GHV2 (Greatest Hits Volume 2)

Madonna has been around quite a long time now, as hard as that is for me to believe. The reason she is still turning out hits while many other artists from the early 80s are gone and forgotten comes down to her unmatched ability to completely recreate herself. Not only does she adapt to changes in the musical scene, she leads the charge for change herself. Over her career, this has allowed her to excel across a wide spectrum of song types. I'm no dance music expert, but Madonna lays down the most infectious dance beats I know of in songs such as Deeper and Deeper (featuring a brilliant bridge into a part of her earlier song Vogue) and the totally funked up Music. Beautiful Stranger is another great dance song (but I'll never be able to hear this song without conjuring up images from the music video featuring Austin Powers). Of course, Madonna has her naughty side, as revealed in the edited versions of Erotica and – depending on your state of mind - Bedtime Stories. Madonna never looks back or has regrets, a trait I greatly admire, and she makes this fact pretty clear in the sexually mischievous song Human Nature. What It Feels Like For a Girl makes the point even more convincingly as it points out the ways in which men and women are judged by different standards.

Madonna is also the voice behind some of the best love songs of the 1990s. Classics such as The Power of Goodbye, Frozen, and Take a Bow are just beautiful, featuring some of the most moving choruses I've ever heard in pop music. The lyrics, for those who stop to listen to them, are really quite poignant and touching – you won't find any bubble gum pop on GHV2. Then there are the great songs I find hard to classify: Ray of Light is almost cosmic in its appeal and manic in its musical expression. Drowned World/Substitute For Love carries a life-affirming beat in support of its unusually touching message. Then there is Don't Tell Me, a song I like more and more each time I hear it. I remember hearing it for the first time on the radio, as the deejay assured the audience that the "skips" we were about to hear in the early moments of the track were actually supposed to be there. In the 1990s, Madonna was still taking chances, still taking music in new directions, and still turning out some of the best music in the business. GHV2 is a great joy for Madonna fans and ample proof to all the disbelievers out there who deny this remarkable woman's musical talent.

The only problem is the lack of new stuff. Unfortunately, there are no brilliant new tracks like there were on The Immaculate Collection ("Justify My Love", "Rescue Me"), although this is the first of her albums that "Beautiful Stranger", the bouncy, summery Austin Powers theme, has appeared on.

GHV2 is a must for anyone who missed Madonna's 90s albums, and it gives you just what you want - all killer, no album filler...

Most people will know most of the tracks, (see above), and its a perfect record of the last decade in Madonna's musical career.

Naturally, not ALL the singles are here (a couple are included on 'Something to Remember', Madonnas ballad collection), but this gives an excellent view of her evolving musical styles.

From the house / disco of 'Deeper and Deeper', the raunchy 'Erotica' (Madonnas first foray into electronica - a classic!), the spiritual and acoustic 'Secret', and the Bjork penned and fascinating 'Bedtime Story'.
Madonnas 'Ray of Light' era is covered well, as is her recent 'Music' period.

There has been some criticism of the track listing, in particular the inclusion of 'Dont cry for me Argentina'...but without it's inclusion (and it is sung beautifully) then GHV2 would not be an accurate portrayal of the last 10 years.

The cd is packaged beautifully... absolutely filled with pictures, and the editorial...3 pages of hysterical comments, proving that Madonna has a great sense of humour, and can laugh at herself (though the joke is more on 'the press')

My only criticism, is that this cd has offers nothing new for the fans, there are no new tracks, and for ardent followers, no new pictures (though there are nearly 600 pictures in the sleeve!!!!)