Madonna

Pop music wouldn’t be what it is today without Madonna. Born in the small Michigan town of Bay City and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Madonna Louise Ciccone had a strained relationship with her family and the Catholic faith in which she was raised, both of which later appeared as major themes in her music. She also began listening to rock bands fronted by women, taking cues from Debbie Harry of Blondie and Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders. But it was her interest in dance that set Madonna on the path toward stardom.

After dropping out of college and moving to New York City, Madonna became entrenched in the post-disco dance music scene of the five boroughs. After being signed to Warner Bros Records in 1982, her self-titled debut Madonna quickly became a top ten hit, bolstered by hit singles like ‘Holiday’, ‘Lucky Star’, and ‘Borderline’. Madonna’s outfits also began to influence the fashions and trends throughout America as her videos began to receive play on MTV.

After recruiting former Chic leader Nile Rodgers to produce her sophomore album, Madonna became a global superstar with 1984’s Like a Virgin. It was here that she found her signature blend of ear-catching melodies and provocative subject matter. Scores of teenage girls began to imitate her style of dress, and after starring in the 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan, Madonna became one of the most famous crossover stars in pop culture.

With each new decade came a new reinvention. Across her catalogue, Madonna has embraced synthpop, new jack swing, disco, house, electronica, big beat, traditional pop, and even hard rock. Her image continued to evolve as well, becoming a fashion trendsetter across her five decades of musical stardom. Her music videos, directed by visionaries like David Fincher and Jonas Åkerlund, set the standard for which all of her peers would follow.

With nine number-one albums and 12 number-one singles in America, Madonna remains one of the most successful musicians of all time. She has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, making her the most successful female musician of all time. With at least one number one album in every decade since the 1980s, Madonna continues to be one of the most visible and recognisable names in the history of pop music.