Vogue

Composition

Vogue was written by Madonna and producer Shep Pettibone. The song references “voguing,” a dance form developed in Black and Latino LGBTQ+ ballroom culture in New York, and features a spoken-word section listing classic Hollywood stars.

Reception

Released in March 1990, the single reached number one in over thirty countries, including the Billboard Hot 100. It became the best-selling single of 1990 globally and helped popularize voguing in the mainstream.

Performance

Madonna’s 1990 MTV Video Music Awards performance, with elaborate Marie Antoinette-styled choreography, became one of the most discussed live performances of the early MTV era. The video was directed by David Fincher.