Madonna's New Track 'I Rise' Is a Stonewall Tribute

On Friday, Madge released 'I Rise,' the second track off of her upcoming album Madame X. The subject of a ton of gossip and speculation - fans have been saying on social media that the track is a tribute to Stonewall and the eventual music video will feature drag queens like Monet X Change - the song debuts just before the pop icon is honored by GLAAD.

'I wrote ‘I Rise’ as a way of giving a voice to all marginalized people who feel they don’t have the opportunity to speak their mind,' Madonna said in a release about the track. 'This year is the 50th anniversary of Pride and I hope this song encourages all individuals to be who they are, to speak their minds and to be themselves.' Over New Year’s Eve, she surprised fans with a performance at the historic Stonewall site.

The song follows 'Medellin,' featuring Maluma, which was the lead single and video off the record. 'I’m going through it, yeah I know you see the tragic in it / just hold on to the little bit of magic in it,' she sings. 'I can’t break down now, I can’t take that now. / Died a thousand times, managed to survive / I can’t break down now, I can’t take that.'

On Saturday, the star will receive the Advocate for Change Award at the GLAAD Media Awards. She will be the second person to receive the award, which is meant to honor those who have changed the game for LGBTQ+ people around the world through their work.

There is no news on when the music video for 'I Rise' might debut. Before the full debut of Madame X on June 14, Madonna will drop three more singles 'Crave,' 'Future,' and 'Dark Ballet.'

From Out Magazine