Bedtime Stories (Madonna album)

Bedtime Stories
Studio album by Madonna
Released	October 25, 1994
Recorded	February–August 1994
Genre	Pop, R&B
Length	51:50
Label	Maverick, Sire, Warner Bros.
Producer	Madonna, Nellee Hooper, Dallas Austin, Dave "Jam" Hall, Babyface
Madonna chronology
Erotica (1992) Bedtime Stories (1994) Something to Remember (1995)
Singles from Bedtime Stories
"Secret" Released: September 28, 1994 "Take a Bow" Released: December 6, 1994 "Bedtime Story" Released: February 13, 1995 "Human Nature" Released: June 6, 1995

Bedtime Stories is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on October 25, 1994 by Maverick Records. Madonna collaborated with Dallas Austin, Babyface, Dave "Jam" Hall and Nellee Hooper, deciding to move into a more R&B direction. Madonna tried to soften her image after releasing several sexually explicit works earlier in the decade.

The album was inspired by contemporary R&B and new jack swing, developing a generally more mainstream, radio-friendly sound. Like its predecessor Erotica (1992), Bedtime Stories explores lyrical themes of love, sorrow, and romance, but with a toned-down, less sexual approach. Critics described the album as "autobiographical". The album's final single "Human Nature" addresses the controversy surrounding Erotica, while "Bedtime Story" was written by Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk. Bedtime Stories received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who praised the album's candid lyrics and production.

Commercially, the album proved to be successful. Debuting and peaking at number three on the Billboard 200, the album was certified triple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. It peaked in the top five in most territories, topping the charts in Australia. Four singles were released from the album. The lead single, "Secret", gave Madonna her record-breaking 34th consecutive top ten single in the United Kingdom, while "Take a Bow" spent seven weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 (the longest run for any of Madonna's chart-toppers). Other singles released were "Bedtime Story" and "Human Nature". The album was not accompanied by a tour.

Writing and development

The album began as a collaboration with Shep Pettibone, and was to be 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 towards a more R&B direction with a generally mainstream, radio-friendly sound. Madonna did thank Pettibone in the album sleeve notes for "understanding." It remains the last time Madonna collaborated with him.

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 R&B producers such as 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 Mary J. Blige; and Nellee Hooper, who had produced Soul II Soul. Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk, meanwhile, co-wrote the title track with Hooper.

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 rainforest benefit album titled Carnival! and "Let Down Your Guard" (rough mix edit) appeared on the UK and Australian CD single for "Secret". See the list of unreleased Madonna songs for details. "Forbidden Love" is an entirely different composition from another song with the same title on Madonna's 2005 album Confessions on a Dance Floor.

Album title and cover art

Upon initial release in North America, 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 (this version of the artwork was used outside North America). The CD tray was a light, powder blue color, but later pressings just have a white CD tray. The font used on the whole design of the album is Helvetica 25 Ultra Light. The album takes its title from the song "Bedtime Story".

Musical style and themes

Bedtime Stories was described as "a warm album, with deep, gently pulsating grooves." It features a largely "new-jack R&B" sound. Erotica also incorporated the New Jack Swing style, but Bedtime Stories draws influences from contemporary R&B rather than dance music. The sound was compared to artists such as Aaliyah, Changing Faces, Joi, Mary J Blige, TLC, and Xscape. "Secret" includes "acoustic guitars, expertly sweetened vocals and producer Dallas Austin's signature R&B beats." "Bedtime Story" is more electronic, later inspiring Madonna to work with producers such as William Orbit and Mirwais Ahmadzaï.

While the album is intended to be more mainstream and less controversial than its predecessor, it includes perhaps some of Madonna's most confessional and confrontational work. Jim Farber of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "she not only unloads on the media but also details a troubling and deeply personal view of romance. Never have her lyrics been this autobiographical." The lyrics contain a "mix of sorrow and romance." "Human Nature" "snipes back at the press" for its reaction to Madonna following the Erotica and Sex book controversies. She sings, "Did I say something wrong?/Oops, I didn't know I couldn't talk about sex (I musta been crazy)." 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 contains samples from some rather prominent songs and artists. "Inside of Me" samples Aaliyah's first single, "Back and Forth", and The Gap Band's "Outstanding". "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.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau
Entertainment Weekly	(B+)
Rolling Stone
Slant Magazine

Bedtime Stories, ever since its release, has received generally positive reviews from critics. Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album four out of five stars and a positive review, claiming that it "is a warm album" and that it "offers her most humane and open music". Jim Farber from Entertainment Weekly gave the album a positive review as well, giving it a B+ grade, and writing that "the new tracks work less as individual songs than as a sustained mood" and that Madonna "still has something to reveal". Barbara O'Dair of Rolling Stone also gave the album a favourable review and three-and-a-half stars out of five, writing that "Madonna has come up with awfully compelling sounds". On addition, Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine gave Bedtime Stories a positive review and four out of five stars, writing that it is "a fluffy-pillowed concept album that unfolds like a musical fairy tale".

At the 38th Grammy Awards, Bedtime Stories received a nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album.

Chart performance

Despite the large success of lead single "Secret", which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, 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, achieving a gold certification 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 3× Platinum in the United States. and was nominated for a Grammy Award. In the UK, the success was moderate; it debuted at number two behind Bon Jovi's Cross Road.

Singles

• "Secret" was released as the album's lead single in September 1994.
• "Take a Bow", produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, was the album's second single. It became Madonna's first single to top the Billboard Hot 100 since 1992, spending seven weeks at the pole position, the longest a Madonna song has ever spent at number one. The music video portrays Madonna as the neglected lover of a bullfighter; it won Best Female Video at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards.
• "Bedtime Story", co-written by Björk, was released as the third single in February 1995. The music video, directed by Mark Romanek, is housed in New York's Museum of Modern Art.
• "Human Nature" was released as the fourth and final single from Bedtime Stories. The music video features Madonna and her dancers in BDSM-inspired leather.

Legacy and impact

Madonna performing "Human Nature" from the album, during her 2008-2009 Sticky & Sweet Tour.

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 a video interlude on her 2004 Re-Invention World Tour and she performed a rock version of "Human Nature" on her 2008 Sticky and Sweet Tour, featuring Britney Spears in a video cameo appearance.

The title track was described as "perhaps the single with the most unfulfilled hit potential in Madonna's 20-year career."

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Survival"	Madonna, Dallas Austin	Nellee Hooper, Madonna	3:31
2.	"Secret"	Madonna, Austin	Madonna, Dallas Austin	5:03
3.	"I'd Rather Be Your Lover"	Madonna, Dave Hall, Isley Brothers, Christopher Jasper	Madonna, Dave "Jam" Hall	4:39
4.	"Don't Stop"	Madonna, Austin, Colin Wolfe	Madonna, Dallas Austin	4:38
5.	"Inside of Me"	Madonna, Hall, Hooper	Nellee Hooper, Madonna	4:11
6.	"Human Nature"	Madonna, Hall, Shawn McKenzie, Kevin McKenzie, Michael Deering	Madonna, Dave "Jam" Hall	4:54
7.	"Forbidden Love"	Babyface, Madonna	Nellee Hooper, Madonna	4:08
8.	"Love Tried to Welcome Me"	Madonna, Hall	Madonna, Dave "Jam" Hall	5:21
9.	"Sanctuary"	Madonna, Austin, Anne Preven, Scott Cutler, Herbie Hancock	Madonna, Dallas Austin	5:02
10.	"Bedtime Story"	Hooper, Björk, Marius De Vries	Nellee Hooper, Madonna	4:53
11.	"Take a Bow"	Babyface, Madonna	Babyface, Madonna	5:21

Additional notes

• "Secret": Shep Pettibone has been added as co-songwriter of this track by ASCAP, he is included in the inlay sleeve of GHV2 Remixed: The Best of 1991-2001
• "Don't Stop": Additional production and remix by Daniel Abraham
• "I'd Rather Be Your Lover": contains a sample of "It's Your Thing" performed by Lou Donaldson and has special guest Me'Shell NdegeOcello on bass and rap. Tupac Shakur originally performed the rap on the song, 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 Ndegéocello.
• "Inside of Me": contains samples of "Back and Forth" performed by Aaliyah, "Outstanding" performed by The Gap Band and "The Trials of Life" performed by Gutter Snypes
• "Human Nature": contains a sample of "What You Need" performed by Main Source
• "Forbidden Love": contains a sample of "Down Here On The Ground" performed by Grant Green, not to be confused with the 2005 track on the album Confessions on a Dance Floor
• "Sanctuary": Remixed by Nellee Hooper, contains a sample of "Watermelon Man" performed by Herbie Hancock

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (1994)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart	1
Austrian Albums Chart	7
Belgium Albums Chart (Wallonia)	29
Canadian Albums Chart	7
Dutch Albums Chart	13
European Top 100 Albums	2
French Albums Chart	2
German Albums Chart	4
Hungarian Albums Chart	7
Italian Albums Chart	2
Japanese Albums Chart	9
New Zealand Albums Chart	5
Portuguese Albums Chart	2
Spanish Albums Chart	5
Swedish Albums Chart	5
Swiss Albums Chart	7
UK Albums Chart	2
U.S. Billboard 200	3

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
Argentina (CAPIF)	Gold	30,000x
Austria (IFPI Austria)	Gold	25,000x
Brazil (ABPD)	Platinum	250,000*
Canada (Music Canada)	2× Platinum	200,000^
France (SNEP)	2× Gold	200,000*
Germany (BVMI)	Platinum	500,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)	Platinum	100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)	Gold	25,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)	Platinum	300,000^
United States (RIAA)	3× Platinum	3,000,000^
*sales figures based on certification alone ^shipments figures based on certification alone xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Preceded by Cross Road by Bon Jovi

Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album November 6–12, 1994

Succeeded by MTV Unplugged in New York by Nirvana

Album credits

Personnel

• 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

References

• "Bedtime Stories". Mad-Eyes. link – last accessed on October 24, 2005.
• "PierPinto's Charts Updates". Madonna Tribe. link – last accessed on December 24, 2005.

External links

• Bedtime Stories at MusicBrainz
• MadonnaOnline Brasil