May 9, 1989 "Express Yourself Was Released" as Madonna's second single from the "Like A Prayer" album.

Single

After the huge #1 success of Like A Prayer, Madonna didn't go for second best, but released Express Yourself as second single. It seemed like Madonna wanted to get back on her critics by saying everybody should 'express himself' like she does; a message she would repeat in 1994's Human Nature. While Like A Prayer caused controversy in the Catholic church, Express Yourself stirred up opinions about feminism. Whether or not the song and the video pushed feminism forward or backwards was subject of discussion. Though very popular, the song didn't reach #1 and stalled at #2 in the US (Gold; it was kept from #1 by Simply Red's 'If You Don't Know Me By Now' & Martika's 'Toy Soldiers') and in Japan, #4 in Canada and #5 in the UK and Australia. It did get to #1 on the Hot Dance / Club Play though.



Video


David Fincher directed what became one of Madonna's biggest video projects. With a price tag of $2 million it's one of her most expensive (only Die Another Day cost more). Based on Fritz Lang's movie Metropolis (1927), Madonna uses the distinction between lower working class (the slaves) and the upper high-society class (the director and Madonna herself) to symbolically turn around the classic stereotypes between men and women. Madonna is sexy, independant and in control, but on the other hand gives in to the advances of the slave (played by Cameron, the good-looking model of the Guess jeans ads). Dressed both in a stylish green dress and in a male suit (with sexy corset underneath), one moment in control and the other crawling on the floor on hands and knees, Madonna ridiculed stereotypes and pushed the boundaries. The true meanings of the video are still an interesting subject for discussion today. Fact is that the video won awards for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Direction at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards, where Madonna performed the song as well. Originally, the video was set to the Shep Pettibone club remix and included a longer bed scene at the end [released on Celebration Video Collection], but because MTV thought the remix was not enough mainstream, an edited clip featuring a soundtrack close to the album version was released [which features on Immaculate Collection video collection].

Come on girls
Do you believe in love?
'Cause I got something to say about it
And it goes something like this

Don't go for second best baby
Put your love to the test
You know, you know you've got to
Make him express how he feels and maybe
Then you'll know your love is real

You don't need diamond rings or eighteen karat gold
Fancy cars that go very fast
You know they never last, no no
What you need is a big strong hand to
Lift you to your higher ground
Make you feel like a queen on a throne
Make him love you till you can't come down
You'll never come down

Don't go for second best baby
Put your love to the test
You know, you know you've got to
Make him express how he feels and maybe
Then you'll know your love is real

Long stem roses are the way to your heart but
He needs to start with your head
Satin sheets are very romantic
What happens when you're not in bed
You deserve the best in life
So if the time isn't right then move on
Second best is never enough
You'll do much better baby on your own
Baby on your own

Don't go for second best baby
Put your love to the test
You know, you know you've got to
Make him express how he feels and maybe
Then you'll know your love is real

Express yourself
You've got to make him
Express himself
Hey hey hey hey
So if you want it right now
Make him show you how
Express what he's got
Oh baby ready or not

And when you're gone he might regret it
Think about the love he once had
Try to carry on
But he just won't get it
He'll be back on his knees
To express himself
You've got to make him
Express himself
Hey hey

What you need is a big strong hand to
Lift you to your higher ground
Make you feel like a queen on a throne
Make him love you till you can't come down
You'll never come down

And when you're gone he might regret it
Think about the love he once had
Try to carry on
But he just won't get it
He'll be back on his knees
So please

Don't go for second best baby
Put your love to the test
You know, you know you've got to
Make him express how he feels and maybe
Then you'll know your love is real

Express yourself
You've got to make him
Express himself
Hey hey hey hey
So if you want it right now
Make him show you how
Express what he's got
Oh baby ready or not

Express yourself (you got to make him)
So you can respect yourself
Hey hey
So if you want it right now
Make him show you how
Express what he's got
Oh baby ready or not