"Like a Virgin"
Single by Madonna from the album Like a Virgin
B-side	"Stay"
Released	November 6, 1984
Format	12" single CD single
Genre	Pop
Length	3:38 (Album Version) 3:11 (Edit Version) From "The Immaculate Collection"
Label	Sire, Warner Bros.
Writer	Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly
Producer	Nile Rodgers
Certification	Gold
Madonna singles chronology
"Lucky Star" (1984) "Like a Virgin" (1984) "Material Girl" (1985)
Audio sample
Info "Like a Virgin" (help· info)

"Like a Virgin" is the first single by pop singer Madonna from her second studio album, Like a Virgin. It was released on November 6, 1984 by Sire Records. It also appears on the 1990 greatest hits compilation The Immaculate Collection. Like A Virgin, Madonna This is an album cover. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... This article is about the American entertainer. ... Like a Virgin is the second studio album by singer Madonna. ... “B-Sides” redirects here. ... is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... For the record label, see 12 Inch Records. ... A CD single is a music single in the form of a compact disc. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Pop music (disambiguation). ... The Immaculate Collection is the second compilation by pop singer Madonna, released on November 13, 1990 by Sire Records. ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Sire Records Company is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. ... Warner Bros. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Nile Gregory Rodgers (born September 19, 1952 in New York City) is a prolific and influential musician, composer, arranger, guitarist and music producer, and co-founding member of the seminal multi-platinum hit R&B band Chic, with influential bassist, the late Bernard Edwards. ... “Golden record” redirects here. ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. ... This article is about the American entertainer. ... Madonna track listing Lucky Star (1) Borderline (2) The Immaculate Collection track listing Holiday (1) Lucky Star (2) Borderline (3) Alternate covers Second (and most common) cover of the UK 7 release of Lucky Star Original cover of the UK Lucky Star single, the 7 of which is one of... Audio sample Material Girl is a song written by Peter Brown and Robert Rans for American singer Madonnas second album, Like a Virgin. ... Image File history File links LikeAVirginSample. ... Image File history File links LikeAVirginSample. ... This article is about the American entertainer. ... Like a Virgin is the second studio album by singer Madonna. ... Sire Records Company is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. ... The Immaculate Collection is the second compilation by pop singer Madonna, released on November 13, 1990 by Sire Records. ...

Song information

Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly wrote the song, and Kelly sang on the demo. In an interview with Songfacts, Steinberg said:^[1] Billy Steinberg is an American songwriter. ... People named Tom Kelly include: Tom Kelly (baseball) Tom Kelly (engineer) Tom Kelly (Ireland) Tom Kelly (musician) Tom Kelly (UK) Tom Kelly (USA) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... For other uses, see demo. ... Songfacts is a website devoted to song information compiled by music enthusiasts, radio professionals and songwriters, who are often interviewed to determine the stories behind their songs. ...

Madonna wears a wedding gown in the music video, which was directed by Mary Lambert. A wedding dress seen at Thornbury Castle, England A wedding dress or wedding gown is clothing worn by a bride during a wedding ceremony. ... A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a song. ... Mary Lambert (born ?) is an American director. ...

"Like a Virgin" was honored by Rolling Stone and MTV in 2000 as the fourth song on their list of the "100 Greatest Pop Songs". This article is about the magazine. ... This article is about the original U.S. music television channel. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ...

The hook has been known to be similar to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," although Jackson's song is about a man denying paternity of a child and Madonna's is about a reality-altering love. In reality, the hooks of both songs borrow heavily from The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself". Madonna acknowledged the similarities between her hit and those of Jackson and The Four Tops by incorporating elements of each into her live performances of "Like A Virgin" (with "Billie Jean" during 1985's The Virgin Tour and with "I Can't Help Myself" during 1987's Who's That Girl World Tour. Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958), commonly known as MJ as well as the King of Pop, is an American musician, entertainer, and pop icon whose successful career and controversial personal life have been a part of pop culture for the last three decades. ... This article is about the Michael Jackson song. ... The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, and showtunes. ... I Cant Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) is a 1965 hit song recorded by The Four Tops for the Motown label. ... This article is about the Michael Jackson song. ... The Virgin Tour 1985, Madonnas first concert tour, included visits to major United States and Canadian cities. ... I Cant Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) is a 1965 hit song recorded by The Four Tops for the Motown label. ... After Madonnas 1985 The Virgin Tour, which took her to the biggest cities in North America, the Whos That Girl World Tour 1987 was the performers first world tour, which had her visiting cities in Japan, North America, and Europe. ...

Madonna performed "Like a Virgin" at the first MTV Video Music Awards ceremony in 1984. The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year. ...

Production

"Like a Virgin" was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly (who also wrote Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors") and was produced by Nile Rodgers. Other credits on the song are as follows: Billy Steinberg is an American songwriter. ... Billy Steinberg is an American songwriter. ... Cynthia Ann Stephanie Cyndi Lauper (born June 22, 1953) is an American Grammy Award-winning singer and Emmy Award-winning film, television and theatre actress. ... True Colors is the first single released by Cyndi Lauper from her second album of the same title, it was written by Tom Kelly and Bill Steinberg. ... Nile Gregory Rodgers (born September 19, 1952 in New York City) is a prolific and influential musician, composer, arranger, guitarist and music producer, and co-founding member of the seminal multi-platinum hit R&B band Chic, with influential bassist, the late Bernard Edwards. ...

• Bass by Bernard Edwards.
• Guitar by Nile Rodgers.
• Drums by Tony Thompson.
• Assorted synthesizers and bass synthesizer by Rob Sabino.

Bernard Edwards (1953-1996), born in Greenville, North Carolina, was a bass player and record producer, both as a member of Chic and on his own. ... Tony Thompson (November 15, 1954 – November 12, 2003) was a session drummer with a long list of studio credits. ...

Music videos

Madonna in "Like a Virgin" music video.

The music video, directed by Mary Lambert, was shot in Venice, Italy and partly in New York City. It shows Madonna dancing on a gondola,[1] and running around in a wedding dress with a few interspersed shots of a panting lion [2]. The video's MTV world premiere took place on November 13, 1984, and became an instant hit. [3] Image File history File links Likeavirginm. ... Image File history File links Likeavirginm. ... A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a song. ... Mary Lambert (born ?) is an American director. ... For other uses, see Venice (disambiguation). ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... This article is about the original U.S. music television channel. ... is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

• Director: Mary Lambert
• Producer: Simon Fields
• Director of Photography: Peter Sinclair
• Editor: Glenn Morgan
• Production Company: Limelight Productions

The Virgin Tour live

In 1985, a live music video of "Like a Virgin" from The Virgin Tour in Detroit, Michigan was used to promote Madonna Live: The Virgin Tour VHS. This version was nominated for Best Choreography at the MTV Video Music Awards. The Virgin Tour 1985, Madonnas first concert tour, included visits to major United States and Canadian cities. ... “Detroit” redirects here. ... Madonna Live - The Virgin Tour is the first live music video title by singer Madonna. ... The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year. ...

• Director: Danny Kleinman
• Producer: Simon Fields
• Director of Photography: Jerry Watson
• Editor: Mitchell Sinoway
• Production Company: Limelight Productions

Truth or Dare version

The live performance of "Like a Virgin" from the Blond Ambition Tour in Paris, France was released as a music video in 1991 to promote the documentary film Truth or Dare. This version was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards: Best Female Video and Best Choreography. The Blond Ambition Tour was a world concert tour by pop singer Madonna. ... The Eiffel Tower has become the symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year. ...

• Director: Alek Keshishian
• Producers: Tim Clawson, Lisa Hollingshead, Jay Roewe
• Director of Photography: Toby Phillips
• Editor: John Murray
• Production Company: Propaganda Films

Trivia

• This video was ranked #61 on VH1's 100 Greatest Videos.

VH1 (VH-1: Video Hits One until 1994) is an American cable television channel that was created in January 1985 by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Communications and owners of MTV. VH1 and sister channel MTV are currently part of the MTV Networks division...

Live performances

Like a Virgin made its debut at the first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984, where Madonna appeared on stage atop a giant wedding cake dressed in a wedding dress (adorned with the infamous "Boy Toy" belt buckle) and veil. The climax of her risqué performance found her humping and rolling around on the stage. The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Woman masturbating, 1913 drawing by Gustav Klimt. ...

Madonna's performance of Hollywood at the 2003 Video Music Awards recreated the 1985 performance of Like a Virgin, with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera dressed in the wedding costume and singing the song atop a wedding cake with Madonna as her groom. Following in the controversial footsteps of the original performance, Madonna created another stir by kissing Spears and Christina Aguilera on the lips. American Life track listing American Life (1) Hollywood (2) Im So Stupid (3) Hollywood is the third single from Madonnas ninth album American Life, released in 2003. ... Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is a Grammy Award-winning[1] American pop singer, dancer, actress, author and songwriter. ... Christina María Aguilera (born December 18, 1980) is an American pop singer and songwriter. ... Christina María Aguilera (born December 18, 1980) is an American pop singer and songwriter. ...

The song has also been included in five of Madonna's seven tours.

For 1985's The Virgin Tour, Madonna again donned wedding attire and performed a straight version of the song featuring a quotation from Michael Jackson's similar-sounding Motown-style single, Billie Jean. Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" was released before "Like a Virgin". In 1987's Who's That Girl Tour, the song was given a lighthearted comedic theme and included quotations from The Four Tops' I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch). The Virgin Tour 1985, Madonnas first concert tour, included visits to major United States and Canadian cities. ... Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958), commonly known as MJ as well as the King of Pop, is an American musician, entertainer, and pop icon whose successful career and controversial personal life have been a part of pop culture for the last three decades. ... Motown Records, Inc. ... This article is about the Michael Jackson song. ... After Madonnas 1985 The Virgin Tour, which took her to the biggest cities in North America, the Whos That Girl World Tour 1987 was the performers first world tour, which had her visiting cities in Japan, North America, and Europe. ... The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, and showtunes. ... {| class=wikitable {| class=wikitable |} |} | row 1, cell 2 | row 1, cell 3 |- | row 2, cell 1 | row 2, cell 2 | row 2, cell 3 |}I Cant Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) is a 1965 hit song recorded by The Four Tops for the Motown label, later re-recorded...

For the 1990 Blond Ambition Tour, the song was re-invented with a middle-eastern arrangement and risqué (and utlimately infamous) choreography which found Madonna simulating masturbation on a bed. The explicit performance garnered a lot of attention, particularly when police in Toronto Canada threatened to arrest Madonna and charge her with indecency unless she altered the performance. Madonna refused and the show went on unaltered. She was never arrested. (This situation was documented in the singer's 1991 documentary, Truth or Dare.) The Blond Ambition Tour was a world concert tour by pop singer Madonna. ... Woman masturbating, 1913 drawing by Gustav Klimt. ... Truth or Dare? is a game requiring a minimum of two players. ...

Madonna swapped the wedding dress for a tuxedo and adopted a Marlene Dietrich-like persona for 1993's The Girlie Show Tour, singing the song with a thick German accent and including a quotation from Dietrich's signature tune, Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It). Marlene Dietrich IPA: ; (December 27, 1901 – May 6, 1992) was a German-born American actress, singer, and entertainer. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Falling in Love Again (Cant Help It) is the English language name for a 1930 song composed by Frederick Hollander as Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß auf Liebe eingestellt. ...

In 2006's Confessions Tour, the song was given a horseriding theme. Madonna performed the song atop a studded leather S&M carousel horse while x-rays of her broken bones (the result of a horse-riding accident on her 47th birthday) flashed on the screens behind her. For the live album of the tour, see The Confessions Tour (album). ... S&M can be an abbreviation for: Slave and Master, a form of Sexual roleplaying. ... Carousel in Bobbejaanland, Belgium] (Bobbejaan Schoepen Archive) A carousel (or carrousel) is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating platform with seats for passengers. ...

Tributes and cover versions

• The song was the subject of a famous exegesis in the opening scene of Quentin Tarantino's film, Reservoir Dogs. It was also the subject of a parody by "Weird Al" Yankovic, "Like a Surgeon", and was performed by Jim Broadbent in the film Moulin Rouge! (2001) as a comic piece sung in the third person singular ("She made it through the wilderness. ..").
• In 2001, MTV gay punk rocker Nick Name performed a punk cover version for the Madonna tribute at the historic El Rey Theatre.
• Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera paid a tribute to Madonna's performance at the MTV Video Awards show nineteen years later at the same awards show, Madonna at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards finishing the performance with a kiss. The kiss generated months of discussion in celebrity magazines.
• Japanese pop singer, Hitomi, performed a shortened cover of it during her LOVE LIFE tour in Japan, recorded on the tour dvd.
• Winnipeg death-folk outfit The Horribly Awfuls recorded an ironic cover on their 2003 record, "We Fight Like the Crips and Bloods."
• Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine covered this as a swingin' Lounge version on their 2006 album "Silent Nightclub".
• Lords of the New Church covered it on the 1985 IRS's "Best of" Album.
• In Shrek's "Karaoke Dance Party" extra Fiona can be heard singing this song.

Exegesis (from the Greek to lead out) involves an extensive and critical interpretation of an authoritative text, especially of a holy scripture, such as of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, the Talmud, the Midrash, the Quran, etc. ... Quentin Jerome Tarantino (born March 27, 1963) is an American film director, actor, and Oscar winning screenwriter. ... For the video game based on the film, see Reservoir Dogs (video game). ... In contemporary usage, a parody (or lampoon) is a work that imitates another work in order to ridicule, ironically comment on, or poke some affectionate fun at the work itself, the subject of the work, the author or fictional voice of the parody, or another subject. ... This article is about the musician himself. ... Like a Surgeon is a song by Weird Al Yankovic. ... James Broadbent (born May 24, 1949) is an Academy Award-winning English theatre, film and television actor. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... Moulin Rouge is a 2001 Academy Award-winning jukebox musical film directed by Baz Luhrmann. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the original U.S. music television channel. ... A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or things real name (for example, Nick is short for Nicholas). ... The El Rey Theatre is currently a live music venue in the Miracle Mile area of the Mid-Wilshire region in Los Angeles, CA. This art-deco building was designed by Clifford A. Balch (who designed over 20 classic art-deco movie theaters around Southern California). ... Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is a Grammy Award-winning[1] American pop singer, dancer, actress, author and songwriter. ... Christina María Aguilera (born December 18, 1980) is an American pop singer and songwriter. ... This article discusses the Japanese singer hitomi. ... The Horribly Awfuls are a cowpunk indie pop band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. ... Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine are a cover band and comedy act based in Los Angeles, California, playing popular rap, rock, metal, and pop songs in a swanky lounge music style. ... The term lounge can refer to: a living room in a private house, a public waiting area, provided with seating, as in a hotel or airport an Airline lounge is a private waiting area offered by airlines to pecial customers or to those who pay an extra fee lounge music... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Silent Nightclub is the sixth album from Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine, released September 26, 2006 (see 2006 in Music). ... Shrek is a computer-animated film adaptation of William Steigs 1990 fairy tale picture-book of the same name. ...

References in Pop Culture

In the movie Reservoir Dogs, the song comes up in a conversation amongst a group of gangsters, Mr. Brown (Quentin Tarantino) raises the theory that the song is actually about an oversexed woman who meets a man who is so well-endowed that the woman experiences pain during intercourse with him - reminding her of the pain accompanying the loss of her virginity. (Madonna would later meet Tarantino after "Reservoir Dogs" was released and when giving him her autograph wrote "Quentin, it's about love, not dick. Madonna.") Quentin Jerome Tarantino (born March 27, 1963) is an American film director, actor, and Oscar winning screenwriter. ...

In the short story La Bamba, by Gary Soto, a boy is at a talent show. While describing the lineup of the event, he mentions there are three young girls singing "Like a Virgin". Also, the year after the song came out, Weird Al Yankovic came out with a parody of it. See also: other events of 1985 Musical groups established in 1985 Record labels established in 1985 list of years in music 1980s in music // January 28 - Various artists, including Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Perry, Kenny Loggins, Willie Nelson, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Kenny... This article is about the musician. ... Like a Surgeon is a song by Weird Al Yankovic. ...

In one episode of Married with Children Kelly says to Bud that he got a dedication from a girl.The dedication is Like a virgin. Married. ...

Chart performance

"Like a Virgin" became Madonna's first of 12 number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining at the top for six consecutive weeks and eventually earning gold certification. The single also reached number one on the Hot Dance Club Play, and was her first top-ten hit on the R&B chart. “Hot 100” redirects here. ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. ... Billboard magazines Hot Dance Club Play chart (also known as Club Play Singles, and formerly known as Hot Dance Music/Club Play and Hot Dance/Disco) is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ...

"Like a Virgin" slammed onto the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart the week of November 17, 1984 at #48, and shot up the chart rapidly, reaching #1 by its sixth week, December 22, 1984. "Like a Virgin" was the first of four Top five singles from Madonna's album of the same name. "Like a Virgin" remained in the Top 10 for nine weeks, in the Top 20 for eleven weeks, and in the Top 40 for fourteen weeks. “Hot 100” redirects here. ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... This article is about the year. ... is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Like a Virgin is the second studio album by singer Madonna. ...

Internationally, the song was a Top 5 hit in the United Kingdom (behind million sellers Band Aid and Wham!) and reached the top spot in numerous countries. It was her first number one single in Australia (in fact, her first anywhere in the world) and Canada. The song would be her biggest selling and top-charting single worldwide until "Like a Prayer" in 1989. Cover art for the original release of Do They Know Its Christmas? – artist Peter Blake Band Aid was a British and Irish charity supergroup, founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in order to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia by releasing the record Do They... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Like a Prayer track listing Like a Prayer (1) Express Yourself (2) The Immaculate Collection track listing La Isla Bonita (11) Like a Prayer (12) Express Yourself (13) This article is about the 1989 single by Madonna. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...

Charts

References

1. ^ Songfacts "Like A Virgin" entry. Accessed on August 14, 2007

• Mad-Eyes.net - "Like a Virgin" Single Page