Posted July 31, 201311 yr Material Girl (1985) • Like A Virgin Official Artwork http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-tefbYK-JVg/TAG8CSxwXII/AAAAAAAAAC8/6vikimMa5VQ/s1600/Cover.jpg http://www.flipsideweb.com/websiteimagesi-q/madonna-material-12inch-lp.JPG Background Early 1985 the second single from the Like A Virgin album was released. Material Girl became a #1 hit in Japan, reached #2 in the US and #3 in the UK charts (in the US it was kept from the top spot by 'Can't Fight This Feeling ' by REO Speedwagon & 'One More Night' by Phil Collins). It would soon become a Madonna classic. This song was one of the first examples of Madonna's multi-layered messages. While the lyrics give one message (pure materialism), the video gives the song a different meaning, one of immaterialism and pure love. Unfortunately, like the men in the video, the critics didn't seem to get the real message and accused Madonna of promoting materialism and selfishness. Madonna still gets referred to as the 'Material Girl', and since she's become a mother, often as the 'Material Mum'. After the release of the spiritual Ray Of Light, one often said "the once material girl has gone immaterial and spiritual..." Video The video was shot in Los Angeles and directed by Mary Lambert. Madonna is dressed in a long pink dress, inspired by the one worn by Marilyn Monroe in the 1952 movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes during her performance of 'Diamonds Are A Girls's Best Friend', which scene in particular was recreated for Madonna's video. Madonna got compared to her idol a lot, but in contrast to Monroe, Madonna isn't a victim. She's in control of her life and her men. In the video she plays with all the boys that are trying to win her love. None of them seem to get her message: while the lyrics talk about pure materialism, that's not what she really wants. It's actor Keith Carradine who knows how to play the game right. In real life however it was actor Sean Penn - whom she met on the set - who won her heart. Live Versions On the Virgin Tour, Madonna performed Material Girl as the closing song. She walked around the stage in total control of her men while wearing heavy jewelry. But at the end of the performance, Madonna got rid of all the useless accessory while insisting she isn't a material girl at all, and she only needs love. The medley on the Who's That Girl Tour also includes Material Girl. Still wearing her crazy and colourful Dress You Up dress, Madonna goofs around with her two dancers, possibly imitating her then-rival Cyndi Lauper tongue-in-cheek while throwing around 'Madonna dollars'. On the Blond Ambition Tour Madonna goofed around with Niki and Donna, all dressed in a fluffy dressing gown and with curling pins in their hair. Singing the song with a strong mid-western accent, they later get up and reveal a frivolish pink dress underneath their gown, in which they dance around. The performances of Material Girl on the first 3 tours always had something ironic and funny. For the Re-Invention Tour, Madonna's image was changed completely. No glamourous diva in pink Monroe dress; instead we saw a rock chick in army gear who had strapped on her electric guitar. This version totally rocked! Madonna pretended not remembering the words and asked the audience to sing along and help her out with the lyrics. The video and TV screens showed all mathematical equations and pictures of Albert Einstein (which was created for I'm So Stupid that got replaced by Material Girl). kQwuAVJ4TnI Material Girl was also sampled on Girl Gone Wild during the MDNA Tour. Included on the following albums Like A Virgin The Immaculate Collection Celebration Songs of the Week Week 1: I Know It Week 2: Bad Girl Week 3: Jump Week 4: Sky Fits Heaven Week 5: Causing a Commotion Week 6: Die Another Day Week 7: Dress You Up Week 8: Frozen Week 9: Ray of Light Week 10: Drowned World/Substitute of Love Week 11: The Power of Goodbye Week 12: Nothing Really Matters Week 13: American Life Week 14: Hollywood Week 15: Nothing Fails Week 16: Love Profusion Week 17: NONE Week 18: Burning Up Week 19: NONE Week 20: Girl Gone Wild Week 21: NONE Week 22: NONE Week 23: Crazy For You Week 24: Papa Don't Preach Week 25: NONE Week 26: Holiday Week 27: Give It 2 Me Week 28: Material Girl If you have any requests for Song of the Week, feel free to PM me or SweetCandy! Also, I've added links to previous Songs of the Weeks below, so if you missed one, please do comment in them.
August 1, 201311 yr Quite a fitting song seeing all the buzz around Nile rogers at the moment ! It is a m classic but it's certainly not a favourite track of mine !!
August 1, 201311 yr I don't think 'Material Girl' would be thought as a "signature track" as much if people hadn't dubbed Madonna as "The Material Girl'. Nevertheless, it's a fun track and I love her image in it, even if it is a blatant copy of Marilyn Monroe (although this is obviously intentional).
