Today's pick was inspired by my pal Jeremy Kinser, who fondly writes:
"I know where beauty lives."[This week] marks 35 years since the release of Madonna's greatest ballad "Live to Tell." I know what you're wondering. How does a guy in his late 29s know so much about a recording released before he was born? I'm a lifelong Madonna stan and have researched every bit of minutiae about her and should be hired as a fact checker for her biopic if it really comes to fruition.Anyhoo, "Live to Tell" is among her top five greatest singles, if you ask me. I have full recall of the first time I heard it, as I was blown away by her vocals and the lyrics. I've had two young friends die during the past week so the lyrics have taken on special meaning to me. I hope I live to tell all someday.
I feel the exact same way. I never saw "At Close Range," the film starring her then-husband, Sean Penn, for which it was written. But the song -- and the simple video -- felt like a new, grown-up version of the virginial material girl we had been loving the past few years had been born. And it was the first in a string of sublime ballads to come, that would prove to be some of her finest songwriting ever.
Beautiful song and Sean Penn looked hot in that movie
ReplyDeleteThat is one of her most beautiful songs ever. Haunting.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved this song.
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