It's definitely a cute little bop. Reminds me of "Spotlight," which we recently talked about. When I listen to it, it comes across slightly as a demo. It has a nice sax solo, which brings in a nice pop and R&B aesthetic.

I believe it's missing a rhythm guitar that's more prominent which you hear in the latter 1/3 of the song in a break down. It needs to be up front a bit more throughout to add a stronger R&B edge.

I keep hearing horn jabs through the chorus that aren't there - the way MJ's "Bad" had before they remixed it and removed them until the very last chorus just before the fade.

In general, it's a good song, very 80s. The drum machine, synth pads, it's got all the trappings of a classic 80s song. I think it could've been a fun song to put in a concert, just as a deep dive throwback. I don't know if it was single-worthy, but maybe. ("Spotlight" could've been a great single, but it was only a promo in Japan or something.)

Interesting that Madonna is listed as sole writer (as with "Burning Up," "I Know It," "Lucky Star," and "Everybody"). She seemed to be in a tight pocket around that time, being around Bray, Jellybean, et al., and a lot of those pop melodies and probably some basic chord progressions just came out of her. But Jellybean, Reggie Lucas, et al really added the production we know today. Good synergy back then, and it shows even in songs like "Think Of Me."

I've always loved this song.

Do you think she really wrote these on her own though? The music/chords too?

GaryMF said:

I've always loved this song.

Do you think she really wrote these on her own though? The music/chords too?

She's musical, and I think she could easily come up with a simple melody. Remember, she was hanging around Stephen Bray and all those Breakfast Club guys before, so she was in a space of creativity.

GaryMF said:

TrivialPursuit said:

automatic said:

automatic said:

GaryMF said:

I've always loved this song.

Do you think she really wrote these on her own though? The music/chords too?

I don't think she did, music and chord wise but, according to Wikipedia she wrote the lyrics. The song was produced by Reggie Lucas, Jellybean Benitez and Butch Jones. Reggie Lucas is listed as the guitarist too on the album so I'm assuming they played a part in the song. I honestly don't know a lot about how Madonna crafts a song or if she does. Maybe someone with more knowledge on her can. I've just started getting back into her.I was a huge fan as a kid of her 80s stuff and now have started listening to her 90s and up catalog.I do know a lot of it already (singles and hits) but I'm starting to do a deep dive of her later albums. [Edited 4/23/21 3:19am]

I could see her writing hte l yrics and the melody, I just can't imagine her comning up wtih the bass line, the synth parts, or even the rhythm guitar parts.

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Like in Lucky Star, so much of htat song is the sequenced intro, the piano chords, and then the synth hits in the "Shine your heavenly body" part. I think Reggie or whoever produced it came up with the actual arrangement.

GaryMF said:

I think after her experience of working with Reggie Lucas on the first album, she realised she needed much more control over her music production. She was never going to sit in the corner and do as she was told by producers or execs. I think it was William Orbit who said he learnt a lot about production from working with Madonna and Stuart Price said she's the best "hands-off" producer he ever worked with.

[Edited 4/27/21 3:47am]

alphastreet said:

I think even babyface and Justin Timberlake talked about the co writing experience with her too

Yeah, it always irked me she never got respect for song writing and producing her own work. I think a lot of people assume she just sings and the producers do everything else. Even in The Vault it says Prince "gave" her "Love Song" as if she had no imput into the song or that it wasn't an equal collaboration.