Today marks 40 years since the release of Madonna's second single, 'Burning Up'. The song recalls Madonna's pre-fame rock sound with its electric guitars and fiery attitude and became another hit for her on the US dance charts, as well as reaching #13 in Australia.

 

Share your thoughts on 'Burning Up' below!

I always wondered why Everybody and Burning Up weren't issued for re-releases after Holiday blew up - I guess they just felt like Lucky Star and Borderline were stronger songs at that point (and they weren't wrong with commercial suitability), still since the demand for Madonna was so high you'd think some markets might've taken it into their own hands.

 

ETA: actually looking at it, Borderline and Lucky Star both bombed on their initial releases :lol: I guess it's just confusing to read these things in hindsight.

Edited March 9, 20232 yr by tommie

This is a red hot fave from very early Madonna, I wish it had been given a proper push once she broke through big.

 

I love how you can sense her raw passion and sheer determination to make it at any cost - and make it she did!

The original album version could have features on this!

This got way higher up the charts then ROL EP

This is a red hot fave from very early Madonna, I wish it had been given a proper push once she broke through big.

 

I love how you can sense her raw passion and sheer determination to make it at any cost - and make it she did!

 

I agree, I just love the energy on the track and how unpolished it is - which is ironically probably why they passed over pushing it in favour of the more polished pop packages that were Borderline and Lucky Star. Still, it's a shame really. "Madonna" is probably still my favourite album of hers.

^ what an amazing debut and it is because its so raw!!

 

Even I Know It and Think Of me have energy and charm

Burning Up remains the best song on the First Album.

 

The video is ace as well.

It's a fantastic song and video as well. I love it.

This is a red hot fave from very early Madonna, I wish it had been given a proper push once she broke through big.

 

I love how you can sense her raw passion and sheer determination to make it at any cost - and make it she did!

Agreed, I love the attitude and the raw sound to it. I’d have loved to have seen it re-released, they could have opted for the 7-inch remix which is slightly more pop/polished although at that point anything Madonna released would have been a hit.

 

It’s nice that it’s popped up on tour over the years, the full on rock Re-invention and Rebel Heart tour performances have been great. It’s been performed on tour once more than Borderline has!