Nobody Knows Me

{{short description|2003 single by Madonna}} {{other uses}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}} {{good article}} {{Infobox song | name = Nobody Knows Me | cover = | alt = | type = promo | artist = Madonna | album = American Life | EP = | A-side="Nothing Fails" | written = | published = | released = {{Start date|2003|10|15}} | recorded = 2002 | studio = Olympic Recording Studios | venue = | genre = {{flatlist| *Dance *electroclash *techno }} | length = {{Duration|m=4|s=39}} | label = {{hlist|Maverick|Warner Bros.}} | writer = {{hlist|Madonna|Mirwais Ahmadzaï}} | composer = | lyricist = | producer = {{hlist|Madonna|Mirwais Ahmadzaï}} | prev_title = | prev_year = | title = | next_title = | next_year = }}

"'''Nobody Knows Me'''" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. The song was written and produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï for her ninth studio album ''American Life'' (2003). It was released as a promotional single in the United States on October 15, 2003, with a remixed version appearing on the remix compilation ''Remixed & Revisited'' (2003). "Nobody Knows Me" carries on the main theme of ''American Life'', with its usage of negative tones on the songs. It is a dance and electronic song, with vocoder effects, spacey synths and a bubbly bass, and lyrically, Madonna rejects tabloid culture's "social disease", denouncing both TV and magazines.

The song received generally favorable reviews from music critics, with many of whom calling it as a highlight from ''American Life''. Four remixes were released in club stations around the United States, with one of them peaking at number four on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song, along with "Nothing Fails", topped the US Hot Dance Singles Sales chart and also charted on the ARIA Club Tracks in Australia. Madonna did a performance of the song alone on stage on her Re-Invention World Tour in 2004. It was also used as a video interlude on the MDNA Tour in 2012, showing Madonna's face morphed with a number of famous figures. French right-wing Marine Le Pen sued Madonna for superimposing a swastika and Adolf Hitler's face with hers.

== Background == ''American Life'' became Madonna's final studio album with Maverick Records, and marked the end of an eleven-year recording history with the label.<ref name="guardian">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2004/jun/16/citynews.arts |title=Madonna ends her Maverick era |last=Teather |first=David |work=The Guardian |date=June 16, 2004 |access-date=February 17, 2010 |location=London |archive-date=September 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907123256/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2004/jun/16/citynews.arts |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="abc">{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=103495&page=1|title=Heads Roll at Madonna's Maverick Label|publisher=ABC News. American Broadcasting Company|date=July 20, 2004|access-date=February 17, 2010|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921083110/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=103495&page=1|url-status=live}}</ref> In an interview with VH1, Madonna discussed her motivations behind the record discussing her 20 years in the industry and stating that "material things" were unimportant, stating "I look back at the 20 years behind me and I realized that a lot of things that I'd valued weren't important", in response to the non-materialistic themes of the record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/madonna-speaks-for-the-first-time-to-vh1-on-new-american-life-album-and-video-in-half-hour-special-followed-by-us-premiere-of-a-performance-only-version-of-the-new-american-life-video-70870767.html|title='Madonna Speaks' For The First Time To VH1 On New 'American Life' Album and Video in Half-Hour Special|date=April 14, 2003|access-date=September 25, 2011|work=PR Newswire|publisher=United Business Media|archive-date=June 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620193420/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/madonna-speaks-for-the-first-time-to-vh1-on-new-american-life-album-and-video-in-half-hour-special-followed-by-us-premiere-of-a-performance-only-version-of-the-new-american-life-video-70870767.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The album has been deemed by some as a concept album featuring political themes based around the United States. "[The songs] are examining things I valued and things I found myself worrying about, caring too much about, and realizing that those things aren't important and wanting to get out from underneath that cloud, the world of illusion", Madonna stated.<ref name="ame song">{{cite web|first=John|last=Norris|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/madonna/news_feature_042203/|title=Madonna: Her American Life|publisher=MTV News. Viacom|access-date=November 4, 2010|date=April 22, 2003|archive-date=June 5, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030605140124/http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/madonna/news_feature_042203/|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to Lucy O'Brien, author of ''Madonna: Like an Icon'', the main concept of ''American Life'' was about "nothing".<ref name="lucy" /> This was evident in the titles of the songs like "Nobody Knows Me", usage of "no" in "Love Profusion", as well as "Nothing Fails".<ref name="lucy">{{harvnb|O'Brien|2008|pp=368–369}}</ref> Usage of the negative tone led Madonna to be sarcastic on people's assumptions about her and emphasize about her knowledge of romantic love.<ref name="lucy" /> O'Brien described the concept of the album and the song: <blockquote> "If ''Like a Prayer'' was her divorce album, ''American Life'' is her psychoanalysis. She even name checks Sigmund Freud and throws out countless questions. Who am I? Where am I going? What does it all mean? Much of the album is suffused with sarcasm: right from the disaffected ennui of the title track to the stroppiness of 'Nobody Knows Me', Madonna is kicking against the claustrophobic effect of celebrity worship."<ref name="lucy" /> </blockquote> A remix of the song was featured in Madonna's 2003 compilation ''Remixed & Revisited''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1479959/madonna-drop-remix-lp.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411095409/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1479959/madonna-drop-remix-lp.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 11, 2013|title=Madonna's Got A Brand New Bag — And Britney's In It |last=Vineyard|first=Jennifer|date=October 27, 2003|access-date=February 24, 2013|publisher=MTV News. Viacom}}</ref> Other remixes by Peter Rauhofer, Mount Sims and Above & Beyond were serviced to dance clubs.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/68555/madonna-in-a-remix-mood|title=Madonna In A 'Remix' Mood|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=October 26, 2003|access-date=February 25, 2013|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120615/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/68555/madonna-in-a-remix-mood|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2004, Madonna released a book entitled ''Nobody Knows Me'' which was available exclusively for one month only via Madonna's official website for $24 each. It included 52 pages of rare and unseen shots "commented by an Icon and her angels".<ref name=torontosun>{{cite web|url=http://www.madonna.com/madonna/php/news.php?&articleID=577&content=1|title=Nobody Knows Me – 52 page limited edition|date=November 25, 2003|access-date=January 31, 2013|publisher=Icon: Official Madonna Website. Madonna.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040306200216/http://www.madonna.com/madonna/php/news.php?&articleID=577|archive-date=March 6, 2004}}</ref>

== Recording and composition == {{listen | pos = left | filename = Madonna - Nobody Knows Me.ogg | title="Nobody Knows Me" (2003) | description = 27-second sample of "Nobody Knows Me" which Madonna rejects tabloid culture's "social disease", while featuring repeated echo shifts of "nobody knows me" during the chorus. | format = Ogg }} "Nobody Knows Me" was written and produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï.<ref name="liner" /> The recording sessions for ''American Life'' started at late 2001, then was put on hold as Madonna filmed ''Swept Away'' in Malta and starred in the West End play ''Up for Grabs''. She returned to the Olympic Recording Studios in late 2002 and finished off the sessions.<ref name="liner" /><ref name="bry">{{harvnb|O'Brien|2008|p=368}}</ref> The mixing for the track was done by Mark "Spike" Stent at the Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood, California, while Tim Young did the mastering of the song at Metropolis Studios in London.<ref name="liner" /> Ahmadzaï played the guitars, and also did the necessary programming.<ref name="liner" /> Two machines were used for the vocal editing in songs like "Hollywood" and "Nobody Knows Me". Madonna preferred the Antares Auto-Tune plug in, while Ahmadzaï chose an AMS pitch shifter.<ref name="emu" /> Madonna chose Auto-Tune because she wanted "Nobody Knows Me" to have a more dance-like feel to it, although Ahmadzaï was against it.<ref name="emu">{{cite web|url=http://www.emusician.com/news/0766/covert-operation/137953|title=Covert Operation|date=June 1, 2003|access-date=February 23, 2013|last=Micallef|first=Ken|work=Electronic Musician|publisher=NewBay Media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030618204359/http://remixmag.com/ar/remix_covert_operation/index.htm|archive-date=June 18, 2003 }}</ref><ref name="rikk2">{{harvnb|Rooksby|2004|p=64}}</ref>

"Nobody Knows Me" has vocoder effects, spacey synths, bubbly bass.<ref name=sput>{{cite web|title=Madonna – American Life (album review)|url=https://sputnikmusic.com/review/14012/Madonna-American-Life/|access-date=April 14, 2012|publisher=Sputnikmusic|date=October 28, 2007|archive-date=October 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014064111/https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/14012/Madonna-American-Life/|url-status=live}}</ref> IGN Music's Spencer D. described that the song blips, glurgs, and shuffles with a Jetsons' styled disco ebb and flow and sounds like as an outtake from ''Music'' (2000).<ref name=ign>{{cite news|last=D.|first=Spencer|title=Madonna – American Life – Music Review at IGN|url=http://music.ign.com/articles/395/395123p1.html|access-date=April 14, 2012|date=April 23, 2003|publisher=IGN Music|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506080700/http://music.ign.com/articles/395/395123p1.html|archive-date=May 6, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref> It begins with vocoder treated vocals over a bleeping synth, on a minor chord. Heavy drum hits stress the melody during the verse.<ref name="rikk2" /> "Nobody Knows Me" is written in common time with a moderately fast tempo of 120 beats per minute.<ref name="sheet">{{cite web|url=http://www.justsheetmusic.com/sheet-music/madonna-nobody-knows-me/|title=Digital Sheet Music – Madonna – Nobody Knows Me|publisher=Sheetmusicplus.com. Webo Girl Publishing Inc, ASCAP|last=Ciccone|first=Madonna|year=2005|access-date=March 2, 2013|archive-date=June 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607002230/http://www.justsheetmusic.com/sheet-music/madonna-nobody-knows-me/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is composed in the key of C major with Madonna's voice spanning from B3 to C5.<ref name="sheet" /> The song follows a basic sequence of C–Am–D–Am–A–E as its chord progression.<ref name="sheet" /> Lyrically, she rejects tabloid culture's "social disease", denouncing both TV and magazines. The chorus features repeated echo shifts of "nobody knows me" while she ponders thoughts like, "It's no good when you're misunderstood, but why should I care what the world thinks of me?".<ref name="slant">{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1430|title=Madonna "American Life"|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|date=July 11, 2008|publisher=Slant Magazine|access-date=April 14, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202308/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1430|archive-date=October 29, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/18/movies/critic-s-notebook-madonna-s-real-art-getting-attention.html|title=Madonna's Real Art: Getting Attention|last=Pareles|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Pareles|date=April 18, 2003|access-date=February 14, 2013|work=The New York Times|archive-date=May 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529133335/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/18/movies/critic-s-notebook-madonna-s-real-art-getting-attention.html|url-status=live}}</ref> O'Brien described it as a trancey track with a sense of childlike defiant lyrics, dismissing critics who have no knowledge of her "jealously guarded inner self".<ref>{{harvnb|O'Brien|2008|p=374}}</ref>

== Critical reception == [[File:Madonna New York.jpg|thumb|Madonna performing "Nobody Knows Me" during the Re-Invention World Tour in 2004]] The song received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic praised the song as one of the best tracks of the album, calling it "infectious".<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|title=American Life > Review|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/american-life-mw0000025449|publisher=AllMusic. Rovi Corporation|access-date=June 6, 2012|date=April 25, 2003|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804024957/https://www.allmusic.com/album/american-life-mw0000025449|url-status=live}}</ref> Sean O'Brien from ''The People'' praised "Nobody Knows Me" as "the best song of the album" and her "one of her best ever". He also stated that the song "shows why Madonna is [the] queen of pop".<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Brien|first=Sean|url=http://www.people.co.uk/homepage/features/page.cfm?objectid=12815301&method=thepeople_full&siteid=79490|title=Hot People: New Madge CD is American Beauty|work=The People|publisher=Time Inc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030425212552/http://www.people.co.uk/homepage/features/page.cfm?objectid=12815301&method=thepeople_full&siteid=79490|archive-date=April 25, 2003|date=April 6, 2003|access-date=January 23, 2013}}</ref> Jon Pareles from ''The New York Times'' considered it as the album's most danceable song.<ref name="nytimes" /> Lucy O'Brien in her book ''Madonna: Like an Icon'', called the song "dazed-sounding".<ref>{{harvnb|O'Brien|2008|p=263}}</ref> ''Metro Times'' described Ahmadzai's programming as "by far the best thing on the album".<ref>{{cite web|last=Dominic|first=Serene|url=http://www.metrotimes.com/music/review.asp?rid=20462|title=Madonna: American Life|date=May 14, 2003|access-date=April 8, 2010|work=Metro Times|publisher=Times-Shamrock Communications|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203010543/http://www2.metrotimes.com/music/review.asp?rid=20462|url-status=live}}</ref> James Hannaham from ''Spin'' compared "Nobody Knows Me" to Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", and deemed it as a highlight from the album.<ref name=spin>{{cite web|last=Hannaham|first=James|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/madonna-american-life-maverickwarner-bros|title=Madonna, 'American Life'|work=Spin|publisher=Buzz Media|date=June 29, 2003|access-date=May 15, 2012|archive-date=July 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709113440/http://www.spin.com/reviews/madonna-american-life-maverickwarner-bros|url-status=live}}</ref> Alan Braidwood from BBC Music felt that the song was "insane" with its electronic, chaotic, fast and manic pounding synths. "There is so much going on here several it'll take several plays to really get it, but it's ace."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/features/madonnalifealbum2.shtml|page=2|title=Madonna 'American Life' – album review|last=Braidwood|first=Alan|date=April 10, 2003|access-date=February 24, 2013|publisher=BBC Music. British Broadcasting Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030728063043/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/features/madonnalifealbum2.shtml|archive-date=July 28, 2003}}</ref> Ken Tucker from ''Entertainment Weekly'' described "Nobody Knows Me" as the "downright thrilling" and "deploys a shrewd little form-versus-content paradox".<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite magazine|last=Tucker|first=Ken|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,444558~4~0~americanlife,00.html|title=American Life Review: Madonna|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time Inc|date=April 25, 2003|access-date=January 9, 2013|archive-date=October 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010101142/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,444558~4~0~americanlife,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Spence D. from IGN Music commented that the song is the coolest song on the album up to this point.<ref name=ign /> Paul Rees from ''Q'' magazine complemented the track as a "conventional rock song, filled with drama, darkness and surprises".<ref name="q">{{cite journal|url=http://promo.q4music.com/q4music/madonna/interview3.shtml|page=3|last=Rees|first=Paul|date=May 2003|journal=Q|publisher=Bauer Media Group|title=Madonna Attacks!|volume=67|issn=0955-4955|access-date=February 20, 2013|archive-date=February 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224154824/http://promo.q4music.com/q4music/madonna/interview3.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''USA Today''{{'}}s Edna Gunderson said that the "funkified" synth-pop of "Nobody Knows Me" attests to Madonna's "undiminished" skills as a shrewd pop composer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2003-04-21-madonna_x.htm|title=Madonna's inner 'American Life'|last=Gunderson|first=Edna|date=April 21, 2003|access-date=February 24, 2013|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|archive-date=March 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316084933/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2003-04-21-madonna_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Yahoo! Music's Dan Genoe commented that Madonna has a personality crisis in the song.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gennoe|first=Dan|url=http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/l_reviews_a/29133.html|title=Madonna – American Life|date=April 23, 2003|access-date=January 25, 2013|publisher=Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040214163946/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/l_reviews_a/29133.html|archive-date=February 14, 2004 }}</ref> Jessica Winter from ''The Village Voice'' gave the song a mixed review, writing: "It mutes slightly the slaphappy beats of Mirwais's own club hit "Disco Science" to make vague digs at the press and defensively vow self-improvement. Madonna's voice is mixed and diced into baby gurgles, which might have been cute if it weren't so redundant."<ref name=village>{{cite web|last=Winter|first=Jessica|title=So Many Lives|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2003-05-06/music/so-many-lives/1/|work=The Village Voice|publisher=Voice Media Group|date=May 6, 2003|access-date=June 6, 2012|archive-date=March 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316223158/http://www.villagevoice.com/2003-05-06/music/so-many-lives/1/|url-status=dead}}</ref> John Payne from ''LA Weekly'' deduced that even within the synth sounds of the song, he could see "real feeling deeply ingrained in this particular icon. 'Why should I care what the world thinks of me?' That is, yes, she does care what the world thinks of her. She says she’ll just withdraw from the public eye, ’cause who needs this, huh?"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/2003-05-15/music/american-heart/2/|page=2|title=American Heart Coming home to Madonna |date=May 8, 2003|access-date=February 24, 2013|work=LA Weekly|publisher=Voice Media Group}}</ref> Conversely, Rikky Rooksby, author of ''The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna'', gave a negative review saying that "Nobody Knows Me" might be the silliest track that Madonna had ever recorded.<ref name="rikk2" />

== Chart performance == The song, along with "Nothing Fails", topped the Hot Dance Singles Sales while the Peter Rauhofer remix peaked at number four on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.<ref name=singlessales /><ref name=bbdance /> According to Fred Bronson, the single release of the remixes of the song debuted at number-one on the Hot Singles Sales and Hot Dance Single Sales chart, on the issue dated December 27, 2003, the same week it also moved up to the top-twenty of the Dance Club Play chart.<ref name="chartmove" /> "Me Against the Music" by Britney Spears, on which Madonna was featured, and "Nobody Knows Me", both were also present in the top-twenty, making Madonna the only artist to have three songs within the top-twenty on the chart simultaneously.<ref name="chartmove">{{cite magazine|last=Bronson|first=Fred|author-link=Fred Bronson|title=Madonna's Dance Moves|date=December 27, 2003|access-date=February 14, 2013|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|page=73|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bA8EAAAAMBAJ&q=Madonna+Nothing+Fails&pg=RA1-PA73|volume=115|issue=52|issn=0006-2510|location=New York|archive-date=October 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014064112/https://books.google.com/books?id=bA8EAAAAMBAJ&q=Madonna+Nothing+Fails&pg=RA1-PA73|url-status=live}}</ref> At the year-end Hot Dance Singles Sales recap, "Nothing Fails / Nobody Knows Me" was at number two position, while "Me Against the Music" and "Love Profusion" was at numbers one and three respectively. ''Billboard'' reported that Madonna was the first artist in its chart history to have the top three Dance Sales song.<ref name="pranceanddance">{{cite magazine|last=Bronson|first=Fred|title=Men Prance, Ladies Dance On The Charts|date=December 25, 2004|access-date=February 14, 2013|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|pages=20, 54|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1BMEAAAAMBAJ&q=Madonna+Nothing+Fails&pg=PA54|volume=116|issue=52|issn=0006-2510|location=New York|archive-date=October 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014064148/https://books.google.com/books?id=1BMEAAAAMBAJ&q=Madonna+Nothing+Fails&pg=PA54|url-status=live}}</ref> In Australia, the Peter Rauhofer/Above & Beyond Remix debuted at number 80 on the ARIA Club Tracks, peaking at number 49 the next week.<ref name=australian />

== Live performances == [[File:Nobody Knows Me MDNA.jpg|thumb|left|Dancers practicing slacklining during the video interlude of "Nobody Knows Me", which morphed Madonna's face with a number of famous figures, on the MDNA Tour in 2012]] Madonna performed the song during the 2004 Re-Invention World Tour, as the second song on the opening segment of the show. "Nobody Knows Me" was rehearsed with the Peter Rauhofer's Private Life remix.<ref name="tim">{{harvnb|Timmerman|2007|p=46}}</ref> According to Dirk Timmerman, author of ''Madonna Live! Secret Re-inventions and Confessions on Tour'', Madonna lip-synched the performance.<ref>{{harvnb|Timmerman|2007|p=83}}</ref> During this section, the singer wore a jewel encrusted corset, created by designer Christian Lacroix.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.culture24.org.uk/art/design/fashion+and+costume/art41227|title=V&A Museum Hosts Lacroix Catwalk Show For Its Fashion In Motion Season|last=Lewis|first=Caroline|date=October 28, 2006|access-date=February 24, 2013|publisher=Culture24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/26/1085461799557.html|title=Madonna re-invented|date=May 26, 2004|access-date=February 24, 2013|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|archive-date=November 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115104513/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/26/1085461799557.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After the opening number, "Vogue", she started an energetic version of the song, on a conveyor belt with some laser light words appearing on the backdrop screens behind her.<ref>{{harvnb|O'Brien|2008|p=378}}</ref> It also features a giant catwalk lowered from the ceiling.<ref name="iwanted">{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1487434/madonna-lifts-up-her-kilt-at-tour-opener.jhtml|title=Madonna Twirls Rifle, Lifts Up Her Kilt At Opener|last=Moss|first=Cory|date=May 25, 2004|publisher=MTV News. Viacom|access-date=January 25, 2010|archive-date=January 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106154318/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1487434/madonna-lifts-up-her-kilt-at-tour-opener.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> After this performance, she performed "Frozen" alone on stage.<ref>{{cite news|last=McCabe|first=Bret|url=http://www2.citypaper.com/arts/story.asp?id=7874|title=Swept Away|date=June 16, 2004|access-date=January 7, 2013|work=Baltimore City Paper|publisher=Times-Shamrock Communications|archive-date=January 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109201425/http://www2.citypaper.com/arts/story.asp?id=7874|url-status=live}}</ref> The performance of "Nobody Knows Me" was included in the ''I'm Going to Tell You a Secret'' live album and documentary.<ref>{{cite video|people=Madonna |title=I'm Going to Tell You a Secret|medium=CD/DVD |publisher=Warner Home Video |date=2005 }}</ref>

The song was later added as a video interlude on the MDNA Tour in 2012, as a tribute to Tyler Clementi and other teens who had committed suicide due to bullying.<ref name="teen" /> The film, which was created by Swedish director Johan Söderberg, morphed Madonna's face with a number of famous figures, including then-Chinese President Hu Jintao, US Republican former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Pope Benedict XVI.<ref name="teen" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soderberg.tv/|title=Johan Söderberg Official Webpage: Live Video|access-date=March 1, 2013|publisher=Johan Söderberg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190919020636/http://soderberg.tv/|archive-date=September 19, 2019|url-status=dead}} Click on "Live Video" and then on "Madonna: Nobody Knows Me"</ref> The face of French far right politician Marine Le Pen appeared on the screen with a swastika superimposed on her forehead, before it morphed into the face of Adolf Hitler.<ref name="teen">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/madonna/9310578/Marine-Le-Pen-threatens-to-sue-Madonna.html|title=Marine Le Pen threatens to sue Madonna|author=Samuel, Henry|date=June 4, 2012|access-date=July 23, 2012|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|archive-date=June 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605160216/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/madonna/9310578/Marine-Le-Pen-threatens-to-sue-Madonna.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="huffington">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/04/madonnas-marine-le-pen-swastika_n_1567891.html?ref=entertainment&ir=Entertainment|title=Madonna's Marine Le Pen Nazi Depiction Lands Singer In Hot Water|work=The Huffington Post|publisher=Arianna Huffington|date=June 4, 2012|access-date=December 9, 2012|archive-date=January 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104000133/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/04/madonnas-marine-le-pen-swastika_n_1567891.html?ref=entertainment&ir=Entertainment|url-status=live}}</ref> Socialist French government spokesperson Najat Vallaud-Belkacem had also expressed her disappointment. However, Madonna kept the video unchanged on this date, prompting Le Pen to file a lawsuit against her. A spokesman for Le Pen said a lawsuit for "public insult" would be lodged with the Paris courts in the next few days.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/15/france-front-national-sue-madonna-swastika|title=France's Front National to sue Madonna over swastika image|last=Wisher|first=Kim|date=July 12, 2012|access-date=February 24, 2013|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News and Media|location=London|archive-date=September 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913155731/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/15/france-front-national-sue-madonna-swastika|url-status=live}}</ref> Madonna responded to the lawsuit saying "I know that I made a certain Marine Le Pen very angry with me. And it's not my intention to make enemies."<ref name="thr">{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/madonna-marine-le-pen-france-concert-364752|title=Madonna Removes Swastika From Image of Marine Le Pen|last=Leffler|first=Rebecca|date=August 22, 2012|access-date=February 24, 2013|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924192247/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/madonna-marine-le-pen-france-concert-364752|url-status=live}}</ref> She later explained in an interview with Brazilian network Rede Globo, that the sequence was about "intolerance that we human beings have for one another. And how much we judge people before knowing them. That's why it's done in the song 'Nobody Knows Me.'"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a395022/madonna-explains-mdna-swastika-sequence-its-about-intolerance.html|title=Madonna explains 'MDNA' swastika sequence: 'It's about intolerance'|last=Nissim|first=Mayer|date=July 24, 2012|access-date=March 1, 2013|publisher=Digital Spy|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924151339/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a395022/madonna-explains-mdna-swastika-sequence-its-about-intolerance.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During her concert in Nice, France, the swastika was removed and was replaced by a question mark.<ref name="thr" /> The performance was included on Madonna's fourth live album, ''MDNA World Tour''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/mdna-world-tour-mw0002577721|title=MDNA World Tour > Overview|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=September 15, 2013|archive-date=May 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511005131/http://www.allmusic.com/album/mdna-world-tour-mw0002577721|url-status=live}}</ref> {{clear}}

== Formats and track listings == {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} *'''"Nothing Fails" – US CD maxi-single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Nothing Fails/Nobody Knows Me|others=Madonna|id=42682-2|type=US Maxi-CD liner notes|date=2003}}</ref> # "Nothing Fails" (Peter Rauhofer's Classic House Mix) – 8:24 # "Nothing Fails" (Nevins Big Room Rock Mix) – 6:44 # "Nothing Fails" (Tracy Young's Underground Mix) – 7:29 # "Nothing Fails" (Nevins Global Dub) – 7:45 # "Nothing Fails" (Jackie's In Love In The Club Mix) – 7:28 # "Nobody Knows Me" (Peter Rauhofer's Private Life Part 1) – 8:07 # "Nobody Knows Me" (Above & Beyond 12" Mix) – 8:45 # "Nobody Knows Me" (Mount Sims Italo Kiss Mix) – 5:26 {{col-2}}

*'''US promo vinyl single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Nobody Knows Me|others=Madonna|date=2003|id=2-48439|type=US 12-inch Vinyl Single inlay}}</ref> # "Nobody Knows Me" (Peter Rauhofer's Private Life Mix Part 1) – 8:07 # "Nobody Knows Me" (Mount Sims Old School Mix) – 4:46 # "Nobody Knows Me" (Above & Beyond 12" Mix) – 8:50 # "Nobody Knows Me" (Mount Sims Italo Kiss Mix) – 5:25

*'''Digital video single'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/music-nobody-knows-me-live/159484242|title=Music / Nobody Knows Me (Live) – Single|date=June 20, 2006 |publisher=iTunes Store (US)|access-date=May 28, 2016|archive-date=August 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827151556/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/music-nobody-knows-me-live/id159484242|url-status=live}}</ref> # "Music" (Live) – 2:31 # "Nobody Knows Me" (Live) – 3:36

== Credits and personnel == *Madonna – lead vocals, background vocals, songwriter, producer *Mirwais Ahmadzaï – songwriter, producer, guitars, programming *Tim Young – audio mastering *Mark "Spike" Stent – audio mixing

Credits for "Nobody Knows Me" are adapted from ''American Life'' liner notes.<ref name="liner">{{cite AV media notes |title=American Life |others=Madonna |year=2003 |chapter=Liner notes |page=14|type=CD |publisher=Maverick, Warner Bros. Records |id=48439-2}}</ref>

== Charts == {{col-begin}} {{Col-2}}

=== Weekly charts === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (2003) !Peak position |- {{singlechart|Australiadance|49|artist=Madonna|url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20040206130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20040207-0000/Issue724.pdf|rowheader=true|access-date=January 10, 2013|refname="australian"}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} |- {{singlechart|Billboarddanceclubplay|4|artist=Madonna|rowheader=true|access-date=January 10, 2013|refname="bbdance"}} |- !scope="row"|US Dance Singles Sales (''Billboard'')<ref name=singlessales>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FhAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA42|title=Dance Singles Sales|date=December 27, 2003|access-date=January 31, 2013|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|issn=0006-2510|volume=115|issue=52|pages=52}}</ref> ''along with "Nothing Fails"'' |1 |} {{col-2}}

=== Year-end charts === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- !Chart (2004) !Position |- !scope="row"|US Dance Singles Sales (''Billboard'')<ref name="pranceanddance" /> |2 |} {{col-end}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== References == {{refbegin}} *{{citation | last = O'Brien | first = Lucy | title = Madonna: Like an Icon | year = 2008 | author-link = Lucy O'Brien | publisher = Bantam Press | isbn = 978-0-552-15361-4 }} *{{citation | last = Rooksby | first = Rikky | title = The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna | year = 2004 | publisher = Omnibus Press | isbn = 0-7119-9883-3 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/madonnacompleteg0000rook }} *{{citation | last = Timmerman | first = Dirk | title = Madonna Live! Secret Re-inventions and Confessions on Tour | year = 2007 | publisher = Maklu Publications Inc | isbn = 978-90-8595-002-8 }} {{refend}}

== External links == * {{YouTube|2rq9LqZUNaE|"Nobody Knows Me" (Aviddiva Remix)}} * {{cite book|author=Madonna|title=Madonna: Nobody Knows Me|year=2003|publisher=Boy Toy Inc|asin=B000OCOE60}} {{Madonna songs}}

Category:2003 songs Category:Madonna songs Category:Marine Le Pen Category:Music controversies Category:Songs about the media Category:Songs written by Madonna Category:Songs written by Mirwais Ahmadzaï Category:Song recordings produced by Madonna Category:Song recordings produced by Mirwais Ahmadzaï