Forget who sings it, just listen to it! It is such a fabulous power ballad and the vocals are crystal clear and near perfection! If only people could actually be objective rather than personal and unfair in their opinions though. Still, one can hope!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=scVEjRPUFDE

It is the new single.

5 years of the Tories' cuts and benefit sanctions, and plenty of places are ghost towns.

Just like The Specials sang in 1981 about what Thatcher was doing then.

This song is not about Tories cuts! It's about a world apocalypse.

This version is far better though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slmb4ZZ5pkY

It's not a "version" it's a song called Ghost Town whereas this is a discussion thread for a song called Ghosttown.

But yes, The Specials' Ghost Town was and is a cracking song, but far better than this discussed song? That's like comparing chalk and cheese.

As valid today as it was in 1981, especially with the riots a few years ago.

It's a good song, her best in a long while. I'd prefer someone else singing it though.

But she co-wrote it! So why would someone else sing it?

i agree, her voice has no emotion so wasted on a ballad, also it goes awry on the chorus.

And i agree with the above it's not as good or haunting as the original by the Specials

Any particular reason the op didn't mention it was Madonna? I clicked off as soon as I saw it was her. Give me The Specials any day.

So, you didn't even be objective and hear it? Instead just assuming it would be bad? That's why I didn't mention it. When it comes to Madonna, all people want to do is be totally dismissive and biased. If that song was sung by anyone else you'd like it.

And to reiterate:

Ghost Town is a song based around British 1980's politics and sung by The Specials.

Ghosttown is a song by Madonna about global apocalypse and was written and recorded in 2014.

Neither are the same so it is ridiculous to keep saying "I prefer The Specials' version" because neither are versions of the same song but totally different entities.

Don't worry, Labour will fill them up again with plenty of immigrants!!!!

It's a beautiful song sang beautifully by Madonna.

I totally and strongly disagree with anyone who says her ballad voice has no emotion, i've always loved her ballad voice and think that's when she's at her best!

Sadly though, anyone who doesn't like Madonna probably won't give it a chance!

And why are people confusing it with The Specials song?

It's a totally different song and even the title is different, The Specials song is called:

Ghost Town

And this one is called:

Ghosttown

And they're both great!

It's absolutely one of the best songs on Rebel Heart. The downtempo songs on the album are by far the best on there. Not sure I agree that it'll catapult the album any higher than it's already been catapulted, though. You'd think It was the best ballad Madonna's ever sung the way some folk are going on about it.

Well said.

Hardly a power ballad,as it lacks any "Power".

Also it sounds like another song which I cant recall right now.

I thank you!

Ghosttown is a good song (one of Rebel Hearts best) but in the same was as Masterpiece on MDNA I just don't get the fan love for it. It is better than Masterpiece but I can't see much radio airplay for it and I would be surprised if the song dented the top 40, don't get me wrong I want it to be a hit and I will buy the remixes but I can't see a hit here.

I'm not sure if Devil Pray would be counted as a ballad if so that's the song that should have been released as I think it's better than Ghosttown.

It's starting to take off in the states!!!

http://www.billboard.com/articles/co...t-contemporary

Ok I've listened and think it's dull. She sings it well and can see why her fans will love it, but it does nothing for me and it wouldn't chart. It's dated.

It's a good song...but it is neither powerful or haunting...she has done much better. A bit like the album Rebel Heart, an above average album but nothing more.