Lyrics

Some boys kiss me

Some boys hug me

I think they're ok

If they don't give me proper credit

I just walk away

They can beg and they can plead

But they can't see the light (that's right)

'Cause the boy with the cold hard cash

Is always Mister Right

'Cause we are living in a material world

And I am a material girl

You know that we are living in a material world

And I am a material girl

Some boys romance

Some boys slow dance

That's all right with me

If they can't raise my interest then I

Have to let them be

Some boys try and some boys lie but

I don't let them play (no way)

Only boys who save their pennies

Make my rainy day

'Cause we're living in a material world

And I am a material girl

You know that we are living in a material world

And I am a material girl

Living in a material world

And I am a material girl

You know that we are living in a material world

And I am a material girl

Living in a material world (material)

Living in a material world

Living in a material world (material)

Living in a material world

Boys may come and boys may go

And that's all right you see

Experience has made me rich

And now they're after me

'Cause everybody's living in a material world

And I am a material girl

You know that we are living in a material world

And I am a material girl

Living in a material world

And I am a material girl

You know that we are living in a material world

And I am a material girl

A material, a material, a material, a material world

Living in a material world (material)

Living in a material world

Living in a material world (material)

Living in a material world

Living in a material world (material)

Living in a material world

Living in a material world (material)

Living in a material world

Credits

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

Album

Like A Virgin

The Immaculate Collection

Celebration

Single

Early 1985 the second single from the Like A Virgin album was released. Material Girl became a #1 hit in Japan, reached #2 in the US and #3 in the UK charts (in the US it was kept from the top spot by 'Can't Fight This Feeling ' by REO Speedwagon & 'One More Try' by Phil Collins). It would soon become a Madonna classic. This song was one of the first examples of Madonna's multi-layered messages. While the lyrics give one message (pure materialism), the video gives the song a different meaning, one of immaterialism and pure love. Unfortunately, like the men in the video, the critics didn't seem to get the real message and accused Madonna of promoting materialism and selfishness. Madonna still gets referred to as the 'Material Girl', and since she's become a mother, often as the 'Material Mum'. After the release of the spiritual Ray Of Light, one often said "the once material girl has gone immaterial and spiritual..."

Video

The video was shot in Los Angeles and directed by Mary Lambert. Madonna is dressed in a long pink dress, inspired by the one worn by Marilyn Monroe in the 1952 movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes during her performance of 'Diamonds Are A Girls's Best Friend', which scene in particular was recreated for Madonna's video. Madonna got compared to her idol a lot, but in contrast to Monroe, Madonna isn't a victim. She's in control of her life and her men. In the video she plays with all the boys that are trying to win her love. None of them seem to get her message: while the lyrics talk about pure materialism, that's not what she really wants. It's actor Keith Carradine who knows how to play the game right. In real life however it was actor Sean Penn - whom she met on the set - who won her heart.

Tour

On the Virgin Tour, Madonna performed Material Girl as the closing song. She walked around the stage in total control of her men while wearing heavy jewelry. But at the end of the performance, Madonna got rid of all the useless accessory while insisting she isn't a material girl at all, and she only needs love.

The medley on the Who's That Girl Tour also includes Material Girl. Still wearing her crazy and colourful Dress You Up dress, Madonna goofs around with her two dancers, possibly imitating her then-rival Cyndi Lauper tongue-in-cheek while throwing around 'Madonna dollars'.

On the Blond Ambition Tour Madonna goofed around with Niki and Donna, all dressed in a fluffy dressing gown and with curling pins in their hair. Singing the song with a strong mid-western accent, they later get up and reveal a frivolish pink dress underneath their gown, in which they dance around.

The performances of Material Girl on the first 3 tours always had something ironic and funny. For the Re-Invention Tour, Madonna's image was changed completely. No glamourous diva in pink Monroe dress; instead we saw a rock chick in army gear who had strapped on her electric guitar. This version totally rocked! Madonna pretended not remembering the words and asked the audience to sing along and help her out with the lyrics. The video and TV screens showed all mathematical equations and pictures of Albert Einstein (which was probably created for I'm So Stupid that got replaced by Material Girl).