| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that they can expect Madonna's usual mix of sexual innuendo and quirky spirituality. At this point, though, Madonna seems to think she's far more outrageous than we do.
Madonna is the queen of self-reinvention, riding the crest of popular culture's waves for the last 25 years as everything from Disco Bunny to Cowgirl to New Age Goddess to Glamour Girl. And from her appropriately named "Re-Invention" tour comes I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A SECRET, an audio and video chronicle of the show. It ties together most of Madonna's varied personalities in an impressive package. Madonna starts off with "The Beast Within," a spoken-word rant (lifted from the Book of Revelations) delivered over haunting Middle-Eastern instrumentals. The lyrics include some violent imagery as defined by Madonna's trademark individualistic spirituality; out of context, this all might be a bit uncomfortable for traditionally religious families, and perhaps a bit scary for younger children. Theology dispensed with, Madonna launches into "Vogue," kicking off an energetic, danceable collection of greatest hits and crowd-pleasers.
The accompanying DVD is dramatic, pretentious, sexy, not appropriate for younger kids, and probably a little over-the-top for everyone else. The video provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of tour preparations, narrated by the star herself. The most entertaining scenes are those of the young dancers auditioning and rehearsing, and the inclusion of a bagpipe player from Scotland. Any teen interested in a career in show business will find the DVD fascinating, as will true-blue Madonna fans. Others may want to skip the video and just have loads of dance-party fun listening to the very engaging CD.
Families can talk about Madonna's amazingly long career, one in which she has reinvented herself over and over again. What does it take to have that kind of longevity in show business? Which other contemporary artists do you think will still be around, selling out arena shows 25 years from now?
| Artist: | Madonna |
| Release date: | June 20, 2006 |
| Labels: | Warner Brothers, WEA |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Parental advisory: | No |