Bedtime Stories (Madonna Album) - Musical Style and Themes

Musical Style and Themes

Bedtime Stories was described as "a warm album, with deep, gently pulsating grooves." It features a largely "new-jack R&B" sound. Erotica also incorporated the New Jack Swing style, but Bedtime Stories draws influences from contemporary R&B rather than dance music. The sound was compared to artists such as Aaliyah, Changing Faces, Joi, Mary J. Blige, TLC, and Xscape. "Secret" includes "acoustic guitars, expertly sweetened vocals and producer Dallas Austin's signature R&B beats." "Bedtime Story" is more electronic, later inspiring Madonna to work with producers such as William Orbit and Mirwais Ahmadzaï.

While the album is intended to be more mainstream and less controversial than its predecessor, it includes perhaps some of Madonna's most confessional and confrontational work. Jim Farber of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "she not only unloads on the media but also details a troubling and deeply personal view of romance. Never have her lyrics been this autobiographical." The lyrics contain a "mix of sorrow and romance." "Human Nature" "snipes back at the press" for its reaction to Madonna following the Erotica and Sex book controversies. She sings, "Did I say something wrong?/Oops, I didn't know I couldn't talk about sex (I musta been crazy)." Though Madonna sought to restore her image through the album, she has also stated that this period of her life was designed as a "vengeance period" for all the people (in particular the media) who were trying to invade in her private life, and that once it was all out in the open, she hoped that they would stop and focus on her music.

The album contains samples from some rather prominent songs and artists. "Inside of Me" samples Aaliyah's first single, "Back and Forth", and The Gap Band's "Outstanding". "Sanctuary" contains a sample of "Watermelon Man" by Herbie Hancock from his iconic Head Hunters album. "Human Nature" samples "What You Need" by hip-hop group Main Source.