Madonna: Open Your Heart [Rafelson Demo]

[@MerlinParish]

"I've had to work much harder than this / for something I want, don't try to resist me" is the most Madonna line of all Madonna songs. I knew she must have added it.

[@KennyFame]

exactly

[@RMRecords]

Spot on! Agree.

[@yussepig6629]

One of my favourite lines from a Madonna song ever

[@Ernie1978]

She really did change the lyrics. WOW!

[@sdeelite]

I really love the lyric changes she made.

[@hardtechnoboy]

I love the synth bass and chirpy INXS-ish guitars. Love the 80s!

[@devonhughes3805]

yeah there's some Scritti Politti vibe in there, too

[@scotthollmeyer6844]

I thought with the Scritti there's a bit of the synth and vibe of Tina Turner's "Typical Male"

[@citydweller99]

In this version, I could see why Cyndi Lauper was 1st choice...it has a bouncy and quirky vibe in the vein of her Goonies hit. Open Your Heart wouldn't have been a hit if Madonna hadn't had such a strong foundation to build on

[@donryan3153]

In 1986, when I was 16, everyone loved this song. Her songs always filled the high school gymnasium dance floor and when the video came out everyone was talking about it. We all knew she was doing "naughty" things but we also loved it, the music, and found her videos fascinating.

[@CarlosMartinez-tj9ju]

I love how people always will try to play down Madonna's many talents and genius. Madonna made this a hit and it wouldn't have ever been so if it wasn't for what she added to this demo.

[@heyoletsgo9]

@@CarlosMartinez-tj9ju always …it’s a cultural pathology ….

[@mrmagassi]

this is so interesting... this version definitely sounds like something Cyndi Lauper would sing. It's definitely tailored to her style (especially in the 80s). Madonna's lyrical changes really made it her own: "don't try to run, I can keep up with you... nothing can stop me from trying!". Thanks for sharing this with us!

[@RMRecords]

Thanks for the understanding - Cyndi was the first choice... but that said, no regrets.

[@BlueFridayOFFICIAL]

​@@RMRecordsDo you happen to know the lyrics to the chorus back when it was intended as "Follow Your Heart" for Cyndi? I've been curious about what would come after "follow your heart to me".

[@RMRecords]

@@BlueFridayOFFICIAL The original lyrics are what I sang on the demo that was posted above - intended for Cindi - this is my original version before Madonna change a few lines… "Follow your Heart" was a song I actually wrote separately and actually was NOT related directly to Open Your Heart - I produced and sang it and it was featured in a number of 80's movies including "Lucas" and "Perfect" with John Travolta! Happy to share the recording if you like>? Here's the Lyric : Follow Your Heart 







Music/Lyric P. Rafelson












You been acting for too long

Baby take a break 

I don't wanna see you hurt yourself 

Many times I thought I couldn't tell you 


How much I really cared 

But now it's time for you to Know 


Baby are you ready For the words I'm saying to you 

Honey hold steady 

To the one thing you should do
(you got to)

Follow your heart  If you might not know what's right

(baby) Follow your heart-yeah 
You can change this world 

It's never too late 

I Have seen you flashing around this town 

Talkin' money out loud

And you have played that game so well  But it's a show and tell Now who do you really think your foolin' 


You wear a thin disguise I could take you places that you never been 


Just look into my eyes

Baby are you ready

For the words I'm laying on you 

Honey hold steady 

To the one thing you should do (you got to) Follow your heart 


If you might not know what's right-baby 


Follow your heart-yeah 

You can change this world 


It's never too late 

Follow your heart  Follow your heart

Follow your heart  If you might not know what's right-baby 

Follow your heart-yeah You can change this world It's never too late 

©1987 Rafelson Music

[@jpa6265]

That’s the reason It sounds Lauperesque!!!

[@dryan2259]

Madonna certainly made significant changes to the lyrics and production, and her vocal delivery sells the song better than his voice does. It's really interesting to hear how some songs that get optioned to artists change and evolve and the eventual artist puts their stamp on the whole thing. This was one of her many number one hits in the 80s.

[@eljefescientist5726]

the new drum beat added greatly too!

[@yellowpsychopath]

It certainly has a very Cyndi feel to it, which is who the writer wanted to sing on it.

[@ginasousabranco5637]

Nothing like the final version released by Madonna with the raw & raspy voice at the time.

[@ravenna9969]

@Timothy Chung stop it

[@NKPN2011]

Madonna took the song to another level. The demo is so average and her version is a timeless classic.

[@sectionq1]

it's almost like it''s a demo. ;)

[@user-li3fr8jl3b]

@@sectionq1 Lol

[@dealmaven123]

It’s a fucking *demo* you imbecile. Do you not know what that is?

[@astrolabe1976]

The demo isn’t supposed to sound polished. It’s to DEMONSTRATE the song to a singer and producer the lyrics and arrangements You don’t want to overproduce it /spend too much time on it.

[@assaultislove]

Anyone who questions Madonna's skills as a songwriter should listen to this demo and realize how different the lyrics she sang were from this version

[@fomalhauto]

I agree. I listened to it carefully. There is a significant lyrical difference. Last night, I watched the discussion of his song. He came across like Madonna made very minor changes to the lyrics.

[@Silver-Sunshine]

assaultislove Changing lyrics to an already composed song is actually, not that difficult. The fact you think it is, shows how little talent you have in this area.

[@gerryowen4200]

Silver Sunshine actually it’s taking something mediocre and making it a classic song. Tho song would never have been a hit without the changes.

[@TarantulaCandy]

@@Silver-Sunshine it's beyond that, she changed the melody and the vocal tempo/and tone. shows how LITTLE "knowledge" you have. NEXT!

[@TarantulaCandy]

@NYC he isn't making any points. and neither are you, thanks for trying bye

[@loramatildak5200]

Despite the lyrics and the different version... the #melody🎵 of the song was huge... absolute big hit for #Madonna... like a virgin was nothing compare to it .

[@MargateFL33063]

Thank you to Peter Rafelson for writing this wonderful music hit.

[@heyoletsgo9]

co-writing

[@scottgc633]

Gardner Cole co-wrote this demo version with Peter. Madonna then reworked the lyrics (significantly).

[@Jenny2Toes]

This was Peter Rafelson, who sang the original demo. Although he sounds great on the demo, I can't say I really blame him for giving it to Madonna... She made it a huge hit.

[@germanicelt]

I thought it was abit early for Madonna's version. I thought it was from '87, not this '85 movie.

[@AlexeBriand2002]

@@germanicelt her version was recorded in very late 1985, early 86

[@VIRGOLEGACY]

Has that Dan Hartman "I Can dream about you" thing going on lol but im feeling the bassline here

[@thesupportrs4523]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHTWnJdmrLuKqac

[@saadsaud55]

Pat Leonard added the base ..the rest is history

[@RafePeters]

Most appreciated.

[@ingridmadonna7]

this is original peter rafelson demo he wrote the song and then offered the song to madonna the rest is fantastic history

[@juabnluloko]

I can say, that it was really good, but Madonna made it better, better lyrics, better music, better vocals.

[@endlessness80]

You know what would be great? If Cyndi covered this now, literally just for fun and nothing else.

[@1171karl]

Yeah its about time she made a come back

[@jpa6265]

It sounds Laupersque !!!

[@euroclass1]

Donna De Lory also sang a demo to this!

[@MusicLover-hq3tv]

True and there's also a rock demo for this called Follow Your Heart that was submitted to the temptations and Cyndi lauper

[@marguskiis7711]

@@MusicLover-hq3tv Rafelson wrote and demoed it basically alone but Cole and Madonna wanted to leave him out. So Gardner Cole made another demo with female voice with different title and presented it as the original demo. When Rafelson accidentally discovered his song is on Madonna`s new album project, he phoned to Madonna`s lawier and he was blackmailed to give away his rights. He said they should take the song off the album. Finally they added his name along Cole and Madonna.

[@rubiopicazojoseph]

Looking at this picture, I can see Selena admiring Madonna a lot. Look at Selena's "VEN CONMIGO" photo shoot and you can see Madonna had a huge impact on Selena.

[@rubiopicazojoseph]

@Timothy Chung yes but Selena as well was inspired by her.... Look at her album "Ven Conmigo."

[@Patrick3183]

Ven conmigo, let’s take a trip!

[@tickedoffnow]

This is amazing Wow 😲🙏♥️🔥

[@JoyToy-yv4ou]

This version would’ve been a #1 hit !

[@danwat1234]

These are the lyrics. I need help with timestamp 2:00 everytime i see you walk on by all i wanna do is make you mine but you always leave me crying in the night i can't keep these feelings locked inside i close my eyes and your here next to me lost and imagine the warm sunlight open your heart to me, i'll hold the lock and you hold the key open your heart to me, i'll give you love, if you, you turn the key open your heart with a key no matter what i do or what i say time is always standing in our way. Caught under your spell i can't escape (?) 2:00 [fixed, thx] everywhere i look i see your face don't leave me here all alone in my dreams wake me and make me believe in magic open your heart to me, i'll hold the lock and you hold the key open your heart to me, i'll give you love if you, you turn the key open your heart with a key one is such a lonely number two can be free if you would only open your heart to me i'll hold the lock and you hold the key open your heart to me, i'll give you love, if you, you turn the key open your heart with a key 4x Love the demo, it's obviously not aggressive like Madonna's version. The jive between the synthesizer and guitar is awesome.

[@MW-ci3oz]

Sounds like “caught up in your spell I can’t escape”

[@danwat1234]

@@MW-ci3oz ah ha! Ty i think you are correct

[@danwat1234]

@@MW-ci3oz or, "caught under your"

[@Patrick3183]

“Caught under your spell”

[@faireydust72]

This is definitely an interesting version But I'm so glad that Madonna re-wrote many of the lyrics. Also here's an interesting piece of Trivia that not many Madonna fans know......... This song was originally offered to Cyndi Lauper but she didn't really care for it. It was intended to be on Cyndi Laupers "True Colors Album" But Cyndi felt it didn't fit in with the rest of the "True Colors songs" As well as being a HUGE Madonna fan I am also a HUGE fan of Cyndi Lauper. I wish she had recorded the demo so i could hear her sing it like Britney Spears did with the song "Telephone" & just like Cyndi with Open Your Heart the song "Telephone" was originally written by Gaga for singer Britney Spears' sixth studio album, Circus, but Spears rejected it. Later, Gaga recorded the song as a collaboration with Beyoncé for The Fame Monster.. just a fun fact about Madonna's song Open Your Heart & Telephone😀

[@scottgc633]

One of the co-writers claims he didn't know that the other had Cyndi Lauper in mind when he wrote it, and it's been stated that the demo was "never presented" to Cyndi, so it's unlikely that she passed on it.

[@saadsaud55]

Madonna turned this mediocre demo into solid gold hit

[@RMRecords]

Spoken like a true Madonna Fan - some say the Demo was better - we love both as what they are - great music! :)

[@ithinkthefucknotyoutrickas5461]

@@RMRecords in what fucking world is the demo better? I mean let's keep it real..while the demo isn't mediocre...Madonna and her team added LAYERS upon LAYERS of Magic from the lyrics to the Bass, to the guitar nevermind that Madonna's image adds another whole concept.

[@marguskiis7711]

bullshit. Even the demo is really amazing.

[@marguskiis7711]

@@ithinkthefucknotyoutrickas5461 The demo IS better. Madonna is not some great vocalist. Here the male vocal is really amazing. `Donna is singing like some little girl under shower.

[@ithinkthefucknotyoutrickas5461]

@@marguskiis7711 NOPE, you tried it, BYE. NEXT!

[@amysongs]

‘I hold the lock and you hold the key’ does sound better, to me, from a female perspective i.e. when Madonna sings it!

[@fomalhauto]

yep lock = vagina key = penis pretty cool!

[@PungiFungi]

Or a reference to a chastity belt.

[@ithinkthefucknotyoutrickas5461]

@@PungiFungi it's a reference to the pussy honey boypussy or Girl Pussy...it's about sticking it in.

[@dangerousnewage]

Peters on this thread. Look for his name. Amazing producer still in 2018. This song was instrumental to Madonnas music career. It was meant for Cindy Lauper. Full respect Peter Rafelson for being part of Madonna.

[@marguskiis7711]

The producers of Madonna wanted Rafelson to give away all his rights and Rafelson asked to take the song away from album. They could not and Rafelson won BUT later Madonna`s PR guys wrote shit about Rafelson.

[@ithinkthefucknotyoutrickas5461]

@@marguskiis7711 where's the receipts, where's the "shit"

[@LiveAndDangerous01]

@@marguskiis7711 Yeah Peters my very good friend. He stood up to his creation and did not allow the music industry to bully him. What a guy and with out him you don't have one Madonna biggest and iconic hits.

[@scottgc633]

@@marguskiis7711 Did they, though? Why did they target Peter and not Gardner Cole (his co-writer)? Gardner was completely aware that the song had been recorded by Madonna (and he knew it was the first song recorded for the "True Blue" sessions, which made him worry that it wouldn't make the final cut). Why did Peter feel the need to fabricate a story about threatening to sue (with details that are easily disproved by anyone with access to the Internet)? It's quite bizarre.

[@RVS-fq4wh]

Imagine Cyndi Lauper singing this? It will be another Change of Heart. This won't be as big, iconic, and legendary as it is nowadays

[@bensonzgarnet]

change of heart is iconic and legendary it was just forgotten because of true colors (the song) massive success and a night to remember's failiure

[@jolbrias1]

I really love his lyrics. Of course I love Madonna’s more but part of his singing I cannot make out some of the lyrics. I’ve tried to Google it but I cannot find anything about his lyrics. By any chance does anybody know where I can find a complete copy of his lyrics? I’d really appreciate any help.

[@kumada84]

Every time I see you walk on by All I want to do is make you mine But you always leave me crying in the night I can't keep these feelings locked inside I close my eyes and you're here next to me Lost and (???) the warmth and sunlight Open your heart to me I hold the love and you hold the key Open your heart to me I'll give you love if you, you turn the key No matter what I do or what I say Time is always standing in our way Caught under your spell, I can't escape Everywhere I look I see your face Don't leave me here all alone in my dreams Wake me and make me believe in magic Open your heart with the key One is such a lonely number Two can be free If you would only

[@donryan3153]

She certainly improved on this with the lyrics she changed, and made it her own. Also her voice on it is so much better than his, she adds depth and emotion, never mind the layers added by the video.

[@astrolabe1976]

its a demo, its supposed to be rough

[@akakgak]

@@astrolabe1976 And frankly, for the time, it's a really good demo. In 1985, you could easily spend $2k to get a demo this good. Home studios of any consequence were into the 5 figure range.

[@rvegas81]

It was really different but good

[@jplogan70]

I think Cyndi turned it down due to she had Change Of Heart already did her album.

[@YouKnowWhereYouWentWrong]

GAWD.

[@muzik1943]

Thank you! Very nice to hear. Guessing summer or fall of 1985?

[@user-li3fr8jl3b]

Demo sounds a bit like Prefab Sprout with the backing instrumentation

[@thaliarubio4087]

MELISSA from Venezuela released it 1st ABRE TU CORAZON

[@juabnluloko]

I've listened to that version and that's a mess

[@thaliarubio4087]

@@juabnluloko it was directly from the author and producer DEMO b4 Madonna's people modified it some

[@juabnluloko]

@@thaliarubio4087 It can be true, but actually Melissa's version it's a mess

[@juabnluloko]

@@thaliarubio4087 Actually I've been investigating and Madonna received that song in the middle of 1985 and finally rewrote it, produced it and record it in 1985, Mellisa just did a cover version from the unofficial song, a cover from a Demo, so we can say that are two different songs with same riff. But Madonna's version it's quite better than Mellisa's.

[@juabnluloko]

@@thaliarubio4087 and more, Madonna rewrote it with Patrick Leonard, they didn't need anyone else to write their songs. So next time just get information

[@marcomallia8423]

And to think he was not credited initially when the first 600k copies of True Blue album were already printed … no wonder he would sue

[@colinm3130]

He was credited and album had already been out long before this single was released. He basically lied.

[@scottgc633]

This isn't true, though. No disrespect to Peter, but his story about calling Madonna's lawyers and threatening to sue when Warners decided to release "Open Your Heart" as the "fourth single before the album had even been released" and after they'd shipped 600k copies without his name on the credits is completely false. While it's true that OYH was the 4th single, it was released five months after the album was released and he is credited as a writer on copies of the album released in its initial pressing (so his story simply isn't true). Kudos to him for generating publicity for a song he co-wrote nearly 40 years ago and for which he still receives royalties, but his story has more holes in it than a slice of Swiss cheese.

[@rubendhoyos9886]

The original demo sounds like Huey Lewis and the News.

[@astrolabe1976]

Huey sounds absolutely nothing like this

[@sumorgh85]

This reminds me of my mom

[@Patrick3183]

Only the chorus remains lyrically the same

[@davelanger]

The music and vocal melody are the same. That is like 75% of writing credits lo'l

[@Patrick3183]

@@davelangerI said lyrically

[@ami7mina]

He’s n amazing producer. i hope I could produce a song with him. It’s folk pop though wiht little bits of edm

[@YoSoyRusia]

Lyrics are others

[@electracast]

This is so cool - to hear where it all started and then where it went and wound up being such a MASSIVE hit - what a journey : the story is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZXZoGCEg9iHedU

[@franciscocascales9159]

who are you?

[@RafePeters]

Amazing! - Where did this come from??

[@entidadewolf]

We're not worthy, we're not worthy 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@jolbrias1]

GEE it would be nice if it were Madonna singing it, I understand that random people sing a lot of the demos for the artist to hear but I would of liked to hear Madonna sing this version.

[@MusicLover-hq3tv]

He's the songwriter not a random person

[@ehuffnsd]

she never recorded a version

[@SniffyPoo]

definitely works better as a dance song

[@jolbrias]

am i the only 1 who has a hard time making out some of the lyrics?

[@Dave_Langer]

because they are just place holder rough cut lyrics

[@loiteringwithintent461]

Madonna really tried to screw the songwriter over. Just abhorrent. A similar thing also happened with 'Papa don't Preach'. Sam Harris had to sue. Really bad karma

[@nanettewhite8269]

????

[@fy90s]

Way better than the Madonna version.

[@emmygervais1484]

After people say madonna cant sing.....DO YOU HEAR HIM LORDDDDDDD

[@thaliarubio4087]

Donna delory sang it 1st

[@husamelzien5738]

No this was the first, the label apparently rejected this version. Gardner Cole was dating Donna and at that time and he had her re-record the vocals which she did and added some vocal flourishes and they resubmitted it and it made it to Madonna who duplicated some of the vocal choices Donna added and then Madonna and Pat Leonard did the other changes needed to suit it more to her.

[@tharris2665]

Theres literally a video on here of rafelson talkimg about the story of the song lmao

[@cristianspace7997]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5fcp6mEq7mbj6M

[@melvinmoore2605]

no one sings alike...of course she will make a different sound of it...

[@fomalhauto]

also significant lyrical differences

[@ithinkthefucknotyoutrickas5461]

@@fomalhauto Madonna also added the complete bass and guitar...it's a total rework from lyrics to music

[@fomalhauto]

@@ithinkthefucknotyoutrickas5461 I agree Thank you for pointing out the addition of bass and guitar

[@ithinkthefucknotyoutrickas5461]

@@fomalhauto thank you for pointing out the lyrics, esp the parts " I had to work much harder than this, DOn't try to run I can Keep up with you" flow so much better and that's 100% MADONNA

[@edenpalmermusic]

I dare to say it... I like this version more O_o

[@tateurdina]

jadore madonna et sa version , mais je dois dire que j adore celle la aussi......................

[@ithinkthefucknotyoutrickas5461]

dare I say eden Palmer your taste is shitty.

[@RMRecords]

The REAL story of Open Your Heart! : kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqKTi35saNiaZ8k

[@mohammedkazim8028]

Thank god Madonna changed everything in this song to 👍❤️🥰 Because this demo is 👎🥴

[@bretalleman9352]

It’s weird hearing a man singing this lol

[@rodenrren2]

really??? why the flying fuck would a sane person do that? you create a masterpiece and just give it away?? I'm assuming either he was broke as hell and in desperate need or she paid him necessecity a shitload of money for it, a musician cannot be that stupid to not see even the slighest potential this song could have, he should've invested for better production and you got yourself a hit, maybe not madonna status but your're guaranteed record label attention, worldwide play, fan expansion, etc

[@assaultislove]

He probably made more money from Madonna singing it and making it a hit then he would have had he sang it himself. And that's even considering how many of the lyrics were rewritten

[@fomalhauto]

@@assaultislove He claimed that Madonna wrote a couple of lines but a lot of the lyrics are different in this song!

[@Silver-Sunshine]

@@assaultislove It was originally offered to Cyndi Lauper.

[@heyoletsgo9]

she turned a pony into a race horse

[@mrbukater2794]

Hate to say this, but I like this version better than Madonna's.

[@TarantulaCandy]

Love to say it: you got shitty taste Lord butt-taker

[@NoChrReq]

whoever chooses this version over the madonna one, indeed has a shitty taste.

[@ithinkthefucknotyoutrickas5461]

@@TarantulaCandy Miss Candy you a Savage LOL

[@geraldsyta6890]

Ughhh the verses are atrocious

[@biffi69]

Badd

[@marguskiis7711]

Male version is better.

[@AlexeBriand2002]

margus kiis wrong. especially with the lock and key metaphor

[@ithinkthefucknotyoutrickas5461]

Margus kiis you're just salty, spreading false rumors. stop hating on Madonna bitch. BYE

[@Jenny2Toes]

This is UNBELIEVABLE! Sounds like the original song... WOW!