Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Back to a bygone age, May 16, 2004
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.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Has Madonna ever sounded better than on this album?, January 27, 2000
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.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
BUY THIS AMAZING CD, July 16, 2000
"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.
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by Madonna 
