Madonna / Like A Virgin (US, Sire, 9 25157-1) <November 12, 1984>

Madonna / Like A Virgin (US, Sire, 9 25157-1) <November 12, 1984>
(1) 1-25157-A-RE1-SH5 ɑ B-19526-Re1-SH5 SLM △ 7082 1-1 MASTERDISK
(2) 1-25157-B-SH3 ɑ B-19527-SH3 SLM △ 7082-X 1-1 MASTERDISK

チューボーの頃にリアル・タイムで聴いたデビュー作は「美人だしキャッチーだけど陳腐で物足りないアイドル音楽」という第一印象で当時は結局あまり聴きませんでしたし、このセカンド・アルバムもまだ「アイドル音楽の延長」だと思って聴き込みませんでした。4作目の"Like A Prayer"あたりでようやく真面目に聴くようになり、この作品を聴き返して先見の明のなさを恥じました。

"Like A Virgin" was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. Interestingly, it was not written for Madonna or any female singer but was inspired by Billy's personal experiences.Songwriter explains: "I wasn't just trying to get that racy word 'virgin' in a lyric. I was saying that I may not really be a virgin — I've been battered romantically and emotionally like many people — but I'm starting a new relationship and it just feels so good, it's healing all the wounds and making me feel like I've never done this before, because it's so much deeper and more profound than anything I've ever felt."

子供でしたから「なんか猥褻な歌詞」と漠然と思っていましたが、作者にとっても「極めて個人的な体験を歌う」「際どい言葉を歌詞に入れてみる」という挑戦だったようですね。実際のところ歌詞を読んでみると「すべての"初めての体験"の相手があなただったら！」とでもいうような、可愛らしく微笑ましい真面目な恋愛賛歌です。

"Like A Virgin"

I made it through the wilderness
Somehow I made it through
Didn't know how lost I was
Until I found you

I was beat incomplete
I'd been had, I was sad and blue
But you made me feel
Yeah, you made me feel
Shiny and new

Like a virgin
Touched for the very first time
Like a virgin
When your heart beats
Next to mine

Gonna give you all my love, boy
My fear is fading fast
Been saving it all for you
'Cause only love can last

You're so fine and you're mine
Make me strong, yeah, you make me bold
Oh, your love thawed out
Yeah, your love thawed out
What was scared and cold

Like a virgin, hey!
Touched for the very first time
Like a virgin
With your heartbeat
Next to mine

Whoa-oh, oh-oh
Whoa-oh, oh-oh, ah
Whoa-oh, oh-oh

You're so fine and you're mine
I'll be yours 'til the end of time
'Cause you made me feel
Yeah, you made me feel
I've nothing to hide

Like a virgin, hey!
Touched for the very first time
Like a virgin
With your heartbeat
Next to mine

Like a virgin, ooh-ooh, ooh
Like a virgin
Feels so good inside
When you hold me
And your heart beats
And you love me
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Ooh baby, yeah
Can't you hear my heart beat
For the very first time?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s__rX_WL100

このようにありきたりなテーマを輝かせたのは、確かにracy wordであるvirginという言葉ですね。こうした「言葉の力」を借りて「特別感」を演出するというのも、やはり「ありきたり」な手法ではあります。「初めてgodという言葉を使ったポップ・ソング」として衝撃を与えたThe Beach Boysの"God Only Knows"なんかもそうした例でしょう。コロンブスの卵。分かってても「やられたなぁ」という気がしますね。

なお、このUSプロモーション限定のホワイト・カラー・レコードは激レアです。以前は5000円程度で手に入りましたが、いまは状態が良いと1万超えます。