Listening 2 Madonna: Spanish Eyes

EPISODE 394 B

Throughout her forty-year career, Madonna has managed to travel the globe, both literally and musically. Despite being a white woman from the midwest (Michigan, to be exact), her discography has been influenced by countless different cultures and sounds.

Even from her very first single, Madonna has frequently paid homage to those she has encountered, reflecting (and sometimes appropriating) the cultures that surrounded her. But because she's the world's biggest pop star, this globalist approach created space in the mainstream for artists from different cultures to follow in her footsteps. This episode of Switched On Pop, we're Listening 2 Madonna and exploring the second aspect of her Holy Trinity: multiculturalism.

Songs discussed:

Madonna – "Everybody"

La India – "Dancing on the Fire"

Miami Sound Machine – "Dr. Beat"

Madonna – "Holiday"

Shannon – "Let the Music Play"

Madonna – "Music"

Madonna – "Vogue"

Madonna – "La Isla Bonita"

Madonna – "Spanish Eyes"

Madonna – "Who's That Girl?"

Ricky Martin – "Livin' La Vida Loca"

Los Lobos – "La Bamba"

Lady Gaga – "Alejandro"

Malcolm McLaren – "Deep In Vogue – Introducing Lourdes & Willie Ninja"

Madonna – "Deeper and Deeper"

Derrick May – "Strings of Life"

Ariana Grande – "yes and?"

Beyoncé – "Break My Soul – The Queens Remix"

Madonna – "Faz Gostoso"

Blaya – "Faz Gostoso"

Anitta – "Funk Rave"

Madonna – "Batuka"

Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B – "Bongos"