Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone (born August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan… Read Full Bio ↴Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone (born August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She is considered one of the most influential figures in popular culture and has often been referred to as the "Queen of Pop". Madonna is noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting and visual presentation. She is also known for pushing the boundaries of artistic expression in mainstream music, while maintaining control over every aspect of her career. Her works, which incorporate social, political, sexual and religious themes, have generated both controversy and critical acclaim.

Born and raised in Michigan, Madonna moved to New York City in 1978 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing as a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist in the rock bands Breakfast Club and Emmy, she rose to solo stardom with her debut studio album, Madonna (1983). She followed it with a series of successful albums, including all-time bestsellers Like a Virgin (1984) and True Blue (1986) as well as Grammy Award winners Ray of Light (1998) and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005). Madonna has amassed many number-one singles throughout her career, including "Like a Virgin", "La Isla Bonita", "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", "Take a Bow", "Frozen", "Music", "Hung Up", and "4 Minutes".

Madonna's popularity was enhanced by roles in films such as Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Dick Tracy (1990), A League of Their Own (1992), and Evita (1996). While Evita won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, many of her other films received poor reviews. As a businesswoman, Madonna founded the company Maverick in 1992; it included Maverick Records, one of the most successful artist-run labels in history. Her other ventures include fashion brands, children's books, health clubs, and filmmaking. She contributes to various charities, having founded the Ray of Light Foundation in 1998 and Raising Malawi in 2006.

With sales of over 300 million records worldwide, Madonna is certified as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records. She is the most successful solo artist in the history of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and holds the record for the most number-one singles by a female artist in Australia, Canada, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. With a revenue of U.S. $1.5 billion from her concert tickets, she remains the highest-grossing solo touring artist of all time. Madonna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, her first year of eligibility. She was ranked as the greatest woman in music by VH1 in 2012, and as the greatest music video artist of all time by MTV in 2003 and Billboard in 2020. Rolling Stone also listed Madonna among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.

Studio albums
Madonna (1983)
Like a Virgin (1984)
True Blue (1986)
Like a Prayer (1989)
Erotica (1992)
Bedtime Stories (1994)
Ray of Light (1998)
Music (2000)
American Life (2003)
Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
Hard Candy (2008)
MDNA (2012)
Rebel Heart (2015)
Madame X (2019)

Act of Contrition
Madonna Lyrics

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For thou art the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory
Forever and ever, Amen
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee
Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy

Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee
And I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishment
But most of all, because I have offended Thee, oh my God

Who art all good and deserving of all my love
I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace
To confess my sins, to do penance, to amend my life
And to avoid the temptations of evil

Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee
And I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishment
But most of all, because my God, I have offended Thee
Who art all good
Like I knew you would
And deserving of all my love
I reserve, I reserve, I reserve
I reserve, I resolve
I have a reservation

I have a reservation
What do you mean it's not in the computer

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Madonna’s song Act of Contrition contain a mixture of biblical and personal expressions of contrition. The beginning of the song echoes the Lord’s prayer, with the lines “For thou art the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory/Forever and ever, Amen.” This section is a nod to the Christian belief in God’s ultimate power and greatness, with the singer acknowledging their place in the grand scheme of things. The second half of the song focuses more on personal confession and apology, with the singer expressing remorse for their sins and asking for forgiveness. They say that they are “heartily sorry” for having offended God and “detest all my sins because of Thy just punishment.” The use of the word “Thy” is also a nod to biblical language and style.

The phrase “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee/Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy” is the opening portion of the Hail Mary prayer, which is one of the most important prayers in the Roman Catholic tradition. By including this in the song, Madonna further emphasizes the theme of contrition and asks for Mary’s intercession in her efforts to repent. The final lines of the song, “I reserve, I reserve, I reserve” and “I have a reservation/What do you mean it’s not in the computer” are less biblical in nature and more a commentary on modern life. They could be interpreted as the singer trying to make a reservation in a restaurant or hotel and having trouble, but they could also be seen as a metaphor for the difficulty of trying to make amends for one’s mistakes in a world that values perfection and success above all else. The song is a powerful expression of the struggle to overcome personal shortcomings and seek redemption from a higher power.

Line by Line Meaning

For thou art the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory Forever and ever, Amen
Acknowledging God's power and glory and consequently asking for mercy.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
Asking for Mary's intersession to help in asking for God's forgiveness.

Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee And I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishment But most of all, because I have offended Thee, oh my God Who art all good and deserving of all my love
Expressing genuine remorse and recognizing God's goodness.

I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace To confess my sins, to do penance, to amend my life And to avoid the temptations of evil
Making a commitment to confess, repent, and avoid sinful behavior with God's help.

I reserve, I reserve, I reserve I have a reservation I have a reservation What do you mean it's not in the computer
Repetition of the act of contrition as a means of demonstrating sincerity and commitment to amending one's ways, with a touch of humor to lighten the solemn mood.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Patrick Leonard, Madonna Ciccone

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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