Vogue

Song Meaning and Background of Vogue by Madonna

"Vogue" is a song by American singer Madonna from her second soundtrack album, I'm Breathless from 1990. Released as the first single from the album in 1990 by Sire Records.

Madonna was inspired by vogue dancers and choreographers Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza and Luis Xtravaganza from the Harlem "House Ball" community, the origin of the dance form, and they introduced "vogueing" to her at the Sound Factory club in New York City.

"Vogue" is a house song which set trends in dance music in the 1990s with strong influences of 1970s disco within its composition.

"Vogue" also contains a spoken section, in which Madonna name-checks various "Golden Age" Hollywood stars.

Lyrically, the song is about enjoying the dance floor no matter who the person is and it contains a theme of escapism. "

Pettibone recalled that "Vogue" was created quickly and cheaply; he wrote and recorded the backing track in two weeks on a budget of USD 5k, then submitted it to Madonna, who wrote the lyrics and conceived the title.

The song remains one of Madonna's biggest international hits, topping the charts in over 30 countries, including Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, and reach the top ten in Belgium, Peru, France and Austria. 

Lyrics of Vogue by Madonna

Strike a pose

Strike a pose

Vogue (vogue, vogue)

Vogue (vogue, vogue)

Look around, everywhere you turn is heartache

It's everywhere that you go (look around)

You try everything you can to escape

The pain of life that you know (life that you know)

When all else fails and you long to be

Something better than you are today

I know a place where you can get away

It's called a dance floor

And here's what it's for

So

Come on, vogue

Let your body move to the music (move to the music)

Hey, hey, hey

Come on, vogue

Let your body go with the flow (go with the flow)

You know you can do it

All you need is your own imagination

So use it that's what it's for (that's what it's for)

Go inside for your finest inspiration

Your dreams will open the door (open up the door)

It makes no difference if you're black or white

If you're a boy or a girl

If the music's pumping it will give you new life

You're a superstar

Yes, that's what you are

You know it

Come on, vogue

Let your body groove to the music (groove to the music)

Hey, hey, hey

Come on, vogue

Let your body go with the flow (go with the flow)

You know you can do it

Beauty's where you find it

Not just where you bump and grind it

Soul is in the musical

That's where I feel so beautiful

Magical, life's a ball

So get up on the dance floor

Come on, vogue

Let your body move to the music (move to the music)

Hey, hey, hey

Come on, vogue

Let your body go with the flow (go with the flow)

You know you can do it

Vogue (vogue)

Beauty's where you find it (move to the music)

Vogue (vogue)

Beauty's where you find it (go with the flow)

Greta Garbo and Monroe

Dietrich and DiMaggio

Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean

On the cover of a magazine

Grace Kelly, Harlow, Jean

Picture of a beauty queen

Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire

Ginger Rogers dance on air

They had style, they had grace

Rita Hayworth gave good face

Lauren, Katherine, Lana too

Bette Davis, we love you

Ladies with an attitude

Fellas that were in the mood

Don't just stand there, let's get to it

Strike a pose, there's nothing to it

Vogue, vogue

Ooh, you've got to

Let your body move to the music

Ooh, you've got to just

Let your body go with the flow

Ooh, you've got to

Vogue