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Hard Candy (Madonna album)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Zone (talk | contribs) at 16:19, 10 May 2008 (→‎Leaks: what is this section for? it tells nothing about the album, but about the crime spread over the internet. lets not encourage people to search for leaked copies.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Untitled
For other uses, see Hard candy.

Hard Candy is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna and was released first on 25 April, 2008[2][3] by Warner Bros. Records. It was her last studio album to be released under her contract with Warner Bros.[4] (a compilation album to be released in late 2008 or early 2009 will complete it).[5]

Release

April 26 was the release date in Australia but many retailers chose to sell the album two days early on April 24, while a select few European countries saw the album's release on April 25; on 28 April 2008[6] in the United Kingdom, Brazil and most other European countries, and on 29 April 2008 in the United States, Argentina, Mexico and Canada.[2]

Seven songs from the album were also made available through download via mobile phone. During the week prior to release, one song a day was available to download.[7] Beginning on April 21 and ending on April 27, these songs were distributed: "Candy Shop", "Miles Away", "Give It 2 Me", "Heartbeat", "Beat Goes On", "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" and "She's Not Me". The album was also streamed on MySpace, four days before the United States release.[8]

Musical style

The album has an overall hip-hop/pop feel, while remaining a pop/dance record at heart.[9] Stuart Price, the producer of Confessions on a Dance Floor, described the new album as moving in an "urban" direction.[10] The Sun quoted a source as saying: “It’s not all hip-hop though, there are a lot of producers from a lot of genres in there. It could be her most ambitious project yet.”[9]

Timbaland stated in an interview: "It's kinda like 'Holiday' with an R&B groove."[11] In an interview for industry magazine Hollywood Daily People, Justin Timberlake noted: "It’s an R&B/pop/dance record, but it’s still Madonna... A couple of times I pushed her in a direction where it took a minute before we saw eye to eye. Her approach was, 'Well, I just haven’t done that' and I was like, 'Yeah, that’s why you should do it'.”[12] The New York Times viewed the album as a crowd-pleaser by stating, "It’s the kind of album a record company longs for in the current embattled market: a set of catchy, easily digestible, mass-appeal songs by a star who’s not taking chances."[13]

The album features vocal appearances by Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams and Kanye West along with production credits from Timbaland, Timberlake, The Neptunes, and Nate "Danja" Hills as well as co-production from Madonna. Wendy Melvoin is guest guitarist on "She's Not Me".

Promotion

See also: Sticky & Sweet Tour

Madonna has gone on the record many times in the last month, stating that she will indeed embark on a fall tour to go with the album. Possible dates leaked on May 7, 2008, stating that the tour would begin on August 23, 2008 in Cardiff, Wales.

She will be doing several small performances to promote the album on the Hard Candy Promo Tour. A concert at the Roseland Ballroom was well received by critics.[14][15] MSN streamed the entire concert live, while Verizon streamed four of the six songs.[16]

Reception

Critical reception

Like Confessions on a Dancefloor,[17] the album received a number of generally favorable reviews.[18] Reuters noted: "As parting gifts go, Madonna's 11th studio album -- and her last before she exits long-term record label Warner Bros. -- is unusually generous, if early reviews are to be believed. [...]Released internationally this week, and hitting U.S. stores on Tuesday, "Hard Candy" scored solidly among rock critics."[19] Rolling Stone said that Hard Candy is the work of "a songwriting team of American chart royalty" that help "revisit her roots as an urban-disco queen."[20] The Observer wrote that "whenever Hard Candy threatens to get boring, something always happens to recapture your interest."[21]

The album was still criticized for being "an attempt to harness the urban market",[22] with Mark Savage, of BBC Music, writing that "Timbaland's tracks are frequently reminiscent of his (superior) work for Nelly Furtado" and later stated that "if a handful of the tracks had been delivered to more producers with a touch more subtlety, Hard Candy could have ranked alongside Madonna's best."[22] The Times felt similarly, noting that while "Hard Candy is no disaster, " the album's producers have "already done the same thing with Nelly Furtado, Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani."[23] The Independent said that the album reflects "how a once diverse talent has ossified into simply satisfying the sweet tooth of functional dance-pop."[24] Allmusic bluntly stated: "Hard Candy is a rare thing: a lifeless Madonna album."[25]

Chart performance

The album has so far debuted at number one in 27 countries. In addition to debuting at the top of the chart in Canada and the United States in North America, the album has also entered at number one in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, Spain, Finland and Slovakia.[26]

During its first day of release in the Netherlands, Hard Candy sold over 60,000 copies, gaining it a platinum certification already.[27] Also in Finland, it has already sold more than 15,000 copies, making the album receive a Gold certification in Finland on its first day of release.[28] After two days of release in France, Hard Candy has debuted at number one on the French albums chart.[29] It debuted at number one on the Oricon daily album chart in Japan, selling about 9,387 copies.[30]

Hard Candy also debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, where Madonna joined a select group of artists to achieve ten number one albums.[31] Only The Beatles, with 15, and Elvis Presley, with 11, have bettered her accomplishment. Madonna achieved a similar feat in Australia, where it became her seventh album to reach number one on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album was certified gold in its first week,[32] selling 14,585 copies. [33]

According to Nielsen SoundScan, Hard Candy sold 100,000 copies in the United States upon its first day of release.[34] It officially debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with over 280,000 copies sold.[35] Hard Candy became her seventh number one album, making her the female artist with the second-most number one albums, behind Barbra Streisand.[35]

In Latin America the album became a success, reaching number nineteen on the Mexican Top 100 Albums chart based on three-day sales alone,[36] also reaching number five on the International Top 20.[37] In Brazil the album entered straight at number three.[38] In Argentina, after debuting at number-four on the Shipments chart, it climbed to number one.[39]

Singles

The lead single of the album is "4 Minutes" featuring Justin Timberlake. "4 Minutes" has reached number one in twenty-two countries including the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, Italy, Finland, Switzerland and Norway and the United World Chart. Madonna holds the record for the artist with the most number one hits worldwide.

The second single, "Give It 2 Me" will be released in July. Madonna confirmed it on BET's "106 & Park". On the show she stated that she had just finished filming the video and that it would feature Pharrell Williams.


Formats

  • CD — containing the 12-track album.
  • CD Japanese Edition — 13-track edition including the bonus track "Ring My Bell".
  • CD Special Edition Box Set — 14-track edition containing the album, two "4 Minutes" remixes in a hinged DVD-sized "Candy" box with a 16-page booklet and approximatly 35 Starlite Mint candies packaged in clear cello bag.[40]
  • LP Limited Edition — containing the 12-track album on three regular-weight vinyl discs (one black, two “candy” coloured swirled) in a three-pocket Stoughton jacket, with bonus audio CD of the album.[41]
  • iTunes Deluxe Pre-order version — 16-track edition containing the album, two "4 Minutes" remixes, bonus track "Ring My Bell", digital booklet and a "Give It 2 Me" remix.
  • iTunes Pre-order version — 13-track edition containing the album, digital booklet and bonus track "Ring My Bell".
  • Deluxe Digital version — 15-track edition containing the album, two "4 Minutes" remixes, digital booklet and a "Give It 2 Me" remix.
  • Digital version — 12-track edition containing the album and digital booklet.
  • Vodafone Exclusive — from April 21, 2008, seven tracks from the album were released at a rate of one a day counting down the week before the album was available. Each track remained live for 24 hours for download before being replaced by the next one.[42]

Track listing

  1. "Candy Shop" (P. WIlliams, Madonna) — 4:15
  2. "4 Minutes" (featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland) (Madonna, T. Mosley, J. Timberlake, N. Hills) — 4:04
  3. "Give It 2 Me" (P. WIlliams, Madonna) — 4:48
  4. "Heartbeat" (P. WIlliams, Madonna) — 4:04
  5. "Miles Away" (Madonna, T. Mosley, J. Timberlake, N. Hills) — 4:49
  6. "She's Not Me" (P. WIlliams, Madonna) — 6:05
  7. "Incredible" (P. WIlliams, Madonna) — 6:20
  8. "Beat Goes On" (featuring Kanye West) (P. WIlliams, Madonna, K. West) — 4:27
  9. "Dance 2night" (Madonna, T. Mosley, J. Timberlake, H. Lane) — 5:03
  10. "Spanish Lesson" (P. WIlliams, Madonna) — 3:38
  11. "Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" (Madonna, T. Mosley, J. Timberlake, N. Hills, J. Henry) — 5:09
  12. "Voices" (Madonna, T. Mosley, J. Timberlake, N. Hills, H. Lane) — 3:39

Bonus tracks

  • iTunes Pre-order Edition, iTunes Deluxe Pre-order Version, CD Japanese Edition:
  2. "Ring My Bell" (P. WIlliams, Madonna) — 3:54
  • iTunes Deluxe Pre-order Version, Deluxe Digital Version:[43]
  2. "4 Minutes (Peter Saves New York Edit)" — 5:00
  3. "4 Minutes (Junkie XL Remix Edit)" — 4:38
  4. "Give It 2 Me (Paul Oakenfold Edit)" — 4:59
  • CD Special Edition Box Set:
  2. "4 Minutes (Tracy Young House Mix Edit)"
  3. "4 Minutes (Rebirth Anthem Mix Edit)"

Certifications, peaks and sales

Country Peak
position 		Certification Sales/shipments
Argentina 1[44] — —
Australia 1[45] Gold 35,000
Austria 1[46] — —
Belgium 2[47] Gold 15,000
Brazil 3[48] — —
Canada 1[49] Gold 58,000
Chile 1[50] — —
Czech Republic 1[51] — —
Denmark 1[52] Gold 15,000
Finland 1[53] Gold[54] 15,000
France 1[55] Gold 75,124[56]
Germany 1[57] — —
Ireland 1[58] — —
Italy 1[59] — —
Japan 1[60] — 55,462
Mexico 19[61] — —
New Zealand 5[62] — —
The Netherlands 1[63] Platinum[64] 60,000
Norway 2[65] — —
Poland 1[66] — —
Portugal 1[67] — —
Spain 1[68] — —
Sweden 1[69] — —
Switzerland 1[70] — —
United Kingdom 1[71] — 95,000
United States 1[35] — 280,000
United World Chart 1 [72] — 802,000

Release history

Region Date Catalog
Netherlands April 25, 2008 9362-49884-9
Poland
Finland
Worldwide
Singapore
Ireland
Italy
Thailand
Germany
Australia[73] April 26, 2008 CD
Brazil[74] April 28, 2008 CD
Israel CD
Philippines CD
Portugal 9362-49884-9 [CD]
United Kingdom 9362-49884-9 [CD]
Canada[75] April 29, 2008
Chile
Argentina[76]
Mexico[77]
United States[78] 2-421372 [CD]; 2-440444 [Special Edition CD][79]
Japan[80] April 30, 2008 WPCR-12880
Ukraine May 5, 2008 CD[81]
United Kingdom May 12, 2008 9362-49868-6 [Vinyl] [82]
United States May 13, 2008 1-470972 [Vinyl] [83]
Finland May 7, 2008 9362-49876-8 [Special Edition CD] [84]
Portugal May 19, 2008 9362-49876-8 [Special Edition CD]

Credits

Production

  • Executive Producer: Madonna
  • tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 and "Ring My Bell": Produced by The Neptunes. Co-produced by Madonna.
  • tracks 2, 5, 11, 12: Produced by Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and Danja.
  • track 9: Produced by Timbaland and Justin Timberlake. Co-produced by Hannon Lane. Additional Production by Demacio "Demo" Castellon.
  • track 12: Co-produced by Hannon Lane.
  • "4 Minutes (Peter Saves New York Edit)": Remix by Peter Rauhofer for Unique Productions. Additional Production by Eric Kupper.
  • "4 Minutes (Junkie XL Remix Edit)": Produced, MIxed and Mastered by Junkie XL in the Computer Hell Cabin. Additional Sound Design by André Ettema and Sam Estes.
  • "Give It 2 Me (Paul Oakenfold Edit)": Remix by Paul Oakenfold. Additional Production by Ian Green.

Personnel

  • Vocals: Madonna
  • track 2: Vocals by Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Timbaland
  • track 8: Rap by Kanye West
  • Additional Vocals: Pharrell Williams
  • tracks 5, 9, 11, 12: Background Vocals: Justin Timberlake
  • Recorded by Spike Stent, Andrew Coleman and Alex Dromgoole at Sarm Studios, London
  • Recording Assistants: Graham Archer and Nate Herwick
  • Mixed by Spike Stent and Andrew Coleman at the Record Plant, CA
  • Engineered by Andrew Coleman
  • tracks 2, 5, 11, 12: Recorded by Marella "Ms. Lago" Araica and Demacio "Demo" Castellon
  • Programmed and Mixed by Demacio "Demo" Castellon
  • Assistant Engineers: Julian Vasquez, Vadim Chislov, Graham Archer and Fareed Salamah
  • SCE Assistants: José and Joseph Castellon
  • track 9: Recorded by Demacio "Demo" Castellon
  • Guitars: Justin Timberlake, Dan Warner, Wendy Melvoin, Darrell Pearson and Monte Pittman
  • Keyboards: Hannon Lane and Danja
  • Drums: Timbaland
  • Bass: Darrell Pearson
  • Scratching: DJ Demo
  • Protools Editing: Ron Taylor
  • Strings: Stevie Blacke
  • Mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound
  • Photography by Steven Klein
  • Art Direction by Giovanni Blanco
  • Management: Guy Oseary

References

  1. ^ "New Album HARD CANDY". Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  2. ^ a b "Katharine McPhee marries Nick Cokas; Plus Jay-Z, R. Kelly, Amy Winehouse, Madonna, Janet Jackson & more, on for the record". MTV News. 2008-02-01. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
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  4. ^ "Label denies Madonna album title speculation". Reuters. 2008-12-07. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  5. ^ "Live Nation Schedules Conference Call Today to Discuss Groundbreaking Partnership With Madonna and Artist Nation Division". Live Nation. 2007-10-16. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  6. ^ Killian Fox (2008-02-10). "10 essential albums for spring". The Observer. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
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  12. ^ Quotes from magazine reported on Madonnatribe.com 8 February 2008.
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  32. ^ ARIA Chartifacts 9 May 2008
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  37. ^ Mexican International Chart - 7th May 2008
  38. ^ Brazilian Chart
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