I was thinking of writing a series on Madonna albums and my thoughts on the album progressions, and their impacts on me. I should do the same with other artists as music really is religion to me. I wasn’t sure if I should go track by track, but I figure I’d go album by album.
I am going to get personal here, as one of the joys of music is our own interpretations of the lyrics, making it our own, becoming the soundtrack of life.
Her first album and the first tracks that turned my head. Lucky Star, Holiday, Borderline, and Burning Up are standouts for me.
Lucky Star, the first track still sounds fresh and the production on it, the soundscape of guitars and synths, this will always be a banger to me. I’m surprised I didn’t learn the dance moves, but not having access to Much Music, I had to catch this on Video Hits on CBC with Samantha Taylor over the air.
Borderline, such a great song and it has always resonated with me. Now I realize it’s about a relationship between too lovers, but I admit the start of the song really sounds like how I felt as a kid on several levels – the limits imposed on me, the control imposed on me by key members of my family:
Somethin’ in the way you love me won’t let me be
I don’t want to be your prisoner, so baby, won’t you set me free?
…Feels like I’m goin’ to lose my mind
You just keep on pushin’ my love
Over the borderline
Burning Up is so catchy and I’d totally get on a club dancefloor, such a classic.
Holiday I always think is on Like a Virgin because of how much it was played and then Like a Virgin. I think Holiday really struck accord with so many people with the themes of connectedness. Sure, it’s easy to dismiss it as pop fluff, but I think the positive message still stands.
Everybody, the song that broke her at the Danceteria. It’s definitely a vibe and a product of the time. It’s not my favourite track, but it is an important track that’s part of the journey of where pop was going back in the early 80s.
Physical Attraction, I think, gives insights into where Madonna would go. The lyrics certainly real a lot about sexual desire and a woman taking control of her destiny, either speaking up to the object of her desire. I’m all for Madonna’s expression of sexuality and empowerment of women through her music, and women were and are still inspired.
I know it, and Think of me really don’t resonate with me and I can’t talk much to these.
Alright, if all you’re doing is focusing on Madonna rolling around on the floor at the 1984 MTV VMAs, then you’ve missed everything Madonna stands for. Her “shock” was inspiring to me as we get into later albums. As far as I’m concerned, people are basic and chose not to look deeper.
Material Girl, ah Material Girl. I’ve always wanted to do a scrag drag death metal version of this at karaoke, and I have sung this on a cruise ship with a deep voice. It was a hilarious moment. Anyone who takes this song literally is completely daft. So many assumptions made.
Angel was the third single from the album, with Crazy for you from Vision Quest released just after the Material Girl single. I don’t think this is a great song, especially with how good Crazy for you was. Incidentally – Crazy for you was the very first karaoke song I ever sang at the age of 14 – I was so nervous doing it.
Like a Virgin is such a fun song, it’s catchy. I also completely mishear the lyrics. I’m not sure as a 10 year old kid that I thought much about the lyrics and what Madonna was singing about, but hey, it was a fun song, and I still think about it that way.
Over and over is also such a great song. I adore the version on You Can Dance. This song became one of my theme songs and every time I hear it I want to sing it. It has a great message, and I’m sure it’s autobiographical because you can see what Madonna has done in her career – ignore critics as best as you can, push through failures, and continuously get back up after making mistakes in both love and life.
It doesn’t matter who you are
It’s what you do that takes you far
And if at first you don’t succeed
Here’s some advice that you should heed
You get up again, over and over
Love don’t live here anymore is a song I understand, but it’s not one of my favourites from the album. I will say her vulnerable voice and the strings are great.
Dress You Up, for some reason, I think of my cousin Erika and her friend Sarah. Sarah loved fashion and was, to me, a real 80s kid. She’s awesome, and while I’ve not seen her in many years, I think of her a lot. Peak 80s.
Shoo-Bee-Doo has an amazing piano line, and honestly, a fantastic Madonna ballad. I feel this is a song I really shouldn’t like, but I really do.
I listed to this for the first time in a long time last week and it gave me a sense of how much I’ve grown. While I know some interpretations surround her singing to a lover, I’m wondering if it’s more general, love shown to a close friend who is hurting and needing someone to walk a path with them. At least, that’s my interpretation.
Pretender – Madonna as a story teller. I was thinking this was going to be like I know it and Think of me from Madonna, but I really like the structure of the music, and the way she tells the story.
Stay as a follow up, I’ve always liked when bands and artists write a song that has a similar vibe to the previous track so they become two tracks that will always remain cemented together. At least it does for me. I really like Madonna’s voice on Stay, so many signature Madonna sounds.
My friend Shawn gave me True Blue for my birthday 1987 or 1988. This is an amazing album and really where Madonna really hones her craft as a story teller and song.
Papa Don’t Preach was so controversial at the time, and I never understood it. Teenage pregnancies were certainly happening, certainly do happen and the level of shame loaded on young women and young men adds to more societal problems, to me. How about supporting your kids?
I like Madonna’s stance on this – a statement of female agency, asserting that women have the right to choose the path that makes them happy.
Open Your Heart is an absolute favourite. The production is pure late 80s, and the song is genius. I admit, being a romantic at heart, and playing out relationships in my head, and later personal growth, when you open your heart, when you show that vulnerability, things truly get better. A favourite of mine to sing at karaoke.
White Heat – This is another one of those songs that I should dislike, and I think I did dislike it initially, but again, Madonna as a story teller – she portrays herself as a dominant figure demanding respect and commitment from her partner. Hell yes especially as we look back on female empowerment. Completely unapologetic. That’s what I love about Madonna.
Live to Tell – Originally for the film Fire with Fire, then At Close Range, the lyrics are a blend of the dark, mistrustful themes of the movie and her own childhood experiences—specifically, the internal secrets and private pains that make a person who they are, but are terrifying to share with the world.
I would sit listening to this in my living room as a kid, growing up. This track resonated with my experience growing up at the time. Where the lyric is, “A man can tell a thousand lies” for me, it was the women in my immediate family.
If I ran away, I’d never have the strength
To go very far
How would they hear the beating of my heart
Will it grow cold
The secret that I hide, will I grow old
How will they hear
When will they learn
How will they know
During the Celebration Tour, Madonna sang this as a tribute to those she lost to HIV/AIDS. It’s the second time I’ve ever cried at a concert. It was beautiful for such a beautiful son.
And that ends side 1 of the album. I had it on vinyl and I can still hear the stylus every time I listen to the album.
Where’s the party is a great fun track, pure pop and an absolute favourite.
True Blue brings us to the past of a doo-wop sounding track. Again, pure pop. While it’s no longer a go to, when ti comes on, you can’t help but feel uplifted. Look for Debi Mazar in the video.
La Isla Bonita is Madonna as a story teller again. I’ve always liked the imagery and the flamenco-inspired guitar. Interestingly, this track was rejected by Michael Jackson.
Jimmy Jimmy, a tribute to James Dean and Madonna’s admiration for bad boys. I admit, my grown up interpretation was more she’s fallen in love with a gay boy and can’t tell him. He then moves away. Personally, I like my interpretation.
why, oh why, oh why
Do fools fall in love?
Finally we come to Love Makes the World Go Round – another fun uplifting song about being connected to each other and commentary on politics on the day. If you think of Madonna as just another pop singer not singing about anything important – which many people have done – you miss the messaging.
True Blue is probably the first Madonna album that I’d listen from start to finish completely without skipping tracks. It is such a great album and such a personal one.
That covers the first three albums. We’ll cover Who’s That Girl, Like a Prayer, I’m Breathless, and Erotica and next.