Why did Madonna’s career go straight down the shitter?

Age

Refusal to accept aging

I should be so lucky to have my career go straight down the shitter the way Madonna's did.

Dude, her career lasted decades longer than most. You can't be on top forever.

Come on.

She can't sing and she's not pretty.

You can only re-invent yourself so many times without having something real to offer behind it. Madonna did this best when she had a message to deliver, like in Ray of Light. If you keep changing your image and interests to fit what you see as trends, or try to keep up with the younger generations, but don't have anything different to offer them but regurgitation and bastardization of a brand you yourself created, no one find this interesting. At some point there needs to be some substance - which she had at one time, but doesn't any longer. Her last good album was Confessions. After the Guy Ritchie divorce she didn't know who she was anymore, I think she cared too much or tried to hard with that and it just sucked the life out of her. I would love her to sit down and write some great material from the heart and have something to say without looking like a blow up doll, grille toothed clown.

I still can’t get over the fact that two years ago she overdosed and was revived with Narcan and no one seemed to care. Even DL didn’t care much. That thread didn’t come close to 609 entries from what I recall (and am too lazy to check).

Madonna died (momentarily)! From a drug overdose! And no one cared.

I remember that but her PR team spun that as "exhaustion" and that she was recovering from some procedure, maybe I'm misremembering it but I didn't buy that at all since she was revived with Narcan. At the time she had been doing all those bathtub shots with all the meds around. I think we were all worried about her, at least many of us were here.

The “American Life” album in 2003. Radio stopped playing her after that song and she never recovered.

Her albums after “Confessions” were juvenile and try hard. Tried appealing to younger audiences and it didn’t work.

She is apparently working with Stuart Price on a new album.. He's a fantastic producer, so let's hope Madge's last album will be a good one.

I’m a 60 year old woman. I know of no other woman my age who has sex at top of mind. It’s still enjoyable but it’s no longer a motivating force like it was before menopause. That’s why so many older women take up gardening. We e got all kinds of time on our hands!

So this narrative that Madonna is pushing that she’s still sexually obsessed and fucking 20 year olds is just sad. She seems to be little more than a robust collection of personality disorders.

She has the money, fame and influence to do whatever she wants. She can take on interesting projects with no thought of making a profit. She could pivot to an entirely new career that gives her pleasure/fulfillment. She could just enjoy her life and family. Instead, she’s insisting on pushing this ridiculous notion that she’s a 30- year-old man trap.

I never liked Madonna as a person, but I admired her marketing genius and her music was always fun—at least the earlier stuff. Honestly don’t understand why she’s turned herself into this ludicrous creature.

Because people are tired of her act. Pop is for young people…not seniors who pump fillers into their face and ass.

Yeah she’s cold boogers on the end of my nose

She tried going classy and more serious around Ray of Light and even with Music, but then she took her tits out again for attention. She should have kept it classy as she aged. No one wants to see a 60 year old woman taking selfies in her bathroom. I think she managed to somewhat redeem herself with this last world tour - she needs to keep that up. If she’s putting out new music, make it classic Madonna. Get rid of any Madame X baggage, including the eye patch. And ffs, throw that fucking grill out already.

People are tired of her and her act.

I mean she had a hugely successful tour last year that culminated to performing for over 1 million fans (some estimate close to 2 million) for her final show.

That right there is total pathetic has-been territory!

People are tired of her and her act.

I mean she had a hugely successful tour last year that culminated to performing for over 1 million fans (some estimate close to 2 million) for her final show.

That right there is total pathetic has-been territory!

The Hag got "OLDE"!!

Tried to remain relevant by acting like a fool.

r9 "She seems to be little more than a robust collection of personality disorders. "

That is such a great description - and actually applies to my mother as well!

[quote]I mean she had a hugely successful tour last year that culminated to performing for over 1 million fans (some estimate close to 2 million) for her final show.

That was a free concert on Copacabana Beach in Brazil, which regularly attracts upwards to 1 million people for concerts that are held there.

Her tour was also a greatest hits tour. Those are guaranteed money makers for veteran artists.

[quote]She is apparently working with Stuart Price on a new album

A producer that she worked with 20 years ago. And she called Gaga "reductive"?

Because she looks like Schlitzie

I'm not convinced she's quite down the shitter yet. While if she released a single tomorrow it's hardly going to set the world alight, she's still one of a handful of people, male or female, who could still sell out any stadium on the planet.

Because she looks like Jig Saw

Please. She couldn't even sell out 500 seat theaters with her last new album.

[quote]Please. She couldn't even sell out 500 seat theaters with her last new album.

I went to that show at The Met in Philly.

It was sold out and filled to capacity (3500 seats).

She passed on Tell It To My Heart. It was all downhill from there.

R19, please. She is WAY down the shitter.

She’s so far down the shitter even Sean Penn has got the toilet plunger out.

Some day soon Madonna is going to show up at an awards show and the audience will collectively gasp.

Even Monstro ElisaSue will gasp.

She looks like Leigh Bowery.

[quote]She used to be so popular. What happened?

I thought I was really popular, but maybe I'm just a big ol' slut?

r2 Dude. I agree.

Because she hasn't released a good song in over 30 years

Reluctance to embrace legacy act, crisis of confidence, fried fish

She's completely humorless and basically uninteresting.

A million people at a concert? How does that fucking happen? How large is the area? Or just video screens just put up all over the country?? I'm trying to visualize it.

R12 She was peak Madonna with “Confessions on a Dance Floor”. I was 18 when that album came out. The US ignored it but it was a widely successful album worldwide and had a widely successful tour.

Once she knew she was leaving Warner Bros to sign with Live Nation in 2007, it was over.

Everything felt like a contractual obligation.

“Madame X” was definitely her trying to reconnect to her artistry but it fell flat. All that autotune and ego.

R32, here you go...

She could be doing okay if she had done some American songbook albums like Rod Stewart did, but her ego is just too big to admit she's an old lady. She cannot admit she can no longer pack paying audiences in the way she once did and then young people do not find her sexy.

[quote]She cannot admit she can no longer pack paying audiences in the way she once did

It's like DataLounge exists in some weird alternate universe devoid of all facts.

She has no self-awareness and takes herself way too seriously. She’s finally resting on her laurels and good for her. It’s what the public wants. I hear she’s planning a new album. It’ll probably bomb like all the others. She should write a memoir.

R33, that entire album was based on an ABBA sample. No one remembers the other songs on it. Madonna’s big problem is that she keeps running back to the same tired producers and keeps trying to collab with whatever 20 year old is big on social media at the moment. It was all over the minute she began using the Kardashains and got her ass done.

Thanks r34, that is what I needed to see. A lot different from what I was picturing.

She should have pivoted to adult contemporary or something more respectful. She could be doing music but not by trying to be a sexy pop star.

She would never do a Pamela Anderson.

She is now saying she’s making new music because her plans for a self directed Biopic of her life fell flat. No one wants to back her megalomaniacal movie. The movie everyone wants to make and see will be made when she is 6 feet under. Partly based on Christopher Ciccone’s tell all book.

She chose music styles that didn't connect with her fans. She should have kept her electronic sound a bit longer.

R32 you can watch it on Youtube. I was frankly impressed on a number of counts. Especially that Madonna had the stamina because it is live and she IS capturing and carrying the attention of a million people live. And they seemed thoroughly entertained. I think Brazilians are a generous and joyful audience, so there's that.

I saw that tour, r44. She hardly moves. She has 700 dancers dance around her. She either walks or flails her arms. This part was hilarious. I did enjoy hearing her old hits and deep cuts though. She’s beyond out of ideas sadly. Don’t get me started on her ass. She looked like she had a dirty diaper on during the show. So disturbing. With all that money couldn’t she afford better wigs? I just don’t get her. She doesn’t look into what she’s doing anymore. There must be a psychological need to keep going even if it means making herself look ridiculous. She was miming with grillz in. Maybe dementia has set in. She could have been a cool mature entertainer. Instead she’s just doing what TikTok influencers are doing. It’s boring and sad. I don’t believe for a second that she’s truly happy.

Meh. Your vision is clouded by negativity even if your points are based on facts. I think she did the tour because the wasn't getting producers for her bio pic. And her fans - and she has many around the world who are not jaded and bitter, have wanted a greatest hits tour so she finally did it. Michael Jackson killed himself in the build up to his last tour but at least Madonna didn't succeed in killing herself and she made it through. I watched the Brazil concert and didn't find her the creaky for her age. I watched many clips of her other appearances in this tour and she also seemed game and present for it, not just going through the motions.

[quote] Michael Jackson killed himself in the build up to his last tour but at least Madonna didn't succeed in killing herself

That is quite the lowest of low bars you're setting there, R46

R47 I did it on purpose but it must be said. She has grit. She picked herself up and cut out the drugs and booze long enough to make it through a tour.

I think she was drinking though, during the tour. But perhaps not drugging, or only prescription meds monitored by a doctor and handler.

For some time now she's tried to appeal to the younger generation and it looks ridiculous. Young people have artists from their own generation who they follow, they're not interested in somebody who's old enough to be their granny. It all comes off as rather desperate.

She can't accept the fact that she's a legacy artist, she wants to pretend it's still 1990 and she's still a hot bitch who's relevant in the current music scene and kids in their twenties are crazy for her. Those days are LONG over but she can't deal with it.

Everybody eventually fades, it happens. Artists like Stevie Nicks, Elton John, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen accept the fact that they're legacy artists now and continue to do their jobs. They retain their dignity and age appropriately. Madonna has never been able to do that and it's just embarrassing.

"they're not interested in somebody who's old enough to be their granny. It all comes off as rather desperate."

Nothing screams desperation quite like playing to 1.6 million people at one show. Sad, really.

Free concerts in Brazil attract lots of people r52. Yes she's still popular but nowhere near what she was, esp. in the US.

Madonna am so washed up she am attracting over a million attendees to see her. She am huge has-been with 5th most attended concert in history.

Here on Bizarro DL she am unable to compete with fresh and hot singers like Liza and Janet who am real talents and play high school gymnasiums!

r54 Madonna has been kind of a joke for years now. I don't know what reality you're living in. And I'm saying this as someone who grew up with Madonna and was a huge fan in the 80s and 90s. The old girl just kind of lost her way in the 2000s.

R47 R54 et al — Madonna wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire

What are the odds of a random human being ablaze as Madonna passes by with a full bladder? It just gets more and more ridiculous.

R41=Brandon Lee. I guess Rocco needs to take over as Madonna's manager and book joint interviews calling Madonna by her first name. Pretending to the press that she's anything more than a blonde plastic blowup doll. That'll work.

Madonna’s Rio concert was free. Let’s not even go there.

Concert am free means people who don't like Madonna and her music showed up for what they am hating.

They am left show angry, disappointed and demanding more from her!

[quote]The old girl just kind of lost her way in the 2000s.

Old girl am lost her way 24 years ago with 6 #1 albums and top grossing tours of 2004, 2008, and 2012.

We am very sad for her multiple successes.

I keep laughing at the insane video she once did in which she just does 60 seconds of clucking sounds with her mouth and tongue. Maybe a little make up could have helped hide the scars of her latest blepharoplasty (eyelid rejuvenation). And the funniest part was when her own daughter, Lourdes, commented under the video with "you know when the Roxy is kicking real good" or something along those lines!

I think it's several things, but the main one is that she got older and pop music tends to be for the kids. Mainly, that's who listens to it and buys it. There are lots of artists who sort of transcend mainstream pop and make interesting, innovative music, which I would also group her with, but they don't necessarily top the charts. For a long time Madonna had shifted more toward pop "art" music, but she seemingly wants to still have chart success, so it has led to her straddling several different worlds, one in which she chases music trends to maximize her appeal to younger audiences, but most of those attempts have been ignored or sort of fall flat. In another, she makes the music she wants to make, is experimental and not always very commercial, and this doesn't tend to lead to chart success, either.

What I think is mainly missing for Madonna over the last 20 years is good songwriting. She seems to have lost her touch when it comes to choosing songs that work for her. None of her albums since the mid 2000s has been really satisfying, and many of her singles have been dreadful choices, especially ones that are selected to lead album launches. Confessions On A Dancefloor was a good recovery from the very "art pop" American Life that preceded it and didn't go over well with audiences, but then she followed it up with another pop record (Hard Candy) that was clearly catering to trends and the charts, but the songs were mostly middling at best. The same with the next album. The last two albums have been mainly "art pop" affairs, but the potential audience for these records was squandered on the previous ones. And now the "kids" don't really know her.

She would have to check all of the right boxes on whatever she releases next to have much chart success, and bigger sales. Maybe working with past collaborators that were better songwriters than anyone she's worked with in recent years would be a wise choice.

Age. Pop music is a young person's game.

Another fine example of her losing her way in the 2000s. This is so embarrassing for her.

R65 please stop embarrassing yourself

What's wrong, Dutchie?

The facts aren't playing well with your narrative?

Still the most successful female singer ever. Many of her sales and records will never be matched or broken. She did this with far fewer markets and with actual sales, and not discounted sales.

Plus, her tours are still wildly successful.

Shitter? Can I have her current career, please? I'd be a millionaire in seconds.

Beyoncé, pink and Taylor’s recent tours all have outgrossed hers

Mariah just got her 17th number one and the biggest selling song by a female artist in Billboard history.

A free concert is nice.

R61, her albums were bundled. Cut the crap.

R68, they’re already being broken. Her tour stats and single stats are broken.

R71 Touring, yes, but she had short tours. Who cares if they outgrossed hers. She held the record forever with limited tours. Pink has 400 dates vs Madonna's longest of 88.

R69 Counting a recurrent Christmas song as #1 is a joke.

Streaming is a joke. It's not sales. Plus, worldwide Madonna's true sales will never be matched. Cry and hate all you want. Her looooooong success is unmatched.

The average age of a Madonna fan is 62. That's what happened to her career, and now they're all suing her because they refuse to stay up late.

R69 Mariah is up to date on certifications. But, many female songs have sold more than the Xmas song. Note: without it Mariah would have absolutely nothing.

Katy Perry has at least 2 singles undercertified and have sold more Dark Horse is one.

Madonna is massively undercertified. Many of her albums and singles haven't been updated since the 80s and 90s. Seriously. And that's just in the US! Her feud with Warner is the reason for that and her streaming numbers. Once, if, that's fixed, watch her numbers explode.

Madonna's certifications are at 250 million ish. Guinness Book, which has to verify sales, just put her at 400 million in sales. She's roughly 150 million under certified. I'd say that's a conservative estimate. Guinness did as much digging as they could, she keeps her the record, but I'd put her sales North of 500 million. Easily.

Honestly, I think she's been on oxy and pain medications a LOT the past 15 years. Just like Prince.

You can't do all of that dancing in high heels and her excessive training (she finally gave that up for yoga) and not have some knee and joint issues later in life.

I really think the drugs and menopause turned her into a hellion that nobody wanted to deal with and she just went more and more into herself. Particularly with her 2008 divorce.

Then she keeps her brood of kids and all of these yes men and women around her. She really just comes off as a drug addicted mess - that's the only way to explain it.

Hmmmm, Guinness and Billboard versus Anonymous on Datalounge. Whom am I to believe?

Send internet hugs to her father, DL. ❤️

R83 was meant for another thread, obviously. How the fuck did it jump to this thread?

Any way, she's doing fine.

So her free concert was free and she still managed to sell out the most tickets of any standalone concert. Let me take that back free standalone concert ever. So, like, others have given free concerts and have not had 1.6 MILLION show up. She’d have had more, but she set up too close t mid beach, and the govt stopped people entering once the show started. Some of your hate is just too much.

It’s a long way down from the top.

[quote]So, like, others have given free concerts and have not had 1.6 MILLION show up.

Yes but you have to remember, according to Bizarro DL logic, all those millions showed up because they hate her and her music.

You got that?

Do you really believe Madonna's popularity hasn't declined and she's seen as kind of pathetic now, even among people who used to be ardent fans? What world do you live in? Yes she has her fans but she's nowhere near the huge star she once was. Her story is sadly similar to Mae West's at this point.

Agreed.

I mean we start multiple threads a day about Mae West just like we do Madonna around here.

Mae West would have 2M attendees to her Rio concert.

Age caught up to her and she became irrelevant. She was the new flavor of her era.

R83 ahahahahahahah

She’s a legend. Period. She doesn’t need to sell one more record and she’ll be the best selling female artist for a looooooong time.

Imagine how much sales she’d be at if, like today, they add your single sales to your album sales? Single sales count twice now. It’s a very unfair system. Into The Groove would’ve been a #1 hit, but she couldn’t release it officially so it couldn’t count per Billboard rules. It was #1 in airplay and sales. Now, any single can chart just by listening to it, so people are raking up huge “hits” that weren’t hits.

She’s considered a relic of the late 1900s, much like VHS players and dialup internet.

Can I just add that it is nice to have Madonna threads without seeing them being immediately derailed by Janbot/Jabba railing about the "old hag", "madonnold" and asking everyone around to "stay pressed, hun" and ranting how much bigger a star Janet Jackson was and how nicer she was as a human being? The latter one certainly aged like milk. At least Madonna never turned MAGA wingnut.