Patrick Leonard - Live To Tell (Madonna) | The story behind the song
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- čas přidán 1. 02. 2018
- Songwriter Patrick Leonard tells the incredible story on how the song 'Live To Tell' ended up with Madonna. A short documentary by Top 2000 a gogo (Dutch Public TV) from 2016.
- Hudba
In my opinion, probably Madonna's best song. It is so musically rich, and I love the lyrics. And Madonna in her lower vocal range? It makes my spine tingle...
I don't know if it is her best song, but without doubt it is the song of my adolescence to which I'm most linked. Each single note and tone contain a big part of my memories and the very best part of my life from those years❤️
definitely. this and this is used to be my playground.
Take a Bow and The Power of Goodbye were better😁
@@helgafever768 great songs, but no. ;-)
This is the song that made me a Madonna fan, and this is definitely one of her best songs but her catalog is too rich to pick one single song. I hope they work together again, they never miss.
Almost 40 years later.. and I’m definitely not the only one still thinks this Madonna’s best song.. next level masterpiece
Who can pic one fav of here but it's a beauty
My favourite madonna song, but again I feel Madonna's input as lyricist, producer and singer is skirted over. It's her magic touch that makes these songs iconic and people just ignore that fact.
Till this day, still Madonna's best song
It's even her favorite.
@@TheHoopyscoopy How do you know?
I read it in an interview.
It is. But interestingly, it's not even near being Pat's best song. Go listen to Toy Matinee.
+1000!!!! And one of the best songs of the 80's
Definitely one of Madonna's best songs.
and the world’s most haunting Poetic attempt.
Why was Live To Tell not nominated for an Oscar for Best Song in a motion picture? It still remains a classic...
Because judges on the penal didn't like her.
@@beavertown2006 sad but true...
Take My Breath Away from TOP GUN, Glory of Love from THE KARATE KID 2, Mean Green Mother from Outer Space from LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, and Somewhere Out There from AMERICAN TAIL. If you're in a year with nominees like that, good luck fighting for spot #5!
Not sure in this case, but for a nomination, the song HAS to be created exclusively for the movie. In this case, if it was created for Madonna´s album and at the same time they used the song in the movie, is automatically out of competition for the oscars.
Cause Madonna was too liberated for a woman in music back then..
She sang this in her Celebration Tour (I just saw back to back nights in Toronto!) and used it to set the most stunning memorial of all her friends and colleagues who died of AIDS... absolutely breathtaking and so emotional. Screens dropped from the ceiling with their photos and names... still haunting me today.
I stood there with tears running down my face. It was a beautiful tribute to all those lost to AIDS. I also LOVED the Confessions tour version. That was jaw dropping in its power.
Madonna's best song. Without a doubt. 1986 was a great year.
one of her last best before she went "sex and dirty".
Patrick Leonard is so right about how risky it was BACK THEN for a succesful singer to take such a DRASTIC turn in music style. I remember listening to 'Live to Tell' for first time and thinking: "I can't believe this is Madonna...... Why is she doing this?" She had just had such MASSIVE SUCCESS with the Pop / Dance songs of her previous Album and people were still craving more of that and then BANG!!!! She completely changed her look, her style and her sound. Thanks to her in particular, the new generation of artists are naturally more experimental than old shcool artists, however none of them are as DARING and BOLD as MADONNA when it comes to embracing new genres of music. Even now in 2019 she is still the MOST GENRE FLUID arstist there is. Just listen to Madame X and you'll see.
In almost every way , being at your height of success provides the ability to take chances you couldn't normally get away with ; knowing your fan base will like it no matter what
I couldn't agree with you more, Madame X is a complete triumph, and she stands up for what is right. People who do not like that do not understand the purpose of Art
Paul Goldstein, NYC Oh boomer 🙄
@devildog1982z
The Beatles were experimental with their sound I givie you that, but as far as creating "new personas", changing their look completely and taking on new genres of music they did nothing of that sort.
@@walterhigo7658 um sgt. pepper dude
This is not only Madonna's best song, this probably ranks as my favorite song of all time by any artist. The emotion conveyed in the unique Dm progression alone stands on its own as a masterpiece, but the lyrical composition delicately emerging from it sets this song apart from every other. I can only dream of writing a song this powerful at the moment, but who knows?
Such a beautiful song and amazing artists (Madonna and Leonard are a great combination).
one of the greatest ballad of all time.
Part of the genius of Madonna is that she trusts her instincts and doesn’t listen to people who would tell her, you can’t do that, it will ruin you. She knew herself and knew what was going to work and she stuck to her conviction. She hasn’t always been right, but 90% of the time she has been, and considering she often did the unexpected and the more risky choices, that’s pretty powerful
Exposure to a writer who works with MJ and Quincy doesn't hurt either... good on her to recognize a good song though.
"She hasn’t always been right" = more like....is she ever right, about radio/singles/Top 40 choices? when she fought WB tooth & nail and didn't allow them to release "Amazing" from the Music album, that was a dumb decision....almost as ill-advised as making the 2nd single "Give It 2 Me" from the Hard Candy album....she had FINALLY gotten some US radio airplay with "4 Minutes" and could've continued that streak of "street cred" with a much better choice of single, but nope - she dug in her heels and insisted upon Give It 2 Me, which was the WORST choice for a single to US radio :(
Well said !
GraphiqueJack
"Part of the genius of Madonna is that she trusts her instincts and doesn’t listen to people who would tell her, you can’t do that, it will ruin you" she used to do that but not anymore, or let's say not anymore since "Hard Candy".
side2 Side I agree. She had fantastic instincts until the American life period where she started to falter. She bouncrd back strong with COADF but after that she has been very hit or miss...definitely more miss.
First time I heard this was on a TWA flight from San Francisco to Boston in 1990. We were flying over the Rockies and the sun was setting. This music complimented the unique, vast USA landscape. Whenever I hear it, I'm transported back to that time
Yes this is one of those rare musics that make us travel in time. Speechless
That movie is good But "Live to tell " it's beyond it, It's one of the greatest songs ever made.
I'm just glad it wasn't tacked onto a bad movie. At Close Range evoked the appropriately somber, heart wrenching emotions to warrant it's theme song.
Greatest song ever made? Really?
Think about it and compare it to any other song.
@@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248 one of.....
the movie is much better than the song
This song, in my opinion, is the best song Madonna has ever recorded. I also think it is one of the ten best pop songs of all time. The synth intro is HUGE. It still lingers in my head after all these years. I play this song a lot and it is in all my playlists. Can’t say too much more about it. It is one of my favorite songs, though when it came out, I was listening to Iron Maiden and Metallica.
Same here.
Same. I've ALWAYS LOVED music & it has been such a huge part of my life, although I tend to "gravitate" towards Rock n Roll THIS is one of my favorite songs; along with come undone by Duran plural 😉😉🤣🤣
Now IMHO Stevie is The QUEEN of Rock! She IS LEGEND! ❤❤❤
This song. I'd never paid much attention to Madonna's version in the 80's, but in 2009 or so I stumbled onto a video of Patrick Leonard performing it on solo piano and I was absolutely floored. It was like something took took hold of my gut and wouldn't let go. I must have watched it 100 times over the course of a few days, and I still revisit it pretty frequently. It's eerie and melancholic and so emotionally charged that it often reduces me to tears if I'm in a low mood. It's basically perfect and makes me feel like I'll never write anything as good. It was really cool to hear him tell the back story today. Thanks for this.
Hermiel amazing i ve almost felt the same. This song has got like a hiden vibratiion , but you put it into the exact words
Have you seen the film "At close range" ? The lyrics make a lot more sense of you've seen it. The lyrics are basically telling the story of the film
@@th8257 AH, is THAT the name of the movie that it was featured in? I was going to ask...
One of the my favorite songs of all time, and that is saying a lot. I will never, ever not hear this song and listen to it all the way thru.
My personal favorite Madonna song. I was a kid in the 80’s and she was huge and although I liked a couple of her songs but this one stood out for me.
One of the handful of Motion Picture songs that should have been nominated for an Oscar.
Live to Tell
This Used to be my Playground
I’ll Remember
And she was absolutely robbed by not getting a performance Oscar for Sooner or Later and You Must Love Me.
I’d be salty.
Patrick leonard is a fantastic songwriter. And together with Stephen Bray and Of course Madonna, they were one helluva team.
I think it's one of the greatest songs ever written
One aspect I love about this story is to never give up and keep persevering. He got fired and he could have turned to self pity/depression etc..But instead something much greater was waiting for him. It may not happen the same day, like this story; but keep on fighting for your cause!
The music is so emotional, wonderful chords and love the 80's production
its so beautiful. Madonna's at her best when she's with Pat & Steve Bray. for me, its True Blue that is her best album. i know its not everyone's, but as a young dance student the diversity of all those songs is just a gift. love Madonna. 💯👑🙏❤️👋👋
Patrick Leonard, criminally underrated composer.
He wrote the music, Madonna wrote the lyrics, Madonna is incredibly underrated as a Lyricist and song producer, people don't even realize she's even written and produced songs for other artists
Amazing how the record company could not tell that this was a hit its so obvious one of madonnas best for sure.
this song is my favorite song out of all of her songs. and every time she doesn't live she brings out the drama. you should be proud it is truly a magnificent work of art.❤
She has one of the best "noses" in the whole industry, be it stylists (Jean Paul Gaultier) or producers (William Orbit). Live to Tell is something others would probably not care for, but she saw the story behind it and it came true. Now one of my personal favourites in her catalogue, it feels like a very emotional testimony which stays with you afterwards.
She (Madonna) wrote the lyrics of this song. And also as far as I know she has some contributions to the music of this song. Like hundreds of other her songs.
Possibly the best music and lyrics from possibly the best song from the best era in my life 💚👍
Patrick Leonard deserves more respect. It's a shame that his band Trillion never hit big, but their 1980 album Clear Approach has some good stuff on it, and hinted at what they might have done on later albums.
Was it a rock band?
It's karma for the bullshit he pulled on Kevin Gilbert in 1992.
@@dankenton can you describe this? sounds too insider for me to know about!
@@basehead617 He didn't support the band that he founded following the album release leaving the promotion and tour support solely to Kevin. If it hadn't been for Mark & Brian of KLOS, Toy Matinee would have been playing the carnival & wedding gig circuit instead of the limited club run.
@HighHopesBass True, but none of the other guys were considered founders. Only 2 guys had their mugs on the album, right?
"Live to Tell" allowed Madonna to show her more theatrical and dramatic side; she was mostly known for girlish and youthful up-tempo dance songs before that record. That's what helped catch so many ears, as it was something different for her. I saw the movie with Sean Penn, but I couldn't get into it, but then there was this majestic SONG that I fell in love with right away. It still sounds awesome. Next to "Vogue" I think it is just about her best single.
I love his authenticity as an artist. ❤️
For those who haven't seen "At Close Range" - really worth watching. The lyrics of "Live to Tell" make much more sense if you've seen it. They basically tell the story of the film.
Wow, they thought it was OVER for her after this amazingly powerful song? Really? This has to be my favorite song ever! Period.
In 1985, I would have given my right arm to have someone say to me: “Madonna’s on the phone...”
yeah, she was at least 3 of the posters i had on my bedroom wall then lol
I love how he opens with, "I was trying to get into scoring films at the time." Then he immediately goes on to write one of the most memorable background tracks for a movie ever. Not too shabby! To this day, I remember the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack to At Close Range far more than the movie itself. And the single is by far my favorite Madonna track.
The melody that he said she came up with happens to be my favorite part of the song. I'd even say it's the heart of the song.
Yes! I'm fascinated with Madonna's key players and writers in the mid 80's. What a lineup.
I think it's been proven with time that record company executives didn't know crap about what people could like. They just plain would get lucky. Madonna was the true master of knowing what worked.
One of the best songs of the 80s. Madonna and Leonard were one of the best songwriting teams of the modern popular music era.
Patrick Leonard spend that day (and presumably many others) between working with Michael Jackson and Madonna in the 80's when they both were in their peak. How fortunate and talented had to be this guy for the 2 top pop royalties of all time to bounce him between them contributing to 2 of the best albums that came out in the whole 80's decade. Amazing time.
Not to mention that Patrick Leonard was fundamental not only in the making of "True Blue" but in creating "Like A Prayer": an album that according to Rolling Stone "as close to art as pop gets". Plus, thanks to his musical skills and immense creativity we have songs like "The Look Of Love", "Something To Remember", "Skin" and "Frozen".
@@antinoocpyes you are right. He also wrote the lyrics of the songs right? Not Madonna Madonna did nothing on her songs 😂 anyway, everyone knows Patrick Leonard is a great, amazing musician. And so is Madonna.
@@sagauronno: actually Madonna wrote almost all the lyrics of her own songs at least until Hard Candy era.
@@antinoocp exactly but all of her eras including Hard Candy era actually I have checked the writing credits of the songs of her Hard Candy album and other more current album of hers.
She's got sooo much material that wasn't released. "Like a flower" for instance. That could've been a massive ballad smash 😘😘
Synths on this album are incredible. Pads/Bells especially
beautiful song, beautiful movie.
One of Madonna's best songs. Love it!
To be fair, Madonna grew into her voice: she started with that Minnie Mouse sound, but started to show vocal maturity by the late 80's. She reached a whole new level of singing when she was preparing to film "Evita", and that's because she was taking voice lessons. She owes a lot to her songwriters/producers in the 80's/90's, especially Patrick Leonard: his ballads and easy grooves are what gave her singing voice a backbone, an elegance beyond her age. His producing expertise is partially what saved her from being a mere flash in the pan.
She proved with her first album and her band Emmy that she could write all by herself if need be, but he turned out to be a terrific muse.
Excuse me, no Black Artist can beat Madonna’s cover of Love Dont live Here Anymore. and that ballad was on your Minnie Mouse album.
PensiveCzar where was the Minnie Mouse voice in Love Dont Live Hear Anymore????? It was the music of the era, and it was not because she didnt have a great voice. Live To Tell was Minnie Mouse???? Crazy For You, which is still playing in the radio in 2020 is not Minnie Mouse. Janet Jackson talks like Minnie Mouse!
PensiveCzar I know. i was just being too spontaneous. you know, id prefer typing on a type writer lately than use my fingers on an iphone. Well, that mini mouse was not to conceal her voice. The topics were to political and too personal for the era. If Lenon were as slutty looking or had tits, he’d still be alive. Madonna had to be Minnie Mouse or else they’ll assasinate her. She talks about Truth no one wants to hear about. Unless, its just some trashy slut from Michigan. But then cleans up with Live To Tell. Tells the pope to stop raping kids, With Papa Dont Preach. No one killed her, because her Nude photos were on Playboy and Pent House. Well the Minnie Mouse voice were her bullet proof vest.
@@prophetmadonna3744 you've been hiding behind the screen for too long you aren't even awared of your dysfunctional thinking
Truly one of the best written songs ever!
what a fascinating story I love when things like this just come together musical magic. And one of my favorite Madonna songs and yes, she can to sing!
My sisters loved Madonna, so I kind of absorbed all of her songs, and now there's so much nostalgia tied to them connecting me with that time when I was a little kid.
This IS the best song which came out for Madonna, the nostalgic factor of this song was instand and I can even when I was 11 years old back then taste the time, taste the things happening back then.
One of the most beautiful ballads ever released was recorded in one take
Patrick, thank you very very much for such a lovely and cherished song. I really thank you and Madonna.
It is scary how moving this track is.
Everytime i see Pat sit at the piano and play those hauntingly beautiful first intro chords i get chills every time....
The song is so beautiful
I'm glad we are still alive to tell that this song is a masterpiece! A fan from Colombia South America!
its one of the best songs ever sung and written i would say her best work ever.... it denied the 80s perfect for its time perfect to this day.. MASTERPIECE by far
This one is THAT ONE SONG to me!
Thank you Patrick and Madonna! (and Sean)
Madonna stuck to her instincts in spite of the record company’s opposition and she was right (as usual) probably her best song ❤
Live to Tell has got to be one of the greatest songs of all time. Every thing about it, every element is beautiful, artistic, resonating, crafted, perfect...(I can go on forever). It should've been nominated for an Academy Award and won! But the critics then were snobs and hacks to acknowledge or appreciate it.
Will never get tired of this song, It's a masterpiece.
Why dont we hear more about these legends.
The artists would be literally nothing without them.
Here is a lesson for you: Madonna's legacy is bigger than just "Patrick Leonard" alone. There’s a reason why people like Leonard, Orbit, Mirwais etc. NEVER had much acclaim or success outside of their collaborations with Madonna - she is the common denominator of her works.
If it wasn't for songs written by Madonna, no one today would have cared to mention those names. You learned that? Good.
@@CrystalCoffin Shes just a singer. Other people write her songs.
@@grimmer2005 Did you watch the video? She wrote the lyrics, which are just as powerful in this particular track IMO
@@grimmer2005 huh? Madonna wrote the lyrics to this song, she writes the lyrics to about 95% of her material, her co producer writes the music
@@CrystalCoffinLMFAO you are so bitter! It's fun to read you go like that. Poor thing.
This and take a bow and power of goodbye are my top 3 ❤
Patrick did Madonnas best songs
Take a Bow and The Power of Goodbye are ballads better than Live to Tell
@@helgafever768 No way, dude. He wrote Oh, Father that was a great hit too.
Madonna wrote the lyrics of those songs, and also made contributions to the musics. Madonna is also an incredible, consummate song writer. And Patrick Leonard is a great, amazing musician.
One of her best ballads - Shame she doesn’t sing it on stage anymore
I wish someone would release the complete score to the film. Best use of variations on a theme I've ever heard in 1 movie.
Somebody clone this guy. He really deserves a medal. PURE GENIUS
Wonderful Patrick... so supremely talented. Madonna's Live to tell's one of the bests songs ever made!
this song blows me away... never been a madonna fan... but seeing the movie when the movie came out just did me IN....
Best Madonna song, great movie.
The fact that this song almost never happened is wild. One of my favorite songs from the 80s.
Crazy to think Vogue almost didn't happen either. Madonna's record company asked her to write a B side for an upcoming single off her Like A Prayer album, and she came back with Vogue. Luckily her record company at the time was smart enough to know that the song was too good to waste as a throw away B side track.
I was a Headbanger metal freak then started to sing and then I started liking music like this amazing talent
April 2020 - This is awesome what you are doing Top 2000 a gogo. Thank you 4 this much appreciated and sharing.
Glad to hear it, spread the word!
@@Top2000agogo I am
I've always wondered how this song came together for the film.... huge fan of At Close Range.. and how the music was used throughout as a score.. now it all makes sense.
This guy has a very, very special way with melodies
Can you imagine a work conflict where you are sitting in a room with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, then to get a phone call from Madonna and Sean Penn and say: "I'll get to you later." ;-)
This was kinda "weird song", so, that's why it attracted me so much. Madonna at her best. My top #1 from Madonna.
Madonna in a warmer, lower register are some of my favourites from her, this and Take a bow really showed off her range.
So glad she choose to sing this
This song is one of the saddest, beautiful..songs ever..it's covered by so many...Good Stuff Pal...I listen to it once a month.
This channel is pure gold!
Thanks!
This song is one of Madonna's fn
best songs!!Love this song!!
That song is absolutely amazing! So haunting and perfect.
Beautiful song..such an evocative track..the stop and return in it is genius..pure magic.
It started a lifelong love affair for me and Madonna's music.I think it was such an important moment in her career.I have always loved her work with Patrick Leonard..and I know she likes to break new ground and for new things but I am willing them to work together on an album again...maybe a dark ballad ,melody based ,piano/vocal project at some point.
😓this is the most amazing song & video & no matter what it could make you cry with in a second i remember being thirteen& watching the video & going ,whoaaaaa,this is a very good touchy song,the other part is if it came on in a store or mall or someone playing it out loud it would give that huge nostalgic feeling & still does to this very day. huge 👏#congrats to both @patrickleonard& @madonna
Remember hearing this song in a theater before a movie I went to see. It gave me goosebumps then and still does 30+ years later.
What a great great song. Takes my breath. Such memories. Awesome.
It’s a beautiful song and Madonna’s voice on this is golden. I had a dream about this song so I’m here 😳
Loved it when artists sang melodies. Great song.
The song that made the 80's come to a standstill!
She never sang it again. That was it. Simply focused emotions.
Will always be my fave Madonna song, hands down.
Hands down her peak musically was this song. Heads and shoulders above anything else she’s done.
Not her Ray of Light album which is more in line with something Kate Bush would release. Patrick Leonard also worked on that album with her
It’s interesting to get the back story of how songs come together- more often than not its seems the biggest hits for some artist come to them in a flash or an instant never to be duplicated-
So much depth and atmosphere..
Great story! Amazing song.
That was great! Especially since we all lived it.
Unforgettable masterpiece timeless song
in the beginning of the movie, that score is the best!
Patrick Leonard what an amazing songwriter
One of the awesome songs of all time :)