All I want to do is talk about Madonna

Pilot Episode. Kenny and Mark kick-off “All I Want to Do is Talk About Madonna” by going all the way back to the very beginning: the first song on the first side of Madonna’s first album. Discussed: Madonna’s demo recordings, “Crimes of Passion”, early ambitions, Danceteria DJs, Maripol, Erica Bell, and the power of synths.

Kenny and Mark discuss the importance of car songs, romantic yearnings, generational innocence, the power of Madonna’s vocal ad libs, and make a case for bringing back “the fade out” in a classic 80s pop song called “Borderline.”

Kenny and Mark tackle “Burning Up” the third song on Madonna’s self-titled 1983 debut. Topics include punk roots, the Breakfast Club band, scratch vocals and the impact of Madonna’s breathing in her music, and the arrival of Stephen Bray.

Kenny and Mark face Madonna’s baby voice vocals and why never performing a song in a live setting may be a good thing on deep cut “I Know It”.

Kenny and Mark re-experience their first encounters with classic Madonna song “Holiday” and the moment you first want to get out on the floor and dance to it.

Kenny and Mark analyze Madonna’s romantic philosophies in 1982, the power of journal-writing, East Village drama, saxophonist Bobby Malach, and the true nature of the Basquiat friendship on lost Madonna song “Think of Me”.

Kenny and Mark lose their collective minds over “Physical Attraction”. Discussed: stretching synths, talking vocals, the power of the male gaze, bisexuality and intimacy, and Kenny’s entry point into Madonna fandom. Here’s the whole story, folks!

Kenny and Mark close out Madonna’s self-titled debut with the perennial “Everybody” – Madonna’s first musical call to the dancefloor. Discussed: musical roads chosen and not taken, what constitutes a Madonna ‘hit’, and the power of the producer on a Madonna record.

Kenny and Mark wrap up 1983 in the canon with a discussion of lost tracks “Ain’t No Big Deal” and “Sidewalk Talk”, the valuable contributions and advocacy of Jellybean Benitez, hot tamales, and Madonna’s attempts to get back to the purity of this important first era of Madonna’s music.

Holiday Episode. Kenny and Mark swing into the holidays with a special one-off episode celebrating Madonna’s 1987 cover of the Eartha Kitt classic. Topics discussed include the Special Olympics, walking with Eartha Kitt through Times Square, Michael John LaChiusa’s The Wild Party, Madonna’s identity as a song stylist, Madonna’s commitment to charity and what makes a classic Christmas song.

Kenny and Mark plunge into 80s Consumerism with the first song from Madonna’s classic “Like a Virgin” album. What makes a song a “Madonna song”? Topics discussed include the reception of irony, Missing Persons, Marilyn Monroe, Kenny’s love of the Second Single, and how live drumming kicks off this new era. They take a deep dive into the iconic 1985 video, including Old Hollywood and the many lost film projects, Keith Carradine, Madonna’s speaking voice, collaborating with Mary Lambert, the great Robert Wuhl, double-dating with Debi Mazar, and the entrance of Sean Penn.

Kenny and Mark highlight this great “lost” song from Like a Virgin and discuss The Breakfast Club, the Elks Club pool, the softer power of the Third Single, and whether Madonna should write again with the estranged Stephen Bray.

The title track from Madonna’s 1984 opus and belting songs in the shower, the potency of vocal melisma, riding gondolas through Venice, lion’s tongues, the many live incarnations of the song, the stages of womanhood, and how many times Mark can say “iconic” in an episode.

Kenny and Mark fanboy over what may be the ultimate “Madonna running song”, acoustic guitars, the positive ambition in the Bray/Ciccone collaborations, proper (and improper!) climaxes, and why Mark’s mother forbid him to own Like a Virgin on cassette.

Madonna’s first cover (written by Miles Gregory) is dissected by Kenny and Mark in a confessional discussion about the legacy of the ballads.

Kenny and Mark flip the record over to Side 2 with the fan favorite (and surprise single) from 1985 as well as double entendres, Nile Rogers as a boner-killer producer, and the rarity of the Guitar Solo on a Madonna song.

Kenny indulges Mark’s devotion of this lost Madonna-penned ballad and Madonna as a casual songwriter, particularly captured on this side of the album.

The 1st of 3 episodes this week! Kenny and Mark reach the home stretch of the Like a Virgin album with a pair of album tracks, starting with the ground-laying Pretender – another character song in the Madonna oeuvre – and the conditions for staying in Madonna’s circle of trust.

The 2nd of 3 episodes this week! Kenny and Mark conclude Like a Virgin with the long-forgotten final song from the album as well as Madonna’s gibberish ad libs, demo vs. finished version of songs, and gathering the band together for the finale.

Episode 3 of 3 this week! Kenny and Mark wrap up the Like a Virgin album with a discussion of Nile Rogers, Diana Ross’ Diana album, Madonna seizing control of her image and her platform, and saying farewell to the gritty New York City streets for the golden sunlight of Hollywood, California (and the Blue hues of life with Sean Penn).

Kenny and Mark dive into Madonna’s long (and sometimes whiplash-inducing) relationship with film and film soundtracks. Topics include Matthew Modine, We Are The World, random Jacksons, the importance of character back story, and a shout-out to Miami and Power 96.

enny and Mark race to the dance floor to dissect the ultimate “you can dance” Madonna song in the ultimate Madonna movie. Discussed: non-existent piano solos, pop art, Rosanna Arquette, Susan Seidelman, the importance of solitary fandom, sunglasses, First Row Video, Warren Beatty, and Mark hijacks the episode with a tribute to the legendary Laurie Metcalf.

Kenny and Mark bust out their graffiti headbands to discuss Madonna’s inaugural live outing, 1985’s Virgin Tour and Freddy DeMann makes his first appearance on the podcast as well as the first true Madonna impression.

S1, E24 - 1985 24 MÄR 2020 · ALL I WANT TO DO IS TALK ABOUT MADONNA Kenny and Mark wrap up the Virgin Era with a deep dive into the first Madonna zeitgeist year – 1985. The singles, the videos, the movies, the Penthouse scandal, Live Aid, Madonna’s feminism and philanthropy, and getting hitched … what did you do in one year of your life?

With a burst of Billy Myers strings, Kenny and Mark drop into the gleaming world of Hollywood, CA – the backdrop for Madonna’s blockbuster third album. Topics discussed: working-class music, marriage as an influence, Danny Aiello, and a breakdown of the first transformative look (and inspiring eyebrows!) in the classic video (who’s Peter Percher??).

Kenny and Mark break down the perfect second pop song on True Blue. Topics discussed: Pat Leonard, Madonna as pursuer, the texture of backing vocals, the strip club as a metaphor, and how Mark was transformed by the first listening of this song as well as the unexpected sweetness of the once-controversial video.

Jimmy Cagney gets the pop song treatment on this deep-cut track. Topics discussed: Old School Hollywood, the prestige of living with Sean Penn, Richard Marx, and Madonna’s surprisingly long relationship with guns as a metaphor.

How many classic songs can one side of one album have? Kenny and Mark celebrate this legendary (and shocking first single) ballad. Can a man REALLY tell a thousand lies? Topics include: At Close Range, the importance of mystery, the true identity of video director Peter Percher, and Kenny’s teenage machinations to watch cable.

Kenny and Mark search for the Party on side two of True Blue. Madonna’s average work week, block parties in Harlem, Melanie Griffith, and creative Siedah Garrett overdubs are examined in this bid for song of the summer.

The title track proves its mettle and lasting power as Kenny and Mark discuss Sean Penn continuing presence, Debi Mazar and Erica Bell, a quickie video shoot, and the “Make My Video” contest on MTV.

Kenny and Mark celebrate the ultimate yearning Madonna song. Topics include the power of haircuts and wigs, the influence and courting of the Latin America audience, and the return of Mary Lambert for the video. Whatever happened to Bruce Gaitsch?

Another deep-cut gets the kudos it deserves. Kenny and Mark discuss quirky keyboards, the influences of Stephen Bray, classic 50s girl group shout-outs, the arrival of Compact Disc, and just exactly WHO the Jimmy is that Madonna is singing about. We’ll hear you next time …

Kenny and Mark examine the first Madonna message song, the sentimental decision-making of Pat Leonard, charity records, tambourines, and the challenge of writing a cliché-less lyric on the final track from True Blue.

Kenny and Mark wrap up the True Blue album with a discussion of death and mortality, imagery as an artistic (and promotional) tool, Herb Ritts (and Kenny’s aborted career as a model), Cyndi Lauper, and the end of the sweet innocence of youth.

Mark and Kenny bust out prison and unpack the comedic misfire 1987 film Who’s That Girl? as well as the four Madonna songs on what remains a spotty soundtrack. This conversation includes the acting grace of Griffin Dunne, the (unrequited?) passions of director James Foley, the ever-present children in the eponymous song video, Stephen Bray’s musical scoring, and celebrating a true “lost” Madonna classic. Will Kenny and Mark ever dance together in a club to a Shep Pettibone remix? Did Madonna ever vanquish her reputation as a “movie killer”? Questions to answer this summer.

Get out your parachute pants and fasten your cordless mic pack - this is about to get wild! Kenny and Mark return to the summer of 1987 for Madonna’s first stadium (and international) tour - the Who’s That Girl Tour! Topics include the distance of a stadium stage, Madonna’s (already) stressful relationship with her hits, the cordless microphone hand-off, which song on the setlist Kenny always fast-forwards through, and the career highs of the legendary Shabba-Doo. Ciao Italia, indeed!!

Mark and Kenny dive into all the Dub Versions, homemade singing bootlegs, and the glorious second side of Madonna’s first compilation album, 1987’s magnificent You Can Dance. Shep Pettibone arrives on the scene to re-mix Madonna’s greatest dance songs – and helps her remind her who SHE really is.

A little bonus for the hardcore. On September 30, 2019 Mark and Kenny sat down to debrief about the Madame X Tour which was in residence at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Here’s the entire unedited conversation. At over an hour this is our longest episode - for better and for worse.

It’s August 16th and we all know what that means - time to stop what you’re doing, get on the appropriately socially distant dance-floor and celebrate the birth of M. Mark and Kenny check in about everything from M’s guest spot on Dua Lipa’s “Levitating”, her instagram hits and misses, a new record deal and how each are coping in month five of the pandemic. There’s a lot in M’s orbit as she begins her 63rd trip around the Sun.