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)
I Want You
Madonna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I, yi yi yi
I, yi yi yi
I, yi yi yi
I want you the right way
I want you, but I want you to want me too
Want you to want me baby
Da da, da da, da da da
I'll give you all the love I want in return
But half a love is all I feel, sweet darling
It's too bad, it's just too sad
You don't want me no more
But I'm gonna change your mind
Some way, somehow
I want you the right way
I want you, but I want you to want me too
Want you to want me baby
Just like I want you
Da da, da da, da da da
One way love is just a fantasy
To share is precious, pure and fair
Don't play with something you should cherish for life
Oh baby, don't you want to care?
Ain't it lonely out there?
I want you the right way
I want you, but I want you to want me too
Want you to want me baby
Just like I want you
I want you the right way
I want you, but I want you to want me too
Want me baby, just like I want you
Da da, da da, da da da
I want you, the right way
Want me baby
Don't play with something you should cherish for life
The song "I Want You" by Madonna expresses her desire for someone who doesn't seem to reciprocate her feelings. The repetitive lines that begin the song ("I, yi yi yi") serve as a rhythmic introduction that brings the listener into the groove of the track. The chorus repeats the phrase "I want you the right way, I want you, but I want you to want me too," illustrating her need for mutual attraction and validation.
In the first verse, Madonna promises to give all her love in return for the other person's affection, but she only receives half of it. This creates a feeling of sadness and melancholy, which is accentuated by the next line, "It's too bad, it's just too sad." Despite this, she declares that she will "change your mind," and find a way to make the other person love her back.
The second verse highlights the importance of sharing love equally, and not playing with something that is precious and should be cherished. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes her need for the other person to want her back just as much as she wants them.
Overall, "I Want You" is a catchy pop song that explores the pain of one-sided love and emphasizes the importance of mutual attraction and caring.
Line by Line Meaning
I, yi yi yi
Expressing desire or attraction towards someone.
I want you the right way
I want to have a healthy, mutual relationship with you.
I want you, but I want you to want me too
I want you to have reciprocal feelings for me.
Want you to want me baby
Pleading with the person to feel the same way she does.
Just like I want you
Desire for the other person to feel the same way she does about them.
I'll give you all the love I want in return
I am prepared to give as much love as I receive.
But half a love is all I feel, sweet darling
I feel unfulfilled in this one-sided relationship.
It's too bad, it's just too sad
Expressing sadness over an undesirable situation.
You don't want me no more
The other person has lost interest in her.
But I'm gonna change your mind
She is determined to convince the other person to love her again.
Some way, somehow
She will find a way to achieve her goal.
One way love is just a fantasy
Unrequited love is an unrealistic and unfulfilling situation.
To share is precious, pure and fair
Sharing love with another is a valuable, just and genuine experience.
Don't play with something you should cherish for life
Don't treat love lightly; it is something to hold onto for a lifetime.
Oh baby, don't you want to care?
Asking the other person to care for her and the relationship.
Ain't it lonely out there?
Stating that she doesn't want to be alone.
Want me baby, just like I want you
Asking for mutual feelings of desire.
I want you, the right way
Reiterating that she wants a healthy relationship.
Don't play with something you should cherish for life
Repeating the advice to not treat love lightly.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Word Collections Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Sentric Music, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Arthur Ross, Leon Ware
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@laidback93
I don't usually like covers, but Madonna and Massive Attack killed it with this remix. Timeless in my opinion
@HannahInWashington
❤timeless indeed lidl a lot 🎉❤
@kellyhardyman9509
She is always two steps above the judgemental pricks we call social media❤❤❤
@kellyhardyman9509
She was an A student just like me ,motherless and abandoned
@romanasky6820
I love it.
@ETIENNE8100
This is definitely one of the best Madonna productions,impossible without Massive Attack. Timeless beauty
@laurence.MusicAndSights
MA apporte une intensité dramatique à tout artiste qui s'y prête. Ici Madonna au sommet de sa beauté sans chirurgie et si sensuelle sans vulgarité. Il suffit d'écouter le titre "milk" de Garbage sur une femme perverse manipulatrice tel quel , puis remanié par MA qui nous fait frissonner. D'autres exemples chez Bowie et d'autres grands...
@CrystalCoffin
@@ithinkthefucknotyoutrickas5506 People being the disrespectful a**holes as usual when it comes to Madonna. Every great thing that she does, it's never about her. She can sing in the most beautiful way, and they still act like she doesn't deserve any credit, it's always THE OTHER PEOPLE who receive the praises. Had this been another singer we wouldn't see the same thing happened.
@manialord1699
@@laurence.MusicAndSights are you calling Madonna perverse?
@laurence.MusicAndSights
@@manialord1699 your translator is false. MA brings Madonna a dramatic intensity...Garbage has sung tracks about racissist women like " milk" " you look so fine" love both artists plus Massive attack .she was so gorgeous, in tune with MA s collaboration. Greetings from France