Madonna - Live To Tell (#TrueBlue30)

Original release date: April 14th 1986 (UK)
UK Chart Peak: Number 2
US Chart Peak: Number 1

Buy Live To Tell here (Amazon GB)
Read other posts from my #trueblue30 project here
Read my Madonna album anniversary posts here

#TrueBlue30:
Despite the wisdom of my eyes betraying my real age, I wasn't quite at my record buying peak when then/now queen of pop, Madonna, released her epic, enduring and timeless third album, True Blue. Mercifully, despite spending most of the year getting down to Bananarama, Kids from Fame and Janet Jackson, my mum was well ahead of the pop curve and rushed to Woolworths to buy a cassette of True Blue for her car. As soon as I heard it, I was eternally smitten. Time would teach me that this was the album that demonstrated Madonna could mature and grow as an artist, infusing her music with universal themes and melodic charms that have lasted much longer than people at the time might have anticipated. It was and is an album that soundtracked many moments and memories for myself and millions of listeners around the globe; an album that has inspired many an artist since; and an album that stands the test of time as to evidence what smart, enjoyable and meaningful pop music should sound like. That is why I will be revisiting each of the singles on the 30th anniversary of their release - a year long project which starts with the evocative magic of Live To Tell. Do feel free to share your own memories in the comments/social media.

Live To Tell:
There had been so many additional releases during the Like A Virgin era (including two re-releases of her debut album songs Holiday and Borderline; the latter of which made number two just three months before the True Blue era launched) that it didn't feel like we had to wait long for new Madonna music. In fact, based on 1985 when a whopping 8 Madonna songs had been in the UK charts, the short period between Borderline re-release and a brand new song was nothing at all. Although I was only 11 years old when Live To Tell was released, I could sense even then that a new single from this poptastic ball of creative energy known as Madonna was a big deal. I couldn't wait to get into the groove to whatever new dance classic she was going to bestow upon her eager public. And there was my first life lesson in Madonna pop. Live To Tell was a bold choice for first single and definitive proof that, as if you weren't aware already, Madonna was never going to do the expected and go with the flow. Rather than bow to expectations and continue her run of mid to uptempo gems, our Lady Ciccone chose a rather lovely, languorous, meandering ballad that re-wrote the rules for how adult contemporary songs were received on the Billboard charts. Refusing to edit it down for radio meant that it remained allowed to breathe in all its near-six minute glory - and demonstrated the power Madonna had in a short-attention span, stayed tuned to that dial radio industry. I can't quite remember when I first heard it (this was before the days I would rush down to the record store on a Monday to buy the latest releases) but I do recall being stunned the very first time it floated into my consciousness...

I wasn't quite mature enough to fully understand the simmering drama and emotions contained within the lyrics of Live To Tell. I did grasp that this was a song about the scars love could leave and the strength and determination required to get through the heartache. It was this theme that really struck me, even at such a young age, and what made the song stand out to me. I'll confess I initially thought the music surrounding it was a little slow, certainly not as opulent as Crazy For You. It definitely isn't the most instant Madonna song which was perhaps reflected in its number ten debut in the UK. This caused collective gasps across the nation - surely a brand new Madge song should debut higher? The song was really clever though - it soothes and seduces you with each subsequent play. The beguiling melody becomes indelibly ingrained and you find yourself beautifully lost in its mesmerising score. No wonder it steadily climbed to number 2 in the UK and topped the charts stateside. An intriguing first peak into True Blue that remains just as enchanting all these years later...

UK chart run ~ 10-4-2-5-10-17-23-40-55-65-72-75