MADONNA - 1983

1. Lucky Star
2. Borderline
3. Burning Up
4. I Know It
5. Holiday*
6. Think of Me
7. Physical Attraction
8. Everybody**

Produced by Reggie Lucas
*Produced by John "Jellybean" Benitez
**Produced by Mark Kamins

The queen of pop's very first album was an unbeatable mix of dance hall beats and teenage angst that still stands up today thanks to the help of the great singles Holiday, Borderline, Burning Up and Everybody. A perfect example of her early pop sound, MADONNA is Madonna's best album until 1989's LIKE A PRAYER.

Lucky Star - An innocent little ditty that was Madonna's first top five single still endures as a prime example of Madonna's early pop skills, relying on chirpy vocals and relentless happiness. The video is one of her most famous: herself and two dancers jamming on a white backdrop. Notable as the world's introduction to Madonna's soon to be omnipresent navel, crucifixes and most imortantly, her raw sex appeal. "What you do to me baby!"

Borderline - Madonna's first top ten hit has just the right amount of angst and empowerment. The story of a young lover being pushed too far was perfectly captured by the video, where Madonna hangs out on the streets with her artist boyfriend and then he gets her to do some nasty stuff for the camera (oh if he only knew what that started.

Burning Up - Madonna's first HOT song and one of the very best of the early years, Burning Up is a fast-paced dance track about Madonna's desire for a partner and the extent that she will go to have him. "Do you want to see me down on my knees/Bending over backwards now would you be pleased/Unlike the others I'll do anything/I'm not the same/I have no shame/I'm on fire!" From the director of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean comes Madonna's first studio video. As Madonna writhes on the highway and floats in a boat real-life ex Norris Burroughs drives towards her, but in the end, as would always happen in the future, Madonna's in the drivers seat.
I Know It - The best argument that Madonna's voice was sped-up in the early years is this slight song hopelessly trapped in 1983 about a jilted lover. Nothing special until the defiant finale: "But I'm not gonna cry for you/Cause that's what you want me to do/...You don't think that I can see/But you can't fool me."

Holiday - An extremely upbeat song pleading for everyone to just lighten up, Holiday was Madonna's first top-twenty hit (#16) and one of her perfect little chestnuts that will never die for its enthusiasm and the fact that Madonna obviously thinks enough of it to have remixed it for each one of her legendary tours. There was a video made for it, but it was never released, not a good sign. I've never seen it, but I've never heard a good thing about it either. This wonderful track was re-released in the UK in 1985 (#2) and re-re-released in 1991 (#5)
Think Of Me - One of Madonna's few BAD songs, Think Of Me is forgettable and simple to the point of non-existence. "Stop wasting all my time/You know it could have been so fine" is right.
Physical Attraction - Before she was Like A Virgin she was a virgin and Physical Attraction captures the need and the awkwardness of it all perfectly. A charming early track. (You could also say that it's about a one night stand, but that’s not as much fun.)

Everybody - "Dance and sing/Get up and do your thing" Madonna's first commercially available single rose to #3 on the dance charts and established her a disco queen as well as beginning her musical love affair with dancing, individuality, and speaking directly to her audience ( "I've been watching you/I know you want to get up") One of her best and most enduring tracks, a tiny no-budget performance video was made with an androgynously dressed Madonna and two dancers groovin'. On The Girlie Show Tour Everybody was the high energy finale.

Go Ahead To LIKE A VIRGIN - 1984

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