motel de moka

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt -

As March 10th arrives so has the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony for 2008. In light of the momentous occasion, I have decided to compile a brief but eclectic mix of tracks by one of the honorees. That artist would be the one and only Madonna. Though it is hard to see at times, Madge has actually released music in the midst of her dual life/career as a pop figure and performance artist. Whether or not the music was actually as groundbreaking, noteworthy, or as seemingly original as her persona stands to be debated. As it is, she has managed to touch on a number of genres within her pop umbrella. To many, Madonna is a modern sun in the pop scene: she is undeniable in her force and has shed light on many under her solar grasp, she has been seen and said to have both cultivated and destroyed the arenas which she touches upon (music, both as an art and a product, to name one example). Yet despite her inevitable dwindling and end she has remained a signpost of the culture and genre to date. Her relevance has been widely debated, but as was once stated in regards to her jumping of the shark, if people are years later still talking about your arguable irrelevance, rest assured you are still relevant. Regardless of that fact, Madonna will be honored in the Hall. Just as the sun has its many rays, Madge’s career saw a rebirth with her ode to those very solar emanations with her 1998 album, Ray of Light. That album veered Madonna away from her Material Girl image and towards a more Ephemeral Girl status, for the time being. So below are a few tracks from the self-appointed “Madgesty”, and some more original and varied takes on her collection. For what it’s worth, fan or not, hopefully something below will intrigue or entice, enjoi.

MiNdViRuZ - Ray of Light (Herbal Dope Mix)
(acidplanet.com/ 2002)
The Uninspired - Ray of Light (Ambient Worship Mix)
(ACIDPlanet/ 2003)
Madonna ft. Orbital - Bedtime Story (Orbital Mix)
(Bedtime Story US Maxi Single/ 1995)
Madonna ft. @ - Deeper and Darker (Deeper and Deeper Cover)
(ACIDPlanet/ unknown)
Madonna - Justify My Love (The Beast Within Mix)
(Justify My Love [SINGLE]/ 1990)
Madonna - Secret Garden
(Erotica/ 1992)

photo credit: popartdks