Madonna and her firstborn daughter, Lourdes Leon, are putting their relationship to the test – metaphorically, and literally, speaking.
The pop icon, 67, and her model daughter, 29, are collaborating on the song "The Test" from Madonna's upcoming album Confessions II, a sequel to her record-breaking 2005 dance record Confessions on a Dance Floor.
© InstagramLourdes Leon addressing "The Test"
Lourdes revealed the song's title and select lyrics in a new post shared on Instagram, with a throwback paparazzi shot of herself as a child walking with her mom in a park.
"'The Test' — on Confessions II out July 3," she captioned it. The lyrics she added include, in part: "A hand tenderly reaching to me/You are my reason to be," and, from the chorus: "I know they tried to put us to the test/I'm not so different time is knocking on my doorstep/You show me your razor sharp laser vision/Real brave will make you feel kind of different."
Fans quickly expressed their excitement for the album, which drops over July 4th weekend, leaving responses on the post like: "I cannot wait to hear this entire album in its entirety! It's practically Grammy worthy at this point, that's how great every song is landing here."
Another wrote: "This isn't just any song! It was born from healing a relationship! I can't wait to hear the full version and the lyrics," as well as: "Relationship between mother and daughter is always complex but with wisdom, patience and above all love… they can be best friends."
Madonna addressing her "family trauma"
Speaking with Interview Magazine, the "Vogue" hitmaker explained that the album's inspiration isn't just its revered predecessor and the art of dance as a whole, but also "family trauma."
"It's hard for me to write a song about nothing. I have to tell a story," she explained. "So I wrote about a lot of family trauma, and then we started making dance music."
Emphasizing what informed some of that "trauma" during the creation of the record, Madonna added: "I had a lot of stuff going on in my life personally. My brother was very, very, very ill, and my stepmother, with whom I'd had a very traumatic relationship throughout my entire childhood, had just died."
Why Lourdes wanted to "heal" their relationship
The singer noted that Lourdes was the one who approached her to collaborate together for the first time on a song about healing their relationship, although doesn't specify further.
© Getty Images"She approached me about writing a song together as a way to heal our relationship. It was a really important moment, and it solidified the idea that now is the time to make this record."
What do we know about Confessions II so far?
Confessions II will be released on July 3 and comprise of a total of 16 tracks, featuring collaborations with the likes of Feid, Stromae, Martin Garrix, Sabrina Carpenter, and of course, Lourdes. The singer has also hinted at a possible collab with fellow pop superstar Kylie Minogue.
"I Feel So Free" was first released as a promotional single for the record, followed by a performance of her Sabrina duet "Bring Your Love" at Coachella in April. Earlier in June, "Love Sensation" was officially issued to Italian radio as the album's second single.
© Getty ImagesAn accompanying concert film, also titled Confessions II, premiered at the TriBeCa Film Festival in early June as well, featuring appearances from several collaborators and friends like Benedict Cumberbatch, Arca, Gwendoline Christie, Kate Moss, Odessa A'Zion, and more.
