Madonna (first album) Vs. She's So Unusual

[UseYourIllusion2002]

 

Both were released less than three months apart

Both inspired a new wave of female pop stars

Both are essential 80s pop albums

Led to Madonna and Cyndi Lauper being pitted against each other as rivals

Had similar looks

[besaid]

Madonna overall as an album aged better and has a more classic disco/80s vibe than Cyndi's more dated 80s pop album. But the singles from SSU are really good (minus she bop which I hate).

 

True Blue/Who's that Girl? is when Madonna really found herself in the 80s imo.

[poki]

I definitely prefer Madonna's debut more. 

 

Madonna was able to build a massive career off of it so I would say her debut was more successful.

 

Holiday >>>> 

[Junipero]

I think a better comparison would be Like a Virgin(The Album) vs She's So Unusual since both albums seem campy and have multiple hit songs along with both woman having "big" performances, a more solid "image" and style, etc... However, I think Cyndi had better style and art direction. Madonna seems like she was just copying Cyndi by the time Like a Virgin came around.

 

She's So Unusual was mostly produced by Rick Chertoff; but Cyndi went with another producer for her second album(True Colors). I wonder if Cyndi would have been bigger if she stuck with Rick Cheroff considering Rick had produced a few more Hot 100 charting singles for other artists whereas Cyndi just faded away.

 

"I'll Kiss You" is the best song off of She's So Unusual that was not released as a single(in my opinion).

 

 

Edited July 27, 2023 by Junipero

[LikeaRebel]

Honestly, She’s So Unusual for all. Cyndi lost steam after that but SSU is a perfect 80’s pop album. 

[Leppie]

She's So Unusual was obviously the bigger album, but Madonna still sounds so fresh and inspired even today. It's the perfect record.

[laudibella]

1 hour ago, LikeaRebel said:

Honestly, She’s So Unusual for all. Cyndi lost steam after that but SSU is a perfect 80’s pop album. 

Witness is way too underrated

[laudibella]

56 minutes ago, Leppie said:

Madonna still sounds so fresh and inspired even today

I Know It whew

[Leppie]

16 minutes ago, laudibella said:

I Know It whew

Not my least favourite song on the album   

 

Think of Me >>

[sasashite]

She’s So Unusual for all.

 

I think Madonna’s debut a little overrated. It’s considered one of her best but for me it’s just a good pop record.

[marmito]

Everybody and Burning up are such  cute simple songs yet they radiate so much charisma and care-free energy

 

Giving this to Madonna

 

[dabunique]

SSU is da bigger album but Madonna blows her away in da other categories

[UseYourIllusion2002]

11 hours ago, Junipero said:

I think a better comparison would be Like a Virgin(The Album) vs She's So Unusual

 

"I'll Kiss You" is the best song off of She's So Unusual that was not released as a single(in my opinion).

 

 

I was thinking that too at first but decided to compare SSU with The First Album since they were released so close to each other and Like a Virgin is way bigger sales wise while these are pretty close. And also Madonna’s debut turned 40 years old today. But I’ll Kiss You is a great song! I also love Yeah Yeah. 

 

9 hours ago, laudibella said:

I Know It whew

Not the worst song on the album 

[Mitsouko]

Didn't Madonna's debut stay on the BB200 for like three years? More than twice as long as SSU...

[UseYourIllusion2002]

20 hours ago, Mitsouko said:

Didn't Madonna's debut stay on the BB200 for like three years? More than twice as long as SSU...

Yeah it had great longevity, didn’t peak until 53 weeks into its run. That’s probably why their sales are so close. Madonna is at 5x platinum and SSU is at 6x platinum. Madonna (album) probably would’ve sold more if Like a Virgin wasn’t released literally the month after her debut album finally reached the top ten. 

[Beautiful Garbage]

She's So Unusual for all.

 

 

[blueberries]

Cyndi for all

[wanderlust]

Keep in mind most of the songs on madonna's first album are self written and produced. she even made her own synths.

[UseYourIllusion2002]

3 hours ago, wanderlust said:

Keep in mind most of the songs on madonna's first album are self written and produced. she even made her own synths.

This is so impressive. People always thought Cyndi was the more "musically talented" one, which is probably only because Madonna appealed more to teens and had a sexual image. But 5/8 songs on the album were written by her alone while 5/10 songs on Cyndi's debut were covers alone. Not to mention Madonna changed producers a few times for her debut because she wasn't satisfied with the sound of the album, showing her musicality.