Well, for me I don't think it was. In fact, this album had far greater potential to break the market rather than Hard Candy. Whilst Hard Candy had a good selection of pop hits, you could argue that the 3 singles chosen were enough to dazzle and more singles could have been overkill. For MDNA, I think the exact opposite. Whilst the album itself sounds as if it is following the current EDM trend on iTunes, lets not forget that Madonna brought electronica to popularity 20 years ago with her hit album Ray of Light. Technically, she is carrying or continuing her futuristic beats that have been reflected in her previous albums.
People are only highlighting that Madonna is a flop due to the lower album sales and the plunge it had after its first week of debut. What people do not realise is that Madonna, unlike modern artists, did not promote this album apart from the Superbowl performance, which astonishingly at the time became the most watched halftime show in history, a Smirnoff sponsor and a mega 88 date tour and a bunch of interviews. The Superbowl featured guests such as LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, MIA and Cee Lo Green. The mega MDNA Tour generated almost $310 million and Madonna is the first to have 2 tours be in the top 10 of the biggest selling tours of all time. The tour itself involved stripping, speaking of politics, human right and LGBT awareness. The interviews also raised attention when Madonna began her feud with Lady Gaga, stating Born This Way as reductive. In addition to this, she directed her beautiful film W.E. prior to the Superbowl. Whilst it was a box office flop, the song Masterpiece, featured on the album got a Golden Globe.
In total, MDNA is Madonna's lowest selling studio album. However, 2 million in 2014 sounds like a great number, particularly when 2014's suffered to even reach 1 million! Her debut sales in the US were 350,000, a debut so big, it took Beyonce to sale the same amount almost 2 years later. In addition to this, when it was announced it became the fastest pre-ordered album in history. By the end of the year it was the second best selling Dance Electronic Album and the biggest selling album in Russia. It made Madonna the solo artist with the most number albums in the UK (12) only behind the Beatles. In the US, it is her 8th number one album and her 5th consecutive to debut at number one. She also has more number one albums in Australia than any other artist. It was the 12th best selling album of the year in 2012. She also won three Billboard awards for her tour and her album.The three singles Give Me All Your Luvin', Girl Gone Wild and Turn Up The Radio also had a certain impact. All 3 topped the Dance Club Songs at number one, giving her 43 number one songs in total more than any other artist. A few more number ones on the Billboard chart and she will be the artist with the most number ones in history. Give Me All Your Luvin' featuring MIA, LMFAO and Nicki Minaj reached the top 10, extending her 38 record streak, more than any artist in history. Girl Gone Wild got remixed by Avicii and Turn Up The Radio was remixed by Far East Movement.
Why did people have a problem with these 3 singles? Nothing! Give Me All Your Luvin' was criticised as weak yet, it was the perfect bubblegum, teen pop song that was radio friendly and had a cheerleading beat, linked to that of her superbowl performance. Girl Gone Wild was an amazing dance song and Turn Up The Radio was a throwback to her earlier work in the 80s.
Whilst not many singles were released, this could have been the problem. For example, these are my views:
1. Gang Bang - an amazingly dark, cinematic and dubstep song that deserved to be a single. I would have thought she would release a video linked with Revolver in a seedy motel with guns, blood and crime and sirens. It would have been an epic, controversial and visual way to bring out the song. Maybe a Skrillex remix could have been in place.
2. I'm Addicted - the rave element to it is so catchy and could have been an amazing festival/party song. A potential video could have been trance like, focusing on the effects as if the video was a window to the drug world. MDNA MDNA MDNA!
3. Love Spent - a memoir to American Life and Music. The bango segment could be have been the 2012 Timber. It would have been very unique.
To conclude, judging these facts, we can't deny, Madonna is not going anywhere and that MDNA overall was very successful. Had it been for more promotion, remixes and videos, chances are it would have been far greater.
