Who's That Girl (Madonna song)

"Who's That Girl"
Single by Madonna
from the album Who's That Girl
B-side "White Heat"
Released June 23, 1987
Format
Genre Dance-pop
Length 3:58
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Madonna
  • Patrick Leonard
Madonna singles chronology
"La Isla Bonita"
(1987)		 "Who's That Girl"
(1987)		 "Causing a Commotion"
(1987)

"Who's That Girl" is a song by American singer Madonna from the soundtrack album to the 1987 film Who's That Girl. It was released on June 23, 1987, by Sire Records as the first album single. The song was later included on the two-disc edition of Madonna's 2009 greatest hits album Celebration. While shooting for the film, then called Slammer, Madonna had requested Patrick Leonard to develop an uptempo song that captured the nature of her film persona. She later added the lyrics and vocals to the demo tape developed by Leonard, and decided to rename the song as well as the film to "Who's That Girl".

Featuring instrumentation from drums, bass, and stringed instruments, "Who's That Girl" continued Madonna's fascination with Hispanic culture by incorporating Spanish lyrics and using the effect of double vocals. The song became Madonna's sixth single to top the Billboard Hot 100, while peaking atop the charts in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, Ireland and Belgium. It was also nominated for "Best Song From A Motion Picture" at the 1988 Grammy Awards and "Best Original Song" at the 1988 Golden Globe Awards.

The music video portrayed a different persona of Madonna, rather than her film character for which it was released. Like the song, it incorporated Hispanic culture and portrayed her dressed in Spanish style as a young lady in search of a treasure. Madonna has performed the song on her Who's That Girl World Tour (1987) and on the Rebel Heart Tour (2015–2016). The song has been covered by many artists and has appeared in compilations and tribute albums.

Background

In 1986, Madonna was shooting for her third motion picture Who's That Girl, known at the time as Slammer. Needing songs for the soundtrack of the movie, she contacted Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray, who had written and produced her third studio album True Blue in 1986. Madonna explained to them that she needed an uptempo song and a downtempo song. She came to the studio one Thursday as Leonard developed the chorus of the song. He handed over that cassette to Madonna, who went to the backroom and finished the melody and the lyrics of the song, while Leonard worked on the other parts of the song.[1]

After finishing the lyrics, Madonna declared that she wanted the song to be named "Who's That Girl" and changed the movie to the same, rather than Slammer, considering it to be a better title. In Fred Bronson's The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits book, Leonard explained that the song was recorded in one day with Madonna adding her vocals only once. Additional instrumental tracks with guitars and percussion were included by Leonard and Bray later.[1] Regarding the development of the music for the film, Madonna further explained

"I had some very specific ideas in mind, music that would stand on its own as well as support and enhance what was happening on screen and the only way to make that a reality was to have a hand in writing the tunes myself. [...] The songs aren't necessarily about Nikki [her character name in the movie] or written to be sung by someone like her, but there's a spirit to this music that captures both what the film and the characters are about, I think."[1]

Composition
"Who's That Girl"
A sample to Madonna's "Who's That Girl", where the lyrics for the chorus include Spanish words.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The song is composed in Madonna's typical style—mingling the drum machine, a bubbling bass synth line, and the sound of stringed instruments. The three parts of the song, namely the bridge, where Madonna sings "what can help me now", the chorus and the verse flow together strongly. The chorus has a haunting effect in it.[2] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, the song is composed in the time signature of common time, with a key of A minor and a medium tempo of 104 beats per minute. Madonna's vocals span from the notes of G3 to B4. The song follows a basic sequence of Am9–G–Csus2–Am9–G–Dm as its chord progression.[3]

The song epitomizes Madonna's interest with Hispanic culture that continued after the release of "La Isla Bonita", by adding Spanish phrases in the chorus and over the trumpets of the second verse, and also by the added instrumental break in the middle. It also uses the sonic effect brought about by the combination of multiple vocal lines, which had been previously used by groups like The Beach Boys in their singles "God Only Knows" (1966) and "I Get Around" (1964) as well as R.E.M.'s singles "Fall on Me" (1986) and "Near Wild Heaven" (1991). "Who's That Girl" employs this effect on the last chorus where three or four different vocal hooks are intertwined.[2]

Reception

Critical response

In his book The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna, author Rikky Rooksby explained that the song was Madonna's best take on her original music style.[2] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic commented that "Who's That Girl" along with "Causing a Commotion" were not amongst Madonna's best singles.[4] Biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli, in his book Madonna: An Intimate Biography called the song "quintessential Madonna music" and went on to describe it as "funky, sassy and melodic, with a Latin accent."[5]

Noah Robischon from Entertainment Weekly opined that with both the song and the movie, Madonna had pushed "synergy over the borderline."[6] Enio Chiola of PopMatters.com listed "Who's That Girl" as one of the top-fifteen singles of Madonna's career, stating that it is an "insta-party from the moment in begins."[7] The song was nominated for "Best Song From A Motion Picture" at the 1988 Grammy Awards and "Best Original Song" at the 1988 Golden Globe Awards.[8]

Chart performance

"Who's That Girl" was released in the United States in June 1987. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 43, reached the top of the chart in its seventh week, maintained the top position for one week, and spent 16 weeks on the chart.[9] It became Madonna's sixth number-one single in the United States, making her the first artist to accumulate six number-one singles in the 1980s, and the first female performer to get that many number-ones as a solo act.[10][11] The song peaked at number 44 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.[12] In 2000, the song came tenth in a vote conducted to determine the favourite Madonna song.[13] In Canada, the song debuted at number 83 on the RPM singles chart on July 11, 1987,[14] reached the top for one week on August 29, 1987,[15] and stayed on the chart for 23 weeks.[16] It placed at number 12 on the RPM Year-end chart for 1987.[17]

In the United Kingdom, "Who's That Girl" was released on July 14, 1987, and debuted at number three on the UK Singles Chart, climbing to number one the next week to become Madonna's fifth number-one single in the United Kingdom.[18] According to the Official Charts Company, the song has sold 380,000 copies there.[19] It received a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[20] Across Europe, "Who's That Girl" also topped the singles charts in Belgium, Italy, Ireland, and the Netherlands,[21][22][23] as well as peaking in the top five in Austria, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.[24][25] It was certified gold by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique for shipment of 500,000 copies in France.[26]

Music video

Refer to caption
Madonna portraying the Spanish look, with the hat and the Bolero jacket, in the music video of the song

The music video was shot over two days, at A&M Soundstages in Hollywood, California. Madonna had adopted a garish, platinum blond hairstyle for the Who's That Girl movie which she used in the music video; it was her way of reviving the comedy heroine of the 1930s Hollywood screwball comedies.[27] She continued with her Hispanic look from the "La Isla Bonita" music video, this time she appeared dressed boyishly in a wide-brimmed Spanish hat and bolero jacket—a combination which would later become a fashion trend.[28]

The music video, directed by Peter Rosenthal,[29] begins with Madonna entering a park.[30] After meeting two children and a teenage boy, they start roaming around the park, with Madonna singing the song.[30] These scenes are interchanged with scenes from the motion picture, which show Madonna as the movie character Nikki Fynn. As the music video progresses, Madonna is shown to be in search of an Egyptian treasure casket.[30] After being directed to it by a version of the High Priestess tarot card displaying her cartoon impersonation, Madonna opens it to find a huge diamond. She looks up happily to the children. The video ends with them continuing dancing and Madonna carrying away the casket.[30]

The video portrayed a different image of Madonna rather than her real self. According to Vincent Canby of The New York Times, Madonna at that time was shrewdly pragmatic about her persona and appearance—resembling Marilyn Monroe, but with the "comic tartness" of Jean Harlow. This persona was reflected in the second half of the Who's That Girl film.[31] However, the music video chose not to capture her real self and qualities, or to promote the movie for which it was specifically created. Instead, it concentrated on the humorous off-putting personality of Madonna's film character depicted in the first half of the film.[31]

Live performances and covers

Madonna performing an acoustic version of the song during the Rebel Heart Tour (2015–16).

Madonna performed the song on two of her tours. On her 1987 Who's That Girl World Tour where it was performed as a part of the encore. Madonna came out on the stage in a bright red flamenco dress and performed the song, assisted by her backup singers Niki Haris, Donna De Lory and Debra Parson. Two different performances of the song on this tour can be found on the videos: Who's That Girl: Live in Japan, filmed in Tokyo, Japan, on June 22, 1987,[32] and Ciao Italia: Live from Italy, filmed in Turin, Italy, on September 4, 1987.[33] Almost 30 years later, Madonna performed an acoustic, guitar-driven version of the song during the Rebel Heart Tour (2015–16). The wardrobe for the performance consisted of a gypsy inspired ensemble, made up of shawl, lace gloves, long black skirt with silk fringes, a hat with silk flowers on it, and high-heeled knee-high lace-up leather boots.[34] After the song, the singer admitted that it took her "a hell of a long time" to answer who the titular girl was in the song.[35]

The song has been covered many times, mostly on tribute albums. In 1999, The Countdown Singers made a sound-alike cover version for the album Hit Parade of 80's, Vol. 2.[36] The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) made an instrumental version of the song for the 1998 album Material Girl: RPO Plays Music of Madonna.[37] German actress Eva Mattes covered the song for her 2006 album Language of Love.[38] In 2007, The Bubonic Plague recorded a cover of the song that was included on the tribute album Through the Wilderness.[39]

Formats and track listing

  • European 7" Single[40]
  1. "Who's That Girl" – 3:58
  2. "White Heat" – 4:40
  • UK 12" Single / Limited Edition 12" Picture Disc[41][42]
  1. "Who's That Girl" (Extended Version) – 6:29
  2. "White Heat" (LP Version) – 4:40
  • US 12" Single/UK Limited Edition 12"[43][44]
  1. "Who's That Girl" (Extended Version) – 6:29
  2. "Who's That Girl" (Dub Version) – 5:07
  3. "White Heat" (LP Version) – 4:40
  • Germany / UK CD Maxi Single (1995)'[45]
  1. "Who's That Girl" (Extended Version) – 6:29
  2. "White Heat" – 4:40

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[46]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1987) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[47] 7
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[24] 4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[21] 1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15] 1
France (SNEP)[48] 2
Germany (Official German Charts)[49] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[22] 1
Italy (FIMI)[23] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[50] 1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[51] 2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[52] 2
Norway (VG-lista)[53] 2
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[25] 6
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[54] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[55] 2
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[18] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[56] 5
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[12] 44
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[57] 78

Year-end charts

Chart (1987) Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[58] 12
Germany (Official German Charts)[59] 22
Italy (FIMI)[60] 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[61] 9
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[62] 10
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[63] 20
US Billboard Hot 100[64] 42
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[64] 48

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
France (SNEP)[26] Gold 500,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Silver 250,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Bronson 2003, p. 203
  2. 1 2 3 Rooksby 2004, p. 68
  3. ↑ "Madonna "Who's That Girl" Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Alfred Publishing. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  4. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (July 21, 1987). "Who's That Girl > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
  5. ↑ Taraborrelli 2002, p. 126
  6. ↑ Robischon, Noah (July 27, 2001). "Dating Madonna". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
  7. ↑ "The Top 15 Madonna Singles of All Time".
  8. ↑ Metz & Benson 1999, p. 301
  9. 1 2 "Madonna – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Madonna. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  10. ↑ Strecker, Erin (August 22, 2014). "Flashback Friday: Madonna's 'Who's That Girl' Hit No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  11. ↑ DeKnock, Jan (August 22, 1987). "Madonna Soars to Top of the Charts for the Sixth Time". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
  12. 1 2 "Madonna – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Madonna. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Poll: 'Vogue' Is Fave Madonna Chart-Topper". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. September 15, 2000. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
  14. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0832". RPM. RPM Library and Archives. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
  15. 1 2 "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0853." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0912". RPM. RPM Library and Archives. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
  17. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of '87". RPM. RPM Library and Archives. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  18. 1 2 "Madonna: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Madonna: The Official Top 40". MTV News. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  20. 1 2 "British single certifications – Madonna – Who's That Girl". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 29, 2015. Enter Who's That Girl in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  21. 1 2 "Ultratop.be – Madonna – Who's That Girl" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  22. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Who's That Girl". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  23. 1 2 "Madonna: Discografia Italiana" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. 1984–1999. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  24. 1 2 "Austriancharts.at – Madonna – Who's That Girl" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  25. 1 2 Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  26. 1 2 "French single certifications – Madonna – Who's That Girl" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved May 29, 2015. Select MADONNA and click OK
  27. ↑ Kellner 1995, p. 275
  28. ↑ Morton 2002, p. 199
  29. ↑ Metz & Benson 1999, p. 309
  30. 1 2 3 4 "Madonna – Who's That Girl music video". MTV. September 6, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
  31. 1 2 Canby, Vincent (August 23, 1987). "Film View; In Search of Madonna's Persona". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
  32. ↑ Madonna (1987). Who's That Girl: Live in Japan (VHS). Warner-Pioneer Japan.
  33. ↑ Phares, Heather. "Ciao Italia: Live in Italy (Video) > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved March 3, 2009.
  34. ↑ Maza, Erik (August 12, 2015). "Madonna Taps Gucci, Moschino for Rebel Heart Tour Costumes". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  35. ↑ Farber, Jim (September 10, 2015). "Madonna seemed to be happy at last during upbeat 'Rebel Heart' tour opener: review". Daily News. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Hit Parade of 80's, Vol. 2 > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved April 25, 2009.
  37. ↑ Hill, Melinda. "Material Girl: RPO Plays Music of Madonna > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved April 25, 2009.
  38. ↑ "Language of Love > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved April 25, 2009.
  39. ↑ "Through the Wilderness: A Tribute to Madonna > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved April 25, 2009.
  40. ↑ Who's That Girl (UK 7-inch Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1987. W 8341.
  41. ↑ Who's That Girl (UK 12-inch Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1987. W8341T.
  42. ↑ Who's That Girl (UK 12-inch Picture Disc liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1987. W8341TP.
  43. ↑ Who's That Girl (US 12-inch Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1987. 0-20692.
  44. ↑ Who's That Girl (UK 12-inch Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1987. W 8341 (TX).
  45. ↑ Who's That Girl (German CD Single liner notes). Madonna. Sire Records. 1987. 7599 20692-2.
  46. ↑ Who's That Girl (Liner notes). Madonna. Warner Bros. Records. 1987. 925611-2.
  47. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (doc). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  48. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Madonna – Who's That Girl" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  49. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Madonna – Who's That Girl". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  50. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Madonna search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  51. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Madonna – Who's That Girl" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  52. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Madonna – Who's That Girl". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  53. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Madonna – Who's That Girl". VG-lista. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  54. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Madonna – Who's That Girl". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  55. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Madonna – Who's That Girl". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  56. ↑ "Madonna – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Madonna. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  57. ↑ "Madonna – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Madonna. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  58. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of 1987".
  59. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  60. ↑ "Top Annuali Singles: 1987" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  61. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1987" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  62. ↑ "Jahreshitparaden 1987" (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  63. ↑ "End Of Year Chart - Top 50 Singles of 1987". Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  64. 1 2 "Top Pop Singles 1987". Billboard. December 26, 1987. Retrieved May 7, 2016.

References

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