Campbell: Tuned In: Madonna, Backstreet Boys, Bebel Gilberto

By Chuck Campbell (Contact)
Tuesday, October 6, 2009

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No wonder Madonna seems so festive

“CELEBRATION,” Madonna (Warner Bros.)

Madonna has released several hits collections before, yet her new “Celebration” is the closest to a definitive compilation — though like its predecessors, it is defined by omissions. The two-disc set (beware the one-disc “Celebration” that’s so pared down as to be worthless) could easily have expanded into a third disc will all the omitted hits, and even into a fourth if remixes and rarities were included.

Still, “Celebration” is an excellent overview of the most chameleonic performer in pop history. In addition to the old songs that don’t hold up (“Lucky Star,” “Borderline”) are those that do (“Into the Groove,” “Burning Up”) and along with the overrated hits (the ridiculous “Vogue” and schlocky “Crazy for You”) are underrated gems (the more recent ABBA-sampling “Hung Up” and the sensual-electro tandem of “Justify My Love” and “Erotica”). Older hits such as “Angel,” “True Blue,” “This Used To Be My Playground” and “I’ll Remember” were sacrificed from the compilation to make room for some more recent not-such-hits as “Sorry,” “Don’t Tell Me,” “Hollywood” and “Miles Away.” Plus there are two new tracks — a Rihanna-esque “Revolver” featuring Lil Wayne and the techno-inflected “Celebration” — that do nothing to sweeten the pot.

Nevertheless, the 36 tracks adequately capture the magnitude of the shrewd performer’s impact on music in the past 26 years: Other singers could hang their career on just one “Like a Virgin,” “Material Girl,” “Ray of Light” or “Take a Bow,” and Madonna has them by the dozens.

Perhaps of even greater note: Also out now is a two-DVD “Celebration” that brings together 47 Madonna videos, a medium in which her pioneering ways have been unparalleled. Her later videos may seem more like afterthoughts (who plays videos anymore anyway?), but the big productions for songs such as “Express Yourself,” “Bedtime Story” and “Like a Prayer” were cinematic masterpieces in their time.

She’s had her misses, but Madonna has proven herself to be an enduring pop-culture genius. “Celebration” shows why.

Rating (five possible): 4

Backstreet Boys now the score

“THIS IS US,” Backstreet Boys (Jive)

Many might be surprised to learn that Backstreet Boys’ new “This Is Us” isn’t a comeback album. But the Orlando, Fla., boy band has been quietly plugging along despite fading from the mainstream radar about eight years ago. There have been solo releases, plus the Backstreet Boys released “Never Gone” in 2005 and “Unbreakable” in 2007. (Kevin Richardson departed a few years ago, shrinking the quintet to a quartet of Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and AJ McLean.)

So who’s their intended audience? Probably not many of the teen and tween girls from a decade ago, who have presumably moved on. And today’s teens and tweens have fresher guys to adore, what with the Backstreet Boys’ “kid” member, Carter, turning 30 next January.

Nevertheless, “This Is Us” could easily find a fertile demographic where the group’s popularity began: overseas.

Although American adults tend to have hang-ups about embracing glossy, catchy dance/pop, Europeans don’t share the shame. And “This Is Us” takes direct aim at the latter with one effervescent Euro-techno track after another. Production on songs such as “Straight Through My Heart,” “Bye Bye Love” and “All of Your Life (You Need Love)” is slick and the hooks are sharp. Plus there are a few diverting distinctions — including the hydraulic thrusts of “PDA,” the melancholy adult tone of “Undone” and the bumping beat on the ballad “Shattered.”

Clearly the band isn’t the driving force in pop anymore (Backseat Boys?), but it’s just as clear these men have set modest goals for themselves and likely understand their monster-hit days are probably over in the U.S.

Yet their perseverance is admirable and their product is serviceable, Besides, Euros have a favorable exchange rate over dollars.

Rating: 3

Bebel Gilberto gives her all on Brazil’s behalf

“ALL IN ONE,” Bebel Gilberto (Verve)

Bebel Gilberto is living up to her role as heir to Brazilian music royalty, and with her regal new “All in One,” she appears ready to take the throne.

The daughter of bossa nova pioneer Joao Gilberto and singer-composer Miucha and niece of singer-composer guitarist Chico Buarque, Bebel Gilberto, 43, launched her solo career in the 1980s, gained momentum throughout the ’90s and hit her commercial and critical stride with 2000’s “Tanto Tempo” and subsequent “Bebel Gilberto” (2004) and “Momento” (2007).

The artful “All in One” exhibits her burgeoning songwriting skills (in Portuguese and English) while also demonstrating her singular command of the cool confidence endemic to Brazilian music.

She co-penned urbane opener “Cancao de Amor” — which backdrops her voice with tinkling piano, warm rhythm and even a whistling solo — as well as the primitive/mysterious “Secret (Segredo),” the romantic title track, the serene “Ela (On My Way),” and the narcotic closer “Port Antonio,” which was co-written and produced by Didi Gutman of Brazilian Girls. Gilberto alone wrote the alluringly minimalistic “Forever.”

Yet the cover songs steal the glory on “All in One.” Gilberto shows controlled passion on the Bond-esque remake of Bob Marley’s “Sun Is Shining” and a stately turn on the Robertinho Brant/Emerson Pena composition “Far From the Sea,” arranged in swank grandeur with brushed rhythm, strings, gentle piano and acoustic guitar. On the flipside, she captures playful sophistication on covers of her father’s “Bim Bom” and a remake of the Carmen Miranda hit “Chica Chica Boom Chic.”

Best of all is an out-of-the-blue take on Stevie Wonder’s “The Real Thing,” an old disco hit for Brazilian Sergio Mendes. Produced by Mark Ronson, Gilberto’s version is a heady, percussion-driven rush, uncharacteristically soulful and still not overdone.

So not only is Gilberto set in her reign as queen of Brazilian music, she’s poised to expand her domain.

Rating: 4

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