On July 30 1990, Madonna’s I’m Breathless album was certified double platinum (for shipment of two million units) in the USA.
“I want people to think of me as a musical comedy actress. That’s what this album is about for me. It’s a stretch. Not just pop music, but songs that have a different feel to them, a theatrical feel.” – Madonna talking about I’m Breathless
On July 29 1985, Madonna and many of the performers from Live Aid appeared on the cover of People Magazine.
Music that moved the world sixteen years after Woodstock, Rock’s best and brightest gather on two continents to set new standards of good work—and good works.
Sequestered by location, security personnel and a multilayered credential system, the stars were free to enjoy one another’s company without too much interference from fans and other mortals. Madonna, looking a bit frightened despite a phalanx of guards, clung to the hand of her intended, the surly Sean Penn. Penn spent most of the concert either inside Madonna’s trailer or gazing at a video monitor in front of trailers being used by Robert Plant and Tom Petty. Madonna later relaxed enough to drape an arm around the shoulder of Bob Dylan, no slouch himself in the surly department. Hey, the lady knows what she likes.
On July 27 1983, Madonna’s eponymous debut album was released by Sire Records. The record was renamed Madonna: The First Album for the 1985 international re-release of the album.
The album was released with 8 tracks (produced by John “Jellybean” Benitez, Mark Kamins and Reggie Lucas):
Five singles were released from The First Album:
“Madonna was unhappy with the whole album, so I went in and sweetened up a lot of music for her, adding some guitars to ‘Lucky Star’, some voices, some magic… I just wanted to do the best job I could do for her. When we would playback ‘Holiday’ or ‘Lucky Star’, you could see that she was overwhelmed by how great it all sounded. You wanted to help her, you know? As much as she could be a bitch, when you were in a groove with her, it was very cool, very creative.”
On July 26 1986, the second single from Madonna’s True Blue album, Papa Don’t Preach, climbed from #12 to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
On July 24 1987, Madonna performed her Who’s That Girl World Tour at the Astrodome in Houston, in front of 40,000 fans.
The title Who’s That Girl Tour came to Madonna during rehearsals one-day when she looked at a gigantic image of herself projected on a screen on the stage. She commented,
“Oh god, what have I done? What have I created? Is that me, or is this me, this small person standing down here on the stage? That’s why I call the tour ‘Who’s That Girl?’; because I play a lot of characters, and every time I do a video or a song, people go, ‘Oh, that’s what she’s like.’ And I’m not like any of them. I’m all of them. I’m none of them. You know what I mean.?”
On July 22 1989, Madonna’s Express Yourself reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. Express Yourself was the first song that Madonna and producer Stephen Bray collaborated on for the Like a Prayer album.
“The message of the song is that people should always say what it is they want. The reason relationships don’t work is because they are afraid. That’s been my problem in all my relationships. I’m sure people see me as an outspoken person, and for the most part, if I want something I ask for it. But sometimes you feel that if you ask for too much or ask for the wrong thing from someone you care about that that person won’t like you. And so you censor yourself. I’ve been guilty of that in every meaningful relationship I’ve ever had. The time I learn how not to edit myself will be the time I consider myself a complete adult.”
On July 21 1990, Madonna’s second single from I’m Breathless, Hanky Panky, debuted at #14 in the UK.
Check out the beautiful images above of Madonna performing Hanky Panky during her 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour.
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