Madonna - What it Feels like for a Girl DVD Review

When Madonna released What it Feels Like for a Girl, the third single off her 2000 CD Music, I was curious to see how the mistress of the video art form would interpret this beautifully somber, midtempo track. Lyrics of singular, poetic imagery ("hands that rest on jutting hips repenting") shine a cursory glimpse into the elusive female psyche, and it makes this song a compelling, heartfelt listen. When saddled with the right producers, Madonna knows how to make quite a subtle and poignant statement.

In 2000, Madonna's career was nowhere near as blistering as her 80's and early 90's heyday; and at that point, I'm not sure whether she was still courting controversy or the other way around. Whatever the case, word leaked out that the video for the single had extremely violent overtones. The video was subsequently banned by MTV and the powers that be decided to sell the video on DVD to capitalize on the hullabaloo. Sound familiar at all? (1991's Justify My Love video)

Directed by her then new husband Guy Ritchie (of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels fame), the video showcases Madonna as some freewheeling Louise driving recklessly in a yellow Camaro, exacting revenge on various men about town. Along for the ride is a nearly catatonic elderly woman she picks up from a nursing home. The video is not without its cheeky visual puns (I liked the front license plate of the car reading "Pussy" and the back plate reading "Cat"). Or when stopping short at a red light, Madonna in deadpan fashion, robotically reaches over and nimbly slides the old lady's glasses back on the bridge of her nose.

However, all in all, it's neither a particularly stunning nor controversial video in the traditional Madonna form. While the track is definitely one of her best, the video lacks a visual connection to the song itself, especially since it's a remix of the original CD version, minus all of the breathtaking lyrics. Other than a looped, partial refrain of the chorus, the video - with quickly edited car chase scenes, taser zapping et al - is set to an instrumental club track with furious club beats. Big deal. Moreover, the violent content over which there was such a big flap, turns out to be nothing we all haven't seen in old Starsky and Hutch reruns. The only thing worth mentioning is how Madonna has the uncanny fashion sense to make a boiler suit look fetching.

Besides two bland audio remix tracks, there are no special additions such as commentary or outtakes. With just the bare bones, the DVD's selling point becomes more transparent: there is none. Madonna and her handlers were looking to exploit PR, word-of-mouth and scuttlebutt into profits for her bottom line. This DVD is neither worth the clamor nor the $9.98 for which it retails.