Frivolity Break: 28 Years of Into the Groove by Madonna

Thanks to BoyCulture for pointing out this little pop culture nugget. I was a Madonna fan from the beginning, or as near to the beginning as a high school sophomore in Whitehall, Ohio can get. From the days of Holiday--when we didn't even know what she looked like (unbelievably, many thought she was black)--through Lucky Star, Borderline, Like a Virgin and Material Girl, I was in full-blown Madonnamania. And then she started releasing them practically two at a time, with album cuts and soundtrack songs coming right after the other. Crazy for You came from the Vision Quest soundtrack, quickly followed by Angel from the Like a Virgin album, quickly followed by this track, a song that never even had a proper release.

Into the Groove came from the Desperately Seeking Susan movie, perhaps Madonna's one critically lauded performance (and the critics hedged by saying she was basically playing herself). I, and probably lots of other fans, bought Into the Groove on the 12" single, which was actually the B-side to Angel. The song occurred right in the middle of Madonna's first heyday, while she was still a "Boy Toy," and unashamed pop star. Being taken seriously as an artist didn't seem to be a goal yet. She was just sexy and fun. So, while Into the Groove didn't chart on the top 40, it was a #1 dance track, and remains one of Madonna's best remembered songs. And it's been around for twenty-eight years.

Frivolity Break: 24 Years of Madonna's Express Yourself

The fact that Madonna's Express Yourself is 24 years old is at once impossible to believe, and also easy to swallow. As one of her most iconic videos--perhaps one of the medium's most iconic as well--it feels younger than it is. Still, it came out in 1989, barely the 80s, but still the 80s. It marked a turning point in my life, becoming popular as I transitioned from a boring, hum-drum life as a bank teller, and started a new career in the amusement industry.

Though that career fizzled out about eight and a half years in, it led to where my life is now, in Las Vegas, in the sign industry, married to The Other Half. Express Yourself was released as a maxi-single, with a couple of remixes. The song was already a favorite of mine, having been included on the Like a Prayer album. The remixes really changed the feel of the song, making it even more fun. When the video came out, I was enthralled. It was the peak of my Madonna-mania, and also sort of a turning point for her. The next year would come The Immaculate Collection, and the almost X-rated Justify My Love. It was the tail end of Madonna's 80s heyday, and the beginning of a more mixed reception (though there are still many, many gems from the 90s forward).

So, while Express Yourself was over half my life ago, it was only seven years into Madonna's (so far) 31-year career in the public eye. It marked a peak in her dance pop hits both in audio and video that previewed the even better Vogue. I've always considered Express Yourself to be the middle of a trilogy started with Open Your Heart and ending with Vogue. I don't know if anyone--even Madonna--sees any connection, but if I could only pick out three of her songs or videos, those would be the ones. So, without further ado, here's Madonna performing Express Yourself over the span of the last 24 years. [Video found at BoyCulture.com]

And because I can't resist, here is the original video:

And the drastically different album version:

Shoulda Been a Hit: You Don't Know by Cyndi Lauper

Have you ever heard a song that was so good, you couldn't believe it wasn't a hit? For me, one of those songs is You Don't Know by Cyndi Lauper. I happened to catch Cyndi singing it live at Las Vegas' Gay Pride event many years ago. Cyndi was pregnant at the time (though she claimed her belly was from drinking a lot of beer, in her New York accent). I thought it was a fantastic song at the time, and I still do.

You Don't Know was originally a slower song, with a serious message. But the dance version really drives the message home. As you listen, read along with the lyrics, and think of the typical FOX "News" viewer. Or that oddball relative at Thanksgiving last week. This song should've been a hit.


"You Don't Know" by Cyndi Lauper

You don't know where you belong
You should be more careful
As you follow blindly along ...
You just need to belong somehow.


Relying on rhetoric ...
Not well versed on topics ...
Any idea what you're talking about ?
Revisions of history
Fair well in some company
But don't shove that bullshit down my throat


You don't know where you belong ...
You should be more careful
As you follow blindly along ...
To find something to swear to ...
Till you don't know what's right from wrong
You just need to belong somehow.


Left suppresses right
Right suppresses left
So what's the left, and what's right?
You're told what to wear,
You're told what to like
It'd be nice if you'd think for yourself sometime,
But you don't.
Now you don't know where you belong ...
You should be more careful
As you follow blindly along ...


Mix sheer hypocrisy with mediocrity
You'll play it safe every time -
So life turns up empty
And you're so dissatisfied
Who are you blaming this time?

Why don't you know?

First, the album version (more somber)

And now, the dance version (my fave).