Customer Reviews

Like a Virgin

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Madonna's second album was scheduled for a 1984 summer release but was shelved for the Christmas market so that Sire Records could continue mining hits from "Madonna" the first album, which was still experiencing strong sales due to "Borderline" and "Lucky Star" being in heavy rotation on MTV and the other music-video TV programs. While "Madonna" was an excellent debut and really captured the hedonistic spirit of the New York dance scene in the early '80s, by teaming up with veteran producer Nile Rogers, Madonna delivered my favorite album of hers of the decade (and third fave overall--behind "Music" and "Erotica"). What makes "Virgin" so much better than M's other '80s output is that even the non-singles are terrific, unlike the terrible filler found on "True Blue" like "Jimmy Jimmy" and "Loves Makes the World Go Round".

Rogers shades the album with a deliciously decadent, sophisticated-sounding pop-gloss that is the musical equivalent of silk sheets or expensive chocolates. This is especially evident on the love-gone-wrong numbers ("Pretender", "Love Don't Live Here Anymore") or where Madonna professes her undying devotion ("Shoo-Be-Doo", "Stay"). The production all-around is classy and flawless with lots of gorgeous, plucky strings and razor-sharp drumming.

If anything deserves to sound out-of-place here, it's the opening number. "Material Girl" has Madonna in the Betty Boop mode that would serve her well on later fare like "Santa Baby" and much of the "Dick Tracy" soundtrack. Still a catchy tune over 25 years later, I do admit it's probably my least favorite here due to overexposure. The title track doesn't get near as much airplay on retro stations these days as her other '80s hits, yet it's still one of the decades best female singles IMO. And I do prefer the original, uncluttered version here rather than the one with unnecessary bells and chimes that appeared on "The Immaculate Collection".

The remaining two tracks are fantastic slices of dance-pop. "Over and Over" is a rousing anthem for perseverance, but to truly appreciate it, I recommend you seek out the blistering extended remix found on "You Can Dance". The classy dance number "Dress You Up" was remixed for radio with a dated synthesized drum roll, but the original here with its fantastic four-beat opening is the only one you need to hear.

The original 12-inch versions of "Material Girl" and "Like a Virgin" are included as bonus cuts. While "Material" has enough tweaks to make it interesting, "Virgin" should have been replaced with the 12-inch version of "Angel" which was remixed to sound like a live recording.

This is the album that made Madonna a superstar. It allowed her to grow as an artist as her vocals display a wider range and proved she could handle the ballads when called upon. FIVE STARS.

Like A Virgin (1984.) Madonna's second album.

Early in the eighties, Madonna came onto the musical scene with the single Everybody. Not long after its release, her 1983 debut LP was released. The LP contained a number of excellent tracks. But, while many of the songs it featured are revered as classics today, at its time of release it didn't do very much to put Madonna in the spotlight. She needed to release another album, and she did so the following year. 1985's Like A Virgin is the album that first brought Madonna the popularity she has had for so very long, and this is arguably her most popular album. Is it deserving of this reputation, or is it just an overrated release? Read on for my review of Like A Virgin.

To put it in the simplest terms possible, this IS an overrated album (and I personally like the lesser-known debut better), but it's an album that deserves to be overrated. There were many female pop singers trying to make it big in the eighties, and Madonna was one of the few whose music was worthwhile. This is the album that put her in the spotlight, and rightfully so. The title track is arguably the biggest hit of her entire career. And, of course, that's not the only hit. We've also got Material Girl and Dress You Up, both of which became extremely popular. But, much like her first LP, some of the best tracks on Madonna's sophomore effort are the tracks that were never very popular at all. Angel and Over And Over had some minor popularity, but sadly, they never became as popular as the really popular tracks featured on the album. That's a shame, because these songs feature the kind of upbeat, bouncy pop music that only the eighties incarnation of Madonna could ever shell out. She even serves up a ballad, Love Don't Live Here Anymore. One of the most interesting songs on the album is Shoo-Be-Doo, because it's the perfect balance between a pop hit and a ballad. This goes to show just how excellent her music is. The closers, Pretender and Stay, tend to go overlooked, even by Madonna fans. That's bites, because they are VERY good songs. The fact that they were featured as single B-Sides doesn't help their reputation any, either. In the end, Madonna's sophomore album is a damn fine piece of eighties pop music.

THIS TEXT REFERS EXCLUSIVELY TO THE WARNER REMASTERS EDITION OF THE ALBUM. Many of Madonna's albums were recently rereleased as part of the Warner Remasters series of album reissues. The liner notes have been expanded, the sound quality has been improved, and bonus tracks have been added! In the case of the Like A Virgin album, you get extended dance remixes of two of the tracks! That's pretty cool. Too bad they didn't put bonus tracks like this on their Van Halen reissues...

Like A Virgin is the album that shot Madonna straight up to instant popularity, and rightly so. She has shelled out a number of excellent albums over the years, and this is among the finest. They don't call her the Queen of Pop for nothing! If you're a fan of Madonna or eighties pop music in general, don't hesitate to add this one to your collection.

There I was, a shy, geeky spendthrifty 14-year-old. Then along came Madonna and Like a Virgin. Suddenly, I was a total Madonna addict, listening to this album religiously every day, buying every silly teen mag that even mentioned her, and--to the horror of my parents--covering all of my walls with Madonna posters. No other album has ever had such a influence on me. I was still shy and geeky, of course, but I was a changed person. Over the years, my Madonna worship waned but never disappeared. Going back and listening to this CD now, I am amazed at how great it sounds, and I enjoy the memories it stirs inside of me.

No one can deny how huge this album was. It made Madonna a superstar, and it sunk its anchors into both the album and single bestseller charts. The title track was of course a huge hit and represents to me a cultural phenomenon. Material Girl had an even larger impact, and many would argue the song basically defined the decade of the 80s; it certainly helped shape the decade. Dress You Up was just a fun song with a great beat; as things turned out, it was to a certain extent prophetic because Madonna basically did dress up great multitudes of young admirers copying the Madonna look. Angel was another big hit, largely because it was so easy to relate to. Anyone who has ever had a crush on someone knows exactly what Madonna is singing about here. Over and Over also charted, I believe; it lacks the substance of the other songs on the album, but both the words and the energizing music do encourage you to keep going in the face of setbacks. Love Don't Live Here Anymore is the true gem on here, though. I kept expecting it to be released as a single because I really believed it would be a huge hit. Some parts of the album are a little sugary, but this song proved that Madonna did have substance and a talented voice. She packed real emotion and power into her lyrics, and I have always found the song to be well nigh heartbreaking. As for the remaining songs, Shoo-Be-Doo and Pretender are somewhat formulaic and lack pizzazz, but Stay is a song I have always liked quite a bit. It has an emotional quality that I find compelling; I could do without the "scoop scoop" choruses, but overall I find it a song of significant merit.

Not everyone will associate this album with a personal paradigm shift of great personal importance (which is how I view it), but when you get down to brass tacks, the album has more than its fair share of great songs which remain fun and vibrant all these years later. These songs still energize and inspire me, and Love Don't Live Here Anymore still captivates me. For those who discovered Madonna in the 90s or more recently, these songs may sound simplistic or perhaps immature, but I believe that the eternal spirit, magic, and unparalleled success of Madonna can be traced back to its very source in Like A Virgin.

This CD is what made Madonna famous! There are lots of great songs on this album. You will enjoy it for sure... at least I did very much!

This is the album that made Madonna a household name, and this is the album that made sure that the world outside of the U.S. know about her too. It redefined music of the eighties and became a classic album, yet it still sounds fresh and entertaining today.

Album Cover: 5/5
Need I say more? Madonna with her sexy dress and lace gloves and that controversial boy-toy belt makes this one of the best and sexiest album covers ever.

1. Material Girl: 5/5
This song is fun and sly, yet not so bratty. It sounds glamorous and fresh. It gave Madonna the nickname that they still call her today, twenty years later. The only thing is that it is sort of embarrassing when someone catches you secretly singing this song to yourself.

2. Angel: 4/5
Although this song is simple and bare, it has a fun beat and oozes mainstream attractiveness. It is simple, yet one of the most uplifting songs on this album.

3. Like A Virgin: 5/5
This is the song that established Madonna as a superstar. Amen. It includes controversial lyrics, and Madonna's voice sounds pure and virginal. However, looking back at the cover, something in her eyes tells you that she lost her virginity long ago.

4. Over and Over: 4/5
This song's simple and uplifting message makes this an awesome sing-along song. It has catchy bridges and a sing-along chorus, what more can you ask for?

5. Love Don't Live Here Anymore: 5/5
Although most people say that Madonna convinced them she can sing with "Live to Tell", this was the song that told me she had a great voice. The haunting strings and anguished vocals are what everyone envies for today.

6. Dress You Up: 4.5/5
This song is a metaphor between fashion and sex. Totally fun, totally sexy. It has such a great outro that I want to listen to it over and over again.

7. Shoo-Bee-Doo: 2.5/5
This is this album's only filler. However, after the mediocre beginning, it is actually listenable.

8. Pretender: 3.5/5
This is Madonna's version of J.Lo's "I'm Real". She talks about how she hates pretenders, and this is a repetitive but enjoyable track.

9. Stay: 5/5
This album features a total Madonna transformation. After the "Material Girl" beginning, you hear Madonna singing "I can make you love me, love me, love me..." while she fades on this song. Total pure gold.

Overall Rating: 5/5

Since its release, this album has sold 22,000,000 copies worldwide.

There I was, a shy, geeky spendthrifty 14-year-old. Then along came Madonna and Like a Virgin. Suddenly, I was a total Madonna addict, listening to this album religiously every day, buying every silly teen mag that even mentioned her, and--to the horror of my parents--covering all of my walls with Madonna posters. No other album has ever had such a influence on me. I was still shy and geeky, of course, but I was a changed person. Over the years, my Madonna worship waned but never disappeared. Going back and listening to this CD now, I am amazed at how great it sounds, and I enjoy the memories it stirs inside of me.

No one can deny how huge this album was. It made Madonna a superstar, and it sunk its anchors into both the album and single bestseller charts. The title track was of course a huge hit and represents to me a cultural phenomenon. Material Girl had an even larger impact, and many would argue the song basically defined the decade of the 80s; it certainly helped shape the decade. Dress You Up was just a fun song with a great beat; as things turned out, it was to a certain extent prophetic because Madonna basically did dress up great multitudes of young admirers copying the Madonna look. Angel was another big hit, largely because it was so easy to relate to. Anyone who has ever had a crush on someone knows exactly what Madonna is singing about here. Over and Over also charted, I believe; it lacks the substance of the other songs on the album, but both the words and the energizing music do encourage you to keep going in the face of setbacks. Love Don't Live Here Anymore is the true gem on here, though. I kept expecting it to be released as a single because I really believed it would be a huge hit. Some parts of the album are a little sugary, but this song proved that Madonna did have substance and a talented voice. She packed real emotion and power into her lyrics, and I have always found the song to be well nigh heartbreaking. As for the remaining songs, Shoo-Be-Doo and Pretender are somewhat formulaic and lack pizzazz, but Stay is a song I have always liked quite a bit. It has an emotional quality that I find compelling; I could do without the "scoop scoop" choruses, but overall I find it a song of significant merit.

Not everyone will associate this album with a personal paradigm shift of great personal importance (which is how I view it), but when you get down to brass tacks, the album has more than its fair share of great songs which remain fun and vibrant all these years later. These songs still energize and inspire me, and Love Don't Live Here Anymore still captivates me. For those who discovered Madonna in the 90s or more recently, these songs may sound simplistic or perhaps immature, but I believe that the eternal spirit, magic, and unparalleled success of Madonna can be traced back to its very source in Like A Virgin.

Previously to this album, Madonna released a self titled album, which wasn't too big until this album hit the market.

This is the album which made Madonna a star and a worldwide name.
This is the album that gave her first US #1 hit out of her 12. That hit was none other than the title track "like a virgin." Almost controversial being that her name is Madonna... But it worked!
It also spawned off a hit which would give her the name which she would later regret to have and rebel against. Material Girl, which had a rockier edge to it while remaining an 80s pop anthem.
Other hits include Dress You Up, and Angel.
During this era Madonna was big but was still in heavy competition with none other with Cyndi Lauper. In that time they said Cyndi would outlast Madonna do to her better voice.
So much for that, as Madonna had become a marketing genius to be reackoned with.
This was also the era when Madonna made her big screen appearance with "Desperately Seeking Susan," which spawned off an 80s anthem and arguably her greatest dance hit, "Into the Groove." Into the Groove is famous for being the b-side to "Angel" rather than the #1 hit it was destined to be. Although it could never chart, it still managed to get massive radio airplay and is still recognized as a huge success for Madonna.

Although this album made Madonna a huge success, aside from the singles, a lot of weak songs are present. Pretender and Shoo Bee Doo just don't stand out and aren't that great.
Over and Over is catchy, but still very shallow and not too inspired. "Stay" however, is a great song with a great heavy sound and great lyrics.
All in all this album doesn't deserve more than a 3 out of 5.

As other reviewers before me have very perceptively noted, this IS without doubt one of the best albums of the 1980s. It did shoot Madonna to fame and she deserved every bit of her success! Listening to the first four songs "Material Girl," Angel," "Like a Virgin," and "Over and Over," I felt young, excited, optimistic and happy as I did all twenty years ago when I first heard these wonderfully infectious songs! (It encourages you to reminisce about the good old days, too--as well as the materialism of the '80s! GRIN) Following them is the torchy pop ballad "Love Don't Live Here Anymore," which Madonna performs very well. "Dress You Up" is yet another tune that immediately became a global hit for "The Material Girl." "Shoo-Bee-Doo" is a slower ballad that goes well after the faster paced "Dress You Up." This album also includes very, very good songs like the slower "Pretender" and the song "Stay." The listener then gets the added plusses of extended dance mixes of "Like a Virgin" and "Material Girl."

The sound quality is excellent throughout the entire remastered CD! The liner notes include the lyrics to all the songs and there are a few great shots of Madonna taken at that time, too. A real plus for Madonna fans!

Not only is this one of her greatest albums, this CD would also be an excellent introduction to the newcomer who wants to see what Madonna could produce at such an early point in her career. I strongly recommend this remastered CD as a great addition for Madonna fans who only have the original CD or the vinyl album. Only regret: "Into The Groove" isn't here! Hey! To improve this incredible CD even further, can we use this as a springboard to remaster it yet again as something even more awesome (although there's not too much room to go higher)? Only time will tell.....GRIN

Like A Virgin (1984.) Madonna's second album.

Early in the eighties, Madonna came onto the musical scene with the single Everybody. Not long after its release, her 1983 debut LP was released. The LP contained a number of excellent tracks. But, while many of the songs it featured are revered as classics today, at its time of release it didn't do very much to put Madonna in the spotlight. She needed to release another album, and she did so the following year. 1985's Like A Virgin is the album that first brought Madonna the popularity she has had for so very long, and this is arguably her most popular album. Is it deserving of this reputation, or is it just an overrated release? Read on for my review of Like A Virgin.

To put it in the simplest terms possible, this IS an overrated album (and I personally like the lesser-known debut better), but it's an album that deserves to be overrated. There were many female pop singers trying to make it big in the eighties, and Madonna was one of the few whose music was worthwhile. This is the album that put her in the spotlight, and rightfully so. The title track is arguably the biggest hit of her entire career. And, of course, that's not the only hit. We've also got Material Girl and Dress You Up, both of which became extremely popular. But, much like her first LP, some of the best tracks on Madonna's sophomore effort are the tracks that were never very popular at all. Angel and Over And Over had some minor popularity, but sadly, they never became as popular as the really popular tracks featured on the album. That's a shame, because these songs feature the kind of upbeat, bouncy pop music that only the eighties incarnation of Madonna could ever shell out. She even serves up a ballad, Love Don't Live Here Anymore. One of the most interesting songs on the album is Shoo-Be-Doo, because it's the perfect balance between a pop hit and a ballad. This goes to show just how excellent her music is. The closers, Pretender and Stay, tend to go overlooked, even by Madonna fans. That's bites, because they are VERY good songs. The fact that they were featured as single B-Sides doesn't help their reputation any, either. In the end, Madonna's sophomore album is a damn fine piece of eighties pop music.

THIS TEXT REFERS EXCLUSIVELY TO THE WARNER REMASTERS EDITION OF THE ALBUM. Many of Madonna's albums were recently rereleased as part of the Warner Remasters series of album reissues. The liner notes have been expanded, the sound quality has been improved, and bonus tracks have been added! In the case of the Like A Virgin album, you get extended dance remixes of two of the tracks! That's pretty cool. Too bad they didn't put bonus tracks like this on their Van Halen reissues...

Like A Virgin is the album that shot Madonna straight up to instant popularity, and rightly so. She has shelled out a number of excellent albums over the years, and this is among the finest. They don't call her the Queen of Pop for nothing! If you're a fan of Madonna or eighties pop music in general, don't hesitate to add this one to your collection.

Although her 1983 self - titled debut was a hit, Madonn had to wait until December of 1984 before she was a superstar. When "Like A Virgin" reached # 1 and stayed there for 6 weeks, the world was ready to welcome a new pop superstar. 1985's "Like A Virgin" welcomed her into the world of music, knocking Prince's "Purple Rain" from # 1 after 24 consecutive weeks at the top. Yielding 5 top 5 singles, Madonna had arrived.

The album opens with its other massive hit, the bright and fun "Material Girl", her tribute to Marilyn Monroe in a way. It remains one of the best '80s' pop songs. It also went to # 2, unable to unseat "One More Night" by Phil Collins. "Angel" (# 5) is a great and upbeat. Next comes the moment we've all been waiting for. From its heavy synthesized intro to its breathy close, the title track might as well be the best song of the 1980s', summing the decade up (in musical terms) in just over three minutes. "Over And Over" is a rapid - paved dance number sure to have you on your feet. Following is her soulful cover of Rose Royce's "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" that is so beautiful, you can't help but wonder why they waited 11 years to release it as a single (a remixed version peaked at # 78 in 1996). "Dress You Up" was another big hit. It's not really anything special, but it's still a fun and harmless little pop song. "Shoo - Be - Doo" is a nice slower number. "Pretender" is a bit of a downer, but the album closes on a high note with "Stay", which has a mesmerizing chorus.

"Like A Virgin" was the album that blew everyone away. Madonna had emerged from Detroit and proven herself a durable pop artist with moe than just a few tricks up her sleeve.