Gambler (song)
Musically, "Gambler" is an upbeat synth-pop and disco song, featuring instrumentation from drums, electronic handclaps and percussion, which is accompanied by a bass synth and keyboards.Critics gave a mixed review of the song, but it was commercially successful, reaching the top-ten in the charts of Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom.[2][3] However, only "Crazy for You" and "Gambler" made it onto the final track listing of the film's soundtrack album, with "Warning Signs" remaining commercially unreleased.It deserves immortality beside 'Into the Groove' [...] The music is keyed to her vocals—insistent, strident, hip-thrusting; she slurs the line 'You're just jealous 'cuz you can't be me' like it's a shot of Rumplemints; meanwhile Animotion synths blow up her skirt.[15] R. Serge Denisoff and William D. Romanowski, authors of Risky business: rock in film, felt that the song seemed "jammed into the movie with a plunger and little thought to appropriateness.[17] In March 2023, Billboard ranked it as the singer's 92nd greatest song; Andrew Unterberger called it "the unofficial end of the Like a Virgin era, her final jolt of gooey synth-pop before moving onto weightier fare with True Blue.[18] Slant Magazine's Ed Gonzalez wrote: "['Gambler'] is what 'Dress You Up' would sound like after six vodka pineapples [...] To think what could have been had she brought a sneaking sense of vulnerability to what is, at heart, an emancipation proclamation, but it's an otherwise infectious marriage between Madonna's assertiveness and 'Jellybean' Benitez's all-pelvic-thrust production".[19] Rolling Stone called it an "urgent-sounding dance track" whose "assertive feel jelled well with [Vision Quest's] theme, especially the story of its hard-to-get heroine (played by Linda Fiorentino)".Madonna wore a black, fringed micro-top and similar skirt, with her belly-button exposed, and a number of crucifixes in different sizes, hanging from different parts of her body.
The Gambler (song)SingleMadonnaSynth-popGeffenSongwriter(s)Producer(s)John BenitezDress You UpLive to TellYouTubesoundtrack albumVision QuestJohn "Jellybean" BenitezGeffen RecordsSire Recordsthe Virgin TourCrazy for Youcoming-of-agedrama filmPhil RamoneHey YouRolling StoneLike a VirginairplayNature of the BeachBlack 'n BlueSpokane, Washingtonself-titled debut albuminstrumentationelectronic handclapspercussionbass synthskeyboardsfour-chordchorusmiddle eightechoesmusical sequenceAlfred Publishingtime signaturebeats per minuteD minorchord progressionBlondie24-hour fluAllMusicStylus Magazinedisco-punkFlashdanceInto the GrooveRumplemintsAnimotionRobert ChristgauBillboardTrue BlueSlant MagazineLinda FiorentinoThe GuardianUK Singles ChartsilverBritish Phonographic IndustryOfficial Charts CompanyKent Music ReportMedia Control ChartsDetroitStephen BrayGreg FulginitiJohn KalodnerArmando GalloUltratop 50European Hot 100 SinglesMusic & MediaMusic WeekSuomen virallinen listaMusica e dischiDutch Top 40Single Top 100VG-listaRecorded Music NZSchweizer HitparadeUK SinglesDigital Song SalesGallupCertified unitsOricon ChartsLibrary of CongressWarner/Chappell MusicFisher, CarrieChristgau, RobertKent, DavidIrish Recorded Music AssociationTop 40 SinglesWarner Music VisionLes classement singleGfK Entertainment chartsIrish Singles ChartSwiss Singles ChartRoppongi, TokyoOmnibus PressTransaction PublishersAshgate Publishing, LtdMusic Sales GroupUniversity of VirginiaSinglesCoversUnreleased songsEverybodyBurning UpPhysical AttractionHolidayLucky StarBorderlineMaterial GirlPapa Don't PreachOpen Your HeartLa Isla BonitaWho's That GirlCausing a CommotionThe Look of LoveSpotlightLike a PrayerExpress YourselfCherishOh FatherDear Jessie