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==Live performance==
==Live performance==
[[File:Milesawaysticky&sweet.jpg|right|thumb|170px|Madonna performing "Miles Away" wearing a [[gypsy]] inspired black dress and pink ribbons, while playing an acoustic guitar]]
⚫
Madonna performed "Miles Away" in both the "Hard Candt Promo Tour" and the 2008-2009 [[Sticky & Sweet Tour]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/madonna/39108|title=Madonna's 'Sticky & Sweet' world tour secrets revealed|date=August 21, 2008|work=[[NME.com]]|accessdate=2009-04-23}}</ref> Both performances were similar. In the [[Sticky & Sweet Tour]], "Miles Away" was performed during the [[gypsy]] segment of the show. Madonna wore a gypsy inspired [[Givenchy]] long cape over a black dress with pink colored ribbons around her neck. She also wore black stockings on her leg.<ref name="eonline">{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b23357_givenchy_outfits_madonna_tour.html|title=Givenchy Outfits Madonna Tour |last=Serpe|first=Gina|date=August 12, 2008|work=[[E! Online]]|publisher=eee.eonline.com|accessdate=2009-04-23}}</ref> Before starting the song she said, "This is for all who know the struggle of long distance relationships. I know you're out there." While her dancers gather and sit down in a circle around her, Madonna plays the acoustic guitar and encourages the crowd to clap and sing along. The screens give another message to the song, showing a stream of world maps and passport stamps and the journey of gypsies travelling around the world, conveniently adding to the atmosphere of the Gypsy section of the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mad-eyes.net/disco/hard-candy/miles-away.htm|title=Miles Away song page|work=MadEyes.net|accessdate=2009-04-23}}</ref> After the breakup between Madonna and [[Guy Ritchie]] was announced, Madonna, during a performance of "Miles Away" in the Boston leg of the tour, dedicated the song to the "emotionally retarded". She then added, "You may know a few people who fall into that category - God knows I do" probably referring to Guy himself although this has not been confirmed.<ref name="thesun">{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article1822469.ece|title=See Madonna's swipe at Ritchie|date=October 17, 2008|work=[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]]|publisher=www.thesun.co.uk|accessdate=2009-04-23}}</ref>

⚫
Madonna performed "Miles Away" in both the Hard Candy Promo Tour and the 2008-2009 [[Sticky & Sweet Tour]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/madonna/39108|title=Madonna's 'Sticky & Sweet' world tour secrets revealed|date=August 21, 2008|work=[[NME.com]]|accessdate=2009-04-23}}</ref> Both performances were similar. In the [[Sticky & Sweet Tour]], "Miles Away" was performed during the [[gypsy]] segment of the show. Madonna wore a gypsy inspired [[Givenchy]] long cape over a black dress with pink colored ribbons around her neck. She also wore black stockings on her leg.<ref name="eonline">{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b23357_givenchy_outfits_madonna_tour.html|title=Givenchy Outfits Madonna Tour |last=Serpe|first=Gina|date=August 12, 2008|work=[[E! Online]]|publisher=eee.eonline.com|accessdate=2009-04-23}}</ref> Before starting the song she said, "This is for all who know the struggle of long distance relationships. I know you're out there." While her dancers gather and sit down in a circle around her, Madonna plays the acoustic guitar and encourages the crowd to clap and sing along. The screens give another message to the song, showing a stream of world maps and passport stamps and the journey of gypsies travelling around the world, conveniently adding to the atmosphere of the gypsy section of the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mad-eyes.net/disco/hard-candy/miles-away.htm|title=Miles Away song page|work=MadEyes.net|accessdate=2009-04-23}}</ref> After the breakup between Madonna and [[Guy Ritchie]] was announced, Madonna, during a performance of "Miles Away" in the Boston leg of the tour, dedicated the song to the "emotionally retarded". She then added, "You may know a few people who fall into that category - God knows I do" the line being a probable reference to Guy himself although this has not been confirmed.<ref name="thesun">{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article1822469.ece|title=See Madonna's swipe at Ritchie|date=October 17, 2008|work=[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]]|publisher=www.thesun.co.uk|accessdate=2009-04-23}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==

Revision as of 03:46, 24 April 2009

"Miles Away"
Song

"Miles Away" is a song by American singer Madonna from her eleventh studio album, Hard Candy. It was first released as a promotional single in Japan in June 2008, due to it being the theme for the Fuji TV Japanese drama Change.[1] The song was officially released as the third and final single from the album on October 17, 2008 by Warner Bros. Records. "Miles Away" is a melancholy electronic ballad which was written by Madonna and Timbaland and is inspired by Madonna's then husband Guy Ritchie. Lyrically the song deals with long distance relationships.

"Miles Away" has been critically appreciated for being a harmonious ballad speaking of true feelings. The song is considered one of the finer moments from Hard Candy although it has been compared to Justin Timberlake's 2006 single "What Goes Around.../...Comes Around". "Miles Away" was not very successful on the charts reaching only the top forty in most countries. However in the United States, the song was a success on the dance charts, where it became Madonna's seventh consecutive number one song on the Hot Dance Airplay chart, the most for an artist, as well as reaching two on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song has been performed by Madonna in the Sticky & Sweet Tour where she performed it in the gypsy segemtnt of the show wearing a long cape with colored ribbons.

Writing and inspiration

The music for "Miles Away" was the first to be among all the other songs of Hard Candy, and Madonna began singing and writing for the song after listening to it.[2] In an interview with MSN, Madonna said that the song was inspired by her (then)husband, Guy Ritchie. "You realise so many people have to deal with long distance relationships. It's not easy. You have to work hard to make it work."[3] When asked if the song was autobiographical, she said:

Probably in many respects most of the songs [on Hard Candy] are [autobiographical]. But in more of an unconscious way. I don't really think about telling personal stories when I'm writing music. It just comes. And then a lot of times, six months later, eight months later, I go, "Oh, that's what I wrote that song about." But that's when I play the song for lots of people and they all go, "Oh, I can totally relate to that." In "Miles Away" I'm tapping into the global consciousness of people who have intimacy problems.[4]

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Australia Madonna further explained her inspiration behind the song and stated,

"That's a song most people who work can relate to. If part of your work is travelling, and the person you are with also works and travels, you find yourself separated a lot and it can be very frustrating, [...] I'm American and he[Guy Ritchie] is British, and I have to come to America all the time. [...] Especially at the beginning of our relationship, that long-distance thing was very frustrating. I also think it's easier for people to say things from a distance; it's safer."[5]

Music and lyrics

"Miles Away"
A 30 second sample to Madonna's "Miles Away"
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Musically "Miles Away" is a melancholy song[2] with influences of ballad in it.[6] The song carries the characteristic sound of Timbaland-Justin Timberlake production.[7] Generally a downtempo [8] electronic[9] song, "Miles Away" is accompanied by galloping beats and backing vocals which sings the lines "So far away".[10]

Lyrically, "Miles Away" deals with a relationship in trouble. Madonna said that it's not difficult to express herself lyrically without giving away too much of her own privacy.[2] Though Madonna has said before that the song is about Guy Ritchie, it has been speculated that lines from the lyrics of the song like this: "You always have the biggest heart when we're 6,000 miles apart," told about the then failing marriage between Madonna and Guy.[11] "Miles

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from critics. Kerri Mason of Billboard called the song a harmonious ballad which alongwith the single "4 Minutes might be some of her best work yet". But she also said that the song sounded familiar and compared it with Timbaland's 2008 single "Apologize".[6] Caryn Ganz from Rolling Stone deemed the song having a melancholy pining.[11] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic Guide called the icy heartbreak of "Miles Away" to be a worthy successor of Justin Timberlake's 2006 single "What Goes Around.../...Comes Around".[12] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said that the song has the typical ensuring quality of the production of Timbaland and Justin Timberlake, and bears the "pair's distinct, modern stamp, making Hard Candy more than just a throwback to Donna Summer, Anita Ward, and Quaaludes."[7] Chris William from Entertainment Weekly called the song to be among the "few actual confessions on this dance floor [Hard Candy] — enough to give the tabs speculative fodder." However even he also compared the song to "What Goes Around".[13]

A review by DJ Xenergy in About.com for the album Hard Candy, said that the lyrics of the song were meaningful and also complemented on the voice of Madonna.[14] Joan Anderman of The Boston Globe said that Madonna's journey "from shameless seductress to thoughtful student produces nary a ballad, but some seriously bittersweet tones linger under the surface of these effusive tunes." He also said that the song has a peace of mind quality in it.[8] Joey Guerra from The Houston Chronicle complemented the galloping beats and melodic backing vocals of "Miles Away" and said that it "sounds like late-'80s Madonna".[10] Alex Petridis from The Guardian said Madonna sings the song "with the emotional engagement of a sat-nav suggesting a right turn onto the A23."[15] Miles Marshall Lewis of The Village Voice said that with "Miles Away", Madonna comes closest "to reflecting on her married-with-children bliss (or lack thereof)."[16] Tom Young from the BBC said called the song "genuinely good, genuinely felt" and compared it with some of Madonna's other hit songs like "Holiday", "Into the Groove", "Ray of Light" and "Music".[9] Pete Paphides of The Times called the song "excellent".[17] However, Thomas Hauner of PopMatters.com reviewed the song negatively saying "At one point the album’s tediousness [...] is such that one assumes Ashlee Simpson and Britney have already passed on the material because even they deemed it too redundant.[18]

Chart performance

In the United States "Miles Away" charted on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and peaked at number two being kept from the top spot by the Pussycat Dolls single "I Hate This Part.[19][20] The song also became Madonna's ninth single to top the Hot Singles Sales chart.[20] It also debuted at number fifteen on the Hot Dance Airplay chart and reached number one in its December 27, 2008 issue. This feat gave Madonna her seventh consecutive number one single on the Hot Dance Aiplay chart making her the artist with the most Dance Airplay hits on this chart.[21] On the issue dated December 20, 2008 "Miles Away" debuted and peaked at ninety-nine on the Pop 100 chart and dropped off the chart the following week.[22] "Miles Away" has not charted on the Billboard Hot 100, and even failed to chart in the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, becoming Madonna's first song to do so since "Burning Up" (1983).

"Miles Away" debuted at number ninety on the Canadian Hot 100.[23] The next week it dropped out of the chart, but made a re-entry and climbed up to the top forty peaking at twenty-three for the issue dated December 13, 2008.[24] The song was released in Japan as the second promotional single from Hard Candy (following "4 Minutes"[25][26]). It peaked at five on the Japan Hot 100 Singles chart.[27]

On November 30, 2008 the song entered the UK Singles Chart at thirty-nine.[28] It dropped to sixty-eight the following week and then dropped off the chart.[29] The song debuted at number thirty-nine in the Dutch Top 40 for the issue dated September 20, 2008[30] and reached a peak of ten for the issue dated November 15, 2008.[31]

With no physical release, and only the album version available digitally, "Miles Away" is Madonna's lowest performing single in Australia, not entering the official chart. However the Thin White Duke Mix, has charted at number 28 on the Australian Club Charts. In Spain "Miles away" became her third consecutive single from "Hard Candy" to reach number one on the official Los 40 Principales singles chart.[32] In rest of the countries "Miles Away" peaked within the top forty of the official charts.[33][34]

Live performance

Madonna performing "Miles Away" wearing a gypsy inspired black dress and pink ribbons, while playing an acoustic guitar

Madonna performed "Miles Away" in both the Hard Candy Promo Tour and the 2008-2009 Sticky & Sweet Tour.[35] Both performances were similar. In the Sticky & Sweet Tour, "Miles Away" was performed during the gypsy segment of the show. Madonna wore a gypsy inspired Givenchy long cape over a black dress with pink colored ribbons around her neck. She also wore black stockings on her leg.[36] Before starting the song she said, "This is for all who know the struggle of long distance relationships. I know you're out there." While her dancers gather and sit down in a circle around her, Madonna plays the acoustic guitar and encourages the crowd to clap and sing along. The screens give another message to the song, showing a stream of world maps and passport stamps and the journey of gypsies travelling around the world, conveniently adding to the atmosphere of the gypsy section of the show.[37] After the breakup between Madonna and Guy Ritchie was announced, Madonna, during a performance of "Miles Away" in the Boston leg of the tour, dedicated the song to the "emotionally retarded". She then added, "You may know a few people who fall into that category - God knows I do" the line being a probable reference to Guy himself although this has not been confirmed.[38]

Track listing

Charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
Austrian Singles Chart[33] 21
Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders)[33] 31
Belgian Singles Chart (Wallonia)[33] 39
Canadian Hot 100[24] 23
Danish Singles Chart[33] 39
Dutch Top 40[31] 10
Finnish Singles Chart[33] 13
French Singles Chart[33] 54
German Singles Chart[34] 11
Japan Hot 100 Singles[27] 5
Spain Singles Chart[32] 1
Swedish Singles Chart[33] 25
Swiss Singles Chart[33] 32
UK Singles Chart[28] 39
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[19] 2
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Airplay[21] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Singles Sales[20] 1
U.S. Billboard Pop 100[22] 99
Preceded by U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Airplay number one single
December 27, 2008 - January 10, 2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by U.S. Billboard Hot Singles Sales number-one single
January 3, 2009 - January 10, 2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
"Lemon Pop" by Cooper
 Spain Singles chart number-one single
December 14, 2008 - December 21, 2008 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ Ryall, Julian (March 24, 2008). "Madonna song used for Japanese TV drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  2. ^ a b c Stevenson, Jane (April 25, 2008). "The JAM! Madonna interview". Sun Media. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  3. ^ Gannon, Louise. "Madonna Interview". MSN Music. Microsoft. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  4. ^ Sischy, Ingrid (April 2008). "Madonna: the one and only, on her life unchained". Interview magazine. CNET Networks, Inc. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  5. ^ Moran, Jonathan (April 20, 2008). "Madonna shows her soft side". The Daily Telegraph, Australia. www.news.com.au. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  6. ^ a b Mason, Kerri (May 3, 2008). "Madonna makes producers, producers don't make Madonna". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  7. ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (April 23, 2008). "Madonna: Hard Candy". Slant Magazine. www.slantmagazine.com. Retrieved 2009-04-22. {{cite web}}: Text "Music Review" ignored (help)
  8. ^ a b Anderman, Joan (April 27, 2008). "On her 11th CD, Madonna still has control issues". The Boston Globe. www.boston.com/ae. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  9. ^ a b Young, Tom (April 25, 2008). "Easy to chew, Hard Candy is everything you'd hope for from a Madonna album". BBC. BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  10. ^ a b Guerra, Joey (April 28, 2008). "Big-name help, production mostly a success". The Houston Chronicle. www.chron.com. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  11. ^ a b Ganz, Caryn (May 1, 2008). "Madonna Hard Candy review". Rolling Stone. www.rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  12. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (April 29, 2008). "allmusic ((( Hard Candy > Overview )))". Allmusic Guide. www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  13. ^ Williams, Chris (April 18, 2008). "Hard Candy (2008)". Entertainment Weekly. www.ew.com. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  14. ^ Xenergy, DJ (April 28, 2008). "Madonna - 'Hard Candy'". About.com. Dancemusic.about.com. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  15. ^ Petridis, Alex (April 25, 2008). "Madonna, Hard Candy". The Guardian. www.guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  16. ^ Lewis, Miles Marshall (May 6, 2008). "A half-centenarian provides more porny pop excellence". The Village Voice. Village Voice Media. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  17. ^ Paphides, Pete (April 8, 2008). "Madonna: Hard Candy". The Times. entertainment.timesonline.com. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  18. ^ Hauner, Thomas (April 29, 2008). "Madonna". PopMatters.com. www.popmatters.com. Retrieved 2009-04-22. {{cite web}}: Text "Hard Candy" ignored (help)
  19. ^ a b "Madonna - Miles Away - Hot Dance Club Play". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. February 21, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  20. ^ a b c Bronson, Fred (December 29, 2008). "Madonna, Pussycat Dolls, Beyonce". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  21. ^ a b Bronson, Fred (December 18, 2008). "Straight No Chaser, Elvis Presley, Madonna, Brandy". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  22. ^ a b "Madonna - Miles Away - Pop 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 20, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  23. ^ "Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. acharts.us. May 17, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  24. ^ a b "Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. acharts.us. December 13, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  25. ^ "Madonna Collectables: Miles Away Japanese Promo". Madonna Tribe. Retrieved 2008-08-21. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  26. ^ "『ハード・キャンディー』絶好調！日本のセカンドシングル曲が決定！". Warner Music Japan (in Japanese). www.wmg.jp. 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  27. ^ a b "Madonna - Miles Away - Japan Hot 100 Singles". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-08-21. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |1&N= ignored (help)
  28. ^ a b "UK Singles Chart". The Official Charts Company. acharts.us. November 30, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  29. ^ "UK Singles Chart". The Official Charts Company. acharts.us. December 7, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  30. ^ "Dutch Top 40". MegaCharts. acharts.us. September 20, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  31. ^ a b "Dutch Top 40". MegaCharts. acharts.us. November 15, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  32. ^ a b "Spain Singles Chart". Los 40 Principales. acharts.us. December 14, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Madonna - Miles Away chart positions". Ultratop 40. Ultratop. November 21, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  34. ^ a b "Madonna - Miles Away chart positions". acharts.us. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  35. ^ "Madonna's 'Sticky & Sweet' world tour secrets revealed". NME.com. August 21, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  36. ^ Serpe, Gina (August 12, 2008). "Givenchy Outfits Madonna Tour". E! Online. eee.eonline.com. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  37. ^ "Miles Away song page". MadEyes.net. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  38. ^ "See Madonna's swipe at Ritchie". The Sun. www.thesun.co.uk. October 17, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  39. ^ "Madonna Collectables: Miles Away Japanese Promo". Madonna Tribe. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  40. ^ "Madonna Collectables: Miles Away US Promo". Madonna Tribe. Retrieved 2008-08-29. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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