{Note: The Madonna Timeline is an ongoing feature, where I put the iPod on shuffle, and write a little anecdote on whatever was going on in my life when that Madonna song was released and/or came to prominence in my mind.}
I KNOW YOU’VE BEEN WAITING, YEAH
I’VE BEEN WATCHING YOU, YEAH
I KNOW YOU WANNA GET UP, YEAH
COME ON…
EVERYBODY, COME ON, DANCE AND SING
EVERYBODY, GET UP AND DO YOUR THING
EVERYBODY, COME ON, DANCE AND SING
EVERYBODY, GET UP AND DO YOUR THING
Â
Her first official single, ‘Everybody’ was Madonna’s clarion call to the world to ‘Dance and sing, get up and do your thing.’ Strangely enough, it was never a favorite of mine, and to my recollection she only performed it on two tours (The Virgin Tour and The Girlie Show Tour). It was the latter’s performance, where she intertwined some Sly and the Family Stone, that won me over with its funkiness (and Madonna’s exuberance when performing it for the masses).
LET THE MUSIC TAKE CONTROL
FIND A GROOVE AND LET YOURSELF GO
WHEN THE ROOM BEGINS TO SWAY
YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TRYING TO SAY
COME ON, TAKE A CHANCE
GET UP AND START THE DANCE
EVERYBODY, COME ON, DANCE AND SING
EVERYBODY, GET UP AND DO YOUR THING
EVERYBODY, COME ON, DANCE AND SING
EVERYBODY, GET UP AND DO YOUR THING
Despite its iconic historical status, the song still doesn’t do much for me. And as much as I appreciate the sentiment, and its rallying egalitarian cry for all-inclusive fun, I’m just not especially impressed with it. That’s ok. Even the most die-hard Madonna fans have songs that rank low on their personal lists. Besides, if and when she decides to rework this for a live performance, I’m sure I’ll be the first on board to join in the fun.
LET YOUR BODY TAKE A RIDE
FEEL THE BEAT AND STEP INSIDE
MUSIC MAKES THE WORLD GO ‘ROUND
YOU CAN TURN YOUR TROUBLES UPSIDE DOWN
GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR MIND
GONNA LEAVE YOUR TROUBLES BEHIND
YOUR BODY GETS THE NOTION WHEN YOUR FEET CAN MAKE THE MOTION
EVERYBODY, COME ON, DANCE AND SING
EVERYBODY, GET UP AND DO YOUR THING
EVERYBODY, COME ON, DANCE AND SING
EVERYBODY, GET UP AND DO YOUR THING
It was the beat-fueled chirp of a raw form that would soon transform into the Madonna that conquered the world, but for that moment, it was just a girl dancing and singing and doing her thing. Celebratory, carefree, and completely unaware of all that her life was about to become. Or maybe she did know, and the rest of us simply had to catch up.
DANCE & SING, GET UP DO YOUR THING.
SONG #125 ~ ‘Everybody’ -1982
Back to Blog
