GHV2 by Madonna is a Mediocre Effort

In her long standing reign as the Queen of Pop, Madonna has surely never executed anything so half-assed as GHV2, a collection of hit singles that chronicle the second half of her musical career. It should be noted however, that Madonna's career suffered major setbacks in 1992 and 1993, something the Immaculate Collection - her first major hits package - didn't have to contend with. With the Immaculate Collection, Madonna could do no wrong, her popularity soaring to ever new and controversial heights, that volume of greatest hits showcased nary a filler -- just one sonic ice pop after another. But GHV2 maps a bumpier ride. Grunge, an underground sound from Seattle, was staging its assault on the airwaves like a juggernaut. Madonna, meanwhile, was suffering a triple backlash from her Sex book, a lukewarm CD (Erotica) and the dismal movie, Body of Evidence. Her f*ck-ornamented debacle on David Letterman's Tonight Show in early 1994 almost drove in the last nail. In the wake of this new climate, Madonna suddenly seemed to look a bit dated; her cultural relevance in question, she sought to negotiate her new place, if any, in the Pop landscape.

The results have been spotty and GHV2 reflects the best and worst of those times. For instance, I take it Don't Cry for Me Argentina was included to symbolize her Evita period, the point at which her career began to take a positive turn. (Incidentally, it also helped that she popped out a puppy at the same time). As a single, I find it lackluster and it was at the sacrifice of Rain, which in my opinion is a more substantial and memorable hit. Deeper and Deeper to me always smacked a bit anemic and it's just more evident by today's standards. The Power of Goodbye, meanwhile, is just a drippy, awful mess with arty pretensions. Lest I bash this CD into the ground, I admit that GHV2 is not without its bright spots. There's the creamy Take a Bow, the sonic kaleidoscope of Ray of Light and the ageless Bedtime Story which presaged the musical direction Madonna would later delve into with her studio albums, Ray of Light and Music. The melancholy strut of Secret has aged well, while Beautiful Stranger is certainly a very welcome addition to the fray.

Still, the primary gripe I have about this CD is how incomplete it is for a greatest hits album. There's the glaring, practically criminal omission of the #1 hit This Used to be My Playground, as well as I'll Remember and Bad Girl, the latter of which is quite arguably one of her most finely crafted pop songs. For "Playground" and "Remember", one can argue that they were already featured on her ballad collection, Something to Remember. While that may be so, it does this greatest hits package no justice to exclude what essentially is a sequel to the Immaculate Collection, and therefore, for continuity's sake, should be included.

The track listing for GHV2 is as follows:
Deeper and Deeper
Erotica
Human Nature
Secret
Don't Cry for Me Argentina
Bedtime Story
The Power of Goodbye
Beautiful Stranger
Frozen
Take a Bow
Ray of Light
Don't Tell Me
What it Feels Like For a Girl
Drowned World/Substitute for Love
Music

Again, another problem is that most of the singles outlined above are radio edits that may as well pass for snippets. Just as the listener is about to enjoy the keening synth line in Human Nature, or the sinister bass thump in Erotica, we're transported to the next song. It's a jarring experience since the tracks follow no specific pattern or evolutionary arc. I happen to be a big Madonna fan and that's why it's so disheartening to find such a lazy effort from her. Incomplete and with no new singles, this CD doesn't even pretend to be nothing more than a calculated bid for holiday shoppers' money (GHV2 was released in November 2001). Most die hard fans will know to stay away and not beat themselves up if they don't choose to buy this one. But if you're the occasional Madonna fan, then this greatest hits package might just serve its purpose - but you've been warned.

********************************************************
Check out my other Madonna Reviews:

Ten Best Madonna Songs of The Decade • Confessions on a Dancefloor • What it Feels Like for a Girl - DVD single • Hard Candy • American Life (2003)