On April 23 1983, the recording of Madonna’s debut album was mentioned briefly in Billboard magazine.
The fact that Jellybean was producing Naked Eyes at the same studio provides some context for the vocal Madonna recorded for the remix of their single, Promises, Promises. Perhaps Sire didn’t support the idea at the time, as Madonna’s cameo remained shelved for twenty years until the band finally issued it on a scarce retrospective, Everything And More, in 2002.
On April 9 1983, Madonna’s Burning Up debuted at #66 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the USA.
On January 26 1983, Madonna performed a track date at the Red Parrot at 617 West 57th St in New York City. Also featured on the bill were Planet Rock and Man Parrish.
While unconfirmed, the setlist likely would have previewed the soon-to-be-released Physical Attraction & Burning Up (which were recorded in November, 1982) along with her then-current club hit, Everybody.
A review of the night’s performances was featured in the February 12 1983 issue of Billboard Magazine (pictured with the show’s flyer above).
It may have been the first but it would be far from the last review in which Madonna’s musical talent would be minimized in retribution for her strong visual presence, among other things. Unlike Elvis or Michael Jackson, female artists are often criticized for flaunting the same qualities that make heros out of their male counterparts; for daring to be more than one-dimensional artists. While Madonna is not the first or the last female artist to break through these barriers – and her mission is indeed still a work in progress – one only needs to flip through the pages of Billboard magazine on both sides of the 1983 cultural divide to witness the scope of her impact on music and popular culture.
On January 1 1983, Madonna’s first single, Everybody, climbed to #4 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the USA after 9 weeks on the chart.
Madonna talking about hearing Everybody for the first time on radio:
“I was living on the Upper West Side, 99th and Riverside, and about 7:00 at night I had the radio on in my bedroom, on WKTU, and I heard ‘Everybody’. I said ‘Oh, my God, that’s me coming out of that box.’ It was an amazing feeling.”
On October 29 1983, Madonna’s Holiday entered the Billboard Hot 100 US singles chart at #88.
Holiday was released on September 7, 1983, and became Madonna’s first hit single, reaching a peak of #16 on January 18, 1984.
Since arriving on the Hot 100 with Holiday, Madonna has earned a total of 56 chart hits (so far), including a record 38 top 10 singles. Madonna has more top 10 hits than any other artist in the 55-year history of the chart. The Beatles are in second place, with 34 top 10 hits.
Lyrics:
Holiday
Celebrate
Holiday
Celebrate
If we took a holiday
Took some time to celebrate
Just one day out of life
It would be, it would be so nice
Everybody spread the word
We’re gonna have a celebration
All across the world
In every nation
It’s time for the good times
Forget about the bad times, oh yeah
One day to come together to release the pressure
We need a holiday
If we took a holiday
Took some time to celebrate
(Come on, let’s celebrate)
Just one day out of life
(Holiday)
It would be, it would be so nice
If we took a holiday
(Oo yeah, oo yeah)
Took some time to celebrate
(Come on, let’s celebrate)
Just one day out of life
(Just one day out of life)
It would be, it would be so nice
You can turn this world around
And bring back all of those happy days
Put your troubles down
It’s time to celebrate
Let love shine
And we will find
A way to come together
Can make things better
We need a holiday
If we took a holiday
(Holiday)
Took some time to celebrate
(Come on let’s celebrate)
Just one day out of life
(Just one day out of life)
It would be, it would be so nice
Oo yeah, oo yeah
Come on, lets celebrate
We have got to get together
Holiday
Celebrate
Holiday
Celebrate
If we took a holiday
(Oh yeah, oh yeah)
Took some time to celebrate
(Come on, let’s celebrate)
Just one day out of life
(Holiday)
It would be, it would be so nice
Holiday
(Oo yeah, oo yeah)
Celebrate
(Come on, let’s celebrate)
Holiday
(Just one day out of life)
Celebrate
(It would be so nice)
Holiday
(Holiday, celebration)
Celebrate
(Come together in every nation)
Celebrate
(Holiday, celebration)
Holiday
(Come together in every nation)
Holiday
Celebrate
Holiday
Celebrate
Holiday
(We got to get together)
Celebrate
(Take some time to celebrate)
Holiday
(Just one day out of life)
Celebrate
(It would be so nice)
Holiday
(Holiday, celebration)
Celebrate
(Come together in every nation)
Holiday
(Holiday, celebration)
On September 24 1983, Madonna performed Physical Attraction, Everybody, Holiday and Burning Up at Uncle Sam’s Club in Levittown, New York.
On September 3 1983, Madonna’s first album debuted at #190 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in the USA.
The album had a slow and steady climb, and peaked at #8 on the Billboard Top 200 on the week ending October 20 1984, more than a year after its release.
Madonna (the first album) would go on to sell 10 million copies worldwide.
Today In Madonna History 