Like a Virgin was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, who were also responsible for Cyndi Lauper's hit True Colors two years later, and released on 31 October 1984. The single charted in numerous countries; in the U.S., it held the number one spot for six weeks from December 22, 1984 to January 26, 1985, selling over one million copies.
Billy Steinberg on Like a Virgin:
"When Madonna recorded the song, Tom could be heard saying "When your Heart beats, and you hold me, and you love me..." in the fade-out of our demo. “. Madonna must have listened to the demo very carefully because her version ends with the same little ad libs. It's rare that someone listens to demos so thoroughly; we were flattered that she followed our demo so closely."
- Billy Steinberg: in an interview with Songfacts
Madonna on her initial feelings about demoing Like a Virgin and Material Girl:
"I liked both of them because not only were they ironic and provocative, but they didn't resemble myself at all. I'm not materially minded and I certainly wasn't a virgin. As an aside, how can you even be 'like a virgin'? I liked these puns, I thought they were clever, strange and cool."
The track's bassline is similar to both Michael Jackson's Billie Jean and the Four Tops classic I Can't Help Myself. Madonna said that while these were not cover versions of either hit, the drum combinations were played in their likeness. The Foreigner classic Feels Like the First Time served as inspiration for the lyrics.
At the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards, Madonna sang the song in a wedding dress on top of a giant cake.
The song was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, as well as MTV's and Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Pop Songs. In 2008, Like a Virgin was named to the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs list. In 2003, fans voted Like a Virgin as the 5th best song by Madonna in a poll.
Among critics, Like a Virgin has been predominantly praised. Critics refer to Like a Virgin and Material Girl as the songs that made Madonna a pop icon.
