Continuing my look at 1984, first by counting down my own top five albums of that year.
#4. Like a Virgin – Madonna
Here’s an album I paid no attention at the time of its release, and an artist I actively dismissed for most of the following four decades.
It took last summer’s Madonna deep dive for me to finally appreciate the game-changing greatness of one of the 80s defining artists. And though Like a Virgin landed at #5 on my Madonna album ranking, it’s a worthy enough collection to land at #4 on this list.
One of two Madonna albums to sell more than 21 million copies worldwide, and her only one to top 10 million in the U.S., Like a Virgin propelled the 26-year-old pop star to the stratosphere.
Powered by hit singles ‘Like a Virgin,’ ‘Material Girl,’ ‘Angel’ and ‘Dress You Up,’ all unavoidable on the radio and MTV for years, this is a candy-coated pop confection perfecting a sound countless wannabes would chase for a decade.
The non-hits on this album are a step down from the staples, but the whole thing has a sound and vibe that perfectly captures the era Madonna defined.
Some boys kiss me, some boys hug me
I think they’re okay
If they don’t give me proper credit, I just walk away
They can beg and they can plead
But they can’t see the light (That’s right)
‘Cause the boy with the cold hard cash is always Mister Right
[Chorus]
‘Cause we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
[Verse 2]
Some boys romance, some boys slow dance
That’s all right with me
If they can’t raise my interest, then I have to let them be
Some boys try, and some boys lie
But I don’t let them play, no way
Only boys that save their pennies make my rainy day
[Chorus]
‘Cause we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
[Interlude]
Living in a material world (-Terial)
Living in a material world
Living in a material world (-Terial)
Living in a material world
[Verse 3]
Boys may come, and boys may go
And that’s all right, you see
Experience has made me rich, and now they’re after me
[Chorus]
‘Cause everybody’s living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
[Outro]
A material, a material, a material, a material world
Living in a material world (-Terial)
Living in a material world
Living in a material world (-Terial)
Living in a material world
Living in a material world (-Terial)
Living in a material world
Living in a material world (-Terial)
Living in a material world
Meet Me In Montauk 
At the time, I wasn’t really a big fan of Madonna or the hits from this album, though the title track, or at least the video, caught my attention as it showed the beginning of Madonna’s evolution beyond being just another pop singer.
I always enjoyed her music and thought her videos were fun. She is a pretty good actress too.
As a product of MTV, I was all about Madonna, as I shared during last summer’s deep dive. I’m so appreciative she provided a window through which I could begin thinking about feminism in more bold terms while I was still a high school student.