The Tracks — Like a Virgin, 1984, Track 01
Material Girl
Living in a material world.
At a Glance
Title
Material Girl
Record
Like a Virgin (1984) | Track 01
Single
Second single | 30 November 1984
Writers
Peter Brown | Robert Rans
Producers
Video
Directed by Mary Lambert
Chart peaks
US No. 2 | UK No. 3
A tongue-in-cheek send-up of 1980s greed that stuck to Madonna for decades — whether she liked it or not.
The Song
Written by Peter Brown and Robert Rans and produced by Nile Rodgers, “Material Girl” is a satire of materialism, sung with a wink over a bouncing synth-and-bass groove.
The Video
Mary Lambert’s video recreates Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes — framed by a story in which Madonna’s character chooses the man who brings her daisies over the ones who bring her diamonds.
The Charts
It reached No. 2 in the US and No. 3 in the UK, and became one of her signature songs.
LISTEN NEXT
Keep listening — headphones on, lights low.
