Is Madonna & Sam Smith’s ‘Vulgar’ a bop or a flop? The results are polarizing to say the least
Madonna and Sam Smith released their dance duet “Vulgar” last week.At just two minutes and 37 seconds, its a tight, fierce banger tailor made for TikTok with a two-note beat and with no real chorus other than when Madge and Smith say the song’s title in unison.Get into the groove below:“Time Stood Still” was never released as a single but it still charted at #3 in the Czech Republic.With the success of Smith and Kim Petras‘ monster hit “Unholy” last year, expectations were high that “Vulgar” would recreate that same chart magic.
But the verdict appears to be mixed.“Vulgar” debuted with 1,377,503 streams on Spotify and currently stands at #10 among the Top Songs Debut Globally for this past weekend.
Over on iTunes, the track was #35 in the US on Monday.@madonna and @samsmith’s Vulgar debuts at #10 on Spotify Top Songs Debut Global chart #vulgar pic.twitter.com/ZOcSqbc51CWhile in Smith’s UK homeland, “Vulgar” is going to just miss debuting in the top 40 and is expected to land at #47.
It’s still too early to know where it will wind up on the Billboard charts in the United States, but fans did choose it as their favorite new music release of the week over BTS, Niall Horan, Rosalía, and Janelle MonaeCritical reviews have also varied from Billboard calling it a “pulsating dance anthem” to The Guardian labeling it “a tame attempt at manufacturing outrage.”But if you ask Madonna stans, the “Vulgar” era is here to stay:I feel like this is so accurate right now.
