Today in Madonna History: February 7, 1987

February 7, 2018 By sonicboy19 in 1987, February Tags: B-Side, Charts, Double-Entendre, James Cagney, Open Your Heart, Patrick Leonard, Remix Videos, True Blue (Album), White Heat, Who's That Girl (Single) 1 Comment

On February 7 1987, Open Your Heart hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. It was the 4th international single release from the True Blue album.

The single’s b-side, White Heat, was inspired by the 1949 Warner Bros. film of the same name starring James Cagney, to whom Madonna dedicated the song. Interspersed with dialogue taken directly from the film, Madonna’s lyrics put her love of double entendre to clever use as she compares the film’s themes of trust and betrayal among gang members to affairs of the heart.

White Heat was written and produced by Madonna & Patrick Leonard and was one of the earlier songs developed for the True Blue album, along with Open Your Heart. The initial copyright registration, submitted to the Library Of Congress in 1985, lists the song under its original title, Get Up Stand Tall.

Both songs were performed during 1987’s Who’s That Girl Tour. White Heat was also featured as the b-side for the single, Who’s That Girl, released in the summer of 1987.

Today in Madonna History: February 6, 2009

February 6, 2018 By Jay in 2009, February Tags: London, Manchester, Sticky & Sweet Tour 2 Comments

On February 6 2009, Madonna.com announced that the two London and two Manchester shows of the Sticky & Sweet 2009 Summer Tour had sold out. Never before had Madonna extended a concert tour. Here’s the announcement:

Madonna Fans! Can you believe that both of the Sticky & Sweet shows scheduled in London and Manchester this coming summer sold out a few minutes after they went on sale yesterday?! To extend a tour is a first for Madonna, and it could only happen thanks to your incredible support. We can’t wait to see you on the road and to celebrate another hot Madonna summer with each and every one of you. Let’s get this party started. Again!

Which show did you go to? We caught Madonna in Toronto – what a show!

Today in Madonna History: February 5, 1985

February 5, 2018 By Jay in 1985, February Tags: Certification, Like A Virgin (Album) 1 Comment

On February 5 1985, Madonna’s Like A Virgin was certified 3x platinum (for sales of 3 million units) in the USA.

Today in Madonna History: February 4, 2018

February 4, 2018 By Jay in 2018, February Tags: Cee Lo Green, Gimme All Your Luvin', Like A Prayer (Single), LMFAO, M.I.A., Music (Single), Nicki Minaj, Open Your Heart, Super Bowl, Vogue 3 Comments

On February 4 2018, Vulture.com reviewed every Super Bowl Halftime Show since 1993, and ranked them from worst to best. Madonna’s 2012 Super Bowl Halftime performance ranked #2, behind Prince’s 2007 performance.

Here’s what Brian Moylan (Vulture.com) had to say about Madonna’s Halftime Show:

A year after the halftime show embraced its pop sensibilities with the Black-Eyed Peas, Madonna arrived as a Greek goddess on a giant litter carried by a legion of Spartan soldiers, showing all the kids exactly how it’s done. There was so much on the LED-lit stage at any given time: From the swirling dancers and the gospel choir to the slack-line performer, it was almost too much. Madonna offered new arrangements of her old songs, like a drum-corps version of “Open Your Heart” sung with Cee Lo Green and an LMFAO mashup of “Music” with “Party Rock Anthem.” While she loses points for devoting significant time to the lackluster single “Give Me All Your Luvin,” at least that featured Nicki Minaj and a bird-flipping MIA. Madonna successfully moved through several modes in rapid succession, collaborated with other big artists, and made it all look effortless, as if being at the swirling center of 200 performers is what she does every Tuesday. Maybe because it is.

Read the entire list here.

Today in Madonna History: February 3, 2015

February 3, 2018 By sonicboy19 in 2015, February Tags: Grammy Awards, Hung Up, Live Videos, TV Performance 1 Comment

On February 3 2015, Billboard announced The 50 Greatest Grammy Moments. Madonna’s 2006 performance of Hung Up made the list at #13:

Holograms Get Down (2006) – Gorillaz are joined onstage first by De La Soul and then by Madonna, as the holograms segue into her song Hung Up.

Today in Madonna History: February 2, 1998

February 2, 2018 By Jay in 1998, February Tags: Inez van Lamsweerde, On the Cover of a Magazine, Ray Of Light (Album), Spin Magazine, Vinoodh Matadin 1 Comment

On February 2 1998, the April issue of Spin magazine with Madonna featured on the cover hit stands across North America.

From the issue:

Thirty-nine-year-old Madonna Louise Ciccone could easily have hacked out an album of Babs-and-Celine-style schmaltz and laughed all the way to the ashram. Instead, says Barry Walters, she delivered Ray Of Light, the riskiest, most revealing record of her career. Photographs by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin.