Madonna albums discography
American singer Madonna has released 13 studio albums, three soundtrack albums, five live albums, six compilation albums, and 34 other limited releases. In 1982, Madonna signed a recording contract with Sire Records, a label owned by Warner Bros. Records. The first release under the label was her self-titled debut album, "Madonna" (1983). It peaked at number eight on the "Billboard" 200 and was certified five times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). She followed the debut album with the sophomore release, "Like a Virgin" (1984). The album topped the chart in several countries and was certified diamond by the RIAA. "True Blue" was released as her third studio album in 1986 and sold over 25 million copies worldwide, while becoming her second chart topper in US. In 1987, she released two albums that reached platinum status in the United States: the "Who's That Girl soundtrack" and her first remix compilation, "You Can Dance". Madonna's fourth studio album, "Like a Prayer" (1989), became her third number-one album on the "Billboard" 200, achieving quadruple platinum in US.
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna experimented with more folk and acoustic music in "Music" (2000) and "American Life" (2003). A change was noted in the content of the songs in "Music", with most of them being simple love songs, but with an underlying tone of melancholy. According to "Q" magazine, "American Life" was characterized by "a thumping techno rhythm, liquid keyboard lines, an acoustic chorus and a bizarre Madonna rap." The "conventional rock songs" of the album were suffused with dramatic lyrics about patriotism and composition, including the appearance of a gospel choir in the song "Nothing Fails". Madonna returned to pure dance songs with "Confessions on a Dance Floor", infusing club beats and retro music with paradoxical and metaphorical lyrics. She moved to an urban direction musically with "Hard Candy" (2008), mixing R&B and hip hop with dance tunes. "MDNA" (2012) largely focused in electronic dance music, which she has embraced since "Ray of Light".