NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 09: Madonna speaks on stage at the Billboard Women in Music 2016 event on … [+]
Madonna, known as the iconic Queen of Pop, has recently returned to the Billboard charts, and she’s done so by departing from her usual genre: dance music. This year, the celebrated singer made her way back to the charts with a series of high-profile collaborations with fellow artists, showcasing her versatility and ability to succeed in different genres, and she performed best with a style she’s not usually associated with.
Madonna’s most notable chart appearance this year was with the song “Popular.” This track, which features The Weeknd and rapper Playboy Carti, was written and recorded for The Weeknd’s television show, The Idol. Interestingly, when “Popular” debuted on the Billboard charts, it was categorized as R&B, as opposed to pop.
“Popular” not only marked Madonna’s return to the Hot 100 after more than half a decade away, but it also conquered several R&B-only charts. While Madonna has explored R&B in some of her previous releases, the success of “Popular” propelled her to new heights and earned her rankings she had not previously achieved in the R&B world.
Following the release of “Popular,” Madonna unveiled another single titled “Vulgar,” a collaboration with Sam Smith. This track leaned closer to the electronic sound that fans have come to associate with the superstar in the past decade or so from her own material. Tailored for clubs and dance enthusiasts, “Vulgar” generated significant anticipation…however, it did not perform as strongly as its predecessor.
“Vulgar” failed to make an impact on the Hot 100 chart and did not achieve the same level of sales as “Popular.” While the track found some success on Billboard’s dance/electronic charts, it did not have the same longevity and it didn’t rise to many of the same peak positions when compared to “Popular.”
The presence of The Weeknd and Carti, coupled with the heightened attention surrounding anything related to The Idol, undoubtedly contributed to the stronger performance of “Popular” on the charts. Nevertheless, it remains surprising to see Madonna excel in a genre not typically connected to her biggest hits and one she has not explored extensively in recent years.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2023/06/28/surprise-madonnas-latest-hit-single-wasnt-dance-or-pop/