Madonna's 40 Greatest Songs Ranked - The A.V Club

[Karma 3,009]

Four decades after the release of her debut album,  The A.V Club looks back at the tracks that define Madonna and redefined pop culture.

https://www.avclub.com/essential-madonna-40th-anniversary-best-songs-ranked-1850672035

Full list:

01. Vogue
02. Into The Groove
03. Like A Virgin
04. Don't Tell Me
05. Like A Prayer
06. Holiday
07. Take A Bow
08. Express Yourself
09. Material Girl
10. Open Your Heart

11. Ray Of Light
12. Burning Up
13. Justify My Love
14. Borderline
15. Frozen
16. Music
17. Everybody
18. Papa Don't Preach
19. Crazy For You

20. La Isla Bonita
21. Beautiful Stranger
22. Lucky Star
23. Live To Tell
24. Hung Up
25. Where's The Party
26. Cherish
27. Who's That Girl
28. Deeper And Deeper
29. Drowned World/Substitute For Love

30. Erotica
31. Rain
32. Angel
33. Dress You Up
34. I'll Remember
35. Secret
36. Human Nature
37. Bedtime Story
38. Oh Father
39. What It Feels Like For A Girl
40. Keep It Together

Do you agree with this list? What's your personal ranking ?

[Mden 2,252]

It’s a very disappointing list. Ignores all her work past 2005. Lot of gems ignored. 

[deathproof 10,841]

It’s fabulous, except I would have included Hung Up, Get Together, Jump, 4 Minutes, and Give it 2 Me

[deathproof 10,841]

And Bad Girl

[Blue Jean 16,078]

My list will be better. As voted by real fans! 

[Robertthenurse 3,062]

As stated above, the list does not include songs past 2005. I would have added IDSIF, LFL, GI2M, GGW..I can live without the Justin Tracks

[MikeyK 776]

Don’t Tell Me at #4 above LAP, ROL, Frozen, etc etc 😵😵😵

Overall ok I guess but yeah at the very least Hung Up should be there. 
 

*Edit- wait nvm I see HU is there. 🤪 The only song from 2005 on. While I can see from a “redefining culture” perspective that might be the last, they arguably could have included something like Bitch I’m Madonna. It’s divisive af but it certainly got people talking. Lately I’ve seen younger people on social media credit it as being the first time a major pop star tried hyperpop, so there’s that.

Edited July 26, 2023 by MikeyK (see edit history)

[Adonna 18,130]

Thanks @Karma So good to see another 40th Anniversary tribute to Madonna.  I'm keeping in mind this seems to be one man's ranking.  I definitely wouldn't have put a song like "Don't Tell Me"  over "Like A Prayer".  "Ray of Light" would definitely be ranking in my top 10.  I'd probably rank "Hung Up" and "Live to Tell" higher as well.

The important thing here is; we are getting some love for Madonna right now.

[WokeUpInMedellin 1,714]

Joan of Arc shits on several tracks on that list

[Papa Zelko 1,622]

It was obviously complied by an old person. 
 

🤣🤪

[Shoful 8,745]

Not a single Madame X song…. Rubbish list 

[WokeUpInMedellin 1,714]

Thankfully I don't think she'll ever see this list lol

[Blue Jean 16,078]

7 hours ago, DaddyZ said:

It was obviously complied by an old person. 
 

🤣🤪

Most Madonna fans are old people

[BuggedOut 4,134]

What it Feels Like for a Girl higher than Keep It Together?

[Blue Jean 16,078]

Don’t Tell Me higher than Like a Prayer?

 

[Papa Zelko 1,622]

8 hours ago, Blue Jean said:

Most Madonna fans are old people

“Old” is a state of mind. 
 

The author has an emotional connection to her earlier work and that’s fine, we all do, but to dismiss everything she’s done over the past almost 20 years is just lazy and shitty journalism.