This article was nominated for deletion. The discussion was closed on 25 April 2021 with a consensus to merge the content into the article Cultural impact of Madonna . If you find that such action has not been taken promptly, please consider assisting in the merger instead of re-nominating the article for deletion. To discuss the merger, please use the destination article's talk page.(April 2021) |
Since her debut in 1982, Madonna's contributions to music, film, fashion, dance, and popular culture alongside with her attitude has influenced many other artists in the world. [1] [2] [3] [4] Her influence in the entertainment industry has generated extensive commentaries and analysis from critics, the media and public alike.
Madonna's influence on other artists has been praised by many authors and historians, who noted when she emerged in the 80's, the top artists in the world were men or bands, but after her, almost all would be female singers. [5] [6] Although Madonna took inspiration from other singers and people, music journalists from Billboard to MTV have commented that "she didn't follow anybody's formula" and "influenced herself". [7] [8] Some authors noted that "Madonna ends inevitably present in the lives of almost all the singers in the world, either at the beginning or end of the race", [9] while others commenting that several "artists are more influenced by Madonna than any other artist past or present". [10]
Madonna has taken inspiration from a number of entertainers, including Marilyn Monroe, [11] Joni Mitchell, [12] David Bowie, [13] Patti Smith, [14] Karen Carpenter, [15] Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde, and Aretha Franklin. [16] She also includes in her work, inspiration from the Kabbalah, as well on gender stereotypes, sexual clichés, corporate monoliths, and religious ones. [17] [18] [19] Billboard editor M. Tye Comer said: "Although Madonna had her influences, she created her own unmistakable style. She wrote her own ticket; she didn't have to follow anybody's formula. She declared who she was ... and took possession of her music". [7] Jocelyn Vena from MTV commented that "she's influenced others and even herself". [8] Richard Pérez-Feria from HuffPost said that Madonna took influences to guide her, but she never came off as derivate. She borrowed, sure, but she always "Madonnaized" it. Contrary, he noted that "Madonna’s younger musical contemporaries have liberally taken from her". [20]
Explaining the inspiration that she takes from other cultures, Madonna said in an interview with The Huffington Post in 2015, that is "our job as artists, to turn the world upside down and make everyone feel bewildered and have to rethink everything". She commented: "I’m inspired and I’m referencing other cultures. That is my right as an artist. They said Elvis Presley stole African-American culture". The singer later concluded that both "have a right to be "inspired" by other cultures". [21]
Ian Youngs of BBC News explained that "her influence on others has come as much from her image as her music, with her no-nonsense, boundary-pushing persona showing other artists what could be achieved". [23] Rolling Stone concluded that we can see "her influence in the recent generations of artists who have picked up some of her moves and have been influenced by her style". [1] In a general perspective, T. Cole Rachel of Pitchfork said that "it is not hyperbole to say that Madonna profoundly influenced the ways in which an entire generation of people thought about music, fashion, and—in particular—sex". [24]
Madonna's influence on pop stars has been the subject of much analysis and scrutiny. When Time magazine included her in the list of the "25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century", they pointed that "every pop star of the last two to three decades has Madonna to thank in some part for his or her success". [25] Similar thoughts were from professor Mary Cross, who wrote in her book Madonna: a biography that "her influence on pop music is undeniable and far reaching". Also, she explained that new pop icons owe Madonna a debt of thanks for the template she forged, "combining provocative sexiness and female power in her image, music, and lyrics". [26] Author Kimberly Potts said: "No other female pop star in history has had the musical, music video, concert tour, and fashion influence that Madonna has had, and continues to have, in the past three —continuining into a fourth— deacade". [27] Editor Erik Thompson from City Pages expressed that "any current pop-tartlet that denies that Madonna is an influence or an inspiration to them is either lying or simply ignorant of music history. [28] Tú magazine staff from Televisa, commented:
Madonna's influence on pop music stars is undeniable, from the music to the sets or outfits, all can see that the "Queen of Pop" has been the model for the current stars of world music firmament. [3]
—Laura Rosenfeld from North by Northwestern . [29]
Ottawa Sun editor Aedan Helmer wrote: "It would be easy to quantify her influence by the generations of pop stars created and groomed in her self-made image—without Madonna, the 'Britneys' and 'Katys' of the world simply wouldn’t exist". [11] Merely Me from website HealthCentral expressed that "there would be no Britney Spears or Lady Gaga without Madonna". She also wrote that "her influence is seen in the fashion, style and songs of many of the female pop stars of today". [30] As Helmer and Merely Me, Rick Florino from Artist Direct felt:
You can't think of modern pop music without thinking about her. There would be no Britney, no Christina, no Pussycat Dolls and no Lady Gaga without her. From the second that she burst onto the scene in the early '80s, her presence has permeated almost every facet of pop. Her influence is everywhere, and she's not going anywhere either. [31]
Editor Art Tavana from website Death & Taxes (owned by Prometheus Global Media) compared the singer with Michael Jackson and said that "Madonna’s overall impact on pop culture far outweighs that of Jackson" and explained that artists like Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake and Usher were influenced by Jackson more than her. In his 2008 article, Craig Takeuchi from The Georgia Straight compared the influence since the 1980s between Madonna and Janet Jackson and commented that with her personality, Madonna "went far further with it than anyone else did or ever has". Takeuchi explained that "she was at her most influential whenever she relied on her instincts". [32]
Several of those artists who have been inspired heavily by Madonna have been described by the press as "the heirs of Madonna" or her "musical daughters". [33] [34] [35] For example, in 2013 MTV Latin America makes a call vote What is the heir to the queen of pop?. [36] Rolling Stone cited of Britney to Lady Gaga, passing by Rihanna and Christina. [37] Named a "modern day Madonna" by Guinness World Records , [38] some authors have referred to Britney Spears as the "heir" of Madonna, [39] and others like Us Weekly Staff said her heir "apparent" is Lady Gaga. [40] Among them, Madonna's influence was most notable in Spears, who has been called "her protégé". [41] In her case, Gwen Stefani responded that "some people say that I copy her. But show me one girl my age who was not influenced by her." [42] She has been referred to as "the new Madonna" by publications such as The Hollywood Reporter and People . [43]
Ann Powers from NPR Music commented that "Madonna, is doing turning the world's attention to her heirs." [44] Paul Rees, editor of Q magazine felt that "Madonna is aware of the influence she has on the heirs to her crown, but does not rate them highly". [23] Argentine journalist Rodrigo Fresán said: "We think of the Madonnas that to come as we think on science fiction that is becoming less fiction and allow ourselves to imagine Madonna's clones." [45] Naming "Madonna" to other performers became in an honorific nickname adopted by the international media. Generally are artists heavily influenced by her and some examples can be the "Mexican Madonna" (Selena, Yuri or Gloria Trevi), [46] [47] [48] the "Latin Madonna" (Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Thalía, Paulina Rubio or Shakira), [49] [50] [51] or the "Black Madonna" (Rihanna and Beyoncé). [52] [53] [54] [A]
—Juan Restrepo from Yahoo! about Madonna and her impact on music. According to him, "All roads lead to Madonna". [9]
Madonna is often called "the most admired or influential female performer of all-time", by authors, critics, the public and academics alike. [23] [27] [55] She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as one of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, and other people who have in some major way influenced the music industry. [56] However, when was announced as the Billboard's 2016 Woman of the Year, Janice Min said that the singer "is one of a minuscule number of super-artists whose influence and career transcend music". [57]
Telcel company named her "the most influential female artist" and explained that "since her appearance on the music scene in 1983, no artist has called more the attention that Madonna". [4] Sclafani explained that a quarter century after Madonna emerged, "artists still use her ideas and seem modern and edgy doing so". [6] According to BET, Madonna is recognized by many as "the most successful and influential woman in American music history, [58] with Branstetter saying that her influence on American pop music "is almost smothering in its totality". [5]
More than any other female singer in history, Madonna is cited as the artist that paved the way for virtually every female musician, [59] [29] and the artist that changed the role of women in music. [10] Branstetter wrote that in this way, "Madonna fundamentally altered all that comes after her and nearly embarrassing all that came before". [5] Authors Laura Barcella and Jessica Valenti felt that she "changed everything the musical landscape". [60]
Kramer also commented: "Today's more-flamboyant female pop stars enjoy the freedom to make music and perform the way they do, but they didn't create that freedom. Madonna did the moving and shaking when she burst onto the pop-music charts in the early '80s". He further asserted that "Madonna and the career she carved out for herself made possible virtually every other female pop singer to follow... She certainly raised the standards of all of them... She redefined what the parameters were for female performers". [7]
To ensure the highest level of fact checking, all celebrities included on this list have sources came from reliable entertainment media references such as Billboard or Rolling Stone and other magazines, as well as news organizations. References with list of celebrities influenced by Madonna or profile's biographies like AllMusic are acceptable only if written by authoritative authors, like Stephen Thomas Erlewine's AllMusic.
There are only celebrities that sources demonstrates an "inspiration" or "influence" from Madonna in their careers or in one part of their work. Sources that provide celebrities saying only that wants to be like Madonna, compared to her, collaborate with her or like her music doesn't constitutes an inclusion.
—Martin Solveig about Madonna. [292]
The following are some comments made by artists who have been inspired by Madonna. They recognize the importance of Madonna in their careers and the entertainment industry. The O2 website explained that "artists aren’t afraid to admit their admiration for her". [293]
In 2009, Justin Timberlake recognizes that "her mighty influence seems to have subconsciously seeped into the videos of some of today’s biggest stars too". [294] In 2014, rapper Kanye West declared her as "the Greatest Visual Musical Artist Of All Time" during his commentaries on popular culture and the Madonna's influence on the industry. [295] Her ex-husband, Guy Ritchie admitted: "Madonna completely changed his life" because "it catapulted him into the public eye". [128]
Britney Jean Spears is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. She is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s, for which she is referred to as the "Princess of Pop". After appearing in stage productions and television series, Spears signed with Jive Records in 1997 at age 15. Her first two studio albums, certified diamond in the US, ...Baby One More Time (1999) and Oops!... I Did It Again (2000) were global successes and became two of the best-selling albums of all time, along with making her the best-selling teenage artist of all time. The former's title track was named the greatest debut single of all time by Rolling Stone in 2020 and the latter held a 15-year record for fastest-selling album by a female artist in the United States with first-week sales of over 1.3 million copies.
Kylie Ann Minogue, also known mononymously as Kylie, is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. Minogue is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time, having sold over 70 million records worldwide. She has been recognised for reinventing herself in music and fashion, for which she is referred to by the European press as the “Princess of Pop” and a style icon. Her accolades include a Grammy Award, three Brit Awards and 17 ARIA Music Awards.
Madonna Louise Ciccone is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she is regarded as one of the most significant figures in popular culture. Madonna is noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, and visual presentation. She is also known for pushing the boundaries of artistic expression in mainstream music while remaining completely in charge of every aspect of her career. Her works, which incorporate social, political, sexual, and religious themes, have generated both critical acclaim and controversy. Madonna is often cited as an influence by other artists.
Christina María Aguilera is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Her accolades include five Grammy Awards, one Latin Grammy Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Aguilera ranked at number 58 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time in 2008, and was included on Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2013. With estimated sales of 100 million records, she is one of the world's best-selling music artists.
Ray of Light is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on February 23, 1998 by Maverick Records. After giving birth to her first child, Madonna started working on the album with producers Babyface and Patrick Leonard. Following failed sessions with them, Madonna pursued a new musical direction with English producer William Orbit. The recording process was the longest of Madonna's career, and she experienced problems with Orbit's hardware arrangement which would break down and cause delays until it could be repaired.
"Vogue" is a song by American singer Madonna from her second soundtrack album I'm Breathless (1990). It was released as the first single from the album on March 27, 1990, by Sire Records. Madonna was inspired by vogue dancers and choreographers Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza and Luis Xtravaganza from the Harlem "House Ball" community, the origin of the dance form, and they introduced "Vogueing" to her at the Sound Factory club in New York City. "Vogue" is an upbeat house song which set trends in dance music in the 1990s with strong influences of 1970s disco within its composition. "Vogue" also contains a spoken section, in which Madonna name-checks various golden-era Hollywood celebrities. Lyrically, the song is about enjoying oneself on the dance floor no matter who one is, and it contains a theme of escapism. "Vogue" has appeared in a remixed form on two Madonna greatest hits collections: The Immaculate Collection (1990) and Celebration (2009).
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenager, singing at open mic nights and acting in school plays. She studied at Collaborative Arts Project 21, through New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, before dropping out to pursue a career in music. After Def Jam Recordings canceled her contract, she worked as a songwriter for Sony/ATV Music Publishing, where she signed a joint deal with Interscope Records and Akon's label, KonLive Distribution, in 2007. Gaga rose to prominence the following year with her debut studio album, The Fame, and its chart-topping singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face". The album was later reissued to include the EP The Fame Monster (2009), which yielded the successful singles "Bad Romance", "Telephone", and "Alejandro".
"Poker Face" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). It was released on September 26, 2008, as the album's second single. "Poker Face" is a synth-pop song in the key of G♯ minor, following in the footsteps of her previous single "Just Dance", but with a darker musical tone. The main idea behind the song is bisexuality and was a tribute by Gaga to her rock and roll boyfriends. The song's lyrics feature various sexual innuendos.
The Fame is the debut studio album by American singer Lady Gaga. It was released on August 19, 2008, by Interscope Records. After joining Kon Live Distribution and Cherrytree Records in 2008, Gaga began working on the album with different producers, primarily RedOne, Martin Kierszenbaum, and Rob Fusari. Musically, The Fame is an electropop, synth-pop, and dance-pop album that displays influences from 1980s music. Lyrically, it visualizes Gaga's love of fame in general, while also dealing with subjects such as love, sex, money, drugs, and sexual identity. The album was primarily promoted through The Fame Ball Tour and multiple television appearances, and was reissued as a deluxe edition with The Fame Monster on November 18, 2009.
The Fame Monster is a reissue of American singer Lady Gaga's debut studio album, The Fame (2008), and was released on November 18, 2009, through Interscope Records. Initially planned solely as a deluxe edition reissue of The Fame, Interscope later decided to release the eight new songs as a standalone EP in some territories. The decision was also because Gaga believed the re-release was too expensive and that the albums were conceptually different, describing them as yin and yang. The deluxe edition is a double album featuring the eight new songs on the first disc and The Fame on the second disc. A super deluxe edition released on December 15, 2009 holds additional merchandise, including a lock from Gaga's wig.
"Bad Romance" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her third EP, The Fame Monster (2009). It was written and produced by Nadir "RedOne" Khayat and Lady Gaga. Lyrically, "Bad Romance" explores Gaga's attraction to individuals with whom romance never works, her preference for lonely relationships and the paranoia she experienced while on tour. Following an illegal demo leak, Gaga showcased the final product at Alexander McQueen's show at the Paris Fashion Week in October 2009, followed by the release of the single's cover art. Musically, "Bad Romance" features a spoken bridge, a full-throated chorus and sung lyrics about being in love with one's best friend. The song, which is imbued with elements of German-esque house and techno, as well as music from the 1980s and 1990s, was touted by Gaga as an experimental pop record. During the bridge Gaga sings a part of the chorus in French.
"Telephone" is a song recorded by American singer Lady Gaga for her third EP, The Fame Monster (2009), the reissue of her debut studio album The Fame (2008). The song features American singer Beyoncé. The song was written by Gaga, Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, Lazonate Franklin and Beyoncé. Inspired by her fear of suffocation, Gaga explained that the lyrics preferring relaxing on the dance floor to answering her lover's phone call are a metaphor, the phone calling her representing the fear of not having worked hard enough to succeed. With the track succeeding her fourth single from The Fame, "Paparazzi", the duet additionally embodies a fear of being suffocated and trapped by the media. Originally, Gaga wrote the song for Britney Spears, who recorded a demo. Musically, "Telephone" consists of an expanded bridge, verse-rap and a sampled voice of an operator announcing that the phone line is unreachable. Beyoncé appears in the middle of the song, singing the verses in a rapid-fire way, accompanied by double beats.
Natalia Noemi "Teddy" Sinclair, is an English singer, songwriter and actress. She has recorded music under various aliases, most famously as Natalia Kills and Verbalicious. She is currently the lead vocalist of the band Cruel Youth, with the band also releasing music under the name The Powder Room.
"Alejandro" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga. It was released as the third single from her third EP, The Fame Monster (2009). Co-written and produced by Gaga and Nadir "RedOne" Khayat, it was inspired by her "Fear of Men Monster". The singer bids farewell to her lovers over mid-tempo synth-pop music with a Europop beat.
Born This Way is the second studio album by American singer Lady Gaga, released by Interscope Records on May 23, 2011. It was co-written and co-produced by Gaga with several producers, including RedOne and Fernando Garibay, with whom she had previously worked. She also worked with artists such as E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons and Queen guitarist Brian May.
"Born This Way" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga, and the lead single from her second studio album of the same name. Written by Gaga and Jeppe Laursen, who produced it along with Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow, the track was developed while Gaga was on the road with The Monster Ball Tour. Inspired by 1990s music which empowered women and the gay community, Gaga explained that "Born This Way" was her freedom song. She sang part of the chorus at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in 2010 and announced the song as the lead single from the album, released on February 11, 2011.
"Scheiße" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her second studio album, Born This Way (2011). The song was written and produced by Lady Gaga and Nadir "RedOne" Khayat, and was recorded in Europe on the tour bus during the Monster Ball Tour. "Scheiße" was first introduced as a remix during a Thierry Mugler fashion show held on January 19, 2011. A dance-pop song with heavy, pounding synths, it also has a fast techno beat with electroclash and Eurodisco influences. Gaga speaks the first verse and parts of the chorus of the song faux-German, as the name of the song is German. The lyrics have a feminist tone, speaking of female empowerment.
MDNA is the twelfth studio album by American singer Madonna, released on March 23, 2012, by Interscope Records. The album was conceived while the singer was busy throughout 2011 with filming her directorial venture, W.E. Madonna started the recording in July 2011 and collaborated with a variety of producers such as Alle Benassi, Benny Benassi, Demolition Crew, Free School, Michael Malih, Indiigo, William Orbit, and Martin Solveig, the last two serving as primary producers of the record. The album features guest features by female rappers M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj.
Artpop is the third studio album by American singer Lady Gaga. It was released on November 6, 2013, by Streamline and Interscope Records. Gaga began planning the project in 2011, shortly after the launch of her second effort, Born This Way. Work continued until 2013 while Gaga was traveling for her Born This Way Ball tour and recovering from surgery for an injury she had sustained while touring. Gaga described Artpop as "a celebration and a poetic musical journey" and an exploration of the "reverse Warholian" phenomenon in pop culture. It displays an intentional "lack of maturity and responsibility" by comparison to the darker and anthemic nature of Born This Way. Gaga collaborated with various producers on the record, including DJ White Shadow, Zedd and Madeon. Musically, Artpop is an EDM and synth-pop album, with influences from R&B, techno, industrial, and dubstep, among other genres. The themes of the album revolve around Gaga's personal views of fame, sex and self-empowerment; references include Greek and Roman mythology. It also features guest vocals from T.I., Too Short, Twista, and R. Kelly. In 2019, as a reaction to the documentary Surviving R. Kelly, Kelly's featured song, "Do What U Want", was removed from all streaming and online versions and new vinyl and CD pressings of the album.
Since the beginning of her career in the early 1980s, American singer and songwriter Madonna has had a social-cultural impact on the world through her recordings, attitude, clothing and lifestyle. Called the "Queen of Pop", over the course of her career, she has been labeled by multiple international authors as the "greatest" woman in music or the most "influential" female recording artist of all time.
Growing up Madonna was my idol and I loved dressing up like her and so she has definitely been a big influence on my career.
It's between Kylie and Madonna, but early days. They've been my inspiration. Pop's the way forward, so I'm going to keep it very pop.
He cites Madonna, Prince and Michael Jackson as his greatest musical influences.
It wasn’t a sample or something I meant to do, but she did influence me and still does today. I hope to have the longevity of her career
I guess you could say I was really inspired early on by a variety of artists who sang and danced such as Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, Madonna, Britney Spears, Fergie, Kylie Minogue and J-Lo. In my music today I’m sure there are a ton of subconscious influences but it’s really about expressing what I feel in the moment…be it an experience I went through or feelings I have felt that I can put into my art. It’s a really cathartic experience!
Citing Madonna as a musical influence is not new
Y cuando "Rubio" piensa en cambios, piensa en Madonna, a quien admira por su capacidad de evolucionar con el tiempo. (And when Rubio thinks in change, think of Madonna, whom he admires for his ability to evolve over time).
I am inspired by dynamic performers. Michael Jackson and Madonna have always been on top of that list. I was discovered by Michael Jackson and signed to his label under the SONY umbrella and later I signed with Madonna's label Maverick Records and opened for Britney Spears on tour.
Madonna inspires me to be strong, fearless, and smart." "She's more than just sexy, or someone with good songs, she's the type of woman I want to be."
Anita Mui, frequently referred to as the 'Madonna of Asia', was also active in movies, like most Hong Kong pop stars
Brenda Fassie is known as South Africa's black Madonna.