Artist: Madonna Video: From YouTube.
“Material Girl”, of course, is a nickname that has stuck with Madonna for decades. For this reason she has expressed regret over recording the song, but I’m certainly glad she did. It’s top shelf.
This is the third of four Madonna videos in the 1985 MTV Top 100 countdown. She also had a fifth smash hit in 1985 that is not included, “Into The Groove”. That might be my favorite Madonna song of all.
However, she’s not the artist with the most videos in this countdown. Someone else has five. Can you guess who it is?
"Material Girl" peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has a lasting legacy, both as a celebration of 80’s excess and an assault on mindless consumerism. Academic stuffed shirts can continue to debate its meaning. I just think it’s playful and catchy. Not to mention the effect that the 1985 Madonna had on a 15-year-old boy. Yipe!
The video pays homage to Marilyn Monroe's performance of "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" in the film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". Clad in hot pink dress, fancy jewelry and furs, she coyly rebuffs the advances of a legion of tuxedo-clad men who shower her with gifts. Although the video is basically a remake, Madonna puts her unique stamp on it.
In the end of the video, the twist is revealed. Madonna is not a material girl after all. She is won over by Keith Carradine and his simple flowers and pick-up truck.
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