"Lucky Star" by Madonna

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  2031
Date:  08/25/1984
Debut:  49
Peak:  4
Weeks:  16
Genre:  Dance-Pop



Pop Bits:  Madonna's self-titled debut album was finally shaping up to be a hit after the LP's fourth single, "Borderline," became her first Top 10 hit (#10). A follow-up was needed, so this fifth single was issued. "Lucky Star" had already been a #1 hit on the Dance chart in combination with "Holiday," and it had already been issued in several other countries. Yet despite the song's previous exposure, it quickly climbed the charts to become Madonna's second Top 10. It also got to #19 AC and #42 R&B. It was helped along by an iconic MTV video that helped to break Madonna and the album wide open. Very quickly, young girls were adopting Madonna's thrift shop look from the video and album sales were increasing. Eventually, Madonna would sell over 5 million copies in the US. The album would peak at #8 and as of this posting it remains Madonna's only regular studio album to peak lower than #3.

ReduxReview:  "Borderline" may have been her first Top 10, but I think this is the song that really made Madonna a star; and that was mainly due to that dang video. Her dancing, persona, and clothing style were all over the place after that video. The song inescapable and it led to gaggles of girls imitating her look. Her next album would really shoot her star into the stratosphere, but it was this one that launched Madonna off the pad. While it is not the most impressive piece of pop writing that ever existed, it's still a solid song that sounds just as good and fun today.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  In the early sessions for the album, Madonna had recorded several songs with producer Reggie Lucas, including "Lucky Star" and "Borderline." Madonna's initial intent was for the album to be titled Lucky Star, but later it was decided that her single moniker name would be more powerful. At the end of the initial sessions, Madonna was unhappy with what Lucas did (or more like, what he didn't do that she wanted) and she ended up hiring John "Jellybean" Benitez to do remixes and handle production on another song. Benitez honed in on Madonna's vision and after a slow start, the album took off and made Madonna a star...a lucky star, you might say...

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