Madonna: Top 100 Songs

Madonna Top 100 Songs

The dance-pop singer and record executive (Maverick Records) was born Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone on August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan. She was the third of six children born to an Italian-American. Her mother died of breast cancer when Madonna was only five. She was raised in a Catholic family in the Detroit suburbs and was a straight A-student who was on the cheerleading squad and studied ballet. She went to the University of Michigan on a dance scholarship, but left in 1977 for New York, dreaming of being a ballet dancer. She performed with the Alvin Ailey dance troupe and studied with Martha Graham before forming the dance/po group the Breakfast Club. She signed to Sire Records as a solo artist in 1982. She quickly established herself as a master of controlling “the media and the public with her music, her videos, her publicity, and her sexuality.” AMG She was “arguably…the first female pop star to have complete control of her music and image.” AMG She was named the most successful female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records in 2000. She has sold an estimated 275 million albums worldwide and 75 million singles. She was married to actor Sean Penn (1985-89) and British director Guy Ritchie (2000-08). She was also featured in movies such as Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Dick Tracy (1990), A League of Their Own (1992), and Evita (1996), the latter of which won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry. Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Awards:

Top 100 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to singles charts.) DMDB Top 1%: 1. Like a Prayer (1989) 2. Like a Virgin (1984) 3. Vogue (1990) 4. Music (2000) 5. Into the Groove (1985) 6. Take a Bow (1994) DMDB Top 2%: 7. Ray of Light (1998) 8. Hung Up (2005) 9. Crazy for You (1985) 10. Papa Don’t Preach (1986) 11. Holiday (1983) 12. 4 Minutes (with Justin Timberlake, 2008) DMDB Top 5%: 13. Justify My Love (1990) 14. Don’t Cry for Me Argentina (1996) 15. Live to Tell (1986) 16. Borderline (1984) 17. Material Girl (1984) 18. Frozen (1998) 19. Express Yourself (1989) 20. I’ll Remember (1994) 21. American Pie (2000) 22. This Used to Be My Playground (1992) 23. Open Your Heart (1986) 24. Beautiful Stranger (1999) 25. Who’s That Girl? (1987) DMDB Top 10%: 26. La Isla Bonita (1987) 27. Lucky Star (1984) 28. Die Another Day (2002) 29. Don’t Tell Me (2000) 30. Angel (1985) 31. Secret (1994) 32. True Blue (1986) 33. You Must Love Me (1996) 34. Sorry (2006) 35. Oh Father (1989) 36. Cherish (1989) 37. You’ll See (1995) DMDB Top 20%: 38. Deeper and Deeper (1992) 39. Human Nature (1995) 40. Causing a Commotion (1987) 41. Dress You Up (1985) 42. Rain (1993) 43. Erotica (1992) 44. Me Against the Music (with Britney Spears, 2003) 45. Rescue Me (1990) 46. Give It 2 Me (2008) 47. What It Feels Like for a Girl (2001) 48. The Power of Goodbye (1998) 49. Hanky Panky (1990) 50. Celebration (2009) 51. Keep It Together (1990) 52. Bedtime Story (1994) 53. American Life (2003) 54. Love Don’t Live Here Anymore (1984) 55. Fever (1992) 56. Bad Girl (1992) Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 57. Give Me All Your Luvin’ (with Nicki Minaj & M.I.A., 2012) 58. Burning Up (1983) 59. Nothing Really Matters (1998) 60. Gambler (1985) 61. Santa Baby (1987) 62. Hollywood (2003) 63. Jump (2005) 64. Girl Gone Wild (2012) 65. Get Together (2005) 66. Love Profusion (2003) 67. Miles Away (2008) 68. Ghosttown (2015) 69. Living for Love (2014) 70. Bitch I’m Madonna (with Nicki Minaj, 2015) 71. Everybody (1982) 72. Sooner or Later (1990) 73. Dear Jessie (1989) 74. Drowned World/Substite for Love (1998) 75. One More Chance (1995) 76. Spotlight (1987) 77. Nothing Fails (2003) 78. Crave (with Swae Lee, 2019) 79. Now I’m Following You (with Warren Beatty, 1990) 80. The Look of Love (1987) 81. Where’s the Party? (1986) 82. I Want You (with Massive Attack, 1995) 83. Another Suitcase, Another Hall (1996) 84. Little Star (1998) 85. Medellin (with Maluma, 2019) 86. Something to Remember (1990) 87. Revolver (with Lil’ Wayne, 2009) 88. Bye Bye Baby (1992) 89. Masterpiece (2012) 90. Physical Attraction (1983) 91. Turn Up the Radio (2012) 92. Hey You (2007) 93. What Can You Lose (with Mandy Patinkin, 1990) 94. I Don’t Search I Find (2019) 95. I Rise (2019) 96. Love Song (with Prince, 1989) 97. Spanish Eyes (1989) 98. Impressive Instant (2000) 99. Hold Tight (2015) 100. More (1990) Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Madonna Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists” First posted 3/29/2012; updated 8/21/2022.