Italians Do It Better’s latest various artists compilation celebrates the queen of pop
Image courtesy Italians Do It Better
Amidst news that popular synthpop outfit The Chromatics were breaking up, it was glaringly obvious that Jonny Jewel was missing in action. The American record producer and founder of the Italians Do It Better label seemed to be preoccupied with Madonna, at least by virtue of the label’s latest various artists compilation. After all, the label owes its name to one of Madonna’s iconic fashion choices. Italians Do It Better brings together nineteen artists across ten countries to celebrate the music of Madonna. The concept behind the compilation is charming. A tribute and birthday present to the American-Italian queen of pop herself, the album sees these artists cover a wealth of tracks from Madonna’s extensive discography by way of Italians Do It Better’s signature Italo disco, post-punk, and retro synthpop style. The results are surprisingly inspired, incredibly realised re-imaginings of some of Madge’s greatest hits in the vein of Hung Up and the odd deep cut, namely MDNA’s I’m Addicted and Gang Bang. It seems surprising that her catalogue has remained untouched in this regard four decades into her career, and Italians Do It Better’s re-workings highlight the core of Madonna’s longevity: unbelievably good pop writing.
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To this effect, just about every cover on the compilation sounds like a refreshingly new take on a classic, but hinges on the DNA of its source material. Lou Rebecca slows down Burning Up to a sensual simmer, but the unmistakable cadence of the chorus melody can’t help but impart the urgency of the original just a touch. Jorla Chalmers transcribes the scuzzy spoken word of Justify My Love into retro-goth synthpop, adding flourishes of melody and a lo-fi saxophone outro that keys in on the track’s inherent sleaziness. Love Object probably fairs best at a complete revamp, turning the pensive spirituality of Frozen and stripping it of its intoned chanting, choosing instead to deliver Madonna’s lyrics in staccato robotic speak-rapping. A mechanical trip-hop beat stutters beneath, and waves of ominous synth accent the alienated gloom of the track. MOTHERMARY’s Like A Prayer takes the track from the church to a smoky 80’s discotheque, to enchanting effect. Dlina Volny conjures the spirit of Bronski Beat for her forlorn darkwave take on Hollywood, finding the dark glamour in Madonna’s lyrics. The compilation’s brightest moment comes from In Mirror’s version of Addicted, a throbbing techno electronic-rock cover that eschews the track’s original melody for kinky spoken word.
At twenty tracks, there is a ton of ground covered by the compilation. But that’s the beauty of an Italo disco album covering music by an Italian-American pop icon made by Italian musicians. It’s bizarrely excessive and completely subversive, a welcome injection of surreal absurdity back into Madonna’s (M)DNA. It’s a celebration of Madonna’s impact on the landscape of music and pop culture, an unexpectedly good collection of reminders of the queen of pop’s lasting effect on dance music.
Listen below.
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