Happy Birthday, Madonna!

On August 16, 2013, Madonna turns 55. She was born Madonna Louise Cicone in Bay City, Michigan. In 1977, Madonna moved to New York City, with dreams of a career as a dancer. She wanted to find work as a dancer, and maybe as an actress. She knew she was born to be a star, but had to figure out just how to get that done. Although dance was not in the cards for the pretty young girl, who soon found herself in a studio, recording her eponymous first album released 30 years ago, in 1983. The album had eight tracks in total, and five of those were released as singles. All five made it on to the US Billboard, either on the Hot 100 or on the Dance chart.

Madonna's birthday is the chance for us to take a look back 30 years, when the little girl from Michigan would start to become an international star. It was in 1983 when the self-titled 'Madonna' album was released, after the first single, "Everybody", had been released in October of 1982. That song was written by Madonna herself, and went to #3 on the Billboard Dance chart. It was the song that introduced the world to this beautiful young lady. Please enjoy ther first single, "Everybody".

The second single released off the album, and the second song written by the songbird herself. "Burning Up" also written by Madonna, and it once again clained the #3 spot on the Billboard Dance chart. The song once again celebrated the joy and energy of the young, and the you responded beautifully. So enjoy the official music video for her 1983 hit, "Burning Up".

With the release of the third album off the album is the gorgeous "Holiday", the first song I remember hearing from the young singer. I will admit I was impressed, making the wonderful electronica that the 1980s were known for. The song was written by Curtis Hudson & Lisa Stevens, making it the first of her singles written by others. Remember, it is two years before 'Desperately Seeking Susan' would hit the movie theaters, the same year she would make an appearance on the Live Aid stage in Philadelphia, PA. There was something so sexy and playful about "Holiday", like nothing I had seen before. The song went to #1 on the Billboard Dance charts, as well as #16 on the Billboard Hot 100, her first foray into the Pop Top 20. Please enjoy as we watch "Holiday" in it's original form.

I think out of all the singles off this first album, my favorite might just have to be "Lucky Star", another written by the Madonna. The video showed the young girl commanding the screen as she danced across it. "Lucky Star" hit a new high on the Billboard Hot 100, finally coming to rest at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Yet again, the song was both sexy and sweet, a trademark of the young singer/songwriter. So please enjoy"Lucky Star" by Madonna.

And finally, we come to the last song in the celebration, "Borderline", another of her hits. This song was written by Reggie Lucas, and sung to perfection by Madonna. That allows us to take a look at the rest of the things needed for the boy. . "Borderline" also lit up the charts, as it scored a #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also had the double video yourself.

So there we have it = some of the great songs from Madonna's songbook. Happy birthday, Madonna!

Happy [Belated] Birthday, Madonna!

Well, yesterday was Madonna's 53rd birthday, and the ditz in me somehow missed it. So, I think I shall celebrate it in the way I was planning, just a day later! I thought I would pick four of her songs, from different times in her career, that were favorites of mine for some reason or another. Cause if I just went for my four favorites, they might very well be the first four videos, period.



And, of course, I had to start with one of the early videos. Once I saw the video for Lucky Star in 1984, I knew I was a fan. It was just teeming with newness and freshness, and exuding fun. In the very beginning, many were slow to jump on the Madonna bandwagon, but soon the music and the dancing had everyone convinced.



Madonna as a performer has managed to morph, or perhaps it is better to say evolve into new and interesting personae during the career. I was very fond of the archetypal strong woman of the late 80s. In 1989, she released Express Yourself, and I am sure she scared the crap out of a lot of boys.



I was completely infatuated with the 1998 song, Ray Of Light. Even better was the video, with a cool mystical feel. Sure, it was really showing off technology as well, but I just loved the was everything interacted with everything else. It was the melding of it all, along with a great song, that just made it outstanding.



And, finally, there was the 2000 video for Don't Tell Me was just so hot, steamy and sexy, it was jolting. I mean, the bitch was delivering the moves, and hiring some hot men to get the job done as well.



So Happy Birthday, Madonna!

Summer Music - Holiday & Lucky Star

This is a holiday weekend, isn't it? So I thought it would be incomplete to have anything up next other than one of my all-time favorite Madonna songs. Here is Holiday!



My other favorite song from the period would be Lucky Star, and the video is just too amazing to not watch again. And again. And again. So, I can't figure out why these two songs have not been covered by some of my singer/songwriters, but then I realize it was before most of them were born... Enjoy.