Bedtime Stories (Madonna album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Bedtime Stories
Type = Album
Artist = Madonna


Released = October 25, 1994
Recorded = 1994
Genre = Pop, R&B, Adult Contemporary
Length = 51:48
Label = Maverick, Sire, Warner Bros.
Producer = Madonna, Nellee Hooper, Dallas Austin, Dave "Jam" Hall, Babyface
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:tisxlfjehcqp link]
*"Entertainment Weekly" (B+) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,304247,00.html link]
*Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau|hm2 [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=madonna link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/_/id/87081/rid/5941052 link]
*Slant Rating|4|5 [http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=397 link]
Last album = "Erotica"
(1992)
This album = "Bedtime Stories"
(1994)
Next album = "Something to Remember"
(1995)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Type = studio


Lower caption = Additional cover used in the United States only. Singles
Name = Bedtime Stories
Type = studio
single 1 = Secret
single 1 date = September 28, 1994
single 2 = Take a Bow
single 2 date = December 6, 1994
single 3 = Bedtime Story
single 3 date = February 1, 1995 (Europe)
April 11, 1995 (U.S.)
single 4 = Human Nature
single 4 date = June 6, 1995 (U.S.)
August 10, 1995 (Europe/Japan)

"Bedtime Stories" is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on October 25, 1994 by Maverick Records. In 1995, it was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Pop Vocal Album category. The RIAA certified it Gold and Platinum on January 5, 1995, and triple platinum on November 21, 2005, recognizing three million shipments throughout the United States. Worldwide, the album has sold more than 8 million copies. [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Top-Biggest-Selling-Madonna-Albums/lm/37BXBHN8JKB68 Amazon.co.uk: Madonna Discography] ]

Album history

The album began as a collaboration with Shep Pettibone, and was to have been stylistically similar to "Erotica". However, due to Madonna's wish to soften her public image, as well as her admiration for Joi's "Pendulum Vibe" album (which contained tracks produced by Dallas Austin), she decided to move into a more R&B direction and a generally more mainstream radio friendly sound. She did thank Pettibone in the album sleeve notes for "understanding." This would be the last time she would collaborate with him. Also during the period of the album she would continue to have a more sexual image but considerably "toned down" in contrast with the "Justify My Love" and "Erotica" period.

While the album is intended to be more mainstream than its predecessor, and less controversial in terms of its lyrical content, it includes perhaps some of Madonna's most confrontational work. The song "Human Nature" appears to be a scathing commentary directed towards the media for its treatment of her during the "Erotica" and " Sex" book controversies, with lyrics like, "Did I say something wrong? Oops, I didn't know I couldn't talk about sex." Indeed, though Madonna sought to restore her image through the album, she has also stated that this period of her life was designed as a "vengeance period" for all the people (in particular the media) who were trying to invade in her private life, and that once it was all out in the open, she hoped that they would stop and focus on her music.

The album is unusual in Madonna's long career as being one of the very few occasions where she collaborated with well-known, established producers (the other exceptions being Nile Rodgers on "Like a Virgin", David Foster on "Something to Remember" and Timbaland, Pharrell and Nate "Danja" Hills on "Hard Candy"). The album features writing collaborations and production work by Dallas Austin, known at the time for his work with TLC; Babyface, who had worked with Whitney Houston and Toni Braxton; Dave Hall, who had produced Mariah Carey; and Nellee Hooper, who had produced Soul II Soul, and Björk, who co-wrote the title track.

Out of all her albums, this has become the least represented on her tours and live shows. Madonna has however included "Secret" and "Human Nature" on the set list of her 2001 Drowned World Tour, a remix version of "Bedtime Story" as an interlude on her 2004 Re-Invention Tour and "Human Nature" on her 2008 Sticky and Sweet Tour.

Commercial reception

Despite the large success of lead single "Secret," (Which easily made the US top 10.) "Bedtime Stories" got off to a mild start. It debuted at number three on the U.S. "Billboard" 200, with 145,000 units shifted in its first week, and achieved Gold status after six weeks. Soon after, however, the album began to lose steam and descend the charts. It was not until the release of the second single, "Take a Bow," that the album picked up pace and made a noticeable rebound.

The album was eventually certified 3x Platinum in the United States, and shifting more than 8 million copies worldwide, and was nominated for a Grammy Award. In the UK, reaction was similar; it debuted at number two behind Bon Jovi's "'.

Track listing

¹ Shep Pettibone has been added as co-songwriter of this track. In 2001 he is included in the inlay sleeve of ""
² not to be confused with the 2005 track on the album "Confessions on a Dance Floor".

Certifications, peaks & sales

Credits

*Madonna - vocals
*Dallas Austin - drums, keyboard
*Babyface - synthesizer, background vocals
*Donna De Lory - background vocals
*Niki Haris - background vocals
*Suzie Kattayama - conductor
*Jessie Leavey - conductor
*Tommy Martin - guitar
*Me'Shell NdegéOcello - bass
*Colin Wolfe - bass
*Jessie Leavey - strings arrangement
*Craig Armstrong - strings arrangement on "Take a Bow"

Production

*Producers: Madonna, Dallas Austin, Babyface, Marius De Vries, Dave Hall, Nellee Hooper
*Engineers: Michael Fossenkemper, Brad Gilderman, Darin Prindle, Alvin Speights, Mark "Spike" Stent
*Mixing: Jon Gass, Daniel Abraham

Miscellanea

*Several songs from this album found their way onto the cutting room floor for one reason or another, including "Your Honesty," which later surfaced on the 2003 EP "Remixed & Revisited". "Freedom" was used for a rain forest benefit album entitled "Carnival!" and "Let Down Your Guard" (rough mix edit) appeared on the UK and Australian CD single for "Secret" and the "DARP (Dallas Austin Recording Projects) Greatest Hits Volume One" promotional CD. See the list of unreleased Madonna songs for details.

*The album contains samples from some rather prominent songs and artists. "Inside of Me" samples Aaliyah's first single, "Back and Forth" and "Outstanding", which was originally performed by The Gap Band. "Sanctuary" contains a sample of "Watermelon Man" by Herbie Hancock from his iconic "Head Hunters" album. "Human Nature" samples "What You Need" by hip-hop group Main Source.

*"Forbidden Love" is an entirely different composition from another song with the same title on Madonna's 2005 album "Confessions on a Dance Floor".

*Upon initial release, the CD cover picture of Madonna was right-side up. This was a mistake and was corrected on subsequent pressings, all of which feature the picture of Madonna upside-down. The CD tray was a light, powder blue color, but some pressings just have a white CD tray.

*Tupac Shakur originally performed the rap on the song "I'd Rather Be Your Lover". This was during the time they dated in 1994. It was removed due to criminal charges he was facing at the time and his rap was replaced by one from Me'shell Ndegéocello.

References

*"Bedtime Stories". "Mad-Eyes". [http://www.mad-eyes.net/disco/bs/index.htm link] - last accessed on October 24, 2005.
*"PierPinto's Charts Updates". "Madonna Tribe". [http://www.madonnatribe.com/news/modules.php?name=News&new_topic=7 link] - last accessed on December 24, 2005.

External links

*MusicBrainz album|id=9d01afe3-c824-4a6c-91ef-30c760cbaf15|name =Bedtime Stories
* [http://www.madonnaonline.com.br/ MadonnaOnline Brasil]

succession box
before = "Cross Road" by Bon Jovi
title = Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
years = November 6 - November 12, 1994
after = "MTV Unplugged in New York" by Nirvana