Today in Madonna History: May 14, 1990

Brenda_Lee_Madonna_Dick_Tracy-0

On May 15 1990, Brenda Lee was quoted in the LA Times, talking about how Madonna got her involved in the Dick Tracy soundtrack:

“Madonna asked specifically that I sing the songs–which are brand-new numbers. I had no idea she was a fan of my singing, but I’m delighted she is.”

Brenda recorded two songs for Dick Tracy, but only one made the final cut: You’re in the Doghouse Now, written by Ned Clafin, Mike Kernan, Jeff Lass and Andy Paley.

Brenda is best known for Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (recorded when she was just 13).

Today in Madonna History: May 5, 1990

madonna-vogue-kit

On May 5 1990, Madonna’s Vogue/Keep It Together became the number-one single in Australia on the ARIA Singles Chart.

The double A-sided single remained number-one for 5-weeks (from May 5 to June 9, 1990).

Lyrics:

Strike a pose
Strike a pose
Vogue, vogue, vogue
Vogue, vogue, vogue

Look around, everywhere you turn is heartache
It’s everywhere that you go (look around)
You try everything you can to escape
The pain of life that you know (life that you know)

When all else fails and you long to be
Something better than you are today
I know a place where you can get away
It’s called a dance floor, and here’s what it’s for, so

Come on, vogue
Let your body move to the music (move to the music)
Hey, hey, hey
Come on, vogue
Let your body go with the flow (go with the flow)
You know you can do it

All you need is your own imagination
So use it, that’s what it’s for (that’s what it’s for)
Go inside, for your finest inspiration
Your dreams will open the door (open up the door)

It makes no difference if you’re black or white
If you’re a boy or a girl
If the music’s pumping it will give you new life
You’re a superstar, yes, that’s what you are, you know it

Come on, vogue
Let your body groove to the music (groove to the music)
Hey, hey, hey
Come on, vogue
Let your body go with the flow (go with the flow)
You know you can do it

Beauty’s where you find it
Not just where you bump and grind it
Soul is in the musical
That’s where I feel so beautiful
Magical, life’s a ball
So get up on the dance floor

Vogue (vogue)
Let your body move to the music (move to the music)
Hey, hey, hey
Come on, vogue (vogue)
Let your body go with the flow (go with the flow)
You know you can do it

Vogue (vogue)
Beauty’s where you find it (move to the music)
Vogue (vogue)
Beauty’s where you find it (go with the flow)

Greta Garbo, and Monroe
Dietrich and DiMaggio
Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean
On the cover of a magazine

Grace Kelly, Harlow, Jean
Picture of a beauty queen
Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire
Ginger Rogers, dance on air

They had style, they had grace
Rita Hayworth gave good face
Lauren, Katharine, Lana too
Bette Davis, we love you

Ladies with an attitude
Fellows that were in the mood
Don’t just stand there, let’s get to it
Strike a pose, there’s nothing to it

Vogue, vogue, vogue
Vogue, vogue, vogue

Oooh, you’ve got to
Let your body move to the music
Oooh, you’ve got to just
Let your body go with the flow
Oooh, you’ve got to
Vogue, vogue, vogue

Today in Madonna History: April 7 1990

On April 7 1990, Keep It Together peaked at #8 on the Canadian Top 100 Singles chart (RPM).

Today in Madonna History: December 24, 1990

madonna-barcelona-december-1 madonna-barcelona-december-2 madonna-barcelona-december-3 madonna-barcelona-december-4 madonna-barcelona-december-5 madonna-barcelona-december-7

On December 24 1990, Madonna In Concert (taped at Olympic Stadium, Barcelona, Spain on August 1, 1990) was broadcast on BBC2-TV and other select stations across Europe.

Today in Madonna History: December 19, 1990

breathless-promo-quote-600 breathless-promo-red-1-600

On December 19 1990, the film Dick Tracy was released on home video.

Here’s a video I put together for one of our favorite songs from the film, Stephen Sondheim’s More.

Today in Madonna History: December 13, 1990

On December 13 1990, Madonna’s Blond Ambition World Tour Live was released exclusively on LaserDisc by the trek’s sponsor, Pioneer.

Recorded at the final show in Nice, France, the concert had originally aired as a live HBO special in the U.S.

The LaserDisc release would go on to win a Grammy award (Madonna’s first) for Best Music Video, Long Form in 1991.

Today in Madonna History: November 27, 1990

justify-my-love-banned-video-november-1990

On November 27 1990, the MTV network announced it had banned Madonna’s Justify My Love video due to extremely strong displays of sexuality.

“We respect her work as an artist and think she makes great videos,” said MTV executives in a statement about the clip. “This one is not for us.”

“When I did my Vogue video…I’m wearing a see-through dress and you can clearly see my breasts,” Madonna told ABC’s Nightline in 1990. “MTV told me that they wanted me to take that out, but I said I wouldn’t and they played it anyways. So I thought that once again I was going to be able to bend the rules a little bit.”