OVERVIEW
Madonna released "Justify My Love" as the first song of her first compilation, The Immaculate Collection, on November 6, 1990. It was written by Lenny Kravitz and Ingrid Chavez, with Madonna adding a few of her own lyrics later on. Musically, it was inspired by the era's increasingly popular "trip hop," which is characterized by a moderate tempo mixed with resonate instrumentation, a sensual beat, spoken lyrics, and psychedelic overtones. While technically "Justify My Love" holds true to these criteria, many critics point out that without the accompaniment of the video, the song is lacks much of its depth and meaning. However, in conjunction with a video that is packed full of sexually explicit content, "Justify My Love" stands as one of Madonna's most controversial, most successful, and most memorable songs of all time.
Madonna released "Justify My Love" as the first song of her first compilation, The Immaculate Collection, on November 6, 1990. It was written by Lenny Kravitz and Ingrid Chavez, with Madonna adding a few of her own lyrics later on. Musically, it was inspired by the era's increasingly popular "trip hop," which is characterized by a moderate tempo mixed with resonate instrumentation, a sensual beat, spoken lyrics, and psychedelic overtones. While technically "Justify My Love" holds true to these criteria, many critics point out that without the accompaniment of the video, the song is lacks much of its depth and meaning. However, in conjunction with a video that is packed full of sexually explicit content, "Justify My Love" stands as one of Madonna's most controversial, most successful, and most memorable songs of all time.
LYRICS AND CONTENT
"Justify My Love" is a song about wanton desire and unrestricted sexual actions. When Madonna and Kravitz were writing the score and developing the overall picture of the song, they knew where they wanted to end up, and they decided they did not want the lyrics nor the music to be the focal point of the song. While the beat and lyrics accompany the video, the lyrics are little more than sexual whispers and can hardly stand apart from the rest.
The video, which is shot entirely in black and white, maintains a dream-like feel throughout. It begins with Madonna carrying a suitcase down a hotel hallway, upset and disgruntled. She is then approached by a man, presumably a stranger, and they engage in a series of seductive and sexual acts. While this alone was considered a step over the line of acceptable content at the time, the video alludes to ideas such as bisexuality and sexual ambiguity, which still remain as topics of controversy today. The video ends with Madonna gleefully trotting down the hallway, smiling as she looks back and thinks about what just occurred as if it eased some tension in her life.
"Justify My Love" is a song about wanton desire and unrestricted sexual actions. When Madonna and Kravitz were writing the score and developing the overall picture of the song, they knew where they wanted to end up, and they decided they did not want the lyrics nor the music to be the focal point of the song. While the beat and lyrics accompany the video, the lyrics are little more than sexual whispers and can hardly stand apart from the rest.
The video, which is shot entirely in black and white, maintains a dream-like feel throughout. It begins with Madonna carrying a suitcase down a hotel hallway, upset and disgruntled. She is then approached by a man, presumably a stranger, and they engage in a series of seductive and sexual acts. While this alone was considered a step over the line of acceptable content at the time, the video alludes to ideas such as bisexuality and sexual ambiguity, which still remain as topics of controversy today. The video ends with Madonna gleefully trotting down the hallway, smiling as she looks back and thinks about what just occurred as if it eased some tension in her life.
I want to kiss you in Paris
I want to hold your hand in Rome I want to run naked in a rainstorm Make love in a train cross-country You put this in me So now what, so now what? Wanting, needing, waiting For you to justify my love Hoping, praying For you to justify my love I want to know you Not like that I don't want to be your mother I don't want to be your sister either I just want to be your lover I want to be your baby Kiss me, that's right, kiss me Yearning, burning For you to justify my love |
What are you gonna do?
What are you gonna do? Talk to me - tell me your dreams Am I in them? Tell me your fears Are you scared? Tell me your stories I'm not afraid of who you are We can fly! Poor is the man Whose pleasures depend On the permission of another Love me, that's right, love me I want to be your baby I'm open and ready For you to justify my love To justify my love Wanting, to justify Waiting, to justify my love Praying, to justify To justify my love I'm open, to justify my love |
CONTROVERSY AND CENSORSHIP
Almost as soon as it was released, "Justify My Love" was consumed in a torrent of outcries and anger. When originally presented with the music video, MTV refused to play it, officially banning it from their playlists. As a result, the video was released as a VHS single and became an instant best-seller. Due to its strong sexual content, sexually ambiguous characters, and near pornographic images, "Justify My Love" is still officially banned by MTV and almost every other music specialty channel.
Madonna herself never complained about the censorship, nor did she ever publically ask for the bans to be removed. All she ever had to say on the matter was that much worse music video content was being aired, only because it was not socially tabooed, such as violence and degradation of women.
This is not a song you can sing to. This is not a song that you put on a mix tape. This is not a song that frequents major radio stations, it has no catchy tune and certainly no profound or memorable lyrics, and by conventional standards is barely an actual song. This song should be morally opposed by half the world and hidden from another third. Yet this single has topped more charts than we can name and is only getting riper with age. Why has this song soared amongst all that stands against it? Controversy. This entire song breeds controversy, and every time this video has been banned or badmouthed has only been fuel to the fire of its success.
Almost as soon as it was released, "Justify My Love" was consumed in a torrent of outcries and anger. When originally presented with the music video, MTV refused to play it, officially banning it from their playlists. As a result, the video was released as a VHS single and became an instant best-seller. Due to its strong sexual content, sexually ambiguous characters, and near pornographic images, "Justify My Love" is still officially banned by MTV and almost every other music specialty channel.
Madonna herself never complained about the censorship, nor did she ever publically ask for the bans to be removed. All she ever had to say on the matter was that much worse music video content was being aired, only because it was not socially tabooed, such as violence and degradation of women.
This is not a song you can sing to. This is not a song that you put on a mix tape. This is not a song that frequents major radio stations, it has no catchy tune and certainly no profound or memorable lyrics, and by conventional standards is barely an actual song. This song should be morally opposed by half the world and hidden from another third. Yet this single has topped more charts than we can name and is only getting riper with age. Why has this song soared amongst all that stands against it? Controversy. This entire song breeds controversy, and every time this video has been banned or badmouthed has only been fuel to the fire of its success.