1 February 1986
I referred to Madonna’s previous number one, ‘Into The Groove’, as anachronistic but if anything that could describe ‘Borderline’ even more accurately; this is a re-released single from her 1984 debut album, one which hadn’t been a hit in Ireland or the UK first time around. I can’t recall any immediate reason—movie tie-in, commercial soundtrack—for it to come out again in early 1986. Perhaps it was just the record company’s way of meeting a demand for Madonna ‘content’, or a means of keeping her profile on the boil before her imminent next album.
That’s not to say ‘Borderline’ in 1986 is a backward step or half-hearted gesture; not at all. This isn’t a ‘Holiday’ disco bop, but an uptempo tale of Motown-esque romantic travails where Madser is calling out her dopey fella on his difficult behaviour. So, it still fits in with the Like A Virgin album’s theme of strong female agency. The gear change into the minor-key pre-chorus is really satisfying, plus the word ‘borderline’ makes for a good strong chorus hook. And you can still bop to it in your disco if you want.
I like ‘Borderline’ and how it took its second chance at being a Madonna classic hit. (Some neat trivia: Ireland was the only country where ‘Borderline’ reached number one.) Plus it did its presumed job; interest was clearly building about the prospect of new Madonna music. Little did anyone know at the time that her next number one on this side of the Atlantic, in the summer of 1986, would surpass all our expectations.
