Madonna's Resurrected Project from the 90s Flourishes Again
Madonna unveils the upcoming release of her remixed album titled "Veronica Electronica"
Prepare to reminisce as the Material Girl breathes new life into an old dream! On the 25th of July, Madonna (66) is dropping "Veronica Electronica", a remix album rooted in her legendary 1998 work "Ray of Light". Get ready to dive into the past by pre-ordering the album on her official website.
Madonna had originally planned to produce an eight-part companion to "Ray of Light" in 1998. However, the incredible worldwide success of the original album, which sold over 16 million copies and nabbed Madonna four Grammy Awards, sidetracked her plans.
A Golden Age Revisited
"Veronica Electronica" finally takes center stage as part of Madonna's "Silver Collection" - a limited series of vinyl reissues adorned with silver designs. The album features fresh takes on club remixes, crafted by legendary producers such as Peter Rauhofer, William Orbit, Sasha, BT, and Victor Calderone. Get ready for a blast from the past with "Gone, Gone, Gone": an unheard original demo of the song, produced by Madonna and Rick Nowels, will be making its debut for the first time.
According to "Variety", the album's title pays homage to the late 90s. "Electronica" referenced an undefined music genre for hard electronic dance music, with artists like Prodigy, Moby, Underworld, or Fatboy Slim as trailblazers. As a potential heir to the successful "Alternative" wave, the trend tapered by the end of the millennium.
Eight Tracks of Nostalgia
Separated across two sides, the album consists of eight tracks, including reimagined versions of "Drowned World/Substitute For Love", "Ray Of Light", "Skin", and "Nothing Really Matters" on side A. Side B boasts remixes of "Sky Fits Heaven", "Frozen", "The Power Of Good-Bye", and the previously unheard "Gone, Gone, Gone".
With 14 studio albums under her belt, "Madame X" (2019) being the latest addition, Madonna has a diverse discography. Remix albums have also been a part of her repertoire: "You Can Dance" (1987) sold over a million copies, while "Remixed & Revisited" failed to chart in 2003.
Background Insights
The phrase "Electronica" generally encapsulates a variety of electronic music genres, including synth-pop, house, techno, and more. However, when discussing "Electronica" in the context of the late 1990s, it typically refers to a specific group of electronic music styles that gained popularity during that period.
Electronica's roots can be traced back to early electronic music experiments in the 20th century, leading up to synth-pop's rise in the 1980s with artists such as Depeche Mode and the Human League. The late 80s and early 90s marked the explosion of various electronic genres, including house and techno, which thrived in clubs and underground scenes, blending disco and Kraftwerk-inspired electronic music. By the mid-90s, Electronica had gained mainstream recognition, particularly with acts like Moby, The Chemical Brothers, and Daft Punk. This period saw a fusion of electronic dance music with other styles, resulting in a diverse range of subgenres.
In her 1998 album "Ray of Light", Madonna showcased a significant shift towards electronic and dance music. The album—produced in collaboration with William Orbit—incorporated elements of Electronica, ambient, and trip-hop, echoing the broader trend of embracing electronic styles in contemporary music.
The remix album "Veronica Electronica" by Madonna delves into the Electronica genre, a trend that gained significant popularity during the late 90s. This album, part of Madonna's "Silver Collection", contains previously unheard remixes and demos, paying homage to the era of electronica and Madonna's original 1998 work, "Ray of Light".
