"Live to Tell"
Portrait of Madonna, where only her face is highlighted. She sports flowing blond hair and blue eyes.
Single by Madonna
from the album True Blue
ReleasedMarch 26, 1986
Recorded1985
GenrePop
Length
  • 5:51 (album version)
  • 4:37 (single version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Madonna
  • Patrick Leonard
Madonna singles chronology
"Gambler"
(1985)		 "Live to Tell"
(1986)		 "Papa Don't Preach"
(1986)
Music video
"Live to Tell" on YouTube

"Live to Tell" is a song by American singer Madonna from her third studio album, True Blue (1986). The song was originally composed by Patrick Leonard as an instrumental for the score of Paramount's film Fire with Fire, but Paramount rejected it. Leonard then presented the track to Madonna, who decided to use it for At Close Range, a film starring her then-husband Sean Penn. Madonna wrote the lyrics, co-composed the melodies and co-produced it with Leonard. "Live to Tell" was released as True Blue's lead single in 1986, by Sire Records; afterwards, it was included on Madonna's compilation albums The Immaculate Collection (1990), Something to Remember (1995), and Celebration (2009). A pop ballad, the song includes instrumentation from guitars, keyboards, drums and a synthesizer, while the lyrics deal with deceit, mistrust and childhood scars; Madonna also recalled in an interview that she thought about her relationship with her parents while writing the lyrics.

Upon release, the song was acclaimed by music critics, who frequently referred to it as one of her best ballads. It was also commercially successful, becoming Madonna's third number one in the US Billboard Hot 100, and her first number one on the Adult Contemporary chart. The music video, directed by James Foley, shows the singer in a more demure, toned down appearance, inspired by actresses such as Grace Kelly, intercut with clips from the movie. "Live to Tell" was included on four of Madonna's concert tours. The performance at 2006's Confessions Tour caused controversy as it had the singer hanging from a mirrored cross simulating a crucifixion; religious groups condemned the number as an act of hostility toward the Roman Catholic Church. Madonna responded saying that her main intention with the performance was to bring attention to the millions of children dying in Africa. "Live to Tell" has been covered by a handful of artists, particularly for tribute albums.

Background and release

Patrick Leonard, one of the composers and producers of "Live to Tell"

In 1985, after Madonna concluded The Virgin Tour, she approached producers Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray and asked them to write some songs with her and produce her third studio album, True Blue (1986).[1] The first songs Madonna and Leonard worked on for the album were "Love Makes The World Go Round" and "Live to Tell".[2] This last one was originally composed as an instrumental by Leonard for the score of Paramount's film Fire with Fire; "my managers represented the guy who was directing [the film]; it was his first film. I saw a little piece [of the film], and I had the script. I wrote a theme and I said, 'what if I could get Madonna to write the lyrics for it?'", Leonard recalled.[1] Paramount, however, rejected the track, believing it was inappropriate for the film, and that Leonard was incapable of creating a proper score;[3] afterwards, Leonard presented the instrumental to Madonna, who decided to use it for At Close Range, the new film starring her then-husband Sean Penn.[1]

Madonna wrote all the lyrics, added some melodies, and composed the bridge.[4] She recorded a demo of the song on a cassette and presented it to the film's director James Foley, who listened to it, liked it and enlisted Leonard to compose the film's score, as suggested by the singer.[3] At the same time, Leonard was working with Michael Jackson on some transcriptions for his album Bad (1987), when he received a phone call from Penn asking him to come to Foley's home. When the producer got there, he was asked by Penn who would sing the track, since it was written from a man's perspective.[1] He decided to use Madonna, and used the vocals from the demo for the final version, adding some backup drums only.[1] Of why he chose to use the demo's vocals, Leonard explained: "it was so innocent and so shy. It's as naive, as raw as can be and that's part of what gave it all its charm".[3][5] In a 1986 interview, Madonna further added that the mood on the song was inspired by a different facet of her image makeover and her desire to focus on something different.[6] In the United States, "Live to Tell" was released on March 26, 1986, almost three months before True Blue, released on June 30.[7][8] In Europe, it was released on April 14.[9][10][11] Afterwards, it was included on Madonna's compilation albums The Immaculate Collection (1990), Something to Remember (1995), and Celebration (2009).[12][13] [14]

Composition

"Live to Tell" is a pop ballad whose background instrumentation features a keyboard, a synthesizer, a funk guitar and a mix of synthesized and real drumming.[15] According to the sheet music published by Alfred Publishing Inc., the song's written in the key of F major, set in common time, and moves at a moderate tempo of 112 beats per minute.[16] It begins with an instrumental introduction, performed by a synthesizer with the bass pedals set on D minor, before the key suddenly changes to its relative major, F.[17] Madonna's vocal range spans almost one octave from F3 to D4.[16] As she begins to sing the first verse, the bass pedal changes to C major, then back to F during the chorus, and back to D minor during the closure.[17] This process is repeated during the second verse and chorus, which abruptly ends in a silence with only the "low and lifeless" sound of the synthesizer, set in D minor. Madonna then starts to sing the bridge "If I ran away, I'd never have the strength" between the tonal keys of D and F, closing with the repetition of the chorus until the song gradually fades out.[17]

Lyrically, "Live to Tell" portrays the complexity of deceit and mistrust;[15] According to authors Freya Jarman-Ivens and Santiago Fouz-Hernández, in Madonna's Drowned Worlds (2004), it is about "childhood scars", and counts with an "extreme" emotional pitch.[18] On another note, Boston.com's Scott Kearnan added that it's about "bearing the burden of some enigmatic secret and coping with a painful past", while Nick Levine from Digital Spy argued that it was about child abuse.[19][20] Dave Marsh wrote on The Heart of Rock & Soul that the archetype of songs like "Live to Tell" is The Platters' "The Great Pretender" (1965).[15] In an interview about the song, Madonna herself revealed the lyrics talk about "my relationship with my parents and the lying that went on. The song is about being strong, and questioning whether you can be that strong but ultimately surviving".[21]

Critical reception

"'Live to Tell' has held up as the definitive Madonna ballad that perfectly encapsulates who she is as a person, performer, and cultural icon. It is her best ballad, and third-ever US number one single [...] There’s a vulnerability [in 'Live to Tell'] that Madonna rarely exposes regarding her fears as a human being, living up to the career expectations she’s built for herself, and how she compares to those she admires".

—PopMatters's Enio Chola on "Live to Tell" in his list of Madonna's 15 best singles.[22]

Upon release, "Live to Tell" was acclaimed by music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, for Allmusic, called it a "tremendous" ballad that "rewrites the rules of adult contemporary crossover";[23] from the same website, Stewart Mason deemed it "unlike anything Madonna had recorded up to that point", and said it proved "[she]'s a genuinely talented singer [...] one of her all-time strongest vocal performances".[24] Jim Farber, from Entertainment Weekly, referred to it as "her best ballad to date".[25] Adam Sexton wrote in Desperately Seeking Madonna: In Search Of The Meaning Of The World's Most Famous Woman, that "Live to Tell" made a "provocative companion" to "Papa Don't Preach", True Blue's second single; "[Madonna] appropriately measured the safety of silence against the urge to unburden herself". Sexton also complimented the production, saying that the "music itself suggests a threatened annihilation, a fact that makes it more haunting".[26] Allen Metz and Carol Benson, authors of The Madonna Companion: Two Decades of Commentary, felt it "expanded" the singer's musical horizons; they added that "Live to Tell" was a "compelling" track, in which Madonna sings with "moving conviction".[27] J. Randy Taraborrelli, author of Madonna: An Intimate Biography, was pleased with the track, denoting it as a "vehicle of growth" for the artist.[28] Rolling Stone's Davitt Sigerson was not impressed and dismissed it as a "'Both Sides Now' rewrite".[29]

Writing for PopMatters, Peter Piatkowski said it was a "simultaneously cold and emotional" song, filled with "maturity and ambition", as well as a "very deliberate effort to present Madonna as a mature and serious artist".[30] On her review of True Blue for Yahoo!, Stacy Mannion classified "Live to Tell" as a "powerful [...] strange, but beautiful" ballad with a "bluesy feel".[31] Erika Wexler from Spin, described it as "dark and moody, dense with dramatic mystery", and highlighted the way in which the singer "very theatrically conveys a dreamy fatalism".[32] According to Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani, the song was "not only a brave first single, but a statement in and of itself. ['Live to Tell'] rewrote the rules of what a lead single could sound like".[33] While reviewing The Immaculate Collection on its 25th anniversary, People's Drew Mackie said it was "easily one of Madonna’s better ballads".[34] For Edna Gundersen from USA Today, it's a "moody heart-tugger" that "may be her best song ever".[35] On his review of Something to Remember, J. D. Considine, for The Baltimore Sun, noted that "[Madonna] does it all through phrasing, pushing ahead of the accompaniment at some points and dragging behind the beat at others to reflect the character's emotional turmoil".[36] For Stereogum, Tom Breihan noted that "as a singer, Madonna has never been a powerhouse like Whitney Houston, but she’s a communicator. She speaks volumes with tone and phrasing [...] ['Live to Tell'] takes the sound of big mid-’80s pop and somehow makes it intimate".[37] Cash Box called it a "restrained yet emotionally powerful ballad."[38]

Retrospective reviews towards "Live to Tell" have been largely positive, and it is now considered one of Madonna's best songs. For Parade, Samuel R. Murrian considered it to be the singer's "finest, most emotional ballad" that has "her strongest-ever lyrics", as well her third best song.[39] Jude Rogers, from The Guardian, named it her ninth greatest song, highlighting its lyrics and referring to it as "the best thing Madonna’s done in cinema, despite the mediocrity of the film that it’s from".[40] For Glamour's Christopher Rosa it's Madonna's sixth best; "a melodramatic shot of emotion that highlights her signature throaty vocals".[41] Andrew Unterberger for Billboard, and Chuck Arnold for Entertainment Weekly, placed it at number 18 and 17 of their rankings of Madonna's singles, respectively; the former named it "the first truly great Madonna ballad", while according to the latter, it found her "displaying greater depth and maturity than ever before".[42][43] Scott Kearnan considered "Live to Tell" Madonna's 21st best single and wrote: "With 'Crazy for You', [Madonna] proved she could nail a hit ballad: for teenage girls to slow dance to at prom. But 'Live to Tell' broadened her appeal with adult audiences".[19] Sal Cinquemani deemed it the artist's fifth best: "[Her] first and, arguably, most dramatic reinvention was scored by this spare and haunting ballad", that also includes one of her "richest" vocal performances.[44]

Chart performance

"Live to Tell" became Madonna's third number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100, and first on the Adult Contemporary chart. In the image, the singer performing the track, in a medley with "Oh Father" (1989), during 1990's Blond Ambition World Tour.

On April 12, 1986, Billboard reported that "Live to Tell" was one of the most added songs on radio stations, which gave it an "outstanding" debut on the Hot 100 at number 49.[45] One week later, it debuted at number 28 on both the Hot Adult Contemporary and Hot 100 Airplay charts.[46] On May 10, it was reported that "Live to Tell" was the single with the most airplay in reporting radio stations, 229 out of 230;[47] seven days later, it became Madonna's seventh consecutive top-five single.[48] On June 7, "Live to Tell" reached the top of the Hot 100, becoming Madonna's third chart-topper; it spent one week in this position.[49] "Live to Tell" was Madonna's third number-one in less than 18 months, as well as her second one taken from a movie, following "Crazy for You".[8] The song also became a crossover success, topping the Hot Adult Contemporary chart for three weeks.[50] On Billboard's Top Pop Singles and Top Dance Sales Singles year-end charts, "Live to Tell" peaked at number 35 and 37, respectively.[51][52] On the year-end Adult Contemporary chart, the song was ranked at number 12.[53] In Canada, the single debuted at number 79 of the RPM singles chart, the week of April 12, 1986.[54] Eventually, "Live to Tell" peaked at number one the week of May 24.[55] It was ranked at the second position of the 1986 RPM Singles year-end chart.[56]

In the United Kingdom, the single debuted at number 10 on the Singles Chart on April 26, eventually peaking at number two behind Falco's "Rock Me Amadeus";[57] it remained in the chart for a total of 12 weeks.[58] One month later, it was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipment of 331,000 copies.[59] According to Music Week magazine, over 271,897 copies of the single have been sold in the United Kingdom as of 2008.[60] "Live to Tell" also saw success throughout Europe: it reached the first position in Italy and Greece;[61][62] in Ireland and Norway, the single peaked at number two;[63][64] in Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands, "Live to Tell" reached the third position of the charts.[9][65][66][67] In France, the single reached the chart's sixth position, and was certified silver by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique for shipment of 250,000 copies.[10][68] In New Zealand and Australia, the song peaked at number 7 and 6, respectively.[69][70]

Music video

For the "Live to Tell" music video, Madonna adopted a new look (left), which was inspired by Classical Hollywood actresses such as Grace Kelly (right).

The music video for "Live to Tell" was directed by James Foley and used as a publicity campaign for At Close Range; it alternates shots of Madonna singing alone in a darkened room with scenes from the movie that, according to Jeremy G. Butler in Television: critical methods and applications (2002), indicate the conflict Sean Penn's character goes through and feels.[71] After having starred in the film Shanghai Surprise, Madonna decided to tone down her appearance, inspired by actresses such as Grace Kelly and Brigitte Bardot, and held this look for the music video.[72][73] Her make-up was "heavy but very tasteful"; her hair "elegant", shoulder-length, wavy and golden blond; her clothes consisted of a simple, "demure" 1930s-style floral dress.[74][30] It was her first music video to not feature dance routine, but a "tinge of real-world storytelling", showing her as a narrator.[75][71]

Jeffrey F. Keuss, author of Your Neighbor's Hymnal: What Popular Music Teaches Us about Faith, Hope, and Love (2011), wrote that "there is something in that loneliness [from the video] that makes it feel like the most authentic thing [Madonna] has ever done", comparing the shots of her singing alone to Carl Theodor Dreyer's 1928 film The Passion of Joan of Arc, and the cover artwork for Sinéad O'Connor's second studio album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990).[76] Butler added that, through her singing, Madonna appears to speak to Penn's character, addressing his problems directly like the chorus of a classical tragedy.[71] Peter Piatkowski gave a positive review of the clip, describing it as "gorgeous and stylish", feeling it "matched the song’s intense moodiness".[30] Tom Breihan said it was the only video in which the singer "gives as much screen time to a mustachioed Christopher Walken as it does to [herself]", and that it displayed one of her "many image reinventions".[37] It was considered Madonna's 17th best music video by Samuel R. Murrian, and can be found on the 2009 video compilation Celebration: The Video Collection.[77][14]

Live performances and controversy

The performance of "Live to Tell" on the Confessions Tour (2006), where Madonna sang hanging from a cross, was negatively received by both religious groups and music critics.

Madonna has performed "Live to Tell" on four of her concert tours: Who's That Girl (1987), Blond Ambition (1990), Confessions (2006), and Celebration (2023—2024). On the first one, she sang the song standing motionless in a single spotlight, dressed in a black ensemble with tassels, golden tips and ribbing, designed by Marlene Stewart.[78][79] For the Los Angeles Times, Robert Hilburn noted that the artist sang "with a delicate, embracing feeling that few of even her biggest fans would have imagined possible five years ago".[78] Two different performances can be found on the videos Who's That Girl: Live in Japan, filmed in Tokyo on June, and Ciao Italia: Live from Italy, filmed in Turin on September.[80][81]

For the Blond Ambition World Tour, it was performed in a medley with "Oh Father" from Like a Prayer (1989), and given a Catholic theme: the stage was set up to resemble a cathedral with votive candles, while Madonna wore black vestments and sang knelt down in a prie-dieu.[82][83] On his review of the Uniondale concert, Jon Pareles from The New York Times praised the singer's "throaty" vocals during the number.[84] Three different performances can be found in Blond Ambition Japan Tour 90, taped in Yokohama, Blond Ambition World Tour Live, taped in Nice, and in the documentary Madonna: Truth or Dare.[85][86][87]

On the Confessions Tour, Madonna sang "Live to Tell" hanging from a mirrored cross, simulating a crucifixion; her outfit consisted of purple pants, a red blouse and a crown of thorns.[88] The screen behind her showed a running tally of the number 12,000,000, and "dire" statistics about children dying of AIDS in Africa.[89][90] The number generated a negative reaction from religious groups: German prosecutors in Düsseldorf threatened to sue the singer for blasphemy, while the performance done at Rome's Olympic Stadium —located near the Vatican— was condemned as an act of hostility toward the Roman Catholic Church.[91][92] A spokesperson for the Catholic Church in England and Wales said believers would be offended by the number; "the crucifixion is at the heart of the story of God becoming man and suffering to redeem us. To use it as a stage prop is a banal perversion of that magnificent event".[93] Madonna stood by the number, claiming that Jesus wouldn't be mad at "the message I’m trying to send",[93] and elaborated in a statement:

"There is a segment in my show where three of my dancers 'confess' or share harrowing experiences from their childhood that they ultimately overcame. My 'confession' follows and takes place on a Crucifix that I ultimately come down from. This is not a mocking of the church. It is no different than a person wearing a Cross or 'Taking Up the Cross' as it says in the Bible. My performance is neither anti-Christian, sacrilegious or blasphemous. Rather, it is my plea to the audience to encourage mankind to help one another and to see the world as a unified whole. I believe in my heart that if Jesus were alive today he would be doing the same thing.

My specific intent is to bring attention to the millions of children in Africa who are dying every day, and are living without care, without medicine and without hope. I am asking people to open their hearts and minds to get involved in whatever way they can. The song ends with a quote from the Bible's Book of Matthew: 'For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you took care of me and God replied, 'Whatever you did for the least of my brothers... you did it to me.'

Please do not pass judgment without seeing my show".[94]

Despite the controversy, critical reception towards the number ranged from lukewarm to negative; Leslie Gray Streeter, from The Palm Beach Post, who gave the overall concert a positive review, opined that it "slowed down, in an unsatisfying way" in "preachy" performances such as "Live to Tell".[95] Writing for The Chicago Tribune, Greg Kot opined that "now that everyone from Kanye West to Madonna way back in the '80s has flirted with this particular brand of sacrilege, crucifixion just isn't what it used to be in the Shock and Awe department".[96] The staff from The Philadelphia Inquirer panned the number for being "disappointingly static" and a "most desperate attempt to shock".[97] The performance from the August 15–16 London concerts was included on the singer's live album The Confessions Tour (2007).[98]

In The Celebration Tour, Madonna sang the song from a floating box as images of people who died of HIV/AIDS appeared on the backdrop screens, these included Keith Haring, Herb Ritts, and Freddie Mercury.[99][100] The performance began with a dancer collapsing before the singer, who proceeds to cover him "tenderly" with a trenchcoat.[99] The number was named one of the best moments of the concert by Billboard's Joe Lynch.[100]

Covers

In 1992, American guitarist Bill Frisell covered "Live to Tell" in his fourth album, Have a Little Faith.[101] Six years later Blonde Ambition released an EP with 6 different hi-NRG remixes of the single.[102] New wave band Berlin covered "Live to Tell" for 1999's Virgin Voices: A Tribute to Madonna, Vol. 1; during an interview with CNN, the band's lead vocalist Terri Nunn explained that "[Madonna]'s influenced a lot of people [...] maybe not me, because I'm not a fan. But a lot of bands are", adding that "Live to Tell" is the only song from Madonna that she "would touch".[103] Italian singer Lucrezia made an uptempo dance version of the song that was remixed by David Morales; it peaked at number two for two weeks on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play and included in the 2001 album Logic Pride, Vol. 4.[104][105] Canadian jazz singer Carol Welsman recorded "Live to Tell" for her eponymous 2007 album.[106] Other covers of the song on tribute albums include Semi Moore on The Material Girl: A Tribute to Madonna (2000);[107] an instrumental version on The String Quartet Tribute to Madonna (2002);[108] a folk version by Winter Flowers on 2007's Through the Wilderness, and a hi-NRG version by Melissa Totten on her 2008 album Forever Madonna.[109][110] Tori Amos has also performed the song on many tours throughout her career. American darkwave band Ego Likeness released a cover of the track in 2023.[111]

Track listing and formats

  • US / Canada / Germany / UK 7" single[112]
  1. "Live to Tell" (7" Edit) – 4:37
  2. "Live to Tell" (Instrumental) – 5:49
  • US / Canada / Germany / UK 12" Maxi-Single[113]
  1. "Live to Tell" (LP Version) – 5:49
  2. "Live to Tell" (7" Edit) – 4:37
  3. "Live to Tell" (Instrumental) – 5:49
  • Germany / UK Reissue CD Maxi-Single (1995)[114]
  1. "Live to Tell" (LP Version) – 5:49
  2. "Live to Tell" (7" Edit) – 4:37
  3. "Live to Tell" (Instrumental) – 5:49

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the album and 12" single liner notes.[115][113]

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for "Live to Tell"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Brazil — 60,000[139]
Japan — 23,850[140]
France (SNEP)[68] Silver 250,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[59] Silver 331,000[141]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Bronson 2003, p. 637
  2. ↑ Gett, Steve (September 27, 1986). "Versatile Pat Leonard garners success" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 39. p. 59. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Perdomo, Marco Antonio (June 6, 2003). "Vivir para contarlo: Madonna". Diario Co Latino (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  4. ↑ Patrick Leonard Interview: Madonna Collaborations (TV transcript) (in Swedish). Los Angeles: Sveriges Television. 2001.
  5. ↑ Rooksby 2004, p. 23
  6. ↑ Metz & Benson 1999, p. 69
  7. ↑ "Madonna.com > Discography > Live To Tell". Icon: Official Madonna website. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  8. 1 2 Grein, Paul (June 7, 1986). "Chart Beat" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 23. p. 6. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 "Madonna – Live to Tell" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 "Madonna – Live to Tell" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Offiziellecharts.de – Madonna – Live to Tell" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  12. ↑ The Immaculate Collection (Liner notes). Madonna. Warner Bros. Records. 1990. 9 26440-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ Something to Remember (Liner notes). Madonna. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 46100-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. 1 2 "'Celebration' - Track listing for CD & DVD announced". Icon: Official Madonna website. August 25, 2009. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  15. 1 2 3 Marsh 1999, p. 38
  16. 1 2 "Digital sheet music: Madonna, Live to Tell". Alfred Publishing. November 13, 2001. Archived from the original on April 17, 2004. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  17. 1 2 3 Dirks, Eley & Ortner 1994, pp. 468–469
  18. ↑ Metz & Benson 1999, pp. 16, 21
  19. 1 2 Kearnan, Scott (September 9, 2013). "The 30 ultimate Madonna singles". Boston.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  20. ↑ Levine, Nick (September 27, 2009). "Madonna: Celebration". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  21. ↑ Rooksby 2004, p. 24
  22. ↑ Chola, Enio (February 8, 2012). "The top 15 Madonna singles of all time". PopMatters. Archived from the original on November 10, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  23. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (June 30, 1986). "Madonna > True Blue > Overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 2, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  24. ↑ Mason, Stewart (1986). "Live To Tell > Overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  25. ↑ Farber, Jim (May 21, 2007). "The Girl Material". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 21, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  26. ↑ Sexton 1993, p. 57
  27. ↑ Metz & Benson 1999, p. 17
  28. ↑ Taraborrelli 2002, p. 122
  29. ↑ Sigerson, Davitt (July 17, 1986). "Home > Music > Album reviews > True Blue". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  30. 1 2 3 Piatkowski, Peter (June 29, 2021). "35 years ago Madonna staged on her (first) bid for artistic credibility with 'True Blue'". PopMatters. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  31. ↑ Mannion, Stacy (March 10, 2009). "Album Review: True Blue by Madonna (1986)". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  32. ↑ Waxler, Erika (October 1986). "Madonna - True Blue". Spin. 2 (7): 37. ISSN 0886-3032. Archived from the original on June 5, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  33. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (March 9, 2003). "Review: Madonna, True Blue". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  34. ↑ Mackie, Drew (November 10, 2015). "VIDEO: Madonna's 'Immaculate Collection' Turns 25: All 17 Tracks Ranked". People. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  35. ↑ Gundersen, Edna (October 17, 1996). "Pop/Rock album review". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 8, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  36. ↑ Considine, J.D. (November 7, 1995). "Album review: The ballads of 'Something to Remember' remind us that there is a voice as well as an image". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  37. 1 2 Breihan, Tom (December 11, 2020). "The Number Ones: Madonna's 'Live to Tell'". Stereogum. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  38. ↑ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. April 5, 1986. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  39. ↑ Murrian, Samuel R. (August 16, 2019). "We ranked the 100 best Madonna songs of all time". Parade. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  40. ↑ Rogers, Jude (August 16, 2018). "Every one of Madonna's 78 singles – ranked!". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  41. ↑ Rosa, Christopher (April 3, 2020). "Madonna's 10 best (and worst) songs of all time". Glamour. Archived from the original on April 5, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  42. ↑ Arnold, Chuck (August 15, 2018). "Madonna's 60 best singles, ranked". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  43. ↑ "The 100 greatest Madonna songs: Critics' picks". Billboard. August 15, 2018. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  44. ↑ "All 82 Madonna singles ranked". Slant Magazine. April 14, 2020. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  45. ↑ Ellis, Michael (April 12, 1986). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 15. p. 76. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  46. ↑ "Hot Adult Contemporary / Hot Sales & Airplay" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 16 and 103. April 19, 1986. p. 16. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  47. ↑ Ellis, Michael (May 10, 1987). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 19. p. 96. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  48. ↑ Grein, Paul (May 17, 1986). "Chart beat" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 20. p. 6. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  49. 1 2 "Madonna Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  50. 1 2 "Madonna Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  51. 1 2 "Top Pop Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. December 27, 1986. p. Y-21. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  52. 1 2 "Dance Sales Singles/Albums 1986 (Top Dance Singles)". Billboard. December 31, 1986. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  53. 1 2 "Top Adult Contemporary Singles of 1986". Billboard. December 31, 1986. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  54. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 44, No. 3, April 12 1986". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  55. 1 2 "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0676." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  56. 1 2 "Top Singles of '86". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. December 27, 1986. Archived from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  57. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100: 04 May 1986-10 May 1986". Official Charts Company. May 10, 1986. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  58. 1 2 "Madonna: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  59. 1 2 "British single certifications – Madonna – Live to Tell". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  60. ↑ Jones, Alan (August 19, 2008). "The immaculate guide to 50 years of Madonna". Music Week. Archived from the original on September 11, 2008. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  61. 1 2 "Top 10 Best Selling Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 4 (8): 20. February 14, 1987. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  62. ↑ "Highlights" (PDF). Music & Media. 9 (26): 6. July 5, 1096. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  63. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Live to Tell". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  64. 1 2 "Madonna – Live to Tell". VG-lista. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  65. ↑ "European Hot 100 / Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. 3 (21): 11 and 14. May 1, 1986. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  66. 1 2 "Nederlandse Top 40 – Madonna" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  67. 1 2 "Madonna – Live to Tell" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  68. 1 2 "French single certifications – Madonna – Live to Tell" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved June 4, 2022. Select MADONNA and click OK. 
  69. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  70. 1 2 "Madonna – Live to Tell". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  71. 1 2 3 Butler 2002, p. 232
  72. ↑ Holden, Stephen (June 29, 1986). "Madonna goes heavy on heart". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  73. ↑ Clerk 2002, p. 59
  74. ↑ Voller 1999, p. 24
  75. ↑ Pareles, Jon (June 11, 1990). "Critic's Notebook: On the edge of the permissible: Madonna's evolving persona". The New York Times. p. 2. Archived from the original on March 21, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  76. ↑ Keuss 2011, p. 108
  77. ↑ Murrian, Samuel R. (August 16, 2018). "We ranked Madonna's 20 greatest music videos—Happy birthday to the queen of pop!". Parade. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  78. 1 2 Hilburn, Robert (June 29, 1987). "Tour opens! It's true: Madonna is really good". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  79. ↑ Clerk 2002, p. 66
  80. ↑ Madonna (1987). Who's That Girl: Live in Japan (VHS). Warner Home Video.
  81. ↑ Madonna (1988). Ciao Italia: Live from Italy (VHS). Warner Home Video.
  82. ↑ "Madonna embarks on a Tour de Force: her 'Blond Ambition' is a tough test for the competition". Orlando Sentinel. May 8, 1990. Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  83. ↑ O'Brien 2008, p. 223
  84. ↑ Pareles, Jon (June 13, 1990). "Review/Pop; in kitsch and patter, iron-willed Madonna flouts the taboos". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 5, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  85. ↑ Madonna (1990). Blond Ambition Japan Tour 90 (VHS). Warner-Pioneer Japan.
  86. ↑ Madonna (1990). Blond Ambition World Tour Live (Laserdisc). Pioneer Artists.
  87. ↑ Madonna: Truth or Dare (Media notes). Madonna. LIVE Entertainment. 1991. 68976.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  88. ↑ Cohen, Sandy (May 26, 2006). "Madonna kicks off 'Confessions' tour". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  89. ↑ Smith, Liz (May 25, 2006). "Madonna's 'Confessions' concert: good, if over the top". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 18, 2006. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  90. ↑ Bellafante, Ginia (November 23, 2006). "A tribute to Madonna's current and former selves". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.(subscription required)
  91. ↑ "Madonna defies prosecution threat". BBC News. August 20, 2006. Archived from the original on August 21, 2006. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  92. ↑ "Madonna's concert crucifixion draws ire from religious leaders". USA Today. August 3, 2006. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  93. 1 2 "Madonna defends mock crucifixion". NME. May 25, 2006. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  94. ↑ "Madonna releases statement explaining Crucifix scene from Confessions Tour". Warner Bros. Records. Marketwire. September 21, 2006. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  95. ↑ Streeter Gray, Leslie (July 23, 2006). "Madonna mixes naughty, preachy". The Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on August 13, 2006. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  96. ↑ Kot, Greg (June 16, 2006). "Madonna packs heat". The Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  97. ↑ "Outrageous and striving to shock". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 12, 2006.
  98. ↑ Madonna (2007). The Confessions Tour (CD/DVD). Warner Home Video.
  99. 1 2 Solomon, Kate (October 15, 2023). "Madonna, Celebration Tour, O2 Arena, review: Dazzlingly chaotic show fluctuates between serious and silly". i. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  100. 1 2 Lynch, Joe (October 14, 2023). "The 17 best moments from Madonna's Celebration Tour opening night in London". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  101. ↑ Yanow, Scott (March 1992). "Bill Frisell > Have a Little Faith > Overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  102. ↑ "Blonde Ambition > Live to Tell 1998 (Dance Mixes) > Overview". AllMusic. February 24, 1998. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  103. ↑ Allen, Jamie (April 7, 1999). "Justify my tribute: Madonna honored with 'Virgin Voices'". CNN. Archived from the original on March 25, 2003. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  104. ↑ "Dance Club Songs: The week of August 4, 2001". Billboard. August 4, 2001. Archived from the original on August 28, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  105. ↑ "Various Artists > Logic Pride, Vol. 4 > Overview". AllMusic. June 19, 2001. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  106. ↑ Henderson, Alex (June 26, 2007). "Carol Welsman > Carol Welsman > Overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  107. ↑ Campbell, Al (November 14, 2000). "Various Artists > The Material Girl: A Tribute to Madonna > Overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  108. ↑ Loftus, Johnny (October 15, 2002). "Vitamin String Quartet > The String Quartet Tribute to Madonna > Overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  109. ↑ "Various Artists > Through The Wilderness > Overview". AllMusic. November 27, 2007. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  110. ↑ "Melissa Totten > Forever Madonna > Overview". AllMusic. July 21, 2008. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  111. ↑ Yücel, Ilker (April 5, 2023). "Ego Likeness returns with new single covering 1986 hit from Madonna". ReGen Magazine. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  112. ↑ Live to Tell (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1986. 9 28717-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  113. 1 2 Live to Tell (US 12-inch Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1986. 92 0461-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  114. ↑ Live to Tell (UK CD Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1995. 7599 20461-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  115. ↑ True Blue (Liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1986. 925442-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  116. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  117. ↑ "Top 3 in Europe: Denmark" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 21. May 31, 1986. p. 14. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  118. ↑ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 3 (20): 4. May 24, 1986. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  119. ↑ "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. 3 (18): 10. May 10, 1986. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  120. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Sisältää hitin: 1.1.1960 – 30.6.2021" (PDF) (in Finnish). Musiikkiarkisto. pp. 156–157. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  121. 1 2 3 "Top 3 in Europe; Highlights" (PDF). Music & Media. 3 (26): 6, 14. July 5, 1986. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  122. ↑ "Madonna Chart History". RÚV. March 22, 2016. Archived from the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  123. ↑ "ハング・アップ" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on March 21, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  124. ↑ "Madonna – Live to Tell". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  125. ↑ "Madonna – Live to Tell". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  126. ↑ "Madonna Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  127. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. 49 (51): 4. June 7, 1986. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  128. ↑ "Madonna". Radio & Records. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  129. ↑ "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. December 1986. Retrieved January 24, 2023 – via Imgur.
  130. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1986" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  131. ↑ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 3 (51/52): 28. December 27, 1896. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  132. ↑ "Top - 1986" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP). Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  133. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  134. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 100. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  135. ↑ "NZ Top 40: Year end 1986". RMNZ. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  136. ↑ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1986". Swiss Music Charts. Archived from the original on January 9, 2001. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  137. ↑ "Top 100 Singles: January-December 1986" (PDF). Music Week: 24. January 24, 1987. ISSN 0265-1548. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  138. ↑ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1986" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  139. ↑ "Estrela mutante". Veja (in Portuguese). Brazil: Editora Abril. July 23, 1986. pp. 124–125. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2022. (...) in Brazil, the single Live to Tell —the LP's first single— has already sold 60,000 copies (...)
  140. ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Charts. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  141. ↑ Myers, Justin (April 24, 2019). "Madonna's lead singles ranked". Official Charts. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.

Bibliography

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.