American Life is easily her best album, amazing from start to finish.

I'll create a look that's made for you

 

 

| 06 // Like A Virgin // 1984 // 7.71 (3: jakewild, 4: triangles, dandy, // 10: niallminogue, .cdc., ultraviolence, tyler, robswift, 9: liam, mikemyers, fgiboy)

 

 

I've decided to whip out another album so we're left with a top 20 & top 5 after it, and because it follows on so disjointedly from the previous reveal that it made sense to do it now. Madonna's second studio album, 'Like A Virgin' was the one that cemented her place on the music scene as it spawned a string of hit singles, established the artist as an ICON and proved that she was going to be here for the long run. A detailed album, exploring the material world, love, fashion, exuberance and heartbreak. Fun and carefree, it takes the best bits of the debut and expands and develops on them to give an all the more cohesive and well-rounded collection of songs. An album that has stood the test of time, despite the sound being so rooted in the 80s, because of the universal girly image that she portrayed and the whimsical lyrics becoming iconic and fashionably retro almost from the second it came out. A roaring critical and commercial success, jittering across the charts around the world before eventually topping many of them as the singles began to take their hold on the public. A beautifully decadent album cover to go with its theme, this was 80s music, fashion and Madonna at their absolute primes.

 

Opening track 'Material Girl' one of her signature songs expresses what the album is about, in its most open way. The album is about the self and enjoying, rewarding and loving the self as well as ridding negativity and continuing to rise 'Over and Over'. It does deviate from this occasionally to express love to others, particularly in 'Angel' and cover song, 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore' which is a personal highlight as it comes like a raw wound in the middle of the sprightly music that surrounds it. But she quickly returns to the fashionable world around her in 'Dress You Up' before proving she isn't just about the hit singles, in the glorious album closer

. The era was introduced with a showstopping performance and premiere at the MTV VMAs, it was later rereleased with added tracks and she then embarked on her first worldwide headline tour as it seemed the world was finally ready to really take notice of the material princess. And all of this while looking like an iconic angel.

 

 

-x-

21 | Music

22 | Holiday

23 | Live To Tell

24 | Die Another Day

25 | Justify My Love

26 | Cherish

27 | Nothing Really Matters

28 | Lucky Star

29 | You'll See

30 | Crazy For You

31 | Drowned World/Substitute For Love

32 | 4 Minutes

33 | Hollywood

34 | True Blue

35 | Give It 2 Me

36 | Burning Up

37 | Secret

38 | Rain

39 | Who's That Girl

40 | What It Feels Like For A Girl

41 | Human Nature

42 | Miles Away

43 | Nothing Fails

44 | Dress You Up

45 | American Life

46 | Erotica

47 | Deeper and Deeper

48 | Take A Bow

49 | I'll Remember

50 | Girl Gone Wild

51 | Oh Father

52 | Bedtime Story

53 | Masterpiece

54 | American Pie

55 | Don't Cry For Me Argentina

56 | Causing A Commotion

57 | Angel

58 | This Used To Be My Playground

59 | Love Profusion

60 | You Must Love Me

61 | Give Me All Your Lovin'

62 | Bad Girl

63 | Everybody

64 | Keep It Together

65 | Dear Jessie

66 | Turn Up The Radio

67 | Hanky Panky

68 | Fever

 

-x-

06 | Like A Virgin

07 | American Life

08 | Erotica

09 | Madonna

10 | Bedtime Stories

11 | Hard Candy

12 | MDNA

American Life is perhaps Madonna's weakest year 2000+ album for me. Great message, but a few of the album tracks just aren't up to standard. 'Nothing Fails' and 'Die Another Day' are definitely saving graces. 'Hollywood' and 'American Life' are perhaps not records I'd want Madonna to do again but I like them a lot anyway, some silly lyrics in both but in all they portray a great message. I also really like 'Easy Ride', not a "weaker spot" for me Haus!

 

I've been listening through Madonna's albums recently and it's probably my second favourite from her 80s ones. Madonna wanted an album of hits with no filler, and she pretty much did that - 'Shoo-Bee-Doo' lets it down slightly, but there's still some nice moments in the song. I'd rank this better than True Blue which is similar in sound in terms of them both being pure pop records.

Was hoping "Like A Virgin" would at least hit the top 5. Lovely album.

American Life is incredible, I wish it was higher but at least it was above Erotica which I've never quite managed to get into. It's a bit dull and forgettable for me.

The TOP 20 breakdown.

Madonna 1/5
Like A Virgin 3/6
True Blue 3/5
Life A Prayer 2/6
Erotica 0/5
Bedtime Stories 0/5
Ray Of Light 3/5
Music 1/3
American Life 0/4
Confessions On A Dancefloor 4/4
Hard Candy 0/3
MDNA 0/4
Other 3/14

The TOP 5 albums.

True Blue
Like A Prayer
Ray of Light
Music
Confessions on a Dancefloor

--x--

Pause4Porno

I'm 99.9999% sure that all four Confessions singles will be in the Top 10, and I'm definitely feeling a win for the album in that countdown.

 

The remaining Ray of Light singles could also be in the Top 10, same goes to

'Into the Groove', 'Like a Prayer' and 'Vogue'. 'Beautiful Stranger'

to perhaps just miss out. :(

 

(Wasn't sure to use spoilers but I will just to be on the safe side).

Forbidden Love! One of my favourite Madge tracks, it's all about the bit at 3:25 for me which sounds AMAZING in the car as it all comes back in again.

Forbidden Love! One of my favourite Madge tracks, it's all about the bit at 3:25 for me which sounds AMAZING in the car as it all comes back in again.

I think it ranks as my favourite or at least second favourite album track (alongside/behind [delete, depending on mood] 'Devil Wouldn't Recognise You'). The fact it so wonderfully leads into my #1 track 'Jump' makes it all the more essential :wub:

I'm terrified Don't Tell Me will be up next. But thrilled it was correctly recognised as the best Music single.

Easy ride as a weaker spot ? Yet you praise mother and father !!! Such bad taste!!!

Easy ride as a weaker spot ? Yet you praise mother and father !!! Such bad taste!!!

Bitch, you just killed my vibe :mellow:

You made me feel shiny and new

 

 

| 20 // Like A Virgin // Like A Virgin // 7.89 (0: triangles, 3: gavindeejay, 5: dandy, fgiboy // 10: liam, niallminogue, jark, ultraviolence, robswift, jsilv, mikemyers, aarontm, 9.5: lex)

 

Kick starting the top 20 countdown of your favourite Madonna singles, is the first to be released from the album of the same name, 'Like A Virgin'. Madonna's first US #1 single and critically hailed as one of her greatest, it did so much more than just cement her as an iconic popstar, it has since become ingrained in popular culture, covered by many, parodied and easter-egged across cinema and popular art. Merging her fashion, charm, sexuality and femininity into four minutes of pop gold, it's no wonder the world fell head over heels in love with her. Produced by Nile Rodgers, who initially didn't want Madonna to have the song, but later apologised and went back on his word. Lyrically the song can be interpreted in a number of ways and the playfullness of it reflects the nature of the song, that plods along with a misguided innocence. Repeatedly heralded as one of the best songs of all time in multiple publications, a number #20 finish here seems slightly unjust, but does go to show the strength of her discography that there are 19 others still to come. The song came coupled with a video shot in Venice and showed off the dichotomy of virginity and sexual provocation that the song suggests. It attracted attention from detractors who noted the merging of sex and religion in the video (which would become a much bigger controversy for her in the future) and the song itself was misunderstood and prematurely damned for its connotations. But at heart, it remains a joyous number, quintessentially M and still just as fashionable as it was some 30(!) years ago.

Shading 'Easy Ride', Bal what the

 

http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkdiv6tyli1qzcf5io1_500.gif

Jay give me ONE lyric from the song!? YOU HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD IT YOU TROLL.

Jay give me ONE lyric from the song!? YOU HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD IT YOU TROLL.

 

:rofl:

 

On a more serious note, I'm sad that 'Like A Virgin' is out of the running in the albums. :( Would be in my Top 5. Nice to see the single within the Top 20 though!

I forgot how amazing "Confessions On A Dancefloor" was until you posted "Forbidden Love".

 

I wouldn't be upset if it came in as her #1 album~

The Like A Virgin album is a classic, love the singles Material Girl, Dress You Up, Material Girl and Into The Groove on the re-release which makes it perfect, and the album tracks Over And Over (pure fun), Pretender (classic 80's pop) and Stay (great album track), not keen on Shoo-Bee-Doo (worst track ever)

I don't want to be your prisoner so baby won't you set me free

 

 

| 19 // Borderline // Madonna // 7.90 (0: jakewild, 5: tyler, 5.5: adamaloud // 10: niallminogue, randomfurlong, titty, dandy, simon, .cdc., lexc, aarontm)

 

The final track to feature in the countdown from Madonna's debut album is also the final track she released from it and just manages to squeeze into the top 20 here so it's a good thing she did go for a fifth single. 'Borderline' is a dreamy love ballad, and easily one of the richest on the album. Madonna's first US top 10 hit, the song is instantly accessible as the lyrics recall a universal sense of lost-love and constantly wanting more from a lover. The song's music video broke traditional interracial boundaries and proved that Madonna was ready to embrace the world in her highest fashion, and as the the single that followed this would prove, the world was ready to embrace her back. The song immediately evokes a sense of nostalgia for me, even if i wasn't around for its release; the silky vocal tones and sleepy instrumental blend perfectly to create a sentimental beauty.

I should have given it more than a 5, more like a 6.5/7