Earlier this year, I started doing full-career retrospectives on artists I didn’t know as well as their reputations warranted. I kicked things off with Joni Mitchell and followed with Jackson Browne.
After deep dives into those artists, who made their biggest mark from the late 60s through the late 70s, I’ve decided to turn my attention to one of the most celebrated icons of the 80s: Madonna.
I’ve long been dismissive of Madonna, an attitude that stems from the dismissiveness I had towards pop music in general for much of my life. But as I’ve come to appreciate pop as an art form, I’ve never taken the time to reevaluate the woman designated the “Queen of Pop.”
That will change over the next few weeks, as I’ll consider Madonna’s 14 studio albums, starting with her self-titled 1983 debut and ending with 2019’s Madame X. As I did with Mitchell and Browne, I’ll wrap things up by offering my personal ranking of those albums.
It took a full year for 1983’s Madonna to reach Billboard’s top ten albums chart, but she was on her way to superstardom as soon as it dropped. Madonna landed the record deal based on the strength of ‘Everybody,’ a disco track she had been shopping to New York dance clubs, and fleshed out the track list with a handful of songs she’d written.
‘Burning Up’ and ‘Everybody’ were the lead-off singles, though it was the next three single releases that would become signature songs. Her producers brought her two of those tracks, ‘Holiday’ and ‘Borderline,’ while Madonna wrote lead-off track (and highest charting single) ‘Lucky Star.’
The rest of Madonna is decent but forgettable, but those five singles make it a fun listen, despite dated production and thin vocals.
Those limitations didn’t matter in light of Madonna’s fierce individuality and playful style sense. Watching the video for ‘Lucky Star’ (below), I vividly remember how the girls in my junior high modeled their wardrobes on it.
This album ultimately sold 5 million copies in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide, launching a career that would help define popular music in the 80s.
You must be my Lucky Star
‘Cause you shine on me wherever you are
I just think of you, and I start to glow
And I need your light and baby, you know
[Chorus]
Starlight, starbright
First star I see tonight
Starlight, (Starbright)
Make everything all right
Starlight, starbright
First star I see tonight
Starlight, (Starbright), yeah
[Verse 2]
You must be my Lucky Star
‘Cause you make the darkness seem so far
And when I’m lost, you’ll be my guide
I just turn around, and you’re by my side
[Chorus]
Starlight, starbright
First star I see tonight
Starlight, (Starbright)
Make everything all right
Starlight, starbright
First star I see tonight
Starlight, (Starbright), yeah
[Bridge]
C’mon, shine your heavenly body tonight
‘Cause I know you’re gonna make everything all right
Mmm, c’mon, shine your heavenly body tonight
‘Cause I know you’re gonna make everything all right
[Interlude]
You may be my Lucky Star, but I’m the luckiest by far
You may be my Lucky Star, but I’m the luckiest by far
[Chorus]
Starlight, starbright
First star I see tonight
Starlight, (Starbright)
Make everything all right
Starlight, starbright
First star I see tonight
Starlight, (Starbright), yeah
[Bridge]
C’mon, shine your heavenly body tonight
‘Cause I know you’re gonna make everything all right
Mmm, c’mon, shine your heavenly body tonight
‘Cause I know you’re gonna make everything all right
[Interlude]
(You may be my Lucky Star, but I’m the luckiest by far)
(You may be my Lucky Star, but I’m the luckiest by far)
(You may be my Lucky Star, but I’m the luckiest by far)
You may be my Lucky Star
What you do to me, baby
(You may be my Lucky Star, but I’m the luckiest by far)
You know, I’m the luckiest by far
[Chorus]
Starlight, starbright
First star I see tonight
Starlight, (Starbright)
Make everything all right
Starlight, starbright
First star I see tonight
Starlight, (Starbright), yeah
[Post-Chorus]
Starlight, starbright
You make everything all right
What you do to me, baby
You got to stay by my side tonight
[Interlude 2]
(Starlight, starbright)
(Starlight, starbright)
(Starlight, starbright)
(Starlight, starbright)
[Outro]
Starlight, starbright, baby
Starlight, starbright – stay by my side tonight
What you do to me, baby
What you do, what you do to me, baby
You got to stay by my side tonight
You may be my Lucky Star
Meet Me In Montauk 
Well, this should be a fun deep dive!
I was not really a big fan of Madonna, particularly early on. Looking back all these decades later, it is interesting to see how she both defined and was defined by the 80s pop sound.
As Madonna’s music became less vapid, I found myself liking her more, so I look forward to exploring her evolution as the Queen of Pop.
I’m looking forward to this “deep dive” as well.
Oy
Bite your tongue!! You might learn to appreciate her as well.
I was a high school sophomore when this album dropped and not about to start dressing like Madonna. That said, I do remember her arrival making a huge impression on me. From the music videos to her appearances on Live Aid and the shockingly wonderful “Like a Virgin” opening of the MTV award show (I think that’s what it was), her frank sexuality, obvious sense of humor and irreverence, and incredibly contagious pop tunes all combined to entrance me. She was a sensation!