On this day, January 23, 1985, Madonna released Material Girl as a single from her second album, Like a Virgin. The song became one of Madonna’s most iconic tracks, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and solidifying her status as a pop superstar.
With its catchy melody and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, Material Girl explored themes of wealth and superficiality in relationships. Its accompanying music video, inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s performance of Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, became a defining visual of Madonna’s early career.
Interestingly, despite embracing the image in the video, Madonna later expressed frustration with the nickname “Material Girl,” which followed her for years.
Fun Fact: Madonna has stated that Material Girl was never meant to define her personality, saying in interviews that it was a satirical commentary rather than a personal statement.
Trivia Question: What was the title of Madonna’s first-ever single, released in 1982, that introduced her to the music scene?