What It Feels Like for a Girl was the third single from
Madonna's
Music, and the first semi-ballad released from the album, although one wouldn't know that from this single because it's chock-full of frenetic dance mixes. Nine tracks constitute this disc: Six of them are distinct remixes, two are single edits, and one is in Spanish for good measure. The definitive album version is not included, as was the case with
Music's two previous maxi-singles. British DJ god
Paul Oakenfold opens the single by transforming the song into a massive, deep arena club stomper. The "Richard Vission Velvet Masta Mix" tranforms the song into a bass-heavy, funk-groove extravaganza (and a convenient single edit makes this standout version accessible to radio). Other mixes include a mellower, percussion-heavy take on the song (the "Calderone & Quayle Dark Side Mix"); a sparse, late-night club mix (complete with harps) courtesy of Tracy Young; as well as a mellower, hip-hop leaning mix by the same DJ, which comes the closest to resembling the album mix. The song, in its original form, was not a big hit, and didn't even break into the U.S. Top 20. It was, however, a number one dance hit, courtesy of the fine and varied mixes included here. ~ Jose Promis