Madonna: 'Give It 2 Me'

You have to give Madonna credit for sticking to her guns. Despite much protest, the 49-year-old is still trying to "keep it real" and "get down with the kids". Whether it's ripping off Justin Trousersnake's kegs in the '4 Minutes' video or thrusting her yoga-toned groin on the Hard Candy album sleeve, she still fancies herself as a sexually provocative madam. Most young men would probably prefer to wake up with a cold fish next to them than Guy Ritchie's other half these days, but does she care? Does she heckers!

While Madge's attitude may be admirable, musically she's reached a creative lull. 'Give It 2 Me' sounds as outdated as its txt-speak title, with Pharrell Williams working on autopilot in the production studio. The twirling disco beats and N.E.R.D-style synths are dragged straight out of 2002, while Ma Ritchie's attempts to sex up the track ("I can go on and on and on") are more likely to induce cringes than any stiffening of male anatomy. She may still have the cockiness that made her a superstar, but whether she's got the musical goods to back it up now is open to debate.


> Click here for our review of Madonna's Hard Candy album