Pop music history is filled with roads not take. Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” could have been recorded by one of many other artists. The musical geniuses who wrote the track revealed what they thought of Madonna’s take on “Like a Virgin” and why they believed in the song when nobody else did.
Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’ has an interesting connection to Whitney Houston
While “Like a Virgin” is one of Madonna’s defining songs, she had no role in writing it. Instead, the track was co-written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. The songwriting duo also penned classic hits such as “So Emotional,” Divinyl’s “I Touch Myself,” and “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper. During an interview with Songwriter Universe, the songwriters revealed that many artists turned down “Like a Virgin” before Madonna embraced it.
“It was one of those moments in time and space when everything came together,...
Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’ has an interesting connection to Whitney Houston
While “Like a Virgin” is one of Madonna’s defining songs, she had no role in writing it. Instead, the track was co-written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. The songwriting duo also penned classic hits such as “So Emotional,” Divinyl’s “I Touch Myself,” and “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper. During an interview with Songwriter Universe, the songwriters revealed that many artists turned down “Like a Virgin” before Madonna embraced it.
“It was one of those moments in time and space when everything came together,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Madonna has many obvious predecessors but Smokey Robinson is not one of them. Despite that, Robinson influenced one of the key ingredients of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin.” The Queen of Pop revealed what she thought of “Like a Virgin” and some of her other early songs in retrospect.
Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’ was inspired by Smokey Robinson and a bad relationship
Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly co-wrote “Like a Virgin.” When they wrote it, there was no way they could have known how important the song would become. During an interview with SongwriterUniverse, Steinberg explained how the magic happened.
“It was in 1983 that Tom and I wrote ‘Like a Virgin,'” he explained. “It started with the lyric first. I was driving around in my pickup truck and I got the idea for the song. The idea came out of a personal experience. I was in a devastating relationship,...
Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’ was inspired by Smokey Robinson and a bad relationship
Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly co-wrote “Like a Virgin.” When they wrote it, there was no way they could have known how important the song would become. During an interview with SongwriterUniverse, Steinberg explained how the magic happened.
“It was in 1983 that Tom and I wrote ‘Like a Virgin,'” he explained. “It started with the lyric first. I was driving around in my pickup truck and I got the idea for the song. The idea came out of a personal experience. I was in a devastating relationship,...
- 5/3/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Madonna‘s “Like a Virgin” is one of the most important dance songs of the 1980s. You’d think every artist would have wanted to record it! However, other artists had major issues with the track. Things went differently when the song’s writers played it for Madonna.
Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’ has a major connection to Cyndi Lauper
“Like a Virgin” was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. They also co-wrote Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional,” The Bangles’ “Eternal Flame,” and “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper. During an interview with SongwriterUniverse, Steinberg revealed that many singers were resistant toward “Like a Virgin.”
“We tried to place ‘Like a Virgin,’ but everyone looked at us like we were nuts,” he said. “Some people even asked us to change the title. I knew that compared to most mainstream pop lyrics, the title and theme might seem a bit jolting and risque.
Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’ has a major connection to Cyndi Lauper
“Like a Virgin” was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. They also co-wrote Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional,” The Bangles’ “Eternal Flame,” and “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper. During an interview with SongwriterUniverse, Steinberg revealed that many singers were resistant toward “Like a Virgin.”
“We tried to place ‘Like a Virgin,’ but everyone looked at us like we were nuts,” he said. “Some people even asked us to change the title. I knew that compared to most mainstream pop lyrics, the title and theme might seem a bit jolting and risque.
- 5/2/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
To celebrate her 42nd Birthday, Kelly Clarkson was joined by Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson to share stories from the past and perform their classic songs together.
During Wednesday’s episode of The Kelly Clarkson show, Ann shared that “Crazy on You” was the duo’s “first song I ever recorded as a singer in a studio,” and said that while she had “didn’t have a bunch of technique” at the time, she “definitely felt how to say certain words.” Clarkson then jumped into a cover of the...
During Wednesday’s episode of The Kelly Clarkson show, Ann shared that “Crazy on You” was the duo’s “first song I ever recorded as a singer in a studio,” and said that while she had “didn’t have a bunch of technique” at the time, she “definitely felt how to say certain words.” Clarkson then jumped into a cover of the...
- 4/25/2024
- by Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
Alex G has announced a new live album titled Live from Union Transfer. Out June 30th on Domino, the LP was recorded during his three Philadelphia hometown shows in November 2022.
The tracklist for Union Transfer is primarily made up of songs from Alex G’s 2022 album God Save the Animals, along with different renditions of fan favorites and deep cuts that he performed with his longtime touring band of John Heywood (bass/vocals), Sam Acchione (guitar/keys/vocals), Tom Kelly (drums), and Molly Germer (violin/keys/vocals).
The album will be a vinyl-only release, with a tangerine variant limited to 3,500 copies available for pre-order here. Check out the list of indie retailers that will carry the vinyl upon release here.
Alex G is headed back on the road later this month. Besides playing summer festivals like Barcelona’s Primavera, Bonnaroo, and Outside Lands, he will co-headline a handful of dates...
The tracklist for Union Transfer is primarily made up of songs from Alex G’s 2022 album God Save the Animals, along with different renditions of fan favorites and deep cuts that he performed with his longtime touring band of John Heywood (bass/vocals), Sam Acchione (guitar/keys/vocals), Tom Kelly (drums), and Molly Germer (violin/keys/vocals).
The album will be a vinyl-only release, with a tangerine variant limited to 3,500 copies available for pre-order here. Check out the list of indie retailers that will carry the vinyl upon release here.
Alex G is headed back on the road later this month. Besides playing summer festivals like Barcelona’s Primavera, Bonnaroo, and Outside Lands, he will co-headline a handful of dates...
- 5/4/2023
- by Cervanté Pope
- Consequence - Music
Cyndi Lauper has announced the lineup for her 10th annual Home for the Holidays Benefit Concert, which will air virtually December 11th exclusively on Lauper’s TikTok channel at 8:00 p.m. Et. An additional stream will take place December 13th on Lauper’s YouTube and Facebook pages.
This year’s event will feature appearances and performances from Adam Lambert, Amanda Shires and Jason Isbell, Bette Midler, Billie Eilish, Billy Porter, Billy Steinberg, Boy George, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Carson Kressley, Cher, Dolly Parton, Harvey Fierstein, Henry Rollins, Jackson Browne,...
This year’s event will feature appearances and performances from Adam Lambert, Amanda Shires and Jason Isbell, Bette Midler, Billie Eilish, Billy Porter, Billy Steinberg, Boy George, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Carson Kressley, Cher, Dolly Parton, Harvey Fierstein, Henry Rollins, Jackson Browne,...
- 12/7/2020
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
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