On this day July 21 1987, Madonna released the soundtrack to the film Who's That Girl, marking another major moment in her dominance of 1980s pop culture. The album featured four new Madonna tracks, including the upbeat title song which became a number one hit in the United States.
The soundtrack blended Madonna’s contributions with songs by artists like Scritti Politti and Club Nouveau, but it was her presence that drove its popularity. In addition to the title track, the album included fan favorites like Causing a Commotion and The Look of Love, both of which saw chart success around the world. The music perfectly matched the whimsical tone of the film and helped extend Madonna’s reach from music into movies with confidence.
While the film itself received mixed reviews, the soundtrack soared, eventually going platinum and further cementing Madonna’s reputation as the defining pop icon of the decade. It was her ability to turn even a soundtrack into a chart topping release that set her apart from her peers.
80s insight: By 1987, Madonna was not just a singer. She was a brand. The success of the Who’s That Girl soundtrack showed she could headline a film and dominate the charts at the same time.
The soundtrack blended Madonna’s contributions with songs by artists like Scritti Politti and Club Nouveau, but it was her presence that drove its popularity. In addition to the title track, the album included fan favorites like Causing a Commotion and The Look of Love, both of which saw chart success around the world. The music perfectly matched the whimsical tone of the film and helped extend Madonna’s reach from music into movies with confidence.
While the film itself received mixed reviews, the soundtrack soared, eventually going platinum and further cementing Madonna’s reputation as the defining pop icon of the decade. It was her ability to turn even a soundtrack into a chart topping release that set her apart from her peers.
80s insight: By 1987, Madonna was not just a singer. She was a brand. The success of the Who’s That Girl soundtrack showed she could headline a film and dominate the charts at the same time.
