Madonna - I Feel So Free

Madonna revisits her disco era on the first song from the long-awaited sequel to a cult classic.

The Queen of Pop is finally back: Madonna is set to release a new album that serves as a continuation of her iconic Confessions on a Dance Floor. Although the official drop of its first song, “I Feel So Free”, is scheduled for April 23, listeners have already had a chance to hear it on iHeartRadio.

At its core, “I Feel So Free” is designed to tap into nostalgia. It recalls tracks like “Future Lovers” and “Forbidden Love” from the original record, while a possible sample nods to the timeless “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer. At the same time, it also references another dance classic — “French Kiss” by Lil Louis with it’s lines and inspired moans. Blending echoes of two of the most influential dance tracks in music history makes for an intriguing sonic palette, yet the song itself feels underdeveloped, with its repetitive structure offering little that feels genuinely new within Madonna’s catalog.

This may very well be intentional: releasing a first glimpse that closely mirrors the spirit of its predecessor. Fans have long been nostalgic for “classic” Madonna, and even more so for the Confessions on a Dance Floor era — arguably her best work of the 21st century. Still, one might hope that the sequel will deliver more than a return to her signature hazy disco aesthetic. While “I Feel So Free” is an interesting piece, it falls short of what you’d expect from a track tied to the continuation of an album that helped define the direction of pop music for years to come.

6.3/10