Paying homage to the Queen of Pop’s recent birthday, music and art collective Italians Do It Better have released a 20-track covers album of Madonna, respectfully reimagined and shining with as many synth, post-punk and disco elements as one would expect. The compilation is a passport to 20 covers, recorded from the bedrooms of 19 artists across 10 different countries.
Executive produced by Johnny Jewel, the collection features artists including Desire, Glüme, Jorja Chalmers, Sally Shapiro, JOON and more.
Since 2006, listeners were curious about the origin of the label name ‘Italians Do It Better’, assuming it a nod to Italo Disco, even to ancestry. It was in fact inspired by that iconic T-shirt, as worn by a knocked-up, rebellious, bleached and cropped Madonna in the Papa Don’t Preach video, circa 1986. Fast forward to 2020 and the start of the pandemic, many artists found themselves in lockdown isolation. To try and encourage creativity and lift spirits, ‘Italians Do It Better’ President, Megan Louise Doyle, asked a bunch of artists the eternal question: “If you could cover your favourite Madonna song…What would it be?”
The compilation is a fitting tribute to the label’s muse, showing the impact Madonna’s music has had not only on the world but specifically, on artists from vastly different backgrounds and genres. One of the tracks (Lucky Star by Club Intl) is even produced by Max Kamins, son of Mark Kamins, the New York DJ at the helm of Madonna’s early 1980’s breakthrough.
“Dance music was the soundtrack of my early childhood. Working on “Lucky Star” reconnected me not only to my father, but also reminded me that a good song is timeless” -Max Kamins
Get into the groove with this tracklist:
1. Joon – Papa Don’t Preach
2. Desire – Angel
3. Sally Shapiro – Holiday
4. Dlina Volny – Hollywood
5. Farah – Gang Bang
6. MOTHERMARY – Like A Virgin
7. Club Intl – Lucky Star
8. Love Object – Frozen
9. Orion – Into The Groove
10. Number One Popstar – Hung Up
11. Double Mixte – La Isla Bonita
12. Juno Francis – Beautiful Stranger
13. Glüme – Material Girl
14. In Mirrors – Addicted To Your Love
15. Causeway – Crazy For You
16. Jorja Chalmers – Justify My Love
17. MOTHERMARY – Like A Prayer
18. Pink Gloves – What It Feels Like For A Girl
19. Lou Rebecca – Burning Up
20. Bark Bark Disco – Borderline
Listen here on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2UmglFB
Listen via other streaming services here: https://idib.ffm.to/italians-do-it-better
