True Blue (Madonna album)

True Blue
Studio album by Madonna
Released June 30, 1986
Recorded December 1985–April 1986
Studio Channel Recording Studios
(Los Angeles, California)
Genre
Length 40:25
Label
Producer
Madonna chronology
Like a Virgin
(1984)		 True Blue
(1986)		 Who's That Girl
(1987)
Singles from True Blue
  1. "Live to Tell"
    Released: March 26, 1986
  2. "Papa Don't Preach"
    Released: June 11, 1986
  3. "True Blue"
    Released: September 29, 1986
  4. "Open Your Heart"
    Released: November 12, 1986
  5. "La Isla Bonita"
    Released: February 25, 1987

True Blue is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on June 30, 1986, by Sire Records. She co-wrote and co-produced the entire album with Stephen Bray and Patrick Leonard. Deemed Madonna's most girlish album, True Blue deals with her visions of love, work, dreams as well as disappointments, and was inspired by her then husband Sean Penn, to whom Madonna dedicated the album. Musically, the songs on the album took a different direction from her previous endeavours, incorporating classical music in order to engage an older audience who had been skeptical of her music.

The album features instrumentation from acoustic guitars, drums, synthesizers and Cuban musical instruments. The topic for the songs range from love, freedom, and in the case of "Papa Don't Preach", social issues like teenage pregnancy. After its release, True Blue received generally positive reviews from critics, who complimented the album as the archetype of the late 1980s and early 1990s pop albums. They also praised the fact that Madonna's voice sounded stronger than it did on her previous efforts, while commending Madonna's skills as a singer, songwriter and entertainer.

True Blue was an immediate global success, reaching number one in then record-breaking 28 countries across the world, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. It spent 34 consecutive weeks at the top of the European Top 100 Albums chart, longer than any other album in history. It became the world's top-selling album of 1986,[1] as well as the best-selling album of the 1980s by a female artist. With estimated sales of over 25 million copies worldwide, True Blue remains one of the best-selling albums of all time. All five singles released from the album reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100, with "Live to Tell", "Papa Don't Preach", and "Open Your Heart" peaking at number one.

The album was promoted on Madonna's second concert tour, the Who's That Girl World Tour, which visited cities of North America, Europe and Asia in 1987. True Blue is credited as being the album which established Madonna's position as the biggest female artist of the 1980s, rivaling male musicians Michael Jackson and Prince. The album's singles and their accompanying music videos have sparked debates among scholars and social groups. She became the first female artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards in recognition of her impact on popular culture. The album also gave her first appearance on the Guinness Book of World Records.

Background and development

An American man with flowing dark hair, looking towards the camera, wearing a suit
The album was inspired by and dedicated to actor Sean Penn, Madonna's husband at the time.

On March 6, 1986, at the Kensington Roof Gardens in London, during a press conference for Shanghai Surprise, Madonna confirmed that she was working on a new album named Live to Tell, which would be later changed to True Blue.[2] She again collaborated with Stephen Bray who had worked on her previous album Like a Virgin, and began to work with Patrick Leonard for the first time.[2] Madonna wrote or co-wrote every song on the album, although writing involvement on some songs such as "Papa Don't Preach" and "Open Your Heart" was limited to adding lyrics. She was also credited with co-producing every track. The album was recorded from December 1985 to April 1986, during the first year of Madonna's marriage to American actor Sean Penn. She dedicated the album to Penn saying, "This is dedicated to my husband, the coolest guy in the universe."[3][4] With this album Madonna tried to appeal to an older audience who had previously been sceptical of her music by experimenting with her image, adopting a more 'traditional' look, and incorporating classical music in her songs.[5]

Deemed Madonna's most girlish album yet, True Blue deals with Madonna's view of love, work and dreams as well as disappointments. According to Madonna, True Blue takes its title from a favorite expression of her then husband Sean Penn and his very pure vision of love.[6] The album was a direct tribute to him as well and was inspired by her "unabashed valentine" for Penn.[7] Most of the songs on the album reflect this idea.[3] Each song on True Blue was developed separately. The album's first track, "Papa Don't Preach", was written by Brian Elliot, who described it as "a love song, maybe framed a little bit differently".[8] The song is based on teenage gossip Elliot heard outside his studio, which had a large front window that doubled as a mirror where schoolgirls from the North Hollywood High School in Los Angeles regularly stopped to fix their hair and chat.[9]

"Open Your Heart" was the first recorded cut for the album, as early as December 1985 and ultimately made it to the final released tracklist; it was originally intended for Cyndi Lauper.[10] The third track "White Heat" was dedicated to actor James Cagney and named after the film of the same name from 1949. Two quotations from the original soundtrack were included in the song.[11] The fourth track "Live to Tell" was originally written by Patrick Leonard for the soundtrack of Paramount's romantic drama film Fire with Fire, but after the company declined it, Leonard showed the song to Madonna.[12] She decided to use it for At Close Range, the new film of her then-husband, actor Sean Penn. Madonna made a demo of the song and, when the film's director, James Foley, heard it he asked Leonard to write the score for the film, as suggested by Madonna.[13]

True Blue was the first album where Madonna included Spanish themes as evident in the song "La Isla Bonita".[14] The song was previously written for Michael Jackson's Bad album, but he had turned it down. While working with Leonard on the album, Madonna accepted it in Jackson's place and re-wrote the song's lyrics, thus earning herself a co-writing credit.[15] Madonna described the song as her tribute to the "beauty and mystery of Latin American people".[16] Originally intended as the first single, "Love Makes the World Go Round" closes the album and was first performed at Live Aid a year earlier in July 1985.[17] The song recalled the antiwar music of the sixties.[18]

Composition

"It's my ultimate statement about what it's like to be in the middle of this Press stuff with everybody on my back, my world about to cave in. Whenever I feel like that – and it does get to me sometimes – I say 'Wait a minute, I'm supposed to be having a good time here, so where's the party?' It doesn't have to be this way. I can still enjoy life."

"I used to fantasize that we grew up in the same neighbourhood and that he (James Dean) moved away and became a big star"

—Madonna talking about the songs "Where's the Party" and "Jimmy Jimmy" [11]

Musically True Blue was a different direction for Madonna. Her previous efforts had her singing in a high pitched voice. With this album, Madonna toned it down for a more bubblegum-pop voice. The songs on the album reflect this and a number of instruments were used in the songs to bring out the different moods which the lyrics emphasized. "Papa Don't Preach" features acoustic, electric, and rhythm guitars, keyboards, and string arrangements.[19] The song samples Beethoven's Appassionata sonata.[20] A continuous percussion filled structure was used in "Open Your Heart".[11] "White Heat"'s sampling of the film's quotation was included with speech and gunshots. It is an uptempo dance song with synth bass and double-tracked vocals supported by male voices in the chorus.[11]

On ballads like "Live to Tell" there is background instrumentation from a keyboard, a synthesizer, a funk guitar and a mix of synthesized and real drumming.[21] "Where's the Party" is a standard Madonna dance track with arrangements of bass drums, synthesizer, clattering rhythms and a remixed approach to the whole composition.[11] The title track featured instrumentation from a rhythm guitar, a synthesizer, keyboards, and drums for the bassline, with a backing track that employed a chord progression commonly used in doo-wop[22] Cuban drums and Spanish guitar, maracas and harmonicas are used in "La Isla Bonita".[23] "Jimmy Jimmy" has an early sixties pop influence and the lyrics were a tribute to pop star James Dean.[11]

Lyrically True Blue reflects Madonna's ideas about love. "Where's the Party" tells about a working girl enjoying her day on the dance-floor after work.[11] "Jimmy Jimmy" talks about Madonna's admiration for the neighbourhood bad boy.[3] Other songs like the Spanish "La Isla Bonita" and "Love Makes the World Go Round" have lyrics dealing with escapism from normal life with the latter talking about anti-war and anti-poverty and using Latin drums and samba influenced rhythms.[3] The lyrics of "White Heat" deal with firmness and Madonna included Clint Eastwood's infamous "make my day" quote in the song.[11] "Papa Don't Preach", dealt with lyrics talking about a young woman who tells her father that she is pregnant out of wedlock, but is going to keep her baby.

"Live to Tell" portraits the complexity of deceit and mistrust.[21] The song also is about childhood scars and had an extreme emotional pitch, achieving it in a divine sense.[24] The title track had Madonna talking about romance and 1950s inspired girl group pop.[25] The lyrics of "True Blue" are constructed in a verse-chorus form, with the theme being Madonna's feelings for Sean Penn; she even uses the 1929 archaic love word "dear" in the line "Just think back and remember, dear".[26] Madonna expressed her sexual desires in the lyrics of the song "Open Your Heart"[20] and described the beauty of a Latin paradise in "La Isla Bonita".[27]

Packaging

Artist Andy Warhol's concept of pop art was one of the inspirations behind the album artwork.

The album cover, shot by photographer Herb Ritts, is one of Madonna's most recognizable pictures. It features a picture of Madonna from the neck up. The main colors in the picture are gray, white and various shades of blue to reinforce the album's title. Madonna positioned herself in an elegant pose while wearing pale make up with red lips, tilting back her neck in a swan like pose.[28] Jeri Heiden, who was working at Warner Bros. art department, was given the task of editing the photos and making them compatible for appearance in an album cover.[29] She had to work with a total of 60 rolls of photos, each of size 35 mm. Heiden ordered about 30 to 40 test prints from Ritts' studio and made recommendations based on it.[29] Several images from the photo shoot were considered for the album cover, some of which later became the single covers for "Papa Don't Preach", "True Blue" and "Open Your Heart". The final photo was selected by Madonna, Heiden and Jeff Ayeroff, creative director of Warner Bros. at that time.[29]

After the final photo was selected, Heiden commissioned two different versions of the album cover. The original image was taken in black-and-white, and Heiden experimented with a variety of treatments of the photo, to go along with the album's title, and finally arrived at the blue toned, hand tinted version of the image.[29] The LP and CD album cover is a cropped image of a longer picture including torso, more of which is seen in the cover of the cassette tape edition, and was also included as a fold-out poster in the initial pressings of the LP.[30] A poster of Madonna, mirroring the cover art, was included within the vinyl versions of the album.[31]

In the US and Canada, the cover did not have any logo, but in the European nations, they were sold with Madonna's name and album title on the cover. Heiden explained in an interview with Aperture magazine that they thought it would be "cool" to use a shrink wrap on the US covers, so that when one took it off, there would only be the photo of Madonna.[29] For the European nations, Warner felt that the name was needed on the cover, as they did not want to take chance with Madonna's popularity there. The back sleeve and the booklet inside featured the song titles in Heiden's own handwriting.[29] About cropping the image for the cassette and the vinyl versions, Heiden said: "I think the image became more interesting cropped into a square—and at that time we always started with the album cover configuration. It was like she was floating—her clothing was not visible. She took on the appearance of a marble statue—Goddess like. In the vertical cropping you see her leather jacket and the wall, and it becomes more typical, editorial, earthly."[29]

According to Lucy O'Brien, author of Madonna: Like an Icon, the album artwork was on-par with Andy Warhol's concept of pop art.[32] She felt that the image was a mixture of innocence and idealism, while incorporating 1950s-style Technicolor and hand tinted color, characteristic of Warhol's silkscreen printed design, prevalent in the 1960s. Jeri Heiden, the album's cover designer, commented, "She was already highly aware of the value of her image and was in control of it. After I took the photo, it appeared as if she was floating—her clothing was not visible. She took on the appearance of a marble statue, goddess-like."[32] O'Brien felt that the artwork heralded the arrival of a new Madonna, while drawing on the enduring appeal of her celluloid icon Marilyn Monroe. "With this picture, Madonna made explicit the connection between Warhol and herself, the vivid nexus between pop art and commerce. The late 1980s marked a new era of the pop artist as a brand, and Madonna became the first one to exploit this."[32]

Erica Wexler from Spin described Madonna on the cover as "like a cobra basking in the hot sun, Madonna on the cover of her new album stretches her profile lasciviously."[33] Author J. Randy Taraborrelli commented in Madonna: An Intimate Biography, that the album cover indicated how True Blue was a vehicle of growth for Madonna. He felt that the "washed out color photograph" of her with head tilted back and eyes closed was "understated", especially when compared to the sexier poses she had been associated in the past.[34] The album's inner sleeve did not feature any photographs, and instead was dedicated to album credits and the song lyrics, since Madonna wanted to be represented by her songs on True Blue, not her image.[35] Billboard listed the cover at rank 34 on their article about the "50 Greatest Album Covers", describing it as a striking image of the singer.[36]

Promotion

Live performance

Madonna performing in Rotterdam during the Who's That Girl World Tour, August 25, 1987.

Prior to the album's release, Madonna premiered "Love Makes the World Go Round" at the 1985 Live Aid concert.[37] The rest of the album's tracks were included on the setlist of her 1987 Who's That Girl World Tour except "Jimmy Jimmy" which remains still the only song from the album Madonna did not perform on any live appearance.[38] It was her second concert tour and promoted True Blue alongside the film project Who's That Girl.[39] It was Madonna's first world tour, reaching Asia, North America and Europe. Musically and technically superior to her previous Virgin Tour, the Who's That Girl tour incorporated multimedia components to make the show more appealing.[39]

Madonna trained herself physically with aerobics, jogging and weight-lifting, to cope with the choreography and the dance routines.[40] For the costumes, she collaborated with designer Marlene Stewart, expanding on the idea of bringing her popular video characters to life onstage, reworking scenes from "True Blue", "Open Your Heart", "Papa Don't Preach" and "La Isla Bonita".[40] The stage was huge, with four video screens, multimedia projectors and a flight of stairs in the middle. Leonard became the music director and encouraged Madonna to go with the idea of rearranging her older songs and presenting them in a new format.[41] Madonna named the tour 'Who's That Girl', after looking up at a gigantic image of herself projected on a screen on the stage during rehearsals.[42]

The show consisted of seven costume changes, with song-and-dance routines and theatrics with an encore consisting of the title song "Who's That Girl" and "Holiday".[28] The tour also addressed social causes like AIDS, during "Papa Don't Preach".[43] Who's That Girl was critically appreciated, with reviewers commenting on the extravagant nature of the concert and complimenting Madonna for her dancing, costume changes and dynamic pacing.[44][45][46] Who's That Girl was a commercial success, grossing a total of U.S. $25 million, with Madonna playing in front of 1.5 million people over the course of the tour.[47] According to Pollstar, it was the second top female concert tour of 1987, behind Tina Turner's Break Every Rule Tour.[39][48]

Two concerts from the tour were later released on music video, Who's That Girl: Live in Japan (1987), which was exclusive to the Japanese market and Ciao Italia: Live from Italy (1988) which was released internationally.[49] Taraborrelli commented that "Many female artists behave like a diva for a period when they reach superstar status, and the 'Who's That Girl?' tour marked the beginning of Madonna's."[50] The tour is also noted for giving rise to the new Madonna persona, a stronger and more intelligent sexual image of her former self which had given rise to the term Madonna wannabe.[51] A statue of Madonna, wearing a conical bra was erected in her name, at the center of the town of Pacentro in Italy, where her ancestors used to live.[42]

Singles

"Live to Tell" was the first single released from the album in March 1986. The song was the second ballad for Madonna after "Crazy for You",[21] and was used in the film At Close Range which starred her then husband Sean Penn. The song was received positively by critics with most of them calling it "her best ballad to date" as well as a "tremendous ballad that rewrites the rules of adult contemporary crossover".[52][53] "Live to Tell" became Madonna's third number one single on the Billboard Hot 100[54] and her second number-one that is featured in a film after "Crazy for You".[55] It also became a success internationally reaching the top ten in Canada, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.[56][57][58][59][60]

"Papa Don't Preach" was released as the second single in June 1986. It was critically appreciated with most of them declaring it as "the stand-alone song" from the album,[61] also that "with songs like 'Papa Don't Preach', Madonna made the transition from pop tart to consummate artist, joining the ranks of 80s icons like Michael Jackson and Prince."[62] The song became Madonna's fourth number-one single in the U.S.[54] and also reached the top spot in Canada, Ireland, Italy, and the United Kingdom.[63][64][65][66]

"True Blue" was released as the album's third single in September 1986. It is a dance-pop song inspired by the Motown's girl groups from the 1960s.[6] Critics generally received the song as a light-hearted, fun track having a 50's feeling to it,[67] although some critics believed that it was "sassless and neutered" as compared to the other songs on the record,[68] and that "True Blue" is "a song that is merely cute and not really up to being the title track of an album". The song became another top ten hit for Madonna reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,[54] and peaked at number one in Ireland and the United Kingdom.[69][70]

"Open Your Heart" was the fourth single from the album released in November 1986. The song was appreciated critically with critics comparing it with sweeter post-Motown valentine songs,[71] and "perfect" for dancefloor strut.[72] The song became Madonna's fifth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[54] Internationally, it became a top ten hit in several European countries including Belgium, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.[73][74][75][76][77]

"La Isla Bonita" was released as the fifth and final single in February 1987. The song describes Madonna as a tourist who prays "that the days would last, they went so fast".[78] The first line refers to an island called San Pedro although this has not been clearly stated by Madonna in any interview.[79] The song received positive response with critics calling it one of Madonna's greatest, most influential songs as well as the best song on the album.[80][81] "La Isla Bonita" was a worldwide hit, reaching number one in Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom,[82][83] while reaching a peak of four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[54]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[52]
Christgau's Record GuideB[84]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[85]
Entertainment WeeklyB[53]
The Great Rock Discography7/10[85]
MusicHound4/5[85]
Q[86]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[85]
Slant Magazine[80]
Spin Alternative Record Guide5/10[87]

True Blue received generally positive reviews from music critics. Jon Pareles, in a review for The New York Times, said that True Blue reprised the themes of fidelity in its songs and complimented her addition of a tinge of real world storytelling in her songs, making her reach the "fringes of the permissible".[88] Stephen Holden in another review complimented the album and said that "Madonna goes heavy on heart in this record".[71] In a Rolling Stone review, Davitt Sigerson stated that Madonna was "singing better than ever". The album's songs were described as "catchy", but Sigerson also commented on the lack of "outstanding tracks". He ultimately stated that True Blue is a "sturdy, dependable, lovable new album" which "remains faithful to her past while shamelessly rising above it".[61]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine, in a review for AllMusic, declared it as "one of the great dance-pop albums, a record that demonstrates Madonna's true skills as a songwriter, record-maker, provocateur, and entertainer through its wide reach, accomplishment, and sheer sense of fun." He also felt that Madonna's endeavors in True Blue made it "[brilliant], using the music to hook in critics." Erlewine found that the songs on the album had a poignant mixture of topics, which further solidied its popularity.[52] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine called the album "the supreme archetype for late '80s and early '90s pop music.[...] Time stamped with '80s-era keyboard and drum synths, True Blue, though chockfull of hits, is the most dated of Madonna's albums." He praised the album's songs for being more mature than "Material Girl", and said that the album "includes some of Madonna's greatest, most influential hits (the robust "Open Your Heart" and the timeless "La Isla Bonita"), but it's also home to some of her biggest clunkers."[80] Michael Paoletta from Billboard commented in 2001 that nearly 20 years after its debut, the album is still irresistible.[89]

Entertainment Weekly reviewer Jim Farber said "Though Madonna's third project finds her adding to her palette with Spanish pop ("La Isla Bonita") and messing with our heads with its seeming anti-abortion song ("Papa Don't Preach"). Also notable for 'Live to Tell,' her best ballad to date".[53] Robert Christgau was less impressed, accusing Madonna of pandering to the "lowest common denominator" of young listeners with ambiguous lyrics and over-promotion.[84] Robert Hilburn from Los Angeles Times stated that "True Blue isn't revolutionary music, but it is imaginative, highly energized pop that recognizes the limitations and pleasures of Top 40 fare."[90] Erica Wexler from Spin commented that "True Blue is Madonna's rite of passage between pop adolescence and a harsher adult world. With all her contrivances and the delighted tunes that I can't exorcise from my head, her mystique is still explained by the young beefcake who told me, 'I love to pump iron to Madonna'."[91]

Commercial performance

Madonna wearing a crown of thorns performs the album's first single "Live to Tell" while hanging on a mirrored cross, in her 2006 Confessions Tour.

In the United States, True Blue debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200[92] and reached number one on the issue dated August 16, 1986.[93] It stayed on the top position for five consecutive weeks and on the chart for a total of 82 weeks. The album also reached a peak of number 47 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[94] True Blue was certified seven times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipment of over seven million units, making it Madonna's third best-selling album in the United States, behind Like a Virgin (1984) and The Immaculate Collection (1990).[95] After the advent of the Nielsen SoundScan era in 1991, the album sold a further 404,000 copies.[96] In Canada, the album debuted at number 73 on the RPM albums chart for the issue of July 5, 1986.[97] The album climbed rapidly upwards and reached number one on the issue dated August 9, 1986.[98] It stayed at the top for nine weeks and was present on the chart for 77 weeks.[99][100] True Blue was certified diamond by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) for shipment of one million copies.[101]

True Blue was also a commercial success in Asia and Oceania. In Japan, the album peaked at number two on the Oricon LP chart.[102] At the 1987 Japan Gold Disc Awards held by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), True Blue received "Album of the Year Pop Solo" and "Grand Prix Album of the Year", which was given for the year's best-selling international album, while Madonna was honored the "Artist of the Year" for the year's best-selling international artist.[103] In Hong Kong, True Blue was certified platinum by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.[104] In Australia, the album topped the Kent Music Report albums chart on the issue date of August 4, 1986, staying there for two weeks.[105] It was certified four times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipment of 280,000 copies.[105] It also reached number one in New Zealand albums chart and was certified five times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) for shipment of 75,000 copies.[106]

True Blue achieved its biggest commercial reception in European countries, where it topped the European Top 100 Albums chart for 34 consecutive weeks—a record that has yet to be broken—from issue dated July 19, 1986 to March 7, 1987.[107] In the United Kingdom, True Blue opened at the top of the UK Albums Chart on July 12, 1986, making it the first album by American artist to debut at number one in British chart history.[108][109] It remained at the summit for six weeks and on the chart for a total of 85 weeks.[110] True Blue was the best-selling album of 1986 in the United Kingdom.[111] The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified it seven times platinum for shipment of 2.1 million copies and as of October 2014, it has sold 1.997 million copies, the highest sales for any of Madonna's studio albums.[112][113] True Blue also topped the albums chart in France and was certified diamond by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP) for shipment of one million copies.[114][115] Actual sales of the album in the country stand at 1,353,100 copies.[115] In Germany, the album peaked at number one for eight weeks and was certified two times platinum by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) for shipment of one million copies.[116][117]

Legacy

True Blue cemented Madonna's position as the most popular female artist of the 1980s, on par with male superstars Michael Jackson (left) and Prince (right).

Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted that "True Blue is the album where Madonna truly became 'Madonna the Superstar'—the endlessly ambitious, fearlessly provocative entertainer that knew how to outrage, spark debates, get good reviews—and make good music while she's at it."[52] Mark Savage from BBC stated that True Blue is the album which cemented Madonna's reputation as the 'First Lady of Pop'.[118] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine said that with the album "Madonna made the transition from pop tart to consummate artist, joining the ranks of '80s icons like Michael Jackson and Prince."[80] Similarly, Robert C. Sickels, the author of 100 Entertainers Who Changed America: An Encyclopedia of Pop Culture Luminaries, wrote that the album "cemented Madonna's place as the most popular female musical star of the 1980s, shining alongside male pop icons like Prince and Michael Jackson."[119]

Regarding Madonna's influence on the record industry and younger artists, Debbie Gibson's then manager Doug Breitbart commented: "Madonna has brought back a really strong, melodic component to pop music. She has a very youth-oriented, up, bubbly, fun sound."[120] Slant Magazine listed the album at number 60 on their list of "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s" and stated that "True Blue was the album on which it became readily apparent that Madonna was more than just a flash-in-the-pan pop star." They added, "It's when she began manipulating her image—and her audience—with a real sense of clarity and purpose and made sure she had quality songs to back up her calculation and world-dominating ambition."[121]

The global success of True Blue marked the first time Madonna entering the Guinness Book of World Records in its 1988 edition, where she was dubbed as the most successful singer for 1986.[122] The album also held the record for number one in the most countries, topping the album charts in a total of 28 countries around the world.[123] True Blue was later included in the 1991 edition of Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest selling album by a woman, with copies sold of more than 17 million until October 1990.[124] Becoming the world's top-selling album of 1986 and the biggest selling album of the 1980s by woman, True Blue also remains one of the best-selling albums of all time with sales of more than 25 million copies worldwide.[125][126]

A wax figure of Madonna in the "Open Your Heart" music video at the Madame Tussauds museum.

The second single from the album, "Papa Don't Preach" faced criticism as well as support from groups concerned with pregnancy and abortion for its theme of a girl getting pregnant and then deciding to continue the pregnancy rather than ending it. Alfred Moran who was the executive director of Planned Parenthood of New York City, criticized the song, fearing that it would undermine efforts to promote birth control among adolescents and that it would encourage teenage pregnancy.[127][128] Susan Carpenter-McMillan who was the president of Feminists for Life (FFL) in the U.S., accepted the song's theme as being pro-life and said that "abortion is readily available on every street corner for young women. Now what Madonna is telling them is, hey, there's an alternative."[128] In a New York Times interview, Madonna commented on the events happening surrounding the song:

"Papa Don't Preach" is a message song that everyone is going to take the wrong way. Immediately they're going to say I am advising every young girl to go out and get pregnant. When I first heard the song, I thought it was silly. But then I thought, wait a minute, this song is really about a girl who is making a decision in her life. She has a very close relationship with her father and wants to maintain that closeness. To me it's a celebration of life. It says, 'I love you, father, and I love this man and this child that is growing inside me'. Of course, who knows how it will end? But at least it starts off positive."[6]

True Blue also made social impact through its music videos, as author John E. Semonche observed in his book Censoring Sex that Madonna pushed the envelope of what could be shown on television which resulted in increase of her popularity.[129] The music video for "Open Your Heart" was a subject of analysis among scholars for its concept of the stereo-typical male gaze and voyeurism. She appeared as a stripper in the video, who escapes with a young boy from the strip parlour in the end.[130] MTV had some reservations initially before airing the video, which was later resolved after a meeting with Warner Officials.[131] Feminist writer Susan Bordo reacted negatively to the video, saying that the leering and pathetic men in the cubicles and Madonna's escape with the boy is "cynically and mechanically tacked on [as] a way of claiming trendy status for what is just cheesecake—or, perhaps, pornography".[132] Author Donn Welton pointed out that the usual power relationship between the "voyeuristic male gaze and object" is destabilized by the portrayal of the male patrons of the peep show as leering and pathetic.[133]

Author Douglas Kellner noted that the multiculturalism in her music videos and her culturally transgressive moves "turned out to be highly successful moves that endeared her to large and varied youth audiences."[134] In the fall of 1986, Sire Records held Madonna's "Make My Video" contest that involved MTV viewers to make their own videos for "True Blue". Thousands of viewers submitted their recorded tapes which were mainly made using home-made video equipment and featured themselves or relatives as the actors.[135] MTV publicist Peter Danielson said that many of the submissions featured teenagers imitating Madonna.[136][135] Her Spanish look in the music video for "La Isla Bonita" became popular and appeared in the fashion trends at that time in the form of boleros and layered skirts accessorizing with rosary beads and crucifix like the video.[137] In recognition of her impact on popular culture through her music videos, Madonna was honored with the Video Vanguard Award at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards, only four years into her career. She became the first female artist to receive such career achievement from MTV.[138]

Track listing

True Blue – Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Papa Don't Preach"  
4:29
2."Open Your Heart"  
4:13
3."White Heat"  
  • Madonna
  • Leonard
  • Madonna
  • Leonard
4:40
4."Live to Tell"  
  • Madonna
  • Leonard
  • Madonna
  • Leonard
5:51
5."Where's the Party"  
  • Madonna
  • Bray
  • Leonard
  • Madonna
  • Leonard
  • Bray
4:21
6."True Blue"  
  • Madonna
  • Bray
  • Madonna
  • Bray
4:18
7."La Isla Bonita"  
  • Madonna
  • Leonard
4:02
8."Jimmy Jimmy"  
  • Madonna
  • Bray
  • Madonna
  • Bray
3:55
9."Love Makes the World Go Round"  
  • Madonna
  • Leonard
  • Madonna
  • Leonard
4:31
Total length:40:18
Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[139]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1986) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[105] 1
Austrian Albums Chart[140] 2
Canadian Albums Chart[98] 1
Dutch Albums Chart[141] 1
European Top 100 Albums[107] 1
Finnish Albums Chart[142] 1
French Albums Chart[114] 1
German Albums Chart[116] 1
Italian Albums Chart[143] 1
Japanese Albums Chart[102] 2
New Zealand Albums Chart[140] 1
Norwegian Albums Chart[144] 2
Spanish Albums Chart[145] 1
Swedish Albums Chart[146] 2
Swiss Albums Chart[147] 1
UK Albums Chart[108] 1
US Billboard 200[93] 1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[94] 47
Chart (2006) Peak
position
Danish Albums Chart[140] 29
Chart (2014) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[148] 21

All-time charts

Chart Position
US Billboard 200[149] 179

Year-end charts

Chart (1986) Position
Australian Albums Chart[150] 10
Austrian Albums Chart[151] 10
Canadian Albums Chart[152] 2
Dutch Albums Chart[153] 1
German Albums Chart[154] 6
Italian Albums Chart[155] 1
Japanese Albums Chart[156] 13
New Zealand Albums Chart[157] 6
Swiss Albums Chart[158] 5
UK Albums Chart[159] 1
US Billboard 200[160] 37
Chart (1987) Position
Australian Albums Chart[150] 21
Austrian Albums Chart[161] 16
Canadian Albums Chart [162] 6
Dutch Albums Chart[163] 10
German Albums Chart[164] 7
Japanese Albums Chart[165] 40
New Zealand Albums Chart[166] 39
US Billboard 200[167] 11

Decade-end charts

Chart (1980–1989) Position
Australian Albums Chart[150] 36
Austrian Albums Chart[168] 20
Japanese Albums Chart[169] 36
UK Albums Chart[159] 9

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[170] 4× Platinum 240,000*
Australia (ARIA)[105] 4× Platinum 280,000^
Brazil (ABPD)[171] Gold 100,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[172] Diamond 1,000,000^
France (SNEP)[173] Diamond 1,353,500[174]
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[175] Platinum 53,912[175]
Germany (BVMI)[176] 2× Platinum 1,000,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[177] Platinum 15,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[178] Gold 718,000[169]
Netherlands (NVPI)[179] 3× Platinum 300,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[180] 5× Platinum 75,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[145] 3× Platinum 300,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[112] 7× Platinum 1,997,015[113]
United States (RIAA)[181] 7× Platinum 7,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Emery, Mark. "1986 flashback: Remembering the year of the Mets' last title, from Reagan to Ruxpin". NEW YORK DAILY NEWS. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 McKeen 2000, p. 232
  3. 1 2 3 4 McKeen 2000, p. 233
  4. ↑ Parish & Pitts 2003, p. 525
  5. ↑ Kellner 1995, p. 277
  6. 1 2 3 Metz & Benson 1999, p. 48
  7. ↑ Morton 2002, p. 789
  8. ↑ "'Papa Don't Preach' Stirs Teen Pregnancy Debate". St. Petersburg Times. September 5, 1986.
  9. ↑ "Gossip Composite". The Dallas Morning News. A. H. Belo Corporation. September 18, 1986.
  10. ↑ Bronson 2003, p. 655
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rooksby 2004, pp. 23–26
  12. ↑ Bronson 2003, p. 637
  13. ↑ Perdomo, Marco Antonio (June 6, 2003). "Vivir para contarlo Madonna" (in Spanish). Diario Co Latino. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
  14. ↑ Fouz-Hernández & Jarman-Ivens 2004, p. 68
  15. ↑ Bronson 2003, p. 659
  16. ↑ Rettenmund 1996, p. 98
  17. ↑ "Live Aid 1985: Looking back at the original event". BBC. July 13, 1985. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
  18. ↑ Taylor 1993, p. 192
  19. ↑ "Digital Sheet Music: Papa Don't Preach". Musicnotes. Alfred Publishing. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
  20. 1 2 Fouz-Hernández & Jarman-Ivens 2004, p. 61
  21. 1 2 3 Marsh 1999, p. 38
  22. ↑ Marsh 1999, p. 184
  23. ↑ "Digital Sheet Music: La Isla Bonita". Musicnotes. Alfred Publishing. Retrieved March 21, 2009.
  24. ↑ Metz & Benson 1999, pp. 16–21
  25. ↑ McKeen 2000, p. 234
  26. ↑ Dean 2003, p. 523
  27. ↑ Ciotti, Paul (March 22, 1987). "Madonna's La Isla Bonita: Myth or Reality?". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035.
  28. 1 2 Voller 1999, p. 29
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lewis, Julia (October 15, 2006). "True Blue's first twenties". Aperture. Los Angeles: Aperture Foundation: 71–72. ISSN 0003-6420.
  30. ↑ Downey, Ryan J. (December 26, 2002). "Photographer/ Video Director Herb Ritts Dies At Age 50". MTV (MTV Networks). Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  31. ↑ Tuber, Keith (November 1986). "Bachman Puts Career Into Overdrive". Orange Coast. Emmis Communications. 12 (11): 190. ISSN 0279-0483.
  32. 1 2 3 O'Brien 2007, p. 21
  33. ↑ Wexler, Erica (October 1986). "Madonna: True Blue: Sire". Spin. Spin Media LLC. 2 (7): 37. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  34. ↑ Taraborrelli 2002, p. 118
  35. ↑ Taraborrelli 2002, p. 119
  36. ↑ "50 Best Album Covers, Art". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  37. ↑ Metz & Benson 1999, p. 11
  38. ↑ Cross 2007, p. 103
  39. 1 2 3 Taraborrelli 2002, p. 125
  40. 1 2 Clerk 2002, p. 66
  41. ↑ Farley, Chris (August 5, 1987). "Madonna's Moves Are The Stuff Of Shabba-Doo". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  42. 1 2 Morton 2002, pp. 199–200
  43. ↑ Guilbert 2002, p. 78
  44. ↑ Ayers, Ann (July 3, 1987). "Dressing Up A Material Girl". USA Today. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  45. ↑ Goddard, Peter (July 3, 1987). "Who's That Girl? Madonna-mia!". Toronto Star. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  46. ↑ Zamost, Scott A; Snead, Elizabeth (July 2, 1987). "New Madonna Tour Sets Racy Tone". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  47. ↑ Bassets, Luis (August 31, 1987). "Madonna convocó en París a 130.000 personas". El País (in French). Madrid: Ediciones El Pais S.L. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  48. ↑ Bego 2000, p. 190
  49. ↑ "Warner Bros. Records Inc. Commits to Furthering DVD Platform". PR Newswire. February 11, 1999. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  50. ↑ Taraborrelli 2002, p. 127
  51. ↑ Bego 2000, p. 210
  52. 1 2 3 4 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (July 13, 1986). "True Blue > Overview". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  53. 1 2 3 Farber, Jim (July 20, 2001). "The Girl Material". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  54. 1 2 3 4 5 "Artist Chart History – Madonna". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  55. ↑ DeKnock, Jan (June 6, 1986). "Madonna's Soundtrack Single 'Live To Tell' Lives To Become No. 1". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  56. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 44, No. 25, September 13, 1986". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. September 13, 1986. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  57. ↑ "Madonna – Live to Tell (Chanson)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. July 12, 1986. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
  58. ↑ "Madonna – Live to Tell (song)". Dutch Top 40 (in Dutch). Radio 538. week 19–1986. Retrieved March 4, 2009. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  59. ↑ "Madonna – Live to Tell (song)". Swiss Charts (in German). Hung Medien. June 1, 1986. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
  60. ↑ "Chart Stats – Madonna – Live to Tell". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
  61. 1 2 Sigerson, Davitt (June 17, 1986). "Madonna: True Blue Album review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  62. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (2003). "American Idol: 20 Years of Madonna". Slant Magazine. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
  63. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 45, No. 8, November 15, 1986". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. November 15, 1986. Retrieved February 25, 2009.
  64. ↑ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". Irish Recorded Music Association. June 19, 1986. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
  65. ↑ "Indice per Interprete: M" (in Italian). HitParadeItalia. July 12, 1986. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
  66. ↑ "Chart Stats – Madonna – Papa Don't Preach". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
  67. ↑ Holdship, Bill (January 1, 1986). "Album Review: True Blue". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
  68. ↑ "Madonna's 'True Blue' Leaves Bad Aftertaste". The Wichita Eagle. November 23, 1986. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
  69. ↑ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". Irish Recorded Music Association. October 4, 1986. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
  70. ↑ "Chart Stats – Madonna – True Blue". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
  71. 1 2 Holden, Stephen (June 29, 1986). "Madonna Goes Heavy On Heart". The New York Times. p. 2. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  72. ↑ Guerra, Joey (April 25, 2008). "Madonna makes the (Houston) people come together". The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 30, 2009.
  73. ↑ "Open Your Heart on VRT Top 30". VRT Top 30. December 20, 1986. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
  74. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Open Your Heart". Irish Recorded Music Association. December 12, 1987. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
  75. ↑ "Indice per interprete:Madonna". Federation of the Italian Music Industry. March 2, 1987. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
  76. ↑ "Open Your Heart on Dutch charts". MegaCharts. March 7, 1987. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
  77. ↑ Warwick, Brown & Kutner 2004, p. 56
  78. ↑ Fouz-Hernández & Jarman-Ivens 2004, p. 144
  79. ↑ Hart & Phelan 1993, p. 341
  80. 1 2 3 4 Cinquemani, Sal (January 23, 2003). "Madonna, True Blue, Sire 1986". Slant Magazine. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  81. ↑ McLeese, Don (July 10, 1986). "Mature Madonna Isn't As Much Fun". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  82. ↑ "Chartverfolgung:Madonna – La Isla Bonita". Media Control Charts. May 11, 1987. Retrieved March 23, 2009.
  83. ↑ WarwickBrown & Kutner 2004, p. 78
  84. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (1994). "Madonna". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0306805820.
  85. 1 2 3 4 "True Blue". Acclaimed Music. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  86. ↑ Q. London: 131. July 2001.
  87. ↑ Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (October 1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide (1 ed.). Vintage Books. p. 235. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  88. ↑ Pareles, Jon (June 11, 1990). "Critic's Notebook; On the Edge of the Permissible: Madonna's Evolving Persona". The New York Times. p. 2. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  89. ↑ Paoletta, Michael (August 18, 2001). "Vital Re-Issues". Billboard. New York. 113 (33). ISSN 0006-2510.
  90. ↑ Hilburn, Robert (July 6, 1986). "Madonna Is Nobody's Toy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
  91. ↑ Wexter, Erica (October 1986). "Madonna: True Blue: Sire". Spin. Spin Media LLC. 2 (7). ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  92. ↑ "BILLBOARD 200 - Chart archive". Billboard. July 19, 1986. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  93. 1 2 "The Billboard 200 – True Blue". Billboard. August 16, 1986. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
  94. 1 2 "allmusic (((True Blue > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". AllMusic. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
  95. ↑ "American album certifications – Madonna – True Blue". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 15, 2010. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  96. ↑ Grein, Paul (August 12, 2010). "Week Ending Aug. 8, 2008: Taylor Swift Returns". Yahoo!. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  97. ↑ "Canadian RPM Albums Chart". RPM. RPM Library Archives. July 15, 1986. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
  98. 1 2 "Canadian RPM Albums Chart". RPM. RPM Library Archives. August 9, 1986. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
  99. ↑ "Canadian RPM Albums Chart". RPM. RPM Library Archives. October 18, 2009. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
  100. ↑ "Canadian Albums Chart". RPM. RPM Library Archives. January 16, 1988. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
  101. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Madonna – True Blue". Music Canada. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  102. 1 2 "マドンナ Japanese Albums Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon. July 25, 1986. Retrieved July 4, 2010. Note: Until January 1987, Japanese albums chart had been separated into LP, CD, and CT (audio cassette) charts. True Blue peaked at No.2 on the LP chart, No.1 on the CD chart, No. 3 on the CT chart, respectively.
  103. ↑ ゴールドディスク大賞受賞者一覧 (PDF) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 1987–2006. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
  104. ↑ "Gold Disc Award > Gold Disc Award Criteria". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  105. 1 2 3 4 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992 (Illustrated ed.). Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 444. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  106. ↑ "Radioscope Gold / Platinum Albums". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Radio & Records. March 1, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
  107. 1 2 "Europarade". Hitkrant (in Dutch). Amsterdam: Nationale Hitkrant Productions. 10 (29). July 19, 1986. ISSN 0165-4942.
  108. 1 2 "UK Albums Chart – Week of July 12, 1986". The Official Charts Company. July 12, 1986. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  109. ↑ Frith, Straw & Street 2001, p. 16
  110. ↑ "Artist Chart History: Madonna". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  111. ↑ Rees & Crampton 1991, p. 343
  112. 1 2 "British album certifications – Madonna – True Blue". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 16, 2012. Enter True Blue in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  113. 1 2 Jones, Alan (October 27, 2014). "Official Charts Analysis: Trainor matches Clean Bandit for longest-running No.1 single of 2014". Music Week. Retrieved October 27, 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  114. 1 2 "Madonna True Blue – France – search with artist name". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. January 4, 1987. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
  115. 1 2 "Les Albums Diamant". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  116. 1 2 "Album – Madonna, True Blue". Media Control Charts. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  117. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Madonna; 'True Blue')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
  118. ↑ Savage, Mark (August 15, 2008). "Pop superstars turn 50". BBC. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  119. ↑ Sickles, Robert. 100 Entertainers Who Changed America: An Encyclopedia of Pop Culture Luminaries. Greenwood Publishing. p. 423. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  120. ↑ Grein, Paul (December 1, 1987). "Teen-Agers Making Their Voices Heard Tiffany, 16, Is Not 'Alone Now' on Pop Scene as Recording Industry Capitalizes on Young Artists". Los Angeles Times. p. 1. ISSN 0458-3035.
  121. ↑ "Best Albums of the 1980s". Slant Magazine. March 5, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  122. ↑ "New Guinness Book Goes on the Record". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia Media Holdings. October 16, 1987. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  123. ↑ Bohem 1990, p. 78
  124. ↑ McFarlan 1991, p. 197
  125. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (March 29, 2012). "Madonna And Lionel Richie To Reunite On Billboard Charts?". MTV (MTV Networks). Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  126. ↑ "Sus Discos" (in Spanish). El Mercurio. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  127. ↑ Singer 2002, p. 405
  128. 1 2 Dullea, Georgia (September 18, 1986). "Madonna's New Beat is a Hit, but Song's Message Rankles". The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
  129. ↑ Semonche 2007, p. 162
  130. ↑ Kellner 1995, p. 274
  131. ↑ Westbrook, Bruce (January 8, 1987). "MTV drops Quinn while searching for fresh faces". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
  132. ↑ Bordo & Heywood 2004, p. 273
  133. ↑ Welton 1998, p. 234
  134. ↑ Kellner 1995, p. 271
  135. 1 2 Lewis 1991, p. 206
  136. ↑ Parker, Lyndsey (August 7, 2008). "Most Memorable Madonna Moments: 46-50". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo! Inc. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
  137. ↑ Clerk 2002, p. 44
  138. ↑ "Who has won the most MTV Video Music Awards?". Vibe. 16 (2): 58. March 2008. ISSN 1070-4701.
  139. ↑ True Blue (Liner notes). Madonna. Warner Bros. Records. 1986. 925442-2.
  140. 1 2 3 "Madonna – True Blue (Album)". Ultratop 50. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  141. ↑ "Hits of the World: Netherlands". Billboard. 98 (43): 65. October 25, 1986. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
  142. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin. Keuruu: Otava. p. 201. ISBN 951-1-21053-X.
  143. ↑ "Madonna: Discografia Italiana". Federation of the Italian Music Industry. HitParadeItalia. Retrieved May 31, 2010.
  144. ↑ "Madonna True Blue – Norway". VG-lista. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
  145. 1 2 Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  146. ↑ "Madonna True Blue – Sweden". Sverigetopplistan. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
  147. ↑ "Madonna True Blue – Switzerland". Swiss Music Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
  148. ↑ Copsey, Rob (October 26, 2014). "Ben Howard scores first Number 1 album with I Forget Where We Were". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  149. ↑ "Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  150. 1 2 3 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  151. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 1986". Austriancharts.at. December 15, 1986. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  152. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1986". RPM. December 26, 1986. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  153. ↑ "Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1986". Dutchcharts.nl. December 23, 1986. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  154. ↑ "OFFIZIELLE DEUTSCHE CHARTS - TOP 100 ALBUM-JAHRESCHARTS". Offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  155. ↑ "Hit Parade Italia - Alben 1986". Hitparadeitalia.it. FIMI. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  156. ↑ 年間アルバムヒットチャート 1986年（昭和61年） [Japanese Year-End Albums Chart 1986] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  157. ↑ "END OF YEAR CHARTS 1986". Nztop40.co.nz. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  158. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1986". Hitparade.ch. December 21, 1986. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  159. 1 2 "UK decade 80s". everyhit.com. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  160. ↑ Billboard Magazine – 1986: The Year in Music & Video. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. December 27, 1986.
  161. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 1987". Austriancharts.at. December 15, 1987. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  162. ↑ "Top 100 Albums of '87". RPM. December 26, 1987. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  163. ↑ "Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1987". Dutchcharts.nl. December 28, 1987. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  164. ↑ "OFFIZIELLE DEUTSCHE CHARTS - TOP 100 ALBUM-JAHRESCHARTS". Offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  165. ↑ 年間アルバムヒットチャート 1987年（昭和62年） [Japanese Year-End Albums Chart 1987] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  166. ↑ "END OF YEAR CHARTS 1987". Nztop40.co.nz. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  167. ↑ Billboard Magazine – 1987: The Year in Music & Video. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. December 26, 1987.
  168. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Bestenlisten – 80-er album" (in German). Hung Medien.
  169. 1 2 Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  170. ↑ "Discos de Oro y Platino" (in Spanish). Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  171. ↑ "Brazilian album certifications – Madonna – True Blue" (in Portuguese). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  172. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Madonna – True Blue". Music Canada. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  173. ↑ "French album certifications – Madonna – True Blue" (in French). InfoDisc. Select MADONNA and click OK
  174. ↑ "Les Albums Diamant :" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  175. 1 2 "Madonna" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  176. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Madonna; 'True Blue')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  177. ↑ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1989". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  178. ↑ "RIAJ > The Record > May 1994 > Certified Awards (March 1994)" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  179. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Madonna – True Blue" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  180. ↑ "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". Radioscope. 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  181. ↑ "American album certifications – Madonna – True Blue". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 16, 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH

References

  • Bego, Mark (2000). Madonna: Blonde Ambition. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781461741527. 
  • Bohem, David A. (1990). Guinness Book of World Records 1990. Sterling Publications. ISBN 0-8069-5791-3. 
  • Bordo, Susan R.; Heywood, Leslie (2004). Unbearable weight : feminism, Western culture, and the body. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-24054-5. 
  • Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits. Billboard books. ISBN 0-8230-7677-6. 
  • Clerk, Carol (2002). Madonnastyle. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-8874-9. 
  • Cross, Mary (2007). Madonna: A Biography. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-313-33811-6. 
  • Dean, Maury (2003). Rock 'n' Roll Gold Rush: A Singles Un-Cyclopedia. Algora Publishing. ISBN 0-87586-207-1. 
  • Fouz-Hernández, Santiago; Jarman-Ivens, Freya (2004). Madonna's Drowned Worlds. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 0-7546-3372-1. 
  • Frith, Simon; Straw, Will; Street, John (2001). The Cambridge companion to pop and rock. Cambridge Companions to Music. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-55660-0. 
  • Guilbert, Georges-Claude (2002). Madonna as postmodern myth. McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-1408-1. 
  • Hart, Lynda; Phelan, Peggy (1993). Acting out: feminist performances. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0-472-06479-7. 
  • Kellner, Douglas (1995). Media Culture: Cultural Studies, Identity, and Politics Between the Modern and the Postmodern. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-10570-6. 
  • McFarlan, Donald (1991). "The Guinness Book of Records 1991". 0851123783. 
  • Marsh, Dave (1999). "The heart of rock & soul: the 1001 greatest singles ever made". 030680901X. 
  • McKeen, William (2000). Rock and roll is here to stay. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-04700-8. 
  • Metz, Andrew; Benson, Carol (1999). The Madonna Companion: Two Decades of Commentary. Music Sales Group. ISBN 0-8256-7194-9. 
  • Morton, Andrew (2002). Madonna. Macmillan. ISBN 0-312-98310-7. 
  • O'Brien, Lucy (2007). Madonna: Like an Icon. Bantam Press. ISBN 0-593-05547-0. 
  • Parish, James Robert; Pitts, Michael R. (2003). Hollywood Songsters: Garland to O'Connor. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0-415-94333-7. 
  • Rees, Dafydd; Crampton, Luke (1991). Rock movers & shakers, Volume 1991, Part 2. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 0-87436-661-5. 
  • Rettenmund, Matthew (1996). Boy Culture. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9780312145538. 
  • Rooksby, Rikky (2004). The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-9883-3. 
  • Singer, Jerome L (2002). Handbook of Children and the Media. SAGE Publications. ISBN 0-7619-1955-4. 
  • Taylor, Mark C. (1993). Nots. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-79130-0. 
  • Semonche, John E (2007). Censoring sex: a historical journey through American media. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0-7425-5132-6. 
  • Taraborrelli, J. Randy (2002). Madonna: An Intimate Biography. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-7432-2880-4. 
  • Voller, Debbi (1999). Madonna: The Style Book. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-7511-6. 
  • Warwick, Neil; Brown, Tony; Kutner, Jon (2004). The Complete Book of the British Charts: Singles & Albums. Omnibus Press. ISBN 1-84449-058-0. 
  • Welton, Donn (1998). Body and flesh: a philosophical reader. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 1-57718-126-3. 
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
 —		 Japan Gold Disc Award for Album of the Year
1987 		Succeeded by
Bad by Michael Jackson
Preceded by
Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits		 UK Albums Chart best-selling album of the year
1986 		Succeeded by
Bad by Michael Jackson

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.