Today in Madonna History: March 17, 1994

March 17, 2024 By Jay in 1994, March Tags: I'll Remember, Interview Videos, Music Videos, Patrick Leonard, Remix Videos, Richard Page, UK 1 Comment

On March 17 1994, the music video for I’ll Remember (Theme From With Honors) premiered on BBC1-TV’s Top Of The Pops in the UK.

I’ll Remember began as a collaboration between Richard Page (of 80’s band Mister Mister) and Patrick Leonard. Leonard had been asked by Madonna to score Alek Keshishian’s film With Honors, and had also been collaborating with Page on an upcoming Toy Matinee album. When Leonard played an early demo of I’ll Remember for Madonna, she loved it and decided to record it with new lyrics she had written. The song was produced by Madonna & Patrick Leonard, with Page providing additional backing vocals.

Madonna had previously crossed paths with Richard Page when he presented her with a trophy at the 1987 American Music Awards (pictured above).

Today in Madonna History: March 9, 1998

March 9, 2024 By sonicboy19 in 1998, March Tags: Charts, Frozen, Italy, Ray Of Light (Album), Remix Videos 1 Comment

On March 9 1998, Frozen hit #1 on the Italian Singles Chart (FIMI). On the same date, the Ray Of Light album made its debut at #1 in Italy.

The single would top the Italian charts for four weeks while the album spent three weeks at #1.

Today in Madonna History: March 3, 2000

March 3, 2024 By sonicboy19 in 2000, March Tags: American Pie, Charts, JB's Remix, Remix Videos, Single Release, The Next Best Thing, UK 1 Comment

On March 3 2000, American Pie was released as a single in the UK. The cover of the Don McLean classic would hit number-one on the UK singles chart the following week.

A huge international hit, American Pie also topped the charts in Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria and Finland. In the U.S. the track was not released commercially in a strategic move designed to maximize sales of The Next Best Thing soundtrack, however it managed to reach number twenty-nine on the Hot 100 based on the strength of airplay alone.

Today in Madonna History: February 15, 1984

February 15, 2024 By Jay in 1984, February Tags: Borderline, Jellybean Benitez, Reggie Lucas, Remix Videos, Single Release, The First Album 1 Comment

On February 15 1984, Madonna’s Borderline single was released in North America. Borderline was the fourth North American single to be released from her self-titled debut album, while in most other markets Lucky Star was released ahead of Borderline. It was written and composed by producer Reggie Lucas, and remixed by Madonna’s then-boyfriend John “Jellybean” Benitez.

In an interview recalling the launch of Madonna’s recording career, Sire Records head Seymour Stein stated, “I dared to believe this was going to be huge beyond belief, the biggest thing I’d ever had, after I heard Borderline. The passion that she put into that song, I thought, there’s no stopping this girl.”

In the United States, Borderline became Madonna’s first top-ten hit when it reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 16, 1984. In Canada, it peaked at #25 on September 15, 1984.

Today in Madonna History: February 8, 2012

February 8, 2024 By sonicboy19 in 2012, February Tags: I'm Addicted, MDNA (Album), Press Release, Remix Videos, Superbowl 1 Comment

On February 8 2012, Madonna’s management issued a press release recapping her triumphant performance at the Super Bowl and looking ahead to the release of her new album, MDNA:

It’s been a record-breaking week for Madonna. Along with 117.8 million viewers – the largest viewership for a halftime show in Super Bowl history – and three million more viewers than the game itself, the pre-orders for the Material Girl’s upcoming MDNA album ascended to the top spot on iTunes stores in 50 countries and was the largest one day pre-order of any album in iTunes history, it was confirmed today by her record label Interscope. Commented Madonna, “Thanks for all the L-U-V!! from around the world.”

A key part of the album release included a first of its kind worldwide promotion by Clear Channel, a leading global media and entertainment company, which premiered Madonna’s highly anticipated new single and video, Give Me All Your Luvin’, across its full range of media platforms, including radio, outdoor, online and mobile on Friday, February 3. As part of the campaign, Clear Channel used extensive on-air and online promotions to drive listeners and Madonna fans to iTunes, where they could buy the new single and pre-order MDNA, scheduled to be released globally March 26.

Below are some of the astounding numbers that add up for Madonna this past week.

MADONNA BY THE NUMBERS:

50 Number 1’s – Pre-orders for Madonna’s MDNA album on iTunes (biggest one day pre-order in iTunes (biggest one-day pre-order in iTunes history) hit the top spot at iTunes store in 50 countries!
11,000,000 – YouTube downloads of new Madonna video… and counting. The most searched subject on YouTube and Google during the Super Bowl
13 – Madonna’s new single catapults to the #13 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart
56 – Give Me All Your Luvin’ marks Madonna’s 56th appearance on the Hot 100 according to Billboard’s Keith Caulfield
117.8 Million – Peak audience viewership during Madonna’s halftime performance – largest in Super Bowl history – up 4.7 million from last year – surpasses Michael Jackson’s 1993 halftime performance – and exceeds by 3 million the number of people viewing the 2012 Giants/Patriots game.
47.1 Million – Households saw Madonna’s Super Bowl Performance
#6 – Trending at No. 6 on European Airplay Charts
#2 – iTunes Single, jumped from previous spot 11 after the Super Bowl
2500 – Spins in less than 48 hours at Top 40 radio
25 – Give Me All Your Luvin’ single’s chart debut
51 – Global Tour Dates Announced by Live Nation
1600 – Clear Channel Digital Billboards Around the Globe aired Madonna’s Give Me All Your Luvin’

Today in Madonna History: February 7, 1987

February 7, 2024 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.