Art Meets Art Like a Virgin Unplugged by J
Art Meets Art is back into the groove with Fabrice Pellegrin’s creation Like A Virgin Unplugged, he approached the song through the angle of a soft transition into a new era, capturing a different aspect than Alberto Morillas. Morillas gave us a pop friendly version of Madonna with his Like a Virgin, its sweet airy and addictive summer fun, think Holiday, a sweet sensation to of summer love. Where as this new release by Fabrice Pellegrin, Like A Virgin Unplugged captures the sprit of Madonna that steal hearts and breaks them.
Perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin of dsm Firmenich (left) Art Meets Art founder and Creative Director Tanguy Le Baud (right)
MTV launched in August 1981 with Buggles Video Killed the Radio Star, revolutionizing the public’s perception of pop stars (read Michelyn’s 40th anniversary tribute to MTV here). Until then pop stars were mainly known through their music and record sleeves. Now they could be seen in a while new dimension, or well maybe if you had the access to cable, though it was not long before MTV were making waves. In 1984, as Madonna prepared to release her second album, Like a Virgin, she was scheduled to perform at the inaugural MTV Awards, kicking off the event at Radio City Music Hall in New York. A significant moment in music and cultural history was about to be made…
Like A Virgin Unplugged opens with fresh soft fruity florals that pop and sizzle like little stars shimmering on an empty stage. Feeling creamy from the start, silky petals give a flowing feeling with a sleek material sensation. It captures Madonna’s MTV Award’s performance wedding dress beautifully. It’s not long though until this fresh clean innocence catches it’s heal and a rather sexy intoxicating orange blossom is revealed. Like a Virgin Unplugged drips with a creamy floral milkiness like flashes of Madonna body from her disheveled wedding gown. That smooth silkiness gets rougher and velvety in a seductive way, like the silky petals have been warmed by body musks.
J’s Madonna at the MTV Awards 1984 collage
Madonna made a spectacular entrance by emerging from a giant wedding cake, wearing stiletto heels, a dazzling gown, and a bustier, all while playfully mocking traditional white wedding ceremonies. As the performance kicked off, stepping down from the cake she ended up on the floor and went with it. With thousands of people watching and the eyes of the syndicated television audience on her, Madonna through her self into it, giving a performance which caused her formal wedding reveal more than planned to the television cameras. MTV knowing a hit when they saw it zoomed in.
The florals in Art Meets Art Like A Virgin Unplugged, especially the freesia give little flashes of pinks and reds from beneath the milky white petals, they’re flirty fun pops of colour that’s tease and tantalise in the midst of Like a Virgin Unplugged’s musky sensual orange blossom. There’s a gentle spice maybe cardamom that’s making the milky accord feel cool in contrast to the warmer orange blossom. It’s feels like a soft fresh citrus cologne-like melody played over a more pulsating floral-amber drum machine beat.
Art meets Art at Esxence 2024 photo by Amber Jobin and Michelyn Camen
Madonna ditched the dance routine, cleverly exploiting the moment started acting less than innocent on the floor, leaving little to the imagination and giving a whole new take on her soon to be released single Like a Virgin. Madonna recognized that controversy could be a powerful asset, marking this iconic moment as the first of many pivotal events in her career.
The orange blossom is the star here in Art Meets Art Like A Virgin Unplugged; its bitter green facets give the milkiness a thick sensual feel while its lighter citrus side sparkles like champagne. It’s a deep rich aroma that like Madonna’s Like a Virgin will stay with you, humming around as you go about your day bopping to it’s intoxicating melody.
J’s image of Art Meets Art Like a Virgin Unplugged
These two releases from Art Meets Art beautifully encapsulate the contrasting ‘before and after’ of that iconic MTV Awards moment, showcasing the purity of pop alongside the more provocative side of sex appeal. Art Meets Art Like a Virgin Unplugged definitely is all about the latter with its narcotic orange blossom corrupting a creamy soft floral vanilla, thickening it up into a sensual intoxicating musk that’s captures your heart like a hook that stays with you. Like A Virgin Unplugged is a seductive track I’ll have on repeat. An intoxicating pop perfume.
Notes: Bergamot, freesia, Moroccan orange blossom, milky composition, vanilla.
–J Wearescentient. Senior Editor, artist and olfactive writer.
Disclosure: Art Meets Art Like a Virgin Unplugged was kindly sent by the brand, opinions and nose are my own.
Art Meets Art Like a Virgin Unplugged courtesy of the brand
Thanks to the generosity of Art Meets Art, we have a draw for one 50 ml bottle of Like a Virgin Unplugged for one registered reader in the US, UK or EU. To be eligible, please leave a comment about what appealed to you about J Wearescentient’s review, your favourite Madonna moment and where you live. Giveaway closes 1/19/2025
You can read Michelyn’s sneak peak of Like a Virgin Unplugged at Esxence in 2024 here.
Check out my look at Alberto Morillas Like a Virgin here. Then please flip over to the B-Side and check out Nicoleta Tomsa’s review for Besame Mucho and my previous reviews for Sexual Healing & Lilac Wine.
Art Meets Art are available on their site (where you can try before you buy if you live in the EU) and at Jovoy Paris
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