Physical Attraction (song)
"Physical Attraction" | ||||
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Sigma Sound, New York City | ||||
Genre | ||||
Length | 6:35 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) | Reggie Lucas | |||
Producer(s) | Lucas | |||
Madonna singles chronology | ||||
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Audio | ||||
"Physical Attraction" on YouTube |
"Physical Attraction" is a song by American singer Madonna. It was included on her debut studio album Madonna (1983). Written and produced by Reggie Lucas, the song was released as a double A-side single with "Burning Up" on March 9, 1983.
Upon release, "Physical Attraction" was generally well-received by critics, and retrospective reviews have described it as a "hidden gem". It charted at number 13 in Australia and number three on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in the United States.
Background
In early 1980, Madonna was living in New York City and establishing her music career as a member of rock band the Breakfast Club, alongside her boyfriend Dan Gilroy;[1] soon after, she was joined by Stephen Bray, her former boyfriend from Michigan, who became the band's drummer.[2] Bray and Madonna left the Breakfast Club and, together, formed a new band, Emmy and the Emmys. They were soon signed by Gotham Records, but short after, Madonna quit the band and decided to pursue a solo career.[3] She carried with her three of the demos she had created with Bray: "Everybody", "Ain't No Big Deal", and "Burning Up". In 1982, she met and befriended DJ Mark Kamins at Danceteria nightclub.[3] After listening to "Everybody", Kamins took her to Sire Records, where Seymour Stein, the label's president, signed Madonna for two 12" singles.[3]
Released in October of 1982, "Everybody" became a hit in the dance scene.
Recording and composition
"Burning Up" was written and produced by Reggie Lucas.[6] Recording took place at New York's Sigma Sound Studios; personnel working on the song included Bray on programming and guitars, alongside Paul Pesco; Butch Jones, and Fred Zarr. Background vocals were provided by Gwen Guthrie, Brenda White, and Chrissy Faith.[6] According to author Rikky Rooksby, the song is about Madonna being interested in "a suitor who she knows is no good for her but [she] is attracted to anyway". He described the song as a medium-paced track with a "chic guitar line" and "synth brass flourishes".[3] Music critic Marc Andrews described the song's sound as "redressing disco in a post-punk electro sheen", and noted the song's similarities to a previous Lucas composition, the Stephanie Mills single "Sweet Sensation".[5]
Release and reception
The double-sided single of "Burning Up" and "Physical Attraction" was released on March 9, 1983.[7] The artwork used for the 12" single was designed by the singer's friend Martin Burgoyne.[8] "Physical Attraction" was later included on the compilations You Can Dance (1987) and Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (2022).[9][10] On the former, it was the only song not to have been remixed for the release.[11]
Upon release, critical reception was generally positive. Billboard's Brian Chin described "Physical Attraction" as a "great midtempo
"Burning Up" / "Physical Attraction" debuted on Billboard's Dance Club Songs charts at number 66 the week of April 9, 1983, peaking at number three one month later.[22][23] By September 1983, according to a Warner Bros. Records advertisement in Radio & Records, the "Burning Up" / "Physical Attraction" 12" single had sold more than 150,000 copies.[24] The song entered Australia's Kent Music Report in November 1983 and, almost eight months later, peaked at number 13.[25]
Track listings and formats
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Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the album and 12" single liner notes.[6][26]
- Madonna – lead vocals, background vocals
- Reggie Lucas – producer, guitars, drum programming
- Butch Jones – synthesizer
- John "Jellybean" Benitez – remixing
- Fred Zarr – synthesizer, electric and acoustic piano
- Dean Gant – electric and acoustic piano
- Bobby Malach – tenor saxophone
- Paul Pesco – guitar
- Ed Walsh – synthesizer
- Gwen Guthrie – background vocals
- Brenda White – background vocals
- Chrissy Faith – background vocals
- Martin Burgoyne – artwork
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
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References
- ^ a b c Morton 2002, p. 78
- ^ Graff, Gary (April 4, 1987). "Bray's loyalty to Madonna pays off". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Rooksby 2004, pp. 10–15
- ^ "Happy anniversary 'Everybody'!". Icon: Official Madonna Website. October 6, 2012. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ a b Andrews 2002, pp. 50
- ^ Madonna (LP, Vinyl, CD). Madonna. Sire Records. 1983. 9 23867-1.)
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link - ^ "Madonna – Burning Up". Icon: Official Madonna website. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ^ Morton 2002, p. 256
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (1987). "Madonna > You Can Dance > Overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 12, 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ a b c Wass, Mike (August 19, 2022). "All 50 of Madonna's no. 1 club hits ranked: From 'Everybody' to 'I Don't Search I Find'". Variety. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ Chin, Brian (1987). You Can Dance (Liner notes). Madonna. Warner Bros. Records. 9255352-2.
- (PDF) from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ Shewey, Don (September 29, 1983). "Home > Music > Album reviews > Madonna". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (1983). "Madonna > Madonna > Overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- The Backlot. Archived from the originalon October 20, 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
- ^ "The 100 greatest Madonna songs: Critics' picks". Billboard. August 15, 2018. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- The Advocate. January 23, 2015. Archived from the originalon July 15, 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
- ^ Murrian, Samuel R. (August 16, 2019). "We ranked the 100 best Madonna songs of all time". Parade. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
- ^ Mapes, Jilll (August 16, 2017). "Madonna – Madonna". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ Rosa, Christopher (August 16, 2014). "Justify Our Love: Madonna's 25 most underrated deep cuts and B-sides". VH1. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
- ^ Cinquemani, Sal; Henderson, Eric (August 20, 2020). "Madonna's 20 greatest deep cuts". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- (PDF) from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Madonna Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "Futures: Hear today, hear tomorrow" (PDF). Radio & Records (449): 106. September 2, 1983. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ^ a b Kent 1993, p. 188
- ^ a b Burning Up / Physical Attraction (12" single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1983. 9 29715-0.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Burning Up / Physical Attraction (European 7" single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1983. 92-9609-7.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Burning Up / Physical Attraction (Australian 7" single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1983. 7-29609.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Burning Up / Physical Attraction (European CD Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1995. 7599 29715-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Burning Up / Physical Attraction – EP – Madonna". Apple Music. March 9, 2023. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Kent Music Report No 548 – 31 December 1984 > National Top 100 Singles for 1984". Kent Music Report. December 31, 1984. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2023 – via Imgur.com.
- ^ "Top Dance/Disco Singles/Albums" (PDF). December 24, 1983. p. TA-26. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
Bibliography
- Allen, Robert Clyde (1987). Channels of discourse: television and contemporary criticism. ISBN 0-416-07082-5.
- Andrews, Marc (2022). Madonna Song by Song. Fonthill Media. ISBN 9781781558447.
- Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (2004). ISBN 0-394-72107-1.
- Clerk, Carol (2002). Madonnastyle. ISBN 0-7119-8874-9.
- Fouz-Hernández, Santiago; Jarman-Ivens, Freeya (2004). Madonna's Drowned Worlds. ISBN 0-7546-3372-1.
- Guilbert, Georges-Claude (2002). Madonna as postmodern myth. McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-1408-1.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIAfrom mid-1983 until June 12, 1988.
- ISBN 0-312-98310-7.
- ISBN 978-0-593-05547-2.
- Rooksby, Rikky (2004). The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna. ISBN 0-7119-9883-3.
- Tannenbaum, Rob; Marks, Craig (2011). I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-1-101-52641-5.
- ISBN 0-7432-2880-4.
- Twitchell, Robert B. (1998). For Shame: The Loss of Common Decency in American Culture. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 0-312-19453-6.