Is there not a more impressive music catalog than from the Queen of Pop herself, Madonna? I might put Taylor Swift in that category, but Ms. Ciccone has been cranking hit after hit since her 1983 debut. And like any musician, Madonna has a few tracks she regretted recording. If you have seen the pop diva in concert, she tends to focus on her more recent work. Yet there is one track in particular that Madonna detests and one she rarely performs. That song is Material Girl.
On November 12, 1984, Madonna released her second solo album, Like A Virgin, which would define her look and style for much of the decade. It was clear that Madge’s self-titled debut in 1983 was just a warm-up, as Madonna took her synth dance sound and paired it with a stronger set of songs. Material Girl was the second single from the LP, and the track was meant to satirize the Reagan-era materialism running rampant during the 1980s. If you listen to the tune closely, Madonna sings the lyrics in an exaggerated manner. But the spot-on satire was lost on American audiences, as Madonna noted during an MTV interview, “no one got the joke.”
Ironically, the Material Girl music video ended up being one of her most iconic and was the rare video that outshined the song. Directed by longtime collaborator Mary Lambert, the clip plays like a short film, with Madonna emulating one of her silver screen idols, Marilyn Monroe. Taking inspiration from Monroe’s playful rendition of Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend from the 1953 classic Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Madonna does an impressive recreation set to her updated ode to riches and fame. It’s interspersed with a movie director, played by Keith Carradine, attempting to woo Madonna’s Hollywood starlet, realizing that she enjoys the simple things compared to expensive gifts. The video features dialogue with Madonna’s early “in video” acting and co-stars comedian/actor Robert Wuhl as a studio “yes” man.
The music video was a massive hit and received extensive MTV airplay, giving Madonna her much-hated moniker, the “material girl.” The clip also started a trend of musicians mining classic films as concepts for their music videos. Artists like Paula Abdul did it twice, with her All that Jazz inspired Cold Hearted and her homage to Rebel Without a Cause in Rush Rush. Even Queen Beyonce stole from Bob Fosse’s Sweet Charity for her Get Me Bodied clip. But none can top Material Girl, as Madonna perfectly marries old Hollywood glamour with one of her catchiest pop hooks.
1985 was a prime year for the (ahem) material girl, as Madonna dominated the pop culture media landscape. Like A Virgin was one of her best-selling albums, with five hit songs, and the title track became her first number-one hit. Thanks to her constant presence on MTV, she inspired a legion of Madonna “copycats” that co-opted her unique fashion style. And she seamlessly moved into film acting, with her movie debut as a club singer in the Mathew Modine starring Vision Quest. Then a few months later, she had a juicy supporting role in the ultimate 80’s comedy Desperately Seeking Susan, a film built around Madonna’s iconic “boy-toy” image. She even appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, then a huge deal, with the headline: “Why She’s Hot.” Hot indeed, she was a raging bonfire.
Check out the video below and let me know your thoughts in the comment section:
She was the Taylor Swift of her generation. Or, Taylor is the Madonna of her generation. Both have made massive, legendary, historical imprints on the music industry. Hadn’t seen this video in years, and it was great to see it here.
Thanks for checking it out. This was always one of my favorite videos, as it’s Madonna at her most charming. And yes, Taylor Swift has made her mark for sure. She has cranked out not just hit after hit but album after album. I wish I had her work ethic!