Edge Rewrite
everything Source code View original
// HTMLRewriter · presentation

This page was redesigned at the edge.

Cloudflare fetched the original article and streamed it through HTMLRewriter to apply an entirely new visual system without rebuilding the source page.

// request.cf · coarse context

A page that knows where it met you.

Only coarse request metadata is shown. This demo does not display or persist visitor IP addresses.

Country
US
Cloudflare location
CMH
Connection
HTTP/2
Language
Not provided

Ray ID: a41cc6b12bc6fc85

Jump to content

Material Girl

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Material Girl"
The picture of a woman with dark curly hair lies beside a gold picture frame, surrounded by pearl necklaces, jewelry and perfume bottle
Artwork used for most international releases
Single by Madonna
from the album Like a Virgin
B-side"Pretender"
ReleasedJanuary 23, 1985
Recorded1984
StudioPower Station (New York City)
Genre
Length4:01
Label
Songwriters
ProducerNile Rodgers
Madonna singles chronology
"Like a Virgin"
(1984)		 "Material Girl"
(1985)		 "Crazy for You"
(1985)
Music video
"Material Girl" on YouTube

"Material Girl" is a song by American singer Madonna from her second studio album, Like a Virgin (1984). Written by Peter Brown and Robert Rans and produced by Nile Rodgers, it was released as the album's second single on January 23, 1985. Brown conceived the song while driving and subsequently completed it with Rans; Madonna selected it for the album after being attracted to its ironic concept and wordplay. A synth-pop song with new wave, disco and reggae influences, "Material Girl" features prominent synthesizers and robotic male backing vocals. Madonna portrays a woman who values financial security in her romantic partners, a premise that has been interpreted both as a satire of 1980s consumerism and as an assertion of female agency and control.

Contemporary reviews of "Material Girl" were mostly positive, although Madonna's distinctive vocal delivery divided some critics; retrospective commentary has generally praised its production, melody and humor. The song peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs and Cash Box charts. Internationally, it reached the top ten in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and several European countries. The accompanying music video, directed by Mary Lambert, recreates Marilyn Monroe's performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), with Madonna wearing a pink gown and performing among tuxedoed male dancers. A parallel storyline deliberately complicates the song's materialistic image by portraying her character as more interested in romance than wealth. Critics and scholars have interpreted this duality as both a parody and reinterpretation of Monroe's image, and as allowing Madonna to simultaneously embrace and subvert conventional representations of femininity, sexuality and materialism.

Madonna has performed "Material Girl" on five of her concert tours, the last being the Rebel Heart Tour (2015―2016). It as also been widely covered, parodied and used in popular culture. Retrospectively, commentators have identified it as emblematic of the consumerism, excess and yuppie culture associated with the 1980s, and it became so closely identified with Madonna that "Material Girl" developed into an enduring nickname for the singer, despite her ambivalence toward it. In 2022, she revisited the concept by collaborating with American rapper Saucy Santana on "Material Gworrllllllll!", a remix of his 2019 song "Material Girl", which had itself been inspired by Madonna's original. The collaboration followed the viral popularity of Santana's song on TikTok and coincided with Madonna's efforts to introduce her earlier music to a new generation.

Background and release

[edit]
A smiling elderly Black man with long dreadlocks, wearing sunglasses and a black bandana.
Nile Rodgers (pictured in 2026) produced "Material Girl".

"Material Girl" was written by Peter Brown and Robert Rans. Brown had previously achieved success as a recording artist during the disco era and had frequently collaborated with Rans on lyrics.[1][2] In 1984, John "Jellybean" Benitez remixed Brown's single "They Only Come Out at Night" in New York.[2] Following the session, Brown joined Benitez, Madonna and Freddy DeMann—who managed both Brown and Madonna—for dinner, followed by a Michael Jackson concert and an after-party.[1] Shortly afterward, DeMann and his business partner Ron Weisner asked Brown to write a song for Madonna.[3]

Brown and Rans spent about a week unsuccessfully developing material before Brown conceived "Material Girl" while driving. He later recalled hearing the song in his head "like a finished record", complete with its music and portions of the lyrics, and repeatedly sang it to himself until he returned home, where he immediately recorded the idea.[1][2] Brown then completed the lyrics with Rans and recorded a demo featuring vocals by Pat Hurley.[2] Warner Bros. A&R executive Michael Ostin later presented Madonna with the demos of "Material Girl" and "Like a Virgin", two outside compositions he felt would complement Madonna's own material for her second studio album.[4] Madonna recalled being drawn to both songs because she found them "ironic and provocative" and unlike her own personality, describing their concepts and wordplay as clever.[5]

Produced by Nile Rodgers, recording sessions took place in April 1984 at the Power Station studios in New York City.[6][7] Rodgers sought a tougher, more "streetwise" sound than Madonna's previous dance-pop recordings, assembling a rhythm section with himself on guitar, his Chic bandmate Bernard Edwards on bass, and former Chic drummer Tony Thompson on drums.[8] Rodgers considered "Material Girl" the strongest candidate for the album's lead single, recalling that he believed it was "ten times better" than "Like a Virgin"; Madonna, however, favored the latter.[9] "Material Girl" was released as the second single from the Like a Virgin album on January 23, 1985.[9] Afterwards, it was included on Madonna's compilation albums The Immaculate Collection (1990), Celebration (2009), and Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (2022).[10][11][12]

Composition and lyrical interpretation

[edit]
"Material Girl" (1984)
Audio sample of "Material Girl", featuring the refrain and its use of financial language in the lyric "boys that save their pennies make my rainy day".
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Musically, "Material Girl" has been described as synth-pop by Billboard and Entertainment Weekly,[13][14] while The A.V. Club characterized it as a "slick new wave disco" song.[15] Stephen Holden from The New York Times additionally noted elements of reggae in its pop arrangement.[16] The production is driven by synthesizer figures and a strong backbeat, with the Simms Brothers providing deadpan, robotic backing vocals that repeatedly chant the hook "living in a material world".[17][18][19] According to Santiago Fouz-Hernández and Freya Jarman-Ivens, Madonna begins the song in the "little-girl" voice associated with her earlier work, before shifting after the first verse to a "richer, more mature sound" for the refrain, accompanied by a denser instrumental texture.[20] Rooksby similarly noted her deliberately high register, which he compared to Cyndi Lauper's vocal style.[18]

Lyrically, "Material Girl" presents romance in explicitly economic terms, with Madonna's character judging prospective partners by their wealth and what they can provide.[16][18] The character is established in the opening lines—"Some boys kiss me, some boys hug me / I think they're OK"—before dismissing those who fail to give her "proper credit"; later, she declares that "the boy with the cold hard cash is always Mister Right".[17][16] The premise is encapsulated in the refrain, in which she declares, "We are living in a material world / And I am a material girl".[21] Holden described the song as an "'80s teen-pop version" of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" (1949), noting its use of financial language such as "interest" and "saving pennies", while Christopher P. Andersen described the song as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to 1980s materialism and the "time-honored profession" of the gold digger.[16][22] Rooksby similarly interpreted the lyrics as presenting relationships as commodities and likened the character's approach to romance to trading stocks and shares; he also identified a lyrical connection to the Miracles' "Shop Around" (1960).[18]

Interpretations have also focused on the narrator's relationship with men. Music scholar Robert Matthew-Walker characterized them as little more than "meal-tickets" or playthings for her.[23] Fouz-Hernández and Jarman-Ivens, however, emphasized the narrator's control, arguing that the vocal arrangement places Madonna at the center of the song's discourse. They pointed particularly to the coda, in which the male voice chants "living in a material world" in a low monotone while she adds her own commentary, and viewed this dynamic as an inversion of the misogynistic imagery found in many songs of the period. The authors contrasted it with Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" (1986) video, in which female models appear as an anonymous backing band.[20] Discussing the song in 1986, Madonna related its themes to her own career-driven outlook, saying that she was attracted to similarly ambitious men and associated material possessions with security: "that's what pays the rents and buys you furs". She added that such security "lasts longer than emotions".[9]

Critical reception

[edit]

Contemporary reviews of "Material Girl" were mostly positive, with several critics focusing on Madonna's vocal delivery. Susan Parker of The Macon Telegraph described it as a "cute, catchy, Eartha Kitt-like song", while Rick Shefchik of the Jacksonville Daily News felt that Madonna's high, "innocent" delivery contrasted with the "sex-goddess image" projected by "Like a Virgin".[24][25] Debby Miller of Rolling Stone similarly noted the singer's "little-girl voice", but detected an "undercurrent of ambition that makes her more than the latest Betty Boop".[26] Cash Box praised the song's danceable backbeat and sense of humor, noting that Madonna sounded less "squeaky" than on her previous recordings.[27] In an unfavorable review, Russell Smith of The Dallas Morning News described her voice as "thin and thoroughly undistinguished" and the arrangement as "cleverly bouncy" but "sterile and passionless".[28]

Retrospective assessments have been more complimentary of both Madonna's performance and the song's production. Daryl Easlea characterized "Material Girl" as "jaunty, clashing, loud [and] remarkable", and felt that the "coyness and charm" of Madonna's vocals signaled a new approach for the singer.[19] From People magazine, Drew Mackie highlighted the song's enduring catchiness, observing that hearing only a few lines was enough for it to "immediately [get] stuck in your head".[10] Mayer Nissim of PinkNews described her delivery as "scratchy, smartass [...] dripping with wry cynicism", while Sebastián E. Alonso of Spanish website Jenesaispop praised its melody and recording as "10/10" and viewed Madonna's deliberately frivolous-sounding performance as deceptively clever.[29][30] The production has received similar praise: NME's Larry Bartleet singled out what he called "one of the most iconic synth lines ever", while Chuck Arnold of Entertainment Weekly described the song as "'80s synth-pop nirvana".[31][14] Rik Flynn of Classic Pop praised Rodgers's production, particularly its "cybernetic monotone refrain" and "truly immaculate bassline".[32] In a later assessment for Billboard, however, Arnold was more reserved, suggesting that "Material Girl" "may not hold up as well" as some of Madonna's other singles from the time.[13]

Critics have also interpreted the song's materialistic persona as deliberately humorous rather than literal. Author Matthew Rettenmund described it as a "broad send-up" of the gold digger archetype associated with Marilyn Monroe and an "affectionate" homage to an outdated female stereotype, while J. Randy Taraborrelli characterized its lyrics as semi-autobiographical, tongue-in-cheek and ironic.[33][34] By his part, Ed Masley from The Arizona Republic rejected earlier criticism of the song as crass and materialistic, arguing that Madonna's performance and the robotic backing vocals made its satirical intent apparent.[17] Rikky Rooksby similarly described "Material Girl" as a "pungent satire" of the ambitious culture associated with the Reagan era and Thatcher years, although he questioned whether its irony translated effectively through pop music.[18]

Chart performance

[edit]
Three rock musicians playing electric guitars onstage under colorful concert lights.
A bald man wearing glasses and a black jacket sings into a handheld microphone onstage.
"Can't Fight This Feeling" by REO Speedwagon (left) and "One More Night" by Phil Collins (right) kept "Material Girl" from reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

During the week of February 9, 1985, "Material Girl" was added to 91 reporting radio stations and debuted at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100.[35][36] One month later, it made the week's biggest move on the Hot 100, jumping 13 positions from number 18 to number five and becoming Madonna's third consecutive top-five single, following "Lucky Star" and "Like a Virgin".[37] At the time, Cyndi Lauper was the only other female artist of the 1980s to have achieved at least three consecutive top-five hits.[37] On March 23, "Material Girl" peaked at number two on the Hot 100, where it remained for two weeks; it was kept from the top position by REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight This Feeling" and Phil Collins' "One More Night".[38][39] As of August 2024, Billboard ranked "Material Girl" as Madonna's 15th most successful Hot 100 entry.[40] The song also became Madonna's third number-one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart.[41][42] Additionally, it reached number 49 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[43] By year's end, "Material Girl" ranked number 58 on Billboard's Hot 100 and number 41 on its Dance Club Songs chart.[44]

On the Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles chart, "Material Girl" debuted at number 42 on February 9 and reached number one on March 30, 1985, becoming Madonna's second chart-topper after "Like a Virgin".[45][46] In Canada, "Material Girl" debuted at number 76 on the RPM Singles Chart dated February 16, 1985.[47] Seven weeks later, it peaked at number four and ultimately spent 22 weeks on the chart.[48][49] The single was certified gold in Canada for sales of 50,000 copies and ranked number 46 on the RPM year-end chart for 1985.[50][51] Elsewhere in the Americas, it reached number four in Argentina and number seven in Brazil.[52][53]

In Australia, the single debuted at number 25 on March 17, 1985, and peaked at number four three weeks later.[54] It also reached the top five in New Zealand.[55] In the UK Singles Chart, "Material Girl" debuted at number 24 on March 2, 1985, and peaked at number three, spending ten weeks on the chart.[56] In August 2023, it was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales and streams exceeding 600,000 units.[57] According to the Official Charts Company, the song has sold over 385,000 copies in the country as of August 2017.[58] Elsewhere in Europe, "Material Girl" reached the top ten in Austria,[59] Belgium,[60] Ireland,[61] the Netherlands and Spain.[62][63][64] It also reached the top ten on the European Hot 100 Singles,[65] and the top 40 in Germany, Italy and Switzerland.[66][67][68]

Music video

[edit]

Background and development

[edit]

The music video for "Material Girl" was filmed at the Ren-Mar Studios on January 10 and 11, 1985, and directed by Mary Lambert, who had previously directed Madonna's videos for "Borderline" and "Like a Virgin".[69] Madonna had initially intended to work with French artist Jean-Paul Goude, but didn't like his ideas for the song.[70] Unlike with "Borderline", where she had sought to align Madonna's character with her off-screen personality, Lambert felt that the singer had since attained enough star power to portray any image she chose. She subsequently wrote and storyboarded her own treatment for "Material Girl" shortly before Christmas 1984.[70]

Madonna, however, insisted on basing the video around Marilyn Monroe's performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which she described as her favorite scene from Monroe's films.[71][72] Both Lambert and Madonna shared a fascination with Monroe, with the latter identifying with the intense public attention surrounding her sexuality and being particularly drawn to her vulnerability.[72] Lambert consequently devised a new concept around the sequence, which was approved on New Year's Eve.[70] To recreate the sequence, Lambert and choreographer Kenny Ortega repeatedly studied the original choreography, which Ortega reinterpreted for the video.[72] Costume designer Marlene Stewart similarly recreated Monroe's pink dress, while jewelry was supplied by collector Connie Parente.[72][73] With Madonna available for only two days of filming in January before traveling to Tokyo and Hawaii, pre-production was completed under a tight schedule.[70] The video was produced by Simon Fields, with Peter Sinclair serving as cinematographer, and Glenn Morgan as editor.[69]

Black-and-white portrait of a bearded man wearing a suit and patterned tie.
Actor Keith Carradine (pictured in the 1978 film Pretty Baby) plays Madonna's love interest in the video.

Actor Keith Carradine was cast at Madonna's request as a film director who becomes interested in her character.[74][75] According to Carradine, the video's narrative was conceived around a "Howard Hughes and Marilyn Monroe" dynamic, with his character as the influential figure behind the scenes.[75] He described Madonna as "delightful" during filming, although she told him that she disliked the song itself.[74] Actor Robert Wuhl was cast in a smaller role.[76] During the first day of filming, Madonna met actor Sean Penn, whom Lambert had brought to the set; the two subsequently began a relationship and married later that year.[77]

Synopsis and release

[edit]

The video opens with a film director (Carradine) and his associate George (Wuhl) watching footage of an actress (Madonna) performing. Impressed, the director predicts that she will become a star, prompting George to reply that she's already "the biggest star in the universe".[78] The footage transitions into the performance itself, which recreates Monroe's "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" sequence. Wearing a strapless pink gown and styled with blonde curls, Madonna performs on a set featuring a staircase and chandeliers, surrounded by tuxedoed male dancers.[70][79] As they shower her with money, jewelry and furs and carry her up the stairs, she playfully rebuffs their advances, at one point dismissing them with a fan.[78]

Attracted to the actress, the director begins trying to impress her with expensive gifts, but changes his approach after overhearing a telephone conversation in which she says that money is not what she cares about.[78][34] After consulting the studio directory to learn her name, he poses as penniless and arranges a date, bringing her flowers and obtaining an old pickup truck from an old man in exchange for a large sum of money.[34] His deception succeeds, and the video ends with the couple kissing in the backseat of the truck.[80] "Material Girl" was added to MTV during the week of February 9, 1985, and became one of the year's most frequently aired music videos in Europe.[81][82] It was later included in Madonna's video compilations The Immaculate Collection (1990) and Celebration: The Video Collection (2009).[11][83]

Analysis and reception

[edit]
The "Material Girl" video (left) recreates Marilyn Monroe's performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (right); critics have interpreted Madonna's version as both a parody and reinterpretation of Monroe's image.

Critics and scholars have frequently commented on the video's contrast between Madonna's materialistic stage character and the romantic storyline. Mary Gabriel praised her performance and described her as a "good girl–bad girl": a starlet seeking genuine love offstage while portraying a "manipulative materialist" during the musical number.[78] In a similar vein, Mary Cross argued that such contradictions allow Madonna to appear simultaneously as a "Hollywood sex goddess", a "money-mad materialist" and a "girl-next-door".[84] Adam Sexton also identified two competing narratives: the musical number presents the singer in Monroe's "sexy golddigger" role before the romantic storyline questions that image by portraying the "real" Madonna as someone who cannot be bought and who falls for Carradine's seemingly poor admirer.[80] The staff of Slant Magazine viewed her materialism as a masquerade, describing the video as a postmodern deconstruction of femininity, sexuality and materialism that "set the stage for much of her career".[85] Scholar Douglas Kellner further complicated the apparent rejection of materialism: although Madonna's character chooses Carradine's seemingly working-class admirer over wealthy suitors, he is eventually revealed to be a wealthy studio executive posing as poor, meaning that she ultimately gets both romance and wealth.[86] Matthew Rettenmund rejected readings of the video as simply an imitation of Monroe or a celebration of greed, instead identifying independence, true love and Madonna's emerging superstardom as its central themes.[34]

Other commentators have focused on how the video reworks Monroe's image and its representations of femininity. Allan Metz and Carol Benson saw the distinction between the two Madonnas as central to the video, noting that the musical number draws on associations with Monroe—including beauty, sexuality, glamour and materialism—before the romantic storyline suggests that Madonna is not really the "material girl" she performs.[87] Drawing on E. Ann Kaplan's analysis, they argued that this ambiguity allows Madonna to parody conventional representations of women rather than simply reproduce them. They described her imitation of Monroe as a "feminine double-play", in which she constructs her own version of an image that was itself already constructed.[88] Fran Lloyd similarly examined the video through the male gaze, arguing that Madonna is presented as both its object and as a woman who remains in control despite it. She pointed to the film-within-a-film plot device, in which Madonna is repeatedly watched by male characters and by the camera, while simultaneously portraying a successful woman capable of controlling a powerful man through his fascination with her.[89] For Lloyd, the video's contradictions ultimately leave Madonna's character "uncorrupted by money and success".[89] Matthew-Walker similarly argued that Madonna's recreation transforms the meaning of Monroe's original performance: whereas he viewed Monroe's sexuality as ultimately constrained by male attitudes, Madonna takes control of both the situation and her sexuality, becoming "the one in charge".[23] Caroline Sullivan likewise viewed the Monroe homage as deliberately artificial, arguing that "Material Girl" demonstrated that "hollowness and artifice could be just as effective as organic sincerity".[90] Louis Virtel for TheBacklot.com argued that Madonna went beyond simply paying tribute to Monroe through her "zealous flirtation and libidinous showmanship"; although she ostensibly craves money, the publication observed that what she ultimately commands is attention.[91]

The video's treatment of materialism has also prompted broader interpretations. Charlie Martin of Catholic newspaper The Belleville Messenger viewed its conflicting message as an opportunity to question the relationship between possessions and personal worth. He contrasted consumer culture's association of wealth with desirability with a Christian conception of love as unconditional and independent of material possessions.[21] Thomas Ferraro further distinguished between the actress in the romantic storyline and the Monroe-inspired character she plays in the musical number, referring to them as the "frame Madonna" and "interior Madonna", respectively.[92] He argued that although the framing story appears to separate Madonna from the materialism of her performance, the distinction is deliberately blurred: Carradine wins her affection only after pretending to lack wealth, while the "material girl" remains closely connected to Madonna's public persona. Ferraro therefore viewed Madonna as simultaneously parodying, embracing and transforming the image rather than simply rejecting it.[92] The Independent regarded "Material Girl" as the beginning of Madonna's recurring tributes to Marilyn Monroe and as an important moment in her relationship with MTV, arguing that their "mutually beneficial relationship" subsequently "set the bar for her contemporaries".[93]

"Material Girl" earned Madonna her first nomination for Best Female Video at the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards.[94] It has subsequently appeared on several retrospective rankings. Slant Magazine, TheBacklot.com and Rolling Stone ranked it as Madonna's seventh, tenth and eleventh best music video, respectively.[85][91][72] Parade placed it 18th and considered it "more iconic" than the video for "Like a Virgin".[91][85][95] Out magazine's Julien Sauvalle considered "Material Girl" one of Madonna's "most stylish" videos.[96] Rolling Stone Australia ranked it number 54 on its list of the 100 greatest music videos, praising Madonna's reinterpretation of Monroe and describing the clip as a "blueprint for feminist videos for decades to come".[97] Madonna's Monroe-inspired pink dress has also been regarded as one of the most iconic looks of her career.[a]

Live performances

[edit]
A blonde woman wearing a green military-style outfit plays an electric guitar and sings into a microphone onstage.
Madonna performing a hard rock version of "Material Girl" on the Re-Invention World Tour (2004)

Madonna has included "Material Girl" on five of her concert tours: Virgin (1985),[104] Who's That Girl (1987),[105] Blond Ambition (1990),[106] Re-Invention (2004),[107] and Rebel Heart (2015―2016).[108] On the first, it served as the closing number.[109] The performance recreated elements of the music video, with Madonna appearing in diamonds and fur while members of the band presented her with cash and jewelry.[109][110] Rejecting the song's materialistic persona, she asked the audience, "Do you really think I'm a material girl?", before declaring that she did not need money but love and throwing fake bills into the crowd.[110][111] The number ended when a prerecorded voice representing her father ordered her offstage, signaling that "playtime [is] over".[110] During the second of two concerts at Detroit's Cobo Arena, Madonna's actual father, Silvio Ciccone, appeared onstage during the routine and escorted her off himself.[112] The Detroit concerts were filmed for the tour's video release.[113]

For the Who's That Girl World Tour, the song was performed as part of a medley with "Like a Virgin" and "Dress You Up" (1985).[114] Madonna sang in a cracked voice that may have parodied jazz singer Mildred Bailey, changed clothes inside an onstage telephone booth, and emerged wearing what author Michelle Morgan described as one of the show's most elaborate costumes: a dress covered in toys, trinkets, and other plastic paraphernalia.[115][114] At one point, she bent over to reveal a pair of lace panties emblazoned with the word "Kiss", before removing them and throwing them into the crowd.[116] A performance from this tour was included on the video release Ciao Italia: Live from Italy (1988).[117]

A blonde woman wearing a long white veil and sparkling outfit walks onstage beside male dancers in black top hats and suits.
Madonna singing "Material Girl" during the Rebel Heart Tour (2015–2016)

On the Blond Ambition World Tour, Madonna sang "Material Girl" with backing vocalists Niki Haris and Donna De Lory while seated on a raised platform, dressed in bathrobes and hair curlers.[118] The performance was presented in a deliberately camp style, with the trio singing in exaggerated accents, high-pitched voices and intentionally off-key.[119] Madonna also altered the lyric "experience has made me rich" to "experience has made me a bitch", after which she pulled dollar bills from her corsage and tossed them into the air.[120] The performance was included on the tour's LaserDisc release.[121]

A hard rock-oriented rendition of "Material Girl" was performed during the Re-Invention World Tour, with Madonna playing electric guitar, dressed in military fatigues.[122][123] Angela Pacienza of Yahoo News noted that the performance caused "some of the loudest screams of the night".[123] During the Detroit concert of the Sticky & Sweet Tour on November 18, 2008, Madonna performed an a cappella rendition of "Material Girl" at the audience's request.[124] Lyrical elements of the track were incorporated to the performance of "Girl Gone Wild" on the MDNA Tour (2012).[125]

The Rebel Heart Tour's performance had Madonna dressed in a crystal-studded, flapper-inspired outfit by Moschino, performing atop a tilted video screen from which she pushed male dancers wearing tuxedos and top hats.[126][127] The number ended with her walking down the catwalk wearing a bridal veil and carrying a white bouquet, which she eventually tossed into the audience.[128] Don Chareunsy of the Las Vegas Sun described the performance as "reimagined, inventive, strong and just downright fun".[129] It was later included on the tour's 2017 live album.[130]

Cover versions and usage

[edit]
A blonde woman wearing a sparkling sheer bodysuit and a headset microphone performs onstage.
A blonde woman in a sparkling blue dress sings into a handheld microphone.
Britney Spears (left, pictured in 2014) and Sabrina Carpenter (right, pictured in 2025) are among the artists who have performed cover versions of "Material Girl".

"Material Girl" has been covered, sampled and referenced in popular culture since its release. In 1985, Cantopop singer Sally Yeh recorded a Cantonese version titled "Material Girl (200 Du)" (200度), which was later featured on the soundtrack of the 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians.[131][132] KMFDM did a rendition of the song for the 1999 tribute album Virgin Voices: A Tribute to Madonna, Vol. 1, which AllMusic's Steve Huey considered one of the album's best tracks.[133] Cover band Richard Cheese recorded a lounge version for their 2004 album I'd Like a Virgin.[134] Sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff recorded a cover of "Material Girl" for their 2006 film Material Girls. Produced by Lil Jon, the recording was used during the film's opening and was also included on the compilation album (Lip Smackers Presents) Girl Next.[135][136] According to Haylie, it was not released as a single because there was not enough time to film a music video.[136] Stereogum gave the recording a negative review, remarking that, after previously covering "Our Lips Are Sealed" by the Go-Go's, the Duff sisters seemed intent on "ruin[ing] '80s nostalgia for everyone".[137] In 2021, Mexican singer Laura León and group Tropikal Forever recorded a Spanish tropical reinterpretation titled "En materia de amor" ("In matters of love"). Rather than directly translating the original lyrics, the version was rewritten with a message about women's empowerment.[138]

The song has also been performed live by several artists. Britney Spears sang it during her 1999 ...Baby One More Time Tour, as part of a segment paying homage to the female pop artists who had influenced her. Jane Ganahl of the San Francisco Chronicle described Spears's rendition as "serviceable", though she felt it lacked Madonna's "wit or irony".[139] In March 2008, Icelandic singer Hafdís Huld performed a cover during the final night of South by Southwest (SXSW).[140] Elton John paired "Material Girl" with "Like a Virgin" at the 2010 Rock for the Rainforest benefit concert.[141] English indie rock band Wet Leg recorded a live cover for a 2022 session on SiriusXMU, reworking the song with guitars and psychedelic effects.[142] Sabrina Carpenter later sang the track on several dates of her Short n' Sweet Tour (2024–2025) as part of its recurring "spin the bottle" surprise-song segment.[143]

Italian band The Tamperer featuring Maya sampled "Material Girl" on their 1998 single "If You Buy This Record (Your Life Will Be Better)", which reached the top three of the UK Singles Chart.[144] In 1989, Sesame Street parodied "Material Girl" as "Cereal Girl", featuring an all-female Muppet group singing about their love for cornflakes and porridge.[145] In the musical film Moulin Rouge! (2001), "Sparkling Diamonds", performed by Nicole Kidman, incorporates "Material Girl" into a medley with "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend".[146] For the film's stage adaptation, "Material Girl" was incorporated into "The Sparkling Diamond", alongside portions of "Diamonds Are Forever" (1971) by Shirley Bassey and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (2008) by Beyoncé.[147] "Material Girl" was also featured as a playable song in the 2006 rhythm game Elite Beat Agents for the Nintendo DS.[148] In the second episode of the third season of Stranger Things, "Material Girl" plays during a shopping mall sequence featuring characters Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Max (Sadie Sink). Billboard include the scene among the show's eight best musical moments.[149]

Legacy

[edit]

Recognition

[edit]

Retrospective reviews have consistently ranked "Material Girl" among Madonna's greatest recordings.[b] It has also been regarded as emblematic of the materialism and consumer culture associated with the 1980s. Classic Pop described it as an "anthem for the peak of the capitalist age", while Consequence said it was "at the heart of every valley girl's fantasy", arguing that its preference for materialism over relationships suited the decade.[32][152] Author Christopher Feldman similarly wrote that "no song seemed more appropriate for the 'Me decade' of the 80s than 'Material Girl'".[71] Stephen Feinstein viewed the song as representative of Americans' growing desire to acquire wealth and material goods, contrasting this attitude with the social idealism associated to the 1960s and 70s.[161]

Commentators have particularly associated the song with the decade's yuppie culture and economic climate. Matthew Rettenmund wrote that it resonated with the yuppie mentality prevalent at the time, while The Guardian cited it as a reflection of the yuppie lifestyle and Vogue described it as a "winking, Reagan-era" response to yuppie materialism.[34][162][163] Both The New Yorker and Kevin Mattson described "Material Girl" as a "yuppie anthem"; Mattson further characterized it as a celebration of consumer hedonism, arguing that its theme of female empowerment was ultimately overshadowed by its emphasis on material possessions and consumer capitalism.[164][165] The A.V. Club similarly characterized the song as both a celebration and critique of the Reagan era, while Slant Magazine regarded it as "among the most definitive pop artifacts from the indulgent Reagan era".[15][166] Adam Graham of The Detroit News considered it "perfect for its era of excess".[153] More broadly, The Advocate called it a "generation-defining" song, while Forbes named it one of the defining songs of the 1980s.[154][167] The song was included in Bruce Pollock's Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock & Roll Era.[168] In 2007, Steve Spears of the Tampa Bay Times argued that "Material Girl" should have been included instead of "Like a Virgin" on Rolling Stone's list of "40 Songs That Changed the World".[169]

Impact

[edit]

"I can't completely disdain the song and the video, because they certainly were important to my career. But talk about the media hanging on a phrase and misinterpreting the damn thing as well. I didn't write that song, and the video was about how the girl rejected diamonds and money. But God forbid irony should be understood. So when I'm ninety, I'll still be the 'Material Girl'. I guess it's not so bad. Lana Turner was the 'Sweater girl' until the day she died".

— Madonna on her association with the "Material Girl" nickname.[170]

The song also had a lasting impact on Madonna's public image, with "Material Girl" becoming an enduring nickname for her. Both producer Nile Rodgers and PinkNews have noted the persistence of the "Material Girl" nickname; Rodgers pointed to it as evidence of the song's enduring impact, while PinkNews observed that the moniker has endured despite Madonna's extensive exploration of sex, religion and love throughout her music.[32][158][29] Madonna herself has expressed ambivalence about the association, saying that had she known she would continually be referred to as the "Material Girl", she probably would not have recorded the song.[71] In 2015, she went further, naming it her least favorite of her catalogue and bluntly saying, "I never want to hear it again!"[171]

People regarded "Material Girl" as a defining song for Madonna, observing that it both represented her early public persona and later provided an image against which she could contrast herself as she matured as a performer.[10] Similarly, The A.V. Club wrote that song cemented the superstardom established by "Like a Virgin", while giving Madonna a nickname she did not necessarily deserve, noting that she neither wrote the song nor personally embodied its celebration of wealth.[15] Classic Pop likewise observed that she did not identify with the song's materialistic connotations, instead regarding them as ironic and provocative.[32] Billboard noted that Madonna had resisted the moniker for decades because of its implication that she was a "vapid, riches-obsessed celebrity", but argued that the song could instead be interpreted as portraying a woman who knows what she wants and pursues it on her own terms.[150]

The "Material Girl" moniker also became a point of reference in discussions of Madonna's evolving public persona. Guilbert cited a 1993 conference at the University of California, Santa Barbara, titled Madonna: Feminist Icon or Material Girl?, which examined the difficulty of reconciling competing interpretations of Madonna as a feminist figure.[172] He later contrasted the materialism she had represented in the 1980s with her embrace of spirituality in the following decade, noting that by 1998 The Times and The Advocate had dubbed her the "Ethereal Girl" and "Spiritual Girl", respectively.[173] Discussing her 1999 single "Nothing Really Matters", Chuck Arnold similarly described Madonna's evolution through motherhood as a transition from the "Material Girl" to the "Maternal Girl".[14] In 2010, Madonna and her daughter Lourdes Leon used the name for their Material Gir clothing line, launched at Macy's with Taylor Momsen as its spokesmodel.[174] The name subsequently became the subject of a trademark dispute with clothing retailer LA Triumph, which claimed to have sold "Material Girl" apparel since 1997. Madonna argued that her performance of the song had established her prior use of the name, but a federal judge rejected the argument, ruling that "the singing of a song does not create a trademark".[175]

Track listing and formats

[edit]
  1. "Material Girl" – 3:56
  2. "Pretender" – 4:28
  1. "Material Girl" (Jellybean dance remix) – 6:06
  2. "Pretender" – 4:28
  1. "Material Girl" (2024 remaster) – 4:00
  2. "Pretender" (2024 remaster) – 4:28
  3. "Material Girl" (extended dance mix) (2024 remaster) – 6:05

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from the Like a Virgin album notes.[7]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "Material Girl"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[196] Gold 50,000‡
Japan (Oricon Charts) — 47,060[197]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[198] Platinum 30,000‡
Spain (Promusicae)[199] Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[200]
Original release 		Silver 250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[57]
2006 release 		Platinum 600,000‡
United States
Digital downloads 		— 347,000[201]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

"Material Gworrllllllll!"

[edit]

"Material Gworrllllllll!"
A black man and a blonde woman wearing dark sunglasses pose together under pink lighting
Song by Madonna and Saucy Santana
ReleasedAugust 5, 2022 (2022-08-05)
Recorded2022
Genre
Length2:42
LabelWarner
Songwriters
ProducerMike Dean
Madonna chronology
"Break My Soul" (The Queens Remix)
(2022)		 "Material Gworrllllllll!"
(2022)		 "Hung Up on Tokischa"
(2022)
Saucy Santana chronology
"Booty"
(2022)		 "Material Gworrllllllll!"
(2022)		 "I'm Too Much"
(2022)
Lyric video
"Material Gworrllllllll!" on YouTube

In 2022, Madonna collaborated with American rapper Saucy Santana on "Material Gworrllllllll!", a remix of his 2019 song "Material Girl", which was itself inspired by the original.[202] Santana's track had gained popularity on TikTok, where it was used in more than 1.1 million videos, and its viral success caught Madonna's attention.[203][204] She personally invited Santana to perform with her at WoW, Finally Enough Love, a New York City Pride show held at Terminal 5 in June 2022.[203][204] Santana described being selected by Madonna as a surprise and working with her in the studio as a "dream".[205]

Madonna and Santana debuted "Material Gworrllllllll!" during the Terminal 5 show, before officially releasing it on August 5, 2022.[204][206] An electronic and rap track, the remix combines elements of Santana's song with references to the original "Material Girl".[202][204] Madonna contributes newly recorded vocals, including a rap verse and pre-chorus that revisit the original's materialistic themes from a contemporary perspective; she declares that "a material girl is not tasteless" and boasts about making "a budget disappear like a magic trick".[204][207] Entertainment Weekly's Joey Nolfi described the track as reframing Madonna's cultural impact for a 2022 audience.[207] It debuted and peaked at number 69 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart, before dropping off the chart the following week.[208]

"Material Gworrllllllll!" was released prior to Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones, which was issued on August 19.[206] Around the same time, she was revisiting her back catalogue with younger listeners in mind. Speaking about her reworkings of older songs, Madonna said she was looking for "interesting, fun ways" to rerelease her music and introduce it "to a new generation".[204] Writing for Variety, Mike Wass viewed the collaboration as evidence of the original song's continued appeal, observing that "Material Girl" still had a "vice-like grip on partygoers" 38 years after its release.[12]

Charts

[edit]
2022 weekly chart performance for "Material Gworrllllllll!"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
UK Singles Downloads (Official Charts)[208]69

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 McGrath 2024, pp. 143–144
  2. 1 2 3 4 "This is a tribute to... Peter Brown: The artist, writer and producer". Disco-Disco. 2003. Archived from the original on May 24, 2006. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  3. ↑ Krakow, Steve (July 19, 2023). "Peter Brown is an A+ argument against dissing disco". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  4. ↑ Lindores, Mark (April 10, 2025). "Making Madonna – Like a Virgin". Classic Pop. Archived from the original on May 17, 2025. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  5. ↑ Scaggs, Austin (October 29, 2009). "Madonna looks back: The Rolling Stone interview". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  6. ↑ Easlea 2012, p. 28
  7. 1 2 Madonna (1984). Like a Virgin (Liner notes). Warner Bros. Sire. 7599-25181-2.
  8. ↑ Buskin, Richard (September 2007). "Madonna, Like a Virgin". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 Elliot, Paul (January 23, 2025). "'When I'm 90, I'll still be the Material Girl!': Madonna's signature song was released 40 years ago today". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on December 6, 2025. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 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 September 19, 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Celebration - Track listing for CD & DVD announced". August 25, 2009. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2026 – via Official Madonna website.
  12. 1 2 Wass, Mike (August 19, 2022). "All 50 of Madonna's no. 1 club hits ranked: From 'Everybody' to 'I Don't Search I Find'". Variety. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  13. 1 2 Arnold, Chuck (November 12, 2019). "Madonna's Like a Virgin at 35: All the songs ranked from worst to best". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Arnold, Chuck (August 15, 2018). "Madonna's 60 best singles, ranked". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (July 26, 2023). "40 years of Madonna: The Queen of Pop's greatest songs, ranked". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Holden, Stephen (January 6, 1985). "Madonna's siren song". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Masley, Ed (October 18, 2015). "Essential Madonna: Her 30 best singles of all time". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 Rooksby 2004, p. 16
  19. 1 2 Easlea 2012, p. 30
  20. 1 2 Fouz-Hernández & Jarman-Ivens 2004, p. 60
  21. 1 2 Martin, Charlie (May 17, 1985). "Does Madonna's 'Material Girl' reflect reality?". The Belleville Messenger. p. 17. Retrieved September 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ Andersen 1992, p. 144
  23. 1 2 Matthew-Walker 1991, pp. 73–74
  24. ↑ Parker, Susan (January 13, 1985). "Like a Virgin not quite perfect". The Macon Telegraph. p. 42. Retrieved August 29, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ Shefchik, Rick (December 23, 1984). "Madonna shows she has a voice". Jacksonville Daily News. p. 50. Retrieved August 29, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ Miller, Debby (January 17, 1985). "Home > Music > Album Reviews > Like a Virgin". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 47, no. 35. February 9, 1985. p. 7. ISSN 0008-7289. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  28. ↑ Smith, Russell (May 3, 1985). "Madonna's image a deliberately unsaintly one". The Kansas City Star. p. 42. Retrieved September 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. 1 2 3 Nissim, Mayer (August 16, 2024). "Madonna's 60 best singles ranked as Queen of Pop turns 66". PinkNews. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  30. 1 2 Alonso, Sebastián E. (June 18, 2018). "Las 60 mejores canciones de Madonna" [Madonna's 60 best songs] (in Spanish). Jenesaispop. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  31. 1 2 Bartleet, Larry (June 14, 2019). "Madonna's 20 best songs". NME. Archived from the original on August 18, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 Flynn, Rik (April 22, 2025). "Top 40 Madonna songs". Classic Pop. Archived from the original on May 20, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  33. ↑ Taraborrelli 2001, p. 89
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 Rettenmund 1995, pp. 112–114
  35. ↑ "Hot 100 singles radio action" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 6. February 9, 1985. p. 16. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  36. ↑ "The Hot 100: Week of February 9, 1985". Billboard. February 9, 1985. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
  37. 1 2 Grein, Paul (March 9, 1985). "Chart Beat" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 10. p. 6. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  38. 1 2 "Madonna Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Single stories: Madonna, 'Material Girl'". Rhino Entertainment. August 15, 2018. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
  40. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (August 16, 2024). "Madonna's 40 biggest Billboard hits". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
  41. 1 2 "Madonna Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  42. ↑ Gordon, Gordon (February 13, 2020). "Madonna achieves milestone 50th no. 1 on Dance Club Songs chart with 'I Don't Search I Find'". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
  43. 1 2 "Madonna Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  44. 1 2 3 "1985: The year in music & video" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. pp. T-21, T-23. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  45. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 47, no. 35. February 9, 1985. p. 4. ISSN 0008-7289. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  46. 1 2 "Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 46, no. 42. March 30, 1985. p. 4. ISSN 0008-7289. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  47. ↑ "RPM Top 100 singles". RPM. February 16, 1985. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2026 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  48. 1 2 "RPM Top 100 singles". RPM. April 6, 1985. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2026 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  49. ↑ "RPM Top 100 singles". RPM. July 6, 1985. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2026 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  50. ↑ "Half million for Madonna's Virgin" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 42, no. 21. August 3, 1985. p. 9. ISSN 0315-5994. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  51. 1 2 "RPM''s Top 100 singles of 1985". RPM. December 28, 1985. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2026 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  52. 1 2 "International Bestsellers" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 49, no. 11. August 24, 1985. p. 37. ISSN 0008-7289. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  53. 1 2 "Éxitos en Latinoamérica" [Hits in Latin America]. La Opinión (in Spanish). July 8, 1985. p. 28. Retrieved September 21, 2026 – via Google Books.
  54. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  55. 1 2 "Madonna – Material Girl". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  56. 1 2 "Madonna Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  57. 1 2 "British single certifications – Madonna – Material Girl". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 26, 2026. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Material Girl Madonna in the "Search:" field.
  58. ↑ Justin, Myers (August 16, 2017). "Madonna's official Top 40 biggest selling singles". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on March 8, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2026.
  59. 1 2 "Madonna – Material Girl" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  60. 1 2 "Madonna – Material Girl" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  61. 1 2 "Madonna | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
  62. 1 2 "Nederlandse Top 40 – Madonna" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  63. 1 2 "Madonna – Material Girl" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  64. 1 2 Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  65. 1 2 "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 2, no. 14. April 8, 1985. p. 6. ISSN 1385-612X. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  66. 1 2 "Offizielle Deutsche Charts (West Germany)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  67. 1 2 "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2026. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Madonna".
  68. 1 2 "Madonna – Material Girl". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  69. 1 2 "Madonna: Material Girl (1985)". The Studio Tour. Archived from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
  70. 1 2 3 4 5 Bego 2000, pp. 113–115
  71. 1 2 3 Feldman 2000, p. 195
  72. 1 2 3 4 5 Weingarten, Christopher R.; Johnston, Maura; Newman, Jason; Ebiri, Bilge (February 25, 2015). "Express Yourself: The making of Madonna's 20 greatest music videos". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2026.
  73. ↑ Stone, Suzanne (February 16, 1990). "Return of the celluloid rhinestone and old paste". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 18, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
  74. 1 2 Roots, Kimberly (September 9, 2018). "Memories from the set: Keith Carradine". TVLine. Archived from the original on October 30, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  75. 1 2 Harris, Will (July 20, 2016). "Keith Carradine on Deadwood, Fargo, and Madonna". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  76. ↑ Fenster, Jordan Nathaniel (February 17, 2011). "Robert Wuhl looks at history and legend in Assume the Position". New Haven Register. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  77. ↑ Taraborrelli 2001, p. 94
  78. 1 2 3 4 Gabriel 2023, pp. 117–118
  79. ↑ Guilbert 2002, pp. 43–44
  80. 1 2 Sexton 1992, pp. 174–175
  81. ↑ "MTV programming: As of January 30, 1985" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 6. February 9, 1985. p. 16. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  82. ↑ "The clip winners of 1985" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 1. January 6, 1986. p. 19. ISSN 1385-612X. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  83. ↑ Madonna (1990). The Immaculate Collection (Liner notes). Warner Music Vision. 7599-38195-2.
  84. ↑ Cross 2007, p. 36
  85. 1 2 3 "Madonna's 25 greatest music videos". Slant Magazine. October 6, 2022. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  86. ↑ Kellner 1995, pp. 273–275
  87. ↑ Metz & Benson 1999, p. 277
  88. ↑ Metz & Benson 1999, pp. 255–256
  89. 1 2 Lloyd 1993, pp. 36–37
  90. ↑ Sullivan 2014, p. 66
  91. 1 2 3 Virtel, Louis (August 16, 2013). "Madonna's 55 best videos, in honor of her 55th birthday". TheBacklot.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  92. 1 2 Ferraro 2005, pp. 150–151
  93. ↑ Kelly, Ben (August 11, 2018). "Madonna at 60: The ten best music videos from the Queen of Pop". The Independent. Archived from the original on August 11, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  94. ↑ "Madonna.com > Discography > Material Girl". Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2026 – via Official Madonna Website.
  95. ↑ 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 November 13, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  96. ↑ Sauvalle, Julien (March 10, 2015). "Madonna's 20 most stylish videos". Out. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  97. ↑ Browne, David; Conteh, Mankaprr; Ehrlich, Brenna; Fear, David; Fontoura, Maria; Freeman, Jon; Garber-Paul, Elisabeth; Greene, Andy; Grow, Kory; Hiatt, Brian; Hoard, Christian; Ihaza, Jeff; Newman, Jason; Martoccio, Angie; Portwood, Jerry; Shaffer, Claire; Sheffield, Rob; Shteamer, Hank; Spanos, Brittany; Vozick-Levinson, Simon (August 3, 2021). "The 100 greatest music videos". Rolling Stone Australia. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  98. ↑ Jones, Gina (July 10, 2016). "9 of Madonna's most iconic looks, because 'Vogue'". Bustle. Archived from the original on July 14, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  99. ↑ Solosi, Mary (August 16, 2018). "Madonna's fashion evolution". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  100. ↑ Scharf, Lindzi (July 26, 2013). "What's Madonna's all-time greatest fashion phase?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 24, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  101. ↑ Blair, Olivia (August 16, 2018). "Madonna's most iconic fashion moments through the years". Harper's Bazaar. Archived from the original on June 27, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  102. ↑ Gavilanes, Grace (June 6, 2023). "Madonna's 25 most iconic looks ever". InStyle. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  103. ↑ Shultz, Cara Lynn; Parsley, Aaron; Krauser, Emily (June 29, 2026). "Madonna's best fashion moments of all time". People. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  104. ↑ "Madonna.com > Tours > Virgin Tour". Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2026 – via Official Madonna Website.
  105. ↑ "Madonna.com > Tours > Who's That Girl World Tour". Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2026 – via Official Madonna Website.
  106. ↑ "Madonna.com > Tours > Blond Ambition Tour". Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2026 – via Official Madonna website.
  107. ↑ "Madonna.com > Tours > Re-Invention Tour". Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2026 – via Official Madonna Website.
  108. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Katie (December 14, 2015). "Madonna in Manchester: The setlist for the Rebel Heart Tour". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on January 13, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  109. 1 2 Fisher, Mia (June 14, 1985). "'Material Madonna' captivates Spectrum". The Millville Daily. p. 7. Retrieved August 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  110. 1 2 3 Tomlinson, Stuart (April 12, 1985). "Madonna in the flesh: She knows how to rock". USA Today. p. 11. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  111. ↑ Metz & Benson 1999, p. 5
  112. ↑ "Material girl's dad performs". The Baltimore Sun. May 28, 1985. p. 10. Retrieved September 4, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  113. ↑ Madonna (1985). Madonna Live: The Virgin Tour (VHS). Warner Music Vision. 38105-3.
  114. 1 2 Harrington, Richard (July 3, 1987). "Madonna's star turn at RFK". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  115. ↑ Pareles, Jon (July 15, 1987). "Pop: Madonna benefit for AIDS at the Garden". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 11, 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  116. ↑ Morgan 2015, p. 103
  117. ↑ Phares, Heather (1988). "Madonna > Ciao Italia: Live in Italy [Video] > overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  118. ↑ Bego 2000, p. 249
  119. ↑ Benstock & Ferriss 1994, p. 174
  120. ↑ Guilbert 2002, p. 44
  121. ↑ Rooksby 2004, p. 94
  122. ↑ Moss, Corey (May 25, 2004). "Madonna twirls rifle, lifts up her kilt at tour opener". MTV News. Archived from the original on June 10, 2004. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  123. 1 2 Pacienza, Angela (July 18, 2004). "Madonna thrills fans with over-the-top theatrical concert in Toronto". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2004. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  124. ↑ Graff, Gary (November 19, 2008). "Madonna returns triumphant at Ford Field". The Oakland Press. Archived from the original on October 14, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  125. ↑ Madonna (2013). MDNA World Tour (CD/DVD/Blu-ray). Interscope Records. 602537507054.
  126. ↑ Branch, Kate (September 25, 2015). "All the incredible designer costumes in Madonna's Rebel Heart Tour". Glamour. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  127. ↑ Needham, Alex (September 17, 2015). "Madonna at Madison Square Garden review – 'There is no other performer like her'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  128. ↑ Stevenson, Jane (October 5, 2015). "Madonna puts on rebellious show for Toronto fans". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
  129. ↑ Chareuncy, Don (October 27, 2015). "Review + photos: For rebel heart Madonna, it's still good to be Queen of Pop". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on October 30, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
  130. ↑ "Rebel Heart Tour DVD/Blu-ray & CD tracklisting revealed". August 15, 2017. Archived from the original on September 12, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2026 – via Official Madonna Website.
  131. ↑ Homan 2006, p. 216
  132. ↑ Li, Shirley (August 17, 2018). "Crazy Rich Asians: Behind the soundtrack's multilingual covers of Madonna, Coldplay, and more". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  133. ↑ Huey, Steve (March 23, 1999). "Various Artists > Virgin Voices: A Tribute to Madonna, Vol. 1 > Overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 23, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
  134. ↑ Jeffries, David (December 5, 2006). "Richard Cheese > I'd Like a Virgin > Overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  135. ↑ Reid, Shaheem (August 10, 2005). "Lil Jon jamming on LPs from Trillville, Scrappy — and Jessica and Hilary". MTV News. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
  136. 1 2 "For the record: Quick news on Kanye West, U2, Madonna, Hilary and Haylie Duff, Pearl Jam & more". MTV News. July 21, 2006. Archived from the original on May 13, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  137. ↑ Lapatine, Scott (July 24, 2006). "New Hilary and Haylie Duff – 'Material Girl'". Stereogum. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
  138. ↑ "Laura León: Cuiden su 'tesoro'" [Laura León: Take care of your 'treasure']. El Universal (in Spanish). June 13, 2021. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  139. ↑ Ganahl, Jane (July 30, 1999). "The musical equivalent of cotton candy: Britney Spears is bland and sweet, and the teen set just eats her up". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
  140. ↑ "Hafdis Huld speaks out about Dolly Parton cancellation". NME. March 16, 2008. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
  141. ↑ "Elton John sings 'Like a Virgin' with troupe of almost-naked dancers (Video)". HuffPost. May 14, 2010. Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  142. ↑ Skinner, Tom (January 20, 2022). "Check out Wet Leg's scuzzy live cover of Madonna's 'Material Girl'". NME. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
  143. ↑ "Sabrina Carpenter performs Madonna's 'Material Girl' in video". Yahoo News. April 1, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  144. ↑ Betts 2006, p. 825
  145. ↑ Finch 1993, p. 74
  146. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (May 19, 2001). "Review: Moulin Rouge, original soundtrack". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on December 11, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  147. ↑ DiMeglio, Mary J. (August 23, 2019). "Moulin Rouge! The Musical mashes up Beyoncé, Madonna & more for 'The Sparkling Diamond': Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  148. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (January 24, 2007). "Elite Beat Agents". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  149. ↑ Dailey, Hannah (July 6, 2022). "8 best musical moments on Stranger Things". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  150. 1 2 Atkinson, Katie; Feeney, Nolan; Gracie, Bianca; Lynch, Joe; Unterberger, Andrew (August 15, 2018). "The 100 greatest Madonna songs: Critics' picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  151. ↑ Virtel, Louis (March 2, 2013). "The 100 greatest Madonna songs". TheBacklot.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2015. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  152. 1 2 Franks, Allison; Roffman, Michael (August 16, 2022). "Madonna's top 20 songs". Consequence. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2026.
  153. 1 2 Graham, Adam (August 16, 2020). "Like an icon: Madonna's 62 best songs, for her 62nd birthday". The Detroit News. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  154. 1 2 Fitzgerald, Toni (May 31, 2025). "25 Madonna songs that shaped Pop music history". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 1, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  155. ↑ Morgan, Joe (August 15, 2014). "The definitive ranking of Madonna's top 55 songs". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on August 18, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  156. ↑ Alonso, Sebastián E. (March 31, 2008). "Top 40 Madonna" (in Spanish). Jenesaispop. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  157. ↑ 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 September 4, 2026.
  158. 1 2 "Madonna's 50 greatest songs". Rolling Stone. July 27, 2016. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  159. ↑ Ruggieri, Melissa (August 16, 2023). "Madonna turns 65, so naturally we rank her 65 best songs". USA Today. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  160. ↑ Hogsett, Yahoo (April 19, 2010). "The 20 best Madonna songs". Yahoo Voices. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  161. ↑ Feinstein 2015, p. 11
  162. ↑ McGee, Alan (October 28, 2008). "Madonna is pop art". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 22, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
  163. ↑ Frank, Alex (July 2, 2026). "Madonna's lasting legacy just may be the women she inspired". Vogue. Archived from the original on July 2, 2026. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
  164. ↑ Menand, Louis (July 22, 2024). "When yuppies rules". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
  165. ↑ Mattson 2020, pp. 242–243
  166. ↑ "Every Madonna album ranked". Slant Magazine. May 18, 2026. Archived from the original on May 19, 2026. Retrieved September 17, 2026.
  167. ↑ "Madonna's 13 studio albums ranked". The Advocate. January 23, 2015. Archived from the original on January 25, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
  168. ↑ Pollock 2005, p. 215
  169. ↑ Spears, Steve (April 25, 2007). "Stuck in the 80s: 40 songs that changed the world". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
  170. ↑ Taraborrelli 2001, p. 92
  171. ↑ Drew, Ian (March 23, 2015). "Madonna: I'd be invited to meet Obama if I were married to Jay Z — the complete 25 things you don't know about me". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on March 23, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  172. ↑ Guilbert 2002, pp. 178
  173. ↑ Guilbert 2002, pp. 171
  174. ↑ "Madonna's Material Girl clothing line launches at Macy's in New York City". MTV News. March 8, 2010. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  175. ↑ Gardner, Eriq (July 9, 2011). "Madonna's 'Material Girl' tademark claim rejected by judge". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  176. ↑ Madonna (1985). Material Girl (American seven-inch single liner notes). Warner Bros. Sire. 7-29083.
  177. ↑ Madonna (1985). Material Girl (European seven-inch single liner notes). Warner Bros. Sire. 929 083-7.
  178. ↑ Madonna (1985). Material Girl (Japanese seven-inch single liner notes). Warner Bros. Sire. P-1943.
  179. ↑ Madonna (1985). Material Girl (American twelve-inch single liner notes). Warner Bros. Sire. 9 20304-0 A.
  180. ↑ Madonna (1985). Material Girl (European twelve-inch single liner notes). Warner Bros. Sire. W 9083 T.
  181. ↑ Madonna (2001). Material Girl (CD single liner notes). Warner Bros. Sire. 20304-2.
  182. ↑ "Material Girl (2024 Remaster) - Single". Warner Bros. Sire. January 23, 1985. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2026 – via Apple Music.
  183. ↑ Pennaen, Timo (2021). "Sisältää hitin: 1.1.1960 – 30.6.2021" [Includes a Hit: January 1, 1960 – June 30, 2021] (PDF) (in Finnish). Musiikkiarkisto. p. 157. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  184. ↑ "Madonna – Material Girl" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  185. ↑ "SA Charts 1969 - 1989: Acts M". South African Rock Lists. Archived from the original on January 18, 2004. Retrieved September 22, 2026 – via Rock.co.za.
  186. ↑ "Madonna Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  187. ↑ "Madonna Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  188. ↑ "Madonna". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2026.
  189. ↑ "Bestsellery i wyróżnienia - AirPlays - Top - Archiwum" (in Polish). ZPAV. Archived from the original. Retrieved September 21, 2026. [dead link]
  190. ↑ "National top 100 singles for 1985". Australian Music Report. No. 599. December 30, 1985.
  191. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1985" [1985 Year-end charts] (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Archived from the original on July 6, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2026.
  192. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985" [Top 100 year-end chart of 1985] (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2026.
  193. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1985" [Year-end charts – Singles 1985] (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Archived from the original on September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
  194. ↑ "Top 100 Singles: January 5-December 28, 1985" (PDF). Music Week. January 18, 1986. p. 10. ISSN 0265-1548. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2026 – via World Radio History.
  195. ↑ "The Cash Box year-end charts: 1985". Cash Box. December 28, 1985. Archived from the original on January 18, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  196. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Madonna – Material Girl" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  197. ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Charts. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  198. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Madonna – Material Girl". Radioscope. Retrieved September 26, 2026. Type Material Girl in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  199. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – Madonna – Material Girl". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  200. ↑ "Madonna, Material Girl, single". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  201. ↑ Trust, Gary (October 29, 2010). "Ask Billboard: Sugarland's sweet success". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  202. 1 2 Wass, Mike (August 4, 2022). "Saucy Santana teams with Madonna for 'Material Gworrllllllll!' remix". Variety. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  203. 1 2 Shutler, Ali (August 8, 2022). "Madonna teams up with viral star Saucy Santana for 'Material Gworrllllllll!'". NME. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  204. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Irvin, Jack (August 8, 2022). "Madonna raps about spending money on 'Material Gworrllllllll!' remix with viral star Saucy Santana". People. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  205. ↑ Escobedo, Lee (July 15, 2022). "Rapper Saucy Santana on breaking barriers, Blue Ivy & becoming a 'freaking superstar'". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
  206. 1 2 "Madonna & Saucy Santana release 'Material Gworrlllllll!'". August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2026 – via Official Madonna Website.
  207. 1 2 Nolfi, Joey (August 5, 2022). "Madonna evolves 'Material Girl' legacy in bonkers, self-referencing Saucy Santana rap song". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  208. 1 2 "Official Singles Downloads Chart on 12/8/2022 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 31, 2026.

Literary sources

[edit]


[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Material_Girl&oldid=1377063942"