Causing a Commotion

In October 1986, Madonna began filming her third feature film, Who's That Girl, a screwball comedy directed by James Foley—whom she had previously worked with on the music videos for "Live to Tell" and "Papa Don't Preach".^[1] The movie stars Madonna as Nikki Finn, a young woman accused of a murder she did not commit; after being released on parole, she sets out to clear her name. Alongside lawyer Loudon Trott (Griffin Dunne), she becomes caught up in "36 hours of high adventure", culminating in a scene where she interrupts a wedding to reveal the real culprit.^[2]

Work on the film's soundtrack began in March 1987.^[3] Madonna wanted to create songs that would "stand on [their] own as well as support and enhance what was happening on screen".^[4] To that end, she enlisted collaborators Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray, the latter of whom also served as the film's musical director.^[5][6][7] Together, they wrote and produced four original songs for the soundtrack—the title track, "Causing a Commotion", "The Look of Love", and "Can't Stop".^[8] Madonna later noted that the songs "aren't about Nikki, or written to be sung by someone like her", but that they capture "the spirit" of both the film and the character.^[2]

"Causing a Commotion" was inspired by Madonna's "tumultuous" relationship with then-husband Sean Penn, whose temper and discomfort with media attention often conflicted with the demands of her public life, including several altercations with paparazzi that drew widespread attention.^[9][10] In a 1987 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Madonna stated: "I don't like violence. I never condone hitting anyone, and I never thought that any violence should have taken place. But on the other hand, I understood [Sean's] anger [...] I felt like [he] was 'causing a commotion' to purposefully distract me. I wrote this song and vented my frustration in it".^[11]

The song plays over the animated opening sequence of Who's That Girl, which depicts the events leading to Nikki Finn's arrest.^[12] The sequence, inspired by Looney Tunes, features an animated Madonna emerging from the Warner Bros. logo and was developed by director James Foley and animator Ric Machin.^[12]

'Causing a Commotion'

20-second audio sample of "Causing a Commotion". The excerpt features the refrain, built around a pulsing bassline, layered harmonies, and its central hook.

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Madonna and Stephen Bray wrote and produced "Causing a Commotion".^[13] It was recorded at Larrabee Sound Studios in Los Angeles between March and April 1987.^[14][15] Personnel included Bray on keyboard and guitar arrangements, audio engineers Taavi Mote and Michael Hutchinson, and assistants Elmer Flores and John Hegedes.^[14][15] The track was mixed by mixed by Steve Peck and mastered by Michael Verdick at Futuredisk Studios.^[13]

Musically, the song has been described as an upbeat dance-pop track with a "catchy" refrain and a prominent bass hook, supported by Bray's keyboard and guitar arrangements, which reflect the style of his band Breakfast Club, and Madonna's own "Into the Groove" (1985).^[16][17][18] Annie Zaleski of Consequence characterized it as electropop, while Erika Wolf of Albumism called it "somewhat bubblegum".^[19][20] Michael Freedberg of The Boston Phoenix likened its sound to a modern take on 1950s jump blues, and its "pulsing" bassline has been compared to "Bad" (1987) by Michael Jackson.^[21][22][23]

Built in common time with a funk-influenced tempo, the song opens with the refrain before moving into verses structured around a descending four-note bassline and sharp, staccato chords.^[2] Layered vocal harmonies and a rhythmic pattern echoing the word "commotion" complement Madonna's vocals, which combine an "alluring [and] unsettling mix" of tones.^[24] As the song progresses, the rhythmic pulse becomes increasingly tight and driving, mirroring the central hook, "I've got the moves, baby, you got the motion / If we got together we'd be causing a commotion".^[8]

Despite its bright, upbeat sound, the lyrics refer to a turbulent relationship and tensions with the media, a contrast noted by critics such as Samuel R. Murrian, who linked it to difficult encounters with paparazzi.^[22][25][26] Wolf described the song as an "ode to being sexy and sassy and feeling yourself", adding that it captures the "rough edges" of Nikki Finn's character through lines such as "You met your match when you met me".^[20] References to "Into the Groove" appear in lines such as "It's how you play the game / So get into the groove" and "Quit wasting time / Make up your mind / And get into the groove", which Louis Virtel described as a "mantra" for the singer's fans.^[5][2][27] The lyrics have also been interpreted as exploring romantic tension and negotiation, with references to ideas such as "opposites attract", while author Victoria Chow suggested that they reflect Madonna's ability to "whip the press into a frenzy".^{[28][10][29][30]}

"Causing a Commotion" was released as the soundtrack's second single on August 25, 1987.^[31] Prior to its release, it received airplay on several American CHR radio stations.^[32][33] As Madonna was on the Who's That Girl World Tour at the time of its release, no official music video was shot. Instead, a promotional video was created using clips from the film intercut with footage of the song's tour performance.^[31][34][35] By late October, it was among the most aired music videos in Europe, according to a report by Music & Media magazine.^[36]

Official remixes were produced Shep Pettibone and co-edited with Junior Vasquez.^[37] These included the extended "Silver Screen Mix", a dub instrumental version featuring prominent riff-based arrangements, and the more house-oriented "Movie House Mix".^[38] Pettibone's work was praised by Billboard, while German magazine Audio highlighted the "Movie House Mix" as the most effective and energetic version.^[39][38]

In 1991, the "Silver Screen Mix" was included on the four-track extended play (EP) The Holiday Collection, alongside "Holiday" (1983), "True Blue" (1986), and "Who's That Girl".^[40][41] For the soundtrack's 35th anniversary, Rhino Records released Who's That Girl (Super Club Mix) in April 2022, a five-track extended play featuring remixes of "Who's That Girl" and the "Movie House Mix" and "Silver Screen Mix" of "Causing a Commotion". Issued as part of Record Store Day, the release was limited to 7,500 copies and pressed on red 12-inch vinyl.^[42][43]

Upon release, "Causing a Commotion" received generally positive-to-mixed reviews from music critics. Daniel Brogan of the Chicago Tribune named it the best song on the soundtrack, while Jim Zebora of the Record Journal considered it "almost as good" as "Who's That Girl".^[44][45] A reviewer for Dutch newspaper Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode opined that, although not noticeably different, it featured a more danceable rhythm, and in The Extraordinary Book of Lists, Louis Weber wrote that it, along with the title track, was the main reason many purchased the album.^[45][46][47] Christian Wright of Spin deemed the song as celebratory, while Stereogum's Tom Breihan called it a "sleek club jam", awarding it an 8 out of 10 rating.^[6][48]

The production was subject of praise. Oggie Ramos of the Manila Standard described the track as a "well-polished, well-contrived" dance number, highlighting Bray's "flawless prowess" in keyboard and guitar arrangements.^[18] Vince Aletti of Rolling Stone and Robert Matthew-Walker both praised Madonna’s vocal performance, with Aletti also highlighting Bray's "irrepressible rhythmic drive" and Matthew-Walker noting her "delightful" harmonies and phrasing.^[24][8] The Gavin Report singled out its groove "from the get-go" driven by a "cool bass line", suggesting it stands on its own apart from the film, and Billboard's Bill Coleman pointed to its catchiness and hook as key strengths.^[49][50]

In more mixed and critical reviews, Rikky Rooksby deemed it "perfectly acceptable, though not in the same class" as "Who's That Girl", while Music & Media described it as "speedy [and] cheerful, though a bit clichéd".^[2][51] Entertainment Weekly praised its "kicky little slappy beat" and refrain but found the verses "sluggish", and Slant Magazine's Eric Henderson called it "generic and diverting in equal measure".^[52][53] Similarly, Joe Morgan of Gay Star News described it as a "classic 80s track" but with "not much to it", while Martin C. Strong and Brendon Griffin perceived a "strange monotony".^[54][55]

Negative commentary described the song as "formulaic", with critics such as John Rockwell (The New York Times) arguing that Madonna's vocal strengths were not fully evident, and others considering it among her weaker work.^[56][57] The Reading Eagle's Al Walentis called it "so nondescript that [it goes] in one ear and out the other", and Sean Piccoli of the Sun Herald ranked it among her worst songs.^[58][59] Comparisons to "Into the Groove" were frequent: Daryl Easlea described it as an "out-and-out retread",^[5] The Washington Post noted similar lines and riffs,^[60] USA Today's John Milward felt it did not match the impact of her earlier hit,^[61] with Piccoli calling it a "lame" rewrite and Jude Rogers (The Guardian) later describing it as a "slighter facsimile".^[59][62]

Retrospective reviews have been more positive. Billboard ranked "Causing a Commotion" among Madonna's best songs, noting that its "arresting" bassline and "sugary determination" make it "a delight, albeit a relatively slight one", while also calling its chart success a testament to her star power.^[63] Paul Grein opined that it was "snubbed" by the Academy Awards.^[64] Both Newsday and Consequence considered it underrated, while Parade noted that it has "remained popular with fans".^[65][19][26] Other outlets have included it in rankings of her catalogue, including PinkNews,^[9] TheBacklot.com,^[27] USA Today,^[17] and Gay Star News.^[54] The Arizona Republic additionally named it among her best songs from film soundtracks, while Louis Virtel noted that it is often regarded by fans as "the obscurest of [Madonna's] masterpiece singles", and included it among the "10 Greatest Songs from Terrible Movies".^[16][66] "Causing a Commotion" was included in Bruce Pollock's Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock & Roll Era.^[67]

"Bad" by Michael Jackson (left) and "I Think We're Alone Now" by Tiffany (right) kept "Causing a Commotion" from reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

In the United States, "Causing a Commotion" received strong airplay upon release, entering the Billboard Hot 100 at number 41 on September 12, 1987, marking Madonna's thirteenth consecutive highest debut of the week.^[68][69] The single quickly climbed the chart, reaching number 11 by October 10, prompting press predictions that it would become her fourteenth consecutive top-ten hit, tying the record for a solo artist—shared with Michael Jackson—and placing her second overall behind the Beatles.^[70][71] It entered the top ten the following week and peaked at number two on October 24—her second single to reach that position after "Material Girl" (1985)^[72]—where it remained for three weeks, held from the top spot by "Bad" and later Tiffany's "I Think We're Alone Now".^[73][74] The song spent eighteen weeks on the chart and ranked at number 46 on the year-end Hot 100.^[75][76] As of August 2024, Billboard ranked it as Madonna's 12th most successful Hot 100 entry, as well as her highest-charting single without an official music video.^[77]

The single also performed strongly across other Billboard charts, reaching number one on both the Dance Club Play and Dance Singles Sales charts,^[78][79] marking her sixth chart-topper on the former and the start of a string of consecutive dance hits.^[80] Despite this, it was omitted from Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (2022), Madonna's third remix album, which compiles her Dance Club Songs number ones.^[81] It additionally peaked at number 37 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.^[82] In Canada, the song debuted at number 90 on the RPM Top 100 Singles on September 19, 1987, before peaking at number two on November 7, where it was held from the top position by Billy Idol's "Mony Mony".^[83][84] It was later ranked as the 42nd most successful single of 1987 and was certified gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) for sales of 50,000 copies.^[85][86] The single also reached the top five in Mexico.^[87]

"Causing a Commotion" achieved strong commercial success internationally. In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number seven on the UK Singles Chart and rose to a peak of number four, becoming Madonna's seventeenth consecutive top-ten single there;^[88] as of 2015, it was her 32nd best-selling single in the country.^[89] It reached number one in Denmark,^[90] and peaked at number two in Belgium (Flanders),^[91] Ireland,^[92] and Iceland.^[93] In the Netherlands, it peaked at number three on both the Dutch Single Top 100 and the Dutch Top 40—behind "Bad" and Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up".^[94][95][96] The single reached number five on the European Hot 100 Singles,^[97] and charted within the top ten in countries such as Finland,^[98] Switzerland,^[99] Norway,^[100] Australia,^[101] and New Zealand.^[102]

Madonna performed "Causing a Commotion" on her Who's That Girl and Blond Ambition (1990) tours.^[103][104] On the first, it was performed prior to its single release in a more rock-oriented arrangement.^{[105][106][107]} The singer appeared in a gold lamé, gangster-style outfit and opened the number with ironic remarks about her public image.^[108][109] During the performance, dancer Chris Finch performed a series of flips onstage while Madonna mimed air guitar.^[110] Toward the end, she removed parts of her costume while introducing the band.^[111] The Houston Chronicle named "Causing a Commotion" one of the concert's highlights, while Richard Harrington of The Washington Post felt it was less effective, noting that the public was still unfamiliar with it.^[112][106] The performance in Turin was broadcast via satellite during the MTV Video Music Awards, and later included on the home video release Ciao Italia: Live from Italy (1988).^[113][114]

The song's performance on the Blond Ambition World Tour saw Madonna dressed in a Jean-Paul Gaultier-designed outfit with a striped boxing blouse over her conical corset.^[115][116] She staged a mock fight with backing vocalists Niki Haris and Donna De Lory, who feigned dancing out of sync and tried to push her offstage, before she knocked them down and mockingly kicked them.^[117] The number received mixed reviews from critics. Ralph Kiesel for The Toledo Blade praised its energy, while Harrington criticized its "overly tight choreography", arguing it felt like "busywork" masking the song's shortcomings.^[118][119] Some also took issue with the performance's staged violence.^[120][121] The performance from the tour's final show in Nice, France, was included on the 1991 LaserDisc release Blond Ambition World Tour Live.^[122]

Despite not being part of the official set list, Madonna sang a capella snippets of "Causing a Commotion" on some concerts of the Celebration Tour (2023―2024), such as Cologne,^[123] Boston,^[124] Toronto,^[125] Montreal,^[126] Pittsburgh,^[127] Seattle,^[128] and San Francisco.^[129]

Taiwanese singer Su Rui incorporated "Causing a Commotion" into a medley on her English-language album I've Got the Music in Me (1989), while Indie pop duo TeamMate recorded a version for their 2013 extended play The Sequel.^[130][131] Vocalist Dani Buncher, a self-described "huge Madonna fan", said the group wanted to remain "very true to the original", while still adding their "own little spin" to it.^[132] Welsh musician Bright Light Bright Light also covered the track for his extended play Cinematography II: Back in the Habit (2017).^[16] Some critics noted similarities between "Causing a Commotion" and Jessica Simpson's 2006 single "A Public Affair".^[133][134] Around 1986–1987, Madonna signed a $3 million endorsement deal with Mitsubishi Motors, which included a television commercial featuring her dancing to the track in stylized, music video–inspired settings.^[135] The song was featured in a 2016 episode of the eight season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where contestants Naomi Smalls and Acid Betty performed it in a lip sync challenge—won by Smalls.^[136]

Credits adapted from the Who's That Girl soundtrack liner notes.^[13]

• Madonna – vocals, writer, producer
• Stephen Bray – writer, producer, audio mixing
• Shep Pettibone – audio mixing, additional production
• Junior Vasquez – mixing engineer, audio editing
• Steve Peck – mixing engineer
• Jeri Heiden – art direction
• Maura P. McLaughlin – design