Madonna’s album leaks, she compares it to terrorism

MADONNA’S new album has leaked well ahead of schedule — and she’s angry. However, her response to the leak is causing a backlash of its own.

56th GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals

WARNING: Madonna is pissed.

The Queen of Pop has spent the better part of 2014 working away in the studio on her upcoming album, collaborating with producers including Diplo and Avicii and teasing the fruits of their labours via various Instagram posts.

Plan was, Madonna would start to unveil her much-hyped new music early in 2015 — but a massive leak overnight might have forced her hand. After two new unreleased songs leaked online a couple of weeks back, last night another 11 tracks surfaced online, shared far and wide among fans on social networks.

Among the album’s worth of material are songs — B*tch I’m Madonna, Living For Love, Unapologetic B*tch — that had previously been rumoured as contenders for Madonna’s lead single.

As you’d expect, Madonna’s not happy that the songs she’s been working hard on all year are out there for all to listen to. However, she might want to reconsider her choice of words when condemning the music hack.

“This is artistic rape!!,” the 56-year-old wrote in an Instagram post that’s since been deleted.

“These are early leaked demo’s half of which wont even make it on my album the other half have changed and evolved.

“This is a form of terrorism. Wtf!!!! Why do people want to destroy artistic process??? Why steal? Why not give me the opportunity to finish and give you my very best?”

Following a week in which terrorist attacks everywhere from Sydney to Pakistan have made worldwide headlines, Madge’s rather dramatic response has been the subject of much criticism:

Madonna needs to chill with the artistic rape...it ain't that good anyway

— Papi Shanghai (@gypsyunderyou) December 17, 2014

So @Madonna likened someone leaking her songs to #terrorism Uh, no. I think Sept 11th and Boston Marathon victims would disagree.

— SusanB (@SusanB26) December 18, 2014

Dear Madonna, No one cares if your music got leaked. I didn't even know you were releasing an album. Rape & terrorism aren't metaphors. 😒

— [Bae]lock Holmes (@Apten0dytes) December 17, 2014

I really wish Madonna wouldn't use words like "rape" and "terrorism" to describe having her album leaked. I'm guessing it's not even close.

— Norman Brannon (@nervousacid) December 17, 2014

So, Madonna fans, what of the music itself? We’re not going to link to the leaked tracks here (lest we risk the ire of the Queen of Pop herself), but we can report that the demos make up a solid collection of album tracks and potential hits. Diplo-produced bangers like B*tch, I’m Madonna and the reggae-inflected Unapologetic B*tch see Madge hit the dancefloor without embarrassing herself, and the on-trend ‘90s house throwback Living For Love would make a perfect lead single. There are plenty of gorgeous, grown-up ballads on offer too — Messiah is a stately highlight.

The only question now: Will Madonna hang on to these songs after this, ahem, ‘terrorist attack’ or will she go back to the studio and start afresh?

Originally published as Madonna’s album leaks, she compares it to terrorism