In my opinion it was wrong to choose Erotica as a lead, too sexual, alternative, not commercial, not catchy

 

If they went for a more catchy dance track like Deeper and Deeper for example and release Erotica as a 5th single it would have done much better commercially, thoughts?

Deeper and Deeper is the only correct answer

I think Deeper & Deeper or Thief of Hearts would have been perfect, but I voted for Thief of Hearts. Not just because it's my personal favorite  but also because I think it hits the sweet spot between being catchy, controversial and also getting the album's vibe across.

 

The "You'll do it, you'll take it / You'll screw it, you'll fake it / Undo it, you'll break it" part is an IRRESISTABLE hook and that's undeniable. Missed hit!

I actually think the fever cover could have done well.

Just now, psychodiva336 said:

I think Deeper & Deeper or Thief of Hearts would have been perfect, but I voted for Thief of Hearts. Not just because it's my personal favorite  but also because I think it hits the sweet spot between being catchy, controversial and also getting the album's vibe across.

 

The "You'll do it, you'll take it / You'll screw it, you'll fake it / Undo it, you'll break it" part is an IRRESISTABLE hook and that's undeniable. Missed hit!

It was my second option, I love that you love it, it's a personal favourite of mine too! Sooooo good! 
 

Imagine the single rollout going like this:

1. Deeper and Deeper

2. Thief of hearts

3. Rain

4. Bad Girl

tbh i think erotica's fine (and one of my faves), if she's going to put the book out anyway (and who's going to stop madonna?!) then the single was the least of her worries tbh

 

 

the single is ICONIC and shouldn't be changed

Deeper & Deeper would have been a nice first single, it's kind of sound similar to Vogue which was a smash and there's also lines of it towards the end so it would have been a nice nod to

Justice for Words and Thief of Hearts.

Also, not using Words for her Madam "I did a lot of jobs" X Tour was such a waste 

Erotica was the perfect lead single, let's not get it twisted. It wasn't only about being the most commercially appealing, but also make a statement.

 

Deeper & Deeper would've been the second best choice

but Erotica is so much more iconic

2 minutes ago, HonourableVomit said:

the single is ICONIC and shouldn't be changed

This. Who cares about charts, even though it was the highest debut of a single at the time.

 

Madonna was and always will be a risk taker, she doesn't play safe.

As the best song in her discography, it should have been Rain but I can see why everyone's saying Deeper and Deeper

Erotica was ultimately the right choice, but Deeper And Deeper or Waiting (!) also would've been great. 

There is no better lead single, even if the album has many other great songs

and if i said looking at the radio charts in late 92/3 - The perfect single would've been Rain. 

 

Ballads were having a huge moment at the time (End Of The Road, I'll Be There, I can't Make You love me, Save The Best For Last etc) and she'd just had a successful and well received ballad hit with TUTBMP. It could've also helped the narrative that was used at the time that the album as too sexual and she was trying to keep up with young people because Rain is a more mature sound for her. Also she needed Adult Contemporary on her side going into the 90s because that was their peak. 

 

is it boring in hindsight, yes - but in 1992/1993 was that the only song on that album that could've saved that era? Yes. 

There's no better choice than the title track.

Erotica is iconic and the perfect lead single tf you mean? 
 

who cares if it flopped, it's so good.

I initially wanted to vote for Deeper and Deeper, but switched to Rain. I feel like it would smash following This Used To Be My Playground softening her image

Madonna should have released Sex later on, maybe as a special edition or for the one-year anniversary. The book wouldn't have overshadowed the album and the latter would've performed way better.

 

Edited July 21, 20251 yr by theboyismine

1. Where Life Begins 

2. Bad Girl

3. Erotica 

4. Waiting 

5. Rain

 

The era as a whole would've been much less fascinating and culturally important had she gone with a more 'friendly' lead. 

 

It's the boldness of it all that makes the Erotica era what it is.

Sometimes commerciality is not the point with Madonna and that's why she will always rise above others who she ignorantly gets compared to. There were times she simply wanted to make a point. Erotica, American Life. Releasing a remix of What It Feels Like For A Girl. It was literally arts, not the charts.

I mean commercially it would be Deeper and Deeper, but Erotica just makes perfect sense.  Her introducing herself as Dita is pretty much the whole point of her saying welcome to this world and new era. 

Erotica was the perfect lead

 

Her real mistake is releasing the Sex book with the album. I truly feel that she wouldve released that at the end of the era or the Girlie Show Tour, as a ribbon to the concept.

Tbh, she was going to decline no matter what at that point as she was entering her first decade. The very least she could've done was a soft landing, compared to the harsh fall she had during that time in real life.