Express Yourself

Vorlage:Infobox Single Vorlage:Listen "Express Yourself" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was released as the second single from her fourth studio album Like a Prayer on May 9, 1989 by Sire Records, and later appeared remixed on the 1989 Japanese mini-album Remixed Prayers and the 1990 compilation album The Immaculate Collection. An abridged version of the video remix version of the song also appears on her 2009 greatest hits collection Celebration.

Song information

"Express Yourself", written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray, was released as a single on May 9, 1989. The song is one of female empowerment, urging women never to "go for second-best" and to put their love "to the test".

Chart performance

"Express Yourself" debuted at #41, in the week of June 3, 1989, on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, and was in the Top 10 by the week of July 1, 1989, moving 13-6 that week. It eventually peaked at number two, spending two weeks in the runner-up spot beginning on July 15, 1989.

In Europe the single was her sixth number one hit, reaching the summit on July, 1st 1989, staying at the top for three weeks. It also reached number one in Canada, Italy, and Japan. It was generally a top-five hit around the world and reached number 5 in the UK and Australia.

"Express Yourself" was released in France only as a maxi-single due to the fact that the previous single "Like A Prayer" was still very successful there during the summer of 1989. The Warner Bros. plannned to skip "Express Yourself" in favor of "Cherish", without serving the song to radio stations Vorlage:Citation needed. However, French radios decided to play the song, which caused many stations to create their own edit versions of the song from the mixes featured in the maxi-single. The song was not eligible to chart in the French "Top 50" (France's official singles chart), for "Express Yourself" was only available under a limited amount of maxi-singles.

Music video

Datei:Expressyourselfmusicvideo.jpg

Madonna portraiting a masculine persona in the music video for "Express Yourself".

The video was directed by David Fincher and filmed in April 1989 at Culver Studios in Culver City, California. It was based on the Fritz Lang classic film Metropolis. The video marked the first appearance of the Shep Pettibone remix of the song. Its budget of $5 million made it the most expensive music video in history at the time it was made (it is currently the third most expensive of all time). "Express Yourself" had its world-premiere on May 17, 1989 on MTV. Madonna mentioned jokingly in a 1990 BBC interview that the main theme of the video and the cat metaphor represents that "Pussy rules the world".

• Director:David Fincher
• Producer: Gregg Fienberg
• Production Designer: Vance Lorenzini
• Director of Photography: Mark Plummer
• Editor: Scott Chestnut
• Production Company: Propaganda Films

Live performance

In 1989, Madonna performed "Express Yourself" at the MTV Video Music Awards. Madonna later went on to incorporate that choreography into her Blond Ambition Tour in 1990, which featured a version based on the Non-Stop Express remix of the song and included lyrics from "Everybody" during the introduction. Both performances were inspired by the 1989 musical adaptation of the 1927 silent film "Metropolis". Vorlage:Citation needed

She also performed a Disco-styled "Express Yourself" during The Girlie Show Tour in 1993. The performance begins with a distorted voice claiming "I'm gonna take you to a place you've never been before"; afterwards, Madonna descends from the ceiling on a giant glitterball, wearing a blond afro wig and a classic Disco outfit. Then her two back-up dancers appear into the stage and the three women start singing the song together. The end of the performance is connected to the next song, "Deeper and Deeper", which was also performed in a Disco style.

"Express Yourself" was included in the military segment of the Re-Invention Tour in 2004.

In 2008, during the Sticky & Sweet Tour, she performed "Express Yourself" as the request song in some of her shows. It eventually became one of the most requested songs. Vorlage:Citation needed

Legacy

The music video of "Express Yourself" is ranked at number one on the Slant Magazine's "100 Greatest Music Videos". It is also placed at number ten on both Rolling Stone's "The 100 Top Music Videos" and MTV's "100 Greatest Videos Ever Made", as well as number three on MuchMusic's list of "Top 100 Videos of The Century." In 2010, Christina Aguilera paid tribute to "Express Yourself" with her music video "Not Myself Tonight". She commented "One of my favourite videos ever is 'Express Yourself' by Madonna which came across as really strong and empowering which I always try to incorporate through my expression of sexuality [...] I love the direct reference I made to Madonna with the eye glass moment and the smoke and stairs. I was paying tribute to a very strong woman who has paved the way before."

Track listing and formats

US 7" Vinyl Single (Promo Only)

1. "Express Yourself" (7" Remix) – 4:35
2. "Express Yourself" (Remix/Edit) – 4:50

US 7" Vinyl Single

1. "Express Yourself" (7" Remix) – 4:35
2. "The Look of Love" (Album Version) – 4:00

US 7" Vinyl Single "Back To Back Hits"

1. "Express Yourself" (7" Remix) – 4:35
2. "Cherish" (Fade) – 4:03

US 12" Vinyl Maxi-Single

1. "Express Yourself" (Non-Stop Express Mix) – 7:57
2. "Express Yourself" (Stop & Go Dubs) – 10:49
3. "Express Yourself" (Local Mix) – 6:26
4. "The Look of Love" (Album Version) – 4:00

US 5" CD Single (Promo Only)

1. "Express Yourself" (7" Remix) – 4:35
2. "Express Yourself" (Remix/Edit) – 4:50
3. "Express Yourself" (Non-Stop Express Mix) – 7:57
4. "Express Yourself" (Local Mix) – 6:26

Brazilian 12" Maxi-Single (Promo Only)

1. "Express Yourself" (Album Version) – 4:37
2. "Express Yourself" (7" Remix) – 4:35
3. "Express Yourself" (Non-Stop Express Mix) – 7:57
4. "Express Yourself" (Stop & Go Dubs) – 10:49

UK 3" CD Single

1. "Express Yourself" (Non Stop Express Mix) – 7:57
2. "Express Yourself" (Stop & Go Dubs) – 10:49

German 12" Vinyl Maxi-Single

1. "Express Yourself" (Non Stop Express Mix) – 7:57
2. "Express Yourself" (Stop & Go Dubs) – 10:49

German 5" CD Single (Re-Issued)

1. "Express Yourself" (Non Stop Express Mix) – 7:57
2. "Express Yourself" (Stop & Go Dubs) – 10:49

Japanese 3" CD Single

1. "Express Yourself" (Album Version) – 4:37
2. "The Look of Love" (Album Version) – 4:00

Japanese CD Mini-Album Remixed Prayers

1. "Like a Prayer" (12" Dance Mix) – 7:50
2. "Like a Prayer" (12" Extended Mix) – 7:21
3. "Like a Prayer" (Churchapella) – 6:05
4. "Like a Prayer" (12" Club Version) – 6:35
5. "Like a Prayer" (7" Remix Edit) – 5:41
6. "Express Yourself" (Non-Stop Express Mix) – 7:57
7. "Express Yourself" (Stop & Go Dubs) – 10:49
8. "Express Yourself" (Local Mix) – 6:26

Charts, sales and procession

Charts

Chart (1989)	Peak Position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	5
Austrian Singles Chart	5
Belgian Flemish VRT Top 30	2
Canadian Singles Chart	1
Dutch Top 40	5
Eurochart Hot 100 Singles	1
German Singles Chart	3
Norwegian VG-lista Singles Chart	4
Irish Singles Chart	3
Italian FIMI Singles Chart	1
Spanish Singles Chart	3
Swedish Singles Chart	3
Swiss Singles Chart	1
UK Singles Chart	5
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	2
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary	12
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	1

Certifications

Country	Certification
Brazil	Gold

Cover versions

• The winner of the first season of reality show American Idol, Kelly Clarkson, sung the song on her first audition.
• The Chipettes covered the song for the 1991 album The Chipmunks Rock the House.
• The 1999 compilation Virgin Voices: A Tribute To Madonna, Vol. 1 features a cover version by Information Society.
• A hi-NRG/eurodance cover by Who's That Girl was released through Almighty Records during the 2000s. An audio sample can be heard on the official Almighty Records website.
• In 2010 the girls of the Fox TV show Glee performed the song in the episode titled "The Power of Madonna". This version was released on the soundtrack album Glee: The Music, The Power of Madonna, and reached number 132 on the UK Singles Chart.

References

de:Express Yourself