I've said before that I think the '80s were the height of pop music. Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album is certainly reflective of that. She came in hot, would rule the pop world a year later, and she never let up. As a frame of reference, this album hit #8 on the Billboard album chart, and it is the only one of her 14 studio albums that charted worse than #3. Likewise, the album spawned three Top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: "Holiday" (#16), "Lucky Star" (#4), and "Borderline" (#10). "Holiday" was her lowest charting single released in the U.S. -- and her only non-Top 10 single -- until "Oh Father" in 1989, which hit #20.
The album cover also let you know that she wasn't just some innocent pop singer, with her dog choke collar, short hair, eye liner, and such (and the back cover of the album had her pulling on the dog collar suggestively. And don't overlook those bracelets on the right wrist. Any child of the '80s remembers "Madonna bracelets," which pretty much every kid, boy or girl, wore for the next several years. She not only changed music, but also fashion (see also lace gloves a year later).
The Spotify version of the album is a reissued with a couple extra tracks beyond the eight on the original album.
Favorite song from Side 1: "Borderline"
This is one of those songs that just reminds me so much of the early '80s, especially that synthesizer riff, like I should be at a roller rink or something. This song is just so damn catchy.
Favorite song from Side 2: "Holiday"
Her first Top 20 hit was another catchy '80s tune, and it's particularly timely as we enter a long holiday weekend -- not that the last two months hasn't essentially been a long weekend.
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