The SRO Show – Madonna

Mega-million Material Girl

Produced by Lawrence Standifer Stevens

Written by Joseph E. Casanova

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Beginning with “Burning Up” and “Holiday” in 1983, mega-star Madonna has become the biggest selling female artist with an estimated 300-million albums sold worldwide.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, Madonna ranks behind the Beatles, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson as the fourth top selling artist of all time.

Hits like “Papa Don’t Preach” and “Take a Bow” helped the Material Girl amass a record-setting 38 Billboard top ten hits. The Beatles follow in second place with 34. 

“Madge,” as she’s affectionately called in the UK, included San Antonio as part of her “Rebel Heart” Tour which didn't quite live up to the expectations of her 2008 and 2012 outings.

Her 13th album — also called Rebel Heart — yielded the dance single, “Bitch I’m Madonna” featuring former American Idol judge and rapper Nicki Minaj.

During my sophomore year in college, I watched Madonna roll around in her infamous wedding gown at the 1984 Video Music Awards, performing — what else — “Like a Virgin.”

Then a few months later, I saw her sporting the same wedding gown again but this time it was live. My college buddy Harry and I caught the Michigan native at the Irwin Center in Austin with a little known trio called the Beastie Boys as opening act. 

Tickets were only $30 for balcony seats and we thought that was too expensive for poor college kids. I think we gave up eating that week for a chance to see the new pop diva sing “Crazy for You” and “Dress You Up.”

Nowadays, folks have to sacrifice kidneys and other body parts to afford her concerts. I guess for hardcore devotées, it’s probably worth it. For me, meh, been there, done that.

Listening to Madonna’s True Blue and the 90’s classic Ray of Light show her evolution as a dance artist shifting from pop hooks to more elaborate and complex electronic beats.

My personal favorite is 2005’s Confessions from the Dance Floor in which she paid tribute to 70’s disco. The set featured the international #1 smash Hung Up.

Three decades later, the Material Girl can still make me feel shiny and new…like a virgin.