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Like a Virgin 1984
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Like a Virgin

When Madonna was preparing for her second album, she already had a clear idea of what she wanted. After the success of her debut album in 1983, she was looking for a sound that would define her completely. Although her record label initially did not give her the freedom to produce it herself, they did allow her to choose the producer. This is how Nile Rodgers, whom she admired for his work on Let's Dance by David Bowie, joined the project. The recording sessions took place at the Power Station studio in New York, and Rodgers brought in two of his former bandmates from Chic: Bernard Edwards on bass and Tony Thompson on drums. Madonna, for her part, carefully selected the songs, participating in the writing of five of them, some alongside Stephen Bray.

Year
1984
Songs
9
Duration
38 min 34 seg
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About the album

Like a Virgin, according to DoReSol

The result, Like a Virgin, released in November 1984, generated divided opinions among critics. While Rodgers' production received praise, Madonna's vocals were the subject of comments. However, commercially, the album was a milestone: it became Madonna's first number one on the Billboard 200 and broke records by being the first album by a female artist to exceed five million copies sold in the United States. Internationally, it reached the top spot in countries such as Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. With over 21 million copies sold worldwide, Like a Virgin established itself as one of the most successful albums of all time. Singles were released from this work that reached the top five of the Billboard Hot 100, including the title track, "Like a Virgin," which became her first number one, and "Material Girl," which reached second place.

The album's promotion included Madonna's first tour, The Virgin Tour, in 1985, which traveled across North America. Like a Virgin was fundamental in establishing Madonna as a superstar and demonstrating that her success was not a coincidence. Her fashion style during this period was also widely imitated. In 2023, the U.S. Library of Congress recognized the album's importance by selecting it for preservation in the National Recording Registry, highlighting its "cultural, historical, or aesthetic" value.

Discography

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