On May 27, 1985, Madonna appeared on the cover of Time Magazine. Photos by Francesco Scavullo.
Category Archives: May
Today in Madonna History: May 26, 1990
On May 26, 1990, Madonna is honored with Pop Artist Of The Decade, Dance Artist Of The Decade and Dance Single Of The Decade (for Into The Groove) in Billboard magazine’s Music Of The 80’s Poll.
Today in Madonna History: May 25, 1990
On May 25 1990, Madonna had to cancel a third scheduled Blond Ambition concert at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago, Illinois, due to laryngitis.
Today in Madonna History: May 24, 1988
On May 24 1988, Madonna – Ciao Italia: Live From Italy was released on home video and laserdisc.
The release featured a combination of footage from her Who’s That Girl World Tour shows in Turin, Italy (September 4 1987), the tour’s final date in Florence, Italy (September 6 1987), along with additional clips from an earlier show in Tokyo (June 22 1987). The full Turin concert had been previously broadcast in Europe, while the complete Tokyo performance was issued exclusively in Japan on VHS and laserdisc six months prior to the release of Madonna – Ciao Italia: Live From Italy.
Today in Madonna History: May 23, 1989
On May 23 1989, Madonna’s Like A Prayer album was certified double platinum (for sales of 2 million copies) in the USA.
Today In Madonna History: May 22, 1990
On May 22 1990, Madonna’s I’m Breathless: Music From And Inspired By The Film Dick Tracy album was released.
In the December 1994 issue of Q magazine, Madonna declared:
“I would have to say the favourite record that I’ve made is the soundtrack to Dick Tracy (“I’m Breathless”). I love every one of those songs… My judgement is never based on the world’s reaction.”
Today in Madonna History: May 21, 1983
On May 21 1983, Madonna’s Burning Up/Physical Attraction hit #3 on USA Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
Burning Up was written by Madonna and Physical Attraction was written by Reggie Lucas. Both were produced by Lucas with additional remixing by Jellybean Benitez on the latter.
Interestingly, the original copyright claim filed for the song Physical Attraction, which remains on file at the U.S. Library Of Congress, lists Madonna as its sole writer and Only Child Music (who handled Madonna’s songwriting publishing prior to the creation of Webo Girl) as its publisher, with no mention of Lucas or his publishing company, Likasa Music.
Burning Up went through several incarnations both before and after its official release. The earliest recording of the song to have surfaced is a live performance by Madonna with her band Emmy, likely from 1980. Although the lyrics underwent only minor revisions in later years, its initial guitar-driven arrangement and melody were relatively loose – if not underdeveloped. A more focused beat-driven version was recorded by Madonna with Stephen Bray in early 1982 and was featured on the four-track demo tape that brought her to the attention of Sire Records. In addition to the originally released version that appeared on the 12″ single, there are also two noticeably different album mixes of Burning Up. Early vinyl pressings of her debut LP featured a longer version with alternate guitar and synth parts and more prominently mixed backing vocals. This alternate album mix resurfaced in 1985 as the b-side to the Angel single in the UK, but it has never been officially released in digital or CD format.
Today In Madonna History 