The Best Madonna Non-Top Ten AT40 single

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Let's close the circle here. (TIL "Hanky Panky" made it to #10.)

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51jNGQld3bL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Holiday 41
Bad Girl 12
Oh Father 10
Beautiful Stranger 10
What It Feels Like for a Girl 9
Me Against the Music (w/ Britney Spears) 3
The Power of Good-Bye 2
American Pie 1
Rain 1
You Must Love Me 0
American Pie 0


fair but so uncool beliefs here (Eric H.), Friday, 21 April 2023 12:48 (two years ago)

Descending order:

Holiday
Bad Girl
Oh Father
What It Feels Like For a Girl
The Power of Goodbye
Rain

the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 21 April 2023 12:57 (two years ago)

Voting "Bad Girl" but would take the first four over the following seven without a single second thought.

fair but so uncool beliefs here (Eric H.), Friday, 21 April 2023 13:01 (two years ago)

“Holiday” is my favorite Madonna song.

Mr. Snrub, Friday, 21 April 2023 14:14 (two years ago)

Love half of these:

1) "Beautiful Stranger," 2) "Holiday," 3) "Oh Father," 4) "What It Feels Like for a Girl," 5) "Bad Girl"

clemenza, Friday, 21 April 2023 14:30 (two years ago)

This is clearly Holiday but I am likely voting What It Feels… or The Power of Goodbye because neither of those songs should get 0 votes

castanuts (DJP), Friday, 21 April 2023 14:35 (two years ago)

oops I missed "Beautiful Stranger."

the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 21 April 2023 14:39 (two years ago)

Time has not softened my stance on "Beautiful Stranger"

fair but so uncool beliefs here (Eric H.), Friday, 21 April 2023 15:11 (two years ago)

That post-Evita vocal tic of making unexpected syllables vibrate ("beautiful strange-errrrrr") irritates me more now.

the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 21 April 2023 15:13 (two years ago)

"Holiday" for me

Cthulhu Diamond Phillips (Neanderthal), Friday, 21 April 2023 15:22 (two years ago)

the only decision here is choosing which american pie to vote for

nxd, Friday, 21 April 2023 15:23 (two years ago)

You must love both

fair but so uncool beliefs here (Eric H.), Friday, 21 April 2023 15:25 (two years ago)

Voting "Bad Girl" but would take the first four over the following seven without a single second thought.

― fair but so uncool beliefs here (Eric H.), Friday, April 21, 2023 9:01 AM (three hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

Voting "Oh Father," but same.

niall horanburger (cryptosicko), Friday, 21 April 2023 16:55 (two years ago)

“Holiday,” but I remember being struck by how interesting a single “Oh Father” was; it’s gotta be one of my faves of her post-1985 singles.

Josefa, Friday, 21 April 2023 18:12 (two years ago)

"Oh Father," which also has one of David Fincher's best-looking videos.

birdistheword, Friday, 21 April 2023 18:52 (two years ago)

Also I didn't realize Ryuichi Sakamoto made a cameo in "Rain"'s video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15kWlTrpt5k

birdistheword, Friday, 21 April 2023 18:53 (two years ago)

1. Bad Girl
2. Holiday
3. Oh Father
4. Rain
5. What It Feels Like For A Girl

or something, Friday, 21 April 2023 20:49 (two years ago)

What it Feels Like For a Girl, top ten Madge for me

assert (matttkkkk), Friday, 21 April 2023 22:13 (two years ago)

I wanted to vote for "Bedtime Story" or "Get Together", but I guess they weren't Top 40 ?

LeRooLeRoo, Saturday, 22 April 2023 17:21 (two years ago)

The latter didn't even chart here.

the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 22 April 2023 17:21 (two years ago)

i know i'm on thin ice posting in a madonna thread, but can someone please explain why "american pie" is there twice?

W E F L Y T O G E T H E R (Austin), Saturday, 22 April 2023 17:34 (two years ago)

(also i like "hanky panky")

W E F L Y T O G E T H E R (Austin), Saturday, 22 April 2023 17:35 (two years ago)

https://scale.coolshop-cdn.com/product-media.coolshop-cdn.com/235ZA9/ee6478174fb746d69a2a2f3a45927842.jpg/f/american-pie-presents-girls-rules-dvd.jpg

American Pie: What It Feels Like For A Girl

at bottom, wrapping my arms around some tripe called "Quest" (breastcrawl), Saturday, 22 April 2023 17:42 (two years ago)

Bad Girl has aged well

nashwan, Saturday, 22 April 2023 18:39 (two years ago)

"Holiday" is great and will almost certainly sweep this, as it should; "Rain" is tremendous; "Bad Girl" is good; all the rest...whoof.

but also fuck you (unperson), Saturday, 22 April 2023 18:57 (two years ago)

Voted “Beautiful Stranger” but could just as easily flipped for “Rain”

BTW, all of these together make a pretty great mix if you sequence it right

Elvis Telecom, Sunday, 23 April 2023 02:03 (two years ago)

It is amazing that "Holiday" never gets off, and I wonder how it sounded to ILXors in their teens and twenties in 1983

the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 23 April 2023 02:16 (two years ago)

Er, never gets old

the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 23 April 2023 02:16 (two years ago)

It sounded fresh. I may have thought it was related to breakdancing but it was so light and bouncy and pop.

Josefa, Sunday, 23 April 2023 03:06 (two years ago)

I first heard it on KROQ here in LA. It kinda fit in with what they were playing that year but stood out in a block of big UK new wave production numbers. I turned 18 in 1983 and bought my first car - it sounded really good on the shit OEM car radios then.

Elvis Telecom, Sunday, 23 April 2023 03:54 (two years ago)

holiday in 1983 hit me as vaguely new wavey (i think! it was a long time ago!) club pop that was a little bubblier and a little catchier than everything around it. or maybe a lot catchier: the eight-note ecstasy of "it would be, it would be so nice" knocked me off my feet almost immediately, i remember that. it took some time and some repeats and probably a few followup singles and albums for me to realize exactly how much it had knocked me off my feet, and how much else was going on beyond that hook. one of my favorite singles by anyone ever.

fact checking cuz, Sunday, 23 April 2023 20:25 (two years ago)

holiday in 1983 hit me as vaguely new wavey (i think! it was a long time ago!) club pop that was a little bubblier and a little catchier than everything around it. or maybe a lot catchier: the eight-note ecstasy of "it would be, it would be so nice" knocked me off my feet almost immediately, i remember that. it took some time and some repeats and probably a few followup singles and albums for me to realize exactly how much it had knocked me off my feet, and how much else was going on beyond that hook. one of my favorite singles by anyone ever.

fact checking cuz, Sunday, 23 April 2023 20:25 (two years ago)

(it would post, it would post so twice, it appears.)

fact checking cuz, Sunday, 23 April 2023 20:26 (two years ago)

The Madonna singles that came out when I was in high school - which was all of them up to “Live to Tell” - will always mean more to me than the subsequent ones, i.e.“Papa Don’t Preach” forward. But I’ve spoken to younger people who also feel it’s the first two Madonna albums that are undeniable and the rest are iffy. I’m sure there’s good stuff in the later ones, but that’s not my Madonna, as it were.

Josefa, Sunday, 23 April 2023 21:27 (two years ago)

“Holiday” I thought was sweet and not all that interesting, but then the three-hit punch of “Burnin Up”, “Borderline” and “Lucky Star” blew my head off and the self title was the only record I wanted to play for about a month. Still towers over the rest for me.

assert (matttkkkk), Sunday, 23 April 2023 21:52 (two years ago)

I also thought "Holiday" was a fun, but a bit anonymous dance single at first. It was the first one I heard by her and the video was very low budget. Then "Lucky Star" and "Borderline" came out and I thought they were much stronger.
It's funny because with time I think "Holiday" might have become the strongest of the three. But they're all really great.

LeRooLeRoo, Sunday, 23 April 2023 22:26 (two years ago)

I’ll admit too, it wasn’t like I heard “Holiday” and thought “This is our next superstar!” I had to hear “Borderline” and “Lucky Star” to get the Madonna phenomenon.

Josefa, Sunday, 23 April 2023 23:00 (two years ago)

I am v stupid for voting before I even saw What It Feels Like for a Girl - my favourite Madge single - was there.

"American Pie" is the only of these to reach No. 1 in the UK. A noble if still unsuccessful attempt to salvage a terrible song.

you can see me from westbury white horse, Monday, 24 April 2023 02:24 (two years ago)

whats AT40?

flopson, Monday, 24 April 2023 03:34 (two years ago)

Oh Father oh yeah.

piscesx, Monday, 24 April 2023 06:38 (two years ago)

American Top 40 xpost

the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 24 April 2023 09:34 (two years ago)

Beautiful Stranger such a jam

but probably not what most people come to Madonna for

corrs unplugged, Monday, 24 April 2023 10:52 (two years ago)

it’s also the best Madonna-at-40 single - either that or “The Power Of Goodbye”.

at bottom, wrapping my arms around some tripe called "Quest" (breastcrawl), Monday, 24 April 2023 11:10 (two years ago)

but I voted for Madonna-at-25. “Holiday” is just too good.

at bottom, wrapping my arms around some tripe called "Quest" (breastcrawl), Monday, 24 April 2023 12:41 (two years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Wednesday, 3 May 2023 00:01 (two years ago)

been revisiting these and happy with my Bad Girl vote but just want it on record that the Above & Beyond Mix of WIFLFAG is a banger and what I always think of when I think of that track

or something, Wednesday, 3 May 2023 17:09 (two years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Thursday, 4 May 2023 00:01 (two years ago)

LOL

the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 4 May 2023 00:03 (two years ago)

One vote for “Rain” is pretty ridiculous

fair but so uncool beliefs here (Eric H.), Thursday, 4 May 2023 00:05 (two years ago)

First place was a done deal from the word go

fair but so uncool beliefs here (Eric H.), Thursday, 4 May 2023 02:18 (two years ago)

Evita sucks, but if I had to pick one song for a compilation, it would definitely be "You Must Love Me." Not a great song or anything, but written to order for the film, it does seem perfect in the way it simultaneously reflects Madonna the pop star and the title role itself.

"American Pie" just sucks.

birdistheword, Thursday, 4 May 2023 02:40 (two years ago)

haha, fully expected Holiday to win (my unquestioning vote) but that was a blowout

in terms of the poll the winner was clear but I'd have put Rain up above anything else on the list

H in Addis, Thursday, 4 May 2023 04:57 (two years ago)

wish i coukd give american pie negative votes

werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 4 May 2023 04:59 (two years ago)

shocking fact: three people voted against the music

slugbuggy, life has new meaning to me (breastcrawl), Thursday, 4 May 2023 04:59 (two years ago)

one month passes...

"The Look Of Love" came up in a conversation with Ms. T the other day. I didn't know the song well - it was only released as a single in Europe so technically outside the scope of this thread, but whoa - totally forgotten killer 80s Madonna ballad. This live version is great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF2TcC1geCg

Elvis Telecom, Monday, 12 June 2023 08:39 (two years ago)

The "all the books I've read..." is poignant.

the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 12 June 2023 09:18 (two years ago)


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