Madonna is on a triumphant streak lately that is quite fit for a queen. In addition to scoring a Golden Globe Award, the Material Girl has her directorial effort W.E. — which just earned an Oscar nomination — hitting theaters on February 3, will perform at the Super Bowl two days after that and has a highly-anticipated album on the way in March, via her new label deal with Interscope. And, like any red-blooded pop music fan, we’re chomping at the bit for the arrival of Her Madgesty’s new Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.-featuring single “Gimme All Your Luvin’”.
That said, we’ve been spinning some of Madonna’s older jams in the meantime, and we couldn’t help but feel like some of her songs just don’t get, to quote from “Material Girl”, proper credit. Flip the dial on any given day and you’ll hear “Holiday”, “Express Yourself” and “Take A Bow”, but what about Madge’s songs that time — and radio — seem to have forgotten? We rounded up (what we think are) the 10 best of these below!
10. “RESCUE ME” (listen)
ALBUM: The Immaculate Collection, 1990.
“I’m talking….I’m talking,” Madonna declares at the beginning of this house-y love song — and boy, was she ever. This and “Justify My Love” kicked off the diva’s early-’90s period where she gabbed through tracks rather than singing on them.
9. “CAUSING A COMMOTION” (listen)
Album: Who’s That Girl (Soundtrack), 1987.
M meets her perfect match, but — yowza! — their sexy chemistry threatens to disrupt the universe! If only Who’s That Girl hadn’t taken a cue from the song’s lyrics and spontaneously combusted at the box office upon its release.
8. “I’LL REMEMBER”
ALBUM: With Honors (Soundtrack), 1994.
Madge has lost many friends and lovers over the years, but here she turns lemons into lemonade by cherishing the good times and learning from “the way that you changed me.” (She also turned cheesy lyrics to cha-ching by contributing this surprisingly saccharine post-Erotica ballad to the Brendan Fraser flick With Honors.)
7. “TRUE BLUE”
Album: True Blue, 1986.
Madonna gives her then-beau Sean Penn the gift of song, and the masses in turn get a ’60s-sounding retro girl group homage. It’s exclusion from her subsequent hits collections makes us think that some love letters are too painful to revisit — even if you’re the Queen Of Pop.
6. “GET TOGETHER”
ALBUM: Confessions On A Dancefloor, 2005.
Uh oh! Madonna has locked eyes with the man of her dreams on the dance floor, and she’s ready for some strobelight-lovin’. American radio unfortunately skipped over the bulk of Madonna’s Confessions singles. That’s a real shame, as the album boasted her finest material since Ray Of Light.
5. “KEEP IT TOGETHER” (listen)
ALBUM: Like A Prayer, 1989.
Even a Material Girl needs to lean on her family for support from time to time when fame gets to be too rough. The funky album version of this forgotten Like A Prayer gem is a true toe-tapper, but it pales in comparison to the Soul II Soul beat-infused single mix.
4. “THE POWER OF GOOD-BYE”
ALBUM: Ray of Light, 1998.
Madonna knows that it’s better to be alone for the right reasons than stay with someone for the wrong ones. This lush, ethereal William Orbit co-produced ballad will forever remind us of Felicity Season 1 TV promos. That’s a good thing, by the way!
3. “BURNING UP”
ALBUM: Madonna, 1983.
Madge has been tempting us with her saucy ways from the get-go, as evidenced by this, the second single of her career. Sample lyrics: “Unlike the others, I’ll do anything / I’m not the same, I have no shame — I’m on fire!” Why, you wicked little minx!
2. “JUMP”
ALBUM: Confessions On A Dancefloor, 2005.
When all is said and done, the future is uncertain, life is what you make of it, and therefore, Her Madgesty is happy to jump head-first into the great unknown. Are you ready to take her hand and join her?
1. “DEEPER AND DEEPER”
ALBUM: Erotica, 1992.
When love comes along, you can’t let it slip through your fingers. Madge employs parental advice — and Shep Pettibone’s relentless disco beat — in an effort to win her man. Bonus points for the unusual-at-that-time “Vogue” mash-up at the end.
Did we include any of your own favorite Madonna jams on our list? What did we miss? Let us know by burnin’ up the comments section below, or by hitting us up on Twitter and Facebook.
Funny that “Causing a Commotion”, “Get Together”, and “Power of Good-bye” are three of my favorite Madonna tracks!
Now, see THAT ;)
YES to the ‘Soul II Soul’-inspired mix of “Keep It Together.” Amazing then and now. And “Deeper And Deeper” definitely deserves a place on “retro/oldies” playlists. Ahead of her time, as Madonna so often has been.
Madge has never sounded more soulful than at the end of “Rescue Me”…”Hey, HEEEEEEEEEEYYY”….a tantalizing glimpse of a career direction never taken.
Here’s hoping she can recapture that potential and reclaim her crown…as well as all the “angry little hearts” of those of us who have been demanding of nothing less than her best.
A masterpiece of a list… I couldn’t agree with it more even if I tried… Every song is a gem, Deeper and True Blue being my two fave’s. Thank you!
You just HAD to get “masterpiece” in there, didn’t you? ;)
@Robbie Daw – How could you forget “Sorry”?! It’s a great song. In fact, I was listening to it earlier today before I even saw this list! It only reached a peak of 56 on the Hot 100 due to limited airplay, but it was a top 10 hit in almost every other country. Madonna fans were so mad that they even started a petition to get it played on American radio. If you look at Wikipedia’s page for the song you’ll notice that it’s well documented that most critics considered it the strongest song on Confessions on a Dance Floor, and that’s saying something! So you might want to revise your list and include it! ;)
Here, look: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorry_(Madonna_song)
Thanks for writing, Evan! All I can say is “sorry”.
I, too, LOVED “Sorry.” One of the few videos on my iPod! That whole album is magnificent.
Haha Good one! I’m guessing “Sorry” isn’t one of your faves then?
I do agree with the rest of the list though! “Jump” is one of my faves, esp. since it was included in the soundtrack to “The Devil Wears Prada”, one of my favorite movies!
You know who’s amazing? Lady Gaga.
she is… especially when she copies Madonna
I loved “Gambler” off of the flick Desperately Seeking Susan!
I must be the only person on the planet that still carries a torch for “Where’s The Party”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h–_R-HIYo4
Even Madonna’s forgotten tunes are BETTER than anything released from that Flop this Way crap of a CD, deal with it!
Love each and everyone of those songs, those are amazing!!
Do we have to bring Gaga into this? It’s possible to like both Madge and Gaga you know! They’re both great artists. Madge is a pop icon and Gaga is an up-and-coming pop icon. Also, I propose a moratorium on the word “flop”. It has to be THE most overused word in the music blogosphere!
This list missed “Nothing Really Matters”
“power,” indeed! love “words” from “erotica.”
The US sure ownes Madonna so many #1s, she’s been robbed with all those crassic songs!
“This Used To Be My Playground”
One of her most heartbreaking and beautiful songs. Possibly, some of the best lyrics she’s ever written. Beautiful video too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQsooCyjcv4
THIEF OF HEARTS!
YES!
oops you mean from the film “vision quest”. “into the groove” was from DSS and hardly an overlooked madonna single
Where I live (Miami), both Causing a Commotion and Burning Up get fair airplay. And about the other Confessions singles, this country still had a grudge on her for making “American Life”, which is why Hung Up, despite going to #1 worldwide, only got to #7 on Billboard. Not 2 mention that Celebration, a worldwide top 20 hit, did far less well here, reaching #71. That being said, it seems that only clubs are still loyal to her.
Nevertheless, her new song appears to be a potential #1 hit here, giving her an unprecedented feat of hitting the top in 4 different decades!! =D
BTW, I don’t see Celebration, Human Nature, Fever, Beautiful Stranger, or Me Against the Music here!!
“Gambler” (ONE of her BEST!!!), “Angel” and, of course, “Nothing Really Matters” should have ALL been included!!!! I also really love “Love Profusion” from the underrated “American Life” album. Great list, though!! :)
f***ck man madonna has so many good singles out there. just watched one of my faces get together.never saw the vid its awesome. thanks robbie!!!
I’m suprised that “Secret” (LP version and the remix) was left out. That was the ultimate romantic/party Madonna song!
couldn’t agree more on that :)
I am missing the songs from the Ray of Light album… Frozen and Ray of Light.
I agree that “This Used To Be My Playground” is absolutely magnificent! In fact, you can pick just about any of her ballads and you’ve got a hearty gem. I would add “Rain” and “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” and oh, don’t forget “Crazy For You”!
Over and Over, from Like A Virgin. Incredible song. Has hit written all over it.
Um yes Celebration one of her bests just look at the youtube count of the celebration music video its one of the highest yet I heard it on the radio like twice? what is wrong with radio these days there more music out there than Gaga, JLo etc (but I love then too dont get me wrong).