Customer Reviews

Celebration

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

NOTE: This review looks at only the differences in track versions contained on this retrospective compared with previously issued track versions.

Most tracks on this compilation are album versions, but some are edits which, in and of themselves, have been edited differently. There are also many tracks from The Immaculate Collection, some of which may have been modified slightly for this collection (denoted below).

DISC ONE

01. Hung Up (Album Version, unmixed)(5:39)
02. Music (Album Version)(3:46)
03. Vogue (From The Immaculate Collection) (5:17)
04. 4 Minutes (Album Edit, no breakdown) (3:10)
05. Holiday (Album Version) (6:08)
06. Everybody (Album Edit) (4:11)
07. Like a Virgin (From The Immaculate Collection) (3:10)
08. Into the Groove (12" Version, first appearance on an official Madonna US full-length CD release) (4:45)
09. Like a Prayer (Album Version) (5:43)
10. Ray of Light (Album Edit) (4:34)
11. Sorry (Album Edit, shorter intro and bridge) (3:59)
12. Express Yourself (Video Version, Edited) (4:00)
NOTE: This version closely resembles the original music video version, but the instrumental break that leads into the bridge has been removed at 2:30.
13. Open Your Heart (From The Immaculate Collection)
14. Borderline (From The Immaculate Collection)
15. Secret (Album Edit, fade instead of cold stop)
16. Erotica (Album Edit, Alternate)
NOTE: This Album Edit (4:30) differs slightly from Album Edit (4:36) found on the original 1992 Erotica Maxi CD single (Maverick/Sire/Warner Bros CD 0-9362-40585-2-6). The edits in the 4:36 version occur at 0:00 and 3:27.
17. Justify My Love (Q Sound Mix) (4:54)
18. Revolver (Album Version) (3:40)

DISC TWO

01. Dress You Up (Album Version, Edited) (4:02)
NOTE: Different intro
02. Material Girl (Album Version) (4:00)
03. La Isla Bonita (Album Version) (4:04)
04. Papa Don't Preach (Album Version) (4:30)
05. Lucky Star (From The Immaculate Collection, Modified)
NOTE: This version closely resembles The Immaculate Collection version, but the intro and outro have been edited differently.
06. Burning Up (Album Version) (3:45)
07. Crazy for You (From The Immaculate Collection) (3:44)
08. Who's That Girl (Album Version) (4:00)
09. Frozen (Album Version) (6:19)
10. Miles Away (Album Edit) (3:45)
11. Take a Bow (Album Version) (5:20)
12. Live to Tell (Album Version) (5:51)
13. Beautiful Stranger (Album Version) (4:22)
14. Hollywood (Original Album Edit) (4:23)
15. Die Another Day (Album Version) (4:37)
16. Don't Tell Me (Album Edit, cold stop) (4:12)
17. Cherish (Album Edit, Alternate) (3:52)
NOTE: This edit very closely resembles the version found on The Immaculate Collection, but the guitar snares at 3:16 and 3:20 from the 1989 original are present. The guitar snares do not appear on The Immaculate Collection version.
18. Celebration (Album Version) (3:35)

(last revised 2/24/11)

Warner Bros. has released Madonna's third compilation album featuring some of Madonna's biggest hits (fourth if you count the ballad collection 'Something To Remember'). 'Celebration' is a great collection of some of Madonna's best work but as any true fan will attest, this is far from a true 'greatest hits' album. If you are a casual Madonna fan, 'Celebration' is really a good album to pick-up. The main staples --- 'Material Girl', 'Ray of Light', 'Like a Prayer' --- are all present. There are even two new songs. Yet, something feels unsatisfying with 'Celebration' considering there are so many songs that were left off. Considering this is her last release with Warner Bros, I felt much more effort could have been put into making this a true 'celebration' of her music and career over the past 26 years. Instead, it feels like one last attempt made by Warner to make money off Madonna.

The Good: I really like all the effort and attention put into the package design. Warner Bros. definitely stepped up their promotion and art direction on this release -- more so than they have her past few albums. The art designed by Mr. Brainwash is definitely different and more street and while there are no new photos of Madonna, I felt the design really does her justice and features her most iconic looks and styles in a creative manner. I like both of the new songs featured on this edition. 'Celebration' is pure dance and sounds like a cut from "Confessions on a Dance Floor" while 'Revolver' (featuring a small rap by Lil' Wayne) is a mix between pop and urban music, everything "Hard Candy" tried to be but perhaps failed to live up to. To me, the songs are both very good and easily stand out as album worthy tracks. Another great thing about this release is that the tracks have been remastered and as someone who has listened to many of the tracks often, I can tell the difference and it makes listening to some of the older tracks like 'Dress You Up' and 'Like a Prayer' all the more enjoyable.

The Bad: Again, to the casual Madonna fan, 'Celebration' offers a nice spread of songs throughout her career. To the hardcore fan, this release is disappointing. Tracks like 'True Blue', 'Spotlight', 'Bad Girl' and 'Human Nature' are all left off. Some of the songs on here are edits from the first 'greatest hits' package, 'The Immaculate Collection'. Other edits simply don't do the songs justice (Why cut out the dramatic beginning of '4 Minutes' and break the song down to a mere 3 minutes, ten seconds? Doesn't that go against the whole theme of the song?). Also, the release is sparse on the side of some of her older ballads (Where's 'You'll See' and why is 'Miles Away' included when it didn't really make an impact?). I get the impression that this release, like many of Madonna's 'greatest hits' packages, was put out without a lot of thought or effort. If you're a big Madonna fan, there's no reason to own this because you have a lot of the songs (full versions, mind you, not edits) and are left with just 2 new songs that you can probably purchase as mp3s on Amazon separately. This could have been a true 'celebration' and featured new edits or remixes and takes on the classic songs to make everything dance-floor ready but it seems as if all the attention were put into the package art rather than the actual content.

In all, if you are new to Madonna and want a collection of her music from all eras and albums of her career, this will be a nice addition to your collection. You will definitely get a nice sampling of her music that will hopefully inspire you to pick up her albums to enjoy the full tracks and other undiscovered ones. If you are the casual fan or even hardcore, 'Celebration' is more for your collection than a must-purchase. There are only two new tracks; the rest of 'Celebration' is a compilation of radio edits, or mixes from the past greatest hits packages released by Warner Music. If you want the true Madonna experience, I recommend saving your money on this purchase and putting it toward the 2-DVD music video collection that is also newly released. It featured remastered video, remastered music, 47 videos and definitely features more of the hits and lesser known tracks of her career. It's worth the purchase while this on the other hand doesn't really feel like a real 'greatest hits' package and more so a sampling of some of her best.

Listen To These Tracks: 'Revolver' (featuring Lil' Wayne), 'Celebration'

After thinking on this whole "Celebration" thing a day or two I have changed my mind regarding the whole idea of it. My original review is several paragraphs down, so read that if interested. I have come to the conclusion that this whole Celebration thing was a big fat mistake. Madonna was with Warner Bros for well over 25 years. Just think about that folks. That is a looong time to with a label and that is a lot of history, a lot of music and ton of videos. The planning for these releases to me seemed a little rushed and you can definitely tell. This is what I think should have happened:

Comprehensive and COMPLETE singles collection
*ALL of her singles, US and overseas releases,
remastered. Much like the Ultimate Michael
Jackson box set released a few years back,
complete with alternate mixes of the tracks

*Collectible booklet of lyrics to all songs

*She is the most photographed woman in the
world so why not a swanky collectible booklet
of rare and iconic images

Comprehensive and COMPLETE video and live performance collection
*ALL of her videos, US and overseas releases,
beautifully remastered video and sound

*ALL of her concerts: Virgin Tour, Who's That Girl
World Tour, Blond Ambition Tour, The Girlie Show,
Drowned World Tour, Reinvention Tour, Confessions
Tour and finally the fabulous Sticky & Sweet Tour.
Beautifully remastered picture and sound
(I would go as far as saying a Blu-Ray release but
I'd be happy with DVD)

Bonus Discs with behind the scenes concert and video footage
*Making of featurettes with commentary
*Behind the scenes concert footage
*Behind the scenes footage from music videos
*Interviews spanning her entire career

ALL of the above housed in an extremely swanky, limited edition, well-made collector's box, possibly velvet lined. Not some crappy, flimsy cardboard box that falls apart after opening it a few times (think the Royal Box from 1990, but only better), with the understanding that the music and video components could be purchased separately for those who do not wish to own the entire set.

This my friends is what Madonna deserves and it's what the fans deserve as well. It's a crying shame. All we can do is hope for something like this in the future. My advice is to pass on the Celebration CDs and DVDs. I sure wish I would have.


ORIGINAL REVIEW

Now in general I have no real complaints about what was chosen to be included in this collection...except for maybe the exclusion of Oh Father, Deeper and Deeper and Jump. Other than that, this collection is pretty spot on. However I am puzzled by some strange re-editing of some already edited and/or remixed tracks.

Here's what I have noticed:

Lucky Star - strange all over the place edit of what sounds like a slightly remixed version

Like A Virgin - The same mix from IC, which I like, but I just hate the fade at the end. Cuts out the great iconic line "Can't you hear my heart beat for the very first time"

Express Yourself - When I popped disc one into the CD player in my car I skipped straight ahead to Express Yourself just to see what mix was used. When I heard that fantastic intro that was used in the video version I almost wet my pants. Could it be? Did they actually include the fabulous FULL 5 minute Shep Pettibone remix on this collection? Yes.....and no. It is indeed the original Shep mix (not that tweaked, retouched mix from IC) but they have thrown some ODD editing down on this great mix. The middle of the song fugged up by cutting out the bridge that begins just after "oh baby ready or not". It skips ahead a good minute and moves us straight into the final leg of the song. They almost got it right but some shmendrik got busy in the editing room.

Erotica - They were pushing it on Ghv2 by including the radio edit of Erotica on that collection but after a while it kinda grew on me. The Celebration version goes a few steps further and actually ruins the listening experience for me of this song. The original album cut of Erotica is a dark and sexy ride that shouldn't be tampered with. Someone slap the fool that re-edited the already edited version of this song. Blech!!!

Ray Of Light - Another album cut that shouldn't be tampered with. Radio edit???? Whyyyyyy??

4 Minutes - The concept of a radio edit is understandable. I realize that songs need to be trimmed down for radio play. I'll even as far as saying that some songs benefit from being edited and actually sound better. 4 Minutes is not one of them. And there was a reason for the album version being actually 4 minutes long. This radio edit is a mere 3 minutes long. Thanks for ruining the concept!!

Borderline - While this version is almost the original video remix from back in the day it has a few added effects that kind of annoy me. This sounds a lot like the IC version but there are some subtle differences in the mix. I didn't like the IC version either. How hard would it have been to remaster the original video remix? Side note: Borderline is a perfect example of a song that I feel benefited from being edited down and remixed from it's lengthy album version. One of very few.

When comes to Madonna music I am very big on retaining and preserving the original "memory" or moment of a song. I remember being first introduced to the Express Yourself video and the fantastic Shep mix that was used. I was completely mesmerized. I remember buying cassette tape of Like A Prayer and being dissappointed that the album version was totally different. That moment was when my passion for cd maxi singles and dj singles was born. All in an effort to recapture an original moment. So, when record companies are putting together collections like this I really do not believe they have the fans' interest at heart. They're just concerned with how much they can cram onto one disc by completely defiling the true nature and form of a particular song (kind of like the HORRIBLE video compression on the Celebration DVD collection).

This CD is great to just pop in and listen to around the house but if you're a die hard fan or on the more serious side and love to immerse yourself in Madonna music, stick to making your own mp3 collections and pass on this.

Length:: 2:08 Mins

finally, a 2-cd set from the queen of pop madonna. when she released "the immaculate collection" in 1990, there were some notable omissions. the same thing happened with the release of "ghv2" in 2001.now, as her last hurrah from warner bros, "celebration" is released this 2009. i will review the collection track-by-track. i honestly believe i can give an objective review having collected all her cds and cd singles from her career.

disc one
1. hung up [album edit] (2005) - lead single from "confessions" and was a certified inetrnational blockbuster, this track opens the collection. it would have been better if what was included was a single version, saving minutes of time. diehard or casual fans would be happy already with the single edit.

2. music [album version] (2001) - the single/album version from the 2000 album. in this collection, the track sounded louder, exposing the "pops" and "blips" which were inaudible before.

3. vogue [1990 remix edit] (1990) - the version from "immaculate" but without the q sound mix. longer and more majestic than the original album version of "im breathless," its inclusion in this 2-cd set further solidifies madonna's stand as the queen of pop.

4. 4 minutes [single version] (2008)- lasted only 3 minutes! but this single version will become rare in the years to come. the original album version from "hard candy" is the full version, but this edit is a welcome refresher/collectible to diehard madonna fans.

5. holiday [album version] (1983)- the full album version fans have since 1983. it would have been great if the single version (original or the 1990 single mix) had been inlcuded as the song will not sound repetitive and will leave the fans begging for more. "holiday" sounds louder but not better as compared to the 2001 remastered "madonna" album.

6. everybody [2009 single edit] (1982) - here is a sample of a good single edit. since the album version clocked at 4.57 (in 1983) and the remix/full version is 5:59, this version is a welcome reminder that good tracks need good single versions!

7. like a virgin [1990 remix edit] (1984) - this is where i disagree. the single version (at 3.35) is the iconic madonna single. that version should have been here instead of this version.

8. into the groove [single version] (1985) - finally, after 24 years, "into the groove" the original version now belongs to an album, and that is "celebration." this 1985 dance anthem has been nowhere during its release (b-side to angel; remix was in 'you can dance'; remix 1990 was in IC; a different version was in "remixed and revisited]. finally, this 1985 version comes home. regarding its sound quality, i remember my vinyl sounding much, much better.

9. like a prayer [album version] (1989) - i dont know why fans trash the remix edit done by shep pettibone in 1989. during its time, it was sort of the "definitive" version of "like a prayer" because of its smooth, frothier groove. but this is the album version. louder, crispier and much better than the original album. it's about time wb remaster "like a prayer" along with other madonna albums.

10. ray of light [album edit] (1998) - the full album version is always better. the short version truncated important part of the song, including madonna's vocals!

11. sorry [single version] (2005) - in this case, the single, unsegued version is better. the short version is included in the cd remixes.

12. express yourself [1989 remix edit] (1989) - another welcome development. this version is far better than the IC version. this is the single edit of the original 12" remix by shep pettibone.

13.open your heart [1990 remix edit] (1987) - this is the IC version without the q sound. the "true blue" full album version definitely sounds better.

14. borderline [1984 remix edit] (1984) - this is the remix edit. this is not the IC version as some had presumed. listen carefully to the intro. there was this loud drum beat, which only exists in the 1984 12-inch remix. "borderline" here sounds better than the original 1983 production by reggie lucas.

15. secret [album edit] (1994) - this is the single edit of the album version. they could have included the single remix version for a change.

16. erotica [album edit] (1992) - the sound quality here is better, but could have been great if they included the full album version. some madonna songs are better left unedited, while some need to be trimmed. in erotica's case, the full version is better.

17. justify my love [album version] (1991) - the IC vesion without the q sound. louder, better!

18. revolver [new track] (2009) - i like this new song. it has madonna touches but there is something weirdly beautiful about this. definitely a winner!

disc two
1. dress you up [album edit] (1985) - this is the edited album version. some thought this was the remix single. nope. they just removed a few bars in the intro, but this is definitely the album version.

2. material girl [album version] (1985) - the remix edit included in the IC is a much better version. wished that was the one they included. in material girl's case, it didnt sound better. it has the same "bland" sonic quality.

3. la isla bonita [album version] (1986) - one of madonna's early latin hits but there could have been room for other hits.

4. papa don't preach [album version] (1986) - i'm glad they included the album version. it is the definitive version of the song. this track sounds louder, better and crispier.

5. lucky star [1984 remix edit] (1984) - i dont know but this version is much better than the album version, the IC version or the remix version! there is soemthing raw and fierce in this track. is it the guitars? is it madonna's vocals? whatever it is, this track is different from all the albums it came from. listen carefully.

6. burning up [album version] (1983) - its inclusion is essential, but would have appreciated it more if they placed the rare alternate album version (the one that clocked at 4:48)

7. crazy for you [1990 remix edit] (1985) - this track has already appeared in other compilations. however, this version is the 1990 remix edit as heard in IC but without the q sound.

8. who's that girl [album version] (1987) - the album version, but this time louder, better and crispier. the remastering brought out the beauty of this underrated gem. it's time warner bros remastered the original soundtrack of "who's that girl."

9. frozen [album version] (1998) - the remastering brought out some sounds you wont hear in the "ray of light" album or "ghv2." this track is definitely better in its full version. screw the edited single version included in ghv2! it's a good thing they included the full 6:12 version of the song.

10. miles away [single version] (2009) - i'm glad they included the edited version of this track. the editing removed the drum-heavy ending of the song, thus, making "miles away" really more of ballad that it is.

11. take a bow [album version] (2005) - nothing different. it's the album version. wish they edited this to make it more powerful.

12. live to tell [album version] (1986) - since this track has appeared in various albums and compilations, it would have been better if they finally release the rare "single version."

13. beautiful stranger [single version] (1999) - this also appeared in "ghv2".

14. hollywood [album edit] (2003) - from "american life." this track is fine. i dunno where some got the idea that it included the last part of "american life." part of a sabotage move of other fans?

15. die another day [full version] (2002) - the glorious full abum version. like i said, some madonna songs need to appear in full, while some need to be trimmed to amke it better. in this case, running at 4:32, "die another day" is crispier and fiercer in all its full version glory.

16. dont tell me [album edit] (2001) - one of the better tracks in "music." this version is the single edit and it's better they trimmed the outro.

17. cherish [original album edit] (1990) - this is not the IC version. this is the original album edit. this is a nice prelude to "celebration."

18. celebration [new track] (2009) - the sure hit, the title track. this song closes madonna's 2-cd set. it is good, but not yet great. its greatness will still be measured in the years to come. this track summarizes madonna's career at warner, and definitely belongs as one of her best!

the remastering is similar to the remastering of her first three albums but louder and crispier. some noticed the wrong production notes uin the sleeve. there were also few pictures as compared to GHV2. there were no liner notes whatsoever. but the cd design is cool.

looking back at her illustrious career, it's easy to see that a 2-cd set will not be able to contain some of her greatest tracks. a boxed set will perhaps justify the relevance of her career. but like the liner notes in IC, these songs are just the tip of the iceberg. and with her transfer to Live Nation, let's all hope that the best is yet to come for madonna!

It's easy to forget just how many hits Madonna has produced through the years. This is a great compilation of a lot of the faster dance tunes she's done. Her music is perfect to drive to, workout to - or just reminisce to, because each song brings with it a good memory.

Madonna RULES!

"Celebration" is Madonna's gift to her longtime listeners, just as much as it's a personal gift for herself. It truly is Madonna's most representative and comprehensive greatest hits set. It is surprising that a star of Madonna's magnitude has only had 2 other greatest hits CDs ("The Immaculate Collection" and later, "GHV2.") In addition to her greatest hits CDs, Madonna also has 3 other compilation albums, "Remixed & Revisted," "Something to Remember," and "You Can Dance" which was the very first full-length remix album of its kind. Perhaps the reason why Madonna rarely, if ever, likes to dwell on the past or repeat herself is because she is too busy living in the present and creating.

Released simultaneously around the world is Madonna's brand-new greatest hits, "Celebration." This includes a 2-CD set, in addition to an 18-track CD, and a 2-DVD set. In addition to the full-length CDs and DVDs, there are also a slew of Celebration CD singles put out in both the US and abroad. And, although a limited edition CD has not been pressed for the North American market, a special edition Taiwanese CD which comes with a 40-page booklet and a poster with a specially made notebook as well as a Japanese CD and a special CD for North Korea are currently available. I have been told that since Madonna is very busy with lots of other projects she will not be doing any promotion for "Celebration," so I am sure that Warner Bros. Records will also be putting out lots of promo-only items to help push this to the top of the charts.

All tracks have been digitally remastered specifically for this set and sound better than ever. It's almost like Madonna is giving a special concert for her fans right in their own living rooms. She's never sounded richer or stronger or deeper. This is why Madonna is the Queen of Pop.

Here are all the tracks included on "Celebration"

CD#1
from the '05 album Confessions on a Dance Floor
1) Hung Up / peaked at #7
This was Madonna's song that "went back to her roots." After perhaps one of the most personal records of her entire profession (2003's "American Life") Madonna made a firm effort not to get political or serious on her songs ever again. "Hung Up" is a fast and catchy track that you will love because Madonna sounds spirited and her lyrics match her pitch.

from the '00 album Music
2) Music / peaked at #1
"Music" was Madonna's first #1 song in years and years and this also marked another important milestone for the Material Girl as it became another one of her signature anthems. On this track Madonna shakes it real funky and shakes it really low.

from the '90 album I'm Breathless
3) Vogue / peaked at #1
Even with the Holy Messiah of Gay Icons (sorry Barbra Streisand fans) the dance never caught on. Instead, the song and the video for "Vogue" were literally played every hour and every day on MTV and top-50 stations coast-to-coast, making it one of the most successful singles ever.

from the '08 album Hard Candy
4) 4 Minutes / peaked at #3
This includes a great duet with Madonna's collaborator and friend Justin Timberlake. I love this song because even though it's a new(er) track Madonna still sounds fresh and exciting and over-the-top.

from the '83 album Madonna
5) Holiday / peaked at #16
"Holiday" is just one more of Madonna's trademark hits that she's most likely to sing because the lyrics both reflect her feelings and mirror the benchmark message of her music through the years.

from the '83 album Madonna
6) Everybody / did not position
Madonna's very first single after being signed as a solo performer to Warner Bros. Records' Sire Records was released in late '82. The song never did well on the charts, but Madonna's fans have never forsaken it.

from the '84 album Like a Virgin
7) Like a Virgin / peaked at #1
Madonna has re-invented this song nearly as much as she's re-invented herself. In the mid `80s she sang it like a true pop princess with her wedding dress on. During "The Girlie Show" she performed her first #1 hit as a drag-king in tribute to the great Marlene Dietrich. And during a special concert that she gave in '03 she sang it a capella, missing some lyrics; claiming that she had forgotten them.

from the b-side of the '85 single Angel
8) Into the Groove / peaked at #1 (UK)
In the US "Into the Groove" was only known as an obscure b-side to "Angel." However with the release of "The Madonna Movie," (otherwise known as "Desperately Seeking Susan") it became a huge club sensation. It's another crazy-moving track that's all about dancing and shaking your booty to the beat.

from the '89 album Like a Prayer
9) Like a Prayer / peaked at #1
Madonna stops bleaching her hair long enough to get serious as she sings about burning crosses, Black Jesuses and S-E-X on an alter! The song is very subdued. But more than that, "Like a Prayer" is a very beautiful track that really cemented Madonna's place in pop culture. It was also Madonna's very first CD single and Warner Bros. pulled out all the stops for it. If you own the original 3" US single hold on to it!

from the '98 album Ray of Light
10) Ray of Light / peaked at #5
As the world was crossing the threshold into the `00s Madonna wrote about a "day in the life of the world." Such a fast-moving track and so beautiful and easy to listen to.

from the '05 album Confessions on a Dance Floor
11) Sorry / peaked at #58
Even with nearly zero radio play, "Sorry" became an instant party hit because Madonna showcased an entirely new sound this time around. She sounded young and fresh, but she was also bold and confident and her lyrics were in a variety of fun-sounding languages.

from the '89 album Like a Prayer
12) Express Yourself / peaked at #2
"Come on girls, do you believe in love? Because I got something to say about it..." IMO this is probably Madonna's definitive signature anthem. It is the ultimate party hit. And when I listen to it I am fondly reminded of Madonna coming down on the go-go ball during "The Girlie Show." I adore this song because it sounds fantastic and has such a great message.

from the '86 album True Blue
13) Open Your Heart / peaked at #1
I looooooooove "Open Your Heart." The song was written at a time when Madonna was happily married so it's difficult to tell who she was talking to or about, but that doesn't matter. It's a song about a woman trying to get her boyfriend to listen to her and open up.

from the '83 album Madonna
14) Borderline / peaked at #10
"Borderline" became Madonna's very first track that broke into the top-10. It almost reminds me of "Like a Virgin" but has somewhat of a somber and slower quality to it.

from the '94 album Bedtime Stories
15) Secret / peaked at #3
It's no wonder that with a blend of both dance and R&B New York's Hot-97 often played "Secret" in heavy rotation. This was also a fine track to bridge the gap between Madonna's prior sound and more current material, making it the lead single off of "Bedtime Stories."

from the '92 album Erotica
16) Erotica / peaked at #3
I know for a fact that Madonna was very disappointed that this song did not go to #1 because she put so much energy and effort into her entire "Erotica" persona. The song is beautiful and one of my personal favorites because Madonna whispers frankly about many things that were rarely heard of on the radio beforehand.

from the '90 album The Immaculate Collection
17) Justify My Love / peaked at #1
"Justify My Love" is similar to "Erotica," but it also has its own identity firmly rooted in dance and R&B. For its time the song was considered very risqué. And if you have the maxi-single there are also a slew of other great tracks, such as the "Beast within Mix" which also received heavy rotation on the airwaves.

new track for this album:
18) Revolver / not released
This is Madonna's newest track, produced specifically to cap off this CD. "Revolver" is a fantastic pop track that was produced by both Lil Wayne and Madonna, and is the perfect compliment to this collection.

CD#2
from the '85 album Like a Virgin
1) Dress You Up / peaked at #3
"Dress You Up" is total in-your-face pop. In this very danceable track Madonna sings about "dressing up" her boyfriend with her love.

from the '85 album Like a Virgin
2) Material Girl / peaked at #2
Another one of Madonna's signature hits; although she has rarely sang it over the years. The song is about excess but Madonna claimed that "no one got it." Instead like that proverbial scarlet letter, she will forever be branded the Material Girl.

from the '86 album True Blue
3) La Isla Bonita / peaked at #2
Madonna's very first track to mix both English and Spanish is a lovely song that everyone will relish. It also became Madonna's very first #1 song in France. "La Isla Bonita" is a super-sensitive and sexy dance-track.

from the '86 album True Blue
4) Papa Don't Preach / peaked at #1
At the time of this songs release it was played constantly on radio stations and the video was in extremely heavy rotation. This time Madonna mixes controversy and pop to lend a great message to "Papa Don't Preach."

from the '83 album Madonna
5) Lucky Star / peaked at #4
"Lucky Star" became Madonna's very first top-5 hit. There's no real rhyme or reason to the lyrics; instead Madonna just sings about her "lucky star." But does that matter?

from the '83 album Madonna
6) Burning Up / did not position
"Burning Up" is Madonna's second single. It's a high-tempo song that moves quickly and perhaps not surprisingly has a strong message about what a girl will do to win her man's affection.

from the '85 album Vision Quest
7) Crazy for You / peaked at #1
"Crazy for You" became Madonna's very first #1 ballad. It's sexy, slow and somewhat of a glum-sounding hit. But it's also the type of song you want to listen to with someone you love close by. Perhaps it's no coincidence that "Crazy for You" is often played at weddings and commitment ceremonies.

from the '87 album Who's That Girl
8) Who's That Girl / peaked at #1
"Quien es esa niña..." I am so excited that "Who's That Girl" is included because it deserves to have a place on this record just as much as all of the other tracks. If you're a longtime fan I don't need to tell you how much Madonna despises this song and has refused to perform it at any of her concerts since her first world tour. "Who's That Girl" has been described as a "La Isla Bonita" knockoff or a "throwaway" track from "True Blue." But I personally love it because it's pure popular dance with a little bit of Spanglish thrown in for good measure.

from the '98 album Ray of Light
9) Frozen / peaked at #2
"Frozen" was Madonna's first single since training for EVITA and boy could we see a difference. She once said that this was her best song to reintroduce herself on her first studio record in over 3 years and I agree. Yes it's a slow-moving song, but that doesn't make any difference because Madonna's voice is so beautiful.

from the '08 album Hard Candy
10) Miles Away / did not position
This is a song that Madonna wrote about the discontent in her second marriage (although not nearly as dramatic as "Till Death Do Us Part" about her first marriage to Sean). Perhaps because it came out while she was on tour (and thus received limited support) the song did not do very well. However, fans fell in love with it.

from the '94 album Bedtime Stories
11) Take a Bow / peaked at #1
"Take a Bow" was produced by Madonna and Kenny Edmonds, becoming Madonna's most successful single ever, staying on the charts longer than any of her other songs. It's a lavish and slow track that includes a nice tempo.

from the '86 album True Blue
12) Live to Tell / peaked at #1
"A man can tell a thousand lies, I've learned my lesson well..." One of my very favorite Madonna songs, ever. I could write 10 pages just about "Live to Tell." It's such a moving and touching track. Although the song was included in the movie "At Close Range," Madonna chose to release this ballad as the lead single for "True Blue." During "The Blond Ambition Tour" Madonna performed "Live to Tell" side-by-side with "Oh Father" (another one of my favorites) but has rarely sang it over the years since.

from the '99 album Austin Powers
13) Beautiful Stranger / peaked at #19
This is a frenzied and fast-moving track. It's almost harkens back to the `70s, but with its electronica beat "Beautiful Stranger" has its roots firmly planted in the `90s.

from the '03 album American Life
14) Hollywood / did not position
Perhaps because of the public backlash of "American Life," "Hollywood" did very poorly commercially. However, this was again a time that Madonna's legion of fans supported her. We did not forget this song and we stood firmly by Madonna because she never abandoned us when we needed her.

from the '02 album Die Another Day
15) Die Another Day / peaked at #8
Such a dramatic and almost violent song. It even has a sexy quality to it. "Die Another Day" is the type of song that will get into your mind long after the MP3 has stopped.

from the '00 album Music
16) Don't Tell Me / peaked at #4
As a huge country music fan I love this song. "Don't Tell Me" is a pop-fabulous track that mixes country and dance. It was written by Madonna and her brother-in-low, Joe Henry.

from the '89 album Like a Prayer
17) Cherish / peaked at #2
This' such a sweet and happy song that will bring a smile to anyone's face and warm your heart, too. Like Madonna has done for the past quarter of a century, "Cherish" is a reminder to be kind to others and to show compassion and love to your fellow (wo)man.

new track for this album:
18) Celebration / still positioning
This is the perfect song to launch Madonna's greatest hits collection. It's a memorable track because Madonna gives it her all. She sounds like she did 27 years ago: bold, fresh, exciting, sexy and very ambitious!

With a star of Madonna's caliber it could not have been an easy task to pick out which songs to include on "Celebration." She has more hits and more top-10 singles than any performer and is the most successful female pop star in the entire history of the UK charts. So perhaps it's no coincidence that several of Madonna's chart toppers are noticeably absent. In my humble opinion, these tracks deserve an honorable mention: Angel (1985) / peaked at #5, Gambler (1985) / peaked at #4 in the UK, True Blue (1986) / peaked at #3, Love Makes the World Go Round (1986) / was not a commercial single, Causing a Commotion (1987) / peaked at #2, The Look of Love (1987) / peaked at #7 in the UK, Spotlight (1988) / peaked at #32 in Japan, Oh Father (1989) / peaked at #20, Keep it Together (1990) / peaked at #8, Hanky Panky (1990) / peaked at #10, Rescue Me (1991) / peaked at #9, This Used to Be My Playground (1992) / peaked at #1, Deeper and Deeper (1992) / peaked at #7, Bad Girl (1993) / peaked at #36, Fever (1993) / peaked at #6 in the UK, Rain (1993) / peaked at #11, I'll Remember (1994) / peaked at #2, Human Nature (1995) / peaked at #46, You'll See (1995) / peaked at #6, Don't Cry for Me Argentina (1997) / peaked at #7, Shanti/Ashtangi (1998) / was not a commercial single, Nothing Really Matters (1999) / peaked at #93, American Pie (2000) / peaked at #1 in the UK, American Life (2003) / peaked at #37, Nobody Knows Me (2003) / was not a commercial single and Isaac (2005) / was not a commercial single.

We've seen her left leg and her right leg and everything else. But what matters most is the art that is her music. For 3 decades, like a lioness holding onto her prey Madonna has been entertaining the world with her number one hits, eye-popping concerts, performances and music-videos. Just because she's a mother, a divorcee and a half a centurion doesn't mean this multi-platinum blonde has any plans to stop dancing "into the groove" anytime soon.

The universal message on all of Madonna's music is that dreams do come true. You can do whatever you choose if you work hard and set your mind to it. From the most serious ("Like a Prayer" and "Live to Tell") to the most ambitious ("Open Your Heart" and "Express Yourself") to the most sweet and silly ("Lucky Star" and "Cherish") Madonna's lyrics are both inspirational and life-affirming. Madonna was the voice for an entire generation. As a fan for the past 30 years I can only give Madonna my deepest gratitude and respect for bringing so much happiness and entertainment and joy to the world. Remember, you are what you listen to.

I was never a big Madonna fan and for years I believed she only got by because she was over the top with her ''sexy'' image but now I see the light (lol). Best Buy was selling this double disc album for 13.99 so I decided since it was so cheap to buy it and I'm more than happy I did. The only thing I hate is that the songs are not in order and she has way too many new songs on each disc. Songs like ''Hung Up'', ''Sorry'', and ''Die Another Day'' should have been left off.

Also It sucks that ''Power of Goodbye'' is left off as well. That is one of her best songs and I had no idea for years it was sung by her. Overall, this Greatest Hits collection is one of the best I've heard in years. I listen to her classics ''Like A Prayer'', ''Into The Groove'', ''Material Girl'', ''Dress You Up'' and ''Miles Away'' very often. I can't believe here I'am, damn near 30 and just now discovering Madonna. Crazy

As a diehard Madonna fan, this is a must have. I would have preferred some other songs, but you can never please everybody. My only complaint is the way the songs are put on the album. Sometimes the sequencing of the songs doesn't make sense. I bought the Tears for Fears The Ultimate Collection three-disk set, and the placement of all the songs was perfect and well thought out. That doesn't seem to be the case sometimes with this two-disk set. And, truthfully, this should have been a three-disk set. She just has such a huge body of work, and too many great songs were left off. But still, all in all, very enjoyable compilation.

WELL WHEN I BOUGHT THE CD I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE GREAT BUT WHEN I STARTED PLAYING IT,IT WAS SO AWESOME.THE WAY THE SONGS ARE ARRANGED ARE SO PERFECT GETS U ON YOUR FEET DANCING NON STOP.I KNOW DEFINATELY XMAS GOING TO BE THE BEST ONE WE'VE HAD COST THIS CD GOING TO ROCK IT.THANKS