Madonna’s Confessions II is the long-awaited sequel that reminds us why the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer still holds the crown as the Queen of Pop—even if she occasionally stumbles on the way to the throne.
Review by Mac Davis Fleetwood
If you’ve been near West Hollywood recently, you have undoubtedly noticed Madonna. She seems ubiquitous, from surprise appearances at The Abbey and Melrose pop-ups to exclusive billboards dominating Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevards. The hype machine is in full force to promote Confessions II, the album fans have been waiting seven years for since 2019’s divisive Madame X.
As self-professed die-hard fans (who also happen to be metalheads), we felt it was our duty to dissect this release. Madonna, after all, is a rocker at heart. This is an artist who has collaborated with everyone from Ozzy Osbourne to Prince and Lenny Kravitz. It is probably why the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted her in her first year of eligibility (2008)—a feat few achieve.
A Turbulent Entry and a Classic Recovery
Confessions II opens with a spoken-word interlude. Clocking in a bit too long, it feels slightly forced—an ode to obvious LGTBQ+ community standbys and drag queens that doesn’t quite provide the “wow” factor of genius openers like “Like a Prayer” or “Erotica.
The real opening, however, is “I Feel So Free.” As the title suggests, this track is the album’s most explicit “confession.” It’s an ode to the dance floor, exploring how getting “into the groove” among like-minded music lovers provides a sense of liberation. Musically, the song is chaotic; it makes you want to sway, but it isn’t groundbreaking.
While nice, this mid-tempo dance number doesn’t quite reach the high-caliber caliber of energy or engrossing hooks found on Madge’s earlier work. It strives for a Donna Summer “I Feel Love” vibe but falls short of being truly hypnotic. It is a good start, albeit one that concludes with more echoed spoken-word.
