Madonna: Mother Is Back. Her Next Revolution Is On
Is Confessions II the digital turning point toward human connection? A pre-release peek at the singles, film, and revolutionary mission from Herizon Music.
Inside The Madonna Issue
New Release: Confessions II
Roles and Revolutionary Missions
Motha: The New Revolution Is On
Madonna: Mother Is Back. Her Next Revolution Is On
Madonna.
What is the first thing you feel when you hear her name?
Euphoric? Strong? Understood? Free?
Angry? Disgusted? Defensive? Uncomfortable?
When you build a career and reputation on polarizing the public, you’re hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t have a visceral reaction to you. The Queen of Reinvention has gone out of her way to agitate the status quo since 1983. Which means Madonna has elated and/or pissed off just about everyone on the planet at one time or another.
Learning Moment: Apathy and indifference (having no opinion or not thinking of someone at all) are different than purposefully ignoring someone. Malicious ignorance is a deliberate strategy used to assert dominance or express hostility without being overtly aggressive. Examples: Falsely claiming “I don’t know her” or intentionally mispronouncing their name even after being corrected.
Whether you love her or hate her (or perhaps both), you cannot deny that Madge has mastered the art of getting people to talk. That talk turns into action. In Madonna’s case, that action turns into social revolution. She assumes different roles that fit her revolutionary missions — and her missions don’t fade away. They stack.
Confessions II
Madonna’s next Revolution starts tomorrow, July 3rd, 2026 with the Confessions II album release. Acolytes like myself pre-ordered the swag and albums, viewed her promotional performances from Times Square to Paris, and play-and-repeated the two pre-release singles and Confessions II: The Film to a manic degree.
There’s so much to unpack that this is the first of two issues that will focus on Mother’s impact on the music industry and modern culture.
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ROLE: SEXOLOGIST
Revolutionary Mission: Face off with traditionalists by giving us permission to talk about, experiment with, and behave as sexual beings without shame.
Dr. Lee Kinsey says sexologists “study sexuality comprehensively—from its biological foundation to its psychological and cultural influences.” Madonna conducts her studies in mass media:
Sex (1992), New York Times best-selling coffee table book that was equated to porn by critics. Who noticed! Collectors dared not rip open the packaging for fear of devaluing the product. It’s now listed for $500-$1300 on eBay.
Music videos: “Like A Virgin,” “Open Your Heart,” “Justify My Love,” “Erotica,” “Human Nature.”
Films: Body of Evidence (1993) and Dangerous Game (1993) depicting sadomacism and dominatrix themes
Mainstreaming safe sex for all and gay culture. Examples: same-sex kissing on stage (remember Britney and Christina?) and on video, AIDS awareness fundraisers, free condom and pamphlet access at shows, and gender-bending fashion.
To think that it all began with her “Like A Virgin” live performance at MTV’s Video Music Awards performance (1984). It ended with sexual floor gyrations and an exposed ass. Her manager claimed her career was over as parents and the FCC went into “what about the children!” panic mode. It seems tame now because Madonna opened the door for “wardrobe malfunctions” like Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake staged at the Super Bowl in 2004. That, too, was an MTV production.
MTV initially banned “Justify My Love” for nudity, but reversed its stance. On ABC’s Nightline: Madonna criticized MTV and society for their hypocritical embrace of violence and degradation of women while at the same time censoring images of sex between consenting adults. (source: madonna.nl) The single hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
ROLE: ICONOCLAST
Revolutionary Mission: Use visual media to challenge religious and puritan ideals that maintain control over the masses and limit their freedoms. Prime examples:
Music videos: “Like A Prayer,” “La Isla Bonita,” “Express Yourself,” “Live To Tell,” “Dark Ballet.” “Papa Don’t Preach” was surprisingly boycotted by Planned Parenthood for promoting teen pregnancy. Madonna told iHeart radio of the boycott: “I don’t get it. Everything I do is controversial. Nothing’s changed – I’m still in trouble.”
Stage: Madonna hangs from a cross wearing a crown of thorns for the song “Live To Tell” on her 2006 Confessions tour.
Met Gala Fashion: In 2018 Madonna donned a head-to-toe, no-skin Jean Paul Gaultier costume for the catholic Heavenly Bodies theme. In 2026, she dressed in a sea witch interpretation of Leonora Carrington’s “The Temptation of St. Anthony. Fragment II” with seven blindfolded ladies in waiting attending her for the gala’s Costume Art theme with designs inspired by artwork.
Iconoclasm originated in the eighth century in the Byzantine empire and in art history the word icon refers to Christian images of the saints, Christ or the Virgin (source: Fitzwilliam Museum). Iconoclasm introduced the deliberate destruction or defacing of such images. Iconoclasts claimed these likenesses had devolved spiritually and violated the second commandment: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” - Exodus 20:4. Iconophiles, conversely, held the art sacred and considered its destruction or vandalism blasphemous. We know who won that debate.
The Urban Dictionary defines the modern icon as a person who is legend, role model or super star. The Oxford Learners Dictionary cites Madonna as an icon.
They say write what you know. Raised Catholic in an Italian family with the name Madonna (as was her late mother’s name), the artist boldly tackles religious norms and taboos with imagery. “Like A Prayer” (1989) features a black saint who comes to a woman’s aid after she’s assaulted by a white gang. He’s then wrongfully arrested for the crime. Then the burning crosses appear. Pepsi cancelled their contract with Madge and religious groups including the Vatican asked members to boycott her music and tour. MTV, however, doubled down and put the video in heavy rotation.
Once again, the Maverick led the way to other acts who used burning crosses to condemn White Supremacy: Rage Against The Machine “Killing In The Name,” LG Team Genius “Burning Cross’s,” and Kodak Black “Tunnel Vision.”
ROLE: MOTHER
Revolutionary Mission: Give a voice, resources, and care for people who are mistreated, unloved, forgotten, or maliciously ignored.
Origin per Yahoo/Life!: “slang usage of “mother,” says McLean, came from “Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ people who created an underground ballroom scene and Houses for members to find community and family,” for example, trans woman, drag queen and LGBTQ+ youth mentor Crystal LaBeija of the House of LaBeija, “a safe- haven for queer people of color and a home with a family for those who don’t have one.”
Urban dictionary: Another way of saying YASSS queen or complimenting/idolizing actions as being iconic or incredible.
AIDS patients. While most celebs turned a blind eye to “the gay plague,” Madonna visited hospital ward AIDS patients. Chatting, hugging and kissing them when no one else dared give physical comfort.
Raising Malawi. Over 1,000,000 Malawi children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Madonna’s charity raised funds to build orphanages, hospitals, and schools for them. Donate here.
Ray Of Light Foundation. Ray of Light Foundation supports organizations around the world working to promote peace, equal rights and education for all. Per the website:
“My Revolution has nothing to do with bloodshed or violence. It is a revolution where we support one another regardless of race, religion, or gender. A revolution that promotes peace and demands equality. I don’t accept injustice. And neither should you. I invite you all to join my Revolution of Love!”
Motherhood. The icon who lost her mother at age five now has six children of her own. She is birth mother to Lourdes and Rocco and adoptive mother of David, Mercy, Stella and Estere (all born in Malawi).
Would Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Brandi Carlile have been able to use their celebrity to become rebellious “mothers” through music and deed if Madonna hadn’t already overcome government hurdles, accusations of charity for public optics, and insulting nicknames like The Whore of Babylon? These and other hardships shaped her vision of creating a more compassionate and just world as any mother would wish for her children.
If you haven’t watched this speech yet, now is the time. It’s a music history highlight.
ROLE: MOTHA II
Now officially dubbed “Motha,” the Queen of Pop pre-released two singles “Bring Your Love” (feat. Sabrina Carpenter) and “I Feel So Free” to promote her new album Confessions II. Stuart Price joined as co-executive producer, bassist, drums, keyboards, engineering, programming, mixing, strings, and writing. Compared to Bob Dylan’s overt anti-establishment themes, Madonna’s titles and lyrics appear benign like so many pop tunes. But Motha is on a mission.
The Revolutionary Mission: Eradicate digital manipulation and human isolation through music and dance. The Pied Piper of 2026, Motha leads her children to a dance floor where physical movement and freedom of expression will save us all. Her inspiration came from family loss (her brother and step mother) and the power of the dance floor to heal. Read Interview Magazine for her candid, in-depth answers. One excerpt:
MADONNA: …It’s hard to understand my place in the world, but out here on the dance floor, I feel so free. I think that’s true for a lot of people. It’s welcoming people back to that state of mind because everybody’s worried. It’s a big thing.
OTTENBERG: It’s easy to forget to go out and be with people now because most of us are addicted to our phones.
MADONNA: Because we think if we look at Instagram for two hours, we’ve actually been with somebody. It’s a deeply disturbing activity.
OTTENBERG: Yes.
MADONNA: It’s mesmerizing and also soul-destroying.
In spite of the mission’s gravity, her sense of humor remains fully in tact. Motha’s promotional short film features creepy masked camera crews following her from a lonely apartment to a jumpin’ bathroom dance floor. Through car chases and a field of people shooting green lasers from their privates. Meanwhile, Motha is protected and guided by a bright alien vaginal light. That’s right, puss-ass lasers and an alien kitty space light. Is there some deep symbolic meaning? Ella Dorn solidly theorizes they are an extension of Madge’s Mother of Creation NFT series. This depiction is disarming and HILARIOUS. Madonna told Rolling Stone UK: “I really have to give credit to these guys in terms of visuals for each environment,” nodding to the TORSO directors. “Specifically, I never would have imagined lasers coming out of girls’ pussies. Honestly, I really wanted to try it, but apparently, you get quite hot.”
People are talking. ✅ Side thought: Madge has her eyes set on a biopic feature film or Netflix series, but I think her Oscar-worthy talents are in short film.
The film cameos are priceless— yes, we’re looking at you Benedict Cumberbatch, you dancin’ fool! Watch it here in all its glory.
The film features six songs from Confessions II, including
“Good for the Soul”
“One Step Away,” This is my favorite track in the film. One verse:
“Even in the shadows where there’s nowhere lеft to hide
Nighttime comes bеfore the dawn
Come and get salvation, all God’s children can be saved
We’re all waiting for our freedom”
“Bring Your Love” with Sabrina Carpenter. When Motha says she has something she wants to talk about, The Machine gets justifiably nervous.
“I know where the bodies are buried Don’t try to shut me up
Don’t try to distract me with numbers
I did it all for love”
There’s a symbolic passing of the torch to Carpenter. It’s time for the next gen to lead with love and intention, not clicks and likes.
“Danceteria” - A tribute to the club and musical influences that launched Mother’s career. (Love the bathroom dryer reference.) The call to action: Everybody Get Up and Dance.
Pop Culture Moment? In May, Motha posted on Instagram: “If your Dance floor feels dead Maybe you’re playing the wrong music." Many speculate it was a jab at Charli xcx’ song lyric from “Rock Music” that claims “I think the dance floor is dead/ So now we’re making rock music.” This post is sound industry advice more than a jab. Madonna reportedly used cocaine in the club bathroom to convince DJ Mark Kamins to play her demo. When playing the tape, Kamins watched the dance floor to see how people reacted. If they stay and get wild, you have a hit. If they start to leave, change the music— and fast.
“Read My Lips” with Colombian superstar Feid. There’s a big reveal on this one!
6. “I Feel So Free” DJ’s are calling this the Song of The Summer. Credits roll longer than most feature films. What an undertaking!
The irony of using digital technology to cancel digital tech addiction does not escape anyone. The technology carries the message to audiences who can only be reached through it, but the message stands. Turn off the phones, forget the number of followers or clicks. Stop watching life on a screen and live it through physical movement and human touch. Break the algorithms, subvert AI. Change the rules! Find your own rhythm and share it with others. Leave thought control and isolation behind.
Gen X and Baby Boomers grew up on this metaphorical dance floor. We can do it again and show the younger generations how if we’re willing to sideline our online comfort zones and convenience. Meanwhile, we have Motha’s alien kitty space light leading the way.
One more thought: Marketing and PR companies may want to overhaul their client strategies ASAP. Because if history repeats itself, a new digital-to-dance revolution has already begun.
Stay tuned for Part II, coming shortly!
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As a big Madge fan and someone who hopes to review the album (ideally publishing Monday or Tuesday but who knows), I’m definitely looking back at this a bunch to help form my argument! Whether i wind up liking or disliking the album or just being meh on it. And i was listening to “In This Life” yesterday and yeah, she really was the first pop icon to write music about the devastation of AIDS in such a personal way. I feel like that part of her legacy has gone overlooked a bit.
This was such an excellent read!!! Such an icon.