Giulio Mazzoleni and Madonna biographer Lucy O' Brien explore Madonna's evolution as an artist through her ballads. The focus is on This Used to Be My Playground and Take a Bow, with brief moments on other ballads like Bad Girl, Love Tried to Welcome Me, Easy Ride, Paradise, The Power of Goodbye . The discussion highlights the influence of Karen Carpenter on Madonna's work, the emotional depth of her lyrics, and the significance of her performances. It's a reflection on the personal connections that Madonna's music evokes and a celebration of Madonna's legacy as a talented songwriter and producer. To order the book Madonna Songbook: https://lnk.bio/MadonnaSongbook

In the first episode of Madonna Songbook, host Giulio Mazzoleni and guest Matthew Rettenmund delve into the world of Madonna's soundtrack songs, focusing on iconic tracks like 'Into the Groove' and 'Causing a Commotion.' They explore the cultural impact of these songs, the songwriting process behind them, and the personal connections fans have with Madonna's music. The conversation also touches on Madonna's Oscar “non-nominations”, her legacy in the music industry, and the evolution of her contributions to film soundtracks.