"Causing a Commotion" is a song by American singer Madonna from the soundtrack to the 1987 film Who's That Girl. Written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray, it is an uptempo dance-pop track with a prominent bassline and layered vocal harmonies. Its lyrics draw on themes of romantic tension and media scrutiny, partly inspired by her marriage to actor Sean Penn and her role in the film, and include nods to her 1985 single "Into the Groove".
| "Causing a Commotion" | ||||
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| Single by Madonna | ||||
| from the album Who's That Girl | ||||
| B-side | "Jimmy, Jimmy" | |||
| Released | August 25, 1987 | |||
| Recorded | March-April 1987 | |||
| Genre | Dance-pop | |||
| Length | 4:20 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters |
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| Producers |
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| Madonna singles chronology | ||||
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| Licensed audio | ||||
| "Causing a Commotion" on YouTube | ||||
The song was released as the soundtrack's second single on August 25, 1987, following early airplay on American radio. As Madonna was on the Who's That Girl World Tour at the time, no official music video was produced; instead, a promotional clip combining film scenes and tour footage was issued. Upon release, the song received generally positive-to-mixed reviews from music critics, who praised its production and dance appeal, though some considered it derivative of Madonna's earlier work and not among her strongest singles.
Commercially, "Causing a Commotion" was successful, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and charting within the top ten in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Madonna performed the song on her Who's That Girl and Blond Ambition (1990) tours, and it has since been covered by a select number of artists. In retrospective assessments, it has been regarded as an underrated entry in Madonna's catalogue.
Background and development
edit
In October 1986, Madonna began filming her third feature film, Who's That Girl, a screwball comedy directed by James Foley—whom she had previously worked with on the music videos for "Live to Tell" and "Papa Don't Preach".[1] The movie stars Madonna as Nikki Finn, a young woman accused of a murder she did not commit; after being released on parole, she sets out to clear her name. Alongside lawyer Loudon Trott (Griffin Dunne), she becomes caught up in "36 hours of high adventure", culminating in a scene where she interrupts a wedding to reveal the real culprit.[2]
Work on the film's soundtrack began in March 1987.[3] Madonna wanted to create songs that would "stand on [their] own as well as support and enhance what was happening on screen".[4] To that end, she enlisted collaborators Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray, the latter of whom also served as the film's musical director.[5][6][7] Together, they wrote and produced four original songs for the soundtrack—the title track, "Causing a Commotion", "The Look of Love", and "Can't Stop".[8] Madonna later noted that the songs "aren't about Nikki, or written to be sung by someone like her", but that they capture "the spirit" of both the film and the character.[2]
"Causing a Commotion" was inspired by Madonna's "tumultuous" relationship with then-husband Sean Penn, whose temper and discomfort with media attention often conflicted with the demands of her public life, including several altercations with paparazzi that drew widespread attention.[9][10] In a 1987 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Madonna stated: "I don't like violence. I never condone hitting anyone, and I never thought that any violence should have taken place. But on the other hand, I understood [Sean's] anger [...] I felt like [he] was 'causing a commotion' to purposefully distract me. I wrote this song and vented my frustration in it".[11]
The song plays over the animated opening sequence of Who's That Girl, which depicts the events leading to Nikki Finn's arrest.[12] The sequence, inspired by Looney Tunes, features an animated Madonna emerging from the Warner Bros. logo and was developed by director James Foley and animator Ric Machin.[12]
Recording and composition
editMadonna and Stephen Bray wrote and produced "Causing a Commotion".[13] It was recorded at Larrabee Sound Studios in Los Angeles between March and April 1987.[14][15] Personnel included Bray on keyboard and guitar arrangements, audio engineers Taavi Mote and Michael Hutchinson, and assistants Elmer Flores and John Hegedes.[14][15] The track was mixed by mixed by Steve Peck and mastered by Michael Verdick at Futuredisk Studios.[13]
Musically, the song has been described as an upbeat dance-pop track with a "catchy" refrain and a prominent bass hook, supported by Bray's keyboard and guitar arrangements, which reflect the style of his band Breakfast Club, and Madonna's own "Into the Groove" (1985).[16][17][18] Annie Zaleski of Consequence characterized it as electropop, while Erika Wolf of Albumism called it "somewhat bubblegum".[19][20] Michael Freedberg of The Boston Phoenix likened its sound to a modern take on 1950s jump blues, and its "pulsing" bassline has been compared to "Bad" (1987) by Michael Jackson.[21][22][23]
Built in common time with a funk-influenced tempo, the song opens with the refrain before moving into verses structured around a descending four-note bassline and sharp, staccato chords.[2] Layered vocal harmonies and a rhythmic pattern echoing the word "commotion" complement Madonna's vocals, which combine an "alluring [and] unsettling mix" of tones.[24] As the song progresses, the rhythmic pulse becomes increasingly tight and driving, mirroring the central hook, "I've got the moves, baby, you got the motion / If we got together we'd be causing a commotion".[8]
Despite its bright, upbeat sound, the lyrics refer to a turbulent relationship and tensions with the media, a contrast noted by critics such as Samuel R. Murrian, who linked it to difficult encounters with paparazzi.[22][25][26] Wolf described the song as an "ode to being sexy and sassy and feeling yourself", adding that it captures the "rough edges" of Nikki Finn's character through lines such as "You met your match when you met me".[20] References to "Into the Groove" appear in lines such as "It's how you play the game / So get into the groove" and "Quit wasting time / Make up your mind / And get into the groove", which Louis Virtel described as a "mantra" for the singer's fans.[5][2][27] The lyrics have also been interpreted as exploring romantic tension and negotiation, with references to ideas such as "opposites attract", while author Victoria Chow suggested that they reflect Madonna's ability to "whip the press into a frenzy".[28][10][29][30]
Release and remixes
edit"Causing a Commotion" was released as the soundtrack's second single on August 25, 1987.[31] Prior to its release, it received airplay on several American CHR radio stations.[32][33] As Madonna was on the Who's That Girl World Tour at the time of its release, no official music video was shot. Instead, a promotional video was created using clips from the film intercut with footage of the song's tour performance.[31][34][35] By late October, it was among the most aired music videos in Europe, according to a report by Music & Media magazine.[36]
Official remixes were produced Shep Pettibone and co-edited with Junior Vasquez.[37] These included the extended "Silver Screen Mix", a dub instrumental version featuring prominent riff-based arrangements, and the more house-oriented "Movie House Mix".[38] Pettibone's work was praised by Billboard, while German magazine Audio highlighted the "Movie House Mix" as the most effective and energetic version.[39][38]
In 1991, the "Silver Screen Mix" was included on the four-track extended play (EP) The Holiday Collection, alongside "Holiday" (1983), "True Blue" (1986), and "Who's That Girl".[40][41] For the soundtrack's 35th anniversary, Rhino Records released Who's That Girl (Super Club Mix) in April 2022, a five-track extended play featuring remixes of "Who's That Girl" and the "Movie House Mix" and "Silver Screen Mix" of "Causing a Commotion". Issued as part of Record Store Day, the release was limited to 7,500 copies and pressed on red 12-inch vinyl.[42][43]
Critical reception
editUpon release, "Causing a Commotion" received generally positive-to-mixed reviews from music critics. Daniel Brogan of the Chicago Tribune named it the best song on the soundtrack, while Jim Zebora of the Record Journal considered it "almost as good" as "Who's That Girl".[44][45] A reviewer for Dutch newspaper Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode opined that, although not noticeably different, it featured a more danceable rhythm, and in The Extraordinary Book of Lists, Louis Weber wrote that it, along with the title track, was the main reason many purchased the album.[45][46][47] Christian Wright of Spin deemed the song as celebratory, while Stereogum's Tom Breihan called it a "sleek club jam", awarding it an 8 out of 10 rating.[6][48]
The production was subject of praise. Oggie Ramos of the Manila Standard described the track as a "well-polished, well-contrived" dance number, highlighting Bray's "flawless prowess" in keyboard and guitar arrangements.[18] Vince Aletti of Rolling Stone and Robert Matthew-Walker both praised Madonna’s vocal performance, with Aletti also highlighting Bray's "irrepressible rhythmic drive" and Matthew-Walker noting her "delightful" harmonies and phrasing.[24][8] The Gavin Report singled out its groove "from the get-go" driven by a "cool bass line", suggesting it stands on its own apart from the film, and Billboard's Bill Coleman pointed to its catchiness and hook as key strengths.[49][50]
In more mixed and critical reviews, Rikky Rooksby deemed it "perfectly acceptable, though not in the same class" as "Who's That Girl", while Music & Media described it as "speedy [and] cheerful, though a bit clichéd".[2][51] Entertainment Weekly praised its "kicky little slappy beat" and refrain but found the verses "sluggish", and Slant Magazine's Eric Henderson called it "generic and diverting in equal measure".[52][53] Similarly, Joe Morgan of Gay Star News described it as a "classic 80s track" but with "not much to it", while Martin C. Strong and Brendon Griffin perceived a "strange monotony".[54][55]
Negative commentary described the song as "formulaic", with critics such as John Rockwell (The New York Times) arguing that Madonna's vocal strengths were not fully evident, and others considering it among her weaker work.[56][57] The Reading Eagle's Al Walentis called it "so nondescript that [it goes] in one ear and out the other", and Sean Piccoli of the Sun Herald ranked it among her worst songs.[58][59] Comparisons to "Into the Groove" were frequent: Daryl Easlea described it as an "out-and-out retread",[5] The Washington Post noted similar lines and riffs,[60] USA Today's John Milward felt it did not match the impact of her earlier hit,[61] with Piccoli calling it a "lame" rewrite and Jude Rogers (The Guardian) later describing it as a "slighter facsimile".[59][62]
Retrospective reviews have been more positive. Billboard ranked "Causing a Commotion" among Madonna's best songs, noting that its "arresting" bassline and "sugary determination" make it "a delight, albeit a relatively slight one", while also calling its chart success a testament to her star power.[63] Paul Grein opined that it was "snubbed" by the Academy Awards.[64] Both Newsday and Consequence considered it underrated, while Parade noted that it has "remained popular with fans".[65][19][26] Other outlets have included it in rankings of her catalogue, including PinkNews,[9] TheBacklot.com,[27] USA Today,[17] and Gay Star News.[54] The Arizona Republic additionally named it among her best songs from film soundtracks, while Louis Virtel noted that it is often regarded by fans as "the obscurest of [Madonna's] masterpiece singles", and included it among the "10 Greatest Songs from Terrible Movies".[16][66] "Causing a Commotion" was included in Bruce Pollock's Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock & Roll Era.[67]
Chart performance
editIn the United States, "Causing a Commotion" received strong airplay upon release, entering the Billboard Hot 100 at number 41 on September 12, 1987, marking Madonna's thirteenth consecutive highest debut of the week.[68][69] The single quickly climbed the chart, reaching number 11 by October 10, prompting press predictions that it would become her fourteenth consecutive top-ten hit, tying the record for a solo artist—shared with Michael Jackson—and placing her second overall behind the Beatles.[70][71] It entered the top ten the following week and peaked at number two on October 24—her second single to reach that position after "Material Girl" (1985)[72]—where it remained for three weeks, held from the top spot by "Bad" and later Tiffany's "I Think We're Alone Now".[73][74] The song spent eighteen weeks on the chart and ranked at number 46 on the year-end Hot 100.[75][76] As of August 2024, Billboard ranked it as Madonna's 12th most successful Hot 100 entry, as well as her highest-charting single without an official music video.[77]
The single also performed strongly across other Billboard charts, reaching number one on both the Dance Club Play and Dance Singles Sales charts,[78][79] marking her sixth chart-topper on the former and the start of a string of consecutive dance hits.[80] Despite this, it was omitted from Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (2022), Madonna's third remix album, which compiles her Dance Club Songs number ones.[81] It additionally peaked at number 37 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.[82] In Canada, the song debuted at number 90 on the RPM Top 100 Singles on September 19, 1987, before peaking at number two on November 7, where it was held from the top position by Billy Idol's "Mony Mony".[83][84] It was later ranked as the 42nd most successful single of 1987 and was certified gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) for sales of 50,000 copies.[85][86] The single also reached the top five in Mexico.[87]
"Causing a Commotion" achieved strong commercial success internationally. In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number seven on the UK Singles Chart and rose to a peak of number four, becoming Madonna's seventeenth consecutive top-ten single there;[88][89] as of 2015, it was her 32nd best-selling single in the country.[90] It reached number one in Denmark,[91] and peaked at number two in Belgium (Flanders),[92] Ireland,[93] and Iceland.[94] In the Netherlands, it peaked at number three on both the Dutch Single Top 100 and the Dutch Top 40—behind "Bad" and Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up".[95][96][97] The single reached number five on the European Hot 100 Singles,[98] and charted within the top ten in countries such as Finland,[99] Switzerland,[100] Norway,[101] Australia,[102] and New Zealand.[103]
Live performances
edit
Madonna performed "Causing a Commotion" on her Who's That Girl and Blond Ambition (1990) tours.[104][105] On the first, it was performed prior to its single release in a more rock-oriented arrangement.[106][107][108] The singer appeared in a gold lamé, gangster-style outfit and opened the number with ironic remarks about her public image.[109][110] During the performance, dancer Chris Finch performed a series of flips onstage while Madonna mimed air guitar.[111] Toward the end, she removed parts of her costume while introducing the band.[112] The Houston Chronicle named "Causing a Commotion" one of the concert's highlights, while Richard Harrington of The Washington Post felt it was less effective, noting that the public was still unfamiliar with it.[113][107] The performance in Turin was broadcast via satellite during the MTV Video Music Awards, and later included on the home video release Ciao Italia: Live from Italy (1988).[114][115]
The song's performance on the Blond Ambition World Tour saw Madonna dressed in a Jean-Paul Gaultier-designed outfit with a striped boxing blouse over her conical corset.[116][117] She staged a mock fight with backing vocalists Niki Haris and Donna De Lory, who feigned dancing out of sync and tried to push her offstage, before she knocked them down and mockingly kicked them.[118] The number received mixed reviews from critics. Ralph Kiesel for The Toledo Blade praised its energy, while Harrington criticized its "overly tight choreography", arguing it felt like "busywork" masking the song's shortcomings.[119][120] Some also took issue with the staged violence.[121][122] The performance from the tour's final show in Nice, France, was included on the 1991 LaserDisc release Blond Ambition World Tour Live.[123]
Despite not being part of the official set list, Madonna sang a capella snippets of "Causing a Commotion" on some concerts of the Celebration Tour (2023―2024), such as Cologne,[124] Boston,[125] Toronto,[126] Montreal,[127] Pittsburgh,[128] Seattle,[129] and San Francisco.[130]
Covers and use in popular media
editTaiwanese singer Su Rui incorporated "Causing a Commotion" into a medley on her English-language album I've Got the Music in Me (1989), while Indie pop duo TeamMate recorded a version for their 2013 extended play The Sequel.[131][132] Vocalist Dani Buncher, a self-described "huge Madonna fan", said the group wanted to remain "very true to the original", while still adding their "own little spin" to it.[133] Welsh musician Bright Light Bright Light also covered the track for his extended play Cinematography II: Back in the Habit (2017).[16] Some critics noted similarities between "Causing a Commotion" and Jessica Simpson's 2006 single "A Public Affair".[134][135] Around 1986–1987, Madonna signed a $3 million endorsement deal with Mitsubishi Motors, which included a television commercial featuring her dancing to the track in stylized, music video–inspired settings.[136] The song was featured in a 2016 episode of the eight season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where contestants Naomi Smalls and Acid Betty performed it in a lip sync challenge—won by Smalls.[137]
Formats and track listings
edit|
US 7-inch single[138]
US promotional 7-inch single'[139]
US 12-inch maxi single[140]
UK 12-inch single[141]
1991 The Holiday Collection EP[142]
|
1995 European maxi CD[143]
2022 Record Store Day exclusive red 12-inch vinyl[42][43]
2024 Digital single[144]
|
Credits and personnel
editCredits adapted from the Who's That Girl soundtrack liner notes.[13]
- Madonna – vocals, writer, producer
- Stephen Bray – writer, producer, audio mixing
- Shep Pettibone – audio mixing, additional production
- Junior Vasquez – mixing engineer, audio editing
- Steve Peck – mixing engineer
- Jeri Heiden – art direction
- Maura P. McLaughlin – design
Charts
edit
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Notes
edit- ↑ Listed as "Causin' a Commotion"; the version included is the "Silver Screen Mix".
References
edit- ↑ Morton 2001, p. 143
- 1 2 3 4 5 Rooksby 2004, pp. 67–69
- ↑ "Audio tracks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 12. March 21, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 1, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- ↑ Bronson 2003, p. 674
- 1 2 3 Easlea 2012, pp. 65–66
- 1 2 Breihan, Tom (March 8, 2021). "The number ones: Madonna's 'Who's That Girl'". Stereogum. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021.
- ↑ "Happy anniversary: Madonna, 'Causing a Commotion'". Rhino Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Matthew-Walker 1991, pp. 124–127
- 1 2 Nissim, Mayer (August 15, 2018). "Madonna at 60: Queen of Pop's 60 best singles ranked". PinkNews. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- 1 2 Sullivan 2014, p. 234
- ↑ Feldman 2000, p. 211
- 1 2 Roberts, Soraya (January 3, 2017). "Who's That Girl (1987)". Art of the Title. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Madonna (1987). Who's That Girl: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (LP, Vinyl, CD). Warner Bros. 925611-2.
- 1 2 "Audio track" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 12. March 21, 1987. p. 62. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 1, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- 1 2 "Audio track" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 17. April 25, 1987. p. 65. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 23, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- 1 2 3 Mitchell, Garrett (August 16, 2018). "Madonna at 60: Her 10 best songs from movie soundtracks". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- 1 2 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 April 10, 2026.
- 1 2 Ramos, Oggie (August 3, 1987). "A sucker for risks". Manila Standard. p. 14. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Google News.
- 1 2 Zeleski, Annie (January 17, 2023). "A dream setlist for Madonna's 'The Celebration Tour'". Consequence. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- 1 2 Wolf, Erika (July 17, 2022). "Señorita, más fina: Madonna's Who's That Girl soundtrack turns 35 - Anniversary retrospective". Albumism. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- ↑ Freedberg, Michael (January 8, 1988). "The arts of the year in review > Dance Music". The Boston Phoenix. Vol. 17, no. 1. p. 14. ISSN 0163-3015. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Internet Archive.
- 1 2 Ichbiah 2016, pp. 62–63
- ↑ Piatkowski, Peter (February 27, 2007). "Lady Madonna: albums to get and those to avoid". Yahoo Voices. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- 1 2 Rolling Stone Press 1997, p. 76
- ↑ Jacobs, Matthew (March 10, 2015). "The definitive ranking of Madonna singles". HuffPost. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- 1 2 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 April 21, 2026.
- 1 2 Virtel, Louis (March 2, 2013). "The 100 Greatest Madonna Songs". TheBacklot.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- ↑ Rachlin 2020, p. 161
- ↑ Ciuk & Molek-Kozakowska 2010, p. 68
- ↑ Chow 2004, p. 97
- 1 2 "Madonna.com > Discography > Causing a Commotion". Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Official Madonna Website.
- ↑ "CHR P1A" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 698. August 7, 1987. p. 83. ISSN 0277-4860. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- ↑ "CHR P1A" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 699. August 14, 1987. p. 83. ISSN 0277-4860. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- ↑ Jones, Andy (March 18, 2025). "Madonna – the soundtrack albums". Classic Pop. Archived from the original on May 18, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ↑ Scott, Gavin (October 17, 2012). "This Week In 1987: October 18, 1987". Chartbeats. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Euroclips" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 43. October 24, 1987. p. 7. ISSN 1385-612X. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- ↑ Coleman, Bill (September 19, 1987). "Dance trax: Jackson's 'Bad' chock-full of choice club cuts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 38. p. 35. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- 1 2 "Maxi-Singles > Pralinen und Zitronen". Audio (in German). 11. Motor Presse Stuttgart: 238. November 1987. ISSN 0171-4147. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Internet Archive.
- ↑ Peaslee, Dave (September 26, 1987). "Dance music: From the clubs to the mainstream" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 39. p. 35. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- ↑ Rooksby 2004, p. 90
- ↑ Morton 2001, p. 238
- 1 2 "Madonna - Who's That Girl (Super Club Mix)". Rhino Records. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2026 – via Record Store Day.
- 1 2 "Who's That Girl (EP) - limited edition (color vinyl)". Rhino Records. April 23, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2026 – via Amazon.com.
- ↑ Brogan, Daniel (August 7, 1987). "'Causing a Commotion' best, but 'That Girl''s just okay". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- 1 2 Zebora, Jim (August 2, 1987). "Madonna's talent commands attention". Record-Journal. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023 – via Google News.
- ↑ "LP-recensie" [LP reviews]. Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode (in Dutch). Vol. 144, no. 24209. September 29, 1987. p. 9. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ↑ Weber 2007, p. 311
- ↑ Wright, Christian (May 1989). "Madonna: Lady sings the blues". Spin. Vol. 5, no. 2. p. 79. ISSN 0886-3032. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2026 – via Google Books.
- ↑ Fell, Ron; Ruter, Diane (August 28, 1987). "Reviews" (PDF). Gavin Report (167). Retrieved April 22, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- ↑ Coleman, Bill (September 19, 1987). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 38. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 22, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- ↑ "The tripple topper" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 40, no. 30. August 1, 1985. p. 21. ISSN 1385-612X. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 1, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- ↑ Pastorek, Whitney (November 6, 2006). "This week in '87: Hangin' at the mall with Tiffany". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ↑ "All 82 Madonna singles ranked". Slant Magazine. April 14, 2020. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- 1 2 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 April 10, 2026.
- ↑ Strong & Griffin 2008, p. 404
- ↑ Rockwell, John (November 1, 1987). "Pop view; Hits on parade: Some lessons of a top-10 countdown". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (July 21, 1987). "Madonna > Who's That Girl [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] > Overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- ↑ Walentis, Al (August 9, 1987). "Young's new disc old hat; Faithfull scores winner". Reading Eagle. p. D-7. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2026 – via Google News.
- 1 2 Piccoli, Sean (November 21, 2008). "Her best (and worst): Madonna, at 50, by the numbers". Sun Herald. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ Brown, Joe (September 1, 1987). "The Miami movement: Three new albums with Salsa's strongest flavors". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 27, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- ↑ Milward, John; Curry, Jack (July 30, 1987). "Popular". USA Today. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ Rogers, Jude (August 16, 2018). "Every one of Madonna's 78 singles – ranked!". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- ↑ 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 March 21, 2026.
- ↑ Grein, Paul (February 27, 1988). "Oscar smiles on recording stars" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 9. p. 83. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 1, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- ↑ Gamboa, Glenn; Adams, Genetta M. (July 22, 2001). "Music / The dow of Madonna". Newsday. Retrieved May 1, 2026 – via ProQuest.
- ↑ Virtel, Louis (February 4, 2013). "The 10 greatest songs from terrible movies". Logo TV. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
- ↑ Pollock 2005, p. 52
- ↑ "Hot 100 singles action" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 37. September 12, 1987. p. 86. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- ↑ Grein, Paul (September 12, 1987). "Chart Beat: Jackson just can't top 'La Bamba'; soundtrack is at no. 1, too" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 37. p. 6. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- ↑ Grien, Paul (October 10, 1987). "Chart Beat: Whitesnake 45 slithers into no. 1 spot; we 'Document' R.E.M.'s breakthrough" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 41. p. 6. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- ↑ Lara, Lucky (October 7, 1987). "Madonna's latest hit". Manila Standard. p. 23. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via Google News.
- ↑ Lara, Lucky (November 3, 1987). "Swing Out Sister breaks out". Manila Standard. Google News. p. 11. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Grein, Paul (October 24, 1987). "Chart Beat: no more 'Bad' jokes; Michael Jackson leaps to no. 1 on the Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 43. p. 6. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via World Radio History.
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