Madonna Louise Ciccone, known to the world by her first name, is widely believed to be the best-selling female recording artist in history. Known for her uncanny ability to create new sounds and remake her image, Madonna has, from the beginning, exerted unique ownership and control over every aspect of her artistry and career. For that reason, she has been celebrated by many as a feminist icon, even as others have decried the often provocative nature of much of her work.

            Madonna grew up not far from Detroit, a Catholic schoolgirl with a keen interest in dance. At the age of 19 she moved to New York to pursue her dream and was soon drumming and singing as well as dancing. Her 1982 debut track, “Everybody”, was not a big hit but got some traction in dance clubs. 1983 saw the release of her self-titled first album; a modest success, initially, the LP has continued to sell through the years, reaching multi-platinum status. The breakout singles were “Borderline” and “Holiday”.

            With 1984’s Like a Virgin, Madonna was launched into the stratosphere. With both the commercial success of the title track (her first Billboard #1) and the bru ha ha over an MTV awards show performance of the song that saw her rolling around on the floor in a wedding dress, the template was set- Madonna as a first-rate provocateur and best-selling, boundary pushing pop star.

            An underrated songwriter, Madonna is rarely given enough credit for her willingness to experiment musically. Pigeonholed by many as a dance-pop diva, she has also experimented with swing (I”m Breathless), R&B (Bedtime Stories), and Broadway tunes (Evita). Among her best loved tracks are the catchy “Crazy for You”; the sensitive “Papa Don’t Preach” which elicited criticism from both ends of the spectrum; the controversial “Like a Prayer”, with its uncanny but powerful mix of the sacred and the profane; the electronica dance vibe of “Vogue”; and the ABBA sampled “Hung Up”. Even as I write, the 65-year-old larger than life icon has a tune, “Popular”, hanging steady on the charts.

            Artists as diverse as David Bowie, Karen Carpenter, Led Zeppelin, and Nancy Sinatra have been cited as influences while the number of artists and cultural / social trends she has inspired and impacted is too long to list, but here are a few- Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West (Ye), Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Beyoncé; music videos, fashion, sexual politics, and the power of women in music and entertainment.   

         -Steve Williams (9/21/23) Greatest Recording Artists Blog Post #47