GHV2

GHV2
Greatest hits by Madonna
Released	November 12, 2001 (EU) November 13, 2001 (NA) December 11, 2001 (Special Edition)
Recorded	1992-2000
Genre	Pop, Electronica, Dance
Length	68:24
Label	Maverick, Warner Bros.
Producer	Madonna, Shep Pettibone, Dave "Jam" Hall, Dallas Austin, Nigel Wright, Alan Parker, Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Caddick, Nellee Hooper, William Orbit, Patrick Leonard, Babyface, Mirwais Ahmadzaï, Guy Sigsworth, Mark "Spike" Stent
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Robert Christgau (B+) link PopMatters link
Madonna chronology
Music (2000) GHV2 (2001) American Life (2003) Singles from GHV2 "Thunderpuss GHV2 Megamix" Released: November, 2001 (Promo only)

GHV2 (an abbreviation of Greatest Hits Volume 2) is the second greatest hits compilation album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on November 12, 2001 by Maverick Records. It is the follow-up to the 1990 release, The Immaculate Collection. It does not contain any new recordings and was released to coincide with the live video release, Drowned World Tour 2001. The RIAA certified it Gold and Platinum on Dec 12, 2001, denoting one million shipments in the United States. Worldwide, the album has sold more than seven million units.^[1][2][3] It was the 12th best selling album of 2001.^[4] A promotional only remix album, GHV2 Remixed: The Best of 1991—2001, was released to accompany it.

Album history

The album had various working titles of The Second Coming, Hit Lady - Greatest Hits Volume 2 and The Immaculate Collection Part Deux, but Madonna decided to name it GHV2 because "it's a title you will remember" and also because of "laziness", due to the fact that she had just finished the Drowned World Tour and was about to begin filming Swept Away.^[5] GHV2 was released on the eleventh anniversary of The Immaculate Collection, featuring a selection of hits ranging from "Erotica" (1992) to "What It Feels Like for a Girl" (2001). Madonna felt that because it was a "greatest hits", it should only contain previously released hit songs.

In an interview with BBC's Jo Whiley, Madonna said about the selection of the GHV2 tracks, "I only wanted songs that I could listen to five times in a row." Like The Immaculate Collection, there were many other popular singles excluded. "American Pie", which was a big hit, was excluded as a "punishment", because Madonna regretted putting it on the Music album. "It was something a certain record company executive twisted my arm into doing, but it didn't belong on the album so now it's being punished," she said.

Also omitted were "This Used to Be My Playground" (1992), "I'll Remember" (1994), "You'll See" (1995), and "Rain" (1993), which had all appeared on the 1995 ballads compilation Something to Remember. Other hits, "Fever" (1993),"Bye Bye Baby" (1993), "Bad Girl" (1993), "You Must Love Me" (1996) and "Nothing Really Matters" (1999) were also left out.

To avoid an "explicit lyrics" label, an edit of "Human Nature" was included, in which the line, "I'm not your bitch, don't hang your shit on me", is removed. Of the other 14 songs, nine other songs were also edited down from their original album versions.

The cover picture is from a 2001 photo shoot for the Drowned World Tour, by Regan Cameron. The logo in the right corner says "Madonna", and "GHV2". The Japanese lettering (モヂジラミミヂ) is the result of typing the letters 'M-A-D-O-N-N-A' on an English keyboard but with the keys re-mapped to their positions on a Japanese 'kana' keyboard. It can be pronounced as "Mo-Di-Ji-Ra-Mi-Mi-Di" and does not mean anything in Japanese. The proper translation for Madonna is: マドンナ.^{[citation needed]}

"GHV2" can also be seen on the cover picture on Madonna's eye. Kevin Reagan contributed artwork to the inner sleeve. A special edition of GHV2, featuring the same track listing, but some additional artwork, was released in December 2001. Hidden in the inner sleeve album artwork of both editions of GHV2 is a quote from "Human Nature": "Express Yourself, Don't Repress Yourself."

This was Madonna's most recent greatest hits collection until Celebration in 2009.

Promotion

The album was given very little promotion with no singles released apart from the promotional only "GHV2 Megamix". Madonna did however make an appearance at the 2001 Turner Prize award ceremony and mentioned that she "had a new record out called GHV2". She gave the award to Martin Creed^[6] and gave a controversial speech and said, "At a time when political correctness is valued over honesty I would also like to say right on motherfuckers!"^[7] This was on live TV before the 9 p.m. "watershed", and an attempt to "bleep" it out was too late.

Channel 4 were subsequently given an official rebuke by the Independent Television Commission.^[8]

Track listing

Additional notes

• all tracks are album versions except where indicated
• "Erotica": contains samples of "Jungle Boogie" performed by Kool and the Gang and "El Yom 'Ulliqa 'Ala Khashaba" by Arabic singer Fairuz (the latter is uncredited); ASCAP has officially added Anthony Shimkin as co-writer of this song. This has been added in the I'm Going to Tell You a Secret and The Confessions Tour live albums credits.
• "Human Nature": contains a sample of "What You Need" performed by Main Source.
• "Drowned World/Substitute for Love": contains a sample of "Why I Follow the Tigers" performed by the San Sebastian Strings.
• "What It Feels Like for a Girl": David Torn has been credited as songwriter by ASCAP; contains an excerpt from the motion picture The Cement Garden.

Chart performance

"Erotica" (1992) The song debuted at 2 in the Hot 100 Airplay, a record that remains till date. "Secret" (1994) The first single from the Bedtime Stories album. "Ray of Light" (1998) The electronica and alternative rock sound of the song were unexplored territory for Madonna. "Beautiful Stranger" (1999) The theme song for the 1999 Austin Powers film won a Grammy Award. "Don't Tell Me" (2000) The song has a country-resembling sound because of the guitars.

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Notes:

• ^  * As of August 2009, the album has sold 1,385,000 copies in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan,^[24] with an additional 90,000 sold at BMG Music Clubs.^[25] Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service.^[26]

Radio promotional samplers

In 2001, six and five track CD samplers were released to radio stations to promote the release of GHV2. The samplers contained some of Madonna's biggest hit singles from 1991-2001.

Six-track radio sampler

1. "Erotica"
2. "Bedtime Story"
3. "The Power of Good-Bye"
4. "Drowned World/Substitute for Love"
5. "Music"
6. "Don't Tell Me"

Five-track radio sampler

1. "Deeper and Deeper"
2. "Human Nature"
3. "Secret"
4. "Frozen"
5. "Music

GHV2 Megamix

"GHV2 Megamix"
Single by Madonna
Released	November, 2001
Format	12" promo single CD promo single
Recorded	2001
Genre	Pop
Length	4:52
Label	Maverick, Warner Bros.

In November 2001, Maverick released a promotional megamix to promote the album. It was never released commercially.

History

The "Thunderpuss GHV2 Megamix" was the most common version used by radio stations and the version used in the music video. The songs featured (in chronological order) were: "Don't Tell Me", "Erotica", "Secret", "Frozen", "What It Feels Like for a Girl", "Take a Bow", "Deeper and Deeper", "Music" and "Ray of Light" Other remixes were produced by Johnny Rocks & Mac Quayle and Tracy Young.

The remix went to #5 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 2001 and charted under the title "Madonna Megamix". The original Thunderpuss version has some spoken words at the beginning of "Deeper and Deeper": this was a recorded message used on the early Internet to promote the album Bedtime Stories. The "Thunderpuss GHV2 Megamix" video is compiled of images of live performances and 23 Madonna videos. It was directed by Dago Gonzalez of Veneno Inc.

Official versions

• Thunderpuss Original Version (4:51)
• Thunderpuss Long Edit (4:47)
• Thunderpuss Medium Edit (4:19)
• Thunderpuss Short Edit (3:30)
• Thunderpuss Club Mix Part I (12:55)
• Thunderpuss Club Mix Part II (10:28)
• Johnny Rocks & Mac Quayle Radio Mix (4:15)
• Johnny Rocks & Mac Quayle Club Mix (8:17)
• Johnny Rocks & Mac Quayle Dub (8:53)
• Tracy Young's Shake & Stir Club Mix (11:47)
• Tracy Young's Shake & Stir Dub (8:50)

GHV2 Remixed: The Best of 1991-2001

GHV2 Remixed: The Best of 1991-2001
Remix album by Madonna
Released	December 2001
Recorded	1992 - 2000
Genre	Pop, Electronica, Dance
Length	99:15
Label	Maverick, Warner Bros.
Producer	Madonna, Shep Pettibone, Dave "Jam" Hall, Dallas Austin, Nigel Wright, Alan Parker, Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Caddick, Nellee Hooper, William Orbit, Patrick Leonard, Mirwais Ahmadzaï, Guy Sigsworth, Mark "Spike" Stent, Chris Caligula, Timo Maas, BT, Sasha, Victor Calderone, Masters at Work, David Morales, Mark Picchiotti, Junior Vasquez, Hex Hector

In December 2001, Maverick Records also released a promotional album featuring remixed versions of tracks from GHV2. Like the promotional megamix single release, it was not made commercially available.^[27]

Album history

This compilation contains a remix of every song from the album GHV2, except "Take a Bow", "Don't Cry for Me Argentina", and "The Power of Good-Bye". The album was released as a double CD album and as a triple pack 12" set. It contains songs remixed and produced by some of the period's best remixers, including Victor Calderone, Junior Vasquez, BT, Sasha, Timo Maas, and Hex Hector.

Shep Pettibone is given writing credits for "Secret" for the first time in the liner notes.

The "Luscious Dub Mix" of "Bedtime Story", produced by Mark Picchiotti and Teri Bristol, previously appeared only on the "Chapter II" promo 12" single that was released in 1995. The album also contains a previously unreleased remix produced by Chris Staropoli titled "That Kid Chris Caligula 2001 Mix" of "What It Feels Like for a Girl".

Track listing

Disc 1 (50 min.)

1. "What It Feels Like for a Girl" (That Kid Chris Caligula 2001 Mix) – 9:51
2. "Don't Tell Me" (Timo Maas Mix) – 6:55
3. "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" (BT & Sasha Bucklodge Ashram Mix) – 9:27
4. "Human Nature" (Bottom Heavy Dub) – 7:56
5. "Frozen" (Calderone Extended Club Mix) – 11:17
6. "Erotica" (Masters at Work Dub) – 4:50

Disc 2 (52 min.)

1. "Deeper and Deeper" (David's Klub Mix) – 7:39
2. "Ray of Light" (Calderone Club Mix) – 9:30
3. "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Club Mix) – 10:12
4. "Bedtime Story" (Luscious Dub Mix) – 7:40
5. "Secret" (Junior's Sound Factory Dub) – 7:58
6. "Music" (HQ2 Club Mix) – 8:50

References

External links

• GHV2 at MusicBrainz
• "GHV2". Mad-Eyes. link - last accessed on August 10, 2007.