Mer Girl

[Sheena]

Since the release of Veronica Electronica, I've been hammering all things Ray of Light, and, in particular, have really been struck by just how phenomenal a piece of ABSOLUTE FUCKING ART Mer Girl is. I mean, it's always been 10/10 for me and it's the perfect circular ending to the album, from the water imagery of "Drowned World" and the perils of fame to the

I spent a long time in the car yesterday and listened to it a couple of times, once just sat there and absorbing it properly. Lyrically, it's phenomenal, but so much of that has to do with the delivery, which is somehow emotional and raw, but thanks to its absolute restraint. It might be my current state of mind, but the layers of grief it encompasses devastate on so many levels- from losing the "man that I cannot keep", to the "mother that haunts me, even though she's gone" and to the "crumbling tombstones" of "all forgotten names".

Ultimately, it's just beautifully sad. Right up there amongst Ray of Light's very best.

I smelled her burning flesh
Her rotting bones
Her decay...

 

[Marilyn]

She has the best singles catalogue in history and then still has masterpieces like this as album tracks. The greatest pop star of all time.

 

[Sardonicus]

The imagery is so poetic & powerful. I always think about "the lady that never talks" when this song is mentioned. You could write a mini thesis on all the allusions & hidden meanings in the lyrics. That she went from lyrical masterpieces like this to... some of the later stuff continues to frustrate/perplex me.

 

[Sheena]

The imagery is so poetic & powerful. I always think about "the lady that never talks" when this song is mentioned.

Absolutely, me too.

I also mentioned it above, but the delivery has so much to do with that imagery. For me, the patter (is that the right word?) of "the crooked old mailbox" is just perfect. Victoria Wood said it once about comedy- some words just scan right to be funny when said in the right way. Madonna knew how some words just evoke that when delivered in the right way.

 

[Sheena]

And do not get me started on the lyrical decline. I made a Facebook post about it years ago. To go from "I traded fame for love without a second thought, it all became a silly game, some things cannot be bought. I got exactly what I asked for, wanted it so badly." etc. to the latter years...

 

[Sheena]

And do not get me started on the lyrical decline. I made a Facebook post about it years ago. To go from "I traded fame for love without a second thought, it all became a silly game, some things cannot be bought. I got exactly what I asked for, wanted it so badly." etc. to the latter years...

OT:

And I've said it before here a GAZILLION TIMES, but I'll say it again as I'm giving Like a Prayer a spin now, but compare the divorce lyrics:

The bruises they will fade away
You hit so hard with the things you say
I will not stay to watch your hate as it grows
You're not in love with someone else
You don't even love yourself
Still I wish you'd ask me not to go

vs.

If we opened up a joint account
Would it put an end to all your doubt?
Frankly, if my name was Benjamin
We wouldn't be in the mess we're in