Two pop princesses join forces on Sabrina Carpenters new single "Bring your Love". Lundagårds Anabel Schüler has listened to the new track.
This is a review. The author is responsible for the opinions expressed in the text
Long-established as the “Queen of Pop”, Madonna joins pop star Sabrina Carpenter on “Bring Your Love”, bringing together two generations of pop music. After Madonna’s surprise appearance at Sabrina Carpenter’s Coachella performance on Friday, 18th of April, the two artists announced their joint single “Bring Your Love” on Instagram. On stage, the duo amazed the crowd by performing Madonna’s iconic classics like “Vogue” and “Like a Prayer” alongside their new song from Madonna’s upcoming album Confessions II, a sequel to Madonna’s 2005 record Confessions on a Dancefloor.
“Bring Your Love” opens with Madonna’s iconic whispered line “Ask yourself what are you doing it for? Is it for you? Is it for them?” over a disco-dance beat. The lyrics follow a theme centred around the question of motivation. The question is finally answered simply: The motivation is love. Specifically, it´s their love of making music and their devotion to show business that keeps them coming back, rather than a fear of external judgement or an obsession with commercialised numbers.
It highlights perseverance out of love in an industry of idolization, public scrutiny and pressure. This sentiment seems to be transgenerational that Madonna has been dealing with for decades, and that Sabrina Carpenter also encounters, particularly as someone who entered the industry at such a young age and is establishing herself as a serious artist.
While this message is appealing, it is also quite familiar. It reflects a trend in popular music of artists repeatedly asserting that “they do it for love” in an industry that remains highly commercialised. Because of this, the single does not elevate itself lyrically.
The choice to perform this song for the first time at Coachella seems contradictory as it highlights the tension between passion and business behind the music industry. In recent years, the festival has been criticised for its increasing corporate and social media influence and the owner’s political connections to anti-LGBTQ+ organisations and the Trump government. In that context, a message about doing things purely out of love can feel flat and disregarding of the broader social, political and economic complexities behind the music industry.
The most interesting aspect of the single lies in the dynamic between the two singers, their voices interplay and mirror a dialogue, adding layers to the otherwise somewhat generic lyrics. The vocals are carried by the catchy electro-pop beat that takes centre stage, at times overshadowing Madonna’s usually strong performance and Sabrina Carpenter’s characteristically flirtatious lightness. The electro-pop production ultimately carries the single, making it feel modern but 2000s disco at the same time. This reflects a synthesis of the duo, merging Madonna’s 2000s disco style with Carpenter’s modern and playful pop.
