Hard Candy cover art

  Studio Album · No. 11

Hard Candy

2008 Warner Bros. Records 12 tracks 56 min

Produced by Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake  ·  Engineered by Mark "Spike" Stent, Demacio Castellon, Andrew Coleman

Warner Bros. Records Dance-popHip HopElectropopR&B
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Madonna wrote 12 of 12 documented tracks

Authorship Breakdown 12 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Madonna carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
12 trackswritten by Madonna 0 tracksoutside writers
Madonna's roles on this album

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
5
Lyricists
2
Producers
4 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
2008
Released
Data Insight

Hard Candy moved Madonna into urban pop and dance, and she co-wrote every track with a roster of American hitmakers: Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and Nate 'Danja' Hills. The writing is collaborative throughout, with these producers shaping the R&B and hip-hop flavored sound. It is one of her most producer-driven albums, even as she keeps a co-writing credit on each song.

Hard Candy, released April 28, 2008, was Madonna's first album for Warner Bros. under a new deal and represented a hard pivot toward contemporary urban pop production. Working with Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, and Justin Timberlake, Madonna co-wrote all 12 tracks. '4 Minutes,' co-written with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake, reached number one in 41 countries. The album debuted at number one in 37 countries, making it her most internationally successful debut to that point.

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Candy Shop
MadonnaPharrell Williams MadonnaPharrell Williams Pharrell Williams
2
4 Minutes #3
MadonnaTimbalandJustin Timberlake MadonnaTimbalandJustin Timberlake Timbaland
3
Give It 2 Me #57
MadonnaPharrell Williams MadonnaPharrell Williams Pharrell Williams
4
Heartbeat
MadonnaPharrell Williams MadonnaPharrell Williams Pharrell Williams
5
Miles Away
MadonnaTimbalandJustin Timberlake MadonnaTimbalandJustin Timberlake Timbaland
6
She Loves Me
MadonnaTimbalandJustin Timberlake MadonnaTimbalandJustin Timberlake Timbaland
7
Devil Wouldn't Recognize You
MadonnaPharrell Williams MadonnaPharrell Williams Pharrell Williams
8
Spanish Lesson
MadonnaTimbalandJustin Timberlake MadonnaTimbalandJustin Timberlake Timbaland
9
Dance 2night
MadonnaPharrell Williams MadonnaPharrell Williams Pharrell Williams
10
Voices
MadonnaTimbalandJustin Timberlake MadonnaTimbalandJustin Timberlake Timbaland
11
Beat Goes On
MadonnaPharrell WilliamsKanye West MadonnaPharrell WilliamsKanye West Pharrell Williams
12
Ring My Bell
MadonnaPharrell Williams MadonnaPharrell Williams Pharrell Williams

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 5 contributors

More from Madonna

Frequently Asked Questions Hard Candy

When did Madonna release Hard Candy?
Madonna released Hard Candy on April 29, 2008 through Warner Bros. Records. It was her final studio album for Warner and leaned into American urban pop and dance.
Did Madonna write Hard Candy herself?
Madonna co-wrote every track on Hard Candy with her collaborators, including Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and Nate 'Danja' Hills. The album is heavily producer-driven, though Madonna holds a writing credit on each song.
Who wrote 4 Minutes by Madonna?
'4 Minutes' was co-written by Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland. The single, which features Timberlake and Timbaland, reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
Who produced Hard Candy by Madonna?
Hard Candy was produced by Pharrell Williams and The Neptunes, Timbaland, and Nate 'Danja' Hills, working with Madonna. Their involvement gave the album its hip-hop and R&B influenced sound.
Who is featured on 4 Minutes by Madonna?
'4 Minutes' features Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, both of whom also co-wrote and produced the song. It became the album's biggest hit single.
How many copies did Hard Candy by Madonna sell?
Hard Candy has sold around 4 million copies worldwide. It is certified Gold by the RIAA in the United States.

Sources