Madonna releases Confessions II: The Film. Giving the fans new music, Easter eggs and vagilasers for Pride.

Last week Madonna released Confessions II: The Film to YouTube on 8th June after its debut at the Tribeca film festival on 5th June. The film is basically 6 music videos cut together and is part of what has been a pretty great album rollout — a great time to be a Madonna fan.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. There were so many cool nods, references and Easter eggs spanning Madonna’s career — especially during “Danceteria”, which quickly became a favourite amongst fans.

Confessions II: The Film is a nice reminder that Madonna is a music video bitch, because I truly think that some people forgot. Shit. I even forgot. Music videos were Madonna’s thing, the same way they were Michael and Janet’s thing. She was part of that band of music acts who helped push music videos to become what they became. And it’s not like Madonna hasn’t released good music videos over the past 20 years. “4 Minutes”, “Give Me All Your Luvin’”, “Girl Gone Wild”, “Living for Love”, “Bitch, I’m Madonna”, “Ghosttown” and “God Control” all had really good music videos. But they released across a period of time when releasing great music videos which stood out was a taller order, and it was so much harder to cut through the noise. It also didn’t help that you had the likes of Lady Gaga who pretty much was the pop zeitgeist circa 2009 — many of whom compared to Madonna, which she did not care for. And on top of this you had the sinking ship of music videos on TV and audiences shifting to YouTube. And then the likes Beyoncé playing games and saying ‘Fuck that shit’ and changing how she put out music videos and the volume of them, which made artists and record labels say ‘Hmmm…’. And also, ageism.

Madonna - Confessions II: The Film | Directed by TORSO

But Confessions II: The film isn’t just a reminder. It is also a really cool thing to sit and watch. You don’t have to be a fan of Madonna to appreciate how good it is, and this is exactly what Madonna needed right now. I have zero notes. I also like that we got no controversial shit which would limit the appeal and reach of the video. It’s been a while since Madonna did some shit that makes you clutch your pearls. But I was still on standby to see Madonna on a church altar with her legs wide open and a speaker between her legs, as a gay on a crucifix is lowered and a Black church choir comes out to sing “Love Sensation” as speaker then catches fire and burns down the church. But we got none of that. The only moment in the video that could be deemed ‘controversial’ is the introduction of Madgina and her halogen headlight pussy and a woman spinning around with her legs wide open shooting out a vagilaser. But these moments aren’t so much controversial as they are just really cool pieces of imagery. And it’s great that the directors of Confessions II: The film and Madonna’s creative team understood this. What made Madonna’s ‘controversial’ moments cool wasn’t just that they were controversial, but were also creatively really cool.

Madonna - Confessions II: The Film | Directed by TORSO

Confessions II: The Film was directed by TORSO, who I was first introduced to through Mugler’s Fall Winter 2021 film, which was so amazingly cool and also featured Madonna’s daughter Lourdes, who also features in Confessions II: The Film. And when I first saw the video for Aespa’s “Whiplash” I couldn’t help but notice the similarities. K-pop is no stranger to copying and pasting. But that’s a whole other post.

TORSO have a really cool shooting and editing style which I think works really well for not just what we’ve heard of Confessions II so far, but with where Madonna is at right now. Madonna can still move. But she is 67 years old. So she is not gonna be doing the running man, slut dropping on Dance Dance Revolution or spinning her pussy around on the floor with her leg behind her head in a Tekken Tournament cage match. So TORSO’s style of cool setups, fast shots and quick editing help keep the energy high without requiring Madonna to overly exert herself physically. Madonna still does though. She’s still doing yoga poses in heels and bussing it open on a table for “One Step Away” and she’s flying around in harness for “Bring Your Love” — although I imagine some of the shots are of a stunt double. But at no point in the video was I like ‘Damn. I wish she was moving or dancing more.’ Which is a thought I had when watching Beyoncé’s Black is King. As gorgeous as that film was, I couldn’t help but think ‘Damn. I wish Beyoncé was dancing more to some of these songs’. But that’s a whole other post.

Madonna - Confessions II: The Film | Directed by TORSO

Confessions II: The Film is really cool. THIS is how you remind them younger bitches how to do it. And I like how the album is shaping up. “Danceteria” and “Read My Lips” were surprises to me. Because based on “I Feel So Free”, “Bring Your Love”, “Love Sensation”, “Good for Your Hole Soul” and “One Step Away”, it seemed the album was going in one direction sonically, but clearly it’s not. But it still all falls under dance music, so it works. But I am curious to hear how “Danceteria” and “Read My Lips” will work in the context of the album, especially with it being a non-stop mix. But if Beyonce could make “I’m That Girl”, “Alien Superstar”, “Cuff It”, “Move”, “Church Girl” and “Virgo’s Groove” all work on one album for Renaissance, then I’m sure Stuart Price and Madonna can make it work for Confessions II.

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💿 Album reviews: Confessions on a Dance Floor | Hard Candy | Madame X

🎛️ Mashups: Inner City x Madonna | Kylie Minogue x Madonna

☕ Random tea: Madonna’s “Bring Your Love” sounds a lot like Inner City’s “Good Life”. And I have something to say about it.