From the moment she really broke onto the music scene in 1982, her popularity has just grown and grown with songs, movies, concerts, clothing and everything else that makes up the Madonna brand.
She was one of the most prolific performers of the ‘80s.
“Like a Virgin”
Like so many other music lovers, the first time I heard Madonna was in Grade 10, making it 1984, when she was riding a gondola in Venice, singing and dancing to “Like a Virgin”. That song went all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart
Like so many other music lovers, the first time I heard Madonna was in Grade 10, making it 1984, when she was riding a gondola in Venice, singing and dancing to “Like a Virgin”. That song went all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart
Pre-history
At that point, radio and video shows started playing some of her earlier songs again. Because I was just getting into music, everything was new to me. Some of my friends had heard Madonna before “Like a Virgin”, and pointed that out when we talked about music. Anyway, there were three songs that come to mind.
At that point, radio and video shows started playing some of her earlier songs again. Because I was just getting into music, everything was new to me. Some of my friends had heard Madonna before “Like a Virgin”, and pointed that out when we talked about music. Anyway, there were three songs that come to mind.
“Holiday” came out in 1983 from her debut album simply titled, “Madonna”. It was her first top 20 hit, peaking at number 16. Years later, I went to college in Lethbridge and had a classmate named Leah Holliday. When someone asked her to repeat her name one day, she replied “Holliday”, like the song, then proceeded to sing “Holiday.”
“Lucky Star” followed “Holiday” and was Madonna’s biggest hit before “Like a Virgin”, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. I distinctly recall seeing this on “Video Hits” one day after school, thinking Madonna looked younger and a little less provocative.
“Borderline” was the final single released from “Madonna” and it peaked at number 10.
By then, the next single from the album “Like a Virgin” had hit the radio air waves.
“Material Girl”
The second single, “Material Girl” was another big hit, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. What I remember most about “Material Girl”, aside from it being the definition of an ear worm, is the video. The video pays homage to Marilyn Monroe singing “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” in 1953. However, the song is a video within a video as a director, played by Keith Carradine, tries to woo Madonna who is the actress in the video. He realizes she is not a “material girl”, pretends to be poor, and gets her to go on a date with him.
The second single, “Material Girl” was another big hit, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. What I remember most about “Material Girl”, aside from it being the definition of an ear worm, is the video. The video pays homage to Marilyn Monroe singing “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” in 1953. However, the song is a video within a video as a director, played by Keith Carradine, tries to woo Madonna who is the actress in the video. He realizes she is not a “material girl”, pretends to be poor, and gets her to go on a date with him.
Movie magic
Madonna was on such a roll, her next big hit didn’t come from “Like a Virgin”. Instead, “Crazy for You” was part of the soundtrack of a movie called “Vision Quest”. It was a teen angst movie about a high school wrestler, played by a young Matthew Modine, who is training to fight an unbeatable opponent. That's when he falls in love with a female border taken in by his father and him. Madonna even has a cameo in the movie, singing in a bar.
Madonna was on such a roll, her next big hit didn’t come from “Like a Virgin”. Instead, “Crazy for You” was part of the soundtrack of a movie called “Vision Quest”. It was a teen angst movie about a high school wrestler, played by a young Matthew Modine, who is training to fight an unbeatable opponent. That's when he falls in love with a female border taken in by his father and him. Madonna even has a cameo in the movie, singing in a bar.
“Crazy for You” became Madonna’s second number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It also earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance Female.
The song is still one of my top five favourite songs, and simply one of the best ballads I have ever heard. It just touches my heart and reaches into my soul. When it came out in 1985, I used to think it was my lucky charm. If I heard it, or “Against All Odds” by Phil Collins, I knew I would have a good day.
I have never owned a Madonna album, but I bought the “Vision Quest” soundtrack from Columbia House in a three-tape deal that also brought the soundtracks of “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “White Nights”. It has another song by Madonna as well, called “Gambler”. It was never released in the United States, although it did well in Europe.
Back to business
Madonna kept releasing singles from “Like a Virgin” that kept on generating memories.
Madonna kept releasing singles from “Like a Virgin” that kept on generating memories.
“Angel” was the next single, and what I really liked was that it had Madonna laughing in the song. I also saw it on the countdown on “Good Rockin’ Tonite” and, surprisingly, it didn’t have a music video. “Angel” went all the way to number five on the Billboard Hot 100.
Up next was “Into the Groove”, which has an interesting history. It was never officially released on its own to be eligible for the Billboard Hot 100, but received a lot of air play. What makes it interesting is that it was part of the movie “Desperately Seeking Susan”. The movie featured two women, a bored housewife, played by Rosanna Arquette, and a drifter, played by Madonna, who are linked by newspaper ads and, at one point, the bored housewife tries to become the drifter. There was no official video but, after a few months, I saw on “Good Rockin’ Tonite” that a video had been cobbled together of scenes from the movie.
The final single released was “Dress You Up”, which peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. I recall the video, which was Madonna performing in concert.
I had begun to listen to LA-107 FM and it was an album-oriented radio station. That meant it focused on albums more than singles, so they played more than one single from an album, especially on their weekly album countdown. Consequently, I heard a lot of these songs before they were officially released.
What’s next
“Like a Virgin” had run its course. The obvious question after Madonna had been on the radio constantly for two years was, what would be next?
“Like a Virgin” had run its course. The obvious question after Madonna had been on the radio constantly for two years was, what would be next?
It did not take long before I heard “Live to Tell”, this beautiful ballad that was reminiscent of “Crazy for You”. It was understated, whimsical and haunting. It was from a soundtrack to a movie called “At Close Range” that starred Sean Penn, Madonna’s husband of the time. It remains another one of my favourite Madonna songs. I even recorded it off the radio with my ghetto blaster.
“Live to Tell” went all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her third number one single.
Music with a message
In June of 1986, Madonna released what I consider one of her best songs. “Papa Don’t Preach” also went all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. What made it so great is not only the music, but the story the songs tells of teenage pregnancy. The video is also very well done, featuring Madonna and acclaimed actor Danny Aiello as her dad.
In June of 1986, Madonna released what I consider one of her best songs. “Papa Don’t Preach” also went all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. What made it so great is not only the music, but the story the songs tells of teenage pregnancy. The video is also very well done, featuring Madonna and acclaimed actor Danny Aiello as her dad.
Madonna released “True Blue”, her third studio album at the same time as “Papa Don’t Preach”. Not only did the album contain that song, but fans were surprised to see “Live to Tell” was also on the album. That happened quite frequently back then, where a song was released as part of a movie soundtrack then appeared on the artist’s subsequent solo album. It happened with “Modern Woman” by Billy Joel from the movie “Ruthless People”; “Love Touch” by Rod Stewart from “Legal Eagles”; and “Say You, Say Me’ by Lionel Richie in “White Nights”.
“Papa Don’t Preach” earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance Female.
Hit maker
“True Blue” followed in the footsteps of “Like a Virgin” yielding a number of hits that kept Madonna on the radio for another year.
“True Blue” followed in the footsteps of “Like a Virgin” yielding a number of hits that kept Madonna on the radio for another year.
“True Blue” was the title track from the album, peaking at number three on the Bilboard Hot 100.
“Open Your Heart” followed, becoming Madonna’s fifth number one single. The video caused a stir with Madonna portraying a dancer in a peep show where little boys sneak in to watch. Wikipedia reveals it takes influence from Liza Minnelli in “Cabaret”. My social studies teacher, Mr. Vuch was Italian and really into music. He said when he saw the video, there were words in Italian on screen that he could understand, but didn’t understand why Madonna bothered. I don’t recall him saying what they were or what they meant.
The final single was “La Isla Bonita”, which went to number four on the Billboard Hot 100. What I remember best is trying to figure out exactly what the name of the song was. I used to make lists of songs I heard on the radio as they played, and struggled with “La Isla Bonita”.
Once more, “True Blue” had run its course, but again something came along just as the album was winding down.
More movie magic
In late June of 1987, just as my Grade 12 year was ending, Madonna released “Who’s That Girl”, a song from the soundtrack of her movie and album of the same name. “Who’s That Girl” also went all the way to number one, becoming her sixth chart-topping single.
In late June of 1987, just as my Grade 12 year was ending, Madonna released “Who’s That Girl”, a song from the soundtrack of her movie and album of the same name. “Who’s That Girl” also went all the way to number one, becoming her sixth chart-topping single.
I used to work at this greenhouse, and I recall one day near the end of the season, walking down this path at the edge of their farm, between some wooden graineries and a massively thick, long row of caraganas. “Who’s That Girl” was playing on the radio. In fact, it may have been a countdown announcing the song had hit number one.
“Who’s that Girl” earned Madonna a Grammy nomination for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television.
There would be another single from that album, but by then I had gone to university in Edmonton and was not listening to as much new music. When I went home for Christmas, I re-connected with some high school friends and they told me about “Causing a Commotion”, which was the last single from “Who’s That Girl”. It went to number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
The hit train keeps rolling
It was about a year after that when Madonna released her next album, “Like a Prayer” in March of 1989. The first song was the title track, which also went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
It was about a year after that when Madonna released her next album, “Like a Prayer” in March of 1989. The first song was the title track, which also went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
I went home for Easter in 1989 and took the Greyhound bus. There was this mother and her young daughter sitting across and in front of me. I dozed much of the trip, but as we were approaching Lethbridge, that little girl started singing, “Life is a mystery…” and finished the first verse of “Like a Prayer”. She was awesome. She had to stop because she threw up.
There would be two more hits in 1989 to close a decade that made Madonna one of the hottest performers on Earth. “ Express Yourself” and then “Cherish” both peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
Actual movie magic
Madonna also appeared in a number of movies in the ‘80s, starting with “Desperately Seeking Susan” in 1985; “Shanghai Surprise” in 1986 with then newly-wed husband Sean Penn; “Who’s That Girl” in 1987; and “Bloodhounds of Broadway” in 1989.
Madonna also appeared in a number of movies in the ‘80s, starting with “Desperately Seeking Susan” in 1985; “Shanghai Surprise” in 1986 with then newly-wed husband Sean Penn; “Who’s That Girl” in 1987; and “Bloodhounds of Broadway” in 1989.
The years after
Madonna just keeps on rolling to this day writing, performing and touring. She kept on releasing hits such as “Vogue”, which hit number one; “Justify My Love”, which peaked at number one; “Rescue Me”; “I’ll Remember”, another ballad and favourite of mine, from the movie “With Honors”, that peaked at number two; “You’ll See”; “You Must Love Me” and “Don’t Cry for me Argentina” from the movie “Evita” starring Madonna in the title role; “The Power of Good-Bye”; “Beautiful Stranger” from the movie “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”; and much, much more.
Madonna just keeps on rolling to this day writing, performing and touring. She kept on releasing hits such as “Vogue”, which hit number one; “Justify My Love”, which peaked at number one; “Rescue Me”; “I’ll Remember”, another ballad and favourite of mine, from the movie “With Honors”, that peaked at number two; “You’ll See”; “You Must Love Me” and “Don’t Cry for me Argentina” from the movie “Evita” starring Madonna in the title role; “The Power of Good-Bye”; “Beautiful Stranger” from the movie “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”; and much, much more.
She was also in a number of movies including “Dick Tracy”; “Madonna: Truth or Dare”; “A League of Their Own”; “Body of Evidence”; “Dangerous Game”; “Four Rooms”; “Evita”; and much more.
Parting thoughts
Madonna launched her career in the 1980s and, by the end of the decade, was one of the most popular, successful, prolific performers in the world.
Madonna launched her career in the 1980s and, by the end of the decade, was one of the most popular, successful, prolific performers in the world.
She is provocative, overtly sexual, energetic, and puts on a great show.
What I like about her music is those ballads that can really touch the heart, especially “Crazy for You”; “Live to Tell”; and “I’ll Remember”, coincidentally all from movies.
They demonstrate her range and depth of feeling.
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