Physical Attraction (song) explained

Physical Attraction
Cover:Madonna - Burning Up (single).png
Alt:A montage of Madonna's face. The images are arranged in square boxes in four rows, each row consisting of five boxes. The color of the images in the boxes are different and are made to appear as if they are painted.
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Madonna
Album:Madonna
A-Side:Burning Up
Recorded:November 1982
Studio:Sigma Sound, New York City
Genre:
Length:6:35
Label:
Producer:Lucas
Prev Title:Everybody
Prev Year:1982
Burning Up
Title2:Physical Attraction
Next Title:Holiday
Next Year:1983

"Physical Attraction" is a song by American singer Madonna. It was included on her debut studio album Madonna (1983). Written and produced by Reggie Lucas, the song was released as a double A-side single with "Burning Up" on March 9, 1983.

Upon release, "Physical Attraction" was generally well-received by critics, and retrospective reviews have described it as a "hidden gem". It charted at number 13 in Australia and number three on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in the United States.

Background

In early 1980, Madonna was living in New York City and establishing her music career as a member of rock band the Breakfast Club, alongside her boyfriend Dan Gilroy; soon after, she was joined by Stephen Bray, her former boyfriend from Michigan, who became the band's drummer.[1] Bray and Madonna left the Breakfast Club and, together, formed a new band, Emmy and the Emmys. They were soon signed by Gotham Records, but short after, Madonna quit the band and decided to pursue a solo career. She carried with her three of the demos she had created with Bray: "Everybody", "Ain't No Big Deal", and "Burning Up". In 1982, she met and befriended DJ Mark Kamins at Danceteria nightclub. After listening to "Everybody", Kamins took her to Sire Records, where Seymour Stein, the label's president, signed Madonna for two 12" singles.

Released in October of 1982, "Everybody" became a hit in the dance scene.[2] The song's success led to the label approving the recording of an album, but the singer chose not to work with either Bray or Kamins, opting instead for Warner Bros. producer Reggie Lucas. Lucas wrote "Physical Attraction" after seeing Madonna perform live, and brought it to the project alongside another new composition, "Borderline". While working on the album, problems arose between Madonna and the producer, as she felt he was "moving [the songs] away from the sparse form of the original demos", something she did not approve of; Lucas ended up leaving the project without altering the songs. She then brought in John "Jellybean" Benitez to remix the remaining tracks.

Recording and composition

"Burning Up" was written and produced by Reggie Lucas.[3] Recording took place at New York's Sigma Sound Studios; personnel working on the song included Bray on programming and guitars, alongside Paul Pesco; Butch Jones, and Fred Zarr. Background vocals were provided by Gwen Guthrie, Brenda White, and Chrissy Faith. According to author Rikky Rooksby, the song is about Madonna being interested in "a suitor who she knows is no good for her but [she] is attracted to anyway". He described the song as a medium-paced track with a "chic guitar line" and "synth brass flourishes". Music critic Marc Andrews described the song's sound as "redressing disco in a post-punk electro sheen", and noted the song's similarities to a previous Lucas composition, the Stephanie Mills single "Sweet Sensation".

Release and reception

The double-sided single of "Burning Up" and "Physical Attraction" was released on March 9, 1983.[4] The artwork used for the 12" single was designed by the singer's friend Martin Burgoyne. "Physical Attraction" was later included on the compilations You Can Dance (1987) and (2022).[5] [6] On the former, it was the only song not to have been remixed for the release.[7]

Upon release, critical reception was generally positive. Billboards Brian Chin described "Physical Attraction" as a "great midtempo r&b song".[8] Don Shewey from Rolling Stone called it a "capsule history of high-school proms, with its sly references to The Association's 'Cherish' and Olivia Newton-John's 'Physical.'"[9] Rikky Rooksby positively compared the song's spoken vocal sections to Madonna's later single "Erotica" but also called the song repetitive. Variety described it as "propulsive bubblegum-pop of the highest order." AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine singled "Physical Attraction" along with "Burning Up" as "great songs" from the album, and applauded their "darker, carnal urgency".[10] "Physical Attraction" came in at number 37 in Louis Virtel's ranking, where it was named "six minutes and 40 seconds of romantic chemistry, poppy hooks, and one tremendous idea: 'Maybe we were meant to be together / even though we’ve never met before'".[11] Billboard deemed it Madonna's forty-fifth greatest song: "With libidinous synths, hypnotic beats, airy vocals and a chirping vocal delivery, 'Physical Attraction' is – like the lyrics suggest – about turning your brain off for a moment and giving yourself over to absolute pleasure."[12] The staff from The Advocate criticized the song, describing it as sounding like a "B-side for a Lisa Lisa single."[13] Samuel R. Murrian from Parade placed it at number 35 of his ranking of Madonna songs, calling it "classic old-school Madonna", but criticizing the vocals.[14] "Physical Attraction" has been singled as one of Madonna's best "deep-cuts" and "hidden gems" by Pitchfork, VH1, Slant Magazine, and Variety.[15] [16] [17]

"Burning Up" / "Physical Attraction" debuted on Billboards Dance Club Songs charts at number 66 the week of April 9, 1983, peaking at number three one month later.[18] By September 1983, according to a Warner Bros. Records advertisement in Radio & Records, the "Burning Up" / "Physical Attraction" 12" single had sold more than 150,000 copies.[19] The song entered Australia's Kent Music Report in November 1983 and, almost eight months later, peaked at number 13.

Track listings and formats

  1. "Burning Up" (12" version) – 5:56
  2. "Physical Attraction" (LP version) – 6:35
  1. "Burning Up" (7" version) – 3:50
  2. "Physical Attraction" (7" version) – 3:57
  1. "Burning Up" (alternate LP version) – 4:45
  2. "Physical Attraction" (7" version) – 6:35
  1. "Burning Up" (12" version) – 5:56
  2. "Physical Attraction" (LP version) – 6:35
  1. "Burning Up" – 3:46
  2. "Burning Up" (7" edit) – 3:52
  3. "Burning Up" (12" mix) – 6:00
  4. "Physical Attraction" (7" edit) – 3:58
  5. "Physical Attraction" – 6:40

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the album and 12" single liner notes.

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1983–1984)Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[25] 68
US Top Dance/Disco Singles (Billboard)[26] 26

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Graff . Gary . Gary Graff . Bray's loyalty to Madonna pays off . . 3 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220603075715/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1987-04-25-8701310985-story.html . June 3, 2022 . April 4, 1987.
  2. Web site: Happy anniversary 'Everybody'! . Icon: Official Madonna Website . June 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121009184840/https://www.madonna.com/news/title/happy-anniversary-everybody . October 9, 2012 . October 6, 2012.
  3. . . 1983 . LP, Vinyl, CD . Sire Records. 9 23867-1 .
  4. Web site: Madonna – Burning Up . Icon: Official Madonna website . 30 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120712170544/http://www.madonna.com/discography/index/album/albumId/32 . July 12, 2012.
  5. Web site: Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . Madonna > You Can Dance > Overview . . 27 May 2023 . 1987 . April 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180412001033/https://www.allmusic.com/album/you-can-dance-mw0000197952 . live .
  6. Web site: Wass . Mike . All 50 of Madonna's no. 1 club hits ranked: From 'Everybody' to 'I Don't Search I Find' . . 27 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220819181759/https://variety.com/2022/music/news/madonna-finally-enough-love-club-hits-ranked-1235345889/ . August 19, 2022 . August 19, 2022.
  7. Madonna. You Can Dance. 1987. Chin. Brian. Liner notes. Warner Bros. Records. 9255352-2.
  8. Chin . Brian . Talent & Venues: Dance Trax . Billboard . March 26, 1983 . 95 . 13 . 43 . 31 August 2021 . 0006-2510 . May 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230528205051/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-03-26.pdf#page=43 . live .
  9. Shewey . Don . Home > Music > Album reviews > Madonna . . 31 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180901044440/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/madonna-101406/ . September 1, 2018 . September 29, 1983.
  10. Web site: Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Madonna > Madonna > Overview . AllMusic . 31 August 2021 . 1983 . December 6, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206204705/https://www.allmusic.com/album/madonna-mw0000268192 . live .
  11. Web site: Virtel . Louis . March 2, 2012 . The 100 greatest Madonna songs . https://web.archive.org/web/20151020234731/http://www.newnownext.com/the-100-greatest-madonna-songs/02/2012/ . October 20, 2015 . 29 August 2021 . The Backlot.
  12. The 100 greatest Madonna songs: Critics' picks . Billboard . 31 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211119200810/https://www.billboard.com/media/lists/100-greatest-madonna-songs-list-8469835/ . November 19, 2021 . August 15, 2018.
  13. Web site: Madonna's 13 studio albums ranked . . 29 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190715182657/https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/music/2015/01/23/madonnas-12-studio-albums-ranked?pg=3 . July 15, 2019 . January 23, 2015.
  14. Web site: Murrian . Samuel R. . We ranked the 100 best Madonna songs of all time . . 29 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190816194656/https://parade.com/897929/samuelmurrian/best-madonna-songs-ranked/ . August 16, 2019 . August 16, 2019.
  15. Web site: Mapes . Jilll . August 16, 2017 . Madonna – Madonna . https://web.archive.org/web/20170816104253/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/madonna-madonna/ . August 16, 2017 . 31 August 2021 . Pitchfork.
  16. Web site: Rosa . Christopher . Justify Our Love: Madonna's 25 most underrated deep cuts and B-sides . . 31 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221111001118/https://www.vh1.com/news/ev0pml/madonna-underrated-songs-birthday . November 11, 2022 . August 16, 2014.
  17. Web site: Cinquemani . Sal . Henderson . Eric . Madonna's 20 greatest deep cuts . Slant Magazine . 3 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200821222157/https://www.slantmagazine.com/lists/madonna-20-greatest-deep-cuts/ . August 21, 2020 . August 20, 2020.
  18. Dance/Disco Top 80 . Billboard . April 9, 1983 . 95 . 15 . 28 . 31 August 2021 . 0006-2510 . May 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230528231521/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-04-09.pdf#page=28 . live .
  19. Futures: Hear today, hear tomorrow . . September 2, 1983 . 449 . 106 . 30 August 2021 . March 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210309122718/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1983/RR-1983-09-02.pdf#page=68 . live .
  20. Burning Up / Physical Attraction. Madonna. 1983. 12" single liner notes. Sire Records. 9 29715-0.
  21. Burning Up / Physical Attraction. Madonna. 1983. European 7" single liner notes. Sire Records. 92-9609-7.
  22. Burning Up / Physical Attraction. Madonna. 1983. Australian 7" single liner notes. Sire Records. 7-29609.
  23. Burning Up / Physical Attraction. Madonna. 1995. European CD Single liner notes. Sire Records. 7599 29715-2.
  24. Web site: Burning Up / Physical Attraction – EP – Madonna . Apple Music . 3 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230311093502/https://music.apple.com/us/album/burning-up-physical-attraction-ep/1676050933 . March 11, 2023 . March 9, 2023.
  25. Web site: Kent Music Report No 548 – 31 December 1984 > National Top 100 Singles for 1984 . . 3 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220108032026/https://i.imgur.com/MyookoA.jpg . January 8, 2022 . December 31, 1984 . Imgur.com.
  26. Web site: Top Dance/Disco Singles/Albums. TA-26. August 29, 2023. December 24, 1983. March 7, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210307124739/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-12-24.pdf. live.

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