💙😏🌊~TIMESTAMPS~🏝🥰💙 Papa Don’t Preach - 1:48🌟 Open Your Heart - 4:47🌟 White Heat - 6:33 Live to Tell - 8:35🌟 Where’s the Party - 11:36 True Blue - 13:31🌟 La Isla Bonita - 15:30🌟 Jimmy Jimmy - 17:44 Love Makes the World Go Round - 19:53 🌟= my fave!
Live to Tell was the first single from True Blue that Madonna pushed hard for. They thought it would be the end of her career and a huge flop if she released it because how could she go from songs like Like a Virgin and Material Girl to Live to Tell? They thought the public would reject such a complete 180. Well it was released and shot to #1 around the world. Its one of the most haunting brilliant ballads ever.
I think True blue was the moment when Madonna cemented her ICON status and from then on she just shot up like a rocket to the untouchable queen she is. Not to mention the fact that True blue sold over 25 million copies, making it the best selling album by a female artist of the 80s and one of the best selling albums of all time. And again we get an early glimpse into a Madonna that isn’t afraid to push buttons with a song like Papa don’t preach. The fact she would even discuss teenage pregnancy and abortion at all back then was pretty bold. Thanks for another amazing reaction
"Live To Tell" is easily one of my favourite Madonna songs from her entire discography. It has a very haunting and beautiful quality to it, and the break ahead of the bridge is stunning. This album is the first album where she co-wrote and co-produced the whole thing, which was unheard of for female pop stars at the time. I need to get a good record player so I can finally listen to the vinyl I took from my dad's collection.
You have to keep in mind that a lot of the way the songs were placed in the album is because they were made for Vinyl Live To Tell is the last song on the A Side of True Blue that’s why it’s such a big change with Where’s The Party? 💙💙
Yes exactly! After side one was finished, you had to turn the vinyl and put the needle on it again. Crazy if you think about it, but we had so much fun listening to those records. And the fact to have something in your hands, almost like a book. I miss those days sometimes.
“Jimmy Jimmy” is about the 1950’s actor James Dean who died in a car crash. He was pretty wild. And hot. Also, “a licking” in the American mid-west, where Madonna is from, is slang for a beating. Basically. Haha. So she’s saying her father said James Dean just needs a good beating (on account of his rebellious attitude). - Can’t believe you didn’t go nuts for “Open Your Heart.” It’s my favorite off that album. And the music video is a masterpiece. Her vocals thru out this album are absolutely exquisite. I love her lower register.
Madonna had 5 Top 5 singles off of True Blue, my favorite album by her. This album is her best selling album world wide and sold 7 million copies in the US, second in studio album sales only to Like A Virgin which went Diamond 10 million copies sold in the US. ✅First single was the number 1 single “Live to Tell” ✅Her second single which also went to number 1 was “Papa Don’t Preach” ✅Her third single which reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 was “True Blue” ✅Her fourth single which kicked off 1987 was the number 1 single “Open Your Heart” ❤️With the phenomenal lyrics, beat and music video make it my favorite song of hers of all time ✅The final and fifth single off the album which reached number 4 was “La Isla Bonita” The depth and range of each song is why I love this album so much. ⭐️ Additional info on The 1987 Who’s That Girl Soundtrack ✅The single and video for “Who’s That Girl” became her sixth number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 ✅ The second single “Causing a Commotion” reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 with no video released for that song.
This is, where it all started for me.. Live to Tell was number one and I fell in love with the whole mood and vibe of the song and then within days of discovering it... she dropped Papa Don't Preach and the world blew up over Madonna.... She had so many No. 1 songs from this album.. And she was stunning in the videos.. This is the era that made me a life long Madonna fan.. Despite Jimmy Jimmy! Haha, wtf was that?
It's really hard to explain just how huge Madonna and this album were at the time..all 5 singles were no.1 in either the US or the UK and we're all classic 80s singles. The videos are all great too
if you like the "mature" ones on True Blue, you'll love Like a Prayer! didn't see anyone answering yet, but La Isla Bonita is Spanish for The Beautiful Island.
My body my choice. Perfect shirt to wear for Papa Don't Preach. Lol This is the album when Madonna went from a pop tart to creating pop ART. And the album was even more massive then Like a Virgin. Her star status went through the stratosphere with True Blue.
From the 80’s albums I personally only listrn to ‘Madonna’ still and some tracks of ‘Like a Prayer’. The albums were strong and something else when they were released and they definitly are essential when you want to learm how Madonna developed as an artist but musically things for me get interesting around the Vogue/Justify my Love/Rescue Me era. Love your reactions, wish they weren’t cut up but in case of True Blue and Like a Virgin I was quite happy🤭
The talking at the start and during White Heat is from the 1949 gangster film White Heat starring James Cagney. While this is an 80s album, it has nostalgic nods to the 1950s/60s vibe with references to James Cagney, James Dean (Jimmy Jimmy song), and the Doo wop sounds of True Blue song. Interestingly her next studio album Like a Prayer is done with nostalgic nods to the 1970s vibe/sound. And the following album I'm Breathless is 1930s/40s. Madonna is very adept at utilising a lot of sounds and eras in her music.
5 amazing singles on this album and this cemented her status as a pop superstar but it was with her next album Like A Prayer that she evolved into a critically acclaimed artist.
I always get so happy watching your reactions 😍 I remember I was sooo disappointed that she changed her looks, I was very young though 😅 My favourite songs from this album is: “La Isla Bonita” (beautiful island) “Papa Don’t Preach” “True Blue” “Live To Tell” Of all her albums I love her first two the most🤗
Live to tell soundtract mobpvie ,,,,,,,she became aserious Artist she took ver vintage look off and gave us Glamour with Whis that girl 😂movie soundtrack ❤❤❤
If you only watch one video, from this album, please watch open your heart, it was her first controversial video, but you need to also react to Live to Tell, for sure.
This is the album that turned me from a casual Madonna fan to being a mega fan. I remember being a confused closeted 14 year old gay boy, listening to my casettle tape of "True Blue" for thousands of time, somehow finding solace, strength and Joy from this woman I call my diva 😊
Ben you are back with Madonna! Yay! White Heat’s introduction is from Jimmy Cagney, an American actor from the 30’s that would play in police/gangster films. Another note on “Live to Tell”. It’s about abortion. Like “Papa Don’t Preach” is about choice. Madonna performed the first part o “Papa…” at her tour in 2019 in which she sings “but I made up my mind, I’m NOT keeping my baby”. Then she does a pro Roe vs Wade speech.
My second favorite Madonna album (the first was ''Ray of Light''), and love th lightess and the production of this album. So incredible. Five incredible singles and i love also the non singles. Many fun facts: - ''Open Your Heart'' was written by Gardner Cole and Peter Rafelson. The two writers offered this for Cyndi Lauper, but refused it. The song was a originally a rock song. Madonna heard the demo of theses production and deceled a potential if she changed the song. So Madonna re-write the song, changed the composition and making the song that everybody know. - The vocals of the demo of ''Live to Tell'' was used in the final product and was a one take song. She recording accapella because Patrick Leonard work for the soundtrack of At Close Range. Madonna wanted to give the song for a another artist for the movie, but all declined and refused, so Madonna used the demo and Patric Leonard construct the arrangements around of her vocals. -''La Isla Bonita'' was a composition of Patrick Leonard (who Madonna co-produced with him for many songs of the album). It's was originally offered for Michael Jackson during the making of the ''Bad'' album because Michael wanted a latino song of his album, Michael didn't like it and refused. When Madonna heard the demo, she loved this latino vibe and she write the lyrics and the melody of the song.
This album sold 25 million albums worldwide and was the highest selling album by a female artist of that time. The album had 3 no.1 us hits and 5 top 5 hits
Charts success in states Live to tell no.1 Papa don’t preach no.1 True blue no.3 Open your heart no.1 La Isla bonita no.4 In Australia 🇦🇺 Live to tell no.7 Papa Don’t preach no.1 (6weeks) True blue no.6 Open your heart no.16 (criminal) La Isla bonita no.6
Where's the party is actually an ironic track , something that Madonna does in her albums often but goes over people's head ....the sound at the end is a baby vocalising ....it's someone with a kid, stuck at home ....asking " where's the party ?"
My favourite album is yet to come. Madonna is maturing here, and will even further in her next album, but her masterpieces are a couple of albums away yet. True Blue is frankly a bit uneven... Papa, Live, Isla, True and Open are the standouts... but then there are absolute clunkers like White Heat and Jimmy Jimmy. Her albums will get even stronger... trust!
This is the album where Madonna became MADONNA.The A side of the vinyl ended with Live to tell and the B side started with where's the party, so it was a more natural transition between the 2 songs listening to the vinyl.
It’s really fun listening to your reactions. It’s so incredibly to me that you are hearing them for the first time. I grew up with these albums and songs and witnessed her evolution in real time. The one thing I would suggest to keep in mind is how varied each album is. She never repeats herself and always keeps u guessing as to where will she go next.
Believe it or not, Jimmy Jimmy is actually my favourite track from True Blue album, I love the chorus hook Why o why do fools fall in love with fools like you
Listen this album for the first time around 2008, when i "discover" her and started to listen and watch all her work and then follow. I love the synths from Open your hearth. How she made Live to tell bigger 20 years later on Confessions Tour. The fresh vibe and melodies of La Isla Bonita. A good album that make her give her best as an artist from there.
The music videos from True Blue onward also are a major treat! I'm happy you're doing the videos as well. Will you be doing the soundtracks and compilations too? I'm sure people have mentioned, but now with Kate Bush again in the charts because of Stranger Things, will you start on her discography and videos as well? At first she's a bit jarring, her vocals especially at first before they deepened, but "The Dreaming," and "Hounds of Love" albums are worth getting to, and will blow your socks off. She's truly a phenomenon. ("Running Up the Hill", the song now charting again, is off "Hounds of Love") Her albums have that Bjork experimentation feel, only times 10.
Live To Tell was the turning point in her career. At first considered a risk, oddly enough, but after True Blue her albums featured less and less club pop fillers. Until, at least, anything from and after Hard Candy (which itself was all filler LOL). On song lengths, yes sometimes songs should be longer and others shorter, but you also have to listen in context. From the CD era onward (1982) there was a tendency to put longer almost 12" mixes on the CD's and not just the 7" and 12" vinyl singles. People also started making fewer albums because you could fit so much more on one compact disc, where in the vinyl era sometimes they'd release two albums a year. The 80s especially with the pop albums had a lot of songs geared to the clubs needing longer songs, and they'd be for dances (mostly American culture). Radio also started playing longer songs, where before a radio station wouldn't play a song over 2:50, the independent DJs would play more experimental and less pop stuff, which brings us to with rock.. I mean sometimes Prog Rock have songs that are half the album LOL. The 90s also continued to produce very narrative and instrumental heavy songs with long tracks. The UK underground music movement along with the grunge and alternative female singer songwriters building off the momentum from the incomparable Kate Bush - one of the best songwriters and producers ever - became mainstream (check out Portishead, Massive Attack, Tricky, Goldie, Dead Can Dance, Bjork's bands like The Sugarcubes were also a part of this, Joan Osborne, etc). Alternative was mainstream in the 90s before Bill Clinton sold the media freedom and independence down the drain.
True Blue is the biggest selling album by a female artist in the 80s, selling 26 million albums and it was dedicated to her husband at the time Sean Penn (the actor). The album went No 1 in Australia. She co-wrote every song on this album. Live to tell was the first song released and music executives thought she was going to ruin her career by doing it, instead it sent her into the pop stratosphere. You should watch Patrick Leonard tell the story behind Live to Tell ua-cam.com/video/4DMESfrMcw4/v-deo.html. Amazing story. This was the album that moved madonna from pop star to serious artist and made her the biggest female star of the 80s. Live to Tell, Papa Don't Preach, True Blue, Open Your Heart and La Isla Bonita were the 5 singles released in that order. Papa Don't Preach was a huge controversy dealing with the issue of teenage pregnancy, abortion and adoption. But wait til you see the music videos for this era. They're excellent! Open Your Heart was seen as particularly risqué and you'll see why introducing us to the iconic conical bra. Madonna was also the first mainstream artist to introduce Spanish lyrics and themes in her songs while heavily featuring and celebrating latino people via La Isla Bonita. This album was massive and I bought it on vinyl when it came out and played it to death!
Well, the switch up from Live To Tell to Where’s The Party, is because you play the album in LP format. CD already existed at that time but most of people were listening to music on LP. So, Live To Tell was the end of Side-A, then you flip the record to play Side-B and change the dark mood to refresh with Where’s The Party up tempo fun. That’s how any music works at that time in 80s.
Plus, this album is her “ in love” album, true blue is for her husband at the time, Sean Penn.I take back what I said earlier, please react to each video from this album, they’re all too good. Lol Videos: 1)True Blue 2)Open Your Heart 3)La Isla Bonita 4)Live To Tell ( soundtrack song)
@@bennshouts - Great, can’t wait to see how you like ( or not) these truly iconic videos. Also, some people have ended up liking so many of her songs more, having seen the video visuals. Thank you for your enthusiastic and joyful journey, down this Madonna rabbit hole, you’re the best!! ( and hella cute. ). ;)
During her last tour, Madame X, she changed the lyrics to Papa don't preach to "I'm NOT keeping my baby" as a stance against the impending changES To Roe V Wade reproductive rights in USA
Rewatching your True Blue album reaction, and thought of the videos. So you did a block of Like a Virgin videos and the Vision Quest soundtrack. So there will be six videos for this time period 86-87 and 2 will be Soundtrack videos. The six videos we’ll be. Live To Tell Papa Don’t Preach True Blue Open Your Heart ❤️ my favorite video La Isla Bonita & Who’s That Girl, while not my favorite video it did reach number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and I do love the song though.
True Blue was also heavily influenced by her then husband, Sean Penn, and Madonna's furious attempt to gain credit as an actress (Live To Tell was for a Sean Penn movie, though I think the director didn't use it). Madonna's popularity was at an all time high in soundtracks though during this period up to the mid-90s. Many songs even never appearing on albums, including the amazing singles "Who's That Girl", "This Used to Be My Playground", "I'll Remember", and her first UK #1 single "Into The Groove" (which was added to Like A Virgin reissues later). White Heat is named after the James Cagney film of the same name, and samples from the movie. James Cagney died in 1986. Though Pat Leonard said dance music doesn't contribute to the cultural growth of the world, and some of the arrangements was due to him pushing Madonna to be innovative after their first collaboration with Live To Tell. It had some fillers, but the sound in True Blue lay the foundation of her trying rock, gospel, and r'nb in her next LP, Like A Prayer. Erotica was Madonna's first great album, which sadly didn't feature "Justify My Love," which catapulted the sound for the album, but only featured in The Immaculate Collection in it's edited form (the full track was only on the Japan and UK single, and so difficult to find now.. it features a couple of minutes of Madonna loudly moaning "f*ck me". Not to be confused with the mix that had this horrible movie sample, which was and still is widely available and not the original mix of the song even though it's usually mislabeled as the f*ck me mix.) When you listen to Erotica, try to listen to the original 13 track album and not the 14 track version, which features a hidden bonus track that is just horrible. Madonna left the producers of the song "Waiting" to go get lunch, and while they waited for her they rapped over it and kept her music and the chorus coda. It was included in some versions of the album, but doesn't contribute to the album in any way. In fact, the mood set at the end with the amazing jazz and r'nb influenced final two tracks is ruined. "Did You Do It" should have stayed a b-side. Fair warning, the songs on Erotica are LONG, and there's some boring lyrics like with "Bye Bye Baby" and "Thief of Hearts," and "Fever" cover one can feel neither here nor there about (people shit on the great tracks "Waiting," "Words," "In This Life," and the amazing "Secret Garden" but hopefully you won't join in on that which is them fighting words 🤪) As great as Ray of Light is, Erotica is probably her best produced album, which intricate arrangements seamlessly blending the sounds from gay clubs, house, r'nb, hip hop, jazz and even ska, with subjects of female sexuality, the AIDS crisis, friendships and love like the Reagan and Bush snr era was not expecting. I like the world blend she brought in with Madame X, but she should work with her 90s producers again. We all know how much you like hearing from boring old me, so I'll quit while I'm ahead.
Live To Tell is about abuse. It’s the first instance in her career of her touching on her complex relationship with her father, which she delves further into in later albums, especially her next one Like a Prayer. She wrote the lyrics entirely on her own over the instrumental by Patrick Leonard, and the song has gone on to hold a lot of significance in the lives of people who have gone through similar abuse situations, since it speaks to what it’s like to carry that sort of burden so honestly and beautifully. It was a bold choice for the lead single but it ended up going #1 and becoming one of her biggest hits, and marked a real shift towards maturity in her music and people taking her seriously as a true artist, rather than a dance-pop starlet.
While the singles are great, she is still a singles artist at this point, not an album artist, which is why this album as a whole doesn't make my top 10 Madonna albums, sitting just above Like a Virgin. It's her highest selling album though.
Oh yeh Madonna and Sean Penn moment, at the time in 1986 , we were like girl he is ugly , now I think sexy is the word to Penn , he’s just hot like Henry Rollins
It doesn’t take a genius to know what that word on your t-shirt is my handsome hot friend. Shame you can’t even show that. But enjoy this album. My faves are Open Your Heart and Isla Bonita.
I have always loved Open your heart better than Papa don't preach. A pop-dance masterpiece with one of the best melodies has ever written in a song and her vocals are just mesmerizing. A timeless classic. Papa don't preach is good sonically, but the lyrical content sounds a bit cringy today.
You need to stop going on about the length of the songs. In the 80’s and 90’s, 4 to 5 minutes was the normal length of a pop song and in some instances longer, as you have encountered. It’s normal, it gave the song room to develop. Not like these days where songs are basically just commercials!
Yeah lucky the stand out ones were the hits, you just know which are fillers. like I said in one of your other reaction videos erotica album most could be hits.
I'm sorry but u talk thru the entire damn album dude. U ain't listening to anything. Please just stop the song or talk at the end. Jesus Christ. U realize ur yelling over half the songs about stunning and being keen. I'd be keen and u would be stunning if u please stop dude. But ur cute so I'm gonna give u five more chances.
💙😏🌊~TIMESTAMPS~🏝🥰💙
Papa Don’t Preach - 1:48🌟
Open Your Heart - 4:47🌟
White Heat - 6:33
Live to Tell - 8:35🌟
Where’s the Party - 11:36
True Blue - 13:31🌟
La Isla Bonita - 15:30🌟
Jimmy Jimmy - 17:44
Love Makes the World Go Round - 19:53
🌟= my fave!
Live to Tell was the first single from True Blue that Madonna pushed hard for. They thought it would be the end of her career and a huge flop if she released it because how could she go from songs like Like a Virgin and Material Girl to Live to Tell? They thought the public would reject such a complete 180. Well it was released and shot to #1 around the world. Its one of the most haunting brilliant ballads ever.
Totally agree!
I think True blue was the moment when Madonna cemented her ICON status and from then on she just shot up like a rocket to the untouchable queen she is. Not to mention the fact that True blue sold over 25 million copies, making it the best selling album by a female artist of the 80s and one of the best selling albums of all time. And again we get an early glimpse into a Madonna that isn’t afraid to push buttons with a song like Papa don’t preach. The fact she would even discuss teenage pregnancy and abortion at all back then was pretty bold. Thanks for another amazing reaction
"Live To Tell" is easily one of my favourite Madonna songs from her entire discography. It has a very haunting and beautiful quality to it, and the break ahead of the bridge is stunning. This album is the first album where she co-wrote and co-produced the whole thing, which was unheard of for female pop stars at the time. I need to get a good record player so I can finally listen to the vinyl I took from my dad's collection.
You have to keep in mind that a lot of the way the songs were placed in the album is because they were made for Vinyl Live To Tell is the last song on the A Side of True Blue that’s why it’s such a big change with Where’s The Party? 💙💙
Yes exactly! After side one was finished, you had to turn the vinyl and put the needle on it again. Crazy if you think about it, but we had so much fun listening to those records. And the fact to have something in your hands, almost like a book. I miss those days sometimes.
Vinyl definitely makes you more invested in an album ..I used to love reading the lyrics
Correct but ignorant people don’t appreciate this.
“Jimmy Jimmy” is about the 1950’s actor James Dean who died in a car crash. He was pretty wild. And hot. Also, “a licking” in the American mid-west, where Madonna is from, is slang for a beating. Basically. Haha. So she’s saying her father said James Dean just needs a good beating (on account of his rebellious attitude). - Can’t believe you didn’t go nuts for “Open Your Heart.” It’s my favorite off that album. And the music video is a masterpiece. Her vocals thru out this album are absolutely exquisite. I love her lower register.
Open Your Heart is also my favorite from True Blue.
Madonna had 5 Top 5 singles off of True Blue, my favorite album by her. This album is her best selling album world wide and sold 7 million copies in the US, second in studio album sales only to Like A Virgin which went Diamond 10 million copies sold in the US.
✅First single was the number 1 single “Live to Tell”
✅Her second single which also went to number 1 was “Papa Don’t Preach”
✅Her third single which reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 was “True Blue”
✅Her fourth single which kicked off 1987 was the number 1 single “Open Your Heart”
❤️With the phenomenal lyrics, beat and music video make it my favorite song of hers of all time
✅The final and fifth single off the album which reached number 4 was “La Isla Bonita”
The depth and range of each song is why I love this album so much.
⭐️ Additional info on The 1987 Who’s That Girl Soundtrack
✅The single and video for “Who’s That Girl” became her sixth number one single on the Billboard Hot 100
✅ The second single “Causing a Commotion” reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 with no video released for that song.
This is, where it all started for me.. Live to Tell was number one and I fell in love with the whole mood and vibe of the song and then within days of discovering it... she dropped Papa Don't Preach and the world blew up over Madonna.... She had so many No. 1 songs from this album.. And she was stunning in the videos.. This is the era that made me a life long Madonna fan.. Despite Jimmy Jimmy! Haha, wtf was that?
"La isla bonita" gives me life! Best song!!! Best performance on Girlie Tour!
It's really hard to explain just how huge Madonna and this album were at the time..all 5 singles were no.1 in either the US or the UK and we're all classic 80s singles. The videos are all great too
if you like the "mature" ones on True Blue, you'll love Like a Prayer!
didn't see anyone answering yet, but La Isla Bonita is Spanish for The Beautiful Island.
My body my choice. Perfect shirt to wear for Papa Don't Preach. Lol
This is the album when Madonna went from a pop tart to creating pop ART. And the album was even more massive then Like a Virgin. Her star status went through the stratosphere with True Blue.
Omg the best albums ever ❤❤❤❤
You are entering what I feel are her 5 in a row legendary albums....Prepare to be blown away over and over....
From the 80’s albums I personally only listrn to ‘Madonna’ still and some tracks of ‘Like a Prayer’. The albums were strong and something else when they were released and they definitly are essential when you want to learm how Madonna developed as an artist but musically things for me get interesting around the Vogue/Justify my Love/Rescue Me era. Love your reactions, wish they weren’t cut up but in case of True Blue and Like a Virgin I was quite happy🤭
The talking at the start and during White Heat is from the 1949 gangster film White Heat starring James Cagney. While this is an 80s album, it has nostalgic nods to the 1950s/60s vibe with references to James Cagney, James Dean (Jimmy Jimmy song), and the Doo wop sounds of True Blue song. Interestingly her next studio album Like a Prayer is done with nostalgic nods to the 1970s vibe/sound. And the following album I'm Breathless is 1930s/40s. Madonna is very adept at utilising a lot of sounds and eras in her music.
wow I had forgotten just how good Live to Tell was! Thanks Benn, love ya babez xx
glad to be of service!
Great reaction! Videos for this era are awesome. You'll love them.
Thank you! 💕
Can’t wait to see them!
5 amazing singles on this album and this cemented her status as a pop superstar but it was with her next album Like A Prayer that she evolved into a critically acclaimed artist.
My fave album is next!! can't wait till you hear "oh father" & "spanish eyes". Her most personal and acclaimed album with ROL.
I always get so happy watching your reactions 😍
I remember I was sooo disappointed that she changed her looks, I was very young though 😅
My favourite songs from this album is:
“La Isla Bonita” (beautiful island)
“Papa Don’t Preach”
“True Blue”
“Live To Tell”
Of all her albums I love her first two the most🤗
Live to tell soundtract mobpvie ,,,,,,,she became aserious Artist she took ver vintage look off and gave us Glamour with Whis that girl 😂movie soundtrack ❤❤❤
I CANT WAIT FOR “Like A Prayer”(the next one album)
If you only watch one video, from this album, please watch open your heart, it was her first controversial video, but you need to also react to Live to Tell, for sure.
Can’t WAIT til you get to the next album!🙌🏻🎼
Live To Tell, was the song that got me through my darkest days back then. One of those tunes that will always be in my heart. Amen! Lol
One of my favourites albuns of her
This is the album that turned me from a casual Madonna fan to being a mega fan. I remember being a confused closeted 14 year old gay boy, listening to my casettle tape of "True Blue" for thousands of time, somehow finding solace, strength and Joy from this woman I call my diva 😊
Ben you are back with Madonna! Yay! White Heat’s introduction is from Jimmy Cagney, an American actor from the 30’s that would play in police/gangster films. Another note on “Live to Tell”. It’s about abortion. Like “Papa Don’t Preach” is about choice. Madonna performed the first part o “Papa…” at her tour in 2019 in which she sings “but I made up my mind, I’m NOT keeping my baby”. Then she does a pro Roe vs Wade speech.
My second favorite Madonna album (the first was ''Ray of Light''), and love th lightess and the production of this album. So incredible. Five incredible singles and i love also the non singles. Many fun facts:
- ''Open Your Heart'' was written by Gardner Cole and Peter Rafelson. The two writers offered this for Cyndi Lauper, but refused it. The song was a originally a rock song. Madonna heard the demo of theses production and deceled a potential if she changed the song. So Madonna re-write the song, changed the composition and making the song that everybody know.
- The vocals of the demo of ''Live to Tell'' was used in the final product and was a one take song. She recording accapella because Patrick Leonard work for the soundtrack of At Close Range. Madonna wanted to give the song for a another artist for the movie, but all declined and refused, so Madonna used the demo and Patric Leonard construct the arrangements around of her vocals.
-''La Isla Bonita'' was a composition of Patrick Leonard (who Madonna co-produced with him for many songs of the album). It's was originally offered for Michael Jackson during the making of the ''Bad'' album because Michael wanted a latino song of his album, Michael didn't like it and refused. When Madonna heard the demo, she loved this latino vibe and she write the lyrics and the melody of the song.
This album sold 25 million albums worldwide and was the highest selling album by a female artist of that time. The album had 3 no.1 us hits and 5 top 5 hits
ICONIC!
@@bennshouts when are you reviewing the true album video's ?
Charts success in states
Live to tell no.1
Papa don’t preach no.1
True blue no.3
Open your heart no.1
La Isla bonita no.4
In Australia 🇦🇺
Live to tell no.7
Papa Don’t preach no.1 (6weeks)
True blue no.6
Open your heart no.16 (criminal)
La Isla bonita no.6
yes i never understood white heat and jimmy jimmy but Love makes the world could be a huge hit❤❤❤❤
Where's the party is actually an ironic track , something that Madonna does in her albums often but goes over people's head ....the sound at the end is a baby vocalising ....it's someone with a kid, stuck at home ....asking " where's the party ?"
oooohhhhh, makes sense!
I’ve started your Madonna deep dive and loving it!
😍😍
My favourite album is yet to come. Madonna is maturing here, and will even further in her next album, but her masterpieces are a couple of albums away yet. True Blue is frankly a bit uneven... Papa, Live, Isla, True and Open are the standouts... but then there are absolute clunkers like White Heat and Jimmy Jimmy. Her albums will get even stronger... trust!
A milestone of Pop music
NEXT ALBUM is "Like a Prayer"
Released in march 1989, so you'll still be in the 80's
haha one more 80's album then!
This is the album where Madonna became MADONNA.The A side of the vinyl ended with Live to tell and the B side started with where's the party, so it was a more natural transition between the 2 songs listening to the vinyl.
Definitely a solid album! Papa Don’t Preach is my favorite. Your analysis was really great!
White heat is maybe my favourite!
Singles: Live to Tell, Papa Don’t preach, La Isla Bonita, Open Your Heart & True Blue. All massive hits.
It’s really fun listening to your reactions. It’s so incredibly to me that you are hearing them for the first time. I grew up with these albums and songs and witnessed her evolution in real time. The one thing I would suggest to keep in mind is how varied each album is. She never repeats herself and always keeps u guessing as to where will she go next.
Yesss, I will thank you!
Believe it or not, Jimmy Jimmy is actually my favourite track from True Blue album, I love the chorus hook Why o why do fools fall in love with fools like you
hahaha it is funky
Listen this album for the first time around 2008, when i "discover" her and started to listen and watch all her work and then follow. I love the synths from Open your hearth. How she made Live to tell bigger 20 years later on Confessions Tour. The fresh vibe and melodies of La Isla Bonita. A good album that make her give her best as an artist from there.
The music videos from True Blue onward also are a major treat! I'm happy you're doing the videos as well. Will you be doing the soundtracks and compilations too?
I'm sure people have mentioned, but now with Kate Bush again in the charts because of Stranger Things, will you start on her discography and videos as well? At first she's a bit jarring, her vocals especially at first before they deepened, but "The Dreaming," and "Hounds of Love" albums are worth getting to, and will blow your socks off. She's truly a phenomenon. ("Running Up the Hill", the song now charting again, is off "Hounds of Love") Her albums have that Bjork experimentation feel, only times 10.
one of the best albums of all time
Open your heart is one of the best on the album.
Live To Tell was the turning point in her career. At first considered a risk, oddly enough, but after True Blue her albums featured less and less club pop fillers. Until, at least, anything from and after Hard Candy (which itself was all filler LOL).
On song lengths, yes sometimes songs should be longer and others shorter, but you also have to listen in context. From the CD era onward (1982) there was a tendency to put longer almost 12" mixes on the CD's and not just the 7" and 12" vinyl singles. People also started making fewer albums because you could fit so much more on one compact disc, where in the vinyl era sometimes they'd release two albums a year.
The 80s especially with the pop albums had a lot of songs geared to the clubs needing longer songs, and they'd be for dances (mostly American culture).
Radio also started playing longer songs, where before a radio station wouldn't play a song over 2:50, the independent DJs would play more experimental and less pop stuff, which brings us to with rock.. I mean sometimes Prog Rock have songs that are half the album LOL.
The 90s also continued to produce very narrative and instrumental heavy songs with long tracks. The UK underground music movement along with the grunge and alternative female singer songwriters building off the momentum from the incomparable Kate Bush - one of the best songwriters and producers ever - became mainstream (check out Portishead, Massive Attack, Tricky, Goldie, Dead Can Dance, Bjork's bands like The Sugarcubes were also a part of this, Joan Osborne, etc).
Alternative was mainstream in the 90s before Bill Clinton sold the media freedom and independence down the drain.
True Blue is the biggest selling album by a female artist in the 80s, selling 26 million albums and it was dedicated to her husband at the time Sean Penn (the actor). The album went No 1 in Australia. She co-wrote every song on this album. Live to tell was the first song released and music executives thought she was going to ruin her career by doing it, instead it sent her into the pop stratosphere. You should watch Patrick Leonard tell the story behind Live to Tell ua-cam.com/video/4DMESfrMcw4/v-deo.html. Amazing story. This was the album that moved madonna from pop star to serious artist and made her the biggest female star of the 80s. Live to Tell, Papa Don't Preach, True Blue, Open Your Heart and La Isla Bonita were the 5 singles released in that order. Papa Don't Preach was a huge controversy dealing with the issue of teenage pregnancy, abortion and adoption. But wait til you see the music videos for this era. They're excellent! Open Your Heart was seen as particularly risqué and you'll see why introducing us to the iconic conical bra. Madonna was also the first mainstream artist to introduce Spanish lyrics and themes in her songs while heavily featuring and celebrating latino people via La Isla Bonita. This album was massive and I bought it on vinyl when it came out and played it to death!
Music videos really bring the songs to life for this album. Funny how you chose that shirt to where,without knowing content of PDP.
This album is so good!!!
Well, the switch up from Live To Tell to Where’s The Party, is because you play the album in LP format. CD already existed at that time but most of people were listening to music on LP. So, Live To Tell was the end of Side-A, then you flip the record to play Side-B and change the dark mood to refresh with Where’s The Party up tempo fun. That’s how any music works at that time in 80s.
La isla bonita is a huge hit Beautiful island ❤❤❤
Plus, this album is her “ in love” album, true blue is for her husband at the time, Sean Penn.I take back what I said earlier, please react to each video from this album, they’re all too good. Lol
Videos:
1)True Blue
2)Open Your Heart
3)La Isla Bonita
4)Live To Tell ( soundtrack song)
Haha, I'll be watching them all!
@@bennshouts - Great, can’t wait to see how you like ( or not) these truly iconic videos. Also, some people have ended up liking so many of her songs more, having seen the video visuals. Thank you for your enthusiastic and joyful journey, down this Madonna rabbit hole, you’re the best!! ( and hella cute. ). ;)
react to Faouzia please🙏🏻🤍 her EP "CITIZENS" is so stunning. but I love all of her stuff
Best album of her
Live to tell,,,,,open ur heart ❤,,,,,papa dont preach,,,,,,la isla bonita,,,,,,wheres the party........ true blue Hits❤❤❤ww
During her last tour, Madame X, she changed the lyrics to Papa don't preach to "I'm NOT keeping my baby" as a stance against the impending changES To Roe V Wade reproductive rights in USA
ICONIC!
amazing album
Rewatching your True Blue album reaction, and thought of the videos. So you did a block of Like a Virgin videos and the Vision Quest soundtrack. So there will be six videos for this time period 86-87 and 2 will be Soundtrack videos. The six videos we’ll be.
Live To Tell
Papa Don’t Preach
True Blue
Open Your Heart ❤️ my favorite video
La Isla Bonita
& Who’s That Girl, while not my favorite video it did reach number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and I do love the song though.
I was six when this came out. I've loved her ever since. Also, get rid of that sticker. Be unapologetic.
If UA-cam didn't control me I would :P
True Blue was also heavily influenced by her then husband, Sean Penn, and Madonna's furious attempt to gain credit as an actress (Live To Tell was for a Sean Penn movie, though I think the director didn't use it). Madonna's popularity was at an all time high in soundtracks though during this period up to the mid-90s. Many songs even never appearing on albums, including the amazing singles "Who's That Girl", "This Used to Be My Playground", "I'll Remember", and her first UK #1 single "Into The Groove" (which was added to Like A Virgin reissues later).
White Heat is named after the James Cagney film of the same name, and samples from the movie. James Cagney died in 1986. Though Pat Leonard said dance music doesn't contribute to the cultural growth of the world, and some of the arrangements was due to him pushing Madonna to be innovative after their first collaboration with Live To Tell. It had some fillers, but the sound in True Blue lay the foundation of her trying rock, gospel, and r'nb in her next LP, Like A Prayer.
Erotica was Madonna's first great album, which sadly didn't feature "Justify My Love," which catapulted the sound for the album, but only featured in The Immaculate Collection in it's edited form (the full track was only on the Japan and UK single, and so difficult to find now.. it features a couple of minutes of Madonna loudly moaning "f*ck me". Not to be confused with the mix that had this horrible movie sample, which was and still is widely available and not the original mix of the song even though it's usually mislabeled as the f*ck me mix.)
When you listen to Erotica, try to listen to the original 13 track album and not the 14 track version, which features a hidden bonus track that is just horrible. Madonna left the producers of the song "Waiting" to go get lunch, and while they waited for her they rapped over it and kept her music and the chorus coda. It was included in some versions of the album, but doesn't contribute to the album in any way. In fact, the mood set at the end with the amazing jazz and r'nb influenced final two tracks is ruined. "Did You Do It" should have stayed a b-side.
Fair warning, the songs on Erotica are LONG, and there's some boring lyrics like with "Bye Bye Baby" and "Thief of Hearts," and "Fever" cover one can feel neither here nor there about (people shit on the great tracks "Waiting," "Words," "In This Life," and the amazing "Secret Garden" but hopefully you won't join in on that which is them fighting words 🤪)
As great as Ray of Light is, Erotica is probably her best produced album, which intricate arrangements seamlessly blending the sounds from gay clubs, house, r'nb, hip hop, jazz and even ska, with subjects of female sexuality, the AIDS crisis, friendships and love like the Reagan and Bush snr era was not expecting. I like the world blend she brought in with Madame X, but she should work with her 90s producers again.
We all know how much you like hearing from boring old me, so I'll quit while I'm ahead.
“Live to tell” is on the soundtrack of the movie “At close range”
Live To Tell is about abuse. It’s the first instance in her career of her touching on her complex relationship with her father, which she delves further into in later albums, especially her next one Like a Prayer. She wrote the lyrics entirely on her own over the instrumental by Patrick Leonard, and the song has gone on to hold a lot of significance in the lives of people who have gone through similar abuse situations, since it speaks to what it’s like to carry that sort of burden so honestly and beautifully. It was a bold choice for the lead single but it ended up going #1 and becoming one of her biggest hits, and marked a real shift towards maturity in her music and people taking her seriously as a true artist, rather than a dance-pop starlet.
u gotta see the videos it will be more clearer thank u ❤❤❤❤❤
😍😍😍😍
👑🙌
La Isla Bonita - The beautiful island ;)
give us Bjork utopia reaction to finish all her albums off pleaseeeeeeee
Will you be doing a reaction of the new iamamiwhoami album Be Here Soon? I'd love to hear what you think...
I love you censoring your shirt 😂
While the singles are great, she is still a singles artist at this point, not an album artist, which is why this album as a whole doesn't make my top 10 Madonna albums, sitting just above Like a Virgin. It's her highest selling album though.
Give Wheres the party another chance! …right after work.
Ohhhh, I like your thinking!
#justice4wherestheparty I love that one. 😉
hahahah oops :P
Oh yeh Madonna and Sean Penn moment, at the time in 1986 , we were like girl he is ugly , now I think sexy is the word to Penn , he’s just hot like Henry Rollins
It doesn’t take a genius to know what that word on your t-shirt is my handsome hot friend. Shame you can’t even show that. But enjoy this album. My faves are Open Your Heart and Isla Bonita.
Update: you tore the tape off. You beaut! 😉
❤️
I have always loved Open your heart better than Papa don't preach. A pop-dance masterpiece with one of the best melodies has ever written in a song and her vocals are just mesmerizing. A timeless classic. Papa don't preach is good sonically, but the lyrical content sounds a bit cringy today.
La isla Bonita means the pretty island
You wearing that shirt and papa don't preach was that planned. ??
Nope! Totally unplanned!
PLEASE REACT TO "unamerican beauty" BY XYLO, I THINK YOULL LOVE IT
Halsey dropped a misic vedio called so good can you pleeease react to it😭❤❤❤❤ I love see your reactions on the songs I like💜
You need to stop going on about the length of the songs. In the 80’s and 90’s, 4 to 5 minutes was the normal length of a pop song and in some instances longer, as you have encountered. It’s normal, it gave the song room to develop. Not like these days where songs are basically just commercials!
I comment on song lengths all the time, it is what it is.
Please REACT a JoJo - TRYING NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT
Evanescence had a solid run with their first 2 albums, they're definitely worth a listen 👌
The last 2 albums and synthesis are great as well. I saw them in the 2021 tour and the new album came to life on a live setting
Yeah lucky the stand out ones were the hits, you just know which are fillers. like I said in one of your other reaction videos erotica album most could be hits.
I'm sorry but u talk thru the entire damn album dude. U ain't listening to anything. Please just stop the song or talk at the end. Jesus Christ. U realize ur yelling over half the songs about stunning and being keen. I'd be keen and u would be stunning if u please stop dude. But ur cute so I'm gonna give u five more chances.
Haha my style of reacting isn’t for everyone - but I ain’t gonna change it, so you’ll never be happy 🤗🤗