Impressive Instant

I went out over the weekend and the plan was to go to Books4Cause, a free bookstore (@books4cause) to drop some books. It's a free library (love the idea) where you can drop the books that are around your house that you don't read anymore. A great idea that helps declutter a little bit (I am not reading The DaVinci Code for the umpteenth time this winter, I'm sure) while providing free reading material for others. The thing is that I ended up with a new Anne Rice (The Mummy) and I discovered a new (to me) record store right next door: @recordbreakers 

And of course I had to go crate diving for a hot minute. It's something that just needs to happen when you like vinyl records and happen to find a new store. To my surprise and utter delight, I got to snatch a used @Madonna double album: Finally, Enough Love (for less than $20!). It's a compilation of 16 remixes (I fucking love remixes) of some of Madge's number one records. The unabridged collection has fifty songs that have made it to number one in the Billboard Dance Club songs. BTW, with this album Madge's become the first woman with a top-ten album in each of the last five decades, from the 1980s to the 2020s. Yeah, there's that. And it's funny because I bought this Madonna record and a Dean Martin record. Talk about opposite sides of the spectrum. The cashier didn't even bat an eyelash. He's probably used to it.

So, Madonna has officially been fifty times at the top of the dance charts and this release celebrates it. I'm not gonna talk here about the abridged version I got, though (it's awesome and I love the artwork! You open it and it has the art cover for her singles). That version is fantastic, of course and the packaging is great. I love that about vinyl records: they have artwork and cool sleeves and it's a joy to open them. Here I'm going to talk about the full release: Finally, Enough Love: 50 Number Ones.

I was so taken with the collection that I went online and downloaded the full fifty song version of the album. Because of course I did. Duh. I'm a Madonna fan (I have been a fan forever, my fav is 80's Madonna. Anna Marie and I agreed that that's her best decade) and I really love all of these versions.  I'm gonna blast that album while driving in the mornings, I'm sure. Also, I think she's at her best when she's making you dance. Some of these remixes I have heard before (I used to buy maxi singles) but some were totally new for me, especially those after Ray of Light came out. And they are all super cool. I decided I'd tell you which are my favs in this record. You know that when you like an artist and have (and like) most of their music, that is somehow difficult. I went with my instincts and chose the songs that most make me wanna dance because after all, this is about remixes. Sometimes it was really hard to make up my mind, but here's my top five (and some honorable mentions). 

1. "Holiday" (7" Version)

2. "Like a Virgin" (7" Version)

3. "Material Girl" (7" Version)

4. "Into the Groove" (You Can Dance Remix Edit)

I love this version. It's one of my all-time favorite Madonna songs and it makes me dance every time I hear it. I have memories of dancing my head off to this in clubs. No matter how or when I hear this song, it always gives me the same feeling of freedom. 

5. "Open Your Heart" (Video Version)

6. "Physical Attraction" (You Can Dance Remix Edit)

7. "Everybody" (You Can Dance Remix Edit) *Honorable mention*

8. "Like a Prayer" (7" Remix / Edit)

9. "Express Yourself" (Remix / Edit)

10. "Keep It Together" (Alternate Single Remix)

11. "Vogue" (Single Version) 

12. "Justify My Love" (Orbit Edit) 

13. "Erotica" (Underground Club Mix) *Honorable mention*

14. "Deeper and Deeper" (David's Radio Edit) 

15. "Fever" (Radio Edit) 

16. "Secret" (Junior's Luscious Single Mix)

17. "Bedtime Story" (Junior's Single Mix) 

18. "Don't Cry for Me Argentina"  (Miami Mix Edit)

19. "Frozen" (Extended Club Mix Edit) 

20. "Ray of Light" (Sasha Ultra Violet Mix Edit)

I love this version of this song. I think Ray of Light is one of Madonna's best albums (if not the best) and this song is absolutely fantastic. I was torn between this one and Erotica (another of Madonna's best albums) but this one won.

21. "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Radio Mix)

I love the video for the original version of this song. it's one of those songs that make you think and makes you wanna dance. At the same time. And I can relate to that.

22. "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Radio Mix)

23. "American Pie" (Richard "Humpty" Vission Radio Mix)

24. "Music" (Deep Dish Dot Com Radio Edit)

25. "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss Video Remix) *Honorable mention*

26. "What It Feels Like for a Girl" (Above and Beyond Radio Edit)

27. "Impressive Instant" (Peter Rauhofer's Universal Radio Mixshow Mix)

28. "Die Another Day" (Deepsky Radio Edit)

29. "American Life" (Felix da Housecat's Devin Dazzle Edit)

30. "Hollywood" (Calderone & Quayle Edit)

31. "Me Against the Music" (Peter Rauhofer Radio Mix; Britney Spears featuring Madonna)

32. "Nothing Fails" (Tracy Young's Underground Radio Edit) *Honorable mention*

33. "Love Profusion" (Ralphi Rosario House Vocal Edit)

34. "Hung Up" (SDP Extended Vocal Edit)

35. "Sorry" (PSB Maxi Mix Edit)

36. "Get Together" (Jacques Lu Cont Vocal Edit)

37. "Jump" (Axwell Remix Edit)

38. "4 Minutes" (Bob Sinclar Space Funk Edit; featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland)

39. "Give It 2 Me" (Eddie Amador Club 5 Edit)

This song is so joyous, so kooky, so.. uncomplicated, I cannot help but dance when I hear it. It's bouncy and cheeky. It's Madonna at her bravado best, too. 

40. "Celebration" (Benny Benassi Remix Edit)

41. "Give Me All Your Luvin'" (Party Rock Remix; featuring LMFAO and Nicki Minaj)

42. "Girl Gone Wild" (Avicii's UMF Mix)

43. "Turn Up the Radio" (Offer Nissim Remix Edit)

44. "Living for Love" (Offer Nissim Promo Mix)

45. "Ghosttown" (Dirty Pop Intro Mix)

46. "Bitch I'm Madonna" (Sander Kleinenberg Video Edit; featuring Nicki Minaj)

47. "Medellín" (Offer Nissim Madame X in the Sphinx Mix; with Maluma)

I love this song, and this version gives me the feels. It's very Tribal, very House Music party at four in the morning on a Sunday. Love.

48. "I Rise" (Tracy Young's Pride Intro Radio Remix)

49. "Crave" (Tracy Young Dangerous Remix; featuring Swae Lee) *Honorable mention*

50. "I Don't Search I Find" (Honey Dijon Radio Mix)

And that's all. Hope you enjoyed my little trip. The whole album is fantastic and you can stream it while you exercise/ go for a jog/ cook/ bang your boo. Whatever makes you happy. 

Happy listening!

XOXO

P.S. Say what you want about Madonna -she's old (64?), blah blah, it's just dance music (remixes!), blah, blah, she's an attention whore (duh)-, but she's left an indelible mark in the collective mind of the XX century and I think nobody can argue that fact. Just look at us here. It's 2022 and everybody and their uncle still has got an opinion about her, just as it if were 1982 and she had just bursted into the scene...