Maybe it comes from years of experience and the clout that goes with it, but Madonna’s third video release in promotion of Rebel Heart, “Bitch I’m Madonna,” by far outweighs Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” in terms of viable celebrity cameos. It’s almost as though Madonna is saying to Tay: “This is what the big leagues look like, sweetie.” Pink hair, don’t care
And among those said big leagues to lend Madonna a helping hand that continues to prove her top of the illuminati food chain status are Kanye West, Beyonce, Alexander Wang, Diplo, Katy Perry (salt in Taylor’s wounds), Chris Rock, Miley Cyrus and, of course, Nicki Minaj. While many of the aforementioned had partial incentive to be included due to all of them trying as best as they can to make Tidal a thing by promoting its “exclusive” content, they are invariably present because, bitch she’s Madonna. The Katy cameo
Whatever the intentions for being in the video, the barrage of artists merely serve to reiterate how fabulous, indeed, it is to be Madonna. Opening with a group of girls dressed in “Like A Virgin”-esque attire singing the opening notes to the song, the camera pans over to Madonna at the top of her penthouse as she kisses “anybody that’s around us” and makes her way through the party. Along the way, she encounters her A-list friends, as well as two of her children, Rocco and David. The Miley cameo
By the middle of the party, Nicki Minaj (in screen and IRL form) makes her appearance, allowing the fête to reach its crescendo before Madonna decides it’s over–by lying down on the rooftop in the center of it all. While it may not have the dramatic narrative of Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood,” it certainly holds far more famous people appeal. Because Madonna, of all icons, knows that including Lena Dunham in a video makes for a general yawn fest.
