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Turn Up the Radio (Madonna song)

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"Turn Up the Radio"
Song

"Turn Up the Radio" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her twelfth studio album MDNA. It was written by Madonna, Martin Solveig, Michael Tordjman and Jade Williams, produced by Madonna and Solveig, and is the fourth track of the album. It is a dance song with influences of pop and electronic music genres.

It is a song about the power of music. The song is slated to be the third single of the album, though the release date has not yet been announced. Critical reaction has been mainly positive towards the song, most of whom called it a highlight of the album and praised its production. However, some criticized the cliched lyrics. The song was included on the setlist of her MDNA Tour.

Background and release

In July 2011, Martin Solveig was invited to a writing session in London. Originally Madonna had only acquired Solveig for an idea of one song which eventually turned into three "Give Me All Your Luvin'", "I Don't Give A" and "Turn Up the Radio".[1]

Solveig further commented:

"At first I thought we were going to work on one song; that was the original plan. Let's try to work on one song and take it from there -- not spend too much time thinking about the legend, and do something that just makes sense. [...] We did one song and another song, and we were having fun making music. And actually it was a very privileged time. She wasn't under any kind of pressure, she had time to spend on it; it was the only thing she had to work on."[1]

On April 11, 2012, Guy Oseary, Madonna's manager, took the Twitter to respond a Madonna fan, which was asking the song as a single from MDNA. He replied saying the song "is feeling like the next single."[2]

Composition

"Turn Up the Radio" is a dance-oriented song. It has influences of pop and electronic genres, and is heavily backed by dance beats and synthesizers.[3] The song begins with a keyboard start before turning into and '80s-inspired dance-pop number.[4] Reviewers noted that the song was inarguably different from the album's first two singles - Give Me All Your Luvin' and Girl Gone Wild - and accepted that it would have been a stronger choice as the lead single of MDNA.[4][5][6][7]

Lyrically, she pleads with the listener to stop for a moment, to get away from the world through music,[6] with lyrics such as: "I don't know how I got to this stage / Let me out of my cage cause I'm dying / Turn up the radio, turn up the radio / Don't ask me where I wanna go, we gotta turn up the radio."[5] It also talks about the need for one and all to chill out and have some fun.[8] According to NME's Priya Elan, "the song continues her career-spanning themes of getting into the groove, of uniting the bourgeoisie and rebelling."[9] Nick Levine writing for The National pointed out that the song recalls her 2006 hit "Get Together".[7]

Critical response

The song received mostly positive reviews from music critics. In a pre-release special interview of the album, Attitude magazine praised the track, writing: "It may sound trite but there's urgency in its simplicity. It transforms into the album’s most pounding moment, reaching a climax that threatens to blow the speakers. Some might find it unusually generic, but she makes it her own and fans will be happy to have a dancefloor filler that will shake the clubs and would happily find a slot on the next series of Glee."[6] John Mitchell from MTV News called it "a big, anthemic dance-pop wonder with glittery synths and fun lyrics."[5] He also referred to the song as "the best thing she's done since "Hung Up."[2] Virgin Media gave the song 4 out of 5 stars, writing: "It is that precious entity that Madge still produces every now and then: a brilliant Holiday-style summer-friendly pop song.[10] Dean Piper from The Mirror named it "an instant Madonna pop classic."[11] Sydney Star Observer's Nick Bond called it producer Martin Solveig’s best track on the album, praising Madonna's "sugary vocals", while deeming it "catchy" and comparing it favorably to Madonna's '80s music.[4] Bradley Stern of "MuuMuse" called it "euphoric" and "theatrical."[3] Billboard Magazine called it one of the best tracks of the album:

"A cousin to "Girl Gone Wild", this tune is a summery pop number that's as effortless as it is simple. It's mindless fun where Madonna sings about how the "temperature's pounding'" and longing to "escape" and how she's "sick and tired of playing this game." (Haven't we heard that before? Enough with the games Madonna!) -- Basically the point of the song here is: "turn up the radio until the speakers blow." While the lyrics aren't provocative or necessarily new, it's still a peppy little tune that would sound great "on the radio."[12]

Laurence Green from musicOMH praised the track, writing:

"The song repositions Madonna as the American Queen triumphant with the aid of a properly classic 'Madge melody' that echoes her '80s greats. It’s the album’s obvious ‘big’ radio hit, its airwaves-optimism and carefree abandon writ all over it. Madonna’s lyrics of "I wanna go fast and I’m gonna go far" might be inelegant and overly blatant, but it’s in a plain, honest, doesn’t give a damn way. Confessions, for all its many merits, often felt shrouded in mysticism and introspection, but Turn Up The Radio touts a more blithely spirited way of existence; a readiness for the open road and life in all its assorted majesty."[13]

However, in a review of MDNA, Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph gave a mixed to positive review, praising its dance-friendly nature, but calling the lyrics banal.[14] Aidin Vaziri of the San Francisco Chronicle also gave a mixed review, stating: "Madonna might actually be turning reflective ... on the head-hammering "Turn Up the Radio," when she sings, 'It was time I opened my eyes/ I'm leaving the past behind.' Is it about her doomed relationship with Guy Ritchie? Who knows? Who cares?".[15] Matthew Parpetua from Pitchfork Media criticized Solveig's "unimaginative arrangements".[16]

Chart performance

Prior to its proposed release as a single, "Turn Up the Radio" charted on the Japan Hot 100 at number 68 due to strong airplay and digital downloads.[17] The song also debuted at number 125 on the Gaon International Downloads Chart on the chart issue March 25, 2012.[18]

Live performances

Madonna performed the song on her MDNA Tour as the third song of the Second Act.[19] After a video montage of some of Madonna's greatest moments, Turn Up The Radio is performed. Madonna is on guitar and the performance includes blocks and moveable stage pieces.[20]

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Gaon International Downloads Chart[18] 125
Japan Hot 100[17] 68

Credits and personnel

Recording locations
Personnel
  • Songwriting – Madonna, Martin Solveig, Michael Tordjman, Jade Williams
  • Production – Martin Solveig
  • Synths  - Martin Solveig & Michael Tordjman
  • Drums & All Other Instruments  - Martin Solveig

Credits adapted from the liner notes of MDNA (2012), Interscope Records[21]

References

  1. ^ a b Mason, Kerri (March 23, 2012). "Q&A: Martin Solveig Talks Madonna's Movie Taste & Co-Producing 'MDNA'". Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Mitchell, John (April 11, 2012). "Madonna's Manager Confirms That 'Turn Up The Radio' Will Be Next MDNA Single". MTV News. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Stern, Bradley (March 26, 2012). "Madonna - 'MDNA' (Album Review) | MuuMuse". MuuMuse. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c "Madonna's MDNA: our track-by-track review". The Star Observer. March 16, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c Mitchell, John (March 9, 2012). "'Turn Up The Radio' Needs to Be Madonna's Next MDNA Single". MTV News. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c "attitude.co.uk | The Very First Ever MDNA Review". Attitude Magazine. March 26, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  7. ^ a b Levine, Nick (March 14, 2012). "Track-by-track review of Madonna's MDNA". The National. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  8. ^ Cragg, Michael (March 26, 2012). "First listen: Madonna's MDNA". The Guardian. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  9. ^ Elan, Priya (March 23, 2012). "Album Reviews – Madonna – 'MDNA'". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
  10. ^ "Madonna: MDNA track by track review: Turn Up The Radio". Virgin Media. March 26, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  11. ^ Piper, Dan (March 7, 2012). "MDNA review: Madonna's new album shows the young pretenders she is still a force to be reckoned with". The Mirror. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  12. ^ Caulfield, Keith (March 9, 2012). "Madonna, 'MDNA': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  13. ^ Green, Laurence. "Madonna – MDNA". musicOMH. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
  14. ^ McCromick, Neil (March 7, 2012). "Madonna's new album MDNA: track-by-track review". The Telegraph. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  15. ^ Vaziri, Aidin (March 7, 2012). "Album review: Madonna, 'MDNA'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  16. ^ Perpetua, Matthew (March 26, 2012). "Madonna: MDNA". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
  17. ^ a b "Turn Up the Radio - Madonna | Billboard.com". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  18. ^ a b "Search: Gaon International Download Chart - Issue date: June 06, 2010 - June 13, 2010" (To access the applicable chart, change "년 (Year)" to "2012" and select the week "March 25 - March 31, 2012"). Gaon Chart. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  19. ^ Catellano, Anthony (June 1, 2012). "Madonna Kicks off MDNA Tour in Tel Aviv". ABC. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  20. ^ Hilton, Perez (June 1, 2012). "Madonna Kicks Off MDNA Tour! Perez Reviews!". Perez Hilton. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  21. ^ (Media notes). {{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Format= ignored (|format= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Type= ignored (|type= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
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