Madonna’s song Open Your Heart is one of her classic hits, known for its catchy pop hooks and powerful message of vulnerability and romance. Released on November 12, 1986 as the fourth single from her True Blue album, Open Your Heart was a significant track for Madonna, both in terms of chart success and its influence on pop culture.
Open Your Heart was originally written for a male vocalist with a more rock-oriented sound, but it was later adapted for Madonna with a more dance-pop feel. Songwriters Gardner Cole and Peter Rafelson initially intended it to have a different arrangement and style, but Madonna reworked it to suit her sound and vision. Produced by Madonna and her frequent collaborator Patrick Leonard, the song showcases a driving beat, with synths and a pop-rock edge that were prominent in Madonna’s mid-80s work.
The Open Your Heart music video was directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino and is one of Madonna’s most memorable videos. It was filmed at Echo Park in Los Angeles. In it, Madonna portrays a dancer in a peep show, reflecting themes of voyeurism and sexuality. Her costume, a black bustier with cropped blonde hair, became iconic. The video tells the story of Madonna’s character breaking free and escaping with a young boy, suggesting a longing for innocence amid a world obsessed with adult desire.
Open Your Heart became Madonna’s fifth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Its success further solidified Madonna’s place as a dominant pop star of the 1980s. The song also charted well internationally, reaching high positions in several countries, and helped the True Blue album become one of Madonna’s most commercially successful releases.