.

Madonna: Dress You Up (Stuart Price Mix)

Happy Sunday. Great mix of "Dress You Up" by Madonna collaborator Stuart Price. This makes me smile.

Didi Panache: Material Girl (Opera Style)

And talking of Madonna, and talking of gay, who better than Ms. Didi Panache to counter the thought of homophobic bullying and brighten up our Tuesday? Enjoy.

1. Didi Panache6 June 2013 00:05

   Thank so much for the kind repost of my video! And the photo is fantastic, too. You really know how to flatter a girl.
2. 
   The Fine Tuner  10 June 2013  08:18

   You're welcome Didi, and I'm glad you liked the post. I love your version of "Material Girl", and yes you look great in the photo.
   
   

Madonna: Nobody Knows Me (MDNA Tour Backdrop)

The full MDNA concert is being aired in June. This was the backdrop for the remixed version of "Nobody Knows Me". It's so sad when she shows all the young people who killed themselves because they were subjected to homophobic bullying.