MADONNA FRIDAY: OH FATHER

I have always loved a good Madonna ballad (Live to Tell, La Isla Bonita, You Must Love Me, et al). There is nothing like it. Like a Prayer had a couple of amazy ballads that really stand the test of time, but the depth and sorrow that accompanied Oh Father was mesmerizing. A tale about Madge herself, it shed light on the abusive relationship she had been in with her ex-husband Sean Penn, the somewhat strained releationship with her father and the feelings of guilt that come even from being a victim. The song itself, the fourth single from the Like a Prayer album, is one of Madonna's most beautiful, moving and personal ever, unfortunately, it didn't connect with her audience at large and only hit #20 on the billboard Hot 100, becoming Madge's first single since Holiday in 1984 not to go top 10. Boo!! The video is an absolute masterpiece. It never fails to bring a tear to my eye. Semi-autobiographical in theme, we see a young girl in an abusive relationship with her father after her mother's death, and Madonna as the adult version in a bad relationship with her boyfriend. It was directed by now-famed filmmaker David Fincher. So if you are in the mood, watch this heartbreaking video below, then go back and search for a "happy" Madonna Friday song. BUT WATCH THIS ONE NOW!! I COMMAND THEE!! I present to thee Oh Father.

MADONNA FRIDAY: TRUE BLUE

Romantic, girly, rapturous, splendid: just some of the words to describe the love song from Madonna's album of the same name, True Blue. The song bops along to a classic 60s girl-group beat and conjures hearts and rainbows all the way through. In September 1986 Madonna's True Blue album was already a smash with two hit singles under it's belt (Live to Tell and Papa Don't Preach) and the time came to get cozy and lovey-dovey. Written as a Valentine to her husband at the time, Sean Penn, True Blue is the ultimate song-as-a-kiss. "No-whoa more sadness. I'll kiss it goodbye. The sun is bursting right out of the sky. I've searched the whole world for someone like you." Sigh..... The song became Madonna's 10th consecutive top 10 Billboard hit, reaching #3. The video that Madonna made didn't air in the US, being replaced by an MTV contest for "Make Your Own Video", but it did air overseas and featured Madonna's good friends Debi Mazar (Entorage) and Eric Belle. A 6os inspired clip directed by James Foley, it is shot on a sound stage and is simple and clean. Classic Madonna femininity. Enjoy the summery, blissful True Blue. I LOVE this song.

MADONNA MOVIE SONGS: PART I - THE 80s

Madonna is no stranger to the movie soundtrack. Some of her biggest, most recognizable hits came from the big screen. Here are three from the 80s. Madonna appeared in the film Vision Quest as a nightclub singer and belted out the hit Crazy for You. Live to Tell, which later appeard on her True Blue album, was actually from the film At Close Range starring Sean Penn. Madonna wrote it as a birthday present for her then-husband to use for the film. Who's That Girl was, of course, from Madonna's film of the same name. Suck on these!




CRAZY FOR YOU FROM VISION QUEST (1985)


LIVE TO TELL FROM AT CLOSE RANGE (1986)


WHO'S THAT GIRL FROM WHO'S THAT GIRL (1987)

SEAN PENN HAS SOME HARSH WORDS FOR HIS CRITICS.

THIS JUST IN: Sean Penn doesn't care for the media. His endless battles with the press date back to the early 80s. Penn tried to get the media to leave him alone...... then he married the most famous and photographed woman in the world, Madonna. Since their divorce, Sean has stayed out of the spotlight as much as possible, but still manages to get in trouble every once in a while. Sean has been over in Haiti working for the relief effort for a while and when he was asked about what he thinks of the press saying his good deeds are really just to take notice away from his impending divorce from Robin Wright, he had this to say:

"Do I hope that those people die screaming of rectal cancer? Yeah. You know, but I'm not going to spend a lot of energy on it."

Wow. Why rectal of all things? That's way harsh, Sean. Anyway, Sean isn't one for subtlty when it comes to these matters and I'm sure the hell not gonna stick a mic in his face and ask him about it, so that will remain a mystery. He is right about not paying attention to it though. Sean actually saved a woman and child who were trapped in a collapsed building in Haiti. Hero stuff, ya know. Keep working Sean. I still love you, but stay away from my rectum. (no comments from the peanut gallery on that one) [source]