live tell live tell song american singer madonna studio album originally composed score film fire fire song shown madonna decided use husband film close range madonna wrote song lyrics produced song released lead single march later appeared compilation albums collection remember celebration pop ballad song includes instrumentation guitars keyboards drums synthesizer lyrics deal childhood strong madonna recalled interview thought relationship parents writing lyrics music video directed shows madonna image featuring cleaner look shoulder length golden blond hair conservative wardrobe subtle toned blond appearance inspired live tell generally received music critics frequently referred best ballad career commercial success madonna number single billboard hot number adult contemporary chart song faced controversy madonna performed confessions tour wearing crown hanging giant mirrored cross performance rome olympic stadium condemned act hostility roman_catholic_church religious leaders background writing madonna finished asked producers write songs produce studio album live tell originally composed score paramount romantic drama film fire fire managers represented guy directing film film saw little piece film script wrote theme said madonna write lyrics said paramount rejected song believing incapable creating score film presented track madonna decided use close range new film husband actor madonna wrote lyrics song demo recording cassette presented song film director hearing track decided enlist person write score film suggestions madonna working michael_jackson bad album penn called home got know madonna suggested write score close range asked going sing live tell song written man perspective initially envisioned male voice interpreting song decided use madonna main vocalist demo version main vocal backup drums later recalled innocent shy naive raw raw gave charm interview madonna said mood song inspired different image desire focus different composition live tell pop ballad background instrumentation keyboard synthesizer funk guitar mix synthesized real drumming according sheet music published song written key major set common time moves moderate tempo beats minute song starts instrumental introduction performed synthesizer bass set minor key suddenly changes relative major vocal range spans octaves begins sing verse bass pedal changes major changes chorus minor chorus closure process repeated second verse chorus abruptly ends silence low sound synthesizer set minor madonna starts sing bridge middle ran away strength keys closing repetition chorus song gradually fades original composition song background synths instead created basic structure piano madonna added words melody according madonna came bridge extending music playing lyrically live tell portrays complexity song childhood extreme emotional pitch according book heart rock soul songs like live tell song great interview song madonna said thought relationship parents lying went song strong questioning strong ultimately surviving critical response live tell generally received music critics review album true blue stephen_thomas_erlewine allmusic called tremendous ballad rules adult contemporary crossover jim_farber entertainment_weekly called song best ballad date review compilation album magazine called successful shots felt song set lyrics remain best vocals lifetime worth hurts refuses share sal_cinquemani slant_magazine called song striking adding rewrote rules pop song supposed sound like usa today called song moody heart best song author desperately seeking madonna search meaning world famous woman felt live tell provocative companion don preach second single album added madonna appropriately measured safety silence urge complimented production saying music suggests threatened fact makes haunting authors madonna companion decades commentary felt track expanded madonna musical according live tell compelling track madonna sang moving conviction author madonna pleased track denoting vehicle growth madonna spin reviewing called live tell dark moody dense dramatic mystery tale lost innocence madonna theatrically conveys lost fragile voice healing sings grow cold secret hide grow old rolling_stone called song cutting said arguably madonna finest distinctive ballad chart performance live tell released united_states march debuted billboard hot number reaching position weeks later madonna number single second number featured film crazy song crossover success topping adult contemporary chart weeks peaking number chart canada song debuted number rpm singles chart april reached chart weeks staying chart total weeks ranked second position rpm singles year end chart single peaked number final number single united_kingdom live tell released april week song debuted number singles chart peaked number stayed weeks chart held spot rock live tell certified silver british_phonographic_industry bpi shipment copies single united_kingdom according official_charts_company song sold copies europe live tell topped hot weeks singles chart italy peaking inside belgium france ireland netherlands norway switzerland certified silver shipment copies france music video december madonna starred film shanghai surprise toned appearance inspired madonna held look live tell video pale subtle shoulder length hair golden blond clothes consisted simple 1930s style floral dress interview music critic new_york_times commented new look got sick wearing tons jewelry wanted clean new look innocent feminine makes feel good growing admired kind beautiful glamorous woman grace kelly doesn anymore think time kind come pop music generally people image lucky able change accepted think movies play change characters looks attitudes guess entertain addition directed song video charge production video serves publicity campaign movie includes brief scenes film indicate conflict young man movie played feels locations film separated visually shots madonna singing studio unlike previous videos madonna portrays narrator song comments story appearing shots completely different narrative action appears speak character addressing problems directly like chorus classical tragedy live performances madonna premiered song benefit concert madison square garden raise money medical research aids dedicated song memory friend artist madonna performed song world tours girl world tour performed song standing single spotlight wearing black ensemble golden tips designed different performances song tour found videos girl live japan filmed tokyo japan june live italy filmed italy september years later blond ambition world tour madonna evoked catholic images performance wore black neon singing confession bench roman columns platform candles background different performances taped released video taped japan april taped nice france august madonna performance song subject controversy confessions tour raised floor hanging mirrored cross wearing red velvet pants crown head performance number million stage backdrop screens images african children intended detail estimated number children orphaned aids africa german prosecutors threatened sue protestant bishop said maybe way aging superstar attract attention people religious sentiments described madonna performance urged members boycott upcoming concert moscow performance rome olympic stadium located near vatican condemned act hostility roman_catholic_church religious leaders italian cardinal called concert challenge faith cross calling madonna reverend described bad taste provocative muslim jewish leaders criticized performance head italy commented think idea worst taste better home spokesman rome jewish community said act rome worse madonna released statement controversy grateful received world appearance cross wanted explain segment dancers confess share experiences childhood ultimately overcame confession follows takes place ultimately come mocking church different person wearing cross taking cross says bible performance anti christian plea audience encourage mankind help world unified believe heart jesus alive today thing specific intent bring attention millions children africa dying day living care medicine hope asking people open hearts minds involved way song ends quote bible book matthew hungry gave food naked gave clothing sick took care god replied brothers pass judgement seeing cover versions usage media live tell covered numerous artists american guitarist covered song fourth album little faith released dance single song featuring different remix versions italian singer uptempo dance version song remixed peaked number weeks billboard hot dance club play included album logic pride vol canadian jazz singer covered eponymous album new wave band berlin covered song album virgin voices tribute madonna vol interview cnn berlin lead vocalist said tribute necessary commenting madonna influenced lot people adding live tell song madonna touch covers song tribute albums include material girl tribute madonna released instrumental version album string quartet tribute madonna folk version album wilderness version album american police procedural television series cold case song features finale season episode people formats track listing canada germany single live tell edit live tell instrumental canada germany maxi single live tell version live tell edit live tell instrumental germany maxi single live tell version live tell edit live tell instrumental credits personnel madonna lyrics producer vocals guitars drum programming keyboards lyrics producer drums audio mixing engineer credits adapted album liner notes charts certifications
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