Just WOW. 25 years. I was a full-fledged adult when this song came out, for goodness' sake.
I unashamedly and unabashedly admit that I have loved this song from the first time I heard it. and I especially loved the MTV Music Awards re-do of it, lip synching and all.
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 onthe 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:
I don't watch RuPaul's Drag Race (though The Other Half occasionally indulges), but I love the graphic for the new season. Can a Julie Brown Going Vague parody be far behind?
So far this campaign season, there have been invocations of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. So, why not Madonna? Maybe it has something to do with this video?
[Excerpt]
McCain Campaign Calls Madonna Show ‘Divisive’
John McCain’s campaign engaged in somewhat of a celebrity feud with Madonna Sunday, after the material girl compared the Arizona senator with Adolf Hitler and Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe during her world tour. . .
It's something of a shock when you realize that most of your favorite music artists seem to be over 50. This year, Prince turned 50, Michael Jackson is on the cusp, and Madonna--one of my long-time favorites--turned 50 yesterday. Amazingly, she's stayed relevant, and continues to churn out hit albums and singles.
But my favorite Madonna tunes and videos will always be those she produced between 1983 and around 1990 or so. There are exceptions, like Deeper and Deeper, Don't Tell Me, Hung Up and a few others. But for me, anything from her first greatest hits compilation, The Immaculate Collection, or almost any track from True Blue, Like a Prayer and I'm Breathless still make me just as happy as they did when they came out.
Here are a few of my favorite Madonna videos, all from my favorite Madonna era (or eras--she seemed to have a different incarnation with each album). Yes, I've posted them before, but since YouTube has left all of these videos available, I couldn't resist posting them again in honor of the Material Girl's milestone birthday. Enjoy.
