express madonna song express song american singer songwriter madonna fourth studio album like prayer released second single album song included greatest hits compilation albums collection celebration express song madonna producer collaborated like prayer written produced song tribute american funk soul band sly family stone main inspiration song female empowerment urging women second best express inner feelings express upbeat dance pop song features instrumentation brass hand drum beats chorus backed sound saxophone percussion lyrics talk rejecting material pleasures accepting best oneself employed song express received positive reviews critics applauded gender equality message song complimented song hymn freedom encouragement women oppressed minorities commercially song peaked number billboard hot madonna sixth number hit european hot singles chart reached singles charts canada italy switzerland accompanying music video directed inspired classic film metropolis total budget million million dollars expensive music video currently expensive time video portrayed city tall railway lines madonna played glamorous lady muscular men acting workers end picks played model date critics noted video exploitation female sexuality came conclusion madonna masculine image video gender bending express performed madonna world tours covered female leads fox glee performed song episode titled power madonna song video noted freedom expression feminist aspects nature academics resisting definition left mark work contemporary music artists including christina_aguilera lady_gaga background express released second single fourth studio album like prayer look love film soundtrack girl madonna started work like prayer considered options thought musical direction certain matters mind including troubled relationship husband family lost mother belief god madonna thought lyrical ideas songs topics personal shared public openly came realization fans growing time away teen appeal wider audiences cash longevity album market madonna wanted new sound indicative fashionable ride changing trend music madonna considered alternatives producers individually began instrumental tracks musical ideas present consideration express song madonna collaborated like prayer written produced tribute american funk soul band sly family stone main inspiration song female empowerment urging women second best love test madonna explained issue interview ultimate thing song don express don want going effect inability feel want matter control think sexuality relationship power struggle certain compromise love choose chain neck wrote express tell women world pick choose best chain neck kills instead man express want woman composition express begins sound brass madonna opening line come girls believe love cause got goes like drum beats start madonna moves chorus song thick vocal texture high pitched background singing chorus aided instrumentation saxophone percussion madonna sings verse song violin sound added finishes bridge feel like queen throne love till come male voice repeating line synthesizer played second verse madonna continues chanting words express background vocals singing hey hey hey hey alongside small saxophone interlude break comes madonna singing fuller voice horns percussion beats continue madonna changes lyrics end express repetition bridge intermediate verse chorus comes changes lyrics original title song ends words respect fading set simple song structure express plays ambiguity subtle control harmony avoidance closure song clearly key major note melody don major implies mode evident madonna vocal words express initially centers moving minor raised 6th sheet music published inc express set time signature common time tempo beats minute madonna voice range spans chord progression according author lyrics express simple love song madonna women audience second best express feelings men express theirs author madonna like icon described feminist arms madonna dismissing sheets gold material pleasures said interview rolling_stone lyrics way saying doesn work better possibly personal feelings mixed lyrics employed song especially line need big strong hand lift higher ground big strong hand implied hand typical male helping hand critical reception express received mainly positive reviews critics author madonna intimate biography called song funky dance anthem reacted positively message female arms communication self respect new_york_times observed madonna philosophy previous single material girl express described year old view life rebellion lingering catholic pain article newspaper declared songs authors madonna complimented lyrics song added apparently gender road gender equality book madonna journalist described express hymn freedom encouragement women oppressed minorities resist express ideas strength faced biographer mary cross noted book madonna biography song paved way music video testament freedom authors noted essays madonna racist capitalist constructions way pronounced word self express added opening line don second best baby transformed song anthem scholar noted book women popular music sexuality identity madonna capable imitating musical style interesting given madonna ability manipulate image musical express appear surprising author madonna blond ambition declared song reflected madonna come know shocked express brien impressed song gave detailed review express feminist arms complete muscular brass playing soulful voice madonna anti girl female audiences respect means having man loves head heart doesn treat right revolutionary rhetoric better like female preacher madonna emphasizes word chorus god power parts woman girl talk swinging dance track stance vogue shows madonna moving introspective mode professor wrote book main appeal express lay teen appeal understood core addressing important issue female liberation commented express madonna struck material girl persona demonstrating image concrete based lyrics song declared song rare example good taste good advice like prayer impressed madonna vocals song complimenting soul rolling_stone called express groove tune felt smart sassy right madonna soul style testimony intro come girls believe love chicago_sun-times declared song highlights album feeling sal_cinquemani slant magazine reviewing like prayer announced express soulful performance madonna career added song turned madonna material girl image head denouncing material things little stephen_thomas_erlewine allmusic felt song consisted deep funk music chart performance united_states express highest debuting single number billboard hot issue dated june weeks reached chart number eventually peaked number held runner spot weeks song don know week toy soldiers express present total weeks hot placed number year end chart song reached chart billboard chart peaked outside number express certified gold recording_industry_association_of_america riaa august shipment copies single united_states canada song debuted number reached ninth week present chart weeks eighth best selling canadian single australia express debuted aria_singles_chart number june weeks song reached peak number chart staying week descending chart present total weeks chart certified gold australian_recording_industry_association aria shipment copies single year end charts aria express 28th best selling australian single new_zealand song debuted number rianz singles chart reaching peak number weeks present total weeks chart express released united_kingdom june entered singles chart number moving peak number week express 20th best selling song british_phonographic_industry bpi silver shipment copies single according official_charts_company song sold copies express madonna sixth number single hot singles chart reaching july staying number weeks belgium express debuted number chart june reached peak number netherlands express debuted number dutch reached peak july song reached peak number germany remained weeks spending total weeks chart express highest debuting song issued dated june seven weeks song reached chart week madonna number single music video development music video directed filmed april california produced editing principal photography production designer express music video inspired classic film metropolis featured end video film heart understanding hand mind video marked appearance remix song total budget million million dollars expensive music video history time currently expensive time express world premiere mtv mtv exclusive weeks aired hour music channel concept video portray madonna glamorous lady muscular men acting workers end picks played model date explained concept madonna intrigued decided portray masculine persona dating actor time asked play slave working factory refused saying later madonna wanted video case sexual prowess wanted thought metropolis scenes displaying factory workers city tall liked concept main backdrop video madonna talking madonna words commented development video input oversaw building sets costumes meetings hair cinematographer everybody casting finding right cat aspect kind like making little movie basically sat threw idea possibly conceive things wanted imagery wanted set ideas instance cat idea metropolis definitely wanted influence look men workers working away madonna mentioned jokingly interview program main theme video cat metaphor represented rules world added idea cat milk pour director great believe fought didn want thought silly kind art student film student kind trick glad gave synopsis video opens view city populated railway lines crafts steam blows funnels factory big machines shown madonna wearing black appears statue angry looking swan line come girls believe love followed chorus showing interiors factory workers slave machines rain pour amidst smoke filled environment male workers shown strip shirts water madonna shown light green gown holding black cat lap looking factory sitting room office sings verse workers perform choreographed dance routine inside factory madonna lies cat escapes lap singing reaches owner factory series speakers nervous hearing voice looks find workers staring looking source voice beginning second verse madonna moves bedroom wearing feminine looking outfit moves different white screens dances suggestive manner silhouette reflecting screens meantime worker continues think madonna voice dreams eyes amidst sees madonna standing atop long flight stairs inside factory wearing suit displaying glass dances platform holding briefly tears open jacket bra men pull steps meantime owner factory live musicians room remote control madonna shown lying naked bed end chain attached neck end going long factory owner musicians room worker shown madonna cat looking room owner suit madonna husband trying escape final verse song begins soaked madonna wearing black like stalking cat shown crawling floor furniture like table lightning flashing brief scene clear globe held male statues scene interspersed madonna sitting smoking worker ultimately gets steel bed carrying madonna cat walks madonna room reaches bowl milk like cat shoulder reaches worker face travels building elevator holding cat quest return boxing wrestling match starts workers factory seemingly vulnerable madonna acting like cat shown sitting naked bed worker reaches room returns cat takes arm makes love door closes owner factory glass sees position worker looks worker madonna having sex lost control factory madonna man doesn mind video ends shot city line madonna eyes sky city control series gears ends quote heart understanding hand mind reception analysis authors commented video portrayed gender bending approach associated free play self images initially thought video feminist approach sexuality leading video relate core political questions raised feminism scenes showing madonna seductive manner bed portray women empowering position emphasizes fact women control sexual prowess added establishes status quo clear distinction body workers hand mind elite intellect capital unlike metropolis line denoted labor class video madonna distinguish noted video portrayed men women looked actively body hand separate instead heart hand head portrayed balance everybody male female scholar noted initial portrayal female sexuality video book wanna politics identity criticized video portrayal male domination close inspection came conclusion express smart madonna actually portrayed women stronger position author wrote book political theory madonna express video images machines images sex represents ultimate late twentieth century america felt scenes madonna grabbing dancing reminiscent michael_jackson imitation went compliment video gender bending depiction authors commended video showing shift power sexes declaring madonna claimed possible gender space like professor noted book light madonna video adopted mimic sound borders madonna appear soft body spread book 1980s authors called express madonna challenging videos noted video exploitation male body object desire authors added video colorful homage term gaze madonna bearer men explained scenes madonna performing room atop stairs suggested object gaze mocking movement men controls mind men form song female empowerment signalling men song concluded authors visual sense cultural reader explained shot madonna crawling floor image watches nearby illustrated madonna image undergoing according madonna acting self consciousness watching concluded saying express gives viewers new series image references traditional american sexual icons male female new level irony authors fashion video display images gender sal_cinquemani slant_magazine reviewed video commented video embodiment masterpiece madonna ability use consumer driven image code feminist politics mtv_video_music_awards express nominated categories best editing best art direction winning categories billboard honored video year music video express ranked number slant_magazine greatest music videos placed number rolling_stone music videos mtv greatest videos number list videos century listed influential videos time number time magazine listed number countdown time best music videos live performances madonna live performance express mtv_video_music_awards started performance descending flight stairs wearing pin striped suit later removed coat reveal backup singers performed dance routine called author performance noted historical importance madonna performance venue explained madonna performance striking primarily high energy choreographed dance production number went highlight mtv way heralded network cultural madonna included song set list blond ambition world tour featured version based remix song included lyrics everybody introduction set inspired metropolis themes taken factory seen music video included number funnels smoke steel cables hanging flight stairs middle started set onstage madonna male dancers bare appeared steel structures choreographed routine stage end madonna appeared atop flight stairs dressed pin striped suit holes cut underneath wore peach colored pointed conical bra designed held hand accompanied female dancers dressed similar attire madonna straightforward vocal rendition track elaborate choreography included simulated storage performers microphone inside point madonna opened suit reveal bra hanging sides different performances taped released video taped japan april live blond ambition world tour taped nice france august performances included documentary madonna truth dare performed disco styled version song world tour stage disco balls performance began distorted voice claiming gon place madonna descended ceiling giant disco ball wearing blond wig style royal blue bell pants dancers appeared stage women started singing song end performance connected song deeper deeper according madonna inspired actress film performance included live home video release recorded november sydney australia express included military segment opening line altered come boys dancers dressed military gear performed rifle choreography madonna acting sergeant noted song military version talking personal love patriotic love new_york_times commented song cynical madonna sang line need big strong hand lift higher ground raised rifle head author pointed context war induced performances like american life imagine added anti war message tour performed express request song shows including madison square garden new_york performed excerpt song super bowl halftime large marching band year express included given theme opening song second segment titled prophecy mix joyful songs bring people performed madonna appeared onstage sang song dressed white uniform red stripes knee high white boots designed female dancers wore similar costumes red performance walked stage leading group dancers played drums acted role marching band halfway song madonna sang chorus lady_gaga born way chord progression melody born way heavily compared express release speculated madonna gaga song end performance madonna sang chorus song eleventh studio album critics positive performance access atlanta felt singing chorus lady_gaga born way performing express madonna proving melody line twisted knife perfectly madonna way adding chorus performance included live album released september born way sample credited album liner notes cover versions usage media performed express audition season singing television series american idol went win competition built successful music career compilation album virgin voices tribute madonna vol features cover version released cover version song brief lines sung album rock house female leads fox glee performed song episode titled power madonna fictional character observes cheer leading group episode performing routine madonna ray light inspired set madonna themed assignment members fictional glee club female members club perform express male members version released soundtrack album glee music power madonna reached number singles chart nearly years like prayer controversy express featured commercial super bowl marketing explained song choose album era worked madonna legacy express noted song accompanying music video considered feminist freedom author wrote book culture power release song context anti feminist backlash ideology dominant rise new right 1980s government ronald_reagan went explain 1980s 1990s characterized conservative reaction 1960s 70s reaction mainly media strong attacks feminism generally describing activists tortured people legs radical bitter man lesbian accompanied messages advocating women turned beautiful ornamental objects tended increase cultural differences sexes express appeared premises title noted raise question urgency feminine voice develop emerge concern recalled tradition french like video stood chaotic texture rapid editing multiple shots constituted sudden continuous changes camera angles scenes distance mood produce apparently combination images offered stable anchor provide definitive interpretation added chaos traditionally associated female principle opposed male principle order video turn came associated order chaos male female good evil light dark etc drew parallel metropolis music video madonna borrowed different symbolism film including smoke chimneys tall oppressive environment industrial work unlike metropolis portrayed repression rebellious chaotic nature express video showed freedom instead new_york_times added asked video madonna distinction honest feminist respect politically incorrect said wasn man chain don buy madonna bit symbolism desires believe feminist finds video charge madonna chains far removed unfortunate women don know options madonna complained feminist criticisms grabbing saying male singers like michael_jackson away women theorist asserted video feminist critique male fighting brutality images male workers engaged boxing match end according madonna deliberately appropriated traditional feminine images beginning video contrasted male poses near end images women assuming male position feminist author pointed nature video academic critics ways identities refuse stability remain fluid resist definition express notable influence numerous music artists girls member said madonna girl power thing long time girls express routines know like shows bra holds singer christina_aguilera paid tribute express music video single tonight commented favorite videos express madonna came strong empowering try incorporate expression sexuality love direct reference madonna eye glass moment smoke stairs paying tribute strong woman paved way mtv deemed express primary influence video scenes like displaying standing atop flight stairs crawling floor pouring black liquid similarities noted express singer lady_gaga single born way subject matter composition certainly think gaga references lot work madonna said abc interview think amusing heard born way radio said sounds familiar gaga addressed comparisons tonight jay_leno explaining received mail madonna representatives mentioned support born way cnn later reported madonna representatives aware singer team sent gaga mail situation accused media gaga addressed comparisons express interview nme saying songs similarities chord progression disco music years fucking artist years think putting radio doesn mean means fucking smart sorry track listing formats credits personnel madonna songwriter producer vocals songwriter producer arranger engineering programming mastering mixing arranger cover art photographer cover art designer credits personnel adapted like prayer album liner notes charts certifications certifications
Express Yourself (Madonna song)