Madonna still rules the world (and we have her Confessions)

More than twenty years ago, on his TV show American Bandstand, Dick Clark asked a very young Madonna what she wanted to do when she grew up. Her response was a confident and determined, "I want to rule the world!" The girl was not kidding! She has done exactly that throughout her long career. Unquestionably the most significant female artist of our time, she is in a league of her own. And without a doubt, Madonna's reign is stronger than ever.

The only woman in the world who single-handedly pushed people's buttons and altered pop culture, she has given her fans what they have always longed for. Her newest musical endeavor, sees us through Madonna's return to her dance diva roots, to the place where she clearly belongs...the dancefloor! Confessions on a Dancefloor takes us back to a time of carefree fun, over-the-top fashion and lots of excesses. Madonna, an uncompromising artist who has never failed to deliver her goods fresh and new, brings to us an explosion of dizzying layers of disco sounds in her latest masterpiece. It is clearly designed for maximum volume. Gone are Madonna's political views asserted in American Life, the preciseness of Music and her musings about the downside to fame in Ray of Light, much to the delight of those who don't look to their favorite pop stars for political correctness or spiritual guidance. This time around, for Madge, it's all about having fun and lots of it-nothing more, nothing less.

Her collaboration with the French DJ, Stuart Pryce of Les Rhythmes Digitales, proves to be very effective in bringing to life Madonna's vision of how she intended the new record to sound. Although she samples songs by other artists like ABBA & Donna Summer, Madonna solidly maintains her artistic integrity and unique musical style in this album. Like a DJ set, the tracks are arranged continuously, with one song playing into the next without stopping. A non-stop, all-dance, tour de force, Confessions On A Dancefloor is definitely a party CD destined to become yet another Madonna classic and an absolute must-have for her fans, old and new.

Hung Up: The lead track which heavily samples ABBA's Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) sets the mood for the entire CD. As of press time, Hung Up has reached the #1 spot on Billboard's Top 100 Singles chart in the UK, making it her 11th #1 single in that country.

Get Together: Madonna's signature vocals shine in this 'trancy' song. It's a very catchy track that you'll want to dance to from start to finish.

Sorry: My favorite song on the CD. This track must be released as a single after Hung Up. This is the best song on the album. Here, Madonna implores the listener to save his/her drama for she has heard it all before and does not want to be bothered with apologies. Spewing with much sensuality, she says "I'm sorry" in different languages throughout the song.

Future Lovers: The intro to this song is very reminiscent of the remix of What It Feels Like For A Girl, most notably the version used in The Drowned World Tour 2001.

I Love New York: A catchy tune that reaffirms Madonna's love for The Big Apple. Her vocals sound a bit similar to that used on Impressive Instant (Music album). It is so catchy you'll want to hear more of the song long after it has ended.

Let It Will Be: I love the intro on this one. This song definitely takes me back to the 80's. The familiar beats and rhymes bring back so many fond memories of Madonna's earlier work like Borderline and Into The Groove.

Forbidden Love: While singing about forbidden love between a boy and a girl, a male voice sings in the background asking "Are we supposed to be together?" This track slows down the energy of the album just a notch.

Jump: This track lives up to its name. It will make you want to jump up and down, regardless if you're on the dancefloor or not. Remember Lucky Star?

How High: Another song that sounds familiar. If you listen very closely, you'll hear subtle basslines from Material Girl.

Isaac: A very interesting song that hints at Madonna's continued spiritual quest. Inducing mysticism to the album, this song is a beautiful & poignant distraction.

Push: It is obvious this song was written for her husband, Guy Ritchie. The beats are addicting, the lyrics full of innuendos. She sings about her gratitude for having a husband who pushes her.

Like It Or Not: This track is the perfect ending to the album. Imagine blending Broadway with Pop music. It works perfectly well on this song.

In a span of two decades, the Pop Icon's career proved her to be one hard act to follow. With a fan-base spanning from her early days to present, her reign intensifies. And to the world, the message is clear and simple - Madonna is here to stay.