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BuzzJack Music Forum _ Madonna _ 'Like A Virgin' • album discussion
Posted by: Hauspital* 7th May 2020, 01:31 PM
A place to discuss Madonna's 2nd studio album 'Like A Virgin'. Released in 1984.
1. Material Girl
2. Angel
3. Like a Virgin
4. Over and Over
5. Love Don't Live Here Anymore
6. Dress You Up
7. Shoo-Bee-Doo
8. Pretender
9. Stay
What are your thoughts on this album? Share any opinions, memories, favourite songs, or just discuss it anytime you're re-listening!
Posted by: Hauspital* 7th May 2020, 01:31 PM
Posted by: Hauspital* 8th May 2020, 08:39 PM
I don't return to this album much tbh. I appreciate it as one of the most iconic albums she's ever released but it doesn't have many (any?) of my favourite songs. It seems very of its time, which most of her albums avoid being!
Favourite song is probably 'Material Girl'!
Posted by: dandy* 8th May 2020, 08:41 PM
I think this album is utter drivel to be honest. I've never returned to it, possibly Dress You Up would be my favourite track but I'm not mad about any of them.
Posted by: Hauspital* 9th May 2020, 09:55 AM
! I don't think I've ever seen you so harsh to a Madonna album. I get it though, although the singles are iconic, even they aren't the most enjoyable to listen to now especially because she has so much more, finer material to choose from. Do you like Love Doesn't Live Here Anymore at least?
Posted by: dandy* 9th May 2020, 10:59 AM
Not really, no. It’s passable but I’d never choose to put it on. The album is too old for me to remember it at the time but I’m baffled as to why it was so successful, although other mid 80s albums I’ve heard since are equally dodgy so maybe the whole time period was just below average for albums.
Posted by: Liam.k. 9th May 2020, 11:28 AM
I can see why it was so successful given the Madonna-mania of 1985 and the music being so cheery and catchy, although I don't quite understand why it gets retroactively regarded as one of her best when you consider all her work since. Tbf, the album only really took off at the time of 'Into the Groove' and Live Aid (I assume the re-issue came at the same time) and remained high in the chart throughout Christmas and into the start of 1986, so that's where a great deal of its sales come from. It also has the benefit of gaining decent trickle sales from subsequent releases.
Listening to the album now, I feel like I might have judged the album too harshly. It's still low ranking on her discography but I can enjoy it for what it is: catchy, feel-good pop. I think the album benefits a lot with 'Into the Groove' as the centerpiece and it would have been good if 'Crazy For You' could be placed in there somewhere.
Highlights from the main album: 'Angel', 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore', 'Dress You Up'. Oh I also have a soft spot for 'Shoo Bee Doo', the part where the music gets going reminds me of something used in a John Hughes film or something. Probably doesn't need to be 5 minutes long though.
Posted by: Jordan Lee 9th May 2020, 01:55 PM
It’s quite a cute album in some ways. It has potential and she’s definitely released worse than this but it’s also far from her best as well.
Easy to see why it was so successful though.
Posted by: Hauspital* 10th May 2020, 06:33 PM
I too can see why it was a big success: easy to digest pop, with killer visuals and the rise of a new superstar, and i'm glad it was as big as it was because it helped cement her as a force to be reckoned with. She had so much to say, and this was just the start.
Posted by: Jonjo 8th June 2020, 07:46 PM
Moving onto this album. Reading through this thread is interesting... but I think I agree with the general consensus. The highs seem to be higher (the singles more or less - although I really like 'Over and Over' too), but everything else is just a bit... boring and plodding (or grating in the case of 'Angel'). 'Into The Groove' isn't on this on Spotify, but ofc I know it, I've just never been into this as much as I perhaps should be, similarly to 'Holiday' actually (but better than that). A step up in production quality though and the vocal mixing is improving 
My ranking:
1. Material Girl
2. Like a Virgin
3. Dress You Up
4. Over and Over
5. Into The Groove
6. Pretender
7. Stay
8. Shoo-Bee-Doo
9. Angel
10. Love Don't Live Here Anymore > I actually had this above 'Angel'... but then it decided to never end... so... <
Apart from the singles and 'Over and Over', I'm not sure I'm going to be bothered about any of the others. 'Pretender' & 'Stay' are cute enough though. But the rest are just inessential, imo.
Album Ranking:
01. Madonna
02. Like A Virgin
Posted by: HausofGhibli 8th June 2020, 08:15 PM
'Over and Over' is growing on me a lot as I listen to it more on the 'You Can Dance' remix album! 'Into The Groove' is a stonecold classic and never fails to put me in a good mood 
'Shoo-Bee-Doo' is probably my least fave on this - I really need to do relistens and rankings tbh. 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore' too low for you!
This is definitely another album that is of its time, but I promise it all gets much better after this 
Posted by: dandy* 8th June 2020, 08:27 PM
Absolutely - you're through the worst now Jonjo!
Will be interesting to see your thoughts on True Blue, I loved it as a little kid but I can't imagine whether it sounds just as dated or not to newer ears...
Posted by: vibe 8th June 2020, 08:29 PM
This and Mdna are my least favourite albums.
The inclusion of ITG was needed. Her debut is so much better .
I guess this album only needed those two huge singles to make it sell. The album cover is stunning.
The queen of MTV at the time and the world. She could have released anything and it would have been a hit.
I do have a soft spot for Angel and Over and Over.
LDLHA I only adored after going to the rebel heart gig .
Posted by: dandy* 8th June 2020, 08:32 PM
Oh that's true... MDNA doesn't exist in my world so I always forget about it
Posted by: Jonjo 8th June 2020, 08:38 PM
Looking at the True Blue tracklist and it already looks 10x stronger based on the songs I know. I actually adore the title track, I think that was the first ever Madonna track I heard and realised it was her (my dad put it onto a video tape of a whole load of music videos and live performances etc.. and that was on it ) so I'm excited to hear the album in full!
Posted by: Nina West 8th June 2020, 09:45 PM
01. Material Girl = 10/10
02. Angel = 8/10
03. Like A Virgin = 10/10
04. Over and Over = 8/10
05. Love Don't Live Here Anymore = 8/10
06. Into The Groove = 10/10
07. Dress You Up = 10/10
08. Shoo-Bee-Doo = 5/10
09. Pretender = 7/10
10. Stay = 6/10
My ranking:
1. Into The Groove
2. Material Girl
3. Like A Virgin
4. Dress You Up
5. Angel
6. Over and Over
7. Love Don't Live Here Anymore
8. Pretender
9. Stay
10. Shoo-Bee-Doo
Posted by: Liam.k. 11th June 2020, 12:43 PM
This era is more about visuals and themes and Madonna doubling-down on her playful, provocative attitude than it is about the music itself, for me. As I said earlier in the thread, I do appreciate the care-free, feel-good nature of the music but Madonna has bettered it many times since. Knowing that Nile Rodgers produced the album, I'd have expected the music to hold up better than it has.
Posted by: Santa Haus 6th January 2021, 05:58 PM
Continuing my listening of Madonna albums with this one today.
1. Dress You Up
2. Material Girl
3. Like a Virgin
4. Over and Over
5. Pretender
6. Angel
7. Love Don't Live Here Anymore
8. Stay
9. Shoo-Bee-Doo
This album, similarly to the debut, is very much an album of its time steeped in nostalgia and I think the difference with this is that it helped to establish that nostalgia and it became synonymous with the sounds of the time. A truly iconic album in every sense of the word, but with her standard of albums that followed, it still ranks fairly low for me because of the amount of filler it racks up. The singles are all varying degress of fantastic and make up the top 3 songs on the albums for me even though Angel is considerably weaker then the others. Over and Over is the best album track for me - insanely catchy and high-octane! Pretender is decent because it's fairly bold and stands out amongst the rest of the album tracks that can verge on the repetitive/annoying side. I also really like the instrumental production in it. Shoo-Bee-Doo is my least favourite on here and one of my least liked songs from her overall too! Overall the album doesn't have the dizzying heights or the consistency of many of her other albums, but it has some really cute, quaint, retro moments that mean I can return to it and enjoy it.
Albums ranking
1. Madonna
2. Like A Virgin
Posted by: Hotlady 6th January 2021, 07:15 PM
I really like this album it amazing. I'm favourite song from this album would be Over and Over . I really love that song.
Posted by: vibe 6th January 2021, 07:40 PM
for the over and over fans watch the live version from the Virgin Tour on youtube !!!
Posted by: Bjork 7th January 2021, 06:51 AM
wow some of you guys are very mean to this album. It's not a great album cos like most Madonna early albums has amazing singles + the album tracks are really filler and not that great but the singles are all amazing, especially Into the Groove, personally Madonna's best song ever
but Dress You Up is fantastic too and I love Material Girl and Like a Virgin, both incredible iconic singles
Posted by: dandy* 7th January 2021, 11:49 AM
Count me in the mean camp on this one, it's just not a very good album. The singles are okay but very much of their time and not ones that I'd choose to listen to very often. The album tracks are among her worst in my opinion, it's the worst kind of pop album where the singles draw you in to buy it but there's very little of quality outside of them.
Posted by: Bjork 7th January 2021, 04:23 PM
but I think that except Like a Prayer, you can say the same for most Madonna albums, ie album tracks being filler
maybe I'm biased cos Like a Virgin is the 1st Madonna album I got and when I discovered Madonna as a kid, so maybe I see it with different eyes
Posted by: Liam.k. 20th January 2021, 06:15 PM
NJG Studio have been teasing some Madonna photoshoots, shot in Tokyo in January 1985, on their instagram page. They're set to be available in a 200 page book titled 'Adore' that features 318 previously unseen photos!
Posted by: vibe 20th January 2021, 06:20 PM
amazing pics
Posted by: Santa Haus 20th January 2021, 08:53 PM
WOW! Love those images. Can't wait to see more!
Posted by: Nina West 21st January 2021, 12:17 PM
Material Girl
A great way to open the album with this iconic number that's catchy and infectious satire on materialism, with Madonna establishing herself as a Marilyn Monroe-esque figure & lyrically framing herself as a calculating woman, using men for well material things. The satire may be lost on some people, but its a fascinating song to be included in Madonna's catalogue as she'd totally and very loudly reject the idea of materialism later in her career. Other than all this, its a brilliant song & one of the finest pop songs she's ever recorded.
Angel
Sugary, sweet & full of glittery synths, this is a really nice bubblegum pop song that often gets ignored when compared to the other mammoth singles from this album & yeah I can kinda see why it does fall a little short. However on this album it is a firm standout thanks to its fun melodies & convincing vocals.
Like A Virgin
The title track & the very first glimpse of not only Madonna's controversial side, but would play a huge part into her becoming a global superstar, & would help pave for future female singers to unapologetically explore their sexual sides. As for the song itself its fantastic, excellently written and structured, thanks to those glorious hooks & Madonna's intense vocal delivery that really helps sell the message of the song that still holds up even to this day. Although I will say that having this & track 1 so early on they both overshadow the rest of the album.
Over And Over
Another strong number with some throbbing pop synths on this motivational anthem with catchy verses that builds & builds before bursting into a fast paced chorus, thanks to its diverse & colourful production that really makes this whole thing explode.
Love Don't Live Here Anymore
This is probably Madonna's first ballad & she tackles it really well & demonstrates that while her vocal abilities may have been limited at this time, she could really show some true range & bring some real authenticity to this Rose Royce cover. Thanks to some fantastic string arrangements and towering, rhythmic drums, its by far the most soulful offering on this album.
Into The Groove
I know this wasn't included on the original version of this album, but its a more than welcomed addition, thanks to not only it being a huge chart smash, but being an epic 80's dance pop song, thanks to those infectious verses & a killer chorus. Of course those grinding synths helps really capture the magic of the 80's. A firm highlight in Madonna's discography & an all-time classic.
Dress You Up
Another firm highlight with this groovy drum based dance track that completely captures her in the process of becoming a sex-positive icon, thanks to its sleek production & Madonna's fiery vocal delivery as the track progresses to that spectacular guitar solo played by Nile Rodgers. A banging tune, one of the very best this album has to offer.
Shoo-Bee-Doo
Never been keen on this track, but do like Madonna displaying some raw, tender emotion & the stripped down piano ballad opening is nice as-well. Just a shame all that's wasted on such a silly title. This was where the quality begins to dip
Pretender
The last third of this album is really lacking with this forgettable synth pop filler that is somewhat helped by Madonna bringing her personality into it, but the chorus could have done with some more work & feels like its just there to pad out the tracklisting.
Stay
This is an okay song, but certainly not something to end the album with. Although I do like the dramatic production & the angsty charm, however the hook in the chorus is not strong enough to make up for those weak lyrics, a definite album filler moment if I ever heard one.
Posted by: vibe 21st January 2021, 04:59 PM
The last 3 tracks certainly weaken this album.
ITG was certainly a bonus addition.
Posted by: Liam.k. 23rd January 2021, 01:16 PM
The pitching up of Madonna's vocals on 'Material Girl' and 'Like a Virgin' lose them a point for me. I know some of the songs on her debut were the same, like 'Borderline', but it doesn't seem to bother me as much as it does with these two tracks. If you listen to pitch-corrected versions, they sound much more pleasant whilst still having that girlish quality.
Unpopular opinions: I don't understand why 'Shoo-Bee-Doo' is so hated and I don't find 'Over and Over' particularly great like others do.
Posted by: vibe 23rd January 2021, 03:04 PM
Over and Over on the virgin tour is a 10 !
Posted by: Liam.k. 23rd January 2021, 06:25 PM
Yes!! 'Material Girl' was one of the videos I was most wanting to be released in HD. An iconic video and the pink is going to pop out the screen. *.*
if so! The only album I wouldn’t be bothered about getting