Popnography
CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Scroll To Top
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Let's go back, shall we? To a more innocent time. A time when Reagan was president, thus basically ruining America for the next four decades. A time when disco was dead, New Wave ruled, and Times Square was still dangerous. A time when a 24-year-old brunette from Michigan became the epitome of blond ambition. Out of this abyss ascended Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone, who after 1983, would be known only by her first name, the name of her debut album: Madonna, which was released July 27, 1983.
Pop culture would never be the same.
What she lacked in talent, she made up for, abundantly, in style, charm, and yes, ambition. She had the sheer will to succeed, which at one point, was what the American dream was all about. A dancer with an unimpressive voice but impressive designs for her own career, Madonna attached herself to any and everyone who could help launch her "Lucky Star." The most important person, at least for a short while, in Madonna's quest for superstardom was John "Jellybean" Benitez, a DJ friend who added the pop sheen by which the album Madonna and the popstar Madonna would be fondly remembered.
Benitez recalled the young Ms. Ciccone:
"[S]he was unhappy with the whole [album], so I went in and sweetened up a lot of music for her, adding some guitars to 'Lucky Star', some voices, some magic... I just wanted to do the best job I could do for her. When we would playback 'Holiday' or 'Lucky Star', you could see that she was overwhelmed by how great it all sounded. You wanted to help her, you know? As much as she could be a bitch, when you were in groove with her, it was very cool, very creative."
Back in 1983, Madonna was cool without all the embarrassing effort, and more importantly, she defied expectations. Many labeled her a featherweight product of MTV, a channel she would come to define in the coming years. Critics dismissed the album upon its initial release, but it would go on to sell 10 million copies worldwide, and spawn the hit singles "Holiday," Lucky Star" and "Borderline."
Those who thought Madonna a flash in the pan were in for a rude awakening. From day one, Madonna was always in control--of her sound, of her image, of her career. Take for instance, when Dick Clark interviewed the up-and-coming singer on American Bandstand--before anyone even knew or cared who she was, Madonna knew damn well.
Mission accomplished, as Madonna ultimately had the last laugh.
"The ones that said I was talentless, that I was chubby, that I couldn't sing, that I was a one-hit wonder," she said at her Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. "They pushed me to be better, and I am grateful for their resistance." *sips tea*
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
41 male celebs who did full frontal scenes
September 16 2024 2:02 PM
39 LGBTQ+ celebs you can follow on OnlyFans
November 19 2024 9:39 AM
33 actors who showed bare ass in movies & TV shows
September 17 2024 5:43 PM
26 LGBTQ+ reality dating shows & where to watch them
July 03 2024 4:21 PM
21 times male celebrities had to come out as straight
November 19 2024 3:33 PM
17 queens who quit or retired from drag after 'RuPaul's Drag Race'
November 30 2024 12:26 AM
52 steamy celebrity Calvin Klein ads we'll always be thirsty for
August 27 2024 1:08 PM
15 things only bottoms understand
October 08 2024 5:18 PM
15 gay celebrity couples who make us believe in love
October 03 2024 5:43 PM
A gay adult film star's complete guide to bottoming
September 16 2024 8:50 AM
Latest Stories
Lance Bass reveals how coming out led to his sitcom being canceled
December 07 2024 12:00 PM
The full list of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' winners in chronological order
December 07 2024 4:02 AM
'Drag Race' winners crowned in 2024 (so far)
December 07 2024 12:36 AM
Beyond 'Defying Gravity'—11 must-see Cynthia Erivo performances
December 06 2024 8:12 PM
What's your Pink Pony Club? Readers share stories of queer belonging
December 06 2024 7:00 PM
Deck the halls and the dance floor with songs to sleigh the holidays
December 06 2024 5:29 PM
R&B star Tank slams homophobia in the Black community & 'gay agenda'
December 06 2024 4:46 PM
Cynthia Erivo calls out cyberbullying of Ariana Grande: 'a person you don't know anything about'
December 06 2024 4:17 PM
Here's how to follow the hot men in the 2025 Australian Firefighters Calendar
December 06 2024 4:03 PM
Meet the transgender rapper going viral on this week's New Music Friday
December 06 2024 3:25 PM
December 6, 2024
December 06 2024 3:13 PM
In 'Moana 2' and 'Cabaret,' Auliʻi Cravalho leads with Pride
December 06 2024 3:00 PM
Hayley Kiyoko shares adorable 'Girls Like Girls' film update (exclusive)
December 06 2024 1:41 PM
These are the 40 best queer songs of 2024
December 06 2024 12:17 PM
'Southern Charm' Rodrigo Reyes: Ryan Albert is a 'messy gay'
December 06 2024 11:19 AM
'Girthy' adult star Joey Mills tops Drake Von in spicy new film
December 06 2024 11:09 AM
'Oppenheimer' actor Nick Dumont comes out as transmasc & nonbinary
December 06 2024 10:55 AM
Video: Totally trashed homophobic sugar heir arrested for beating his girlfriend
December 06 2024 10:30 AM
Naughty list faves: Squirt unloads top taboo adult film categories for 2024
December 06 2024 10:13 AM