Recently – Madonna celebrated her 30th anniversary on the Billboard Charts, that is definitely no small feat. Whether you enjoy her music or not, you can’t deny her influence in fashion, music, and in pop culture. She is one of the most successful female artists of the 20th century and many of today’s pop stars have been influenced by her music in one form or another. When we think of pop culture and the musical icons of the last 50 years – we think of The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley and Madonna – they are inventors, unique, trend setters, icons, and masters of their game. Here are a look back at her outstanding music career:
- Madonna holds the record for most No. 1s on all Billboard charts combined, for a total of 156! Madonna last charted on the Dance/Club Play Songs chart with the # 1 single “Turn Up The Radio”.
- Madonna holds the record for most No. 1s on Billboards Dance/Club Play Songs Chart, with 43. Madonna is clearly the ‘Queen of Clubland’. She is also on the verge of tying George Strait’s record for the most chart toppers on any single Billboard Chart – George Strait has earned 44 No. 1s on the Country Songs Chart.
- A Record 38 Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles. In the 54-year history of Billboard’s signature songs chart, Madonna has earned a record 38 top 10 hits. With 34, the Beatles rank second. Madonna first reached the Hot 100’s top 10 with 1984’s No. 10 hit “Borderline”, which began her streak of 17 consecutive top 10’s through 1989’s No. 2-peaking “Cherish”.
- 56 Hot 100 hits. Madonna first dented the Hot 100 almost a year to the day after she made her Dance/Club Play Songs arrival. “Holiday” was her first Hot 100 hit, partying its way onto the chart on October 29, 1983 at No. 88. It eventually rose to No. 16, the first of 32 straight top 40 hits for Madonna. Among women, only Aretha Franklin (73) has made more Hot 100 visits than Madonna, while Taylor Swift (as of last week) and Dionne Warwick have also tallied 56 entries.
- 12 Hot 100 No. 1s. Madonna’s haul of chart-toppers is the fourth-best-all-time. (The Supremes also boast 12 No. 1s). Only the Beatles (20), Mariah Carey (18) and Michael Jackson (13) have earned more. Madonna hit No. 1 with the following singles; “Like A Virgin” (1984), “Crazy For You” (1985), “Live To Tell“, “Papa Don’t Preach” (1986), “Open Your Heart“, “Who’s That Girl” (1987), “Like A Prayer” (1989), “Vogue” (1990), “Justify My Love” (1991), “This Used To Be My Playground” (1992), “Take A Bow” (1995) and “Music” (2000).
- 20 Billboard top 10 albums. Madonna has rung up 20 top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, the second-most among women after Barbara Streisand (32). Among all acts, Madonna and Bob Dylan are tied for the sixth-most top 10s, trailing only the Rolling Stones (36), Frank Sinatra (33), Barbara Streisand and the Beatles (30) and Elvis Presley (27). Among Madonna’s 20 top 10 sets are eight No.1s (also second to Streisand, who’s banked nine).
- Madonna is currently the most successful touring solo artist of all time with her last tour – The Sticky and Sweet Tour.
Madonna has contributed to countless soundtracks like Visionquest (“Crazy For You“, “Gambler“), Desperately Seeking Susan (“Into The Groove“), Who’s That Girl? (“Who’s That Girl“, “Causing a Commotion“), At Close Range (“Live To Tell“), A League Of Their Own (“This Used To Be My Playground“) and most recently, W.E. (“Masterpiece“) – which garnered her a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. This is the song that I chose for Song of the Week. The song is included in her latest album (and highly under-rated) entitled, MDNA. Here are the amazing lyrics, followed by the audio:
MASTERPIECE
If you were the Mona Lisa
You’d be hanging in the Louvre
Everyone would come to see you
You’d be impossible to move
It seems to me is what you are
A rare and priceless work of art
Stay behind your velvet rope
But I will not renounce all hope
And I’m right by your side
Like a thief in the night
I stand in front of a masterpiece
And I can’t tell you why
It hurts so much
To be in love with the masterpiece
‘Cause after all
Nothing’s indestructible
From the moment I first saw you
All the darkness turned to light
An impressionistic painting
Tiny particles of light
It seem to me is what you’re like
The “look but please don’t touch me” type
And honestly it can’t be fun
To always be the chosen one
And I’m right by your side
Like a thief in the night
I stand in front of a masterpiece
And I can’t tell you why
It hurts so much
To be in love with a masterpiece
‘Cause after all
Nothing’s indestructible
Nothing’s indestructible
Nothing’s indestructible
Nothing’s indestructible
And I’m right by your side
Like a thief in the night
I stand in front of a masterpiece
And I can’t tell you why
It hurts so much
To be in love with a masterpiece
And I’m right by your side
Like a thief in the night
I stand in front of a masterpiece
And I can’t tell you why
It hurts so much
To be in love with a masterpiece
‘Cause after all
Nothing’s indestructible
‘Cause after all
Nothing’s indestructible
COALITION OF POSITIVE ENERGY 