On August 16, the pop legend turned 63! Madonna began her career in the 1970s after moving to New York City. The young girl wanted to try her luck in choreography – after several unsuccessful attempts she got into music, recorded her first album Madonna and began a dizzying history in the world of pop.
Throughout her career, the American singer has been actively involved in promoting the LGBT + community. Even when Hollywood and Pop did not talk openly about queer issues, Madonna used all platforms to support the queer community, which is why she soon became a real icon for the LGBT community.
Here are 13 gay anthems of the Queen of Pop:
Material Girl (Like A Virgin, 1984)
Material Girl is one of the first songs in Madonna’s work that opened the door to fame for the singer. After the release of the music video, critics and listeners agreed that the 26-year-old singer’s star would shine for many more years. The song is inspired by the life of Marilyn Monroe and carries strong feminist messages.
True Blue (True Blue, 1986)
Before Madonna became a pop legend, she had come a long way, fame and recognition did not come easily to her, this song also accurately reflects the singer’s long and unruly path, the young star does not shy away from experiments and all her steps are unknown and unexpected.
Open Your Heart (True Blue, 1986)
In an another song from the 1986 album True Blue, the singer pays homage to gay icons in a music video – Lisa Minnelli and Marlene Dietrich. In addition, she confronts the male gaze and presents another gay anthem to the listener. The song was also performed by the Queen of Pop on the Grammy stage in 2014 to support same-sex marriage rights.
Express Yourself (Like A Prayer)
In the late ’80s, Madonna, at the height of her fame, recorded a new, fourth album and offered listeners another song, Express Yourself, which is especially important for women and the LGBT community. The singer breaks down gender boundaries and appears in a music video with a male alter ego. It was this legendary song that became the cause of the famous controversy between Lady Gaga and Madonna, fans of the Queen of Pop consider Gaga Born This Way to be a copy of this song.
Vogue (I’m Breathless, 1990)
The world has entered a new decade, the bright and colorful 80s are over, Madonna does not stop and this time in the most dirty and hidden places, she goes to the basement of New York Ballrooms, from the basements to the mainstream, she shows transcendental and transgender women of color. Shortly after her release from Vogue, the pop singer became the queen of pop.
Justify My Love (The Immaculate Collection, 1990)
Justify My Love is recognized as the birth of a new Madonna, the singer leaves her characteristic sound and naivety and her voice, lyrics, melody – becomes even bolder, sexy, feminine and provocative. The music video was blocked by MTV due to sexual footage, BDSM and bisexuality, to which the singer soon replied that she did not understand why they show murder scenes on screens without any problems and forbid footage where women kiss each other.
Fever (Erotica, 1992)
The year 1992 turned out to be special for Madonna, with another one of her albums Erotica appearing on the shelves, which was soon followed by a sex book. The album was soon banned in China and Singapore. Fever’s music video well captures Madonna’s transformation and the spirit of the ’90s. The song does not belong to Madonna, though the Madonna version is more recognizable.
Human Nature (Bedtime Stories, 1994)
In the 1990s, critics, journalists, and the Conservative community sharply criticized Madonna for her boldness and sexuality, and Madonna’s answer is another hit, Human Nature, where she actually laughs at a society that constantly restricts women and vulnerable groups. This famous composition of Madonna is ahead of its time and will be an inspiration for Christina Aguilera and Rihanna in the future.
Nothing Really Matters (Ray of Light, 1998)
As if the listener can not be surprised by anything, the pop legend once again manages to transform and returns with a completely new sound. The music video is one of the most memorable in the singer’s career, and the red kimono featured in the eighth season of the popular Rupaul’s reality show.
Hung Up (Confessions on a Dance Floor, 2005)
Created with the sound of ABBA Gimme Gimme Gimme, this famous hit is one of the most iconic in Madonna’s 2000s, pop legend once again proves that her heart still belongs to the LGBT + community and she is not going to stop.
Sorry (Confessions on a Dance Floor, 2005)
Madonna’s existence contributed to the emergence of new female artists in the 2000s. The music world no longer complains about the lack of women, though that does not necessarily mean that Madonna enjoys the glory of the past, she still continues to pamper the listeners with amazing compositions and this time apologizes in five different languages.
Girl Gone Wild (MDNA, 2012)
50 წელს გადაცილებული ვარსკვლავი კიდევ ერთხელ ახერხებს მსმენელების გაოცებას, მადონა უბრუნდება Erotica-ს ესთეთიკას, შავ-თეთრი მუსიკალური კლიპი, მამაკაცები ტყავის თეთრეულებში და მაღალ ქუსლებზე, რა თქმა უნდა, ეს ჩვენი მადონაა!
Bitch I’m Madonna (Rebel Heart, 2015)
Gay iconography is not easy, for Madonna this title is honorable and she also feels responsible. Bitch I’m Madonna is one of the last singles of the artist, in which the actress does not shy away from showing ego, however, in her video, she gives place to such young stars as Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj.
Source: gaytimes.co.uk
The article was prepared by Zura Abashidze
