Oh Father
Oh Father is a pop song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her fourth studio album Like a Prayer. It was released on October 24, 1989 Sire Records as the fourth single from the album. However, it was not released in the UK as a single, until 31 December 1995 when it appeared on the ballads album Something to Remember from 1995.
Commercial success
The song debuted on 11 November 1989 to 55th place on the Billboard Hot 100, the song became Madonna's first single since Holiday from the spring of 1984, which missed the top ten in the U.S. charts. The maximum placement was number 20 in the week ending 30 December 1989. With this song, Madonna ended their series of 16 consecutive top 5 hits and 17 Top Ten hits in the United States.
Outside the U.S., the single was only a mediocre success. It is still Madonna's least successful single in Australia, where the song only reached number 59; so they ended their series of 20 Top 40 hits.
Oh Father, was not released until 25 December 1995 when the song was included on the track list of the album Something to Remember as a single in the UK and Ireland. The song reached # 16 in the UK singles chart and number 25 in Ireland.
End of 1989, the single was released in South Africa, but did not make it into the charts. However, in a re-release in December 1995, it became a number -one hit and reached # 1 for two weeks
Music Video
The music video was filmed in the last week of October 1989 in the Culver Studios in Culver City. Directed by David Fincher. The music video was filmed in black and white and is inspired by Orson Welles film Citizen Kane. The world premiere of the video was on 11 November 1989 at the MTV.
The music video was honored by Rolling Stone magazine as one of "The 100 Top Music Videos" with number 66. The music video is included on Madonna's video album, The Immaculate Collection (1990 ) DVD / VHS. In an interview with an MTV Special in 1991 with Kurt Loder, entitled Breakfast with Madonna Loder described it as the " most impressive [n ] Music Video". Then he asked Madonna if her father, Silvio Ciccone, had seen the music video. Madonna replied: "To tell you the truth, I do not know if he has seen it. What's so important? "
- Director: David Fincher
- Producer: Tim Clawson
- Director of Photography: Jordan Cronenweth
- Editor: Jim Haygood
- Production Company: Propaganda Films
Live performances
Madonna sang the song on her 1990 Blond Ambition Tour. In the presentation she was kneeling on an altar.
Charts
Cover versions
- The UK alternative band My Vitriol published in 2001, a rock version of Oh Father, entitled Grounded.
- Giant Drag released a cover version in the rock and folk style.
- In 2010, Sia coverte the song on their album We Are Born.