Madonna, Future | Track Review

For her fourth single from the highly-anticipated ‘Madame X’, Madonna serves up a socially-conscious dancehall single with “Future,” featuring Quavo.

Madonna keeps rolling out single after single in advance of Madame X, her first new studio album in four years (Rebel Heart, 2015). Three singles in, the pop icon has delivered a mixed bag, particularly with the third advance single, “Crave”.  This time, she trades Swae Lee for Quavo on the fourth promo single, “Future.”  Unfortunately, “Future” still leaves questions about the future, specifically, could Madame X be a flop…

First things first, “Future” runs about four minutes in duration.  That’s not excessive, but once you begin listening to the record, it feels as if four minutes is too much… Early on, “Future” has a modern sound, embracing hip-hop and feeling like it suits Quavo.  It works for Madonna well-enough as she’s been quite adaptable and assimilative to pop trends.  Following the intro by Quavo, the listener hears the chorus by Madge which is prudent, but nothing earth-shattering.  “Not everyone is coming to the future / Not everyone is learning from the past,” she sings, continuing, “Not everyone can come into the future / Not everyone that’s here is gonna last.”

After the chorus, things change.  With Diplo co-producing with Madonna, we get a reggae, dancehall feel beginning on the verse.  This is polarizing to say the least.  Madge has always been stylistically adventurous under the umbrella of pop, but this sound and vibe will appeal to some and irk others.  The lyrics aren’t game-changing, but again, give her credit for the socially-conscious vibes.  Quavo, who provides ad-libs to the first verse, chorus, and post-chorus, takes the lead on the second verse.  While he’s less shallow than usual, he still takes the opportunity to say, “I drip that ice…”

Final Thoughts

Hmm, not sure what to make how cohesive Madame X will end up being for Madonna.  Focusing merely on “Future,” it has its pros, specifically the message.  The recording itself is sketchy, with so much autotune involved, not to mention that polarizing dancehall sound.  Perhaps the messaging makes me view it slightly more positively than “Crave” that precedes it, but still, I’m on the fence about Madame X judging by the preview served up via advance singles.

Madonna • Madame X • Boy Toy, Inc. / Live Nation Worldwide, Inc. / Interscope • Release: 6.14.19

Photo Credits: Boy Toy, Inc. / Live Nation Worldwide, Inc. / Interscope