Madonna - Burning Up (1981 Stephen Bray Demo)

Stephen Bray produced demo of Madonna's "Burning Up" from 1981. As Stephen Bray himself noted about this track: "Looking back, it seems we nailed a 'Joan Jett' sitting in with 'New Order' kind of sound." This version of "Burning Up" (also known as "Burning Up '81") was originally released in 1997 on Stephen Bray's self-released album of early Madonna demos called "Pre-Madonna".

[@jtrover]

Not only a demo, but it's also her Celebration World Tour version ❤

[@CarlosHernandez-xu5lq]

This is the Celebration Tour Version basically ❤❤. My fav ever.

[@JP-wx6uh]

Madonna is so rare.. She experimented with a number of musical styles and was good at all of them. Then she created her own style. Prince, MJ and Madonna... the rare breed.

[@jasondotson9035]

Yep… Today’s music fans don’t even know how pivotal they are/were in today’s music… Expect there not as experimental…. They need to shake things up a bit more… ❤

[@elm1230]

GOSH THESE DEMOS ARE SO NASTY! So gritty. Love this. This puts her early look into a completely other context and the New York street feel of early Madonna is translated way more effectively. So much bite.

[@louisbourbon8973]

Well this would explain why Madonna prefers to perform this version of Burnin Up, complete with guitar, on all her tours. I do remember hearing something about how she was in a punk rock band before she made it big.

[@kshinokevin]

the punk rock band was called Emmy...

[@tonyrobles2696]

Yeah Just like you said!!!!

[@akronmedia4314]

She was a drummer for the breakfast club

[@ignaciobermudez6462]

Here for the celebration tour !! 🤘🏻

[@misterashley]

as a hardcore fan this is my favorite version on this ass kicking song. I almost feel like I'm seeing her live at CBGB's!

[@Laidengizer113]

Would have been nice if they had been.

[@MySkinnydip]

All we need is videos of Madonna singing these demos😍

[@playbic15]

i really want her to do a rock/alternative/new wave album!!

[@ingie5909]

I freaking love this version.

[@AlejandroOntiveros3008]

I come from the future, shes playing this version at the Celebration Tour 🎉😎

[@Al-Alz]

Madonna sounds best when she is raw and those early days show her talent as a singer without any professional help or experience she just grabbed the microphone and sang like it was life or death...……. that's why we love her and still do - she is not a perfect singer but you can not deny her the title of a GREAT singer.....

[@zacharyconnors7945]

I love the original, but there's something about this version that makes it my favourite. It has more balls

[@briancooper2007]

They wrote it with a bit of a punk edge and sound in mind. I think that's why its cooler

[@MrTiggerr84]

Punk phase

[@remyparaskovia5499]

This Is the original That is Why is Better

[@Laidengizer113]

@@briancooper2007 Well they were a punk band.

[@Laidengizer113]

@@remyparaskovia5499 that's stupid

[@alexandertan3721]

this will b on the Celebration World Tour

[@alexandre1383]

celebration tour

[@jaceresa]

I really enjoy this version of the song. Even though it preceded the album version, it sounds more modern. It's interesting that noticeable electronic vocal effects made their way onto Madonna records decades after this demo.

[@FoxyChariot]

That’s because Linn makes anything it’s on 80s lololol

[@Laidengizer113]

Don't know why it would sound more modern.

[@joeybistoocool]

@@Laidengizer113 aside from the quality of equipment they recorded on, this does sound more modern imo. The vocal effects and arrangement feel less tied down to the 80s than the album version.

[@Laidengizer113]

@@joeybistoocool I guess calling it more modern is one way to describe it. I would just say it's less distinctly 80's.

[@jimfoster8554]

Hi✋, wow I did not know This dated back to 1981 Amazing!!🔥😀

[@vero219]

Fantastic version...I Love this song!!

[@juliepregosin2615]

Wow. This is how this song should be done. It would have been a bigger hit, and would have rocketed Madonna even faster into the pop stratosphere.

[@MartinDelCarpio]

Love this version!

[@JABOODYlicious]

Can't get enough of MADONNA

[@nickalvarez8445]

Very new wave in style & song structure. Raw but totally awesome version.

[@jeuleud]

I really love that very rock/new wave version, even with all the (charming) defects in The Queen's voice. More than a "potential" was already present 30 years ago!!! Amazing, VERY BIG THANKS 2U GentlyBlipMe!

[@ginasousabranco5637]

The details of Madonna's creative process and her conduct since the early years, hiding recordings ever published. The fans would love the edit of these old songs. Even there's a real concern that much of this material isn't in good condition. Stephan Bray reveals that his studio work of "Ain't No Big Deal" is lost, and he doesn't knows where it is. If someone doesn't compile these recordings, they are lost forever. Bray said he can't publish "Desperately Seeking Susan" and no other music of the time Warner Bros without the express Madonna collaboration, due to a clause in his contract with Warner Bros. The songs published in "Pre-Madonna" are before this contract. Bray said: "Some day maybe she'll change her mind."

[@imagydmusic1129]

He got a ton if free sex..was well compensated me thinks

[@MadonnaMusic1]

"Desperatepy Seeking Susan","Warning Signs",&others demos registrated and copyririghted should be leaked onto the internet

[@MsRadar23]

Madonna just posted this on her ig and I had to find the whole song

[@martydaymudefromdc]

This is a superb version. Love it.

[@conatcha]

OMG. It sounds so great!!!

[@Latino1234latino]

Celebration tour

[@mikegarcia1389]

First song I ever heard of Madonnas in Summer of '83.

[@GentlyBlipMe]

Glad you like it! Thanks for the comment.

[@MusicJayPe]

Better than on Madonna's first album.

[@rubiopicazojoseph]

Sounds so dark!!!!!! I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@richardsavino6305]

post-punk, pre-new wave...pure power pop! LOVE it and saw her perform it on the tour.

[@MrDeldav]

Love this version

[@hardiksolanki8093]

Punk Madonna needs to make a comeback...

[@matthewbaxter5856]

Wow i prefer this version!A box set of Madonnas early work and her demos etc throughout her career-inc unreleases tracks-should be made.Im certain loada of fans would buy it!

[@LisaParisLohan]

I love that statement in its entirety.

[@LisaParisLohan]

to me, this Garagy-style rendition is THE BEST.....SO FUCKIN AWESOME AND THANK U FOR POSTING IT...BETTER THAN THE RADIO EDIT..

[@s._a_2002art]

Don't put me off, 'cause I'm on fire And I can't quench my desire Don't you know that I'm burning up for your love? You're not convinced that that is enough I put myself in this position And I deserve the imposition But you don't even know I'm alive And this pounding in my heart just won't die I'm burning up I'm burning up, burning up for your love I'm burning up, burning up for your love I'm burning up, burning up for your love For your love You're always closing your door Well, that only makes me want you more And day and night, I cry for your love You're not convinced that that is enough To justify my wanting you Now tell me what you want me to do I'm not blind, and I know That you want to want me, but you can't let go C'mon, let go I'm burning up, burning up for your love I'm burning up, burning up for your love I'm burning up, burning up for your love For your love, oh Do you wanna see me down on my knees? Or bending over backwards, now, would you be pleased? Unlike the others, I'd do anything I'm not the same, I have no shame I'm on fire C'mon, let go Do you wanna see me down on my knees? Or bending over backwards, now, would you be pleased? Unlike the others, I'd do anything I'm not the same, I have no shame I'm on fire Ooh, yeah, I'm burning up Ooh, yeah, I'm burning up Oh come on, oh come on, I'm burning up Uh, uh, uh I'm burning up Ooh, yeah, I'm burning up Oh come on, oh come on, I'm burning up Ooh, yeah, I'm burning up Uh, uh, uh You know you got me burning up, baby You know you got me burning up, baby Burning up for your love Burning up for your love Burning up for your love Burning up for your love

[@marcher1969]

Raw....!! ...sounds like making the MOST with personal recording equipment

[@swiesemadwi]

My FAVORITE version. Raw. Perfection.

[@dollhouse718]

I need this demo in spotify

[@farfallascura]

The superior version!🔥🔥🔥

[@mshappyheart]

OMG...I'm burnin' up with this song - sooo L-U-V it!!!

[@andreymc3797]

I came here to say that I am from Brazil and many ads say that Madonna released this song in an unprecedented demo, but we see on the date of the video here is only 11 years old

[@me-lq7go]

The best version of this awesome song!

[@PungiFungi]

The original demos of Burning Up, Everybody, and Ain't No Big Deal have an urgency and funk that is totally absent from the Reggie Lucas (and Mark Kamins) produced versions

[@AyahuaskaPop]

Thanks!!!

[@GentlyBlipMe]

I agree! Burning Up is best done super rock style. Thanks!

[@rag3200]

HER style here sounds a little bit punk n 80s dance with a Debbie Harry Blondie type feel

[@cobolsaurus]

If you think that, just listen to this if you haven't. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZnHnZumfqh9rsU

[@joshuahoward6845]

Look up her bands Breakfast Club and Emmy on KZbin.

[@tonyrobles2696]

WELL Punk Punk nooo😂🤟

[@merrybluegirl8930]

Looooove this!

[@TheMiller09]

THANK U MADONNA

[@marksoberay2318]

Wow!

[@windynichya]

This version sounds like it was the inspiration for the 'Re-inventiion tour version' which I think is amazing, it's got so much energy to it!

[@TheMiller09]

thank u guys

[@missalisonhamiltonUK]

This is great on so many levels that i cannot even begin to communicate how simply perfect this early madge track is. I prefer this to the ones we are more familiar with, her vocal ange in this song shows what she would be capable of later on. Amazing and thank you to posting this =o)

[@mi2ube]

I have this album and love it!

[@ajpyyz]

Darker, dirtier than the original. Very nice.

[@catver]

Steve Bray was the genius here.

[@cristian_243]

❤❤

[@pete06492]

Such an awesome version of this song- I like it SO MUCH better than the one that was actually released.

[@alissaride117]

I like this one better than her album version, I like the more rocker style in this one.

[@kazzymoviefan]

This is really a very good demo, I feel it's also better than her original but I love that one too... wish she stuck to this one more.

[@ginasousabranco5637]

After slight Emmy band, Madonna hired her 1st agent - Camille Barbone of Gotham Management. In August 1981, Stephen Bray joined in the studio to record. The 1st demo as a lead singer Madonna included: "Take Me (I Want You)," "Love on The Run", "Get Up" & "High Society (Society's Boy)". Following her contract with Gotham from July 22, 1981, Madonna should charge $ 250 of unpublished recording & $ 500 for each published, plus 3% of the price of each album sold. Between 1980 and 1982, Madonna & Stephen Bray also recorded their own music independently in the Music Building. Some of these appeared in 1996, with Madonna's authorization, an independent publishing Bray - owner of all rights - titled "Pre-Madonna". In the album still has the unreleased songs "Laugh To Keep From Crying", "Stay 81" & "Crimes Of Passion". One of the highlights of the album are the 4 songs produced by Madonna & Bray with them that Madonna got her contract with Sire Records in late 1982: "Ain't No Big Deal", "Everybody", "Burning Up" & "Don't You Know ".

[@illusional1]

Really some raw sounding gem - listening to the "brushed" version that appeared on her albums ( which sounds lush compared to this) this is just really nice dirty and rough with this girl-flavour only a few could do. Knowing now that Bray had his hands as well on "Express Yourself" awoke my interest for his productions. thanks for the upload.

[@1seatac]

wow! this is an early version or a ruff draft of Burning Up that she sang with her band The Emmy's in the early 80's, who knew that song would be a hit in 1985 and Madonna would be the queen of pop.

[@OceanbornAngel]

I really like this version as opposed to the studio one. It just has that rock ibe to it and would make a great version to cover in a Hard Rock sound.

[@tonyrobles2696]

Nice💜🌹♥️❤️

[@BlueOceanBelow]

Wow, way better than the album version, and I love that version.

[@FelipeGarciaQuintino]

Celebration Tour

[@4Mr.Crowley2]

I dig the New Order reference as this version of this song (always one of my favs from Madonna, and she looks spectacular in the video in that little white dress, writhing about on a street) has a fierce new wave sound. This version of the song is awesome, and I wish the album version retained some of this cool, driving, new wave edginess. But Madonna does not sound in any way at all like Joan Jett -- Jett has a lower alto range, and she growls (I love Jett). If anything Madonna sounds a bit like Debbie Harry of Blondie here -- but of course Madge has her own sound, and it works great with this version of the song.

[@williamforbes5985]

great version

[@Framos16]

There are videos of her singing pre Madonna! Look it up

[@shaunfossett]

Well, damn

[@supernatural2029]

this man wrote with madonna a few of the best songs according to the information like into the groove, express yourself

[@washingtonbatista2962]

The Re-Invention Tour Version!

[@cosmicmatrix6238]

THE BEST!!!!!!!

[@cobolsaurus]

This is a mix of the pop version that Madonna made of this song probably with the bootleg version that circulates on the Internet and some instruments added in post-production. It is evident that the main vocals were taken from the pop version. If you listen the original version from 1981, you'll notice the vocal intonation is different. When Madonna was a part of the band "Emmy", they didn't have female background singers either.

[@antonioencarnacion9311]

i love it 🌹😘

[@byazrov]

love it

[@almamatters2471]

I hear this and I think about early Madonna, living in a roach motel, eating popcorn for dinner and dancing the night away in the clubs...It is also hard to deny that Bray had a huge part of her success in those early years. I hope he made some money off of these tracks, they are as good if not better than her current stuff. Cheers.

[@remyparaskovia5499]

I know how made a lot of money from into the grove

[@jongordonmusic1]

It's interesting to hear this version of the song. I recall the version that Madonna used to do live with her band in about 1980, and the subsequent record produced by Reggie Lucas. There are some significant differences in the lead melody between the old live version and the Reggie version. It appears to me that some of that re-writing took place in the course of making this demo.

[@eyzonm3]

@dantechnoremix that is sooo TRUE!!!

[@watcheroffools366]

Queen

[@paulbaynton7736]

Another no.1 super smash hit song Precious honey bunny baby Madonna!😘😘😘😘💋💋💋💋🥰🥰🥰🥰💘💘💘💘❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊

[@manthony225]

LOVE ths version. It has a goth vibe.

[@jdugena]

wow -- this sounds better than the mainstream one with the video

[@eljuandi8334]

I CAME FROM INSTAGRAM!!!

[@shaneaguilar4261]

🔥🔥🔥

[@donnieb69us]

She's come a long way....not always for the best

[@mrmagassi]

Gambler and Burning Up are very similar... both great tracks from the early years!

[@latinheat1132]

She sounds like in you'll see song.

[@DionisoBaco.]

Não me afaste, porque estou pegando fogo Don't put me off, 'cause I'm on fire E eu não posso saciar meu desejo And I can't quench my desire Você não sabe que eu estou queimando por seu amor? Don't you know that I'm burning up for your love? Você não está convencido de que isso é suficiente You're not convinced that that is enough Eu me coloco nesta posição I put myself in this position E eu mereço a imposição And I deserve the imposition Mas você nem sabe que estou vivo But you don't even know I'm alive E essa batida no meu coração não vai morrer And this pounding in my heart just won't die estou queimando I'm burning up Estou queimando, queimando por seu amor I'm burning up, burning up for your love Estou queimando, queimando por seu amor I'm burning up, burning up for your love Estou queimando, queimando por seu amor I'm burning up, burning up for your love Para seu amor For your love Você está sempre fechando sua porta You're always closing your door Bem, isso só me faz te querer mais Well, that only makes me want you more E dia e noite, eu choro por seu amor And day and night, I cry for your love Você não está convencido de que isso é suficiente You're not convinced that that is enough Para justificar meu desejo de você To justify my wanting you Agora me diga o que você quer que eu faça Now tell me what you want me to do Eu não sou cego, e eu sei I'm not blind, and I know Que você quer me querer, mas não pode deixar ir That you want to want me, but you can't let go Vamos, deixe ir C'mon, let go Estou queimando, queimando por seu amor I'm burning up, burning up for your love Estou queimando, queimando por seu amor I'm burning up, burning up for your love Estou queimando, queimando por seu amor I'm burning up, burning up for your love Para o seu amor, oh For your love, oh Você quer me ver de joelhos? Do you wanna see me down on my knees? Ou curvando-se para trás, agora, você ficaria satisfeito? Or bending over backwards, now, would you be pleased? Ao contrário dos outros, eu faria qualquer coisa Unlike the others, I'd do anything Eu não sou o mesmo, não tenho vergonha I'm not the same, I have no shame estou em chamas I'm on fire Vamos, deixe ir C'mon, let go Você quer me ver de joelhos? Do you wanna see me down on my knees? Ou curvando-se para trás, agora, você ficaria satisfeito? Or bending over backwards, now, would you be pleased? Ao contrário dos outros, eu faria qualquer coisa Unlike the others, I'd do anything Eu não sou o mesmo, não tenho vergonha I'm not the same, I have no shame estou em chamas I'm on fire Ooh, sim, estou queimando Ooh, yeah, I'm burning up Ooh, sim, estou queimando Ooh, yeah, I'm burning up Oh vamos, oh vamos, estou queimando Oh come on, oh come on, I'm burning up Uh uh Uh Uh, uh, uh estou queimando I'm burning up Ooh, sim, estou queimando Ooh, yeah, I'm burning up Oh vamos, oh vamos, estou queimando Oh come on, oh come on, I'm burning up Ooh, sim, estou queimando Ooh, yeah, I'm burning up Uh uh Uh Uh, uh, uh Você sabe que me pegou queimando, baby You know you got me burning up, baby Você sabe que me pegou queimando, baby You know you got me burning up, baby Queimando por seu amor Burning up for your love Queimando por seu amor Burning up for your love Queimando por seu amor Burning up for your love Queimando por seu amor Burning up for your love

[@chemareyes4648]

GREATTTTT

[@teamsalsalero9452]

WOW

[@kakeharuka911]

Es como más new wave :3

[@GentlyBlipMe]

I agree. I think Stephen got kinda shafted as far as what he should have gotten from those years, but at least he was smart enough to make peace with her early on and because of that was able to collaborate with her for songs later on like "Express Yourself" and "True Blue" which he definitely made money on.

[@SiberiaX]

I love this version much more than the original one.

[@Tataybuboy9257]

💗💗💗

[@shadowstryker.651]

She is the greatest.

[@Mothra61]

This song reminds me of The Cars. Even the music video does.

[@tbone8723]

Just before reading your comment I was thinking how much this demo sounds like the Cars' first demos