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 Game
Madonna Lyrics
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You take, have not
Your loss, my gain
We're all the same
You're in the game but you don't know it
Get in control or you're gonna blow it
Ask him his name, find out where did he come from
Is he really God's son?
You have, I lack
We fade to black
Your move, I take
You win, checkmate
We're all sick, but we just can't see it
Call it a trick, but we don't wanna be it
Try to break through all of your defenses
How would it feel to let go of your senses?
Don't forget to ask him his name
If you knew what I knew you'd be doing the same
Ambiguity does us no good
I want everything to be understood
You want, I've got, you take, have not
Your loss, my gain, we're all the same
You have, I lack, we fade to black
Your move, I take, you win, checkmate
We're in a game but we don't know it
Get in control or we're all gonna blow it
Ask him his name, find out where did he come from
I wanna know if he's really God's son
Don't forget to ask him his name
If you knew what I knew you'd be doing the same
Ambiguity does us no good
I want everything to be understood
The Game by Madonna is a song that explores themes of power dynamics and control. Madonna begins by talking about how she has what others want and how others take things from her, but in the end, it's all the same. She then goes on to talk about how we're all playing a game but not realizing it. She encourages listeners to get in control before they blow it. The second verse talks about how we're all sick but can't see it, and we don't want to call it a trick. She then tries to break through our defenses and asks how it would feel to let go of our senses. Madonna ends the song by reminding listeners to ask for God's name and find out where he came from.
The song's message is that we're all equal, and the power dynamic is an illusion. Madonna urges listeners to take control of their lives and not let others control them. The Game is a metaphor for life, and Madonna encourages listeners to stop being a pawn and start making their own moves. Ambiguity is pointless, and Madonna wants everything to be understood, including God's identity. Ultimately, the song is a reminder that power is an illusion, and we're all equal.
Line by Line Meaning
You want, I've got
I have what you crave for
You take, have not
You don't have what you take from me
Your loss, my gain
You losing is my victory
We're all the same
We all desire what we don't have
You're in the game but you don't know it
You're part of the scheme but unaware of it
Get in control or you're gonna blow it
Take charge or you're going to fail
Ask him his name, find out where did he come from
Inquire about his identity and background
I wanna know if he's really God's son
I'm curious whether he's divine or not
Is he really God's son?
I'm questioning his divinity
You have, I lack
You possess what I'm lacking
We fade to black
Our lives lead to death
Your move, I take
I take advantage of your actions
You win, checkmate
You're victorious, game over
We're all sick, but we just can't see it
We're all flawed, but we're unaware
Call it a trick, but we don't wanna be it
We deny our imperfection
Try to break through all of your defenses
Attempt to overcome your barriers
How would it feel to let go of your senses?
What if you lost control of your mind?
Don't forget to ask him his name
Remember to inquire about his identity
If you knew what I knew you'd be doing the same
You'd act like me if you have my knowledge
Ambiguity does us no good
Uncertainty is unproductive
I want everything to be understood
I want clarity
We're in a game but we don't know it
We're living life unaware of the game
Ask him his name, find out where did he come from
Seek his identity and origin
Don't forget to ask him his name
Remember to inquire about his identity
If you knew what I knew you'd be doing the same
You'd act like me if you have my knowledge
Ambiguity does us no good
Uncertainty is unproductive
I want everything to be understood
I want clarity
Contributed by Connor B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
donkeycheeks
I agree. American Life is very much in the same vein as the folk protest albums of the late 60s and 70s. People complained that Madonna was angry, but that was the whole point. It really is a very misunderstood album and perhaps one day will be rediscovered and appreciated as the classic it really is.
Scribblebytes
Best album ever. I would have never have purused music if it wasn't for AL.
Grant H
this album is her best work. the most cohesive and consistent in quality.
Michael G.
I love the American Life album. It was such an overlooked album because of the controversy the video caused at the time. It's one of her best pieces of work. I love this demo. I think Warner Bros. should release an "Unreleased" compilation now that she's done with that label...as sort of a "thank you" to her fans!!!
Desativado
Have never heard this before, her voice matches the amazing guitar
Amadeo Orellana
id love to hear a whole album..just her and her guitar!!!!i adore her!!!
A. S.
Ohh. This type of music performed by Madonna is just magical. So beautiful. I have to be satisfied with demo. Too bad... Those acoustic instruments... So deep and addicted.
Seb
american life was, to me, the best album she did.
Chrisy Gavin
American Life is my favorite album! This song is so awesome! love love it <3
Σβούρα
i love "the game" i love all "american life" album but i really really love MADONNA