Madonna gives us a musical 180 while Kenny and Mark continue to conceive the Breathless Mahoney downtown cabaret act and discuss Madonna’s need for creative release, working outside of her comfort zone, the brilliance of Andy Paley, and the legacy (and influence) of Carmen Miranda.
All I Want To Do Is Talk About Madonna
S2, E13 - Like A Prayer Fadeout/Supernatural
The Eighties are officially over as Mark and Kenny come full circle while wrapping up Like a Prayer – and pay a visit to a (semi) intoxicating oddity.
S2, E12 - Act of Contrition
Kenny and Mark close out their conversations about Like a Prayer (and the 80s) with the final track – a ground-breaking (and one of the strangest) moment of Madonna’s canon. Topics include Catholic imagery, the upcoming onslaught of tell-all biographies, Prince’s guitar solos, and Madonna’s first “I Don’t Give A ****” moment.
S2, E11 - Spanish Eyes
Mark makes a passionate case for the closing ballad (and official song) on Like a Prayer while Kenny comes around to see the light from that candle. Is this song about AIDS? About gang violence? About war? Is it about Marco Loya’s backing vocals? All (or nothing) is revealed!
S2, E10 - Keep it Together
Kenny and Mark sway along with the oft-forgotten fifth single from Like a Prayer. Topics include: turning Detroit beats into stadium anthems, magnets and the legendary Madonna cheese, Joe Henry, fedoras, the troublesome British accent, safe havens and sleeping on the floor, the fabulous maxi-single remixes for this song, and the complicated sibling rivalries that impact all of us – while Mark outs himself as a potential Madonna back-up singer! “Keep people together!”
S2, E9 - Oh Father
Kenny and Mark continue exploring Madonna’s (semi) autobiographical songwriting on this “shoulda been” classic Madonna power ballad. Topics include: male authority figures, Simon & Garfunkel’s Concert in Central Park, Kenny’s love of acoustic gravitas, the return of David Fincher, threatening shadows, singing statues, Charlton Wilborn, and an ode to one of the greatest moments in Madonna Hair History. Plus … another Special Guest (and longtime listener) joins Mark to discuss his experience performing the song … Dominic Yacobozzi!
S2, E8 - Dear Jessie
Mark rescues this off-beat gem from Like a Prayer while not even candy kisses and a sunny day can keep Kenny from hijacking the episode with a dreadful reminder of what a difference a decade makes. It’s not ALWAYS a holiday (or a love parade) around here, kids.
S2, E7 - Cherish
Kenny and Mark dive into Side Two of Like a Prayer with one of the most romantic songs in the whole canon. Topics include Herb Ritts, shooting mermen in black & white, Tony Ward, the importance of reading plays to write sincere lyrics, and Mark’s dream Shakespeare casting for Madonna. Plus … a Very Special Guest joins Mark to discuss her long and quite personal relationship with the song … his sister Kate!
S2, E4 - Love Song
The music universe explodes (implodes?) as Madonna and Prince team up in the studio at last … to create this experimental, slightly bizarre pop oddity. Topics include Minneapolis and Paisley Park, Batdance and Sign O’ The Times, Daisy Miller, Kenny’s favorite Prince duet, gender, and the long-lost Royal Tour. The first true “duet” in the Madonna canon begs the question … are there any lost Madonna/Prince tracks?
Madonna – Nothing Compares 2 U Tribute to Prince at the Billboard Music Awards (2016)
Prince – Batdance video (1989)
Prince – Take Me With U live on the Purple Rain Tour 85
Prince et al – While My Guitar Gently Weeps Tribute at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2004)
S2, E3 - Express Yourself
And the hits keep coming! Kenny and Mark dive deep into the anthemic, brash, and second track (and single) from Like a Prayer. Topics include DAVID FINCHER (welcome to MadonnaUniverse, David!), Metropolis, the return of Stephen Bray, the intriguing beauty of Cameron Alborzian, and the polarizing Shep Pettibone remixes of (yet another) classic Madonna song.
S2, E2 - Like A Prayer
Mark kicks off the conversation about Madonna’s masterpiece fourth album with a testimony to Kenny about the personal power and passion of Like a Prayer. Topics include Prince, Mary Lambert, Sean Penn, Pepsi-Cola, Niki Harris, the Andre Crouch Choir, and the narrative hiccups in the ground-breaking video of this classic Madonna song.
Madonna – Like a Prayer video (1989)
Madonna – Like a Prayer live on the Blonde Ambition Tour 90 (Japanese Laser Disk Version)
S2, E1 - Prologue - 1988
Waiting is the hardest part … Finally … At LONG Last … Season Two (1988-1993) kicks off! Kenny and Mark drops back into New York, circa 1988 - a year when Madonna starred on Broadway, sashayed with Sandra, laid into Letterman, and got photographed … a LOT! She also wrote and recorded what would become considered her first masterpiece album Like a Prayer and faced the truth about her future as Mrs. Sean Penn. There are many special surprises and treats in store for you this season so stay safe and keep listening! We missed you so much.
S1, E37 - You Can Dance
Mark and Kenny dive into all the Dub Versions, homemade singing bootlegs, and the glorious second side of Madonna’s first compilation album, 1987’s magnificent You Can Dance. Shep Pettibone arrives on the scene to re-mix Madonna’s greatest dance songs – and helps her remind her who SHE really is.
s1, E36 - Who's That Girl World Tour
Get out your parachute pants and fasten your cordless mic pack - this is about to get wild! Kenny and Mark return to the summer of 1987 for Madonna’s first stadium (and international) tour - the Who’s That Girl Tour! Topics include the distance of a stadium stage, Madonna’s (already) stressful relationship with her hits, the cordless microphone hand-off, which song on the setlist Kenny always fast-forwards through, and the career highs of the legendary Shabba-Doo. Ciao Italia, indeed!!
s1, E35 - Who's that Girl soundtrack/film
Mark and Kenny bust out prison and unpack the comedic misfire 1987 film Who’s That Girl? as well as the four Madonna songs on what remains a spotty soundtrack. This conversation includes the acting grace of Griffin Dunne, the (unrequited?) passions of director James Foley, the ever-present children in the eponymous song video, Stephen Bray’s musical scoring, and celebrating a true “lost” Madonna classic. Will Kenny and Mark ever dance together in a club to a Shep Pettibone remix? Did Madonna ever vanquish her reputation as a “movie killer”? Questions to answer this summer.
Causing A Commotion (Silver Screen Mix)
Causing A Commotion (Movie House Mix)
S1, E34 True Blue The Fadeout
Kenny and Mark wrap up the True Blue album with a discussion of death and mortality, imagery as an artistic (and promotional) tool, Herb Ritts (and Kenny’s aborted career as a model), Cyndi Lauper, and the end of the sweet innocence of youth.
S1, E32 - Jimmy Jimmy
Another deep-cut gets the kudos it deserves. Kenny and Mark discuss quirky keyboards, the influences of Stephen Bray, classic 50s girl group shout-outs, the arrival of Compact Disc, and just exactly WHO the Jimmy is that Madonna is singing about. We’ll hear you next time …
S1, E31 - La Isla Bonita
Kenny and Mark celebrate the ultimate yearning Madonna song. Topics include the power of haircuts and wigs, the influence and courting of the Latin America audience, and the return of Mary Lambert for the video. Whatever happened to Bruce Gaitsch?
S1, E29 - Where's the Party
Kenny and Mark search for the Party on side two of True Blue. Madonna’s average work week, block parties in Harlem, Melanie Griffith, and creative Siedah Garrett overdubs are examined in this bid for song of the summer. follow us and stay connected on insta @alliwant2doistalkaboutmadonna
S1, E28 - Live to Tell
screenshot from Live to Tell video directed by James Foley
How many classic songs can one side of one album have? Kenny and Mark celebrate this legendary (and shocking first single) ballad. Can a man REALLY tell a thousand lies? Topics include: At Close Range, the importance of mystery, the true identity of video director Peter Percher, and Kenny’s teenage machinations to watch cable.
At Close Range (1986) starring Sean Penn, directed by James Foley