January 30th marked 30 years since 'Keep It Together' was released as the sixth overall single from Like a Prayer, closing the era in North America and Japan whilst the UK and other selected European countries opted for 'Dear Jessie'. The song celebrates family, recognising they will always be a place of solace and stability. Madonna takes us through her rise to fame, from a child desperately wanting to step out of the shadow of her siblings to a young adult becoming a star. She realises, however, that celebrity life can be superficial and unreliable and that family are the only ones you can truly rely on. This acclamation of family values is backed by a strong funky groove and a jangly guitar courtesy of an uncredited Prince, adding another rich layer to the adventurous sound of the album.
No music video was issued for the single, however the show-closing performance for the Blond Ambition Tour provided the song with a killer visual. Taking inspiration from A Clockwork Orange and Cabaret, Madonna and her dancers perform a tight choreography involving chairs and aerobics. It's a strong, slick performance that visualises the ups and downs of family life, finishing on a poignant moment as Madonna repeats the hook "Keep people together forever and ever".
30 years on, what are your thoughts on 'Keep It Together'?
It's never been one of my highlights but I do enjoy it. I'm really into really bassy, groovy music at the moment so the funk vibe appeals to me. The tour performance is great, love the theatrics, the masculine/feminine blend and the choreography.
They probably could have afforded to push another single in the UK in terms of chart success but obviously Vogue was ready to go.
I love the tour version . This track so needs remastering on the album version!! Especially physically !!
A cute enough track! It ranks about mid-table on the album for me.
I used to quite like this one at the time of the album release but it's not one that I find myself returning to now, it's not aged very well.
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