Search - Madonna :: Live to Tell

Madonna's Best Ballad Of The Eighties

Busy Body | London, England | 04/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Madonna returned to the music scene in 1986 with a brand new album, True Blue. While not a critical triumph, the album was certainly a commercial success, selling 20 million copies worldwide and producing three US No.1 singles and making Madonna even more famous than she already was. The first single to be taken from this album was Live To Tell. Released in April 1986, the song peaked at No.2 in the UK and spent 12 weeks on the chart. It also became Madonna's third US No.1 hit.



Live To Tell begins with a deep and dark beat that slows down, right before breaking out with its strong and powerful tone that sets the scene for the rest of the song. Madonna then begins her singing after quite a while with the lyrics, "I have a tale to tell. Sometimes it gets so hard to hide it well. I was not ready for the fall. Too blind to see the writing on the wall." This first verse has some great lyrics, and were totally different to anything Madonna had done up until this point. Until this song, Madonna's music had been very aimed towards teenage girls who liked their music upbeat and poppy. This song was somewhat of a break away from that and an attempt to prove to the critics that Madonna could sing and write brilliant songs. Madonna then gets into the first chorus, "A man can tell a thousand lies, I've learnt my lesson well. Hope I live to tell the secret I have learned 'til then. It will burn inside of me." Madonna then gets into the second verse and chorus, before the song dims down, almost as if it is finishing. Madonna then starts to sing again. "If I ran away, I'd never have the strength to go very far. How would they hear the beating of my heart?" And the song continues from there, before closing with that epic chorus once again.



The video to Live To Tell is not a very good one. It features Madonna in a dark room sat on a chair in some awful clothes and an even worse hairstyle. The video also features clips from the film At Close Range, which features non-other than Madonna's husband at the time, Sean Penn. All in all, Live To Tell is a superb and very dramatic Madonna ballad that, like with most of her 1980's hit singles, will stand the test of time as a true classic."

This is a beautiful and powerful song from "At Close Range"

Reka Kovacs | CT | 01/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is my favorite slow song from her 80's era. I remember singing it so much back then. The music is hauntingly beautiful and delivers a great message. It is from the movie At Close Range with Christopher Walken and Sean Penn. The instrumental version of it is just breathtaking! The Edit version is the short version that you can also find on the Immaculate Collection. In the LP version after she says" will I ever have the chance again" there is a brief pause and then you can hear the unique sound. The edit version is the same except there is no pause after that verse and you dont hear the unique sound. I prefer the LP version myself because it is longer. You will understand the difference after listening to both versions. The video is beautiful and Madonna looks great dressed in all black. She sang this song during her Whos That Girl Tour and Blonde Ambition. This is one of Madonna favorite songs and the songs means a lot to her. I am glad this song went to number one. Keep up the great work Madonna. I love you!!!"

Madonna Will Live To Tell

MaverickDGA | Oakwood, GA | 01/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 1986 Madonna released the song Live To Tell, the first single from her third studio album, True Blue. In this song we hear Madonna vocals have deepened and she is singing with power and loss. This song saw the door opening to a new Madonna, the balladeer we love today. The songs here are mostly repeats, but this one still gets five stars.



1. LP Version: This is the best version. It is the full length version that appeared on True Blue.



2. Edit Version: I don't Like This Version. It is cut short by about 45 seconds. This version is the one that made to The Immaculate Collection.



3. Instrumental: I love this version. It is just the music to this gorgeous song.

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