The best version of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” is not the one you know

Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” is undoubtedly one of the best dance songs of the 1980s. However, the hit version of the song is not the best version out there. The Material Girl made a better recording of “Like a Virgin” that turns the original on its head. Although the newer version of “Like a Virgin” is available for purchase, it has not garnered much attention.

Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” is more complex than it seems at first hearing

It’s impossible to remember now, but Madonna wasn’t always a daring artist. Her first album, Madonnacontained some X-rated hits such as “Holiday,” “Borderline,” and “Lucky Star.” It was only with the release of “Like a Virgin” that she became a scandal, and the lyrics of this song were telling. The loss of virginity is traditionally seen as a loss of innocence, and “Like a Virgin” was Madonna’s transformation into a sexual provocateur.

Of course, there is still a little innocence in the song. Madonna’s vocals are girlish and the lyrics of “Like a Virgin” reveal someone who is having doubts about her sexuality. She needs to be “unfrozen.” This lack of confidence is part of what makes the song so captivating.

When Madonna discovered the nu disco style for her Confessions Tour, she reworked the melody with a stronger backbone. The production makes the song sound confident and ecstatic. It is one of the best moments in Madonna’s illustrious career.

Madonna took the song to a new level with an incredible live performance

Of course, the song “Like a Virgin” from the Confessions Tour Redux must be understood in the light of the live performance that accompanied it. For the tour, the Queen of Pop put on a leather horse harness that moved like a carousel. The image alone is bizarre, provocative and fascinating.

That was Madonna’s greatest strength: surprising us. Her performance of “Like a Virgin” could have been allegorical, perverse, or simply meaningless. Regardless, she created an indelible image. Her unexpected rendition of “Like a Virgin” may not be as famous as the Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down” on a rooftop, but it is considered one of the best live performances of all time.

Why the Queen of Pop was connected to “Like a Virgin”

In a 2009 interview with Rolling Stone, the Queen of Pop revealed what she thought of “Like a Virgin” and “Material Girl” when she first heard them. “I liked them both because they were ironic and provocative at the same time, but also different from me,” she said. “I’m not a materialistic person and I was certainly not a virgin, and by the way, how can you be like a virgin? I liked the wordplay, I thought they were clever. They’re so geeky, they’re cool.”

Madonna was asked if she expected “Like a Virgin” and “Material Girl” to be hits. “No,” she revealed. “They just spoke to me. I’ve never been a good judge of what’s going to be a big hit and what’s not. The songs that I think are the (stupidest) songs I’ve written, like ‘Cherish’ and ‘Sorry,’ a pretty big hit from my last album, end up being the biggest hits. ‘Into the Groove’ is another song that makes me feel (stupid) singing it, but everyone seems to like it.”

It took decades, but Madonna finally discovered the full potential of “Like a Virgin.”