Madonna teams up with Sam Smith on new single 'Vulgar'

Icon Madonna today has released her collaboration with Sam Smith, ‘Vulgar’.

The duet comes after Madonna introduced Smith at the Grammy Awards in February, with the words “If they call you shocking, scandalous, troublesome, problematic, provocative or dangerous, you are definitely onto something. That’s where you make noise.” The very next day Madonna and Smith went into the studio to record ‘Vulgar’.

Written by Madonna and Smith with ILYA, Henry Walter, Cirkut, Ryan Tedder, Omer Fedi and Jimmy Napes, ‘Vulgar’ is a throbbing, intoxicating, anthemic dance track with Middle Eastern sonics swirling throughout. Lyrically it has a self-empowering message of reclaiming the slurs that people throw at you when they refuse to accept your self-expression - “You know you're beautiful when they call you vulgar” - with Madonna at one point asking “Do you know how to spell my name?” before answering her own question with the deadpan response “B-I-T-C-H”.

The single’s release comes just over a month before Madonna launches her worldwide, greatest hits tour The Celebration Tour which kicks off in Canada on July 15 before wrapping up in Mexico on January 30. It is the second new music release from Madonna in two weeks after her collaboration with The Weeknd and Playboi Carti ‘Popular’ was released last week. With a rumoured new album coming at some point in the near future, the second half of 2023 is shaping up to be one of Madonna’s greatest eras in her already incredible four decade career.

‘Vulgar’ is out now via Universal Music. You can buy and stream here.
To keep up with all things Madonna, you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter.