Madonna became a pop star at 26, an age at which many female pop stars peak only to see their careers begin to fade by their thirties. However, the Queen of Pop has been in the business for almost thirty years and is still going strong. She makes music and tours the world. She starred in movies and still managed to get married twice, have two children and adopt two more from Malawi.
Madonna's Chart Domination since 1982
Madonna was signed by Sire Records in 1982 and released her first club hit, Everybody. Two more club hits, Physical Attraction and Holiday followed in 1983.
Her first album was released in September 1983 and produced several top ten hits.
Madonna became a star in 1985 when her second album, Like A Virgin, topped the charts for six weeks from January of 1985.
Madonna's third album "Material Girl" was released in 1985. Its high global sales sealed her international celebrity status by selling millions of records globally.
One of her most recognisable songs to date, Crazy in Love, from "Material Girl," became her second number 1 single. It topped the charts in May 1985.
"True Blue" was released in July of 1986 and was number one both sides of the atlantic. In America alone it sold a staggering five million copies. It gave Madonna three more number one singles.
1989 saw the release of "Like A Prayer," another number one album. Out of it came another chart topping single, Vogue. To round up her success to date, Madonna released her "Greatest Hits" album including two new singles one of which topped the charts.
Her string of number one albums continued when she released "This Used to Be My Playground."
Madonna's seventh album, "Bedtime Stories" was released in 1994. It spawned the number one hit Take A Bow which ruled the charts for seven weeks.
Marriage and Motherhood from 1996 to 2000
Madonna became a mother for the first time in 1996. Two years later she released "Ray of Light," which debuted at number two.
In 2000 Madonna became a mother for the second time.
Her less commercially successful album, "American Life," was released in 2003. She was married to British movie director Guy Ritchie by then and lived in Britain.
Madonna released a number one album two years later. "Confessions on the Dance Floor" earned Madonna a Grammy for Best Electronic/Dance Album.
Madonna celebrated her fiftieth birthday in 2008 and also released her eleventh album, "Hard Candy" the same year. It stormed the charts at number one.
This year Madonna released "Celebrations," a double disk compilation of previous hits and new material. It topped the album chart in the UK.
Recognition by VH1
Madonna was voted the greatest woman in music by viewers of Australian television channel VH1 in 2002. She took top spot ahead of Australian native Kylie Minogue, who came second.
The Recording Industry of America certfied Madonna the best solo female artist of the twentieth century and the second top selling artist in the USA with 63 albums sold. In 2007 she was the World Guinness Records’ most successful female recording artist of all time and was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.
Madonna : Selling Out Tours SInce 1985
Since her first tour in 1985, Madonna has broken records for sell out tours and gross earnings. Her Live to Tell tour in 1986 was a roaring success and was number one for that year. Her Confessions Tour in 2006 was the highest grossing tour ever by a female artist.
Acting Success and Credentials
Madonna starred as Susan in Desperately Seeking Susan. The movie was released in 1985 and was a box office success. In 1989 Madonna starred in Warren Beatty’s Dick Tracy.
She got the title role for Evita in 1995 for which she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a musical or comedy the following year.
Trendsetting and Image Makeovers
Madonna is acknowledged as the first female star to have total control of her image but there are many other firsts with her. Her longevity in the highly competitive and fickle pop world is unusual for any individual or group, least of all a female artist. Her consistence in producing music that attracts a young fan base decade after decade is remarkable.
Many great entertainers, rock and pop stars have succumbed to fame, drugs, sex and scandals, but Madonna has shown remarkable personal resilience in the face of a sometimes turbulent personal life, negative media spotlight and controversy. She is a true icon, even a living legend.
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