"Can't Stop" and "The Look of Love" are my favorite songs from that album. Please don't forget to react to her interview at The Tonight Show from 1987 ❤
You’re totally right! By the end of the WTG Tour, Madonna said herself that she was ready to pack it in musically (I can’t remember where that was stated...Vanity Fair perhaps...but I do remember it clearly as it killed my little boy soul!)...Sean had been arrested and jailed for punching the papps, and I think M was genuinely burnt out. Who’s That Girl, the movie (formerly Slammer), is actually one of my favorites starring her. It’s goofy and loud in an 80s way, but it’s funny and the corn is still tasty! I loved the song when it came out, but totally knew it was a La Isla derivative, and it felt like a record company-driven project. It was being performed on tour a week before it was released commercially, along with Causing A Commotion and Look Of Love, and so these songs were totally fresh for the stage. The summer of 87 was all Madonna, all the time. La Isla was still peaking globally when WTG was released, and it really cemented Madonna as an international icon. Her acoustic rendition of it on the Rebel Heart Tour in 2015-16 was a highlight. 💛🙏🏼
RIP Shabba Doo (the guy in the black tank top, real name Adolfo Quinones). He passed in December 2020. He toured with Madonna on the WTG tour and was the show's choreographer.
I hear ya, but Who's that girl was much bigger than Gambler, yet another number 1 on the Hot 100 in the USA and it made it to number 1 in the UK as well. To me (a lifetime fan) this songs remains up there in her classics because it is representative of this era and of course she decided to name her world tour with the same name. A true bop for me.
I *really* liked this era of Madonna. I agree she seems more vulnerable. She was adjusting to massive fame and becoming iconic. But this was a fun era, creative, wild, expressive. Thank you for reacting to it. 🔥
As somebody who lived that era (yes, I'm effing old) I think you are viewing it from too much an industrialized view. The 1980s was when the white pop music scene was established, and unless you like Bananarama, Samatha Fox, Kim Wilde and Sabrina -- let's exclude Kylie Minoque here because of the UK -- you do not kind of understand who Madonna is for people my age. My challenge to you: watch the videos of those women and then videos of Madonna from the 1980s. They have a lot of the same elements, but not the same charisma. that changes the power structure between the viewed and viewee.
I don’t know what it is about this song but I absolutely love it. The bass line, the lyrics, the melody ... it’s anthemic. I also love the use of it in the movie! It’s absolutely charming. Her live performance of it in The Who’s that girl tour is FIRE! It’s a definite grower! Also this was Madonnas first Golden Globe nomination for best song from a film !!!
This is exactly what I thought when listening to this song again after so long. [Also given all the critics I've never been able to understand why I loved this Madonna record so much in my youth.] I know nothing about music, but I think for me it's the melody. The words could have been anything, it's the shift between those raw moments of low notes and the shifts to the higher weightless notes. That's the only way I can describe it. Might be wrong.
I was just a kiddo when this came out and if I recall it went to number one in the uk where I grew up... I loved this song so much. I remember watching the movie on video and I was obsessed with it even though it flopped. I thought she was so funny in it. BTW it was supposed to be titled Slammer but they decided not to cal it that as her huzz was in jail hah. I think this era is probably the last we see of her before she really shoots off into the stratosphere, which is kind of weird to say because it's hard to imagine she could get anymore famous than she already was.
I've always liked the chill vibe of this song and the song itself. The video was intriguing, but I didn't see the movie until decades later. It's interesting and on point (looking back now) that you sensed a vulnerability in Madonna as someone being pulled in different directions in terms of her career (i.e. street artist vs polished star) and as a married woman.
Finally ''new'' music reactions!! Who's That Girl to me kind of belongs to the True Blue era just like Crazy For You, Into The Groove belong to Like A Virgin. It has the same vibe and was done shortly after the True Blue album. Four songs by Madonna on the soundtrack. #1 hit once again around the globe and the last time you see a somewhat wholesome Madonna for a looong time haha
I like it. I didn't become a Madonna fan until Vogue in the Summer of 1990. I was only about 10 years old when WTG came out. Before Vogue my Madonna memories are scattered, but she was unavoidable. Who's That Girl got descent airplay at the time. After I became a fan, I strongly prefer The Look of Love and Causing A Commotion. I love the movie! Total slapstick and I think Madonna is great in it- funny and sweet. 😂
The working title of the movie was called "Slammer", I love it in all is cheese and 80s lameness. I love her in it, even when she breaks character when jumping buildings in the shhot out scene , when she laughs ..good fun time watching
Empress you're right about the damage to her hair. You really get Madonna. This was her third #1 song from a soundtrack (Crazy For You & Live To Tell). This journey is🔥.
Who's That Girl soundtrack has four Madonna songs. The first single Who's That Girl was a huge hit all over the world reaching number 1 in the US and UK and some other countries too. The next two singles didn't do as well, but in my opinion they are great and should have been bigger hits. I always consider Who's That Girl, Causing A Commotion and The Look Of Love as a strong trio of songs although they are totally different from each other. I always forget about the fourth song Can't Stop and maybe that tells about the quality of that song.
@@jeffreysmith8719 That's true, but in the larger scale it still wasn't as big as Who's That Girl. I personally like Causing A Commotion even more than Who's That Girl.
Ok... So now you’re finally here. I gotta say. This song will grow on you. It took me years to really appreciate it. Especially the cute harmony on the 2nd verse.. “An invitation to the dance” However, when you see her perform it live on the Who’s that Girl Tour there’s a segment where she gets the crowd to sing with her and it still gives me chills today. It MUST be the “Ciao Italia” Live from Italy version though. 💙
It's ciao Italia concert or the broadcast from Turin. The audio Is the same but in ciao Italia you can find some videos from the last concert from Florence, a couple of days sfter the Turin concert.
another spot on reaction. when you say that fame was weighting on her you're probably right! the whole Who's That Girl period brought not-so-much to the table. she was almost parodying herself hiring older producers and crafiting songs that were similar to what she had done in the past. the extended mixes do bring a bit of freshness to these songs and Causing A Commotion will probably bring the Into The Grooveness you seek.
Great analysis. I agree with you, Madonna is a sweet person and it takes people to really watch interviews and dive into her journey the way you do usually, because for some reason, people think if a woman is strong, confident and a boss in general and especially if they are sexual that they can't be sweet too, which is BS. I think on later albums as she continues to go more personal on songs and comments on society and racial injustice you will see even more how her heart is in the right place :) I also remember Britney saying Madonna is a very sweet person and she likes her so much and usually Britney said she doesn't like anyone in the business haha
Madonna really lived (lives) a life a girl (as she called herself so) whose heart iş in the streets and from the streets to Hollywood glamour and filling the stadiums and selling millions of albümü as noone could do she's one of a kind brillinat you go girl!
This was my gateway Madonna song (the first time I discovered/fell in love with her), and therefore it sits atop my "favourite" list, (whether it deserves it or not). 💙
I was a kid (like 7 years old) during the Who's that Girl era and 1st time I had heard of her. This song was huge back in the day...but overall is a forgotten gem in her catalog of music.
I believe this is the first video that features an animation of Madonna. Then from Like A Prayer album it was Dear Jessie (song and video released outside US), and then from the Music album the video for Music. About a year ago Lisa Rinna and her daughter Delilah lip synched to this song on Instagram. I fell in love with the song again for a brief moment. Causing A Commotion is my favorite from the soundtrack--I love the part she sings "and get into the groove".
I love Madonna so much! A cute story about me and this song, when my toddler granddaughter puts on my sunglasses, I sing 'Who's that girl' to her. I enjoyed your reaction Empress 💜
I was so pleased when she sang this on her rebel heart tour in 2015. The first time she included it as part of a set list since 1987. It was the first single I bought of Madonna!!
This was the single following “La Isla Bonita”, sticking wit the Spanish vibe . . . It hit #1 & I LOVED this song! I was 7 & remember being in a car ride once, hearing it 3 times in a row on various stations, as my mom changed channels . . . Something about her look in this video was very Julie Andrews/Mary Poppins, to me (she idolized her). They tried to bury the movie, but it was comedy-gold, Cyndi Lauper-accent & all! And, the tour filled stadiums (she combined “Like A Virgin” with “Sugar Pie Honey Bunch”) & she got the whole crowd to throw their combs on stage, so she could fix her hair!
I love her styling in the video. I think they’re going for an incognito vibe at first then a reveal of sorts when she femmes up a bit and removes her jacket, but it just comes off as cute style, not story. The oversized blazer and back-tilted hat, the more earth-toned minimal makeup, the cropped suit trousers over Lycra bike pants with the bustier. I love. I wanna hang out with her on fire escapes and get up to innocent mischief. Tomboy Madonna is a look she returned to several times, and her off duty style during 1987-88 is especially cute and boyish. I agree she feels vulnerable in this video, and a bit tired. They’re trying to do a sort of Goonies vibe song-from-a-movie-video with the mystical objects and psychic lady, but it’s all a bit half-hearted. Definitely love her style though, and the song is a grower.
Was a big hit for Madonna in 1987 but it is a forgotten hit as it was not included in her immaculate collection greatest hits CD. But it was included in her celebration greatest hits CD in 2009
WTG was one of the biggest hits of summer 1987, at least here in The Netherlands. It was on the radio all the time. It was continuing the summer vibes of “La isla”. I love her look in the video (very earthy with the grey clothes and hat and dark short hair). The look in the movie is loud as her character Nikki Finn is. I love the movie though, i think it’s funny (slapstick). Madonna only sung WTG twice in her concerts. Obviously at the Who’s That Girl Tour and then again in 2015 at Rebel Heart tour. I love both, but at RH tour is was MAGIC. Because she never did that song for almost 30 years it was a big surprise and everybody was singing along. It was acoustic version. A highlight and appreciation for the song again.
Empress: “I’m causing a comm... I’m gonna do something different”🔎 Btw in case no one said it, the original title of Who’s That Girl was Slammer (slang for prison). They changed the title when they heard the song she’d written for it.
These soundtrack songs or one off singles usually did really well after albums, accumulated momentum of the recent release (album) followed with a new song. At the time there was always something charming and irresistible about this song.
Madonna writes the best hooks... especially her bridges: "Light up my life, so bright I can't see..." :) But I agree... it's kind of a middle of the road song. Still a #1 cuz she was on fire!
Hi dear Empress, first of all this song wss 🔥🔥🔥 here in Italy was the Number 1 of the year 1987. Maybe someone could Say that everything She would have sung It would have been a n.1 hit, and ptobably they are right. Anyway I love this Song and I loved the tour. It was my first great concert I was 14 and I was at the Turin concert, that broadcasted all over the world and It was really a great emotion from the beginning when I started trembling for ten minutes. I couldn't believe that out goddess wss there, and she was singing there for me too. Vocally it's her less smazing tour, but her stage presence and incredible energy and the gorgeous dance routines were enough to elevate her over everything has been previously done. Furthermore, It was a really expensive production at that time and she was obviously sold out everywhere within a few hours. we have three chorists and three dancers as well. There was no internet at that time, so we could see her just on the newspapers or on TV, so there was a great myth around her. She sang three of the four songs from the WTG tracklist but we knew just WTG. The tracklist wasn't out yet. Now those sensations are not repeatable due to socials and internet. That magic has disappeared Forever 😢. Love you and your reactions Empress. You're Always so real 😘😘❤️
I want to add that the press was all pretty entusiastic and they wrote really positive reviews on her and the show. They said she had put on a Broadway live show, and really It was, maybe the greatest production at that time. I agree with Empress: in this video Madonna Is more vulnerable than ever, but at the end, when she takes off the costa, we can see her brand new muscled and toned body that we know well from the WTG tour. Anyway I was crazy for her, so I like really the song and the film. It was really funny and I should watch It in English to hear her accent that someone here criticized It 😅 on RU-vid you can find also the Premiere of the movie from Times Square in New York. She was stunning there. But now let's go back to the music. There are three more songs to listen with our Empress. Thank you for your grest reactions 😘😘❤️
This song to me as well as Causing A Commotion has elements of the freestyle dance pop that was popular of that time. The similarity to La Isla Bonita was that it was Latin themed. The sound and persona was a bizarre mix just as 1987 was a wildly bizarre fashion capsule. She was a global phenomena superstar who was selling out massive stadiums but still wanted to keep an element of street as you mention. ("Her heart is on the street"). The sweetness and vulnerability also probably represents her marriage to Sean Penn. I also feel the look at the time was her way of trying to break into Hollywood as an actress and it appears she wanted to pay tribute to stars from other eras, but with her own 80's mix of street- still completely different from Desperately Seeking Susan which to me was more true to herself. I don't think the wild, fried as hell white blond hair and thick dark eyebrows was her most flattering look but again that whole time period was a strange hot mess!
If you like Madonna being vulnerable I can't wait for your reaction to the "Like a Prayer" album and songs like "Till Death Do Us Part" and "Promise to Try".
The song fared way better than the movie. It's hard to not like this song. It's airy, it's catchy, and fun. Again, she incorporates that Latin flavor which is always great. Was on the radio all spring, summer and fall of 1987.
In that early summer of 1987 Madonna's La Isla Bonita and Who's That Girl were ruling the other half was Michael's rule - Bad came out when Madonna started her Who's That Girl Tour in July 1987. What's really difficult to catch via RU-vid, how it felt and how massive Madonna was in those days along wirh her other peers MJ, Prince, Whitney, George Michael. The Internet/Social Media and a few other factors has completely diminished superstardom(maybe?)
I like this song, but you're right that it's definitely not Top 10. It feels like a retread of "La Is Bonita." I think you'll like "Causing a Commotion" better - it's another Stephen Bray song and has "Into the Groove" vibes. This whole era is really just an extension of True Blue. Sweet is a good word for it. 1989 is when things start to get really interesting!
❤ this song. Since La Isla Bonita was huge in Latin America, this was a great follow up. I do agree about her looking vurneble. Maybe it was the marriage that drained her down. The male dancer is an icon in the break dancing hip hop community. He just passed away this year.
Empress you are totally ACCURATE as usual...As a lifelong superfan, I would def put Gambler and Who's That Girl on the same list. 🤣 On another note, I recently saw the movie again and loved it! Pure 80's cheese and such a treat to see Madonna doing this kooky over-the-top character.
I know some don't like this track. I like this song, there is just something about the song and the tone of it that I enjoy. There are 4 Madonna tracks off this album, I enjoy all of them and the movie is cheesy fun imo. I really love the song "The Look Of Love" from this soundtrack, the live version from the "Who's That Girl" tour is really good imo.
Good Song. My personality favorit Songs: Papa don't preach and Causing a Commotion And: WOLF! - Miss you (drums of fire) (1989) And: Falco - Vienna calling (1985) Greetings from Austia
It’s so interesting how much you understand of what was really going on in her life. Everything you said was true about her marriage and fane and stuff. Very cool.
I was 5 when the movie came out and remember seeing it several times growing up (before I had her posters on my wall). It critically flopped but I loved that movie as a kid. I still do! Nostalgic! I also love the song but hate the video!! I always envisioned it more upbeat than the video portrayed. I don’t remember seeing the video until I was a teenager though, so it didn’t ruin the song for me. 😂 She sang an acoustic version of it during some Rebel Heart Tour shows and it was magical.
I also like 'Causing a commotion' and 'The look of love' from that era. The movie was fun, but not my thing, she looked funny as Nikki Finn, not my style! But then... I saw her live for the first time with the 'Who's that girl tour' when she came to Europe, my life would never be the same again.
her character in the movie is named Nikki Finn...the movie got bad reviews but it has its funny moments...the tour that was in support of the movie was one of her most iconic.. she danced pretty much non stop through the entire show.. she was in really good shape.. she had 4 songs in the movie soundtrack.. but this and Causing a Commotion are the two more known tracks...The Look of Love was also a single, and Can't Stop was just featured in the movie..
I think the vulnerability is basically the concept of the video. Madonna is being the opposite of Nikki Finn (her character in the movie), literally looking at her, wondering « Who’s That Girl ». You might call it distancing herself from the character… You might call it split personality… If you push things a little further, that might also be a metaphor for Madonna looking back at the whirlwind that were the 5 first years of her career. But as an artist at that time, she’s far from vulnerable or even tired… That video was shot while she was preparing her first world tour (30+ shows, 1,3M+ audience… I hope you cover that… BTW, the 2 guys in the video were dancers from the tour). So I think she was very much in charge and couldn’t afford to be exhausted just then. That would come later.
Who’s That Girl is cute, but I always preferred Causing A Commotion. The album mix and the Silver Screen mix are my favs. The Look of Love is also a beautiful ballad. Things get way more interesting in the Like A Prayer album. You should consider starting out with the Pepsi commercial as that was really how the era started and was the first time the public got to hear the Like A Prayer single. 😊
This was a hit but I much preferred Causing A Commotion. Especially after it was used in the opening “act” of the Blonde Ambition Tour. I was tired and bored with this era of Madonna. But when she finished this tour and came out with Like A Prayer.... damn 🔥
Lol. Yea it is one of those songs you forget about until you hear it. And, I really didn't realise until now but, you are right it is in the same vein as La Isla Bonita. Just not as good. Btw, love the jacket. Looking good Lady. 🙂
I like the innocent side of my Madonna she always have a love for kids based on her desire to have children. You'll see it later in some of her works. She goes back in forth with the innocent vibe.
Love the song. Way makes it way better than average is that BRIDGE, mama. All builds to a very satisfying climax, the yearning in her voice really on fire. In your Angel reaction, I think you noted how she went from the low chest voice to her head voice only at the climax. Other than the backing vocal, that's what happens here. It works! Oh, I just realized something! A lot of Madonna's songs for movies have videos that are only average, the problem being that Madonna the performer has to compete with the studio pushing the movie. It's just not as immersive an experience. And, I'm willing to bet, that what seems low energy to you might be because for Madonna, these videos are part of her job (marketing the movie) as opposed as being expressions of her art, the way she seems to conceive as songs and their visuals as one full package with oomph.
Lol you didn't just put this on the same level as Gambler. I love this song, FUN FACTS:it was left off her first greatest hits collection even though it was a US #1 hit which caused a lot of fans to be upset. The male dancer in the video is Shabba Doo who M would add to her tour of the same name and would be rumoured to be a little too friendly with if you know what I mean. Her and Sean were having marriage issues and he went to jail around this time too for assaulting a photographer and she was on the road
GURL, Not a hit but has spot in all Madonna fans hearts. Lyric that stands out "her heart is on the street"..no matter how she changed, that remains true. Weird transition part of her life. I'm sure more pressure from music execs, maybe the marriage is starting to deteriorating....she's subdued in the vid. She's tired of the blow out with caterpillar brows and WTG persona. Gotta be hard to be young and famous. But Madonna is resilient. Don't underestimate her :)
After True Blue’s bops like La Isla this song was just so so to me. My least fav part of 80s Madonna is The Who’s that Girl era. This song/era never did it for me which is ironic that her next album Like a Prayer is a pop masterpiece equal to MJ’s Thriller or Prince’s Purple Rain
Its not a masterpiece but I enjoy it....I sense a bit of sadness in her delivery as if she is asking herself that question at what was probably a very demanding time. I Also enjoy the movie: silly, fun and very 80's but enjoyable with a decent comedic performance. Other wtg soundtrack songs are decent too....then we hit like a prayer a switch up like no other 🔥. Great work empress as ever u really understand M's musicality and music period 🙌
You nailed it! Not a fire bop, but when it comes on, you sing to it and vibe with it! The only thing I can say is that your reception to True Blue has been warm - rightfully so. While it cemented her icon status, because it was chock full of career defining hits, like Papa Don’t Preach, Live to Tell, and La Isla Bonita. It also had just as many fillers - Jimmy Jimmy anybody? 🙄 Since you left the ‘83 Madonna era, all I could think was...“wait till she gets to Like a Prayer”. Not a filler on that album. From beginning to end, the album is full of moments - from the fiery tempo- defying opener, Like a Prayer (LAP), to the empowered Express Yourself, to her duet with Prince and beyond. It is one of several moments in the Madonna discography. I think you really feel the grit of early Madonna on the Like A Prayer LP. I’ve been waiting months for you to get to it, as well as subsequent albums - Erotica, Ray of Light, Music, Confessions. The tide really begins to turn with LAP. We see Madonna move beyond her early sound and persona and mature, while holding onto her core. Her sound and her videos become legendary from LAP moving forward. Watch Who’s That Girl for fun, because it is cute, and it’s not as bad as some May say. Wrap up True Blue - AND, move on, you’ll regain that enthusiasm to see and hear the next thing. One last note, Madonna is a huge club favorite, with the most #1 club singles by any artist in history - I believe we’re at 44 #1 club singles and counting. Madonna really starts embracing club culture and DJs with the LAP album. This is quite impressive, considering pop culture only started embracing DJs in the 2000s. I suggest reacting to the most popular club mix from an album single, for each album moving forward. Her remixes are just as revered as her albums, starting with LAP. 🔥
will you play the next single Causing a Commotion from the soundtrack album? the video is just a live version from the Who's That Girl tour so not really how the song is meant to be heard for the first time...IMO :) And really looking forward to you hearing the extended mixes of Causing, they are pretty camp. Perhaps this was the first time she worked with She Pettibone but I could be wrong on that.
Like your reaction. Next will be Causing a commotion. For this one there’s no proper video, it would be great if you react to the single remix of the song which was made by Shep Pettibone whom is co writter of Vogue. After your journey through the soundtrack I wish you’ll react to Who’s That Girl Tour
Thankfully she divorces that crazy man and is free again to go back to some real artistry. In her next album she really pours out all of that emotional strife. And, not to be a spoiler, there’s a duet with Prince 😃.
Honesty top 10 for me. The melancholy and euphoria is right on point to me. The video is trash, the movie is ok but the song is IT. And the verses are the best part, aside from the double bridge 😁
@@EmpressReacts I grew up in the 80s and she was always a presence -always on the radio or news or people just talking about her, but i guess i didn’t start really appreciating her and her music politics etc until the 90s. I lost some interest at MDNA but I’m back on board since MadamX.
I do like the song. But for me it’s not dress you up,,holiday,into the groove,,burning up,everybody,love don’t live here anymore. Etc. it’s a good song but far from a fav. 😌
I still enjoy the song. It’s a bop but Causing a Commotion rocks harder, so I wonder what you’ll think of it. The video... well, it was to promote the song and the movie and you know those videos are going to suck. Lol. Did you recognize the young boy who’s the same kid as in the Open Your Heart video? He was also on her tour as well in this era. The video offers a few clues/references for the movie but I won’t give those away. The movie is deliberately BROAD slapstick and camp AF, but it has its funny moments. I think people panned it because they wanted Madonna to fail. It’s not her best nor her worst. I still get a kick out of the animation of her character which is in the opening credits of the movie. So cute.
