A very different album, but still an excellent one

I'm Breathless (1990.) Madonna's fifth album. Also serves as the soundtrack to the film Dick Tracy.



Madonna built up quite a following in the eighties as a pop sensation, but when the decade came to a close, it fast became obvious that she didn't want to do the same kinds of songs forever. Her 1989 album, Like A Prayer, showed a sense of maturing in her songwriting talents. And in 1990, she took her musical stylings in a whole new direction - one she'd never taken before, and one she'd never take again. I'm Breathless was released that year. In addition to being Madonna's fifth album, it also serves as the soundtrack to the film, Dick Tracy. Read on for my review of this album.



As soon as you start listening to this album, something is going to become evident almost immediately - this sounds NOTHING like Madonna. That's not to say this is a bad album, though. To fit the mood of the film Dick Tracy, which the album is the soundtrack for, most of these songs follow a twenties-style sound. It sounds weird, but it works surprisingly well. I have always admired Madonna for her ability to try new musical sounds, and this album demonstrates that well. Although only four of these songs actually appeared in the film, all the others follow the same general styling - with every track maintaining its own sense of uniqueness. Warren Beatty, who Madonna met while recording this album and the film, even does guest vocals on the of the tracks! Sadly though, this tends to be Madonna's most underrated and overlooked album. There is only one big hit to appear on this album, which is Vogue, but there's not really a single weak track on the entire album. However, I don't recommend checking out this album unless you've got an open mind. And don't be expecting it to sound like any other Madonna recording.



One factor that contributes to this album's underrated nature is the fact that Warner Bros. did NOT reissue it when they did their Madonna remasters early on in the twenty-first century. Why not? This album is VERY good, and it deserves the same chances that any other Madonna album gets.



Final verdict? This is an excellent album through and through, but if you're a Madonna newbie, stick to the Immaculate Collection and GHV2. Don't make this your first Madonna purchase, or you're going to be left VERY confused. If you're a tried and true Madonna fan, though, go for it!

Dick Tracy: "I'm Breathless" (1990)

-Dick Tracy: "I'm Breathless" (1990)-



Released back in 1990, this was a very unique sort of soundtrack to the movie "Dick Tracy". Madonna sings every song. The album peaked at #2 in the US, and managed to sell over 2 million copies since it's release. The first song released from the album was "Vogue", and is just an amazing song. Probably Madonna's best dance song to date. It's one of my favorite Madonna songs, and it's probably her biggest hit ever. It peaked at #1 in the US for 3 weeks, and even went 2x Platinum. The second single was "Hanky Panky", a song about spanking. It peaked at #10 in the US. which I find quite surprising.



1. He's a Man (10/10)

2. Sooner or Later (10/10)

3. Hanky Panky (9/10)

4. I'm Going Bananas (7/10)

5. Cry Baby (8/10)

6. Something to Remember (10/10)

7. Back in Business (10/10)

8. More (9/10)

9. What Can You Lose? (8/10)

10. Now I'm Following You, Pt. 1 (10/10)

11. Now I'm Following You, Pt. 2 (10/10)

12. Vogue (10/10)



A lot of the songs on the album are very good, while others just aren't. "He's a Man" is a really great song. "Sooner or Later" is just amazing. A really relaxing jazz song, that even won an Oscar! "I'm Going Bananas" and "Cry Baby" are both really silly songs, but I don't care for them too much. "Something to Remember" is another amazing song, and is one of my favorite Madonna ballads. Madonna's 1995 collection of ballads was even named after this song. "Back in Business" is a great song, and it kinda reminds me of "He's a Man". "More" is another great song, but it isn't one of my favorites. "What Can You Lose?" isn't one of my favorites, and I actually find it rather forgettable. The guy singing with Madonna should just leave the singing to Madonna. "Now I'm Following You, Pt. 1 and Pt. 2" are two more great songs, but I prefer Pt. 2. It's a lot more fast paced, and it sounds like a mix of all of the songs on the album. All in all, other than a few low points, this a really good soundtrack.



My Top 5 off of the album are...



5) Back in Business

4) He's a Man

3) Something to Remember

2) Sooner or Later

1) Vogue

My bottom hurts just thinking about it

This album by Madonna features "Music from and inspired by the film Dick Tracy". It is not the actual Dick Tracy soundtrack, which is a different album featuring the likes of k.d. lang, Jerry Lee Lewis, Brenda Lee and Ice-T (but not Madonna). Madonna's album has a few songs that were in the movie (the ones that were written by Stephen Sondheim), and other songs that were "inspired" by the film. The "inspiration" mostly means that the songs are kinda sorta done in a 1930s style, although a few of the songs have lyrics that relate to the film. Of course, the biggest hit from this album, "Vogue", is completely contemporary in feel, although the lyrics include a list of old time movie stars. The other hit from this album, "Hanky Panky", is an ode to the joy of spanking. Overall this is a fun album, although it's not one of Madonna's most important albums. Serious Madonna fans will want to get it, but casual fans may want to get her other albums before this one.