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[Liam.k.]

Today marks 30 years since the UK release of Madonna's 'Live to Tell', the lead single to what would become her most commercially successful studio album, True Blue.

The song's beginnings were a result of songwriter/music producer Patrick Leonard's compositions for the romantic drama film Fire With Fire. He had Madonna in mind to write the lyrics, but this idea only became a reality following his rejection from creating the movie score, however Madonna had her own plans and, after collaborating on the song-writing and recording a demo, she suggested it be used for her then husband Sean Penn's upcoming film At Close Range, to which director James Foley agreed, as well as scooping Leonard up to write the whole score. Despite initial visions of a man singing this apparently male-perspective song, Leonard used Madonna's demo vocals to make the final cut, praising the charm devised from the rawness and innocence.

That sentiment certainly rings true - it's Madonna's delivery that makes the song so special and carries it beyond what is typically 80s production, allowing it to stand the test of time despite that factor. For someone who at this point was known for being provocative and making happy pop music, it certainly would have taken people by surprise for her to have the ability to take on a maturer ballad and convey such pain, experience and a yearning to be healed. The lyrics don't give away the subject matter either, which puts an even greater reliance on Madonna to tell the story with just her voice, but still it is something she seemed to master so effortlessly. I stand by this being the song that propelled her from popstar to a dedicated artist. It showed the world she was more than just a one-trick-pony and gave everyone the heads up not to remain settled with her style, for she has a desire to keep on evolving and discovering new ways of expressing herself instead of staying comfortable with a style she knows she'll have easy success with.

The live performances of 'Live to Tell' are all astonishing: she holds the attention of the arenas without the need for much else going on; just her and her voice, the depth and emotion emphasised by the live element. The best, and one of her most treasured tour moments, is that of the Confessions Tour, with the wonder of the countdown and the revelation just before the middle 8 (always the highlight of this song) which sends chills up my arms as she sings the final note and the explosions that give so much power to this already extraordinary song.

Official Video


Who's That Girl World Tour performance


Blond Ambition World Tour performance


Confessions Tour performance