Released: July 27, 1983
Genre: Dance-pop ∙ post-disco ∙ electropop
Label: Sire ∙ Warner Bros.
Producer: Reggie Lucas ∙ John “Jellybean” Benitez ∙ Mark Kamins
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Madonna is truly one of the greatest artists of her generation. When I was in my senior seminar class in College, I wrote a paper about the significance Madonna has had on pop culture..and how her legacy will forever be solidified due to her artistic expression in her work for the 20th and 21st centuries.
Madonna’s versatility in production, songwriting and the incorporating of social, political, sexual and religious themes opened up so many doors for women entertainers that came after her, that she is the quintessential pop star everyone either has wanted to be or at least inspire to be.
Growing up in Bay City, Michigan, Madonna moved to New York after dropping out of the University of Michigan and began her career as a member of the Breakfast Club and Emmy and the Emmys. Eventually, the singer was signed to Sire Records, and the rest was history.
Before we had Vogue, Music, Justify My Love, La Isla Bonita, Like A Virgin and Material Girl, we had the debut album. Simply titled Madonna (later Madonna: The First Album,) the album was released July 27, 1983 by Sire Records & Warner Bros executed Madonna’s star power from the very beginning. Madonna became a household name after this project, and solidified her career to be where it is today.
Madonna is an album with elements of dance-pop, post-disco and electropop, along with themes of love and relationships. Madonna is credited for the resurgence of disco (which had pretty much became a thing of the past in the early 80s,) becoming a disco diva in the beginning stages of her career.
Utilizing updated technology at the time, Madonna had a hand in popularizing dance music as mainstream, and the album became one of the blueprints for dance-pop, a subgenre of pop music that is usually uptempo music that you normally heard in nightclubs.
Madonna peaked at number 8 on the Billboard 200 chart, and has since gone on to sell 10 million copies worldwide. Madonna also was certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Madonna.
Side One
Lucky Star
Written by Madonna ∙ Reggie Lucas
The album opens with the iconic Lucky Star, which was released as the fourth single. From a lyrical perspective, Lucky Star’s lyrics are a double-entendre that has the singer comparing her lover to the stars in the sky.
I love this song because it’s my best friend’s favorite Madonna song period. Lucky Star gave Madonna her first top-five hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 4.
The music video became an instant success and had a huge impact on pop culture due to Madonna’s fashion and style, which influenced the younger generation at the time to emulate her style. Just iconic!
***Lucky Star was sampled by Carly Rae Jepsen for her 2017 single Cut to the Feeling.
Borderline
Written by Reggie Lucas
Borderline is my favorite song from Madonna, and rightfully so! From a lyrical perspective, Borderline is about the singer expressing how she dislikes her boyfriend’s sexist ways.
The music video to Borderline is known for its use of power as symbolism. Madonna is credited for breaking the taboo of interracial relationships with the music video, and is one of her career-making moments. Released as the fifth and final single from the album, Borderline gave Madonna a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since been certified Gold by the RIAA.
***Borderline has been covered by Jody Watley.
Burning Up
Written by Madonna ∙ Reggie Lucas
Burning Up is a song! A new wave influenced track, Burning Up is a song where the singer is conflating sex with ambition, saying she is prepared to do whatever for her lover. The song did not chart on the Hot 100 charts, but did peak at number 3 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs charts.
I Know It
Written by Madonna ∙ Reggie Lucas
I Know is a cute bop about knowing that someone you loved was going t0 eventually break your heart. Madonna got the hell up and said I’m not crying over you anymore, and she ain’t wrong!
Side two
Holiday
Written by Curtis Hudson ∙ Lisa Stevens
The dance pop classic Holiday is considered to be one of Madonna’s best singles, and rightfully so. Released as the third single from the album, it became her first mainstream hit, peaking at number 16 on the Hot 100 charts.
Think of Me
Written by Madonna ∙ Reggie Lucas
Think of Me is another gem on the album that I appreciate a lot the older I get. Lyrically, the song has the singer expressing how she knows her lover is going to lose her and how much he’s going to think about her when she’s finally fed up with him and what he puts her through.
Physical Attraction
Written by Reggie Lucas
Physical Attraction is another nice bop on the album about the strong attraction between two potential lovers.
Everybody
Written by Madonna ∙ Reggie Lucas
The album closes wirth Madonna’s debut single, which was titled Everybody! From a lyrical perspective, Everybody is an invitation from the singer for you dance and unwind.
The elements of R&B, post-disco dance record was a huge hit in the clubs, which led to the singer being signed by her label! The song peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs charts.
***Everybody was sampled for Greatest Hit by Annie.
Madonna’s self-titled debut album laid the foundation down form a legendary career that still is going strong to this day.
The way that Madonna is one of the most studied musicians in text books is so insane, because I don’t think people understand how impactful Madonna’s star power was during her reign. Madonna was and is STILL that girl! This album proves that. -MW
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