Nobody Knows Me
"Nobody Knows Me" | |
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Promotional single by Madonna | |
from the album American Life | |
A-side | "Nothing Fails" |
Released | October 15, 2003 |
Recorded | 2002 |
Studio | Olympic Recording Studios |
Genre | |
Length | 4:39 |
Warner Bros. | |
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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"Nobody Knows Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. The song was written and produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï for her ninth studio album American Life (2003). It was released as a promotional single in the United States on October 15, 2003, with a remixed version appearing on the remix compilation Remixed & Revisited (2003). "Nobody Knows Me" carries on the main theme of American Life, with its usage of negative tones on the songs. It is a dance and electronic song, with vocoder effects, spacey synths and a bubbly bass, and lyrically, Madonna rejects tabloid culture's "social disease", denouncing both TV and magazines.
The song received generally favorable reviews from
Background
American Life became Madonna's final studio album with
"If Like a Prayer was her divorce album, American Life is her psychoanalysis. She even name checks Sigmund Freud and throws out countless questions. Who am I? Where am I going? What does it all mean? Much of the album is suffused with sarcasm: right from the disaffected ennui of the title track to the stroppiness of 'Nobody Knows Me', Madonna is kicking against the claustrophobic effect of celebrity worship."[5]
A remix of the song was featured in Madonna's 2003 compilation Remixed & Revisited.[6] Other remixes by Peter Rauhofer, Mount Sims and Above & Beyond were serviced to dance clubs.[7] In 2004, Madonna released a book entitled Nobody Knows Me which was available exclusively for one month only via Madonna's official website for $24 each. It included 52 pages of rare and unseen shots "commented by an Icon and her angels".[8]
Recording and composition
"Nobody Knows Me" was written and produced by Madonna and
"Nobody Knows Me" has vocoder effects, spacey synths, bubbly bass.
Critical reception
The song received generally favorable reviews from
Spence D. from IGN Music commented that the song is the coolest song on the album up to this point.[14] Paul Rees from Q magazine complemented the track as a "conventional rock song, filled with drama, darkness and surprises".[26] USA Today's Edna Gunderson said that the "funkified" synth-pop of "Nobody Knows Me" attests to Madonna's "undiminished" skills as a shrewd pop composer.[27] Yahoo! Music's Dan Genoe commented that Madonna has a personality crisis in the song.[28] Jessica Winter from The Village Voice gave the song a mixed review, writing: "It mutes slightly the slaphappy beats of Mirwais's own club hit "Disco Science" to make vague digs at the press and defensively vow self-improvement. Madonna's voice is mixed and diced into baby gurgles, which might have been cute if it weren't so redundant."[29] John Payne from LA Weekly deduced that even within the synth sounds of the song, he could see "real feeling deeply ingrained in this particular icon. 'Why should I care what the world thinks of me?' That is, yes, she does care what the world thinks of her. She says she’ll just withdraw from the public eye, ’cause who needs this, huh?"[30] Conversely, Rikky Rooksby, author of The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna, gave a negative review saying that "Nobody Knows Me" might be the silliest track that Madonna had ever recorded.[12]
Chart performance
The song, along with "Nothing Fails", topped the
Live performances
Madonna performed the song during the 2004 Re-Invention World Tour, as the second song on the opening segment of the show. "Nobody Knows Me" was rehearsed with the Peter Rauhofer's Private Life remix.[36] According to Dirk Timmerman, author of Madonna Live! Secret Re-inventions and Confessions on Tour, Madonna lip-synched the performance.[37] During this section, the singer wore a jewel encrusted corset, created by designer Christian Lacroix.[38][39] After the opening number, "Vogue", she started an energetic version of the song, on a conveyor belt with some laser light words appearing on the backdrop screens behind her.[40] It also features a giant catwalk lowered from the ceiling.[41] After this performance, she performed "Frozen" alone on stage.[42] The performance of "Nobody Knows Me" was included in the I'm Going to Tell You a Secret live album and documentary.[43]
The song was later added as a video interlude on
Formats and track listings
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Credits and personnel
- Madonna – lead vocals, background vocals, songwriter, producer
- Mirwais Ahmadzaï – songwriter, producer, guitars, programming
- Tim Young – audio mastering
- Mark "Spike" Stent – audio mixing
Credits for "Nobody Knows Me" are adapted from American Life liner notes.[9]
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- ^ Teather, David (June 16, 2004). "Madonna ends her Maverick era". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
- ^ "Heads Roll at Madonna's Maverick Label". ABC News. American Broadcasting Company. July 20, 2004. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
- ^ "'Madonna Speaks' For The First Time To VH1 On New 'American Life' Album and Video in Half-Hour Special". PR Newswire. United Business Media. April 14, 2003. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
- Viacom. Archivedfrom the original on June 5, 2003. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ^ a b c d O'Brien 2008, pp. 368–369
- ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (October 27, 2003). "Madonna's Got A Brand New Bag — And Britney's In It". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 26, 2003). "Madonna In A 'Remix' Mood". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
- ^ "Nobody Knows Me – 52 page limited edition". Icon: Official Madonna Website. Madonna.com. November 25, 2003. Archived from the original on March 6, 2004. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Liner notes". American Life (CD). Madonna. Maverick, Warner Bros. Records. 2003. p. 14. 48439-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ O'Brien 2008, p. 368
- ^ a b Micallef, Ken (June 1, 2003). "Covert Operation". Electronic Musician. NewBay Media. Archived from the original on June 18, 2003. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
- ^ a b c Rooksby 2004, p. 64
- ^ "Madonna – American Life (album review)". Sputnikmusic. October 28, 2007. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
- ^ IGN Music. Archived from the originalon May 6, 2008. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
- ^ a b c Ciccone, Madonna (2005). "Digital Sheet Music – Madonna – Nobody Knows Me". Sheetmusicplus.com. Webo Girl Publishing Inc, ASCAP. Archived from the original on June 7, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
- ^ Cinquemani, Sal (July 11, 2008). "Madonna "American Life"". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
- ^ a b Pareles, Jon (April 18, 2003). "Madonna's Real Art: Getting Attention". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ^ O'Brien 2008, p. 374
- Rovi Corporation. Archivedfrom the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
- The People. Time Inc. Archived from the originalon April 25, 2003. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
- ^ O'Brien 2008, p. 263
- ^ Dominic, Serene (May 14, 2003). "Madonna: American Life". Metro Times. Times-Shamrock Communications. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
- Buzz Media. Archivedfrom the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ^ Braidwood, Alan (April 10, 2003). "Madonna 'American Life' – album review". BBC Music. British Broadcasting Corporation. p. 2. Archived from the original on July 28, 2003. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- Time Inc. Archived from the originalon October 10, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ISSN 0955-4955. Archived from the originalon February 24, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
- Gannett Company. Archivedfrom the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ Gennoe, Dan (April 23, 2003). "Madonna – American Life". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. Archived from the original on February 14, 2004. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
- ^ Winter, Jessica (May 6, 2003). "So Many Lives". The Village Voice. Voice Media Group. Archived from the original on March 16, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
- ^ "American Heart Coming home to Madonna". LA Weekly. Voice Media Group. May 8, 2003. p. 2. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
- ^ a b "Madonna Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ^ from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ^ from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ^ a b "ARIA Club Tracks: Week Commencing 12th January 2004" ARIA Top 50 Dance Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ^ Timmerman 2007, p. 46
- ^ Timmerman 2007, p. 83
- ^ Lewis, Caroline (October 28, 2006). "V&A Museum Hosts Lacroix Catwalk Show For Its Fashion In Motion Season". Culture24. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ "Madonna re-invented". The Age. Fairfax Media. May 26, 2004. Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ O'Brien 2008, p. 378
- ^ Moss, Cory (May 25, 2004). "Madonna Twirls Rifle, Lifts Up Her Kilt At Opener". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ^ McCabe, Bret (June 16, 2004). "Swept Away". Baltimore City Paper. Times-Shamrock Communications. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- Warner Home Video.
- ^ a b c Samuel, Henry (June 4, 2012). "Marine Le Pen threatens to sue Madonna". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
- ^ "Johan Söderberg Official Webpage: Live Video". Johan Söderberg. Archived from the original on September 19, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2013. Click on "Live Video" and then on "Madonna: Nobody Knows Me"
- The Huffington Post. Arianna Huffington. June 4, 2012. Archivedfrom the original on January 4, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
- Guardian News and Media. Archivedfrom the original on September 13, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ a b Leffler, Rebecca (August 22, 2012). "Madonna Removes Swastika From Image of Marine Le Pen". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ Nissim, Mayer (July 24, 2012). "Madonna explains 'MDNA' swastika sequence: 'It's about intolerance'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- ^ "MDNA World Tour > Overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 11, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
- ^ Nothing Fails/Nobody Knows Me (US Maxi-CD liner notes). Madonna. 2003. 42682-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Nobody Knows Me (US 12-inch Vinyl Single inlay). Madonna. 2003. 2-48439.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Music / Nobody Knows Me (Live) – Single". iTunes Store (US). June 20, 2006. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
References
- ISBN 978-0-552-15361-4
- Rooksby, Rikky (2004), The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna, ISBN 0-7119-9883-3
- Timmerman, Dirk (2007), Madonna Live! Secret Re-inventions and Confessions on Tour, Maklu Publications Inc, ISBN 978-90-8595-002-8
External links
- "Nobody Knows Me" (Aviddiva Remix) on YouTube
- Madonna (2003). Madonna: Nobody Knows Me. Boy Toy Inc. ASIN B000OCOE60.