Madonna has faced an uphill battle with her forthcoming studio album Rebel Heart. Before Christmas the pop icon was the victim of a series of leaks with the album spreading across the Internet in demo form. In response Madonna and her team put out several tracks on iTunes in the hope of directing fans to the finished tracks rather than the leaked demos. The albumās first single, Living For Love, was put out across the world with the exception of the UK at the same time.
Two months after its release in the rest of the world, Living For Love finally arrives in the UK and itās easily Madonnaās best single release since 2005ās Hung Up. Produced with Diplo, Living For Love is the perfect blend of classic and modern Madonna. The gospel choir recalls classic hit Like a Prayer but the production gives the song a contemporary twist with a chorus that packs a positive message and a strong melody. Living For Love may borrow from current trends but it doesnāt sound like anything else out there at the moment and itās distinctively Madonna.
Much has been made in the press about Madonnaās relevance in recent weeks but weād argue sheās as relevant now as she ever was. She gets people talking, thereās genuine excitement around Rebel Heart, and Living For Loveās video has been universally praised as one of her best in years. Her performance at the Grammys was well-received and sheās expected to be a highlight at this yearās BRIT Awards.
Living For Love gives us hope that Madonna may deliver an album closer to 2005ās Confessions on a Dancefloor rather than the mixed bag sheās served up with recent albums Hard Candy and MDNA. Living For Love is Madonna at her best and if thereās any justice it will give her a huge hit here in the UK.
Watch the music video for Living For Love below: