This week’s music video is from an artist you’ll be seeing a lot of in this section. It’s not hyperbole to say that Madonna, along with Michael Jackson, is one of the music video pioneers. Starting with her 1982 single “Everybody,” the Material Girl was a constant presence on MTV during the early days of the music video revolution. She has dozens and dozens of videos to her name, many groundbreaking and helped shape the art form.
Madonna released her self-titled debut in 1983, and “Burning Up” was the first single. The song was not a hit but “Burning Up” is her first concept video after the simple and spare “Everybody.” Madonna would find success with her later singles from the album: “Holiday,” “Borderline,” and “Lucky Star,” all with their unique music videos.
It’s a simple video filled with bizarre imagery that is very 80s. A young Madonna was experimenting with her “boy toy” look that would blossom in later videos like “Borderline” and “Like a Virgin.” The video was directed by Steve Barron, who also helmed Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and Toto’s “Africa.” This was Madonna’s first hi-profile gig, and you can see her fire and ambition in every frame. It’s interesting to compare this early look with her more refined image in the 90s, especially when she moved into the feature film arena like “Evita.”
And the lyrics from the song could be seen as her musical thesis that would define her career:
“Unlike the others, I’d do anything
I’m not the same, I have no shame
I’m on fire”