CHIC0 said:

American tend 2 think portuguese uses the inverted phrase construction...

MikeMatronik said:

you think i'm an american???

CHIC0 said:

sei que és espanhol!

Here are my thoughts on Like a Virgin.

Unfortunately, the other tracks are much, much worse. "Shoo-Bee-Doo" is embarrassingly unforgivable saccharine and stands as one of her weakest efforts to date.

CHIC0 said:

U should have written:

Criatura idiota!!!!

Yes, that song is a classic.

Dress You Up is the SHIT, too! I'm not a fan of the title track or Material Girl, though. In fact, I like the smaller hits from this record. And Into The Groove, if it's the right pressing

DavidEye said:

I don't know about that...I would say the simple but memorable "Lucky Star" is her first classic.

Here are my thoughts on Like a Virgin.

3.5 stars

Throughout 1983 and most of 1984, Madonna slowly gathered momentum with each successive single from her eponymous debut. The stage was set for a massive breakthrough, which was delivered with the blockbuster album Like a Virgin. Bolstered by some perfect pop singles that would become her anthems, Like a Virgin is a serviceable album typical of 80s pop artists: heavy on the hits and coated with filler.

To ascend to her throne, Madonna enlisted the help of a number of writers as well as super-producer Nile Rogers to polish her sound at the expense of the grit that gave her first album so much charm. Regardless, the formula worked, launching Madonna's career into the stratosphere on the heels of such monstrous hits as the title track and the bouncy "Material Girl". Already a multi-media juggernaut, Madonna's imprint on society was cemented in stone with the videos for these tracks, which feature our heroine frolicking seductively in a wedding dress and parading around in an homage to Marilyn Monroe's "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend", respectively. The lesser known hits (but still hits, mind you), "Angel" and "Dress You Up" offer relentless melodies and pep and really shine.

The remainder of the album is a hit or miss affair. "Over and Over" leaps out as the album's most energetic and uplifting track, while a cover of "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" proves to be Madonna's first successful ballad. Unfortunately, the other tracks are much, much worse. "Shoo-Bee-Doo" is embarrassingly unforgivable saccharine and stands as one of her weakest efforts to date. "Pretender" and "Stay" are only marginally better, both vapid pop-by-numbers offerings that could have been sung by anyone. It is worth noting that the album would have greatly benefited from the inclusion of the B-side to "Angel", "Into the Groove", which sees Madonna revisit her affinity for club bangers. The track immediately received much more attention than its A-side and would easily tower over the entire album if present.

In effect, Like a Virgin works better as an era than an album, per se. It was monumentally successful in achieving its goal of mass appeal, selling over 10 million copies in the US alone and established Madonna as an icon of pop. The singles and videos are unforgettable, but ultimately the album does not hold together very well as a whole. Ever the chameleon, Madonna would soon completely transform both her image and her style to set even more trends with the subsequent album, the more mature True Blue. As a result, Like a Virgin looms large as the only document of her bubblegum megastardom.

VinnyM27 said:

lol...the videos from her first album are cheesy,except for "Burning Up".She is HOT in that video

DavidEye said:

Hey, is "Burning Up" available on DVD yet?

Moonbeam,this is an extremely well-written review

Moonbeam said:

BOOO

paisleypark4 said:

Different strokes, different folks I guess!