"Material Girl" is a song written by Peter Brown and Robert Rans for American singer Madonna's second album Like a Virgin. It was produced by Nile Rodgers, and was released as the album's second single in 1985 (see 1985 in music). Madonna often remarks that it is the song she regrets recording most, for the fact that the nickname "Material Girl" stuck to her.

Song information

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"Material Girl" became another top five hit for Madonna on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and her third number-one single on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. It was less successful on the R&B chart, failing to enter the top forty. The single reached the top five in the UK, Canada and Australia, among other countries. The bassline in the song is reminiscent of The Jacksons's "Can You Feel It" which appeared on their 1980 album Triumph.

In the single's video, Madonna mimicked Marilyn Monroe's who she said she never wanted to be compared to after making the viedo performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" from the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). The video also parodies the materialistic and consumerist attitudes of the 1980s. It was shot in Los Angeles, produced by Sharon Oreck and directed by Mary Lambert. Actor Keith Carradine has a role in the video, and Madonna had a short affair with him during its shooting.

"Material Girl" was included on Madonna's greatest hits compilation album The Immaculate Collection (1990). In 1998 the song was sampled for the number-two dance hit "If You Buy This Record (Your life Will Be Better)" by The Tamperer featuring Maya, and the song was part of the "Sparkling Diamonds" medley in Moulin Rouge!. Industrial band KMFDM covered the song for the Virgin Voices tribute album. Hilary and Haylie Duff covered the song for their movie "Material Girls", with Timbaland producing the song.

Credits

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• Written by Peter Brown and Robert Rans.
• Produced by Nile Rodgers.
• Bass by Bernard Edwards.
• Guitar, Synclavier II, Juno 60 by Nile Rodgers.
• Drums by Tony Thompson.
• Background vocals by Madonna, Curtis King, Frank Simms and George Simms.

Charts

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Chart (1985)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	2
U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play	1
U.S. Adult Contemporary	38
U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	49
U.S. ARC Weekly Top 40	1
Japan Singles Chart	1
UK Singles Chart	3
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	4
Canadian Singles Chart	5
German Singles Chart	13
French Singles Chart	47

Notes and references

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Madonna songs | 1985 singles | Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one singles