Track Listing

1. He's A Man
2. Sooner Or Later
3. Hanky Panky
4. I'm Going Bananas
5. Cry Baby
6. Something To Remember
7. Back In Business
8. More
9. What Can You Lose
10. Now I'm Following You
11. Vogue

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #41337 in Music
• Released on: 1990-05-21
• Number of discs: 1
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .21 pounds
• Running time: 105 minutes

CD Description
Talk about starpower: I'M BREATHLESS features the club classic "Vogue", which many consider to be Madonna's greatest song, and three tunes by Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, including the Academy Award-winning "Sooner Or Later". But because "Vogue", which is also available on THE IMMACULATE COLLECTION, doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the album--a collection of novelties and show tunes that live up to the subtitle "Music From And Inspired By The Film DICK TRACY"--and because the rest of the album doesn't quite fit in with Madonna's more familiar work, fans might be tempted to pass upI'M BREATHLESS. That would mean missing out on an essential, oft-hidden side of Madonna as well as missing out on vocalperformances that critics agree rank among her best. With tracks like "I'm Going Bananas" and "Hanky Panky", I'M BREATHLESS may be a Madonna oddity, but it's an oddity fans will want in their collection.

Customer Reviews

Timeless classic underlines her versatility
From the film 'Dick Tracey', this album is very retro, as the film is set in the 1930s. Madonna plays the temptress and villian/heroine (if you've seen the film, you'll know what I mean) Breathless Mahoney, hence the name of the album. Enter Madonna the cabaret singer... He's A Man is a Broadway-style song sung by Mahoney about Dick Tracey. It provides a nice introduction to the film and Madonna will impress many with her easy adaptation to the different style of singing. A powerful performance. Sooner Or Later is a slower, more seductive number, more reminiscent of a classic cabaret song. Those people who say that Madonna's voice is high-pitched and like that of Aqua's lead singer will be surprised at certain parts of this song. Hanky Panky is a naughty, bouncy song about lovin'-an'-a-spankin'. Madonna's voice oozes personality and authority as she instructs "spank me". A great number. I'm Going Bananas is a comic song with a strong latin influence. The voice used is completely different yet again (like that of the famous Brazillian singer, Carmen Miranda), emphasising Madonna's versatility. Cry Baby is another comedy song, where Madonna puts on a New York accent (another change !) and tells how her guy is such a cry baby. It's such a good impression, you almost forget it's Madonna singing. Who said Madonna can't act ? Something To Remember is a more serious affair, where Madonna's is voice full of regret and loss - the lyrics are quite evocative and emotional: "I was not your woman, I was not your friend, but you gave me something to remember," and "we were not meant to be, at least not in this lifetime". A tear-jerking classic. Back In Business shows the bad side of Mahoney's character, and how ! In a cruel, mocking, ice-queen voice, she tells how being bad is best. There is a huge difference in rhythm between the verses and the chorus and the bridges, but it all work together somehow with the jazzy music. Incredibly cool. More is a Material Girl à la Broadway. It's another great number, packed full of materialistic desires. "More is better than nothing - yes !" she yells, "gotta fill your cupboard, remember Mother Hubbard" she warns and "each possession you possess, helps your spirits to soar", she enthuses, and you can't help loving it. There is a fine piece of drama at the end to round off a superb song. Coming down from the dizzy heights of materialism, What Can You Lose is a beautiful, sad, little duet, to the accompaniment of a piano, between Madonna and Mandy Patinkin, the pianist from the film. Patinkin's quavery tone perfectly compliments Madonna's clear voice. It leaves you feeling regretful that it is only two minutes long. Now I'm Following You will quickly dispel any gloom though. Another duet, this time between Madonna and Warren Beatty, who did remarkably well. Part I sounds as if it comes from a classic musical, whilst Part II is a more modern dance version which follows on from Part I and which cleverly contains sections inserted from previous songs in the album. Vogue is, by any standards, quite astonishing. It starts off low-key, with a lengthy intro punctuated only occasionally by Madonna's spoken words. But then it metamorphasises into one of the greatest dance tunes ever. This song encourages everyone to get up and dance, because "you're a superstar, yes, that's what you are !", this song is beloved by the gay community, who took it to mean that coming out is not something to be avoided but embraced. The song also demands racial and gender equality. It includes a tribute to many stars of yesteryear who had 'Vogue'. A great, great song. A perfect, modern ending for a classic album. This is a glorious collection of classic musical music. Madonna not only puts on a good performance in the film (recommended, by the way), but also adapts her voice well to this very different type of music. Not only that, but there are different voices used in the different songs of the album. I challenge, nay, defy anyone to name any other modern pop star who could metamorphasise so gracefully into a '30s singer. Fans of Madonna's modern music may not give this one full credit, but because it is vastly dated already, it will never age.

Breathless Madonna!
This is Magic Madonna. Sexy and brilliant. The record went with the Dick Tracy film which she also took a leading role. She wrote (if my memory serves me well) and co-wote most of the songs and they are superb. You will be surprised this is not Madonna-typical (if you can say that). Buy it, you'll enjoy it!!!

Back to a bygone age
For this album, Madonna goes back in time to a completely different musical age - the 1940's, when pop music was very different, although the 1940's style is obscured somewhat by a 1990's production style. This is a light-hearted album, more in keeping with (though very different from) the song-and-dance music that Betty Grable did than the pop music of Dinah Shore or Jo Stafford. Some songs are covers of songs from that period but most are original songs written in style of the time, even including some novelty songs that you either love or hate. Madonna's big hit of the time, Vogue, was added to the album to help sales but it doesn't really blend in.

Stephen Sondheim composed three of the songs, these being Sooner or later, More and What can you lose - a duet with Mandy Patinkin. Madonna's performances on these songs are impressive. Of Madonna's own songs, Hanky panky and Vogue were huge hits but the outstanding song is Something to remember, which later became the title track of a compilation of her ballads. He's a man and Back in business are also wonderful. I also enjoyed Cry baby but I can imagine that some people will not like this at all. Madonna did not write the two other original songs - I'm going bananas (a slightly sill but entertaining novelty song) and Now I'm following you parts 1 and 2 (a lot of fun but definitely not a novelty).

I had to play this album a few times before I really appreciated it, but I liked it more with each listen. Although this album is just for fun, Madonna's covers of the Sondheim songs suggest that she could record a serious jazz album if she ever wants to.

This is not like any of Madonna's other albums so some of her fans may not like it. At the same time, I'm not sure that it will win her any new fans. Nevertheless, this is a fascinating album that proves just how versatile Madonna really is.