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)

The Funny Song
Madonna Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I went down to the local bar
To buy my daddy a big cigar
When I got home he was dead
Somebody shot him in the head

Oh dear daddy
You're not gonna see me grieve
'Cause you brought out the worst in me

(Spoken:)
Yep! It's all true.
It's true. It makes me cry.

When the funeral was through
I had myself a barbecue
Daddy's bones they sure taste good
I couldn't have stopped; if only I could
[or: I'd have killed him myself; if only I could]

Oh dear daddy

You're not gonna see me sad
'Cause everything you did was bad

Overall Meaning

The Funny Song by Madonna might sound like a disturbing and dark subject matter at first with its seemingly nonchalant lyrics about the death of the singer's father and her callous attitude towards it. However, when taken into context with the entire album, the song can be interpreted as a commentary on Madonna's struggle with the patriarchy and the expectations placed on women. The lines "you brought out the worst in me" and "everything you did was bad" suggests that the father in question might have been abusive or controlling, and the singer is finding her liberation from that toxic relationship.

Furthermore, the song could also be viewed as a humorous take on the taboo topics in society, with the exaggerated lines about a barbecue being used as a coping mechanism for the singer. It's almost comical in its delivery, highlighting the absurdity of the situation rather than wallowing in grief. Madonna's delivery is tongue-in-cheek, with the spoken interjection of "It's true. It makes me cry" adding to the ironic tone.

Overall, The Funny Song by Madonna is a striking and strange addition to her repertoire, but when viewed with an open mind, it reveals a lot about her artistry and willingness to push boundaries.

Line by Line Meaning

I went down to the local bar
I left my house and went to a nearby pub

To buy my daddy a big cigar
I wanted to purchase a large cigar for my father

When I got home he was dead
Upon returning home, I discovered that my father was no longer alive

Somebody shot him in the head
My father was killed by a gunshot wound to his head

Oh dear daddy
My deceased father is being addressed

You're not gonna see me grieve
I won't be mourning my father's death as he had an adverse influence on me

'Cause you brought out the worst in me
You are responsible for my negative qualities

(Spoken:) Yep! It's all true. It's true. It makes me cry.
The preceding lyrics describe factual events that are personally upsetting to me

When the funeral was through
After my father's funeral had ended

I had myself a barbecue
I organized a barbecue event for myself

Daddy's bones they sure taste good
I found my father's remains to be appetizing