If I take you from behind....

Erotica was the first album I actually brought of Madonna's. I was an impressionable 17/18 year old who was in love with the pop queen and I knew that this album was going to be different. I knew that from reaction of the media to the film clip Justify my love that she wasn't going to shrink into the corner.

I had read every article and comment made about the album. I had watched any tv interview or music show that commented on it. I knew it was going to sizzle. She said so herself!

She had released the Erotica single and the Sex book and I remember thinking "Oh My God". My best friends brother got the book and I was able to go through it! I only read it for the articles mind you ;). But seriously I was 18 checking out Madonna NAKED! The book was amazing and the song just rocked my world!

That intro! Who the fuck is Dita? And the crackle of the record needle! Oh man! The song literally was the most risqué thing I had ever listened too!

I went to sleep with the album on repeat so that I could learn every song by heart and learn I did!

Erotica is my favourite album and its for soapy reasons. I believe it's before it's time. It's a well produced clash of lounge music, pop music and disco. It's also Madonnas most misunderstood album.  Yes it's titled Erotica, but there's actually only 1 song that's about a sex act and that's Where all life begins, *blush*, with lyrics like "every girl should experience eating out" and "go down, where its warm inside" it's certainly is sexual in content. But the actual album is more about longing for love. With songs like Rain and Bad Girl along with Whys it so hard, the album is a journey of frustration and passion with a few angry words thrown in for good measure.

It's also Madonna's metaphorical "Up Yours" to the media and critics who lambasted her for the Justify my love film clip. How dare she show androgynous men almost kissing. How dare she show herself barley dressed. How dare she indeed!

Erotica is her "ill show you what I can and can't do". And my did she show them! Regardless of sales, it sparked one of the most profitable world tours at the time, produced the most expensive film clip ever made (Rain) and was probably the most iconic moment in pop music history and the most defining moment of Madonnas career!

Madonna's back - a billboard for humanity

If there is one thing that Madonna does well, its manipulate the media.

I was reading an article today (dripping with sarcasm) that appeared in a local paper, but was written by a journalist in LA. She talked about Madonna “tattooing” the name of the young Pakistani girl Malala, who was shot by the Taliban, on her back during her performance. The journalist wrote an opinion piece on how wrong it was and how Madonna’s “support…does more harm than good.”

Madonna’s back has been a billboard of support, protest and encouragement during her MDNA tour. Here she is, this 54 year old, stripping down to underwear, showing off a body most 20 years olds dream of, her ass and a message. In the beginning it was “No Fear”, her stand for those who are persecuted by society, the lost and the destitute, the gays, the lesbian’s, bi’s and transgender. The ones who have killed themselves. Then it was about Pussy Riot, the girl-band imprisoned by Russia’s President because they dared speak out against him. Then Obamas name was on there, then Malala’s.

Her back has been in the news a lot recently. And it’s either because someone wants to point out the flaw or comment on how Madonna is grasping at as many straws as she can to stay relevant.

What this journalist does not seem to realise is that no matter if you agree or disagree with what Madonna does, or how she does it, weather with a whip or rose, you end up talking about her and the issue she is commenting on herself.

Madonna’s back has become a beacon of strength for those who dare speak out. Those who are persecuted for being who they are and standing for what they believe, something Madonna has first-hand experience of. Her back has become a signpost. Whether gay, a band, a young girl, a President, or just some schmuk in the audience, Madge is standing with you.

She might be grasping at straws, but for some reason I doubt it. No, millions are behind this womans behind. That means millions are aware of Malala’s plight. It means you are talking about it. It means that the media are commenting about it. 

It means, whether you like it or not, that Madonna has yet again manipulated you into writing not about her back, but about the Pakistani girl shot for standing up for what she believed in – Education for women.