The remix takes a fresh approach but sacrifices some of the original’s iconic undertones.

Madonna’s latest collaboration with Sickick, Frozen (Fireboy DML Remix), has officially hit the screen—and it offers a stark contrast to the original visuals. This latest remix follows the success of Sickick’s initial viral Frozen remix, which took TikTok by storm in 2021, amassing over 127,000 TikToks and 50 million streams globally since its release. The inclusion of Nigerian artist Fireboy DML makes this new iteration a natural evolution, but does it live up to the original’s legacy?

Director Ricardo Gomes brings his distinct visual style to this remix, kicking things off with a close-up zoom on Madonna’s eye and a series of night-time road flashes that set an enigmatic tone. Fans will recognise imagery from the 1998 Frozen video, such as the black dog—an iconic symbol of death—and the ravens that featured in the original’s abstract visuals.

However, this remix takes a sharp turn into modern, stylised visuals. The video leans heavily on high-fashion-inspired aesthetics—think Skims x Balenciaga vibes—with Madonna sporting slick synthetic blue lighting, a sleek leather bodysuit, and minimalist racer-glasses. Fireboy DML adds a contrast with warmer tones—reds and oranges—infused into his scenes, creating a striking juxtaposition.

While Madonna’s aesthetic references lean toward futuristic Blade Runner undertones, the spiritual and atmospheric qualities that defined the original video (directed by Chris Cunningham in 1998) are largely abandoned. The original’s themes of haunting female angst, desert landscapes, and ethereal visuals—evoking witchy and mystical undertones—are barely visible here. In brief moments, Madonna’s hair blows dramatically as the green-screened desert moves behind her, a fleeting callback to the original’s banshee-like mysticism. Yet, these moments feel more like homage than genuine recreation.

Critics argue that the remix’s focus on sleek modernity and Fireboy DML’s smooth verses sacrifices much of the emotional weight of the original Frozen. The track features a heavy beat, autotuned vocals, and an easygoing rhythm, making it danceable but removing much of the original’s brooding atmosphere. Some may see this shift as intentional—after all, why repeat the same visual motifs from 24 years ago? Yet, others feel that Gomes and Madonna missed a unique opportunity to draw on the song’s enduring cultural resonance.

Madonna and Ricardo Gomes share a long creative partnership, dating back to her 2019 Madame X tour and artistic projects exploring LGBTQIA+ advocacy. Despite their artistic chemistry and access to Frozen’s iconic pop-cultural status, the remix’s video leaves some fans underwhelmed, as it moves away from its spiritual predecessor’s rich and moody undertones.

Perhaps the point of this new iteration is simply its beat, its aesthetic, and its collaboration with Fireboy DML rather than a deeper exploration of Frozen’s original themes. But whether this is a bold reinvention or a missed opportunity depends on the viewer’s perspective. One thing is clear: Frozen (Fireboy DML Remix) is as much a modern club anthem as it is a nostalgic reimagining, even if it diverges from the original’s haunting essence.