FEATURE:
Groovelines
IN THIS PHOTO: Madonna in 1984/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
Madonna – Like a Virgin
_________
THERE is a special reason…
as to why I am featuring this iconic 1980s song in Groovelines. Madonna’s Like a Virgin might be her most famous and best-known song. There is competition, though there is an argument to suggest it is one of her most popular songs. In 2016, Rolling Stone ranked the song fifth in their Madonna’s top fifty ranking:
“Even if the word "virgin" is the only sexual reference in the lyrics, "Like a Virgin" still sounds saturated in lust – it's all in the way Madonna sings it over that Nile Rodgers funk throb. The song was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, who were told they might have to change the title to get it recorded. But Madonna loved it. ("They're so geeky, they're cool," she said of the lyrics.) She gave "Like a Virgin" a memorable debut at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards, a moment as indelible as the Beatles on Ed Sullivan – the song is forever linked with the image of Madonna, in a wedding gown, brazenly humping the stage. "I was surprised with how people reacted to 'Like a Virgin,'" Madonna told Rolling Stone in 1987, perhaps a tad disingenuously. "Because when I did the song, to me, I was singing about how something made me feel a certain way – brand-new and fresh – and everyone else interpreted it as, 'I don't want to be a virgin anymore. Fuck my brains out!' That's not what I sang at all”.
In 2018, The Guardian ranked her seventy-eight (to that point) singles. Like a Virgin came in at twenty-one. Even if not seen as worth of higher acclaim by some, one cannot argue against the importance and significance of Like a Virgin. The lead single from the album of the same name, we mark forty years of Like a Virgin on 31st October. The album of the same name is forty on 12th November. It was such a crucial time in Madonna’s career.
Her second studio album was released just over a year from her eponymous debut. This was a slightly bolder artist. Madonna wrote a lot of her debut album. On Like a Virgin, there was more in the way of collaboration. She wanted to produce Like a Virgin herself. This was instantly denied by Sire Records. Even though there was mixed reaction to Like a Virgin upon its release, the album is iconic. In terms of this future Pop queen coming through. How her music and image are engrained in history. Singles Like a Virgin and Material Girl are among the most recognisable songs of their day. The album itself is slick and nuanced. Its deeper cuts offer rewards the more you play them. Its title cut is seen as the best track on the album. It is an iconic song that reached number three in the U.K. and number one in the U.S. I want to start with this feature published in September. An instant hit, Like a Virgin was written and composed by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg:
“A Musical Revolution
“Like a Virgin” was a departure from Madonna’s debut album, “Madonna”, which had been more disco-focused. The new single showcased a more refined, pop-infused sound, with a sweeping orchestral arrangement and a distinctive guitar riff that would become one of the most recognizable hooks in pop music. The song’s blend of catchy hooks, introspective lyrics, and Madonna’s distinctive vocal delivery – which blended elements of Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, and a hint of innocence – resulted in a sound that was both fresh and retro.
Controversy and Censorship
The song’s provocative lyrics, however, sparked a firestorm of controversy. Madonna’s impassioned delivery of lines like “you’re gonna be the pride of my life” and “Jesus is the answer” prompted critics to label the song as blasphemous and sacrilegious. The Catholic Church even protested the song, calling it “desecrating the sacred memory of the Virgin Mary”. Despite (or perhaps because of) the backlash, the song’s popularity only grew.
A Fashion Revolution
The song’s title, of course, referenced a specific fashion trend – and Madonna was always the fashion plate. The song’s iconic fashion moment came when Madonna’s white wedding dress was pulled apart on live television at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards. The look was instantly imitated and parodied, cementing Madonna’s status as a style icon and ensuring that the song would be forever tied to the fashion of the era.
Breaking Barriers and Setting a New Standard
But “Like a Virgin” was about more than just a memorable music video or a provocative fashion moment. The song changed the game by breaking ground for future generations of female pop artists. Madonna’s success showed that a pop star could be a powerful artist, a savvy businesswoman, and a style icon – all without sacrificing her art or her commercial appeal.
Legacy of the Song
More than three decades later, the impact of “Like a Virgin” continues to be felt. The song has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and its influence can be seen in everything from Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” to Britney Spears’ “Toxic”. It is a testament to Madonna’s enduring legacy, both as an artist and as a cultural phenomenon.
Conclusion
When “Like a Virgin” was first released, it was hailed as a game-changing hit that would shake up the music industry. Today, it’s safe to say that the song has lived up to its promise. As a cultural icon, Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” represents a pivotal moment in pop music history, showcasing the power of innovation, creativity, and vision. As a song, it will continue to be enjoyed and studied by artists and fans alike, its legacy cemented in the annals of music history”.
There is no doubt that, with Like a Virgin, we were introduced to one of the most inspiring and provocative Pop stars of all-time! Someone who was confident and challenged the mainstream. You can feel the sonic and lyrical shifts between Madonna and Like a Virgin. Madonna more confident as a performer. Her videos started to grow more ambitious. She was a screen idol. Captivating and cool. Sexy and shy somehow. The way she could be this relatable and girl-next-door figure but she was also a superstar. In 2014, this feature explores how Like a Virgin had changed over thirty years:
“Thirty years ago, a blithe little song about fresh romance made pop music feel so shiny and new. Madonna was already something of a household name when "Like a Virgin" was released, on Nov. 6, 1984 (two months after we heard it for the first time at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards), but the song made her pop's impending queen. It gave Madonna her first No. 1 single, sitting atop the Billboard chart for six weeks.
Arguably still her most famous song, "Like a Virgin" is now a staple at wedding receptions, on the airwaves and on lists of controversial moments in popular culture. But you're much less likely to see Madonna perform a standard rendition of the classic today. Most of her tours have featured a remastered version, which means we've heard several wildly different iterations of the pop standard. Here's how "Like a Virgin" has evolved in the 30 years since it was released:
Back when MTV was an infant, and the inaugural Video Music Awards favored acts like Herbie Hancock and The Police, seeing a 26-year-old burgeoning pop star writhe around in a wedding dress and "BOY TOY" belt buckle was enough to redefine an entire era of music. This infamous September 1984 performance was the first time most people heard "Like a Virgin." Madonna reportedly wanted to perform alongside a full-grown white Bengal tiger. When that idea was nixed, she chose to emerge from a 17-foot wedding cake. The floor action was pure improv. On her descent, a stiletto slipped off, and Madonna decided to pretend it was intentional by rolling around on the floor to retrieve it. After the performance, some said her career was DOA. Somehow she made it through the wilderness anyway -- all thanks to a wardrobe malfunction”.
I don’t think that Like a Virgin sound dated forty years later. A song instantly recognisable to those who grew up listening to it, you can also be struck by it if it is new. Such a memorable chorus lodges the song in your head! I would recommend people check out this Wikipedia article. In terms of the legacy of Like a Virgin. Its cultural impact. You get a sense of how important the track is. Its creation and writing is really interesting too. I want to highlight the critical reaction and legacy of this classic. It is interesting how various people view the song. How it was perceived in 1984 and now. How it made this indelible mark on popular culture:
“Like a Virgin" was released as the album's lead single on October 31, 1984. Rodgers wanted "Material Girl" to be released as the lead single, but "Like a Virgin" was chosen instead, a decision Madonna herself found "quite controversial". Afterwards, the song was included on the singer's compilations, The Immaculate Collection (1990), Celebration (2009) and Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (2022), as well as the EP Like a Virgin & Other Big Hits! (1985). Upon release, "Like a Virgin" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. On his biography of the singer, J. Randy Taraborrelli described it as a "coy song that suggested [she] really was a virgin - excited, sexy and willing". Author Thomas J. Ferraro called it "hilariously tongue-in-cheek". In The History of American Pop, Stuart A. Kallen referred to it as "light and catchy, easy to dance to, and just plain fun". From AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine named it, along with "Material Girl", one of the album's "definitive statements" that "overshadow" the rest of the songs; Stewart Mason from the same website, felt it was "pure bubblegum fluff" and the song in which Madonna "sounds most like Marilyn Monroe". Rolling Stone's Debby Miller deemed it "terrific", and opined that, despite her "little-girl voice [...] when she chirps, 'You made me feel/Shiny and new/Like a virgin', [...] you know she's after something". The same magazine then said that, "even if the word 'virgin' is the only sexual reference in the lyrics, ['Like a Virgin'] still sounds saturated in lust". From Billboard, Brian Chin praised the singer's "flawlessly phrased, witty" vocals and referred to the song as her "most pop-oriented cut yet". Kenneth Partridge, also writing for Billboard, compared it to "Billie Jean" and referred to it as a "complex song about purity and sex". Parade's Samuel Murrian singled out "just how clever and skillfully constructed this song is".
IN THIS PHOTO: Madonna in 1984/PHOTO CREDIT: Brian Aris
A song that's sexy as hell while maintaining a core sweetness and never coming off the slightest bit exploitative. It's a rare thing to promise and a rarer thing to deliver, and it's the primary reason why "Like a Virgin" is still such an enjoyable listen 35 years after its release.
—Spin's Andrew Unterberger's review.
The staff of Cash box opined that, "though the hooks are not as interesting as on her previous singles, Madonna's voice is in full force". While Yahoo!'s Nicole Hogsett said it was a "flirtatious, innocent-sounding (yet not innocent at all) [...] undeniably fun discussion of love", The Guardian called it "saucy". Amy Davidson from Digital Spy praised its "instantly memorable" lyrics, and said it had "one of the best basslines in pop". For The Arizona Republic, Ed Masley wrote that, "['Like a Virgin'] features young Madonna at her chirpiest" and, when compared to other singles such as "Justify My Love" (1990), it "does feel pretty virginal".Stereogum's Tom Breihan pointed out that "Rodgers' production and the Chic members' playing is sharp and in-the-pocket [...] [Madonna] projects personality all over it. But she also sounds tinny and small", ultimately concluding that it was a "pretty good" song. In less favorable reviews, Entertainment Weekly's Dave Karger felt it came off a bit repetitious and immature. The Backlot's Louis Virtel opined it's the Madonna song that has "aged [the] worst and most" since its release. Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine dismissed "Like a Virgin" as a novelty.
"Like a Virgin" has been recognized as one of Madonna's best songs, as well as the one that turned her into a superstar. Samuel Murrian named it the singer's ninth greatest song, that marked "the moment she went from being a big star to being an icon". It was also named her third best by Gay Star News' Joe Morgan. PopMatters's Enio Chola added that, "when ['Like a Virgin'] hit, [Madonna's] status was elevated to that of pop culture icon. [...] [it's] the song that defined for us who Madonna was (at the time) and would be turning into (in the near future)". Sal Cinquemani named it "iconic", as well as "the first—if not the—signature song of her career".
Entertainment Weekly's Chuck Arnold named it the second best song of Madonna's catalogue, as well as one of the best songs from the 1980s decade; a similar opinion was shared by Andrew Unterberger from Billboard, who named it one of the decade's "defining" tracks, and the singer's 10th best. Writing for Consequence, Allison Franks and Michael Roffman said it would always remain a "cultural artifact of the 1980s". Mike Wass from Idolator named it "one of the most iconic pop songs of all time". Matthew Jacobs added that it was the singer's most famous song, as well as a "staple at wedding receptions, on the airwaves and on lists of controversial moments in popular culture". Nicole Hogsett deemed it an "undeniable classic". "Like a Virgin" is one of the songs that "have come to define our times, influenced trends and triggered change in politics and culture", discussed in the 2003 documentary Impact: Songs That Changed The World.
"Like a Virgin" has been recognized as one of Madonna's best songs, as well as the one that turned her into a superstar. Samuel Murrian named it the singer's ninth greatest song, that marked "the moment she went from being a big star to being an icon". It was also named her third best by Gay Star News' Joe Morgan. PopMatters's Enio Chola added that, "when ['Like a Virgin'] hit, [Madonna's] status was elevated to that of pop culture icon. [...] [it's] the song that defined for us who Madonna was (at the time) and would be turning into (in the near future)". Sal Cinquemani named it "iconic", as well as "the first—if not the—signature song of her career".
Entertainment Weekly's Chuck Arnold named it the second best song of Madonna's catalogue, as well as one of the best songs from the 1980s decade; a similar opinion was shared by Andrew Unterberger from Billboard, who named it one of the decade's "defining" tracks, and the singer's 10th best. Writing for Consequence, Allison Franks and Michael Roffman said it would always remain a "cultural artifact of the 1980s". Mike Wass from Idolator named it "one of the most iconic pop songs of all time". Matthew Jacobs added that it was the singer's most famous song, as well as a "staple at wedding receptions, on the airwaves and on lists of controversial moments in popular culture". Nicole Hogsett deemed it an "undeniable classic". "Like a Virgin" is one of the songs that "have come to define our times, influenced trends and triggered change in politics and culture", discussed in the 2003 documentary Impact: Songs That Changed The World”.
On 31st October, it will be forty years since Like a Virgin was released. One of the most recognisable and important Pop songs ever, I hope that Madonna recognises the legacy of this song on its anniversary. The album it is from turns forty on 7th November. I will write about that very soon. Its amazing lead single, forty years after its release, still sounds…
SO fresh.