On this day in 1983: After dating for six years, Paul Simon married actress Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the first Star Wars trilogy. The marriage would last less than two years, but the two continued to date off and on after they split.
On this day in 1986: Madonna started a two week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Papa Don’t Preach.’ The singer’s 4th U.S. #1, & #1 in the U.K. Also on this day in 1986, Madonna went to #1 on the US album chart with ‘True Blue’.
Released as the album’s second single in mid-1986, the song was a commercial success. It became Madonna’s fourth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, and performed well internationally, reaching the top position in the United Kingdom and Australia. It was well received by music critics and was frequently cited as the highlight of the album. The music video, directed by James Foley, shows Madonna’s second image makeover, featuring her with a more toned and muscular body, and cropped platinum blonde hair. It portrayed a story line where Madonna is trying to tell her father about her pregnancy. The images are juxtaposed with shots of Madonna dancing and singing in a small, darkened studio, and spending a romantic evening with her boyfriend. Actor Danny Aiello plays her father in the music video.
Shortly after its release, the song caused heated discussions about its lyrical content. Women’s organizations and others in the family planning field criticized Madonna for encouraging teenage pregnancy, while groups opposed to abortion saw the song as having a positive anti-abortion message.
Here is the complete Top 20 on the U.S. Singles Chart from this day back in 1986:
1 2 PAPA DON’T PREACH –•– Madonna (Sire)-8 (1 Week at #1) (1)
2 1 GLORY OF LOVE –•– Peter Cetera (Full Moon / Warner Brothers)-11 (1)
3 3 MAD ABOUT YOU –•– Belinda Carlisle (I.R.S.)-14 (3)
4 8 HIGHER LOVE –•– Steve Winwood (Island)-10 (4)
5 5 WE DON’T HAVE TO TAKE OUR CLOTHES OFF –•– Jermaine Stewart (Arista)-14 (5)
6 9 VENUS –•– Bananarama (London)-8 (6)
7 13 DANCING ON THE CEILING –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-5 (7)
8 10 RUMORS –•– Timex Social Club (Jay)-10 (8)
9 18 TAKE MY BREATH AWAY –•– Berlin (Columbia)-9 (9)
10 12 THE EDGE OF HEAVEN –•– Wham! (Columbia)-7 (10)
11 6 LOVE TOUCH –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-12 (6)
12 15 SWEET FREEDOM –•– Michael McDonald (MCA)-10 (12)
13 4 SLEDGEHAMMER –•– Peter Gabriel (Geffen)-15 (1)
14 16 YOU SHOULD BE MINE (The Woo Woo Song) –•– Jeffrey Osborne (A&M)-13 (14)
15 23 FRIENDS AND LOVERS –•– Gloria Loring & Carl Anderson (USA Carrere)-7 (15)
16 7 DANGER ZONE –•– Kenny Loggins (Columbia)-15 (2)
17 20 SUZANNE –•– Journey (Columbia)-9 (17)
18 26 BABY LOVE –•– Regina (Atlantic)-9 (18)
19 22 ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD –•– The Outfield (Columbia)-11 (19)
20 27 WORDS GET IN THE WAY –•– Miami Sound Machine featuring Gloria Estefan (Epic)-10 (20)
