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| Name = Keep It Together
| Name = Keep It Together
| Cover = KeepItTogether1989.PNG
| Cover = KeepItTogether1989.PNG
| Alt = A brunette woman with short hair cuddling herself, while wearing a black corset. A mirror image is present beside herself, however the colors are inverted.
| Caption =
| Artist = [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]
| Artist = [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]
| Album = [[Like a Prayer (album)|Like a Prayer]]
| Album = [[Like a Prayer (album)|Like a Prayer]]
| B-side = "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]" <small>(Australia)</small><br> "Keep It Together" (Instrumental) (USA)
| B-side = "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]" <small>(Australia)</small>
| Released = January 30, 1990 <small>(North America, Europe)</small> <br>March 25, 1990 <small>([[Japan]])</small>
| Released = January 30, 1990
| Format = [[Maxi single|CD]], [[Compact Cassette|Cassette]], [[Gramophone record|7" single]]
| Format = [[Compact disc single|CD]], [[Cassette single|Cassette]], [[Gramophone record|7"]], [[12-inch single|12"]]
| Recorded = 1988
| Recorded = 1988
| Genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[funk]]
| Genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[funk]]
| Length = 5:03
| Length = 5:03
| Label = [[Sire Records|Sire]], [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| Label = [[Sire Records|Sire]], [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| Writer = Madonna <br> [[Stephen Bray]]
| Writer = Madonna, [[Stephen Bray]]
| Producer = Madonna <br> Stephen Bray
| Producer = Madonna, Stephen Bray
| Certification = * [[RIAA certification|Gold]] <small> (United States)</small>
| Last single = "[[Dear Jessie]]"<br>(1989)
| Last single = "[[Dear Jessie]]"<br>(1989)
| This single = "'''Keep It Together'''"<br>(1990)
| This single = "'''Keep It Together'''"<br>(1990)
| Next single = "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]"<br>(1990)
| Next single = "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]"<br>(1990)
| Misc = }}
| Misc =
}}
"'''Keep It Together'''" is a song by American singer-songwriter [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], from her fourth studio album, ''[[Like a Prayer]]''. It was released on January 30, 1990, by [[Sire Records]] as the sixth and final single from the album in the United States and Japan. In Australia it was released as the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] of "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]", while it was not released in the United Kingdom at all, where "[[Dear Jessie]]" served as the album's final single. Written and produced by Madonna and [[Stephen Bray]], "Keep It Together" was written about Madonna's relationship with her family—whom she dearly missed—and was dedicated to American [[funk]] and [[soul music|soul]] band, [[Sly and the Family Stone]]. A [[pop music|pop]] and [[funk]] song consisting of an upbeat [[rhythm]] and [[groove (music)|groove]], "Keep It Together" features instrumentation from [[percussion]], [[banjo]] and a [[conga]]. The lyrics deal with the realization of how important Madonna's family has been to her life.

Critically receiving mixed reviews, "Keep It Together" was compared to the work of [[Sister Sledge]], especially their song "[[We Are Family (song)|We Are Family]]". Although receiving limited release, the song was a commercial success, reaching a peak of number eight on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and Canadian charts, while topping the dance chart in the United States. In Australia, it reached the top of the [[ARIA Charts|ARIA Singles Chart]] alongside "Vogue". "Keep It Together" has been performed only on the 1990 [[Blond Ambition World Tour]] by Madonna. It was added as the last song of the setlist and the performance was inspired by the 1971 [[science fiction]] film, ''[[A Clockwork Orange (film)|A Clockwork Orange]]'', in its staging and featured an introductory verse from "[[Family Affair]]" by Sly and the Family Stone.

==Background==
When Madonna started work on her fourth studio album, ''[[Like a Prayer]]'', she was already in an emotional state of mind, following her divorce with then-husband, [[Sean Penn]], her thirtieth birthday, and unfavorable reviews for her acting endeavors.<ref name="rikk1">{{harvnb|Rooksby|2004|p=30}}</ref> She had certain personal matters on her mind that she thought could be the musical direction of the album.<ref name="tara1">{{harvnb|Taraborrelli|2002|p=168}}</ref> But she understood that as she was growing up, so was her core audience. Feeling the need to try out something different, Madonna wanted the sound of her new album to indicate what could be popular in the music world.<ref name="lucy1">{{harvnb|O'Brien|2007|p=120}}</ref> However, being raised as a Catholic, Madonna felt guilty about the failure of her marriage.<ref name="bego">{{harvnb|Bego|2000|p=90}}</ref> "Because in Catholicism you are a born sinner and and you are a sinner all your life", she said, "I could not escape my past, nor could I relax".<ref name="lucy1"/> Feeling sad for what was happening with her, Madonna missed her family, her father and her siblings. She confessed to Becky Johnston of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'':
<blockquote>
"I didn't feel close to anybody in my family when I was growing up. I felt like an outsider in my own house. I didn't feel close to my older brothers, they were just typical older brothers who tortured me all the time. And I didn't feel close to my sisters. There was a lot of competition in our family, and I was always vying for my fathers attention and all that, so, I worked really hard in school. I was a straight-A student, and they all hated me for it because I did it more for the position I was going to have in my father’s eyes that for whatever I was going to learn by studying. Then when I got a little older—when I was in high school and started dancing really seriously—I'd say I got closer to my brothers. My oldest brother opened my eyes to lots of things, and I didn't see him as just my creepy older brother anymore. And my [[Christopher Ciccone|younger brother]] would come to dance classes with me."<ref name="rsint">{{cite journal|last=Johnston|first=Becky|title=Madonna Grows Up|date=1989-06-09|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|publisher=[[Jann Wenner]]|volume=698|issue=98|issn=0035-791X |pages=61–67|ref=harv}}</ref>
</blockquote>
As Madonna pondered over her thoughts, producers [[Patrick Leonard]] and [[Stephen Bray]] experimented with various instrumental tracks and musical ideas for her consideration.<ref name="tara1"/> Madonna was also writing songs and listening to the work of American [[funk]] and [[soul music|soul]] band, [[Sly and the Family Stone]].<ref name="songtalk">{{cite journal|last=Zollo|first=Paul|authorlink=Paul Zollo|date=May 1989|title=Madonna on her turbulence|work=SongTalk|publisher=[[Mortimer Zuckerman]]|page=21|volume=10|issue=5}}</ref> One such song, written about family and dedicated to the band, was called "Keep It Together", which Madonna presented to Bray for his inputs. He liked it and after changing some of the lyrics they and decided to include it on the album.<ref name="songtalk"/> With ''SongTalk'' magazine, Madonna explained that "isolated by fame and shaken by the failure of my marriage, I could only reach out to the stability of my family roots, and 'Keep It Together' is for that only."<ref name="songtalk"/><ref name="lucy2">{{harvnb|O'Brien|2007|p=122}}</ref> The song was released as the sixth and final single from the album on January 30, 1990, by [[Sire Records]].<Ref name="rikk1"/> In Australia it was released as the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] of "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]", while it was not released in the United Kingdom at all, where "[[Dear Jessie]]" served as the album's final single.<ref name="rikk1"/>

==Composition==
{{listen
{{listen
|pos=right
| pos = left
| filename = Madonna - keep it together.ogg
| filename = Madonna - keep it together.ogg
| title = "Keep It Together"
| title = "Keep It Together"
| description = A 30&nbsp;second sample of "Keep It Together", which illustrates the [[refrain|chorus]] of the song, where in instruments like [[percussion]] and [[banjo]] accompany Madonna's voice on the track. Near the end of the sample, the percussion sound is thinned out and a mixture of the sound from a live drummer and [[conga]] comes into the picture.
| description =
| format = [[Ogg]]
| format = [[Ogg]]
}}
}}
"Keep It Together" is a [[pop music|pop]] and [[funk]] song, consisting of an upbeat [[rhythm]] and [[groove (music)|groove]].<ref name="rikky2">{{harvnb|Rooksby|2004|p=36}}</ref> According to Sal Cinquemani of [[Slant Magazine]], it is influenced by the Sly and the Family Stone track "[[Family Affair]]" (1971).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/madonna-like-a-prayer/342|title=Madonna: Like a Prayer|date=2003-10-20|accessdate=2011-12-13|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|publisher=[[Slant Magazine]]}}</ref> The song starts with the sound of [[slapping|slap bass]] playing along with sequenced synth bass, as Madonna sings the opening lines "Keep, keep it together, keep people together forever and ever". As the first [[verse (popular music)|verse]] starts, a guitar comes into play with Madonna's voice being backed by [[percussion]] and [[banjo]].<ref name="rikky2"/> After the second [[refrain|chorus]] comes near the end, Madonna utters the line "Brothers and sisters, They hold the key, To your heart and your soul, Don't forget that your family is gold", the percussion sound is thinned out and a [[audio mixing (recorded music)|mixture]] of the sound from a live drummer and [[conga]] comes into the picture.<ref name="rikky2"/> The song ends with the main groove sound gradually [[fade (audio engineering)|fading out]].<ref name="rikky2"/> "Keep It Together" was produced by Madonna and Bray, and features [[Paulinho da Costa]] on percussion, brass playing by David Boruff and Steven Madaio, [[Bill Bottrell]] as the [[audio engineer]] and guitars by Chester Kamen.<ref name="liner"/> Musician [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], who also played guitar on "Keep It Together", was asked by Madonna to do so, after they confessed their mutual admiration for each others work. They later worked together on another track from the album called "Love Song", which Prince co-produced.<ref name="songtalk"/> As per the sheet music published by [[Hal Leonard Corporation]], "Keep It Together" is set in the [[time signature]] of common time, with a [[tempo]] of 104 [[beats per minute]].<ref name="sheet">{{cite web|title=Digital Sheet Music Book – Madonna – Like a Prayer|last=Cicone|first=Madonna|last2=Leonard|first2=Patrick|year=2008|publisher=Musicnotes.com. [[Hal Leonard Corporation]]}}</ref> It is composed in the [[key (music)|key]] of [[D minor]] with Madonna's voice ranging from the notes of B<sub>3</sub> to D<sub>5</sub>.<ref name="sheet"/> The song follows a basic [[chord progression]] of Cm–A{{music|flat}}m–Cm–A{{music|flat}}m–B{{music|flat}}.<ref name="sheet"/>
"'''Keep It Together'''" is a funk/R&B song by American recording artist, song-writer, composer [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], it was released on January 30, 1990, by [[Sire Records]] as the 6th and final single of her fourth studio album, ''[[Like a Prayer]]''.


According to Rikky Rooksby, author of ''The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna'', although "Keep It Together" sonically pays tribute to Sly and the Family Stone, the lyrics talk about the realization of how important Madonna's family has been as a form of stability in her life especially in the line "Brothers and sisters, They've always been there for me, We have a connection, Home is where the heart should be".<ref name="rikky2"/> The lyrics follow the course of Madonna's rise from figuratively being a "hungry sibling" ("I'm gonna leave this place, So I can forget every single hungry face") to being a superstar ("I hit the big time but I still get the blues, Everyone's a stranger, City life can get to you").<ref name="bego"/>
==Background==
Lyrically, ''Like a Prayer'' was seen at the time as Madonna's most intimate and confessional release, dealing with her personal relationships, experiences with religion, men, and her family. "Keep It Together", while sonically paying tribute to [[Sly and the Family Stone]], is about the realization of how important Madonna's family has been as a form of stability in her life ("Brothers and sisters/They've always been there for me/We have a connection/Home is where the heart should be").


==Critical reception==
The lyrics follow the course of Madonna's rise from figuratively - and literally - hungry sibling ("I'm gonna leave this place/So I can forget every single hungry face") to superstar ("I hit the big time but I still get the blues/Everyone's a stranger/City life can get to you"). Despite her mixed emotions about her formative years, the underlying theme of the song is that the family connection remains, with Madonna urging her listeners to never forget that one's family "is gold".
{{Quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote="'Keep It Together' is amazing, purely for being Madonna's take on [[Sister Sledge]]'s '[[We Are Family (song)|We Are Family]]', a concept no one foresaw, and the fact that she later disowned various members of her family gives it, shall we say, an interesting tinge of irony."|source=—Hadley Freeman from ''[[The Guardian]]'' talking about "Keep It Together".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/aug/23/like-prayer-madonna|title=My favortie album: Like a Prayer by Madonna|last=Freeman|first=Hadley|date=2011-08-23|accessdate=2011-12-15|work=[[The Guardian]]|publisher=[[Guardian News and Media]]}}</ref>

}}
This was the last collaboration with frequent writing partner [[Stephen Bray]] that Madonna released as a single. "Keep It Together" was also the first Madonna single of the 1990s, the second decade of her solo career.
Mark C. Taylor, author of ''Nots: Religion and Postmodernism'', felt that "Keep It Together" was a "striking instance of her repeated invocation of family values". He believed that Madonna's preoccupation with her mother's death and obsession with Catholicism was transferred in her fascination for family, which was reflected in the song.<ref>{{harvnb|Taylor|1993|p=194}}</ref> Carol Benz, one of the authors of ''The Madonna Connection'', believed that the song was successful in asserting the necessity of family ties.<ref>{{harvnb|Metz|Benson|1999|p=188}}</ref> [[J. Randy Taraborrelli]], author of ''[[Madonna: An Intimate Biography]]'' described the track as "an uptempo romp about the trials and tribulations, and the joys of having a family."<ref>{{harvnb|Taraborrelli|2002|p=164}}</ref> Martha Bayles, author of ''Hole In Our Soul'', felt that "Keep It Together" failed to become an anthem for emotional commitment, because of the funk nature of the song.<ref name="bayles">{{harvnb|Bayles|1996|p=335}}</ref> ''Madonna, Unauthorized''{{'}}s writer Christopher Anderson proclaimed the track as a worthy number-one single, and complimented the song's theme of allegiance to one's family, despite the turmoil and dissensions that occur.<ref>{{harvnb|Anderson|1992|p=355}}</ref> [[Lucy O'Brien]], author of ''Madonna: Like an Icon'', described it as an "upbeat meditation on sibling power". O'Brien believed that the purpose behind the song was to present a homey image of brothers and sisters jostling together, and Madonna's need to restore bonds and relationships, that had become fraught or distant in her life then.<ref>{{harvnb|O'Brien|2007|p=197}}</ref>


''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''{{'}}s Joe Levy observed that "Keep It Together" was a "girly-disco" song that drew influences from Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" and Madonna's own "[[Into the Groove]]". Levy concluded by naming the song as the only "great" dance record on ''Like a Prayer''.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Levy|first=Joe|title=Madonna: Like a Prayer|date=May 1989|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|publisher=Spin Media LLC|page=79|volume=5|issue=2|issn=0886-3032}}</ref> [[Stephen Holden]] from ''[[The New York Times]]'' believed that the song resurrected the edgy pop-funk style and hippie optimism of Sly and Family Stone.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/19/arts/madonna-re-creates-herself-again.html|title=Madonna Re-Creates Herself – Again|last=Holden|first=Stephen|date=1989-03-19|accessdate=2011-12-12|authorlink=Stephen Holden|work=[[The New York Times]]|page=5}}</ref> Journalist [[J. D. Considine]], while reviewing the album for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', felt that "Keep It Together" portrayed a "an impressive invocation of the importance of family". Considine was concerned that since the confessional nature of the songs on ''Like a Prayer'' evoked strong emotions from the listener, "Keep It Together" would probably seem almost trivial by comparison to them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/like-a-prayer-19890406|title=Album Reviews – Like a Prayer|last=Considine|first=J. D.|date=1989-04-06|accessdate=2011-12-14|work=Rolling Stone|publisher=Jann Wenner|authorlink=J. D. Considine}}</ref> [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] from [[Allmusic]] believed that the song constituted of deep funk music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/r12208|title=Like a Prayer – Madonna|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|date=2001-12-04|accessdate=2011-12-14|authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|publisher=[[Allmusic]]. [[Rovi Corporation]]}}</ref>
In the US, it was Madonna's last 7" vinyl single issued with a picture sleeve. All her future 45s came in plain white die-cut sleeves. The picture sleeve release of "Keep It Together" was extremely limited and is a major rarity.{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}}


==Chart performance==
==Chart performance==
In the United States, "Keep It Together" debuted on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] at number&nbsp;56, on the issue dated February 3, 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/charts/hot-100?chartDate=1990-02-03&order=gainer|title=The Billboard Hot 100: Week Ending February 3, 1990|date=1990-02-03|accessdate=2011-12-14|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc}}</ref> The next week, "Keep It Together" jumped to number&nbsp;41, becoming one of the greatest gaining songs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/charts/hot-100?chartDate=1990-02-10&order=gainer|title=The Billboard Hot 100: Week Ending February 10, 1990|date=1990-02-10|accessdate=2011-12-14|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc}}</ref> It eventually peaked at number eight on the Hot 100, during the week of March 31, 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/charts/hot-100?chartDate=1990-03-31|title=The Billboard Hot 100: Week Ending March 31, 1990|date=1990-03-31|accessdate=2011-12-14|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc}}</ref> During the next few weeks, the song fell quickly from its peak as Madonna's next single, "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]", began to get massive radio airplay, while "Keep It Together" was still in the top thirty.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28860848.html?dids=28860848:28860848&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+06%2C+1990&author=Jan+DeKnock&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Dayne%2C+Raitt+keep+women's+streak+going&pqatl=google|title=Dayne, Raitt Keep Women's Streak Going|date=1990-04-06|last=DeKnock |first=Jan|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher=[[Tribune Company]]|accessdate=2009-09-21}}</ref> Its final appearance on the Hot 100 was number&nbsp;83 on the issue dated April 28, 1990, which was its thirteenth week on the chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/charts/hot-100?chartDate=1990-04-28&order=drop|title=The Billboard Hot 100: Week Ending April 28, 1990|date=1990-04-28|accessdate=2011-12-14|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc}}</ref> Alongside the Hot 100, "Keep It Together" topped the [[Hot Dance Club Songs|Hot Dance Music/Club Play]] chart, and peaked at number&nbsp;66 on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart.<ref name="bb">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/song/madonna/keep-it-together/1759988|title=Madonna – Keep It Together|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|accessdate=2011-12-14}}</ref> Three months since its release, it was certified [[RIAA certifications|gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) for shipment of 500,000&nbsp;copies of the single.<ref name="riaa">{{cite web|url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database#|title=RIAA – Gold & Platinum – Searchable Database|date=1990-04-11|accessdate=2011-12-14|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]}}</ref> In Canada, the song debuted at number&nbsp;85 on the [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'' Singles Chart]] on February 10, 1990,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6644&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|title=Top Singles – Volume 51, No. 13, February 10 1990|date=1990-02-10|accessdate=2011-12-14|work=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|publisher=RPM Library Archives}}</ref> and after eight weeks, peaked at number eight.<ref name="rpm">{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9099&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|title=Top Singles – Volume 51, No. 21, April 07 1990|date=1990-04-07|accessdate=2011-12-14|work=RPM|publisher=RPM Library Archives}}</ref> "Keep It Together" was present on the chart for fifteen weeks<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.1243&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|title=Top Singles – Volume 52, No. 1, May 19 1990|date=1990-05-19|accessdate=2011-12-14|work=RPM|publisher=RPM Library Archives}}</ref> and placed at number&nbsp;86 on the ''RPM'' Year-end chart for 1990.<ref name="rpmyearend">{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9139&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|title=Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990|date=1990-12-22|accessdate=2011-12-14|work=RPM|publisher=RPM Library Archives}}</ref>
"Keep It Together" jumped from 56-41 the week of February 10, 1990 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] chart, eventually peaking in the number-eight spot during the week of March 31, 1990. During the next few weeks, the song fell quickly from its peak as "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]" began gaining massive airplay and debuted on the singles chart while "Keep It Together" was still in the Top 30. It also topped the [[Hot Dance Music/Club Play]] and [[Hot Dance Singles Sales|Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales]] chart.


In Australia, "Keep It Together" charted on the [[ARIA Charts|ARIA Singles Chart]] along with "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]". It debuted on the chart at number&nbsp;19 and reached the top the next week, remaining there for a total of five consecutive weeks.<ref name="aus">{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Madonna&titel=Vogue&cat=s|title=Madonna – Vogue (Song)|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|accessdate=2011-12-14}}</ref> The song was present for a total of 35&nbsp;weeks on the chart and reached number three on the Australian Year-end chart for 1990.<ref name="kent">{{harvnb|Kent|1993|p=342}}</ref><ref name="ariayear">{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-50-singles-1990.htm|title=ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Singles 1990|accessdate=2011-12-14|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association}}</ref> It was certified two-times platinum by the [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA) for shipment of 140,000&nbsp;copies of the single.<ref name="kent"/> After its release in Japan, "Keep It Together" appeared for two weeks on the [[Oricon]] Singles Chart, and reached a peak of five.<ref name="jap">{{harvnb|Okamoto|2006|p=474}}</ref> The song was not released in the United Kingdom at all, where [[Dear Jessie]] was the final single from the Like a Prayer album instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/madonna/|title=Artist Chart History – Madonna|accessdate=2011-12-24|publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]}}</ref>
In Australia, "Keep It Together" was released as a AA-side with "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]", resulting in a number-one hit. In the [[ARIA Charts|ARIA]] End-of-Year chart, "'''Vogue/Keep It Together'''" reached the number three position.<ref>[http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_home.htm ARIA Charts]</ref> The song was not released in the UK at all, where [[Dear Jessie]] was the final single from the Like a Prayer album instead.


== Music video ==
==Live performance ==
Madonna had performed the song only on her 1990 [[Blond Ambition World Tour]], where it was the closing song of the [[setlist]].<ref name="clerk">{{harvnb|Clerk|2002|p=84}}</ref> The performance of the song was inspired by the 1971 [[science fiction]] film, ''[[A Clockwork Orange (film)|A Clockwork Orange]]'', in its staging and featured an introductory verse from "[[Family Affair]]" by Sly and the Family Stone.<ref name="clerk"/><ref name="affair"/> Madonna wore an all-black ensemble involving a cage vest, the longline bra, skintight shorts, knee-pads and a bowler hat. Her getup was a nod to actress [[Liza Minnelli]] in the film ''[[Cabaret (film)|Cabaret]]''.<Ref name="clerk"/> In an interview with [[Stephen Holden]] from ''The New York Times'', she explained the performance: "Finally, right when you think I'll end [the concert] on a happy note, I come out with my family to do a Bob Fosse-meets-'Clockwork Orange' rendition of 'Keep It Together'.<ref name="affair">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/05/movies/madonna-s-love-affair-with-the-lens.html?src=pm|title=Madonna's Love Affair With the Lens|last=Holden|first=Stephen|date=1991-05-05|accessdate=2012-01-08|work=The New York Times|page=4}}</ref> It's the show's ultimate statement about the family, because we're absolutely brutalizing with each other, while there's also no mistaking that we love each other deeply."Author Lynne Layton complimented the performance saying that "as in her double attitude to materialism, feminity and everything else, what marks the performance is not that Madonna is in control, but that she is open about the pros and cons of family life and obviously echoes the experience of many."<ref>{{harvnb|Layton|p=115}}</ref> Conversely author Allen Metz commented that although the performance was tightly choreographed, the overall feel was marred due to the song's own "shortcomings".<ref>{{harvnb|Metz|Benson|1999|p=203}}</ref> Greg Kot from ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' felt that the addition of lines from "Family Affair" underlined the "home-is-where-the-heart-is" theme of "Keep It Together".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-05-06/features/9002070094_1_blond-ambition-tour-madonna-doesn-t-songs|title=Nothing Is 2nd-rate As Madonna Opens Her Blond Ambition Tour|last=Kot|first=Greg|date=1990-03-06|accessdate=2011-12-24|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher=[[Tribune Company]]}}</ref> Two different performances were taped and released on video, the ''Blond Ambition – Japan Tour 90'', taped in [[Yokohama]], Japan, on April 27, 1990,<ref name="yokohama">{{cite video|people=Madonna|title=Blond Ambition – Japan Tour 90|medium=VHS|publisher=Warner-Pioneer Japan|date=1990}}</ref> and the ''[[Live! – Blond Ambition World Tour 90]]'', taped in [[Nice]], France, on August 5, 1990.<ref>{{cite video|people=Madonna|title=[[Live! – Blond Ambition World Tour 90]]|medium=Laserdisc|publisher=Pioneer Artists|date=1990}}</ref>
No videoclip was ever produced for "Keep It Together". However, some music channels used footage from the song's performance in the [[Blond Ambition Tour]], which referenced ''[[A Clockwork Orange]]'' in its staging and featured an introductory verse from "[[Family Affair]]" by [[Sly & the Family Stone]].


==Track listings and formats==
MTV aired a Blond Ambition performance from the Houston concert that was repeated as a video for the song.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*'''US 12" vinyl disc'''<ref>{{Cite music release notes|Name=Keep It Together|Type=single|Artist=[[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]|Year=1990|Format=US 12-inch Vinyl Single liner notes|Publisher=[[Sire Records]]|PID=0-21427}}</ref>
#"Keep It Together" (12" Remix) – 7:50
#"Keep It Together" (Dub version) – 7:00
#"Keep It Together" (12" Extended Mix) – 7:20
#"Keep It Together" (12" Mix) – 6:50
#"Keep It Together" (Bonus Beats) – 3:27
#"Keep It Together" (Instrumental) – 5:52


*'''US 5" compact disc'''<ref>{{Cite music release notes|Name=Keep It Together|Type=single|Artist=[[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]|Year=1990|Format=US 5-inch Compact Disc liner notes|Publisher=[[Sire Records]]|PID=9 21427-2}}</ref>
==Track listings==
#"Keep It Together" (Single Remix) – 4:32
===US 12" vinyl disc===
#"Keep It Together" (12" Remix)
#"Keep It Together" (12" Remix) – 7:50
#"Keep It Together" (Dub)
#"Keep It Together" (12" Mix) – 6:50
#"Keep It Together" (12" Extended Mix)
#"Keep It Together" (12" Extended Mix) – 7:20
#"Keep It Together" (12" Mix)
#"Keep It Together" (Instrumental) – 5:52
{{col-2}}
#"Keep It Together" (Bonus Beats)
*'''US cassette single and 7" single'''<ref>{{Cite music release notes|Name=Keep It Together|Type=single|Artist=[[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]|Year=1990|Format=US Cassette Single liner notes|Publisher=[[Sire Records]]|PID=9 19986-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite music release notes|Name=Keep It Together|Type=single|Artist=[[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]|Year=1990|Format=US 7-inch Single liner notes|Publisher=[[Sire Records]]|PID=7-19986}}</ref>
#"Keep It Together" (Instrumental)
#"Keep It Together" (Single Remix) – 4:32
#"Keep It Together" (Instrumental) – 5:52


*'''Japanese Maxi CD single'''<ref>{{Cite music release notes|Name=Keep It Together|Type=single|Artist=[[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]|Year=1990|Format=Japanese Maxi CD Single liner notes|Publisher=[[Sire Records]]|PID=WPCP-3200}}</ref>
===US 5" compact disc===
#"[[Cherish (Madonna song)|Cherish]]" (Extended Version) – 4:45
#"Keep It Together" (Single Remix)
#"Keep It Together" (12in Remix)
#"Keep It Together" (12" Remix) – 7:50
#"Keep It Together" (12in Mix)
#"Keep It Together" (Dub version) – 7:00
#"Keep It Together" (12in Extended Mix)
#"Keep It Together" (12" Extended Mix) – 7:20
#"Keep It Together" (Instrumental)
#"Keep It Together" (12" Mix) – 6:50
#"Keep It Together" (Bonus Beats) – 3:27
#"Keep It Together" (Instrumental) – 5:52
{{col-end}}


===US cassette single and 7" single===
==Credits and personnel==
*[[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] – songwriter, [[record producer|producer]], vocals
#"Keep It Together" (Single Remix)
*[[Stephen Bray]] – songwriter, producer
#"Keep It Together" (Instrumental)
*[[Paulinho da Costa]] – percussion
*David Boruff – brass, strings
*Steven Madaio – brass
*[[Bill Bottrell]] – [[audio engineer]], [[audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]]
*Chester Kamen – guitars
*[[Prince (musician)|Prince]] – bass guitar


Credits and personnel adapted from ''Like a Prayer'' album liner notes.<ref name="liner">{{cite album-notes |title=[[Like a Prayer]] |artist=[[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] |year=1989|format=LP, Vinyl, CD |publisher=[[Sire Records]]. WEA Records Pvt. Ltd|publisherid=9 25844-1}}</ref>
===Japanese 5" compact disc E.P.===
#"[[Cherish (Madonna song)|Cherish]]" (Extended Version)
#"Keep It Together" (12" Remix)
#"Keep It Together" (Dub)
#"Keep It Together" (12" Extended Mix)
#"Keep It Together" (12" Mix)
#"Keep It Together" (Bonus Beats)
#"Keep It Together" (Instrumental)

==Official versions==
* "Keep It Together" (Album Version) – 5:03
* "Keep It Together" (Instrumental Version) – 5:52
* "Keep It Together" (12" Remix) – 7:50
* "Keep It Together" (12" Extended Mix) – 7:20
* "Keep It Together" (12" Mix) – 6:50
* "Keep It Together" (Dub Version) – 7:00
* "Keep It Together" (Bonus Beats) – 3:27
* "Keep It Together" (7" Mix) – 4:45
* "Keep It Together" (Single Mix) – 4:32


==Charts==
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{{col-2}}
!Chart (1990)
===Weekly charts===
!Peak<br>Position
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Chart (1990)
! scope="col"|Peak<br>Position
|-
|-
|Australia [[ARIA Charts|ARIA]] Singles Chart
! scope="row"|[[ARIA Charts|Australian Singles Chart]]<ref name="aus"/>
*{{small|Charted with "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]"}}
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|-
|-
! scope="row"|[[RPM (magazine)|Canadian ''RPM'' Singles Chart]]<ref name="rpm"/>
|[[Canadian Singles Chart]]<ref>[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9099&volume=51&issue=21&issue_dt=April%2007%201990&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836 Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 21, April 07 1990]</ref>
|align="center"|8
|align="center"|8
|-
|-
|Italian Singles Chart<ref name="ita">{{cite web|url=http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/mono/madonna_disco.htm|title=Madonna: Discografia Italiana|date=1984-1999|publisher=[[Federation of the Italian Music Industry]]|accessdate=2010-01-08|language=Italian}}</ref>
! scope="row"|[[Federation of the Italian Music Industry|Italian Singles Chart]]<ref name="ita">{{cite web|url=http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/mono/madonna_disco.htm|title=Madonna: Discografia Italiana|date=1984–1999|publisher=[[Federation of the Italian Music Industry]]|accessdate=2010-01-08|language=Italian}}</ref>
|align="center"|16
|align="center"|16
|-
|-
|Japanese [[Oricon]] Weekly Singles Chart
! scope="row"|[[Oricon|Japanese International Singles Chart]]<Ref name="jap"/>
|align="center"|96
|-
|Japanese [[Oricon]] International Singles Chart
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|5
|-
|-
|U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]
! scope="row"|US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref name="bb"/>
|align="center"|8
|align="center"|8
|-
|-
! scope="row"|US [[Hot Dance Club Songs|Hot Dance Music/Club Play]]<ref name="bb"/>
|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks]]
|align="center"|32
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Hot Dance Club Play]]
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|-
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot Black Singles]]
! scope="row"|US [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]]<ref name="bb"/>
|align="center"|66
|align="center"|66
|-
|-
|}
|}
{{col-2}}


===Year-end charts===
==References==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
{{reflist}}
|-
! scope="col"|Charts (1990)
! scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"| Australian Singles Chart<ref name="ariayear"/>
| align="center"|3
|-
!scope="row"|Canadian ''RPM'' Singles Chart<ref name="rpmyearend"/>
|align="center"|85
|-
!scope="row"|US Hot Dance Music/Club Play<ref name="usyear">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/854759|title=Top Dance Club Play Singles 1990|date=1990-12-31|accessdate=2011-12-14|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc}}</ref>
|align="center"|28
|}
{{col-end}}


==See also==
{{start box}}
*[[List of number-one dance singles of 1990 (U.S.)|List of ''Billboard'' number-one dance singles of 1990 (US)]]
{{succession box
*[[List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1990s#1990|List of number-one singles of 1990 (Australia)]]
| before = "[[All Around the World (Lisa Stansfield song)|All Around the World]]" by [[Lisa Stansfield]]

| title = [[Hot Dance Club Play|''Billboard'' Hot Dance Club Play]] [[Number-one dance hits of 1990 (USA)|number-one single]]
==Notes==
| years = March 31, 1990
{{reflist|2}}
| after = "[[Touch Me (49ers song)|Touch Me]]" by [[49ers (band)|49ers]]

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*{{citation
| last =Anderson
| first = Christopher
| title = Madonna, Unauthorized
| year = 1992
| publisher = Island Books
| isbn = 0440213185
}}
*{{citation
| last = Bayles
| first = Martha
| title = Hole In Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music
| year = 1996
| publisher = University of Chicago Press
| isbn = 0226039595
}}
*{{citation
| last = Bego
| first = Mark
| title = Madonna: Blonde Ambition
| publisher = Cooper Square Press
| year = 2000
| authorlink = Mark Bego
| isbn = 0815410514
}}
*{{citation
| last = Clerk
| first = Carol
| title = Madonnastyle
| year = 2002
| publisher = [[Omnibus Press]]
| isbn = 0711988749
}}
*{{citation
|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]]
|format=doc
|last=Kent
|first=David
|authorlink=David Kent (historian)
|publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W
|year=1993
|isbn=0-646-11917-6
}}
*{{citation
| last = Layton
| first = Lynn
| title = Who's That Girl? Who's That Boy?: Clinical Practice Meets Postmodern Gender Theory
| publisher = Routledge Publications
| year = 2006
| isbn = 0881634220
}}
*{{citation
| last = Metz
| first = Allen
| first2 = Carol
| last2 = Benson
| title = The Madonna Companion: Two Decades of Commentary
| publisher = [[Music Sales Group]]
| year = 1999
| isbn = 0825671949
}}
*{{citation
| last = O'Brien
| first = Lucy
| title = Madonna: Like an Icon
| year = 2007
| authorlink = Lucy O'Brien
| publisher = [[Bantam Press]]
| isbn = 0593055470
}}
*{{citation
|title=Oricon Single Chart Book: Complete Edition 1968–2005
|last=Okamoto
|first=Satoshi
|publisher=[[Oricon|Oricon Entertainment]]
|location=Roppongi, Tokyo
|year=2006
|isbn=4871310760
}}
}}
*{{citation
{{succession box
| last = Rooksby
| before = "[[Opposites Attract]]" by [[Paula Abdul]]
| first = Rikky
| title = Australia [[ARIA Charts|ARIA]] Singles Chart [[List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1990s#1990|number-one single]]<br />(with "[[Vogue (Madonna song)|Vogue]]")
| title = The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna
| years = May 5, 1990 - June 9, 1990
| year = 2004
| after = "[[All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You]]" by [[Heart (band)|Heart]]
| publisher = [[Omnibus Press]]
}}
| isbn = 0-7119-9883-3
{{end box}}
}}
*{{citation
| last = Taraborrelli
| first = Randy J.
| authorlink = J. Randy Taraborrelli
| title = [[Madonna: An Intimate Biography]]
| publisher = [[Simon and Schuster]]
| year = 2002
| isbn = 9781416583462
}}
*{{citation
| last = Taylor
| first = Mark C.
| title = Nots: Religion and Postmodernism
| year = 1993
| publisher = University of Chicago Press
| isbn = 0226791300
}}
{{refend}}

==External link==
*{{cite web|url=http://www.madonna.com/discography/index/album/albumId/51/|title=Madonna.com > Discography > Keep It Together|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|publisher=Icon: Official Madonna website. Madonna.com|accessdate=2012-01-08}}</ref>


{{Madonna}}
{{Madonna songs}}
{{Madonna songs}}


Revision as of 09:51, 8 January 2012

"Keep It Together"
Song
B-side"Vogue" (Australia)

"Keep It Together" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna, from her fourth studio album, Like a Prayer. It was released on January 30, 1990, by Sire Records as the sixth and final single from the album in the United States and Japan. In Australia it was released as the B-side of "Vogue", while it was not released in the United Kingdom at all, where "Dear Jessie" served as the album's final single. Written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray, "Keep It Together" was written about Madonna's relationship with her family—whom she dearly missed—and was dedicated to American funk and soul band, Sly and the Family Stone. A pop and funk song consisting of an upbeat rhythm and groove, "Keep It Together" features instrumentation from percussion, banjo and a conga. The lyrics deal with the realization of how important Madonna's family has been to her life.

Critically receiving mixed reviews, "Keep It Together" was compared to the work of Sister Sledge, especially their song "We Are Family". Although receiving limited release, the song was a commercial success, reaching a peak of number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and Canadian charts, while topping the dance chart in the United States. In Australia, it reached the top of the ARIA Singles Chart alongside "Vogue". "Keep It Together" has been performed only on the 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour by Madonna. It was added as the last song of the setlist and the performance was inspired by the 1971 science fiction film, A Clockwork Orange, in its staging and featured an introductory verse from "Family Affair" by Sly and the Family Stone.

Background

When Madonna started work on her fourth studio album, Like a Prayer, she was already in an emotional state of mind, following her divorce with then-husband, Sean Penn, her thirtieth birthday, and unfavorable reviews for her acting endeavors.[1] She had certain personal matters on her mind that she thought could be the musical direction of the album.[2] But she understood that as she was growing up, so was her core audience. Feeling the need to try out something different, Madonna wanted the sound of her new album to indicate what could be popular in the music world.[3] However, being raised as a Catholic, Madonna felt guilty about the failure of her marriage.[4] "Because in Catholicism you are a born sinner and and you are a sinner all your life", she said, "I could not escape my past, nor could I relax".[3] Feeling sad for what was happening with her, Madonna missed her family, her father and her siblings. She confessed to Becky Johnston of Rolling Stone:

"I didn't feel close to anybody in my family when I was growing up. I felt like an outsider in my own house. I didn't feel close to my older brothers, they were just typical older brothers who tortured me all the time. And I didn't feel close to my sisters. There was a lot of competition in our family, and I was always vying for my fathers attention and all that, so, I worked really hard in school. I was a straight-A student, and they all hated me for it because I did it more for the position I was going to have in my father’s eyes that for whatever I was going to learn by studying. Then when I got a little older—when I was in high school and started dancing really seriously—I'd say I got closer to my brothers. My oldest brother opened my eyes to lots of things, and I didn't see him as just my creepy older brother anymore. And my younger brother would come to dance classes with me."[5]

As Madonna pondered over her thoughts, producers Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray experimented with various instrumental tracks and musical ideas for her consideration.[2] Madonna was also writing songs and listening to the work of American funk and soul band, Sly and the Family Stone.[6] One such song, written about family and dedicated to the band, was called "Keep It Together", which Madonna presented to Bray for his inputs. He liked it and after changing some of the lyrics they and decided to include it on the album.[6] With SongTalk magazine, Madonna explained that "isolated by fame and shaken by the failure of my marriage, I could only reach out to the stability of my family roots, and 'Keep It Together' is for that only."[6][7] The song was released as the sixth and final single from the album on January 30, 1990, by Sire Records.[1] In Australia it was released as the B-side of "Vogue", while it was not released in the United Kingdom at all, where "Dear Jessie" served as the album's final single.[1]

Composition

"Keep It Together"
A 30 second sample of "Keep It Together", which illustrates the chorus of the song, where in instruments like percussion and banjo accompany Madonna's voice on the track. Near the end of the sample, the percussion sound is thinned out and a mixture of the sound from a live drummer and conga comes into the picture.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Keep It Together" is a pop and funk song, consisting of an upbeat rhythm and groove.[8] According to Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine, it is influenced by the Sly and the Family Stone track "Family Affair" (1971).[9] The song starts with the sound of slap bass playing along with sequenced synth bass, as Madonna sings the opening lines "Keep, keep it together, keep people together forever and ever". As the first verse starts, a guitar comes into play with Madonna's voice being backed by percussion and banjo.[8] After the second chorus comes near the end, Madonna utters the line "Brothers and sisters, They hold the key, To your heart and your soul, Don't forget that your family is gold", the percussion sound is thinned out and a mixture of the sound from a live drummer and conga comes into the picture.[8] The song ends with the main groove sound gradually fading out.[8] "Keep It Together" was produced by Madonna and Bray, and features Paulinho da Costa on percussion, brass playing by David Boruff and Steven Madaio, Bill Bottrell as the audio engineer and guitars by Chester Kamen.[10] Musician Prince, who also played guitar on "Keep It Together", was asked by Madonna to do so, after they confessed their mutual admiration for each others work. They later worked together on another track from the album called "Love Song", which Prince co-produced.[6] As per the sheet music published by Hal Leonard Corporation, "Keep It Together" is set in the time signature of common time, with a tempo of 104 beats per minute.[11] It is composed in the key of D minor with Madonna's voice ranging from the notes of B3 to D5.[11] The song follows a basic chord progression of Cm–A♭m–Cm–A♭m–B♭.[11]

According to Rikky Rooksby, author of The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna, although "Keep It Together" sonically pays tribute to Sly and the Family Stone, the lyrics talk about the realization of how important Madonna's family has been as a form of stability in her life especially in the line "Brothers and sisters, They've always been there for me, We have a connection, Home is where the heart should be".[8] The lyrics follow the course of Madonna's rise from figuratively being a "hungry sibling" ("I'm gonna leave this place, So I can forget every single hungry face") to being a superstar ("I hit the big time but I still get the blues, Everyone's a stranger, City life can get to you").[4]

Critical reception

"'Keep It Together' is amazing, purely for being Madonna's take on Sister Sledge's 'We Are Family', a concept no one foresaw, and the fact that she later disowned various members of her family gives it, shall we say, an interesting tinge of irony."

—Hadley Freeman from The Guardian talking about "Keep It Together".[12]

Mark C. Taylor, author of Nots: Religion and Postmodernism, felt that "Keep It Together" was a "striking instance of her repeated invocation of family values". He believed that Madonna's preoccupation with her mother's death and obsession with Catholicism was transferred in her fascination for family, which was reflected in the song.[13] Carol Benz, one of the authors of The Madonna Connection, believed that the song was successful in asserting the necessity of family ties.[14] J. Randy Taraborrelli, author of Madonna: An Intimate Biography described the track as "an uptempo romp about the trials and tribulations, and the joys of having a family."[15] Martha Bayles, author of Hole In Our Soul, felt that "Keep It Together" failed to become an anthem for emotional commitment, because of the funk nature of the song.[16] Madonna, Unauthorized's writer Christopher Anderson proclaimed the track as a worthy number-one single, and complimented the song's theme of allegiance to one's family, despite the turmoil and dissensions that occur.[17] Lucy O'Brien, author of Madonna: Like an Icon, described it as an "upbeat meditation on sibling power". O'Brien believed that the purpose behind the song was to present a homey image of brothers and sisters jostling together, and Madonna's need to restore bonds and relationships, that had become fraught or distant in her life then.[18]

Spin's Joe Levy observed that "Keep It Together" was a "girly-disco" song that drew influences from Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" and Madonna's own "Into the Groove". Levy concluded by naming the song as the only "great" dance record on Like a Prayer.[19] Stephen Holden from The New York Times believed that the song resurrected the edgy pop-funk style and hippie optimism of Sly and Family Stone.[20] Journalist J. D. Considine, while reviewing the album for Rolling Stone, felt that "Keep It Together" portrayed a "an impressive invocation of the importance of family". Considine was concerned that since the confessional nature of the songs on Like a Prayer evoked strong emotions from the listener, "Keep It Together" would probably seem almost trivial by comparison to them.[21] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic believed that the song constituted of deep funk music.[22]

Chart performance

In the United States, "Keep It Together" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 56, on the issue dated February 3, 1990.[23] The next week, "Keep It Together" jumped to number 41, becoming one of the greatest gaining songs.[24] It eventually peaked at number eight on the Hot 100, during the week of March 31, 1990.[25] During the next few weeks, the song fell quickly from its peak as Madonna's next single, "Vogue", began to get massive radio airplay, while "Keep It Together" was still in the top thirty.[26] Its final appearance on the Hot 100 was number 83 on the issue dated April 28, 1990, which was its thirteenth week on the chart.[27] Alongside the Hot 100, "Keep It Together" topped the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, and peaked at number 66 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[28] Three months since its release, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipment of 500,000 copies of the single.[29] In Canada, the song debuted at number 85 on the RPM Singles Chart on February 10, 1990,[30] and after eight weeks, peaked at number eight.[31] "Keep It Together" was present on the chart for fifteen weeks[32] and placed at number 86 on the RPM Year-end chart for 1990.[33]

In Australia, "Keep It Together" charted on the ARIA Singles Chart along with "Vogue". It debuted on the chart at number 19 and reached the top the next week, remaining there for a total of five consecutive weeks.[34] The song was present for a total of 35 weeks on the chart and reached number three on the Australian Year-end chart for 1990.[35][36] It was certified two-times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipment of 140,000 copies of the single.[35] After its release in Japan, "Keep It Together" appeared for two weeks on the Oricon Singles Chart, and reached a peak of five.[37] The song was not released in the United Kingdom at all, where Dear Jessie was the final single from the Like a Prayer album instead.[38]

Live performance

Madonna had performed the song only on her 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour, where it was the closing song of the setlist.[39] The performance of the song was inspired by the 1971 science fiction film, A Clockwork Orange, in its staging and featured an introductory verse from "Family Affair" by Sly and the Family Stone.[39][40] Madonna wore an all-black ensemble involving a cage vest, the longline bra, skintight shorts, knee-pads and a bowler hat. Her getup was a nod to actress Liza Minnelli in the film Cabaret.[39] In an interview with Stephen Holden from The New York Times, she explained the performance: "Finally, right when you think I'll end [the concert] on a happy note, I come out with my family to do a Bob Fosse-meets-'Clockwork Orange' rendition of 'Keep It Together'.[40] It's the show's ultimate statement about the family, because we're absolutely brutalizing with each other, while there's also no mistaking that we love each other deeply."Author Lynne Layton complimented the performance saying that "as in her double attitude to materialism, feminity and everything else, what marks the performance is not that Madonna is in control, but that she is open about the pros and cons of family life and obviously echoes the experience of many."[41] Conversely author Allen Metz commented that although the performance was tightly choreographed, the overall feel was marred due to the song's own "shortcomings".[42] Greg Kot from Chicago Tribune felt that the addition of lines from "Family Affair" underlined the "home-is-where-the-heart-is" theme of "Keep It Together".[43] Two different performances were taped and released on video, the Blond Ambition – Japan Tour 90, taped in Yokohama, Japan, on April 27, 1990,[44] and the Live! – Blond Ambition World Tour 90, taped in Nice, France, on August 5, 1990.[45]

Track listings and formats

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from Like a Prayer album liner notes.[10]

Charts

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Rooksby 2004, p. 30
  2. ^ a b Taraborrelli 2002, p. 168
  3. ^ a b O'Brien 2007, p. 120
  4. ^ a b Bego 2000, p. 90
  5. ^ Johnston, Becky (1989-06-09). "Madonna Grows Up". Rolling Stone. 698 (98). Jann Wenner: 61–67. ISSN 0035-791X. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  6. ^ a b c d Zollo, Paul (May 1989). "Madonna on her turbulence". SongTalk. 10 (5). Mortimer Zuckerman: 21.
  7. ^ O'Brien 2007, p. 122
  8. ^ a b c d e Rooksby 2004, p. 36
  9. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (2003-10-20). "Madonna: Like a Prayer". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  10. ^ a b Like a Prayer (Media notes). Sire Records. WEA Records Pvt. Ltd. 1989. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |publisherid= ignored (help)
  11. ^ a b c Cicone, Madonna; Leonard, Patrick (2008). "Digital Sheet Music Book – Madonna – Like a Prayer". Musicnotes.com. Hal Leonard Corporation. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  12. ^ Freeman, Hadley (2011-08-23). "My favortie album: Like a Prayer by Madonna". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
  13. ^ Taylor 1993, p. 194
  14. ^ Metz & Benson 1999, p. 188
  15. ^ Taraborrelli 2002, p. 164
  16. ^ Bayles 1996, p. 335
  17. ^ Anderson 1992, p. 355
  18. ^ O'Brien 2007, p. 197
  19. ^ Levy, Joe (May 1989). "Madonna: Like a Prayer". Spin. 5 (2). Spin Media LLC: 79. ISSN 0886-3032.
  20. ^ Holden, Stephen (1989-03-19). "Madonna Re-Creates Herself – Again". The New York Times. p. 5. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
  21. ^ Considine, J. D. (1989-04-06). "Album Reviews – Like a Prayer". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  22. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2001-12-04). "Like a Prayer – Madonna". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  23. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100: Week Ending February 3, 1990". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1990-02-03. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  24. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100: Week Ending February 10, 1990". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1990-02-10. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  25. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100: Week Ending March 31, 1990". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1990-03-31. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  26. ^ DeKnock, Jan (1990-04-06). "Dayne, Raitt Keep Women's Streak Going". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  27. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100: Week Ending April 28, 1990". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1990-04-28. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  28. ^ a b c d "Madonna – Keep It Together". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  29. ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum – Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. 1990-04-11. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  30. ^ "Top Singles – Volume 51, No. 13, February 10 1990". RPM. RPM Library Archives. 1990-02-10. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  31. ^ a b "Top Singles – Volume 51, No. 21, April 07 1990". RPM. RPM Library Archives. 1990-04-07. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  32. ^ "Top Singles – Volume 52, No. 1, May 19 1990". RPM. RPM Library Archives. 1990-05-19. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  33. ^ a b "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. RPM Library Archives. 1990-12-22. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  34. ^ a b "Madonna – Vogue (Song)". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  35. ^ a b Kent 1993, p. 342
  36. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Singles 1990". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  37. ^ a b Okamoto 2006, p. 474
  38. ^ "Artist Chart History – Madonna". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-12-24.
  39. ^ a b c Clerk 2002, p. 84
  40. ^ a b Holden, Stephen (1991-05-05). "Madonna's Love Affair With the Lens". The New York Times. p. 4. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  41. ^ Layton, p. 115
  42. ^ Metz & Benson 1999, p. 203
  43. ^ Kot, Greg (1990-03-06). "Nothing Is 2nd-rate As Madonna Opens Her Blond Ambition Tour". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2011-12-24.
  44. ^ Madonna (1990). Blond Ambition – Japan Tour 90 (VHS). Warner-Pioneer Japan.
  45. ^ Madonna (1990). Live! – Blond Ambition World Tour 90 (Laserdisc). Pioneer Artists.
  46. ^ (Media notes). {{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Format= ignored (|format= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |PID= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Type= ignored (|type= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
  47. ^ (Media notes). {{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Format= ignored (|format= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |PID= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Type= ignored (|type= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
  48. ^ (Media notes). {{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Format= ignored (|format= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |PID= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Type= ignored (|type= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
  49. ^ (Media notes). {{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Format= ignored (|format= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |PID= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Type= ignored (|type= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
  50. ^ (Media notes). {{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Format= ignored (|format= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |PID= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Type= ignored (|type= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
  51. ^ "Madonna: Discografia Italiana" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. 1984–1999. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
  52. ^ "Top Dance Club Play Singles 1990". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1990-12-31. Retrieved 2011-12-14.

References

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