Keep It Together (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Keep It Together


Caption =
Artist = Madonna
from Album = Like a Prayer
A-side =
B-side = "Vogue" (Australia)
"Keep It Together" (Instrumental) (USA)
Released = January 30, 1990 (North America, Europe)
March 25, 1990 (Japan)
Format = CD, Cassette, 7" single
Recorded =
Genre = Dance-pop, Funk
Length = 5:03
Label = Sire, Warner Bros.
Writer = Madonna
Stephen Bray
Producer = Madonna
Stephen Bray
Certification = * Gold (United States)
Last single = "Dear Jessie"
(1989)
This single = "Keep It Together"
(1990)
Next single = "Vogue"
(1990)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Like a Prayer
Type = studio
prev_track = "Oh Father"
prev_no = 8
this_track = "Keep It Together"
track_no = 9
next_track = "Spanish Eyes"
next_no = 10

"Keep It Together" was the sixth and final single by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her 4th studio album "Like a Prayer" and was released on January 30, 1990 by Sire Records. It was released only in the US and Japan, and as a AA-side with "Vogue" in Australia.

ong history

Lyrically, "Like a Prayer" was seen at the time as Madonna's most intimate and confessional release, dealing with her personal relationships, experiences with religion, men, and her family. "Keep It Together", while sonically paying tribute to Sly and the Family Stone, is about the realization of how important Madonna's family has been as a form of stability in her life ("Brothers and sisters/They've always been there for me/We have a connection/Home is where the heart should be").

The lyrics follow the course of Madonna's rise from figuratively - and literally - hungry sibling ("I'm gonna leave this place/So I can forget every single hungry face") to superstar ("I hit the big time but I still get the blues/Everyone's a stranger/City life can get to you"). Despite her mixed emotions about her formative years, the underlying theme of the song is that the family connection remains, with Madonna urging her listeners to never forget that one's family "is gold".

This was the last collaboration with frequent writing partner Stephen Bray that Madonna released as a single. "Keep It Together" was also the first Madonna single of the 1990s, the second decade of her solo career.

In Australia, "Keep It Together" was released as a AA-side with "Vogue", resulting in a number 1 hit. In the ARIA End-of-Year chart, "Vogue/Keep It Together" reached the number 3 position. [http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_home.htm]

In the U.S., it was Madonna's last 7" vinyl single issued with a picture sleeve. All her future 45s came in plain white die-cut sleeves. The picture sleeve release of "Keep It Together" was extremely limited and is a major rarity.

Music video

No videoclip was ever produced for "Keep It Together". However, some music channels used footage from the song's performance in the Blond Ambition Tour, which referenced "A Clockwork Orange" in its staging and featured an introductory verse from "Family Affair," by Sly & the Family Stone.

MTV aired a Blond Ambition performance from the Houston concert that was repeated as a video for the song.

Track listings

US 12" vinyl disc

#"Keep It Together (12" Remix)"
#"Keep It Together (Dub)"
#"Keep It Together (12" Extended Mix)"
#"Keep It Together (12" Mix)"
#"Keep It Together (Bonus Beats)"
#"Keep It Together (Instrumental)"

US 5" compact disc

#"Keep It Together (Single Remix)"
#"Keep It Together (12in Remix)"
#"Keep It Together (12in Mix)"
#"Keep It Together (12in Extended Mix)"
#"Keep It Together (Instrumental)"

US cassette single and 7" single

#"Keep It Together (Single Remix)"
#"Keep It Together (Instrumental)"

Japanese 5" compact disc E.P.

#"Cherish (Extended Version)"
#"Keep It Together (12" Remix)"
#"Keep It Together (Dub)"
#"Keep It Together (12" Extended Mix)"
#"Keep It Together (12" Mix)"
#"Keep It Together (Bonus Beats)"
#"Keep It Together (Instrumental)"

Charts

"Keep It Together" is flavored with an R&B beat and rhythm. At the time of its commercial release as a single, reception varied. The song rocketed from 56-41 the week of February 10, 1990, peaking in the #8 spot during the week of March 31, 1990. During the next few weeks, the song fell quickly from its peak as "Vogue" began gaining massive airplay and debuted on the singles chart while "Keep It Together" was still in the Top 30.

Included on

* Like a Prayer