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Top Ten Madonna Songs

Madonna is one of the most renowned pop stars of all time. While I personally do not find her to be the best pop singer, she is definitely superb. Throughout her very long career, she’s had some ups and downs with her 21^st century output not being up to par with the remainder of her career. This is my list of ten best Madonna numbers where I included some newer songs while mostly focusing on her best works from the 80s pop era and the 90s ballad era.

10. Like a Virgin

Like a Virgin is to me overrated. I do like the song, but I just don’t love it. It’s far from her catchiest or most entertaining numbers. Still, it’s fun enough with solid lyrics and a good energy to it. It’s very well sung and it represents her eighties pop period rather well.

9. Papa Don’t Preach

This is one of Madonna’s most serious 80s songs. While I personally find the overall tune not all that memorable nor interesting, the lyrics are amazing. The message and the words drive this song to greater heights as they are so inspirational and beautiful.

8. Hung Up

Clearly the magnum opus of the singer’s 21^st century discography, Hung Up is just so good. This is the type of song that is, yes, very modern and cool in its sound, but still never forgetting to be fun and exciting with a beat that is instantly recognizable to this day.

7. Borderline

One of Madonna’s most underrated efforts is Borderline, a song that is difficult not to just love. The chorus drives this number as it’s so infectiously catchy and fun. The entire song is very well put together and it needs much more attention than it has received so far.

6. True Blue

True Blue is such a fantastic number that is breezy, fun, fresh and just incredibly memorable throughout. It represents the titular 1986 album so well (her best of all time) while being accompanied by such terrific singing and a very authentic chorus.

5. Vogue

Vogue is one of Madonna’s most iconic songs and certainly one of her most wildly authentic. This has remained an important song for LGBT people in particular due to its references to the ball culture. The tune is so unforgettable, entertaining and simply immensely cool and powerful.

4. Material Girl

Material Girl is one of the most purely enjoyable 80s singles from Madonna. Not only is the song irresistibly catchy and easy to dance to, but it’s also accompanied by such a fantastic music video. The lyrics are also hugely memorable and very funny.

3. Open Your Heart

This classic is clearly one of her greatest pop tunes and to me her catchiest number by far. The music video is very sexy, the lyrics are fun and the tune is infectiously entertaining. While I do adore the chorus and the whole song, the highlight for me has to be the music itself, especially in the chorus. The beat there is just so cool and representing the best that the 80s have to offer.

2. Like a Prayer

Thought by many to be her career-best song, it is easy to understand why many would think so as Like a Prayer is thoroughly magnificent. Again, like her best numbers, it’s something that we haven’t really seen before in other music acts. By focusing on religion and sex, the song is very powerfully written while being mesmerizing in its tune overall.

1. Take a Bow

While most would pick the above number for the first spot, I myself would say that Take a Bow is Madonna’s magnum opus. While I am obviously in the vast minority in this instance, I still hold this ballad in the greatest of esteems. It represents her 90s output perfectly, an era where her voice became much better and more confident. The music video is elegant, the song is so sweet and the lyrics are incredibly romantic.

Honorable Mentions:

La Isla Bonita – La Isla Bonita is by far her finest Latin-inspired number that is repetitive, but very entertaining and highly memorable.

Celebration – Celebration is also repetitive, but it’s one of her best recent songs with an unforgettable central beat to it.

Live to Tell – Live to Tell doesn’t have those highs in terms of grand choruses that her other songs have, but her singing here is amazing and the song is overall quite strong.