36-years ago, today, Madonna released her now-iconic debut album, appropriately titled Madonna, which sold more than 10-million copies, and spawned 5-massive singles. Borderline spent a staggering 30-weeks on the Billboard 100, helping to catapult Madonna into an international superstar.
In 1982, Madonna was working with producer Reggie Lucas on her debut album. She had already composed three songs when Lucas brought one of his own compositions to the project, calling it “Borderline.” After recording the song, Madonna was unhappy with the final version, feeling that Lucas used too many instruments and did not consider her ideas for the song. This led to a dispute between the two. After finishing the album, Lucas left the project without altering the songs to Madonna’s specifications. Madonna brought her then-boyfriend John “Jellybean” Benitez to remix “Borderline” and two other recorded tracks. On hearing the final version, Seymour Stein, head of Sire Records, declared, “I dared to believe this was going to be huge beyond belief, the biggest thing I’d ever had, after I heard ‘Borderline’… The passion that she put into that song, I thought, there’s no stopping this girl”
The song has been performed by Madonna on The Virgin Tour in 1985, in the 2008 Sticky & Sweet Tour which was not included in the 2009 leg of the tour and was replaced by a rock version of “Dress You Up”. The song was also performed at her one-off concert, Madonna: Tears of a Clown, in 2016. She also performed a stripped-back version of the song live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2016.
At the 1984 Billboard Music Awards,”Borderline” received two nominations, in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Choreography in a Music Video. To celebrate, PopWrapped CEO, Zachary Jaydon, has dug into his personal collection of Madonna Master Tapes, to offer you a rare, never-before-heard rehearsal take of Borderline, the fifth and final single from the record.
If this was his call for the track, she made the right decision, cause this version is boring. With that being said, it’s still better then what’s getting released today. Which shows how strong of a track this song is.
@ Markis.
I don’t think the audio file on this page is his work.
The only musical instrument I hear on this track is a piano.
The article said Madonna complained that the Lucas version had “too many instruments,” so the file on this page cannot be his version – one piano is not “too many instruments,” unless Madonna’s odd idea of “too many instruments” is a lone piano.
And yes, this very early version of the song is awful, but yes, most of today’s pop/ dance music is awful, too.
Madonna in the mid 80’s-90’s were her best. I think if she had a Back to the Future or maybe Turn Back Time tour where she is singing these old hits, her fans would go wild.
Wow her voice so Epic….As much as I love M she cannot sing like this anymore. Borderline is one of my favourite songs from Madonna….its great to hear her before all the auto tune !! ….Shes still a creamy smooth pop GODESS ❤
Damn she sounds super good. I’ve read from the likes of Patrick Leonard that she only does one take of a song (I’m assuming after Like A Virgin) and that’s it. He said she feels the first take is more authentic. There are demos of Ray of Light on youtube where she is singing just like this, you can hear the music in her headphones, and she is belting the hell out of the song, hitting all the notes. No studio magic. She even messes up on Ray of Light just like here.
This is my favourite live vocal performance for this track. It is so full of raw emotion. A deep yearning for the global domination that was to follow. Pure gold, Good going Zac!
Markis
July 28, 2019 at 1:21 PM
If this was his call for the track, she made the right decision, cause this version is boring. With that being said, it’s still better then what’s getting released today. Which shows how strong of a track this song is.
Zachary Jaydon
July 28, 2019 at 1:25 PM
This is only the rehearsal take! This wasn’t a finished product, at all.
Flea
July 28, 2019 at 5:44 PM
@ Markis.
I don’t think the audio file on this page is his work.
The only musical instrument I hear on this track is a piano.
The article said Madonna complained that the Lucas version had “too many instruments,” so the file on this page cannot be his version – one piano is not “too many instruments,” unless Madonna’s odd idea of “too many instruments” is a lone piano.
And yes, this very early version of the song is awful, but yes, most of today’s pop/ dance music is awful, too.
Zachary Jaydon
July 28, 2019 at 8:33 PM
This is a REHEARSAL take, while they were finishing the structure of the melody, ad-libs, etc. This is NOT any sort of final product.
Jennifer Cothrine
July 28, 2019 at 3:34 PM
Nice sneak peek behind the scenes
Jason
July 28, 2019 at 4:42 PM
She sounds great. Very strong and soulful. Wow. I hear a little vibrato, too. Color me impressed.
Margo
July 28, 2019 at 7:42 PM
Madonna in the mid 80’s-90’s were her best. I think if she had a Back to the Future or maybe Turn Back Time tour where she is singing these old hits, her fans would go wild.
Paulo
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 AM
Absolutely spot on Margo it would be epic. I’d go insane 🤪
Paulo
July 29, 2019 at 12:35 AM
Wow her voice so Epic….As much as I love M she cannot sing like this anymore. Borderline is one of my favourite songs from Madonna….its great to hear her before all the auto tune !! ….Shes still a creamy smooth pop GODESS ❤
Graham
July 29, 2019 at 1:16 AM
Damn she sounds super good. I’ve read from the likes of Patrick Leonard that she only does one take of a song (I’m assuming after Like A Virgin) and that’s it. He said she feels the first take is more authentic. There are demos of Ray of Light on youtube where she is singing just like this, you can hear the music in her headphones, and she is belting the hell out of the song, hitting all the notes. No studio magic. She even messes up on Ray of Light just like here.
Jeffrey Johnson
July 29, 2019 at 9:05 AM
SHE SOUNDS GREAT TO ME!!! ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS BY HER!!! IT TOTALLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION!!!
Rogerio
July 29, 2019 at 12:42 PM
This is my favourite live vocal performance for this track. It is so full of raw emotion. A deep yearning for the global domination that was to follow. Pure gold, Good going Zac!