Madonna Reaction Secret (UNTIL YOU SHARE YOUR SECRET WITH ME?!?) | Empress Reacts 

The first single from Bedtime Stories produced with Dallas Austin . Pop with a heavy r&b and hip hop influence. The back beat us thumping🔥🔥. Madonna had a secret for everyone, the sound of this album. The Secret is that the same thing Dorothy found out, everything is already inside of you.

This album flows so so good . One of my favorites. Smooth. The video is beautiful. Love love this album!

Gorgeous song. Often overlooked hit in her vast catalog.

Ugh this is my favorite Madonna album so I get super touchy. Thank you for loving secret

1994. "Secret" was Madonna's "hold my beer" hit after all the prior controversy. Dope beat, dope instrumentation, dope lyrics -- "You knew all along what I never wanted to say..." -- and the pre-chorus slays, plus the wah-wah on the guitar solo. The video was all over MTV for a while -- sepia toned vintage retro tres chic, iirc.

Ohhh new era and this is one of my faves ever. Hope we get to hear the songs not too far apart :) It's also one of those albums that sounds great start to finish since theres a theme but the song are strong enough to stand by themselves obviously. This was actually the first single off the album and has great remixed and a cool video. Can't wait til you see that as well. This whole album is so soothing to me. Always feel good listening to it.

Mhhhhmmmmmmm somethin coming over meeee Haha this me drunk at bar commenting I ain’t even watch yet lol FIRST 🤪

My favorite era after her debut. Sadly, this era will be the last time we hear the raw Madonna voice as she will start vocal training for Evita; after which, she loses some of that Madonna "tone." Also, this album should be listened to in one sitting; it's a whole vibe. :)

When I first heard it, I couldn't believe it was Madonna. Loved it instantly. Wait for the video!

This was a single and it made me connect with a friend in high school. In gym class she was humming "Erotica" so I informed her Madonna had a new single, "Secret"! I remember the video coming out, it was a big deal. Amazing song, one of her best.

Secret was a single and hit #3, which meant after the Erotica controversy and the Letterman scandal interview, she was back with two top 3 singles in 1994 and it would only get better the following year...

The first time I heard this whole album, I was at a bar in The Gambia, West Africa. We knew the owners and I asked them to play it over and over. We danced, drank and had a ball!! Love this album. Secret was the first single off the album and I love the video and the theme of the video. And apparently the first compositions of this song came from none other than Shep Pettibone.

The meaning behind the song is about spiritual awakening and transformation. The song's overall message seems to be that a transformative Era has had a significant impact on a her life, helping her find happiness and purpose........as we all witnessed from 1994 through Ray of Light. The secret mentioned in the song may also represent the discovery of oneself.

When the song is such a fiyah bop that you forgot you already threw up ✋🏻🤚🏻 but you throw them up again for a second time 🤣🤣🤣 yes! I absolutely love Secret… this is such an underrated bop from an underrated album. Now you know I love Erotica and will not tolerate any shade towards it, but sadly the scandal overshadowed M’s career for a while and that extended a bit into this album. Secret was the first single… won’t spoil anything else but another track became a massive hit for her off this album, but that’s a little later in the journey. Enjoy the ride on this R&B inspired album. It had several producers, I think. One may surprise you.

FIRST TIME I HEARD SECRET: I was walking into a grocery store, when a DJ on the radio said something about a new Madonna single, and I was totally unaware that she was releasing a new album. I waited for the song to start playing and I KID YOU NOT...... within the first 5 SECONDS I was BLOWN AWAY from what I was listening and I got INSTANTLY ADDICTED to this song. To this day in 2023 SECRET is in my Top Ten Madonna songs EVER!!!!

So glad you liked this. I was nervous because it's one of my all time favorite Madunna songs. I never ever get sick of it. The chunky beat, the guitar, the humming, the lyrics... the only thing I would change is maybe the synth strings for live strings. But it works for the song. Dallas Austin produced this with Madonna - the other producers on the album were Babyface, Dave "Jam" Hall, and Nellee Hooper, who oversaw the whole thing and made it feel more cohesive. I have a feeling (don't throw rocks at me!) that this might be the last M era that you really LOVE. She has some amazing albums after this (Ray of Light, Music, Confessions) but they're much more electronic. This is her last real "soul"/R&B-influenced album. Anyway, can't wait to see what you think of the rest. The slow jams are 🔥...

You must see the remix video with the song remixed by Junior Vasquez. The remix catapulted the success of the song.

I love it! ❤ My favourite Madonna album after her debut ❤❤❤ And I love it that you love it, Empress!

This song blew me away first listen and still does to this day, such underappreciated gem. Lush melodies, the mmmmmm mmmmmm, low register.

Best album ever....soothing but troubled at the same time...lush but with bite...R&B always fits her like a glove...enjoy the journey

hands down one of my favarotie Madonna songs ever.I remember I was 13 years old when i first heard/saw it on MTV. It was early in the morning and I was too excited to go to school so I stayed at home and waited for it to come on again.

Yes!!!!!!!! FINALLY! This song just blew me away. I remember sitting on my bedroom floor, big ass headphones on, reading the lyrics as the tracks played. Memories.

So happy we're in the Bedtime Stories era now! This was the lead single to Bedtime Stories. I just remember thinking that for a lead single from a new album, it sounded so low key for her. I think this was the first time one of her songs (or at least a snippet of it) debuted online as well. This was 1994 though so most of us had to hear it the first time by listening to the radio. I really think you're going to enjoy this era. Secret is a good representation of just the overall mellow vibe of this era. Also, she gives some good interviews during the Bedtime Stories promo.

Love this track. Some of the material she recorded that didn’t make the album also slaps.

Back in the day, when this album was released, it was my go to for background music when people would come over for drinks or dinner… Many of them were always super surprised and impressed to find out it was a Madonna album when they asked who it was… 💚

One of my favorites from that era, fo sure!

I’m so happy you are entering bedtime stories era .. it’s exceptional , just as the album , the image , the vibe …. So happy to experience this with ya once again 👏🏻👏🏻☺️💓🌷

I called it before and I’m gonna call it again…Bedtime Stories Is gonna rocket to the 🔝 of Empress’ fave Madonna Albums list. It’ll dislodge the 1st album 💿 or maybe come a close second, that’s my prediction 🙂

The only negative thing about bedtime stories is there wasn’t a tour 😢 it’s her best album in my opinion she was on top again

I knew you'd love this! Such an iconic track. That beat and baseline is just incredible. But Survival into Secret was a perfect 1-2 punch of an album opening.

I'm really excited for this album for you. Not one of my favourites, but I predict it will be yours. This is Madonna's "chill-out" album. Best savoured with: A bath, a glass of wine, some candles.

Madonna mega fan since Burning Up and this song is STILL in my top 5 of all time. I remember deeply connecting to the self empowering message...It's kind of another version of the RuPaul classic quote- “If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?”

Yay Empress, So happy you’ve reached the Bedtime Stories era. In my top 5 Madonna albums. No two Madonna albums sound the same. Queen of reinvention. 🙌🏻 And that humming is now her signature. This era she truly showcased her vocal ability. And the music videos, 🔥. ❤

In my top 3 Madonna songs of all time. Her vocals are stunning

Yes secret was the first single from the album released in October 1994. Peaked at no.3 in the USA and the Uk and no.5 in Australia. Was no.1 for 10 weeks In Canada

Yessss so happy we're finally in this era and even happier that you loved the song, and you'll probably love it more and more at each listen 😁 It's since your reactions to Like a Virgin and True Blue that I think that this is the album that has the potential to dethrone the first album in your rank, maybe the only one in all of Madonna's discography...? The moment has come and we'll see now 👀 And for me it was a surprise at the time, specially because it wasn't nearly as promoted as Erotica or any other of her albums and first singles, there wasn't much buzz about it and suddenly this song was playing on the radio. And many of us were amazed that she was again exploring new sounds and another style of singing. Once again, it was different from everything we've heard from her before - but just as good. Yet another facet of hers appears in the pop horizon ✨

Woohoo! Glad to see you’re finally getting to the Bedtime Story era Empress! This is definitely one of my favorite Madonna albums and was the perfect change to her sound and image after Erotica. I of course love the 90s R&B/Hip Hop influence in the album and believe that can be attributed to Babyface who I think produced many of the tracks or at least some of them from what I remember. The other commenters will drop those facts for sure 😊. Your reaction to this song reminds me of my reaction when I first heard it! Thought it was an immediate 🔥bop and the video was perfect so can’t want to see your reaction to that!

Dallas Austin produced ‘Secret’ and he also produced Janet Jackson’s ‘Just A Little While’ from the blacklisted Damita Jo album.

***MADONNA "SECRET" (CHART) TRIVIA TIME!!*** ...I tried to post the trivia about the HUMONGOUS Club play the remixes provided, but my comment keeps getting removed (5x already!) ...SO, I'll keep it simple and leave the Dance Club play charts, where it was #1 Dance for 2 weeks....but, changed the COURSE of Dance Club Music, Thanks to Junior Vasquez..... DANCE (November 1994) : 10. Everything's Gonna Be Alright (Remixes) - Sounds Of Blackness 9. Absolutely Fabulous (Rollo remixes) - Pet Shop Boys 8. Turn The Beat Around (Remixes) - Gloria Estefan 7. Girls + Boys - The HED Boys 6. Can You Feel It - Reel 2 Real feat. The Mad Stuntman 5. Reach (Hex Hector Remix) - Patti Austin 4. Excited (Remixes) - M People 3. Running Away (E-Smoove Remixes)- Nicole 2. Dreamer - Livin' Joy 1. ***Secret (Vasquez mixes)*** - Madonna (1st wk. of 2 weeks)

Yay you’re finally up to Bedtime Stories, this was a favorite song of mine and especially the Junior Vasquez club remix which you must listen to, there is a shortened radio mix for it with the music video, that’s the only version I listen to nowadays, it has been a while since I heard this original.

That’s my sh*t!!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤ the whole album

To me the Secret is the law of attraction, The Secret, finding the good feeling within is the key to happiness, it lies in your hands

Secret and this album throughout were a return to soulful vocals of the first album.

The remix to this by Junior Vasquez is club royalty and legendarily iconic for the technical advancements of the time.

I really love the instrumental closing sequence . So sexychill

This is my fave Madonna album!! It's got a good mix of ballads and mid-tempo jams. This "Secret" song was ahead of it's time and about transsexualism!

Madonna and her hummings, that's her signature, she does it better than anybody else. This era was the first I went through, a new world had been discovered, from that day I've been living in Madonnaland. ❤

This song was huge on the raido back in the day

Erotica needed to happen but it was admittedly the lowest and darkest era so far in Madonna’s career. This begins the upswing of a really successful decade of music and accomplishments from Madonna. She was already an Icon, but the 90’s cemented Madonna’s longevity and proved she would have something to contribute for years to come. Names like “Chameleon” and “Queen of Reinvention” began to get thrown around. My prediction is Bedtime Stories may battle her debut album as your favorite, but ultimately being your 2nd fave….We’ll see.

When you get around to it, go check out Let Down Your Guard which was an outtake from the album and was on the Japanese single for Secret. It's fire!

Awesome Empress! This was Madonna's very first single from Bedtime Stories. The single and the video (no spoilers) were actually released a couple weeks before the album came out on my 17th birthday! From watching your reaction I've already got a pretty good idea that you're gonna love this album! I could be wrong, but we'll see! Was wondering what you thought of the album cover. Did you notice that her nose is pierced?

Omg finally bedtime stories i love this album and madonna is at her best when she dose pop/r&b the lyrics and production of this album are 🔥

Unpopular opinion??!! This is my favorite Madonna album, mostly because of the heavy R&B influences. I still listen to it today from start to finish ♥The video and (even the) remix to this song is pure fire!! Madonna wanted a softer more "innocent" vibe after coming off the Eroica era.

Yes, this song was a single. Loved this tune.!?This song came out in 94, but I clearly remember the daytime soap Port Charles using it in one of their commercial promos. It was called Port Charles: Secrets. 😆 “Secret”, “Human Nature” and “Take A Bow” were the biggest hits from that album. This is easily one of my favorite eras of Madonna.

Yay! Been waiting for this era! Underrated album. One of my fav songs from Madonna. Love your reaction!

This was the first single of the Album and I fall in LOVE of this song was great (the complete album is fire)

My top 3 favorite Madonna song ever. Her hmms are vocal dreams. I never get sick of this song.

I'm so glad that you threw 10s across the board for this song! This is one of my favorite Madonna songs. I was very pleasantly surprised by this song especially after her Erotica album even though we got Rain and I'll Remember as the melodic pop songs as singles. I love this song because of its positive and inspirational message of learning to love yourself before loving someone else because you can't give and receive love if you don't have it or didn't nurture, build and foster enough of it to begin with. Yes, this track was released as a single and I think that you will like the music video for this song.

One of my favorite madonna songs

I am so excited. There is not one bad track on this album.

Love this album. One of my favorites. Especially Love Tried to Welcome Me and Take a Bow.

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE this song! And, the album. While the album is still tonally a bit dark, because it explores a lot of the loneliness and alienation Madonna was moving through, at the time, because of erotica; it did feel like a big exhale and a bit of a release. Madonna kinda took on the world with erotica, and while it can be a “hard to love” masterpiece, it took a toll on our girl. And, led many fans away - as did the shift in music, at the time - grunge was everywhere…and, we were on the precipice of 90s RnB takeover. Another reason why bedtime stories was very of the moment. The groove of this song is undeniable. It’s well produced, well written, and well sung. This album is a complete pivot in the Madonna landscape. Bedtime stories is the perfect bridge (pallet cleanser) to/for Ray of Light. In all honesty, as a whole, BS holds up incredibly well, with most of it sounding as fresh today as it did in ‘94-‘95…except don’t stop…I still roll my eyes at that one.

Thing song definitely has a New Jack Swing vibe, which I love. I think Bedtime Stories is my favourite Madonna album. Secretly.

Heyyy Empress. I think this album might rival your fav so far 😉😘 i knew you’d like this one. Survival aswell. 2 fo 2 baby.

MY ALL TIME FAVORITE!!! GET INTO THE LYRICS! THIS IS MADONNAS MOST LYRICAL, ROMANTIC, POETIC ALBUM! I LOVE EVERY SONG! NO SKIPS! This song is what made me do a DEEP dive into Madonnas discography! I have no idea what the secret is! I went from masturbation, to drugs, to the positive message of loving yourself! 🤷‍♂️ Alot of her songs from here on out lyrics could mean multiple things which is kind of genius if you ask me!

Finally... Bedtime Stories (looks like your pup is also excited for this 🤣). This marks a comeback for Madonna... a return to the top of the charts!

Yesss you like the first 2 songs so far!!!! Improvement from erotica and like a paryer

This album was produced by Dallas Austin and some songs by Babyface. Dallas Austin was the hottest R&B producer in the 90's. He produced songs for TLC, LL Cool J, Toni Braxton, R Kelly, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Boys II Men, Monica, Mary J Blige, Michael Jackson and Madonna. But Madonna was not considered R&B by the industry, even when some of the beats from this album were also used for TLC's album which won the Grammy for Best R&B album that year. But anyway this album is so beautiful, very R&B, soft, sexy, silky smooth. And Secret is not only a masterpiece (and my second favorite Madonna song of all time), the video is also very very beautiful. Actually all videos from this album are amazing. I think the 90's was Madonna's most creative and artistic decade, and specially this era. And she never sounded so good, her vocals on this album are delicious.

Aawww the husky in the beginning of the video ❤️🤩

My first time hearing it was after a classmate told me about it, she’s like have you seen a new a Madonna video, then she sang the chorus tune to me, I was like nope! Then she lent me a VHS tape (no DVD’s back then) where she taped the vid ❤❤❤

one of her best songs just when the world tried to dismiss her after the SEX book, Madonna delves into the Nu Soul Jack Swing and Bjork Electro

She has a really good B-side from this album called “Your Honesty” and I think it was a real missed opportunity not to have it follow “Secret” on the track list.

Can't wait until you see the videos to this album. Def a whole dif direction than her previous albums. There is more of those hmmmhmmms coming in on later albums also. Btw, Erotica is still my number 1 album. There was just to many good songs on it, imo. 🙂

This is a great album Empress. And they under-promoted it.

Puppies going nuts love it x

Loved tried to welcome me is also another all time fave of mine. This album is solid. Video of Secret is good too.

So excited that you love Secret! Bedtime Stories is so underrated! Tens 🙌

THIS IS A GREAT POT SMOKING ALBUM. The 90s. Great album. You’ll love most of these tracks. It’s a mellow album for the most part. Except Human Nature which is a call back to the response to her Erotica era. EXCELLENT VIDEO.

Yay Empress! Let’s go Bedtime Stories, and before the new year lol! So happy you loved the song - can’t go wrong when M hums and uses her lower register. I was a teenager when this song came out - it was the first single from the album, with an amazing video. Yes it felt like she was back, and I immediately went to the music store for the CD single when released. Probably in my top 10 fav Madonna songs ❤ Enjoy because another studio album won’t come out until 1998

You have reach one of my all time favorite M songs. The video is 🔥🔥

Well, something's coming over her ;)

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

❤ 👍

I think you have to watch the video to find out what the secret is.

Prediction: by the end of this album, you’ll rank the album at #2, just behind Madonna

This was the lead single!!!

We need video reaction too 😍🙌🏻

amazing teeth girl ❤

Aww man wanted to jam to Survival again! Bedtime Stories was so underated after the backlash of the last era. Although Take A Bow with Babyface became her biggest number one hit of her career. Seven weeks at number one! Bedtime Story finally became a number one album on Spotify in April 2020 after some fan champaign.

Far and away, bedtime stories is her best work. Sooooooo glad you are finally here. I'm super curious how you'll feel about it all This was reworked by Dallas Austin from a demo. All the brothers who worked on this album put the sauce on her stuff!!! Fun fact: Dallas never got to finish mixing and mastering. Madonna took it all over and had others do it. He was mad, but never mentioned it until recently. It's likely why he rarely spoke about his incredible work on this album. It isn't how he intended it to sound, as great as it is. This album was inspired by Joi's debut album, Pendulum Vibe, which Dallas produced.

You have to see the video

Always enjoy you starting a new Madonna era. Secret took a couple of listens for me at first but loved it: performance wise for Madonna in the uk, she was still getting a lot of flack from the press. Shockingly, one of her strongest ballads ever broke her consecutive run of top 10 hits by stalling in the charts.

Yes!!! The MMMMMsss started with I'LL REMEMBER and it is so much in the future, that Madonna could release an album called just that: MMMMMssss or at least MMMMMMMMadonna

This album have four producers: -Dallas Austin who he work with TLC and who TLC was the major RnB group girl of the moment at 1994 with the huge ''Crazy Sexy Cool'' album and with massuve singles like ''Creep'' and ''Waterfalls''. He produced ''Secret'', ''Don't Stop'' and ''Sanctuary''. The last have additionnal production and remixing by Nellie Hooper. -Dave Hall who he work with Mariah Carey (for the massive n.1 ''Dreamlover'' and ''Fantasy''), he produced three songs of this album (''I'd Rather Be Your Lover'', ''Human Nature'' and ''Love Tried to Welcome Me'') -Babyface was the king of RnB has a producer and singer and hw work with a lot of massive RnB acts like Whitney Houston, Toni braxton and Boyz II Men. He was a hugely popular singer and producer during the 90's. The was the first she work after she ending her Shep sessions, and this was him to he introduced Nellie Hooper since he was a friend of Nellie. He produced and co-wrote two songs of this album, ''Forbidden Love'' and ''Take a Bow''. -Nellie Hooper was more axed at the underground scene then the three others, she work before with Bjork, Sinead O'connor and Massive Attack. This was with her who she produced ''Survival'', ''Inside of Me'' and the title track, and she make additionnal production and remixing in ''Forbidden Love'' and ''Sanctuary''. While she arriving, she changed totally the whole mood of ''Sanctuary'' and devied of the RnB sound who this album was.

This was the second madonna song I heard back in the 1990s but didn't know who sang it until years later when I heard it again and I was like ohh now I remember I didn't know madonna sang this song now it started to make sense

I still remember hearing this song for the first time on the radio. My radio alarm went off and my regular station was on. Half asleep I hear the guitars and I thought it was going to be another grunge song…LOL! Then her undeniable vocals came on and I popped right out of bed. It was different for sure but after the song played the DJ said the woman makes hits like Ray’s makes pizza! (NYC reference). The Junior Vasquez remixes are 🔥

This is Peak Madonna for me :D My Album rankings change over the years but this one stays at the top 😍

Yep, when I first heard this song on the radio, I thought that this was unlike anything Madonna ever recorded. I had to run out and buy the single immediately. If you already like the first two songs, Empress, I'm sure you are going to enjoy the album.

Bedtime Stories!!! One of my fav albums!!! Can’t wait for Inside of Me. It hits different. And you gotta listen to the unreleased track with Tupac

Love this song! Inspired by her relationship with Carlos Leon, her daughter, Lourdes’, father. They were having a secret relationship.