Released in North America in late 1989 as the fourth single from the Like A Prayer album, it wasn't until its appearance on 1995's Something To Remember compilation that "Oh Father" was given the single treatment in most other international territories. The story of Madonna coming to terms with the sternness of her own father after the death of her mother, the ballad was written and produced by M and Patrick Leonard.
029. "La Isla Bonita" (single from True Blue, 1986)
Realistically, it's quite likely this song represents the extent of Spanish spoken by a not inconsiderable number of people the world over. Madonna's tribute to her Latinx fans, "La Isla Bonita" is one of her most performed songs. Written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch. Produced by Madonna and Leonard.
028. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (single from Music, 2000)
Opening with a spoken sample of actor-singer Charlotte Gainsbourg in the film 'The Cement Garden,' "What It Feels Like For A Girl" is a feminist missive, addressing sexism and the duplicity of gender roles. Written by Madonna, Guy Sigsworth and David Torn. Produced by Madonna, Sigsworth and Mark "Spike" Stent.
Though fine in its original form, it was when this awkwardly-titled Confessions On A Dance Floor cut was given a revamp by producer Stuart Price that "Let It Will Be" really caught fire. Operating under his alias of Paper Faces, Price stripped the song down to a near-entirely percussive version, creating the banger of a remix that Madonna ended up performing on her Confessions Tour. Written and produced my Madonna and Stuart Price.
It was the sensory-assaulting drum-and-horns clatter of "4 Minutes" that was selected to be the lead single from the Hard Candy record, in part due to it being a duet with Justin Timberlake, but that wasn't the pop superstar's only appearance on Madonna's eleventh studio album. Besides contributing production and background vocals to three further tracks, Timberlake joined Madonna again on the seductively smooth "Dance 2Night." "4 Minutes" was a chart hit regardless, but the superior disco funk of "Dance 2Night" went criminally unnoticed by comparison. Written by Madonna, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and Hannon Lane. Produced by Timbaland, Timberlake, Lane and Demacio Castellon.
Peaking at number two in the US charts, the second single lifted from the 'Who's That Girl' soundtrack is Madonna's highest placing American single to not have an accompanying video. Written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray.
Written by Madonna, Shep Pettibone and Anthony Shimkin. Produced by Madonna and Pettibone.
Even amid the sexually-charged material of Madonna's Erotica-era, there were still moments of tender romanticism, such as on "Rain." Written and produced by Madonna and Shep Pettibone.
In addition to the naughty Erotica album, 1992 also saw the corresponding release of Madonna's notorious, explicit coffee table book, simply titled 'Sex.' While some embraced her artistic expression, conservatives and the religious right attempted to shame her for depictions of such open and diverse sexuality. Bedtime Stories' "Human Nature," and its refrain of, "I'm not your bitch, don't hang your shit on me," was her response to the backlash. Written by Madonna, Dave Hall, Shawn McKenzie, Kevin McKenzie and Michael Deering. Produced by Madonna and Hall.
Only Madonna's second-ever single, "Burning Up" preceded her self-titled debut by almost four months. While the previous year's "Everybody" introduced her to club-goers as a new R&B-flavoured talent, "Burning Up" and its more rock-oriented elements enjoyed marginally more chart success, exposing her to a wider audience in the process. Written by Madonna and produced by Reggie Lucas.
Riding a career high in the wake of the Ray Of Light album, Madonna was selected to contribute the lead single to the soundtrack for the highly-anticipated next film in the Austin Powers franchise. Following the psychedelic aesthetic of the films, M and producer William Orbit turned out pop-rock gem, "Beautiful Stranger."
As has been mentioned in entries for previous songs, Madonna was obviously greatly affected by losing her mother to cancer at a young age. It's a subject that has resurfaced in her writing on more than one occasion, but perhaps never more heartfelt than on "Promise To Try," the gentle centrepiece to the Like A Prayer album. Written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard.
Some conservatives hated this song because they thought it encouraged premarital sex. Some conservatives loved this song because they believed it sent a "pro-life" message. Some progressives hated this song because they thought it encouraged teenage pregnancy. Some progressives loved this song because it's got one hell of a hook. Written by Brian Elliott and Madonna. Produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray.
Madonna and producer Mirwais Ahmadzaï pay homage to Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder, and specifically their 1977 disco classic, "I Feel Love." The two songs were memorably performed as a mash-up on 2006's Confessions Tour.
Though it's rarely more than a year without Madonna gracing us with her presence, she really has made an art of, if not the comeback, certainly the re-arrival. The most obvious instance of this seems to have been with "Frozen," the first single released in advance of 1998's Ray Of Light. Clearly demarcating Madonna Mk.II, despite following the 'Evita' project by under a year, "Frozen" was a critical and commercial standout, and reestablished Madonna as a major player following a few years of (relatively) slumped sales. Written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard. Produced by Madonna, Leonard and William Orbit.
It's that tired trope of strangers' eyes meeting across a room, but "Crazy For You" tends to err safely on the side of nostalgia rather than schmaltz. From the soundtrack of the sort-of-only-memorable-because-Madonna-plays-the-singer-in-the-club-scene movie, 'Vision Quest.' Written by John Bettis and Jon Lind. Produced by "Jellybean" Benitez.
Based on a demo of a folk-tango song entitled "Stop," by Madonna's brother-in-law, singer-songwriter Joe Henry, "Don't Tell Me" is Madonna's reimagining of the lyric as, er, electronic country. It's better than that description sounds though. Written by Madonna, Mirwais Ahmadzaï and Joe Henry. Produced by Madonna and Ahmadzaï.
When she debuted this song at the 1984 VMA's, it literally made headlines. True, simply uttering the word "virgin" alone could cause pearl clutching among some audiences in those days, but this actually was momentous television. The live broadcast of Madonna climbing down a three-storey wedding cake in full bridal gear and then essentially writhing on the stage for the song's second half (after parlaying a lost shoe into a sexy move) became the stuff of exaggerated locker room talk, and with that, her career was launched into the stratosphere. In the era of instant streaming gratification, it's amazing to think that it was a further six weeks after that performance before the single finally hit store shelves. Written by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg. Produced by Nile Rodgers.
It had been widely accepted, because of the Like A Prayer and Erotica albums, that Madonna was no longer any ordinary pop act to be produced and packaged, but instead was a genuine artist capable of executing grand visions. On Bedtime Stories, Madonna entered a period of more sophisticated offerings, incorporating a wider array of her musical influences, and further developing her hip-hop and R&B cred. "Secret," the record's first single, has a dark mood about it, suggesting a seemingly sinister nature to the titular mystery, but without ever directly revealing what it is. Written and produced by Madonna and Dallas Austin.
Surely the funkiest thing ever inspired by attending a Sting concert, Madonna's "Music" was the lead single from her electronic-oriented 2000 album of the same name. A somewhat successful single, it went to number one in Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. Written and produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï.
Written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard as the main theme for then-husband Sean Penn's 1986 film 'At Close Range,' "Live To Tell" felt like a revelation as the first taste of Madonna's upcoming True Blue album. In contrast to the barrage of pop hits she'd become known for surrounding her first two LPs, "Live To Tell" showcases a more introspective tone and mature vocal from the singer. Famously, the song was the subject of controversy when Madonna performed it in a crown of thorns while mounted on a disco crucifix during her Confessions Tour.
The auditory companion to the much-ballyhooed 'Sex' book, the title track from the "Erotica" album has aged well, despite the tendency of much club-oriented music to not do so. Only M could get away with a cheeky moan as a rhyme for her "hit you like a truck" lyric. Written by Madonna, Shep Pettibone and Anthony Shimkin. Produced by Madonna and Pettibone.
Like "Rescue Me," "Justify My Love" stands up along the best of Madonna's hits as one of the two then-new songs to be included on The Immaculate Collection. With the hype caused by MTV's banning of the video nearly overshadowing the song itself, it's sometimes forgotten what a great groove "Justify My Love" actually has in spite of its relatively minimalist composition. Written by Lenny Kravitz, Ingrid Chavez and Madonna. Produced by Kravitz and André Betts.
Wet Thud is typically no fan of gratuitous sampling, and it's pretty difficult to get away with reusing a musical phrase as widely recognized as, say, any part of any song found on ABBA's Gold collection. Therefore, it's difficult to articulate exactly how "Hung Up," and its unmistakable referencing of "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)," actually works so incredibly well. Introducing ABBA and Madonna herself to a new generation of fans, "Hung Up" serves as a five-minute crash course through gay pop culture. Written by Madonna, Stuart Price, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Produced by Madonna and Price.
Originally conceived for Cyndi Lauper, Madonna and co-producer Patrick Leonard reworked songwriters Gardner Cole and Peter Rafelson's demo entitled "Follow Your Heart" into what became Madonna's fifth number one single in the US.
When Madonna decided it was time to distance herself from the overtly pop direction of her earliest recordings, she did it in a big way. The lead and title single from her fourth studio album, "Like A Prayer" is a gospel rock song that reads like a hymn to God. And to ecstasy. In equal parts. Performed on the highly-touted Blond Ambition tour, the remixed version of the song found on The Immaculate Collection transforms the song into an extended, dance track, replete with religious fervour. Written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard. Produced by Madonna, Leonard and Shep Pettibone.
The one-two punch of "Like A Prayer" and "Express Yourself" on the first side of 1989's Like A Prayer album is among the most impressive pairings to open a record in all of music history. Seriously, imagine being able to open an album with "Like A Prayer," and still having another killer, even stronger tune waiting in the wings. The latter was written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray, with additional remixing from Shep Pettibone for the single version.
Despite being one of Madonna's best known, and best loved songs, "Into The Groove" has an odd release history. Written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray, it was recorded for the movie 'Desperately Seeking Susan,' but didn't appear on the soundtrack, which contained only the film's score. It was released as a single in Europe, and appended to re-pressings of the Like A Virgin album there, becoming a huge hit, even hitting number one in Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK. Meanwhile in North America, it was only commercially available as the b-side of the "Angel" single, and didn't surface again in its original un-remixed form until 2009's Celebration compilation.
Success definitely wasn't overnight, but once the ball did start rolling for Madonna, her world was never the same again. As such, there's a palpable hunger present in some of the vocals on her self-titled debut, and especially on "Borderline," where Madonna achieves the perfect blend of melancholy pop. Written by Reggie Lucas. Produced by Reggie Lucas and "Jellybean" Benitez.
Let's start at the beginning. "Vogue" has one of the best song intros of all time, period. The gradual build from the opening strings through the throbbing bass line to Madonna's calls to "strike a pose," is a slow burn that pays off with the blast of horns that signal the impending first verse. Specifically a celebration of ball culture, and a dance style prevalent in NYC gay clubs during the eighties, "Vogue" isn't Madonna's only song about the power and freedom of dancing, but it's certainly her best, thanks largely to the monster beat created by eighties uberremixer Shep Pettibone. By the time she reaches the song's climactic "rap," all bets are off and even the staunchest anti-pop curmudgeon has to relent to the flurry of drum fills, house piano, and sharp string stabs. Originally written for the purpose of being a b-side on the "Keep It Together" single, kudos to whoever realized "Vogue" had hit potential itself and green-lit it as a single in its own right. Written and produced by Madonna and Shep Pettibone.
***** text-only version of the list *****
###. "Song Title" (format, Parent Album, release date)
060. "Mer Girl" (album cut from Ray Of Light, 1998)
059. "Who's That Girl?" (single from 'Who's That Girl?' OST, 1987)
058. "Spotlight" (single from You Can Dance, 1987)
057. "I'm A Sinner" (album cut from MDNA, 2012)
056. "Easy Ride" (album cut from American Life, 2003)
055. "Hollywood" (single from American Life, 2003)
054. "Survival" (album cut from Bedtime Stories, 1994)
053. "Dress You Up" (single from Like A Virgin, 1984)
052. "Cherish" (single from Like A Prayer, 1989)
051. "Bedtime Story" (single from Bedtime Stories, 1994)
050. "Rescue Me" (single from The Immaculate Collection, 1990)
049. "Sky Fits Heaven" (album cut from Ray Of Light, 1998)
048. "Push" (album cut from Confessions On A Dance Floor, 2005)
047. "Till Death Do Us Part" (album cut from Like A Prayer, 1989)
046. "Gambler" (single from 'Vision Quest' OST, 1985)
045. "Take A Bow" (single from Bedtime Stories, 1994)
044. "Angel" (single from Like A Virgin, 1984)
043. "Nobody Knows Me" (promotional single from American Life, 2003)
042. "Physical Attraction" (album cut from Madonna, 1983)
041. "I Want You" [with Massive Attack] (promotional single from Something To Remember, 1995)
040. "Secret Garden" (album cut from Erotica, 1992)
039. "Lucky Star" (single from Madonna, 1983)
038. "You Must Love Me" (single from 'Evita' OST, 1996)
037. "Dear Jessie" (single from Like A Prayer, 1989)
036. "Living For Love" (single from Rebel Heart, 2014)
035. "Ray Of Light" (single from Ray Of Light, 1998)
034. "Jump" (single from Confessions On A Dance Floor, 2005)
033. "Nothing Really Matters" (single from Ray Of Light, 1998)
032. "I'm Addicted" (album cut from MDNA, 2012)
031. "You'll See" (single from Something To Remember, 1995)
030. "Oh Father" (single from Like A Prayer, 1989)
029. "La Isla Bonita" (single from True Blue, 1986)
028. "What It Feels Like For A Girl" (single from Music, 2000)
027. "Let It Will Be" [Paper Faces remix] (original version appears on Confessions On A Dance Floor; remix from "Sorry" single, 2006)
026. "Dance 2Night" [with Justin Timberlake] (album cut from Hard Candy, 2008)
025. "Causing A Commotion" (single from 'Who's That Girl?' OST, 1987)
024. "Deeper And Deeper" (single from Erotica, 1992)
023. "Rain" (single from Erotica, 1992)
022. "Human Nature" (single from Bedtime Stories, 1994)
021. "Burning Up" (single from Madonna, 1983)
020. "Beautiful Stranger" (single from 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me' OST, 1999)
019. "Promise To Try" (album cut from Like A Prayer, 1989)
018. "Papa Don't Preach" (single from True Blue, 1986)
017. "Future Lovers" (album cut from Confessions On A Dance Floor, 2005)
016. "Frozen" (single from Ray Of Light, 1998)
015. "Crazy For You" (single from 'Vision Quest' OST, 1985)
014. "Don't Tell Me" (single from Music, 2000)
013. "Like A Virgin" (single from Like A Virgin, 1984)
012. "Secret" (single from Bedtime Stories, 1994)
011. "Music" (single from Music, 2000)
010. "Live To Tell" (single from True Blue, 1986)
009. "Erotica" (single from Erotica, 1992)
008. "Justify My Love" (single from The Immaculate Collection, 1990)
007. "Hung Up" (single from Confessions On A Dance Floor, 2005)
006. "Open Your Heart" (single from True Blue, 1986)
005. "Like A Prayer" [Shep Pettibone mix] (original version appears on Like A Prayer; remix from The Immaculate Collection, 1990)
004. "Express Yourself" (single remix; original version appears on Like A Prayer, 1989)
003. "Into The Groove" (single, 1985)
002. "Borderline" (single from Madonna, 1983)
001. "Vogue" (single from I'm Breathless: Songs From And Inspired By The Film 'Dick Tracy', 1990)
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