““Baby I’m A Star”Baby I’m A Star”

Prince, Madonna, and the Prince, Madonna, and the Production of CelebrityProduction of Celebrity

The Production of CelebrityThe Production of Celebrity

By the 1980s, the “star-making By the 1980s, the “star-making machinery behind the popular song” had machinery behind the popular song” had grown to unprecedented proportions.grown to unprecedented proportions.

– Profitability was dependent on a limited Profitability was dependent on a limited number of multiplatinum recordings.number of multiplatinum recordings.

– The coordination of publicity surrounding the The coordination of publicity surrounding the release of such recordings was crucial.release of such recordings was crucial.

– The 1980s saw the rise of a new breed of The 1980s saw the rise of a new breed of music superstar, adept at manipulating the music superstar, adept at manipulating the mass media and stimulating public mass media and stimulating public fascination with their personal characteristics fascination with their personal characteristics as well as with their music.as well as with their music.

MadonnaMadonna

From the late 1980s through the From the late 1980s through the 1990s, Madonna’s popularity was 1990s, Madonna’s popularity was second only to Michael Jackson’s. second only to Michael Jackson’s.

Between 1984 and 1994, Madonna Between 1984 and 1994, Madonna scored twenty-eight Top 10 singles, scored twenty-eight Top 10 singles, eleven of which reached the top eleven of which reached the top spot on the charts.spot on the charts.

MadonnaMadonna

Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone was born into an Italian American was born into an Italian American family in Rochester, Michigan, a family in Rochester, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. suburb of Detroit.

She moved to New York City in 1977, She moved to New York City in 1977, worked as a photographic model, worked as a photographic model, studied dance, and became a studied dance, and became a presence at Manhattan discotheques presence at Manhattan discotheques such as Danceteria, where DJ Mark such as Danceteria, where DJ Mark Kamins played her demo tapes.Kamins played her demo tapes.

MadonnaMadonna

In 1983, Madonna’s breakthrough In 1983, Madonna’s breakthrough single “Holiday” (Number Sixteen single “Holiday” (Number Sixteen pop, Number Twenty-five R&B) pop, Number Twenty-five R&B) established certain elements of a established certain elements of a distinctive studio sound, rooted in distinctive studio sound, rooted in the synth-pop dance music of the the synth-pop dance music of the early 1980s. early 1980s.

MadonnaMadonna In 1984, her second album, In 1984, her second album, Like a Virgin,Like a Virgin,

shot to top of the album charts.shot to top of the album charts. Produced by Nile Rodgers, who was Produced by Nile Rodgers, who was

involved with the writing and production of involved with the writing and production of a number of disco-era hits, including Chic’s a number of disco-era hits, including Chic’s “Good Times”“Good Times”

Eventually sold more than ten million copies Eventually sold more than ten million copies The album spawned a series of hit singles: The album spawned a series of hit singles:

– ““Like a Virgin” (Number One for six weeks in Like a Virgin” (Number One for six weeks in 1984 and early 1985)1984 and early 1985)

– ““Material Girl” (Number Two in 1985)Material Girl” (Number Two in 1985)– ““Angel” and “Dress You Up” (both Number Five Angel” and “Dress You Up” (both Number Five

in 1985)in 1985)

MadonnaMadonna

Madonna began early in her career Madonna began early in her career to exert an unusual degree of to exert an unusual degree of control over both her music and the control over both her music and the creation and promulgation of her creation and promulgation of her media image media image

– Wrote or co-wrote many of the songs Wrote or co-wrote many of the songs on her early albums on her early albums

– Played an active role in the production Played an active role in the production processprocess

MadonnaMadonna

During the second half of the During the second half of the 1980s, Madonna began to write and 1980s, Madonna began to write and record songs with deeper—and record songs with deeper—and more controversial—content:more controversial—content:

– ““Papa Don’t Preach” (1986)Papa Don’t Preach” (1986)– ““Open Your Heart” (1986)Open Your Heart” (1986)– ““Express Yourself” (1989)Express Yourself” (1989)– ““Like a Prayer” (1989)Like a Prayer” (1989)

MadonnaMadonna

The controversy-and-The controversy-and-commercialism ante was upped commercialism ante was upped even further in 1992:even further in 1992:

– The publication of The publication of SexSex, a 128-page , a 128-page coffee table book featuring coffee table book featuring photographs of Madonna and other photographs of Madonna and other celebrities nude and in S&M outfitscelebrities nude and in S&M outfits

– The synchronized release of the album The synchronized release of the album EroticaErotica, which peaked at Number Two , which peaked at Number Two on the on the BillboardBillboard album chart and album chart and produced five major hit singlesproduced five major hit singles

Listening: “Like a Virgin”Listening: “Like a Virgin”

Written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly; performed by Madonna; Kelly; performed by Madonna; recorded in 1984recorded in 1984

Number One pop and Number Nine Number One pop and Number Nine R&BR&B

This is not a song about a virgin in This is not a song about a virgin in any narrowly technical sense; rather, any narrowly technical sense; rather, it is about the feeling that someone it is about the feeling that someone who has grown pessimistic about love who has grown pessimistic about love gets from a new relationship.gets from a new relationship.

Listening: “Like a Virgin”Listening: “Like a Virgin” The form of “Like a Virgin” is straightforward: The form of “Like a Virgin” is straightforward:

– After a four-bar instrumental introduction After a four-bar instrumental introduction that establishes the dance groove, there is that establishes the dance groove, there is an eight-bar verse, which we call A¹ (an eight-bar verse, which we call A¹ (I I made it through the wildernessmade it through the wilderness . . .) . . .)

– A ten-bar version of the verse with A ten-bar version of the verse with somewhat different harmonies, which we somewhat different harmonies, which we call A² (call A² (I was beat, incompleteI was beat, incomplete . . .) . . .)

– A chorus featuring the hook of the song, which we A chorus featuring the hook of the song, which we call B (call B (Like a virginLike a virgin . . .) . . .)

– The only additional structural element is an eight-The only additional structural element is an eight-bar interlude near the middle of the arrangement. bar interlude near the middle of the arrangement.

Listening: “Like a Virgin”Listening: “Like a Virgin”

Outline of the form: Outline of the form: – A¹A²BA¹A²B– A¹A²BA¹A²B– Eight-bar interludeEight-bar interlude– A²BBB (etc., with a gradual fade out)A²BBB (etc., with a gradual fade out)

The timbre, texture, and rhythmic The timbre, texture, and rhythmic momentum of “Like a Virgin” are momentum of “Like a Virgin” are more important to the listener’s more important to the listener’s experience than the song’s structure.experience than the song’s structure.

Listening: “Like a Virgin”Listening: “Like a Virgin” The studio mix—overseen by Madonna’s longtime The studio mix—overseen by Madonna’s longtime

collaborator Shep Pettibone—is clean, with clear collaborator Shep Pettibone—is clean, with clear stereo separation, heavy reliance on synthesized stereo separation, heavy reliance on synthesized sound textures, and the singer’s voice strongly sound textures, and the singer’s voice strongly foregrounded over the instruments.foregrounded over the instruments.

Synthesizers are indispensable to the overall Synthesizers are indispensable to the overall effect of this recording effect of this recording

Her vocal style in “Like a Virgin” reflects her ironic Her vocal style in “Like a Virgin” reflects her ironic manipulation of long-standing stereotypes about manipulation of long-standing stereotypes about females:females:

– Soft, intimate breathiness associated with Hollywood sex Soft, intimate breathiness associated with Hollywood sex symbols like Marilyn Monroesymbols like Marilyn Monroe

– Throaty, tougher sound of 1960s singers like Ronnie Throaty, tougher sound of 1960s singers like Ronnie Spector, the lead singer on the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby”Spector, the lead singer on the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby”

PrincePrince Over the course of his career, Prince has Over the course of his career, Prince has

sold almost forty million recordings.sold almost forty million recordings. Between 1982 and 1992, Prince (a.k.a. the Between 1982 and 1992, Prince (a.k.a. the

Artist) placed nine albums in the Top 10, Artist) placed nine albums in the Top 10, reaching the top of the charts with three of reaching the top of the charts with three of them (them (Purple RainPurple Rain in 1984, in 1984, Around the Around the World in a DayWorld in a Day in 1985, and in 1985, and BatmanBatman in in 1989). 1989).

Prince is one of the most talented Prince is one of the most talented musicians ever to achieve mass musicians ever to achieve mass commercial success in the field of popular commercial success in the field of popular music.music.

Prince Rogers NelsonPrince Rogers Nelson Born in Minneapolis, MinnesotaBorn in Minneapolis, Minnesota His parents, who migrated from Louisiana His parents, who migrated from Louisiana

to the North, identified themselves as to the North, identified themselves as African Americans while acknowledging a African Americans while acknowledging a mixed-race heritage including Italian and mixed-race heritage including Italian and Native American ancestry. Native American ancestry.

Growing up in a middle-class Minneapolis Growing up in a middle-class Minneapolis neighborhood exposed him to a wide neighborhood exposed him to a wide range of musicrange of music

– His early influences included everything from His early influences included everything from James Brown and Santana to Joni Mitchell.James Brown and Santana to Joni Mitchell.

When he was seven, his parents When he was seven, his parents separated. separated.

PrincePrince

Remarkable productivity and Remarkable productivity and astounding recent return to the chartsastounding recent return to the charts

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, when most superstars released an when most superstars released an album every two or three years, album every two or three years, Prince’s output averaged over an Prince’s output averaged over an album a year.album a year.

During the 1980s, he composed, During the 1980s, he composed, performed, and recorded more than performed, and recorded more than seventy-five songs each year.seventy-five songs each year.

PrincePrince

In stylistic terms, Prince’s recorded In stylistic terms, Prince’s recorded output has encompassed a wide output has encompassed a wide range of musical inspirations:range of musical inspirations:

– FunkFunk– Guitar-based rock ’n’ rollGuitar-based rock ’n’ roll– Urban folk musicUrban folk music– New waveNew wave– Psychedelic rockPsychedelic rock

Purple Rain Purple Rain (1984)(1984) Perhaps the best example of Prince’s skill Perhaps the best example of Prince’s skill

at manipulating the boundary between the at manipulating the boundary between the public and the private are the film and public and the private are the film and soundtrack album soundtrack album Purple Rain Purple Rain (1984).(1984).

– Established him as a pop superstarEstablished him as a pop superstar Purple RainPurple Rain was the bestselling album of was the bestselling album of

1984, bumping Bruce Springsteen’s 1984, bumping Bruce Springsteen’s Born in Born in the U.S.A.the U.S.A. out of the top position on out of the top position on BillboardBillboard’s pop album chart’s pop album chart

– Number One position for twenty-four weeksNumber One position for twenty-four weeks– Produced five hit singles, including “When Produced five hit singles, including “When

Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” and “Purple Rain” Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” and “Purple Rain”

Purple RainPurple Rain

The film did reasonably well at the box The film did reasonably well at the box office, although it did not succeed in office, although it did not succeed in establishing Prince as a matinee idol. establishing Prince as a matinee idol.

The film and the album were cross-The film and the album were cross-promoted by Warner Entertainment. promoted by Warner Entertainment.

The single of “When Doves Cry” was The single of “When Doves Cry” was released a few weeks before released a few weeks before Purple Rain Purple Rain appeared in theaters and helped boost appeared in theaters and helped boost the film’s popularity, which in turn the film’s popularity, which in turn helped several other songs on the helped several other songs on the soundtrack reach the Top 40.soundtrack reach the Top 40.

Purple RainPurple Rain

The plot and characters of The plot and characters of Purple Rain Purple Rain draw heavily on the details of Prince’s draw heavily on the details of Prince’s life, both personal and professional.life, both personal and professional.

It is not easy to draw boundaries It is not easy to draw boundaries between the fictional character (the Kid), between the fictional character (the Kid), the celebrity persona (Prince), and the the celebrity persona (Prince), and the private individual (Prince Rogers Nelson). private individual (Prince Rogers Nelson).

The character of the Kid seems The character of the Kid seems consonant with the accounts offered by consonant with the accounts offered by Prince’s family and professional Prince’s family and professional associates. associates.

Listening: “When Doves Cry” Listening: “When Doves Cry”

An unusual pop recording in a number of regardsAn unusual pop recording in a number of regards– The album track runs almost six minutes.The album track runs almost six minutes.– Prince wrote the song, produced the recording, Prince wrote the song, produced the recording,

sang all of the vocal parts, and played all of the sang all of the vocal parts, and played all of the instruments. instruments.

– The lyrics of “When Doves Cry” do not conform The lyrics of “When Doves Cry” do not conform to the usual formulas of romantic pop song. to the usual formulas of romantic pop song.

Crosses the boundaries of established pop genresCrosses the boundaries of established pop genres– Fusing a funk rhythm with the lead guitar sound Fusing a funk rhythm with the lead guitar sound

of heavy metal, the digitally synthesized and of heavy metal, the digitally synthesized and sampled textures of postdisco dance music, and sampled textures of postdisco dance music, and the aesthetic focus and control of progressive the aesthetic focus and control of progressive rock and the singer-songwriter tradition.rock and the singer-songwriter tradition.

Listening: “When Doves Cry”Listening: “When Doves Cry”

Prince’s composition avoids the Prince’s composition avoids the tendency to establish a clear distinction tendency to establish a clear distinction between a verse and a chorus.between a verse and a chorus.– The song does use the verse-and-chorus The song does use the verse-and-chorus

form, but the melody and supporting form, but the melody and supporting harmonies are almost identical in the two harmonies are almost identical in the two sections, making the distinction between sections, making the distinction between them much less fixed.them much less fixed.

– The musical intensity of “When Doves Cry” The musical intensity of “When Doves Cry” rises and falls continuously, creating a rises and falls continuously, creating a complex succession of peaks and valleys. complex succession of peaks and valleys.

Listening: “When Doves Cry”Listening: “When Doves Cry”

The arrangement of “When Doves Cry” can be The arrangement of “When Doves Cry” can be divided into two major sections:divided into two major sections:

Section One Section One – About three and a half minutes in lengthAbout three and a half minutes in length– A presentation of the songA presentation of the song– Alternation of verse (A) and chorus (B)Alternation of verse (A) and chorus (B)

Section TwoSection Two– Consists of a series of eight-bar phrases Consists of a series of eight-bar phrases – The background texture is subtly varied, while The background texture is subtly varied, while

instrumental solos, sung phrases, and other instrumental solos, sung phrases, and other vocal effects are sometimes juxtaposed or vocal effects are sometimes juxtaposed or layered on top of one another, and sometimes layered on top of one another, and sometimes alternated one after the other. alternated one after the other.

Listening: “When Doves Cry”Listening: “When Doves Cry”

The overall effect of this recordingThe overall effect of this recording– A weaving, made up of patches of subtly shifting A weaving, made up of patches of subtly shifting

textural effects and tone colorstextural effects and tone colors– Held together by the strong threads of a funk-derived Held together by the strong threads of a funk-derived

dance groovedance groove– Strung on a formal loom made up of eight-bar sectionsStrung on a formal loom made up of eight-bar sections

This is a recording that rewards repeated This is a recording that rewards repeated listening, not least because one musician has listening, not least because one musician has created every sound you hear throughout.created every sound you hear throughout.

In its rich layering of instrumental textures and In its rich layering of instrumental textures and vocal personalities, “When Doves Cry” imparted vocal personalities, “When Doves Cry” imparted to the public image of Prince a complexity and to the public image of Prince a complexity and psychological depth not typical of mass-media psychological depth not typical of mass-media celebrities. celebrities.

It established his reputation as one of the most It established his reputation as one of the most creative and influential musicians of the 1980s.creative and influential musicians of the 1980s.