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When Madonna burst onto the scene in the 1980s, she rewrote the rules of pop stardom, turning music videos into bold visual statements, championing female empowerment in a male-dominated industry, and using her platform to address taboo topics like sexuality, religion, and identity. She wasn’t merely a pop artist; she was a provocateur, a trailblazer, and an innovator who built an empire on challenging norms and embracing reinvention.
Born in Bay City, Michigan, and raised in Rochester Hills, Madonna Louise Ciccone moved to New York City in 1978 with little more than her ambition and fearlessness. She initially pursued a career in dance but quickly realized her potential as a musician, fronting bands like Breakfast Club and Emmy before venturing solo. By 1983, her self-titled debut album had introduced her as a pop artist with a knack for crafting irresistible dance hits, including “Holiday” and “Borderline.” However, it was her second album, Like a Virgin (1984), and its controversial title track that launched her into the stratosphere of global fame.
Over her career, Madonna has released 14 studio albums, each one a bold reflection of her artistic evolution. From the confessional lyricism of Like a Prayer (1989) to the electronic experimentation of Ray of Light (1998) and the dance-floor dominance of Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005), she has consistently pushed musical boundaries. Songs like “Vogue,” “Hung Up,” “Like a Prayer,” and “Material Girl” have become cultural milestones, not just chart-topping hits.
Madonna’s accomplishments extend far beyond her discography. She transformed the music video into an art form, turning songs like “Like a Prayer” and “Express Yourself” into visual spectacles that explored themes of empowerment, faith, and individuality. She also brought sexuality and gender dynamics into mainstream conversation, becoming a voice for LGBTQ+ rights and feminism long before such issues were widely embraced in pop culture.
Her accolades are a testament to her impact: seven Grammy Awards, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and multiple Guinness World Records, including recognition as the best-selling female artist of all time. Beyond music, Madonna’s ventures into acting, with films like Evita, earned her critical acclaim, including a Golden Globe Award. Her influence in fashion is equally profound, with her ever-changing image shaping trends and redefining what it means to be a cultural icon.
Madonna’s philanthropic efforts are another vital aspect of her legacy. Through the Ray of Light Foundation and Raising Malawi, she has supported education, women’s empowerment, and healthcare initiatives, particularly in Africa. These efforts highlight her dedication to using her success for meaningful change, further solidifying her role as a global leader.
(A – B)
“4 Minutes” (featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland) – Hard Candy (2008)
“Act of Contrition” – Like a Prayer (1989)
“The Actress Hasn’t Learned the Lines (You’d Like to Hear)” (with Antonio Banderas) – Evita (1996)
“Addicted” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“Ain’t No Big Deal” – B-side to True Blue (1986)
“Amazing” – Music (2000)
“American Life” – American Life (2003)
“American Pie” – The Next Best Thing (2000)
“Angel” – Like a Virgin (1984)
“Angels Crying in My Bed” (with Christine and the Queens) – Paranoia, Angels, True Love (2023)
“Another Suitcase in Another Hall” – Evita (1996)
“Auto-Tune Baby” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“B-Day Song” (featuring M.I.A.) – MDNA (2012)
“Back in Business” – I’m Breathless (1990)
“Back That Up to the Beat” – Madame X (2019)
“Bad Girl” – Erotica (1992)
“Batuka” – Madame X (2019)
“Be Careful (Cuidado Con Mi Corazón)” (with Ricky Martin) – Ricky Martin (1999)
“The Beast Within” – B-side to Justify My Love maxi single (1990)
“Beat Goes On” (featuring Kanye West) – Hard Candy (2008)
“Beautiful Killer” – MDNA (2012)
“Beautiful Scars” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“Beautiful Stranger” – Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
“Bedtime Story” – Bedtime Stories (1994)
“Best Friend” – MDNA (2012)
“Best Night” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“Bitch I’m Madonna” (featuring Nicki Minaj) – Rebel Heart (2015)
“Bitch I’m Loca” (featuring Maluma) – Madame X (2019)
“Bittersweet” – A Gift Of Love: Music Inspired by the Love Poems of Rumi (1998)
“Body Shop” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“Borderline” – Madonna (1983)
“Borrowed Time” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“Break My Soul (The Queens Remix)” (with Beyoncé) – (2022)
“Broken” – (2010)
“Buenos Aires” – Evita (1996)
“Burning Up” – Madonna (1983)
“Bye Bye Baby” – Erotica (1992)
(C – D)
“Candy Perfume Girl” – Ray of Light (1998)
“Candy Shop” – Hard Candy (2008)
“Can’t Stop” – Who’s That Girl (1987)
“Causing a Commotion” – Who’s That Girl (1987)
“Celebration” – Celebration (2009)
“Champagne Rosé” (with Quavo featuring Cardi B) – Quavo Huncho (2018)
“Charity Concert / The Art of the Possible” – Evita (1996)
“Ciao Bella” – Madame X (2019)
“Come Alive” – Madame X (2019)
“Crave” (featuring Swae Lee) – Madame X (2019)
“Crazy” – Madame X (2019)
“Crazy for You” – Vision Quest (1985)
“Cherish” – Like a Prayer (1989)
“Crimes of Passion” – Pre-Madonna (1997)
“Cry Baby” – I’m Breathless (1990)
“Cyber-Raga” – Music (2000)
“Dance 2Night” – Hard Candy (2008)
“Dark Ballet” – Madame X (2019)
“Dear Jessie” – Like a Prayer (1989)
“Deeper and Deeper” – Erotica (1992)
“Devil Pray” – Rebel Heart (2014)
“Devil Wouldn’t Recognise You” – Hard Candy (2008)
“Did You Do It?” (featuring Mark Goodman and Dave Murphy) – Erotica (1992)
“Die Another Day” – Die Another Day (2002)
“Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” – Evita (1996)
“Don’t Stop” – Bedtime Stories (1994)
“Don’t Tell Me” – Music (2000)
“Don’t You Know” – Pre-Madonna (1997)
“Dress You Up” – Like a Virgin (1984)
“Drowned World/Substitute for Love” – Ray of Light (1998)
(E – F)
“Each Time You Break My Heart” (Released by Nick Kamen) – Nick Kamen (1986)
“Easy Ride” – American Life (2003)
“Erotica” – Erotica (1992)
“Eva and Magaldi / Eva Beware of the City” – Evita (1996)
“Eva’s Final Broadcast” – Evita (1996)
“Everybody” – Madonna (1982)
“Express Yourself” – Like a Prayer (1989)
“Extreme Occident” – Madame X (2019)
“Falling Free” – MDNA (2012)
“Faz Gostoso” (featuring Anitta) – Madame X (2019)
“Fever” – Erotica (1992)
“Fighting Spirit” – Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
“Forbidden Love” (featuring Babyface) – Bedtime Stories (1994)
“Forbidden Love” – Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
“Freedom” – Carnival! The Rainforest Foundation (1997)
“Frozen” – Ray of Light (1998)
“Funana” – Madame X (2019)
“Future” (featuring Quavo) – Madame X (2019)
“Future Lovers” – Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
(G – H)
“Gambler” – Vision Quest (1985)
“Gang Bang” – MDNA (2012)
“Get Together” – Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
“Get Over” (released by Nick Scotti) – Nick Scotti (1994)
“Ghosttown” – Rebel Heart (2014)
“Girl Gone Wild” – MDNA (2012)
“Give It 2 Me” – Hard Candy (2008)
“Give Me All Your Luvin'” (featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.) – MDNA (2012)
“God Control” – Madame X (2019)
“Gone” – Music (2000)
“Goodbye to Innocence” – Just Say Roe (1994)
“Goodnight and Thank You” – Evita (1996)
“Graffiti Heart” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“Guilty by Association” (with Joe Henry) – Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation (1996)
“Hanky Panky” – I’m Breathless (1990)
“Has to Be” – Ray of Light (1998)
“Heartbeat” – Hard Candy (2008)
“HeartBreakCity” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“He’s a Man” – I’m Breathless (1990)
“Hello and Goodbye” – Evita (1996)
“Hey You” – Non-album single (2007)
“High Flying, Adored” – Evita (1996)
“History” – B-side to Jump (2005)
“Hold Tight” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“Holiday” – Madonna (1983)
“Hollywood” – American Life (2003)
“Holy Water” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“How High” – Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
“Human Nature” – Bedtime Stories (1994)
“Hung Up” – Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
“Hung Up on Tokischa” (featuring Tokischa) – Non-album single (2022)
(I)
“I Deserve It” – Music (2000)
“I Don’t Give A” (featuring Nicki Minaj) – MDNA (2012)
“I Don’t Search I Find” – Madame X (2019)
“I Fu*ked Up” – MDNA (2012)
“I Know It” – Madonna (1983)
“I Love New York” – Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
“I Met an Angel” (Christine and the Queens featuring Madonna) – Paranoia, Angels, True Love (2023)
“I Rise” – Madame X (2019)
“I Want You” (with Massive Attack) – Something to Remember (1995)
“I’d Be Surprisingly Good for You” – Evita (1996)
“I’d Rather Be Your Lover” (featuring Meshell Ndegeocello) – Bedtime Stories (1994)
“I’ll Remember” – With Honors (1994)
“I’m a Sinner” – MDNA (2012)
“I’m Addicted” – MDNA (2012)
“I’m Going Bananas” – I’m Breathless (1990)
“I’m So Stupid” – American Life (2003)
“Iconic” (featuring Chance the Rapper and Mike Tyson) – Rebel Heart (2015)
“If You Forget Me” – Il Postino (1995)
“Illuminati” – Rebel Heart (2014)
“Imagine” – I’m Going to Tell You a Secret (2006)
“Impressive Instant” – Music (2000)
“In This Life” – Erotica (1992)
“Incredible” – Hard Candy (2008)
“Inside of Me” – Bedtime Stories (1994)
“Inside Out” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“Intervention” – American Life (2003)
“Into the Groove” – Like a Virgin (1985 reissue)
“Into the Hollywood Groove” (featuring Missy Elliott) – Remixed & Revisited (2004)
“Isaac” – Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
“It’s So Cool” – Celebration (2009)
(J – H)
“Jimmy Jimmy” – True Blue (1986)
“Joan of Arc” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“Jump” – Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
“Just a Dream” (released by Donna De Lory) – Donna De Lory (1992)
“Justify My Love” – The Immaculate Collection (1990)
“Keep It Together” – Like a Prayer (1989)
“Killers Who Are Partying” – Madame X (2019)
“La Isla Bonita” – True Blue (1986)
“La Vie en rose” – Rebel Heart Tour (2017)
“Lament” – Evita (1996)
“Laugh to Keep from Crying” – Pre-Madonna (1997)
“Let Down Your Guard” – B-side to Secret (1994)
“Let It Will Be” – Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
“Levitating” (The Blessed Madonna Remix) – Club Future Nostalgia (2020)
“Lick the Light Out” – Paranoia, Angels, True Love (2023)
“Like a Prayer” – Like a Prayer (1989)
“Like a Virgin” – Like a Virgin (1984)
“Like It or Not” – Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
“Little Star” – Ray of Light (1998)
“Live to Tell” – True Blue (1986)
“Living for Love” – Rebel Heart (2014)
“Lo Que Siente La Mujer” – Music (2000)
“Looking for Mercy” – Madame X (2019)
“The Look of Love” – Who’s That Girl (1987)
“Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” – Like a Virgin (1984)
“Love Makes the World Go Round” – True Blue (1986)
“Love Profusion” – American Life (2003)
“Love Song” (featuring Prince) – Like a Prayer (1989)
“Love Spent” – MDNA (2012)
“Love Tried to Welcome Me” – Bedtime Stories (1994)
“Lucky Star” – Madonna (1983)
(M – N)
“Masterpiece” – MDNA (2012)
“Material Girl” – Like a Virgin (1984)
“Material Gworrllllllll!” (with Saucy Santana) – Non-album single (2022)
“Me Against the Music” (featuring Britney Spears) – In the Zone (2003)
“Medellín” (with Maluma) – Madame X (2019)
“Mer Girl” – Ray of Light (1998)
“Messiah” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“Miles Away” – Hard Candy (2008)
“More” – I’m Breathless (1990)
“Mother and Father” – American Life (2003)
“Music” – Music (2000)
“A New Argentina” – Evita (1996)
“Nobody Knows Me” – American Life (2003)
“Nobody’s Perfect” – Music (2000)
“Nothing Fails” – American Life (2003)
“Nothing Really Matters” – Ray of Light (1998)
“Now I’m Following You (Part I)” – I’m Breathless (1990)
“Now I’m Following You (Part II)” – I’m Breathless (1990)
(O – Q)
“Oh Father” – Like a Prayer (1989)
“Oh What a Circus” – Evita (1996)
“On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada (Part 2)” – Evita (1996)
“One More Chance” – Something to Remember (1995)
“Open Your Heart” – True Blue (1986)
“Over and Over” – Like a Virgin (1984)
“Papa Don’t Preach” – True Blue (1986)
“Paradise (Not for Me)” – Music (2000)
“Partido Feminista” – Evita (1996)
“Peron’s Latest Flame” – Evita (1996)
“Physical Attraction” – Madonna (1983)
“The Power of Good-Bye” – Ray of Light (1998)
“Pretender” – Like a Virgin (1984)
“Popular” – The Highlights (Deluxe) (2023)
“Promise to Try” – Like a Prayer (1989)
“Push” – Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
“Queen’s English” – New Faces (1993)
(R – S)
“Rain” – Erotica (1992)
“Rainbow High” – Evita (1996)
“Rainbow Tour” – Evita (1996)
“Ray of Light” – Ray of Light (1998)
“Rebel Heart” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“Rescue Me” – The Immaculate Collection (1990)
“Revolver” – Celebration (2009)
“Ring My Bell” – Hard Candy (2008)
“Runaway Lover” – Music (2000)
“S.E.X.” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“Sanctuary” – Bedtime Stories (1994)
“Santa Baby” – A Very Special Christmas (1987)
“Scheherazade” – One More Story (1988)
“Secret” – Bedtime Stories (1994)
“Secret Garden” – Erotica (1992)
“Shanti/Ashtangi” – Ray of Light (1998)
“She’s Not Me” – Hard Candy (2008)
“Shoo-Bee-Doo” – Like a Virgin (1984)
“Sidewalk Talk” – Wotupski!?! (1984)
“Sing” – Songs of Mass Destruction (2007)
“Skin” – Ray of Light (1998)
“Sky Fits Heaven” – Ray of Light (1998)
“Soltera” – 11:11 (2019)
“Some Girls” – MDNA (2012)
“Something to Remember” – I’m Breathless (1990)
“Sooner or Later” – I’m Breathless (1990)
“Sorry” – Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
“Spanish Eyes” – Like a Prayer (1989)
“Spanish Lesson” – Hard Candy (2008)
“Spotlight” – You Can Dance (1987)
“Stay” – Like a Virgin (1984)
“Supernatural” – B-side to Cherish (1989)
“Superstar” – MDNA (2012)
“Super Pop” – Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
“Survival” – Bedtime Stories (1994)
“Swim” – Ray of Light (1998)
(T – Z)
“Take a Bow” – Bedtime Stories (1994)
“Tell Me” – Us (1988)
“Thief of Hearts” – Erotica (1992)
“Think of Me” – Madonna (1983)
“This Used to Be My Playground” – Non-album single (1992)
“Till Death Do Us Part” – Like a Prayer (1989)
“Time Stood Still” – The Next Best Thing (2000)
“To Have and Not to Hold” – Ray of Light (1998)
“True Blue” – True Blue (1986)
“Turn Up the Radio” – MDNA (2012)
“Unapologetic Bitch” – Rebel Heart (2014)
“Up Down Suite” – B-side to Rain (1993)
“Veni Vidi Vici” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“Verás” – Something to Remember (1995)
“Voices” – Hard Candy (2008)
“Vogue” – I’m Breathless (1990)
“Vulgar” – Non-album single (2023)
“Waiting” – Erotica (1992)
“Waltz for Eva and Che” – Evita (1996)
“Wash All Over Me” – Rebel Heart (2015)
“What Can You Lose” – I’m Breathless (1990)
“What It Feels Like for a Girl” – Music (2000)
“Where Life Begins” – Erotica (1992)
“Where’s the Party” – True Blue (1986)
“White Heat” – True Blue (1986)
“Who’s That Girl” – Who’s That Girl (1987)
“Why’s It So Hard” – Erotica (1992)
“Words” – Erotica (1992)
“X-Static Process” – American Life (2003)
“You Must Love Me” – Evita (1996)
“You’ll See” – Something to Remember (1995)
“Your Honesty” – Remixed & Revisited (2004)
“Your Little Body’s Slowly Breaking Down” – Evita (1996)
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