"Open Your Heart"
stands as another landmark in Madonna's emerging
pop sophistication. The song is one of the best
of her '80s tracks, but the strength of this
single is its compelling video. This marks
Madonna's first collaboration with Jean-Baptiste
Mondino, who can proudly stand next to David
Fincher and Mark Romanek
as one of Madonna's best video directors. The
video starred Madonna as an "adult"
dancer where different men watch as she performs
for them. Perhaps the most important character in
the video, however, is the young boy who stands
outside the theater wanting to get in. He
represents burgeoning sexuality, wanting to
express it but not finding the avenue to do so.
Finally he starts to dance in front of a mirror,
and at the end of the video is joined by Madonna
as she leaves, and the two dance together on the
street at dawn (which is certainly no
coincidence). Personally I think the young boy
stands as one of the most important characters in
any of her videos, and represents one of the most
important concepts that Madonna has promoted in
her career -- coming to terms with and accepting
your individual sexuality, and finding ways to
express, rather than repress, those feelings.
TRIVIA: "Open Your
Heart" was originally titled "Follow
Your Heart," and was offered to Cyndi
Lauper at first. When Madonna got a hold
of the song, it took on a more dance-pop feel and
the lyrics were changed somewhat.
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