The Look of Madonna

( The official album cover, photographed by Annie Leibovitz) Welcome back on Blogger!  What if we take a step back? The year is 1984 and two women, Madonna and Cyndi Lauper, are ruling the Billboard charts with their respective debut eras. They both showcase a Street/Post-Punk look, they both have a high-pitched singing voice and their songs are just as famous as their outfits.  The press immediately tries to create a rivalry between them, critics praise Lauper and dismiss Madonna, the public appreciates both.  Who is better? Who will stand the test of time? Who will fade into oblivion? Back to present day. Thirty-six years later, both women are respected legends and highly busy philanthropists who still release albums, sell out concert tours and win awards.  This review marks the start of a series dedicated to Madonna's peers  and what better way to start it than to review the iconic  She's So Unusual by Cyndi Lauper, Ma...

Welcome back on Blogger! 1985 was inarguably Madonna's biggest year for soundtracks. Three successful soundtrack singles were indeed released: Crazy For You, Gambler and Into The Groove.  I'm ready to delve into them with you!  (Madonna on the set of Vision Quest, photographed by Richard Corman) Crazy For You: Released as the lead single from the soundtrack album to the film Vision Quest, Crazy For You was the first proper Madonna ballad. It was written by John Bettis and Jon Lind and produced by John "Jellybean" Benitez. The song is about sexual desire between two lovers and it features one of Madonna's best vocal performances, technically and emotionally, especially during the chorus. Madonna manages to convey sexual desire, love and pain through her voice, just like on Borderline.  The song was well received by music critics, who defined it "sophisticated" compared to Madonna's previous singles. Crazy For You ended up r...

Welcome back on Blogger! Today I'm going to talk about Desperately Seeking Susan, Madonna's acting breakthrough! Let's jump into it! CREDITS The movie was directed by Susan Seidelman and was released on March 29, 1985. It stars Rosanna Arquette as Roberta, Madonna as Susan, Aidan Queen as Dez, Mark Blum as Gary, Robert Joy as Jim and Laurie Metcalf as Leslie.  Other notable actors are Will Patton, who plays Wayne Nolan (the main antagonist)   and Anna Levine, who plays Susan's best friend  Crystal.  Last but not least, we have Peter Maloney and John Turturro. They play Ian and Ray respectively, two characters that work at the Magic Club, a key place in the movie. ( The entire cast of the movie, photographed by Richard Corman) BASIC PLOT Roberta, a bored housewife who lives in Fort Lee, New Jersey, has developed a curious interest in reading the personals section of a NYC tabloid. She is particularly intrigued by a woman named Su...