Material Girl (3:51)

“Material Girl” is the second single by singer-songwriter Madonna from her second studio album, Like a Virgin, and was released on January 30, 1985, by Sire Records. It also appears slightly remixed on the 1990 greatest hits compilation The Immaculate Collection and in its original form on the 2009 greatest hits compilation Celebration.”

The bassline in the song is reminiscent of The Jacksons’ “Can You Feel It”, which appeared on their 1980 album Triumph, which is in itself highly reminiscent of “White Rabbit”, the 1960s song by Jefferson Airplane. Furthermore, the strophes remind of the refrain from Melissa Manchester’s hit “You Should Hear How She Talks About You” (1982).

Madonna has often remarked that it is the song she most regrets recording as it became a label that has been attached to her for decades. She has also said if she had known this, she probably would have never recorded it. She ended The Virgin Tour with a self-parodying performance of “Material Girl”.

“Material Girl” is included on Madonna’s greatest hits compilation albums The Immaculate Collection (1990) and Celebration (2009). In 2003, Madonna fans were asked to vote for their Top 20 Madonna singles of all time by Q magazine. “Material Girl” was allocated the No. 15 spot.

Madonna adopted the Kabbalah faith in 1998 which rejects notions of materialism as a form of happiness. As a result, Madonna rarely performs the song live as it represents and promotes ideas she personally rejects. The song is set to 120 BPM in the key of C Mixolydian.