Her first album ( Madonna) became a hit. Her second album ( Like a Virgin) was a runaway success. By the time True Blue (1986) was released, Madonna was already a superstar. Recorded during her first year of marriage to Sean Penn, True Blue is the mold in which Madonna herself was cast. “ Papa Don’t Preach,” the song that launched that album, is one of the strangest in pop history: a danceable number about a young woman who confronts her father because she refuses to have an abortion. Family planning associations criticized the singer, who endeared herself to conservatives, both parties seemingly oblivious to the possibility that the singer was simply claiming the right to choose. In any case, in the video clip for the song, directed by James Foley, Madonna invents her first meme: the T-shirt with the phrase “Italians do it better.” Almost four decades later, an independent Los Angeles music label called Italians Do It Better ended up releasing an album of Madonna covers in which “ Papa Don’t Preach” was an icy, whispered ballad, as if that woman so sure of bringing a baby into the world in 1986 was not really sure of doing so in 2021. Madonna and Sean Penn, then married, in 1987. Ron Galella, Ltd. (Ron Galella Collection via Getty) There is perhaps no musician from the Italians Do It Better roster more suited to covering “Material Girl” than Glüme. With ironical lyrics made for someone who once sang, “It’s not so bad/It’s just a nervous breakdown,” Glüme lends her higher-pitched Nico-esque baby voice to a song that served as the anthem for a decade. Executive produced by Johnny Jewel, the compilation is a passport to 20 covers from the bedrooms of 19 artists across 10 different countries.

Fast forward to a world pandemic last year… To encourage creativity & lift spirits,Italians Do It Better President, Megan Louise asked every artist “ If you could cover your favorite Madonna song…What would it be?” For the rest of world allow around 10 working days for delivery. Some countries like Canada can take a little longer. No idea why. I didn’t know that. We met Catwoman star Halle Berry at the movie premiere, and she was lovely and thanking us for being a part of it. When ‘Scandalous’ came on halfway through the film, we cheered and whooped in the cinema – even though you’re supposed be reserved [ Laughs]. And we got to meet Snoop Dogg at the party afterwards.” The label put together a compilation of 20 covers, recorded by 19 artists, representing 10 different countries. The whole thing was executive produced by Johnny Jewel. (Perhaps this news is less exciting if you consider Chromatics breaking up could’ve been about, say, Jewel refusing to finish Dear Tommy and pursuing projects like this.) The artists take on some very famous hits, although disappointingly there is no “Open Your Heart,” which one would have to imagine would sound pretty great through the Italians Do It Better filter.Madonna is reclaiming her legacy by her mere presence on stage. She is going on a tour that, against all odds, will bear no resemblance to the complacent self-homage of other artists her age. Madonna has not been known in the last decade for opening new musical paths, but rather for leaving a path open for other pop artists who are not willing to retire. With a social media presence that makes many uncomfortable – sometimes showing her breasts or inhaling poppers – Madonna is doing what she always did. Once, apart from causing controversy, she also sang. If, on this tour, she does both, we will be able to confirm her return.

One of the reasons why I started Italians Do It Better is because I didn't want someone telling me when a record was due, or when something needed to be written or recorded. Or when I needed to go on tour. I believe in doing things when it's ready. It’s a dangerous game because the world is moving so fast. But ultimately the only reason we're having this conversation is because I love music. And that's the path that it's led me on in my life. I never set out to be a successful musician, but musical decisions have always guided my life. For that reason, I will stay true to what I really feel… 2007-present [ edit ]Madonna was presented as a blank canvas on which to project the fantasies of a decade. Her first album, Madonna (1983), achieved moderate success. It presented her to the world as an irreverent disco diva. She could sing about going on vacation (“ Holiday”) as well as burning with sexual desire (“ Burning Up”). But it was Like a Virgin (1984) that began to build her character: the eponymous single, her first number one, introduced us to her love of double meanings in her titles. “ Material Girl” gave her as much satisfaction as headaches when, in the following decade, she wanted to shed the label. She has only sung the song on two tours in almost 30 years, although in 2022 she released a cover of the song as a duet with rapper Saucy Santana, in which she clarified “a materialistic girl is not tasteless.” The Madonna that we know now I’ve the world’s worst memory and knew I’d be terrible at this game, but it was a nice trip down memory lane!”