She’s the Queen of Pop. She helped shape what culture was in the latter decades of the 20th century and into the 21st. She was unafraid to speak her mind, take a risque photo, feature a specific person in her music videos, or break out of stereotypes. She’s Madonna and the world of popular music wouldn’t be the same without her.
As such, throughout her illustrious, groundbreaking career, Madonna released several songs that remain iconic and important in the zeitgeist today. Here below, we wanted to explore three such songs. A trio of tracks that exemplify her talent and showcase just how significant Madonna was on global culture. Indeed, these are three eternal Madonna pop songs that have stood the test of time.
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“Like a Prayer” from Like a Prayer (1989)
Like so many of Madonna’s songs, this track is about love and sex. But unlike any song, this title track from the singer’s 1989 album is about an amorous relationship between the singer, a young girl, and God. Controversially at the time, God in the song’s music video was played by a Black actor, which upset many closed-minded people. But that’s what makes Madonna amazing—she doesn’t care what the repercussions might be. She does what she wants and she has been on the right side of social history more times than most. The track, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, remains a favorite for many to dance and sing along to. On it, the pop star offers,
Life is a mystery
Everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home
When you call my name, it’s like a little prayer
I’m down on my knees, I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour, I can feel your power
Just like a prayer, you know I’ll take you there
“Vogue” from I’m Breathless (1990)
One of the reasons Madonna was so popular was because she so deftly took advantage of her time in the music video era. And the video for this song featured the glamorous pop star looking like a pin-up model. It was also directed by future feature film creator David Fincher. He knew just how to handle the artist in all of her beauty. As far as the song itself, it took the feeling of fashion and style and put it to a beat. It even invented a dance that remains part of the culture, where people frame their faces with their hands like a picture frame. The song, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, continues to feature in movies like The Devil Wears Prada. On it, Madonna sings,
Look around, everywhere you turn is heartache
It’s everywhere that you go (look around)
You try everything you can to escape
The pain of life that you know (life that you know)
When all else fails and you long to be
Something better than you are today
I know a place where you can get away
It’s called a dance floor
And here’s what it’s for, so
Come on, vogue (vogue)
Let your body move to the music (move to the music)
Hey, hey, hey
Come on, vogue (vogue)
Let your body go with the flow (go with the flow)
You know you can do it
“Material Girl” from Like a Virgin (1984)
In case we didn’t know that Madonna was the Queen of American glamor, this song made it clear early on in her career. Sure, she evolved into being a more socially conscious person. But at her heart, in the beginning, Madonna personified American culture. She was our material girl. Living in a material world. Released on the 1984 LP Like a Virgin, this track hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. And on it, the material girl sings,
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
‘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
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