Here some examples of Madonna's CD cover artwork from 1983 - 2008
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These CD images above demonstrate Madonna's changing images throughout her career as a music artist. Image 1 portrays Madonna as a vulnerable artist, and seeing as this was her first album cover in 1983, this would have made sense. However, this quite plain black and white artwork represents her as quite a unique artist, and also symbolises a sense of vougerism. Seeing as she has direct eye contact with the audience, this imediately draws them in to her image and "original image". The text is written vertically, twice. This unusual approach, is unconventional to viewers eyes, therefore they have to spend more time accessing the artwork, therefore hopefully becoming more interested. The title of her first album, "Madonna", is fairly simple and I hope, when we design our CD cover we thing of an original title which is appropriate to the song and our artist's own image.
In image 2 Madonna, due to her being more confident, has shut her eyes, as if in some kinda of fantasy. This technique takes the audience in to her "pretend world" and makes them more interested to find out what she is thinking. This ambiguity makes the audience feel as if they should buy the album, just to find out why this pose is being taken, and hopefully the songs will provide answers. Similary to image 1, Madonna's costume, hair and make up are very suited to the time period, early to mid eighties. This approachable mise and scene helps the audience relate to her, therefore increasing the artist/audience bond. In our CD cover, I hope to engage the audience's interest through the eye contact or eye direction rather than having the eyes completely shut.
In Madonna's 3rd and 4th album, they create a certain sense of voguresism, definetley through the shot of Madonna's wasit in image 3 and throught the album name of "Eroticia" in image 4. This convention in artwork, is a very clever way of attracting the opposite sex. Madonna has chosen to use a shot of her open mouthed in her "Eroticia" album artwork, this creates a strong sense of sexual references, and could engage certain audience members, maybe through shock, or maybe though excitement. Image 3 creates almost a "cowboy" sense, due to her hand position around the belt, similar to image 6. This close up on Madonna's waist is also promoting a sexual reference, however this time, it is less blunt. Therefore again attracting attention from a wide range audience.
The "Bedtime Stories" album also promotes a sexual innuendo, and could be slightly mis-leading. This album, again attracts various viewers, however this time the wide open eyes enhance the relationship and create an obvious relationship between her and her fans. The make up heavily enhances her eyes and lips, which make them stand out, therefore again suggesting a underlying message of sex. The title of this album, could also be confused as a children's album, due to the title "Bedtime stories". In our compact disc cover I hope to use the star to convey an image for the song, using maybe slightly ambiguity but still making the image and message of the star clear.
The "Music" album cover and the "American Life" album cover show two contrasting images that Madonna has tried to create. Album 6 consists of her first ever mid shot, which shows the whole upper body, with open eyes, and again the "cowboy" kind of effect, with the hat, shirt and the text logo. Her next album, is again a mid shot, however this image is very dark, shocking but effective. The heavy blacks and reds, make the album stand out and portray the image of historical America. This album, compared to her other ones is quite shocking, therefore hopefully attracting fans and other wider members of the public to look at it, buy it, and appreciate her music.
Her five year break, made her come back in 2008 with "Confessions on a Dancefloor". This album artwork is extrememly different to "American Life" and shows Madonna, again not facing the audience but posing in a flexible dance position. This again, creates a promiscuous image, and therefore attracts a male audience. However also, stereotypically dancing, is a female interest, therefore this image will also appeal to a wider female audience. The colour scheme in this album, is initially female orientated with the pinks, purples and silver, therefore the image has to make big impression on the male population for them to be interested. This modern cover, creates a relateable image, therefore again, increasing the audience/ artist connection and relationship. In our CD cover I would like for it to appeal to a male and female audience and not be heavily one sided.
Madonna is a perfect example of changing styles and images to appear fresh and original in the ever changing music industry. This technique helps her discover new themes and ideas, therefore increasing her fans and population interest. I hope that our cover has a continuous image throughout the music video and the website, therefore audience members can understand.
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