Customer Reviews

I'm Breathless: Music From and Inspired by the film Dick Tracy

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

For this album, Madonna goes back in time to a completely different musical age - the 1940's, when pop music was very different, although the 1940's style is obscured somewhat by a 1990's production. This is a light-hearted album, more in keeping with (though very different from) the song-and-dance music that Betty Grable did than the pop music of Dinah Shore or Jo Stafford. Some songs are covers of songs from that period but most are original songs written in the style of the time, even including some novelty songs that you either love or hate. Madonna's big hit of the time, Vogue, was added to the album to help sales but it doesn't really blend in.

Stephen Sondheim composed three of the songs, these being Sooner or later, More and What can you lose - a duet with Mandy Patinkin. Madonna's performances on these songs are impressive. Of Madonna's own songs, Hanky panky and Vogue were huge hits but the outstanding song is Something to remember, which later became the title track of a compilation of her ballads. He's a man and Back in business are also wonderful. I also enjoyed Cry baby but I can imagine that some people will not like this at all. Madonna did not write the two other original songs - I'm going bananas (a slightly silly but entertaining novelty song) and Now I'm following you parts 1 and 2 (a lot of fun but definitely not a novelty).

I had to play this album a few times before I really appreciated it, but I liked it more with each listen. Although this album is just for fun, Madonna's covers of the Sondheim songs suggest that she could record a serious jazz album if she ever wants to.

This is not like any of Madonna's other albums so some of her fans may not like it. At the same time, I'm not sure that it will win her any new fans. Nevertheless, this is a fascinating album that proves just how versatile Madonna really is.

I agree with most of the other reviews. This album is one of Madonna's most underated and overlooked, yet it's probably her best(along with "Like A Prayer"). Her voice sounds absolutely incredible on tracks like "More", "What Can You Lose" and "Sooner Or Later", and she displays her unmatched versatility by reminding us of her "helium-voiced" past with the fun tracks "I'm Going Bananas" and "Cry Baby". But really, check out "More" to hear an incredibly impressive vocal from Madonna. She sings this one flawlessly, and it's a tough song to sing! There isn't one bad song on this album, every single track is a gem. Also impressive is the way "Vogue" is seemlessly appended to the album, by immediatley following the dance track, "Now I'm Following You Part II". I don't think I need tell anyone how great "Vogue" is, do I?

To sum up, buy "I'm Breathless" if you want to hear Madonna's finest vocal moment(Yes, even more impressive than her "Evita" vocals in my opinion), and some very, very classy songs.

"I'm Breathless" is the most experimental album Madonna has ever made. Then again, Madonna is all about reinventing herself and taking risks (unlike some of her contemporary female rivals who churn out the same formula over and over). This album is also her most underrated. Which is a shame because this album is absolutely amazing. The 40's themed songs and the Cuban-Flavored "I'm Going Bananas" are great, catchy, and theatrical. The songs also adds to and reveals information as to who Breathless Mahoney is (Madonna's character in DICK TRACY). Hence, the reason why this album is called "I'm Breathless". The album gives us a musical biography of this exciting character's life. Madonna does very well with all the songs...and she successfully rises up to the challenge of singing THREE songs by one of the most BRILLIANT Broadway composers of the 20th Century, STEPHEN SONDHEIM. Again, let's see her contempories take up a challenge like that. And, to top herself, Madonna ends the album with "Vogue". Surprisingly, "Vogue" fits in nicely in this 40's sounding album. In conclusion, this album, along with "Ray of Light", "Erotica", and "Like a Prayer", is a must-have for Madonna fans and people who want to hear what "creative experimentation" and "pushing the boundaries of your artistry" sounds like.

Lost among the hype and drama behind the "Dick Tracy" film, the tabloid fodder of the Warren Beatty affair, and Madonna's own self-generated hoopla, is this pretty terrific record.

"I'm Breathless" incorporates songs from the film as well as pastiches and novelties she created based on her "character" of Breathless Mahoney.

The thing you will notice first is a definite maturation of Madonna's singing ability. She had clearly been taking lessons, and she hits notes here with a stability and clarity she never managed before. In the album's opener, "He's A Man", it is clear she's trying to do something a bit different than what we have come to expect from Miss Ciccone.

With "Sooner or Later", she for the most part pulls off a great Broadway-like ballad (there are one or two wobbly notes). Having somebody like Stephen Sondheim helps out with some songs only hedges her bets at making a successful attempt in this arena.

Just so you remember who we're dealing with here, she follows up with "Hanky Panky", a bouncy, sassy, naughty barrel roll of a song...this would have NO place on any other Madonna record, buts fits just fine here.

The same goes for "I'm Going Bananas" and "Cry Baby." The former, a silly romp with exquisite Latin instruments and beats (although sung in an accent as if she's impersonating her housekeeper), the latter a Betty Boop retro piece with all the substance of whipped cream.

"Something To Remember" gives us a radio-friendly slow song, which actually sounds out of place on THIS record, but would probably be a highlight of any of her other subsequent ones.

"Back in Business" is an uptempo, show-bizzy, Broadway-ish lark.

"More" is a spectacular twist on Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm"...fans of Tin Pan Alley and Broadway shows will eat this one up.

"What Can You Lose" is a slow, minimalist duet with Mandy Patinkin. I'm a big Patinkin fan, so I'm biased, and she manages NOT to get blown out of the water here, so that's saying something.

"Now I'm Following You", parts 1 & 2...is a strange little creation. First of all, there's Warren Beatty "singing." It's kinda weird, but not totally awful. Then there's the tempo shift halfway through, which turns an old-fashioned ballad into a scratchy, hip-hop-ish dance song. Again, weird, but not totally awful. I actually like it, in the same way I like cherry Slurpees at 7-11. I probably shouldn't like 'em, but if I'm being honest, I really do.

And then there's "Vogue", a masterful dance track, a killer single. Paired with an iconic video and popularizing a club trend of the time, it arrived at a perfect time to be another monster hit...yet it's appearance here is strictly as an added track. It could have been on ANY Madonna record, but the majority of the rest of these songs could ONLY have been on "I'm Breathless".

This CD desperately needs remastering...but it still sounds as good as CDs from that era could possibly be, which is pretty darn fine.

A personal favorite of mine...but then again, there's the whole cherry Slurpee thing.

I'm a huge fan of Madonna's - always have been, always will be. But that doesn't mean that I'm not critical of her music or that I like everything she does. But 'I'm Breathless' is one of her most whimsical, charming albums ever, and I think it shows what a lot of us know - but many don't - that Madonna is a talented singer/song writer who has a pretty wide range of capabilities.

As songs 'from' and 'inspired by' Dick Tracy, this album is full of music from another era, one that happily suits Madonna's voice and sense of humor. Some of the music is plain silly, some is sexy, but it's all good, and among the slower numbers are a bunch of real toe-tappers - not typical Madonna dance music (although Vogue is on the CD), mind you. Steven Sondheim wrote several of the songs, including the marvelous 'Sooner or Later,' and his music blends in well with Madonna's, making it really cohesive despite the normally very different styles of the songwriters.

All in all, this is a terribly fun CD, and one that's full of good, catchy songs. Who would have thought that the Material Girl, who epitomized the '80s and '90s, could transport you back to the '40s? This album is really for anyone - for people who love Madonna, for people who love this type of music or for people who just want a fun, different kind of album to that will entertain them. Buy it!

Sorry, I'm such a clutz! I appear to have submitted an I'm Bratehless Review twice. Obviously I'm trying to emphasize how wonderful this CD is! Please see my review of this album below. ( 3rd March 2004)

Madonna surprised me when she released this album after "Like a Prayer". This sound was so different from her previous material. It became my favorite right away. I like her voice against live instruments (the piano, drums, trumpets, sax, strings, ect). She sings the swing-jazzy tunes so naturally. The songs are very witty and entertaining. She really is like Breathless Mahoney (the character from "Dick Tracy" she played) - a jazz club singer from the 30s. There is a wide variety of songs on this CD - swing, jazz, ballads, broadway and even Cuban-flavored "I'm going bananas." And as a bonus (and a total climate change) she included the mega hit "Vogue" which brings you back to the 90s (and throws you off a little). I guess she wanted to remind us that it is still a Madonna album. A great record to have!

Just a different from the norm yet truly enjoyable compilation of electic, vintage-type tunes like ONLY The Material Girl can do justice. Had let this true gem of a CD almost slip through my Madonna Registry-of-sorts but, thankfully, though, I didn't and can now say that I own ALL Things 'MUSICAL' Madonna.

She is the ONE artist that can truly brighten my day just by the sound of her voice. Some artists grab you the first time you hear them which is exactly what happened when I heard my First Madonna song. Since hearing 'Holiday' in the early 1980's while working in my Parent's Front yard as a kid, I have been totally & unequivocably, 100% completely hooked.

I never thought that Madonna could sing as a serious singer. I always considered her mostly a great Pop showwoman.

But in fact, Madonna SINGS in this album. And SINGS OUT LOUD!

Just sit down, relax, and go through these songs: "He's A Man", "Hanky Panky" (what a Boogie!!!! Great song!!!!), the funny "I'm Going Bananas", and of course "Vogue". You can also try with "Now I'm Following You (part 1)", but the overlooped sounds may distract you from listening her WONDERFUL voice.

I became surprised to listen to this album for the first time. In an unspecified moment, somebody got it 'borrowed' from my precious personal CD collection (and never brought it back!). Luckily, I got it again for a 'super-sale' price (on a German edition, with outstanding sound quality even when originally it's an 'AAD' recording).

Now, it's one of my favorite albums!! Hope it will be yours too!!!!

I looked for this particular cd for a while before finding a new copy of it, quick, efficient, in great condition. would buy from this person again...