In February 2023, pop legend Madonna dramatically introduced a captivating GRAMMY® Awards performance by Sam Smith and Kim Petras. “Are you ready for some controversy?” she tantalizingly asked the audience before delivering a heartfelt speech. “If they call you shocking, scandalous, troublesome, problematic, provocative, or dangerous,” she asserted, “You are definitely onto something.” Following their fifth GRAMMY Award victory, Smith joined Madonna in a Los Angeles studio to record an audacious and defiant duet: “VULGAR.”
“VULGAR” is a courageous, audacious anthem that resonates powerfully with every word of Madonna’s previous speech. It marks the joyous collaboration of two artistic forces merging in wild abandon—a meeting of chaotic minds, hooks, and aesthetics. The song features an exotic Eastern string break and is driven by a ground-shaking bass. Clocking in at just two-and-a-half minutes, it serves as a resounding retort to repression and a call for respect.
The single, released today by Capitol Records, was masterfully produced by ILYA for MXM Productions, Cirkut, Omer Fedi, Ryan Tedder, Jimmy Napes, Sam, and Lauren D’elia, Madonna’s vocal producer and engineer.
Sam Smith, a multi-platinum-selling artist, and provocateur, has earned several awards for their inspiring music. Their third studio album, Gloria, has amassed over 40 million worldwide sales and has been lauded by Rolling Stone as “their deepest album yet.” Sam is set to kickstart the North American leg of the GLORIA Tour on July 25.
Madonna, the best-selling female artist of all time, continues to test boundaries and shape the culture. Her highly-anticipated global Celebration Tour will start rolling in July.
Together, they’re the dynamic duo – S&M. Together, they are “VULGAR.”