On July 3, Madonna released her 15th studio album, Confessions on a Dance Floor: Part II. This is a direct sequel to her cult record of 2005, which once returned the singer to the status of the queen of disco. Let's figure out whether the 67-year-old star managed to repeat the success of twenty years ago.
After years of musical experimentation (from politics and military to trap and reggaeton), Madonna decided to return to what she does best: pure dance music. For recording Confessions II She even resumed cooperation with the producer Stuart Price, with whom I have not communicated for many years. The entire album was recorded in the same cozy home studio of Price "across the wall from the bedroom", where the original was created in 2005.
Why did she decide to release a sequel now?
The short answer is that it seems that Madonna needed to "return" her fans.
If the first Confessions sold 10 million copies, sales of the latest releases were steadily falling - for example, Madame X (2019) were bought only half a million times.
Off stage, things did not go as smoothly as with her colleagues in the pop workshop. Her health clubs Hard Candy closed or changed owners, cosmetic brand MDNA Skin remained a niche product, and the clothing line Material Girl did not last long.
As critics note, Madonna, like Alla Pugacheva, remained the most successful in her main business - music.
Now the Madonna sound of the late 80s and early 90s is back in fashion - it is used by modern stars like Charlie XCX, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Ron.
And how does it sound?
This is an "old-school" dance album with a booming bass, where modern rhythms are mixed with quotes from the classics.
There is a lot of artistic declamation in the album (spoken word) and whispering, which, according to some critics, can be more annoying than exciting.
In the track Bring Your Love (duet with Sabrina Carpenter) the structure of the hit is guessed Vogue, and the song Danceteria quotes Lou Reed. Producer Mirvaz Ahmadzai even wove a fragment of Erik Satie into one of the compositions.
Madonna clearly drew inspiration from the history of disco and house, focusing on masters such as Giorgio Moroder and Kevin Saunderson.
Is it a new masterpiece?
More likely no than yes. Critics note that the result was not equivalent to the original 2005. However, in this work, you feel that Madonna is finally "at home". Instead of trying to keep up with young people, she created a quality retro party, acknowledging that the fight for rights and sexual provocation no longer works as well as it did in the last century. Now her main goal is simply to make everyone dance.
- June 4, 2026, 67-year-old Madonna held an unexpected pop-up show in the center of New York. A short performance on the TSX innovation stage was timed to coincide with Pride Month and the promotion of her new album.
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