Sam Smith (With Madonna) - VULGAR

Knowing how deafening the Madonna fanbase can be, I listened to this for three hours before writing down my thoughts. I adore elements of it: the Middle Eastern vibe and general fierceness are off the charts. Madonna's section is great, and the last thirty seconds when the beat finally drops are killer. But the whole thing would have worked better if it had been built around that part with the spoken word pieces as intermissions. It's also way too short (fuck you, TikTok), making it feel like a fantastic idea that hasn't been pushed far enough. Bring on the remixes!

Homework #1: Sam Smith - Unholy (Disclosure Remix) / https://youtu.be/UrsKHLadLSQ

Homework #2: Madonna - Erotica / https://youtu.be/WyhdvRWEWRw

Homework #3: Weeknd, Playboy Carti, Madonna - Popular / https://youtu.be/K6WCcBP4lSs