Express Yourself (Madonna song)
"Express Yourself" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her fourth studio album, Like a Prayer (1989). It was released as the second single from the album on May 9, 1989, by Sire Records. The song was included on the greatest hits compilation albums The Immaculate Collection (1990), Celebration (2009) and Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (2022). "Express Yourself" was the first song that Madonna and co-producer Stephen Bray collaborated on for Like a Prayer. Written and produced by them, the song was a tribute to American funk and soul band Sly and the Family Stone. The main inspiration behind the song is female empowerment, urging women never to go for second-best and to urge their partners to express their inner feelings.
Madonna beginning the performance of "Express Yourself" on 1993's The Girlie Show World Tour, sitting on top of a disco ball.
Madonna and her dancers performing a military themed version of "Express Yourself" during the Re-Invention World Tour (2004)
The music video for "Express Yourself" was directed by David Fincher.
Madonna portraying a masculine persona in the music video for "Express Yourself"
Like a Prayer is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on March 21, 1989, by Sire Records. It saw the singer reunited with Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray, with whom she had worked collaborated on her previous studio album True Blue (1986), and the soundtrack to the 1987 film Who's That Girl; artist Prince also collaborated on the record, co-writing and co-producing one of the tracks alongside Madonna. Her most introspective release at the time, Like a Prayer is a pop record with elements of rock and dance pop. Its lyrics deal with personal themes she had been too afraid to approach up at that point: her Catholic upbringing, her troubled marriage to actor Sean Penn, the death of her mother, and her relationship with her father.
Prince (pictured) collaborated with Madonna on the composition and production of "Love Song".
Madonna opening the Blond Ambition World Tour with a performance of second single "Express Yourself".
Madonna singing title track and lead single "Like a Prayer" on the Celebration Tour (2023–2024). It reached the first spot of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her seventh number one there.
Fine Young Cannibals' The Raw & the Cooked kept Like a Prayer from reaching the first position of RPM's Albums chart.