Justify My Love

Madonna

About Justify My Love

"Justify My Love" is a song by American singer Madonna from her first greatest hits compilation album The Immaculate Collection (1990). It was released on November 6, 1990, by Sire Records as the lead single from The Immaculate Collection. The song was written by Lenny Kravitz and Ingrid Chavez, with additional lyrics by Madonna. Chavez was not credited on the song, which led to a lawsuit against Kravitz. Chavez settled out-of-court, the terms of which included a songwriting credit. Madonna's vocals are primarily spoken and whispered, but almost never sung, a style that she later employed on her following studio album Erotica (1992). Musically, "Justify My Love" is a trip hop song, with mid-tempo settings and instrumentation. The lyrics of the song are primarily about sex and romance. "Justify My Love" received mixed reviews from older critics, but was critically appreciated by many contemporary critics, noting it as one of Madonna's best songs to date. The song became Madonna's ninth number one single on the Billboard Hot 100, while reaching the Top 10 in several countries including Australia, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. 


Year:
1990
157 
#3

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I want to kiss you in Paris 
I want to hold your hand in Rome 
I want to run naked in a rainstorm 
Make love in a train cross-country 
You put this in me 
So now what, so now what? 

Wanting, needing, waiting 
For you to justify my love (my love)
Hoping, praying 
For you to justify my love 

I want to know you 
Not like that 
I don't want to be your mother 
I don't want to be your sister either 
I just want to be your lover 
I want to be your baby 
Kiss me, that's right, kiss me 

Wanting, needing, waiting 
For you to justify my love 
Yearning, burning 
For you to justify my love 

What are you gonna do? 
What are you gonna do? 
Talk to me, tell me your dreams 
Am I in them? 
Tell me your fears 
Are you scared? 
Tell me your stories 
I'm not afraid of who you are 
We can fly

Poor is the man 
Whose pleasures depend 
On the permission of another 
Love me, that's right, love me 
I want to be your baby 

Wanting, needing, waiting 
For you to justify my love 
I'm open and ready 
For you to justify my love 
To justify my love 
Wanting, to justify 
Waiting, to justify my love 
Praying, to justify 
To justify my love 
To justify my love
I'm open, to justify my love
My love

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Madonna

Madonna (born Madonna Louise Ciccone /tʃɪˈkoʊneɪ/ chi-KOH-nay; August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, director, dancer and entrepreneur. She has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and is recognized as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records. Considered to be one of the "25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century" by Time for being an influential figure in contemporary music, she is known for continuously reinventing both her music and image, and for retaining a standard of autonomy within the recording industry. Critics have praised her diverse musical productions which have also been known to induce controversy. more »

16 fans

Written by: . MADONNA, LENNY KRAVITZ, INGRID JULIA CHAVEZ, JAMES HENRY III BOXLEY, CARLTON RIDENHOUR, ERIC SADLER

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Release Details
"Justify My Love" is a song by American singer Madonna from her first greatest hits compilation album, "The Immaculate Collection" (1990).
Performance in Charts
It peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Madonna's ninth number 1 single on the chart.
Controversial Content
Music video of the song, which featured imagery of sadomasochism, voyeurism, and bisexuality, sparked controversy leading to its ban by MTV.
Song Style
The song is more like a spoken word poetry over a bed of ambient soundscapes, breaking from the traditional song structure.
Co-Writers
Alongside Madonna, additional input in writing the song came from Lenny Kravitz, who also produced the track, and poet Ingrid Chavez.
Commercial Success
Worldwide, "Justify My Love" turned gold and platinum in many countries, including the USA, Canada and the UK.
Usage in Media
The song was featured in the 2002 film "40 Days and 40 Nights" and three television series, "The Sopranos", "Nip/Tuck" and "Friends".
Legal Issue
There was a copyright lawsuit associated with the song, initiated by Public Enemy's Chuck D, who claimed that one of the song's samples was lifted from their song "Security of the First World".
Inspiration
Madonna has mentioned that the song was inspired by her Catholic upbringing and the inherent guilt she felt about sexuality as a result.
The Song’s Visuals
Madonna's stylistic choices in the music video are credited for setting stylistic trends among artists such as Christina Aguilera and Lady Gaga.
Exclusive Song Release
"Justify My Love" was one of two new songs on Madonna's greatest hits album "The Immaculate Collection", and was not available on any of her studio albums.

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    Justify My Love

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1991

    Billboard #1


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