Dress You Up

Last updated

"Dress You Up"
Madonna - Dress You Up.png
Artwork for most 7" vinyl releases
Single by Madonna
from the album Like a Virgin
B-side "Shoo-Bee-Doo"
ReleasedJuly 24, 1985
Recorded1984
Genre
Length4:01
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Andrea LaRusso
  • Peggy Stanziale
Producer(s) Nile Rodgers
Madonna singles chronology
"Into the Groove"
(1985)		"Dress You Up"
(1985)		"Gambler"
(1985)
Music video
"Dress You Up" on YouTube

"Dress You Up" is a song by American singer Madonna from her second studio album, Like a Virgin (1984). It was released as the album's final single on July 24, 1985, by Sire Records. Written by Andrea LaRusso and Peggy Stanziale, and produced by Nile Rodgers, who also played guitar on the track, it was the final song to be added to the album. Rodgers had asked the writers to compose something similar to the work of his band Chic but, due to LaRusso and Stanziale being busy with other projects, the composition took time. When the lyrics were submitted, the producer initially rejected them, as he felt there was no time to compose a melody; Madonna, however, liked the lyrics and convinced him to include the song on Like a Virgin. Musically, "Dress You Up" is a dance-pop song whose lyrics are an extended metaphor for fashion and lust, comparing dressing up with passion.

Contents

Upon release, the song was positively received by music critics, with some deeming it "irresistible"; in retrospective reviews, it is now considered one of Madonna's best singles. Despite positive feedback, "Dress You Up" was added to the Parents Music Resource Center's "Filthy Fifteen" list due to the sexual innuendo on its lyrics. It fared well commercially, becoming the singer's sixth consecutive top-five single in the United States' Billboard Hot 100. Overseas, it peaked within the top ten in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. "Dress You Up" has been included in four of Madonna's concert tours, the last being 2015–2016's Rebel Heart Tour; the performance from the Virgin Tour (1985) was released as music video to promote its home video release. "Dress You Up" was used in a 1999 Gap TV spot, and covered by the cast of Glee in 2013.

Background and release

Nile Rodgers (picture) produced and played guitars on "Dress You Up". Nile rodgers-1547297980.jpg
Nile Rodgers (picture) produced and played guitars on "Dress You Up".

Following the release of her 1983 self-titled debut album, Madonna became, according to author Craig Rosen, "one of the most exciting new artists of the 1980s". [2] For her second studio album, Like a Virgin (1984), the singer attempted to become one of its primary producers, feeling the need to control the various aspects of her music; she believed that depending on a particular producer for an album was not something that suited or benefitted her. [3] She opted to work with Nile Rodgers because of his work as a member of band Chic, and on David Bowie 's Let's Dance (1983). [3] She commented, "when I was making the record, I was just so thrilled and happy to be working with Nile Rodgers. I idolized Nile because of the whole Chic thing. I couldn't believe that the record company gave me the money so that I could work with him". [2]

"Dress You Up" was the final song to be recorded for Like a Virgin; Rodgers had previously asked songwriters Andrea LaRusso and Peggy Stanziale to write a song for Madonna in the style of Chic but, due to other projects, the composition took time. [4] [5] When the lyrics of the song were submitted, Rodgers turned them down as he felt there was no time to compose a melody and record it for the album; however, Madonna liked the lyrics and persuaded the producer to include the song on Like a Virgin. [5] "Dress You Up" was officially released as the final single from Like a Virgin on July 24, 1985; [6] years later, it was included on Madonna's third compilation album, Celebration (2009). [7]

Composition and controversy

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
'Dress You Up' (1985)
A 20 second sample of "Dress You Up", in which Madonna can be heard singing the refrain: Gonna dress you up in my love/all over/all over.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Musically, "Dress You Up" is a "drum machine-driven" dance-pop song, consisting of a two-chord verse. [8] [5] Personnel included Rodgers on guitars, Jimmy Bralower on drums, and Rob Sabino played piano and was in charge of the synthesizers. [9] According to the sheet music published by Alfred Publishing Inc., "Dress You Up" is set in the time signature of common time, with a moderate tempo of 136 beats per minute. [10] It is composed in the key of C minor, with Madonna's vocals ranging from a low-note of B♭3, to a high-note of F♯5; "Dress You Up" has a basic sequence of Cm–B♭–G7 in the verses, and A♭–B♭–Cm–Cm/G in the refrain as its chord progression. [10] The lyrics of the song are a metaphor for fashion and sex; Madonna sings about clothes she would like to drape over her lover, so that she can cover him with "velvet kisses", and caress his body with her hands. [5] According to Rikky Rooksby, author of Madonna: The Complete Guide to Her Music, the line "I'll create a look that's made for you", would go on to become synonymous with Madonna's re-invention of her image throughout her career. [11]

In the summer of 1985, a committee known as the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) included "Dress You Up" on its "Filthy Fifteen" list, which compiled fifteen songs by multiple artists, considered to be the "most offensive" of the time". [12] One of the committee's founders was Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore, who said that "popular culture is morally bankrupt, flagrantly licentious and utterly materialistic ― and Madonna is the worst of all". [13] Gore had allegedly heard her daughter listen to the song, and found the refrain an example of "vulgar music". [13] The PMRC called upon the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to give parents "consumer-friendly means" of identifying songs "unsuitable for minors", which resulted in a rating system based on lyrical content; in the case of "Dress You Up", it was given an "S" for "sex and obscenity". [14]

Critical reception

Upon release, "Dress You Up" was well received by critics. Billboard 's Nancy Erlich felt the singer sounded "pert, saucy, [and] eager to please" on the track. [15] For Cash Box , it's "characteristic Madonna, with a bubbling groove and an irresistible chorus and hook". [16] From AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine named it, alongside "Angel", an example of "excellent standard-issue dance-pop". [8] On Slant Magazine 's review of Like a Virgin, Sal Cinquemani referred to "Dress You Up" as irresistible; [17] Mandalit Del Barco from The Spokesman-Review deemed it a "groovy, albeit repetitive, ditty". [18] Santiago Fouz-Hernández and Freya Jarman-Ivens, authors of Madonna's Drowned Worlds: New Approaches to Her Cultural Transformations, compared the singer to a "sex-kitten" in the song. [19] William McKeen praised its melody for being "insistently chugging". [20] Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian , opined that it was the artist's first attempt at a teenage persona. [21] For the staff of Pitchfork , "Dress You Up" revisits the "effervescent electro-pop" sound of Madonna's debut album, "with a little more polish". [22] One negative review came from Entertainment Weekly 's Dave Karger, who felt the song came off as repetitive and immature. [23]

"An underrated slab of fashion frenzy, ['Dress You Up'] has all the polish of NIle Rodgers’s very best productions and a deceptively catchy chorus that sneaks up on you and gets in with a hammer blow".

— PinkNews 's Nayer Missim reviewing "Dress You Up" on the publication's list of Madonna's 60 best songs. [24]

Retrospective reviews have also been positive. In 2003, when fans were asked to vote for the Top 20 Madonna singles of all time by Q magazine, "Dress You Up" was allocated the eighth spot. [25] On his ranking of Like a Virgin's songs, Chuck Arnold from Billboard placed it in the third position: "[it] completely captures [Madonna] in the process of becoming a sex-positive icon. For a song that [she] didn’t have a hand in writing [...] ['Dress You Up'] sounds so much like her. Or at least the Madonna she was back in 1984". [26] In another occasion, Arnold named it a "throbbing come-on impossible to resist". [27] While reviewing the songs from the "Filthy Fifteen" in 2015, Rolling Stone 's Kory Grow said that "Dress You Up" was "largely innocuous by Madonna standards". [12] Similarly, Matthew Jacobs from HuffPost added that, despite its inclusion on the list, "['Dress You Up']'s quite mild and quite fun"; he placed the song at number 39 of his ranking of Madonna's singles. [28] It came in at the same spot on Gay Star News ' ranking, where Joe Morgan called it "her sexiest song that manages to appeal to both men and women of all sexualities". [29]

Ed Masley from The Arizona Republic named the track Madonna's 15th best, highlighting its "girlish charm that does its best to fool you into thinking there’s no sexual innuendo to be found". [30] For The Guardian's Jude Rogers, "its mentions of velvet kisses over a body are gently diverting", and it is Madonna's 51st best single. [31] Louis Virtel, writing for The Backlot, named "Dress You Up" the 38th best song of the singer's discography, referring to it as "silly and a little scandalous [...] it's perfect". [32] It was named the singer's 21st finest single by The Tab 's Harrison Brocklehurst, who singled out its "great hooky lyric", and deemed it a standout from Like a Virgin. [33] "Dress You Up" was considered Madonna's 15th best track by the staff of Rolling Stone, who added that it became a "style anthem for a generation of young wannabe's". [34] Billboard's Andrew Unterberger applauded its "knockout chorus, infectious synth line and exceptionally placed Owww backing vocals"; he named it the singer's 33rd best single. [35]

Commercial performance

On August 10, 1985, Billboard reported that "Dress You Up" was one of the most added songs to radio stations; [36] this caused it to debut at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. [37] By September 21, the single had given Madonna her seventh consecutive top-ten hit, thus she became the fourth female artist with the most consecutive top-ten singles at the time, behind only Brenda Lee, Aretha Franklin, Connie Francis, and Donna Summer. "Dress You Up" was also the fourth single from Like a Virgin to peak within the Hot 100's top ten, making it, at the time, the second album by a female to generate four top-ten singles, the other being Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual (1983). [38] Ultimately, the single peaked at number five and was Madonna's sixth consecutive top-five hit. [39] [40] "Dress You Up" reached the third position of both the Hot 100 Airplay and the Dance Club Songs chart. [40] [41] It topped the Dance Singles Sales chart, where it spent four weeks. [40] [42] On the Adult Contemporary chart, it came in at number 32. [43] "Dress You Up" was ranked at numbers 98 and 13 on the official Billboard year-end chart and the Dance year-end chart, respectively. [44] [45] In Canada, it was less successful, coming in at number 14. [46]

In the United Kingdom, "Dress You Up" debuted at the 12th position of the UK Singles Chart on December 12, 1985, and, one week later, peaked at number five; it spent 11 weeks on the chart overall. [47] The song was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), for shipments of 200,000 copies. [48] According to Music Week magazine, over 204,970 copies of the single have been sold in the United Kingdom as of 2008. [49] In Australia, "Dress You Up" reached the chart's fifth position in October 1985, becoming Madonna's sixth top-ten single in the country. [50] It entered the official New Zealand chart at number 28 on September 15, eventually peaking at number seven. [51] The single performed relatively well across Europe, reaching the top ten in Belgium, [52] Ireland, [53] and the Netherlands. [54] [55] "Dress You Up" saw less success in West Germany, France, and Switzerland, where it barely cracked the charts' top 30. [56] [57] [58] In the European Hot 100 Singles 1986 year-end chart, it came in at number 91. [59]

Live performances

The Mexican-themed medley of "Dress You Up", "Into the Groove", and "Lucky Star" on the Rebel Heart Tour (2015--2016) Madonna Rebel Heart Tour 2015 - Stockholm (22792294843) (cropped).jpg
The Mexican-themed medley of "Dress You Up", "Into the Groove", and "Lucky Star" on the Rebel Heart Tour (2015―2016)

On May 16, 1984, Madonna performed "Dress You Up" at artist Keith Haring's birthday party, which took place on New York's Paradise Garage; she wore a leather jacket personally painted by the artist. [60] [61] Afterwards, it was included on four of her concert tours: Virgin (1985), Who's That Girl (1987), Sticky & Sweet (2009), and Rebel Heart (2015―2016). On the first one, it was sung as opening number; Madonna struck poses on top of a staircase before reaching the microphone to sing. She wore lace leggings and bra, a colorful jacket, and crucifixes around her neck and ears. [62] From the Observer–Reporter , Terry Hazlett felt the singer resembled Loretta Young during the number. [63] To promote the Madonna Live: The Virgin Tour release, filmed in Detroit, the song's performance was released as music video and added to MTV the week of August 3, 1985; [18] [34] [64] it was nominated for Best Choreography at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards. [65]

For the Who's That Girl World Tour, the song was performed in a medley with "Like a Virgin" and "Material Girl"; [66] Madonna changed her clothes in an onstage telephone booth and emerged wearing a dress covered in toys, trinkets, and other plastic paraphernalia. [66] [67] The number was deemed one of the concert's strongest by the Washington Post 's Richard Harrington. [66] Two different performances were included on the videos Who's That Girl: Live in Japan, filmed in Tokyo on June, and Ciao Italia: Live from Italy , filmed in Turin on September. [68] [69] Madonna intended to include "Dress You Up" on 2004's Re-Invention World Tour, but found it hard to learn the guitar chords and was scrapped. [70] On the Confessions Tour (2006), "Dress You Up" was sampled on an introduction video that led to "Music" (2000), along with "Borderline" (1984), "Erotica" (1992), and "Holiday" (1983). [71] During the Philadelphia and Los Angeles concerts of 2008's Sticky & Sweet Tour, Madonna did a capella renditions of the single per the crowd's request. [72] [73] It was then included on the tour's 2009 extension, where it was performed as a "metal guitar-fest", with samples of The Knack's "My Sharona" (1979), and "God Save the Queen" (1977) by Sex Pistols. [74] [75] [76] The number was singled out by The Guardian's Alex Macpherson. [75]

On March 20, 2015, the singer appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to promote her thirteenth studio album Rebel Heart , and sang "Dress You Up" with host Ellen DeGeneres. [77] Dressed in matching white bathrobes, DeGeneres added "cheeky" responses to the lyrics as Madonna sang. [77] That same year, a slow, cumbia and salsa-fueled medley of "Dress You Up", "Into the Groove", and "Lucky Star" (1983) was included on the Rebel Heart Tour. [78] [79] The number featured Day of the Dead iconography and found Madonna, decked out in a long dress with a black shawl and a black hat, joined by a Mexican-themed dance crew. [80] [81] Billboard's Joe Lynch opined that, "the maracas might have been a little much, but the crisp Spanish guitar successfully made the songs sound newly organic". [82] The performance at the March 19–20, 2016 shows in Sydney was recorded and released in Madonna's fifth live album, Rebel Heart Tour (2017). [83]

Covers

In 1999, "Dress You Up" was used by Gap in a TV spot for vests, and sung by Alex Greenwald; the music was remixed by the Dust Brothers. [84] In 2007, it was covered by American bands Apollo Heights, and Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer and Reel Big Fish; the former's rendition was included on the tribute album Through the Wilderness , while the latter's was recorded for Duet All Night Long. [85] [86] An additional cover was done in 2008 by British singer Kelly Llorenna. [87] A mashup of Elton John's "The Bitch Is Back" (1974) and "Dress You Up" ―performed by Blake Jenner and Alex Newell― was included on "Feud" (2013), the sixteenth episode of the fourth season of American musical television series Glee . [88]

Track listing and formats

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the Like a Virgin album notes, and the 12-inch single liner notes. [9] [95]

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for "Dress You Up"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Japan (Oricon Charts)—11,800 [111]
United Kingdom (BPI) [48] Silver204,970 [49]

Related Research Articles

<i>Like a Virgin</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Madonna

Like a Virgin is the second album by American singer and songwriter Madonna, released on November 12, 1984, by Sire Records. Following the success of her self-titled debut album, Madonna chose Nile Rodgers to produce the album due to his work with David Bowie. Madonna wrote six songs on the record, five of which feature Steve Bray as a co-writer. The album was recorded at Power Station Studio in New York at a quick pace. Rodgers enlisted the help of his former Chic bandmates Bernard Edwards, who was the bassist, and Tony Thompson, who played drums. Jason Corsaro, the record's audio engineer, persuaded Rodgers to use new digital recording methods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who's That Girl (Madonna song)</span> 1987 single by Madonna

"Who's That Girl" is a song by American singer Madonna from the soundtrack of the 1987 film of the same name. Written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, it was released in Europe as the soundtrack's lead single on June 29, 1987; in the United States, a release was issued the following day. An uptempo pop song, "Who's That Girl" continued the singer's fascination with Latin pop, a genre she had previously explored on her single "La Isla Bonita". It features instrumentation from drums, bass, and trumpets, and has lyrics sung both in English and Spanish. While shooting for the film, then called Slammer, Madonna had requested Leonard to develop a song that captured the nature of her character; the producer worked on a demo and, afterwards, Madonna added the lyrics and decided to rename the song, as well as the film, to "Who's That Girl".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papa Don't Preach</span> 1986 single by Madonna

"Papa Don't Preach" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Madonna for her third studio album True Blue (1986). The song was written by Brian Elliot with additional lyrics by Madonna, who produced it alongside Stephen Bray. It was included in the compilation album Celebration (2009). Musically, "Papa Don't Preach" combines pop and classical styling, with lyrics that talk about teenage pregnancy, and the choices that come with it. Elliot was inspired to write it by the teen gossip he would hear outside his recording studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Material Girl</span> 1984 single by Madonna

"Material Girl" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her second studio album, Like a Virgin (1984). It was released on January 23, 1985, by the Sire label as the second single from Like a Virgin. It also appears slightly remixed on the 1990 greatest hits compilation, The Immaculate Collection, in its original form on the 2009 greatest hits compilation, Celebration and Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (2022). The song was written by Peter Brown and Robert Rans, while Nile Rodgers produced the track. Madonna explained that the concept of the song was indicative of her life at that time, and she liked it because she felt it was provocative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Like a Virgin (song)</span> 1984 song by Madonna

"Like a Virgin" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna from her second album of the same name. The song was written and composed by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, and it was released as the album's lead single on October 31, 1984. A dance song with two hooks, Madonna sings in a high register while a continuous arrangement of synths are heard along the bassline. The song's lyrics are ambiguous, consisting of hidden innuendos and open to various interpretations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Causing a Commotion</span> 1987 single by Madonna

"Causing a Commotion" is a song by American singer Madonna from the soundtrack album to the 1987 film Who's That Girl. It was released as the album's second single on August 25, 1987, by Sire Records. Its Silver Screen Single Mix later appeared on the EP The Holiday Collection (1991). Written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray, the song was inspired by her relationship with then-husband Sean Penn, and his abusive and violent nature. Containing a dance-oriented, up-tempo groove, the song begins with the chorus and is accompanied by a four-note descending bassline and staccato chords in the verses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucky Star (Madonna song)</span> 1983 single by Madonna

"Lucky Star" is a song by American singer Madonna from her self-titled debut studio album (1983). Produced by Reggie Lucas, it was written by Madonna with the intention that her friend Mark Kamins would play it in his sets at Danceteria, where he was the resident DJ. In 1982, Madonna was signed on by Sire Records for the release of two 12" singles; after the success of first single "Everybody", the label approved the recording of an album, and the singer decided to work with Lucas. However, problems between Madonna and the producer arose and he ended up leaving the project; she then called John "Jellybean" Benitez, her boyfriend at the time, to work on the remaining songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borderline (Madonna song)</span> 1984 single by Madonna

"Borderline" is a song by American singer Madonna from her debut self-titled studio album (1983), written and produced by Reggie Lucas. In 1982, Madonna was signed on by Sire Records for the release of two 12-inch singles; after the success of first single "Everybody", the label approved the recording of an album, and the singer decided to work with Lucas. "Borderline" is a pop song with post-disco elements whose sounds recall the music of the 1970s, while the lyrics find a woman complaining of her lover's chauvinism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holiday (Madonna song)</span> 1983 single by Madonna

"Holiday" is a song by American singer Madonna from her self-titled debut album (1983). It was written by Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens-Crowder for their own musical act Pure Energy, and produced by John "Jellybean" Benitez. Hudson came up with the lyrics of the song while watching negative news on television, and together with Stevens-Crowder worked on the music. They recorded a demo, which was turned down by their label Prism Records. Afterwards, Benitez pitched the track and offered it to several artists, including former The Supremes singer Mary Wilson, but it was rejected. Around the same time, Benitez was working with Madonna on her album; after realizing they needed a song for the project, Benitez thought of "Holiday" and approached Hudson and Stevens-Crowder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burning Up (Madonna song)</span> 1983 single by Madonna

"Burning Up" is a song written and recorded by American singer Madonna included on her debut studio album Madonna (1983). Written by the singer and produced by Reggie Lucas, the song was released as a double-sided single with "Physical Attraction" on March 9, 1983. In early 1980, Madonna was beginning her music career as a member of band the Breakfast Club; together with band drummer Stephen Bray, they formed a new band, Emmy and the Emmys, but shortly after, she decided to pursue a solo career. She and Bray created demos for three songs: "Everybody", "Ain't No Big Deal", and "Burning Up".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody (Madonna song)</span> 1982 single by Madonna

"Everybody" is a song written and recorded by American singer Madonna and produced by DJ Mark Kamins. In 1982, the singer was living with her former Michigan boyfriend Stephen Bray in New York, and since dance music was in style, they created a demo with four dance tracks, one of which was "Everybody". Madonna, who was not signed to any record label at the time, pitched the tape on her own: she would go to local nightclubs and try to convince the DJs there to play it. She met and befriended DJ Mark Kamins at Danceteria nightclub, who played "Everybody" to a positive reception from the crowd. Afterwards, Kamins took the tape to Sire Records, where Seymour Stein, the label's president, signed Madonna for two twelve-inch singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy for You (Madonna song)</span> 1985 single by Madonna

"Crazy for You" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for the film Vision Quest (1985). It was released on March 2, 1985 by Geffen Records as the lead single from the film's soundtrack album. Film producers Jon Peters and Peter Guber, along with music director Phil Ramone, decided to use Madonna after listening to her previous recordings, employing John Bettis and Jon Lind to write the song. After reading the script of the film, Bettis and Lind wrote the song about the situation in which the lead characters meet at a nightclub. Initial recording sessions did not impress Bettis and Lind, and they felt that "Crazy for You" would be dropped from the soundtrack. However, a new version was recorded to their liking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel (Madonna song)</span> 1985 single by Madonna

"Angel" is a song by American singer Madonna from her second studio album Like a Virgin (1984). It was released on April 10, 1985, by Sire Records as the album's third single. Written by Madonna and Steve Bray, it was one of the first songs developed for the project and, according to Madonna, was inspired by a girl who is saved by an angel, and she falls in love with him. "Angel" was released as a 12-inch single with "Into the Groove" in some countries and charted likewise. A music video was not filmed for "Angel", and instead, a promotional clip comprising segments of her previous videos was released in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Into the Groove</span> 1985 single by Madonna

"Into the Groove" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna, and featured on the 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan. Written and produced by both Madonna and Stephen Bray, the main inspiration behind the song was the dance floor; the singer wrote it while watching a Latin American man whom she was attracted to. Its instrumentation features synthesizers and drum machines, with Madonna's voice being double tracked on the chorus. Sexual innuendos and undertones are present throughout the lyrics, which are written as an invitation to dance with the singer. Originally written for her friend Mark Kamins, Madonna later decided to use it on the film, as one of the scenes needed a dance song. It was later added to the 1985 international re-issue of her second studio album, Like a Virgin (1984), and remixed for her compilations You Can Dance (1987), The Immaculate Collection (1990), and Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">True Blue (Madonna song)</span> 1986 single by Madonna

"True Blue" is a song by American singer Madonna from her third studio album of the same name (1986), released as the third single on September 10, 1986, by Sire Records. Written and produced by Madonna and Steve Bray, the song deals with Madonna's feelings for her then-husband Sean Penn. A dance-pop song, it features instrumentation from a rhythm guitar, a synthesizer, keyboards, and drums. The main chorus is backed by an alternate one, incorporating a chord progression generally found in doo-wop music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rescue Me (Madonna song)</span> 1991 single by Madonna

"Rescue Me" is a song by American singer Madonna from her first greatest hits album, The Immaculate Collection (1990). Written and produced by Madonna and Shep Pettibone, the song was released as the second single from The Immaculate Collection on February 26, 1991, in the United States, and as the third single on April 7 in the United Kingdom. A dance-pop and gospel-house track, the song is accompanied by the sound of thunder and rain, with the lyrics talking of romantic love rescuing the singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherish (Madonna song)</span> 1989 single by Madonna

"Cherish" is a song by American singer Madonna from her fourth studio album, Like a Prayer (1989). It was written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, and was released by Sire Records as the album's third single on August 1, 1989. "Cherish" was built around the themes of love and relationships, with William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet being one of the major inspirations. The track also included a line from "Cherish" by the 1960s band the Association. Musically constructed as a doo-wop-style pop song, it is regarded as a light-hearted track by critics and includes instruments such as a drum machine, percussions, keyboards and a saxophone. Lyrically, it speaks of Madonna's devotion to her lover, and her promise to be always by his side. "Cherish" was included on Madonna's greatest hits compilations The Immaculate Collection (1990) and Celebration (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gambler (song)</span> 1985 single by Madonna

"Gambler" is a song by American singer Madonna from the soundtrack album to the 1985 film Vision Quest. The song was written solely by Madonna, while the production was handled by John "Jellybean" Benitez at her request. It was released as the second single from the film's soundtrack album on October 3, 1985, by Geffen Records. "Gambler" was never released as a single in the United States, at the request of Madonna's own Sire Records. The music video of the song is an excerpt from the film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keep It Together (song)</span> 1990 single by Madonna

"Keep It Together" is a song by American singer Madonna from her fourth studio album, Like a Prayer (1989). It was released as the fifth and final single from the album in the United States, Canada and Japan on January 30, 1990, by Sire Records. Written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray, the main inspiration behind "Keep It Together" was Madonna's relationship with her family—whom she dearly missed during her divorce from Sean Penn. The song was dedicated to the American band Sly and the Family Stone. The lyrics deal with the realization of how important Madonna's family has been to her life. A pop, funk and deep funk song consisting of an upbeat rhythm and groove, "Keep It Together" features instrumentation from percussion, banjo and a conga.

<i>Like a Virgin & Other Big Hits!</i> 1985 EP by Madonna

Like a Virgin & Other Big Hits! is an EP by American singer and songwriter Madonna, released on February 10, 1985 through Sire Records. It was originally only available in Japan, but was reissued in North America and Europe in 2016 for Record Store Day. The EP includes four tracks—"Like a Virgin" from the singer's 1984 album of the same name, and "Holiday", "Lucky Star" and "Borderline" from her eponymous debut record.

References

  1. ↑ Pitchfork Staff (September 10, 2018). "The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s". Pitchfork . Retrieved April 24, 2023. She was only a year removed from the effervescent electro-pop of her debut, and singles like "Dress You Up" and "Angel" revisited that sound...
  2. 1 2 Rosen 1996 , p. 283
  3. 1 2 Taraborrelli 2008 , pp. 85–87
  4. ↑ Bego 2000 , p. 34
  5. 1 2 3 4 Rooksby 2004 , pp. 19–20
  6. ↑ "Madonna.com > Discography > Dress You Up". Icon: Official Madonna website. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  7. ↑ "'Celebration' – Track listing for CD & DVD announced". Icon: Official Madonna website. August 25, 2009. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (November 12, 1984). "Madonna > Like a Virgin > Overview". AllMusic . Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Like a Virgin (Liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1985. 7599-25181-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. 1 2 "Dress You Up - Madonna: Digital Music Sheet". Alfred Music. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  11. ↑ Rooksby 2004 , p. 15
  12. 1 2 Grow, Kory (September 27, 2015). "PMRC's 'Filthy 15': Where are they now?". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Forbes & H. Mahan 2005 , p. 76
  14. ↑ Fouz-Hernández & Jarman-Ivens 2004 , p. 60
  15. ↑ Erlich, Nancy (August 17, 1985). "Single: Pop - Picks" (PDF). Billboard . Vol. 97, no. 33. p. 66. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box . 49 (8): 9. August 10, 1985. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  17. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (September 9, 2001). "Review: Madonna, Like a Virgin". Slant Magazine . Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  18. 1 2 Del Barco, Mandalit (November 12, 1985). "Video Views". The Spokesman-Review . Knight Ridder. p. 63. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  19. ↑ Fouz-Hernández & Jarman-Ivens 2004 , p. 55
  20. ↑ McKeen 2000 , p. 234
  21. ↑ Sullivan, Caroline (July 4, 2001). "Top tracks you won't hear at Madonna's concert". The Guardian . Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  22. ↑ "The 200 best albums of the 1980s". Pitchfork . September 10, 2018. p. 5. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  23. ↑ Karger, Dave (November 10, 1995). "Madonna - Like a What?". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  24. ↑ Missim, Nayer (August 15, 2018). "Madonna at 60: Queen of Pop's 60 best singles ranked". PinkNews . Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Top 20 Madonna Singles of All-time". Q . 19 (23). December 9, 2003. ISSN   0955-4955.
  26. ↑ Arnold, Chuck (December 12, 2019). "Madonna's 'Like a Virgin' at 35: All the songs ranked from worst to best". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  27. ↑ Arnold, Chuck (August 15, 2018). "Madonna's 60 best singles, ranked". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  28. ↑ Jacobs, Matthew (March 10, 2015). "The definitive ranking of Madonna singles". HuffPost . Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  29. ↑ Morgan, Joe (August 15, 2014). "The definitive ranking of Madonna's top 55 songs". Gay Star News . Archived from the original on August 18, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  30. ↑ Masley, Ed (October 18, 2015). "Essential Madonna: Her 30 best singles of all time". The Arizona Republic . Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  31. ↑ Jude, Rogers (August 16, 2018). "Every one of Madonna's 78 singles – ranked!". The Guardian . Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  32. ↑ Virtel, Louis (March 2, 2013). "The 100 greatest Madonna songs". The Backlot. Archived from the original on October 20, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  33. ↑ Brocklehurst, Harrison (March 1, 2022). "Ranked: The 50 greatest Madonna singles that prove why she's forever the queen of pop". The Tab . Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  34. 1 2 "Madonna's 50 greatest songs". Rolling Stone. July 27, 2016. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  35. ↑ "The 100 greatest Madonna songs: Critics' picks". Billboard. August 15, 2018. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Hot 100 Singles Action: Radio most added" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 32. August 10, 1985. p. 14. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  37. ↑ "The Hot 100: The Week of August 17, 1985". Billboard. August 17, 1985. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  38. ↑ Grein, Paul (September 21, 1985). "Chart Beat" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 38. p. 6. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  39. 1 2 "Madonna Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  40. 1 2 3 Grein, Paul (October 5, 1985). "Chart Beat / Hot Dance Disco / Hot 100 Sales & Airplay" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 40. pp. 6, 50 and 63. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  41. 1 2 "Madonna Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Hot Dance Disco" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 43. October 26, 1985. p. 68. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  43. 1 2 "Madonna Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  44. 1 2 "1985: The Year in Music & Video - Top Pop Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-21. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  45. 1 2 "Top Dance Sales Singles/Albums 1985". Billboard. December 31, 1985. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  46. 1 2 "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0585." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  47. 1 2 "Madonna: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  48. 1 2 "British single certifications – Madonna – Dress You Up". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  49. 1 2 Jones, Alan (August 19, 2008). "The immaculate guide to 50 years of Madonna". Music Week . Archived from the original on September 11, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  50. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  51. 1 2 "Madonna – Dress You Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  52. 1 2 "Madonna – Dress You Up" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  53. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Dress You Up". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  54. 1 2 "Nederlandse Top 40 – Madonna" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  55. 1 2 "Madonna – Dress You Up" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  56. 1 2 "Offiziellecharts.de – Madonna – Dress You Up" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  57. 1 2 "Madonna – Dress You Up" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  58. 1 2 "Madonna – Dress You Up". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  59. 1 2 "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 3 (51/52): 28. December 27, 1986.
  60. ↑ Katz & Kott 2018 , p. 92
  61. ↑ Gruen 1992 , p. 108
  62. ↑ Clerk 2002 , p. 41
  63. ↑ Hazlett, Terry (May 30, 1985). "Madonna Madness: 14,000 fans at Civic Arena are crazy for her". Observer–Reporter . p. 22. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  64. ↑ "MTV Programming as of July 24, 1985" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 31. August 3, 1985. p. 36. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  65. ↑ "The 1986 MTV Video Music Awards will be the biggest party of all time! Bigger than the Communist Party?!" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 34. August 23, 1986. pp. 74–75. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  66. 1 2 3 Harrington, Richard (July 3, 1987). "Madonna's star turn at RFK". Washington Post . Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  67. ↑ Morgan 2015 , p. 103
  68. ↑ Madonna (1987). Who's that Girl: Live in Japan (VHS). Warner Home Video Japan.
  69. ↑ Madonna (1988). Ciao Italia: Live from Italy (VHS). Warner Home Video.
  70. ↑ Timmerman 2007 , p. 30
  71. ↑ Madonna (2007). The Confessions Tour (CD/DVD). Warner Home Video.
  72. ↑ DeLuca, Dan (November 21, 2008). "Madonna at Wachovia: Provocative, sticky and sweet". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  73. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (November 7, 2008). "Britney, Justin join Madonna in Los Angeles". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 10, 2008. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  74. ↑ Blanco, Giovanni (2009). Madonna: Sticky & Sweet Tour 2009. Boy Toy, Inc., Sire Records Merchandise.
  75. 1 2 Macpherson, Alex (July 5, 2009). "Madonna: O2 Arena, London". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  76. ↑ "Eerste Belgische concert van Madonna: flinke tegenvalller **". De Morgen (in Dutch). July 13, 2009. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  77. 1 2 Clements, Erin (March 20, 2015). "Ellen DeGeneres sings 'Dress You Up' with Madonna — in the bathroom". Today . Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  78. ↑ DiGuglielmo, Joey (September 14, 2015). "Madonna brings A-game again". Washington Blade . Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  79. ↑ Guerra, Joey (January 13, 2016). "Madonna captivates Houston fans at Toyota". Houston Chronicle . Archived from the original on January 16, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  80. ↑ Naedham, Alex (September 17, 2015). "Madonna at Madison Square Garden review – 'There is no other performer like her'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  81. ↑ Stevenson, Jane (October 5, 2015). "Madonna puts on rebellious show for Toronto fans". Toronto Sun . Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  82. ↑ Lynch, Joe (September 17, 2015). "Madonna gets surprisingly nostalgic at First NYC Tour Stop, then kicks Amy Schumer's ass". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  83. ↑ Madonna (2017). Rebel Heart Tour (2× CD, DVD, Blu-ray). Eagle Records.
  84. ↑ "Mind the Gap". Entertainment Weekly. September 10, 1999. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  85. ↑ "Various Artists > Through the Wilderness: A Tribute to Madonna > Overview". AllMusic. November 27, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  86. ↑ Apar, Corey (February 20, 2007). "Reel Big Fish > Duets All Night Long > Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  87. ↑ "Kelly Llorenna - Dress You Up". Spotify. 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  88. ↑ Strecker, Erin (March 15, 2013). "Glee recap: Something to fight about". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 11, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  89. ↑ Dress You Up (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1985. 7-28919.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  90. ↑ Dress You Up (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1985. 7-28919.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  91. ↑ Dress You Up (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1985. 9 20369-0 A.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  92. ↑ Dress You Up (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1985. 28XD-456.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  93. ↑ Dress You Up (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1985. 928 848-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  94. ↑ Dress You Up (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1985. W 8848 T.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  95. ↑ Dress You Up (LP, Vinyl, CD). Madonna. Sire Records. 1985. 9 20369-0 A.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  96. 1 2 "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 2 (51/52): 18 and 27. December 23, 1985. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  97. ↑ Pennaen, Timo (2021). "Sisältää hitin: 1.1.1960 – 30.6.2021" (PDF). Musiikkiarkisto. p. 157. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  98. ↑ "Madonna Chart History". RÚV. Archived from the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  99. ↑ "M&D Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2023.Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Madonna".
  100. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  101. ↑ "Madonna Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  102. ↑ "Madonna Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  103. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles: Week ending October 5, 1985". Cash Box. October 5, 1985. Archived from the original on October 30, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  104. ↑ "Madonna". Radio & Records . Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  105. ↑ "Kent Music Report: National Top 100 Singles for 1985". Kent Music Report. December 30, 1985. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2023– via Imgur.com.
  106. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1985: Ultratop 50 Flanders" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  107. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  108. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1985" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on September 16, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  109. ↑ "Top 100 Singles: January 5 - December 28, 1985" (PDF). Music Week : 10. January 18, 1986. ISSN   0265-1548 . Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  110. ↑ "The Cash-Box Year-End Charts: 1985". Cash Box. December 28, 1985. Archived from the original on January 18, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  111. ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Charts. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.