Open Your Heart
Lyrics
(Watch out)
I see you on the street and you walk on by
You make me wanna hang my head down and cry
If you gave me half a chance you'd see
My desire burning inside of me
But you choose to look the other way
I've had to work much harder than this
For something I want
Don't try to resist me
Open your heart to me, baby
I hold the lock and you hold the key
Open your heart to me, darlin'
I'll give you love if you, you turn the key
I think that you're afraid to look in my eyes
Oh baby
You look a little sad boy, I wonder why
I follow you around but you can't see
You're too wrapped up in yourself to notice
So you choose to look the other way
Well, I've got something to say
Don't try to run
I can keep up with you
Nothing can stop me from trying
You've got to
Open your heart to me, baby
I hold the lock and you hold the key
Open your heart to me, darlin'
I'll give you love if you, you turn the key
Open your heart with the key
One is such a lonely number
Aah, aah, aah, aah
Open your heart
I'll make you love me
It's not that hard
If you just turn the key (watch out)
Don't try to run
I can keep up with you
Nothing can stop me from trying
You've got to
Open your heart to me, baby
I hold the lock and you hold the key
Open your heart to me, darlin'
I'll give you love if you, you turn the key
Open your heart with the key
Open your heart
I'll make you love me (come on baby)
It's not that hard
If you just turn the key (I'm gonna get to you)
Open your heart
I'll make you love me (come on baby)
It's not that hard
If you just turn the key (watch out, watch out, watch out)
Open your heart
I'll make you love me (come on baby)
It's not that hard
If you just turn the key (watch out, watch out, watch out)
Open your heart
I'll make you love me (I'm gonna get to you)
It's not that hard
If you just turn the key (come on baby)
Credits
Written by Madonna, Gardner Cole and Peter Rafelson
Produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard
Drums by Johnathan Moffett
Percussion by Paulinho da Costa
Guitar by David Williams
Keyboards by Patrick Leonard
Background vocals by Madonna
Album
Single
Originally this song was titled 'Follow Your Heart' and written for Cyndi Lauper. But Madonna used it instead, changing the lyrics and turning it into a dance song for the True Blue album. The fourth single of an album usually doesn't chart big, but this one did. Released on November 19, 1986, it topped the charts in the US (her fifth #1) and in Japan, and got to #4 in the UK and Canada. It also topped the Hot Dance / Club Play in the US.
Video
For the video Madonna collaborated for the first time with photographer Jean-Baptiste Mondino, who would later also direct the fantastic videos for Justify My Love, Human Nature and Don't Tell Me. While the lyrics for Open Your Heart sound rather harmless, the video certainly wasn't.
Dressed for the first time in one of Jean-Paul Gaultier's sexy corsets, Madonna plays an artist in a peep show. Outside, a little boy (Felix Howard) yearns to see his big idol. When Madonna comes out she's no longer the sexy vamp but rather a boyish friend. She kisses the boy awake and they dance away in the distance. While the scenes with the boy were completely innocent, some critics still moaned that Madonna was encouraging child abuse.
At the 1987 MTV VMA the video was nominated for Best Female Video (won by Papa Don't Preach), Best Choreography, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Editing, but didn't win any of them.
Tour
The Who's That Girl Tour started off with the young dancer Chris Finch, imitating the little boy in the Open Your Heart video (Felix Howard hadn't received a working licence for the tour). Then the other 2 dancers are introduced, before Madonna herself appears on stage. She's wearing the same black pointy corset as in the video. She first sings the song alone, then Chris Finch joins her again and dance together.
On the Blond Ambition Tour, Open Your Heart follows the opening number Express Yourself. This time there's not a young boy but a hunky dancer watching from a distance as his idol performs on a chair, dressed in another pointy corset.
For years, fans wondered when they'd finally get another live performance of Open Your Heart. It was used only as a sample in Frozen on both Drowned World Tour and Sticky & Sweet Tour, due to its similar theme ('you hold the key'). But it was only a matter of time before the song would finally make its comeback as a proper live performance. Following Madonna's current trend of doing folk/acoustic versions of her big hits, this time she invited the Basque trio Kalakan to the MDNA Tour and together they turned this commanding #1 hit into a celebratory plea directed at the fans. Surrounded by the Kalakan trio, her musicians and dancers, Madonna made it a moment to share the spotlight with everyone. Together with her son Rocco, Madonna danced around the catwalk, greeting the fans. The dancers get to do a dance show-off and fans get to sing along while Kalakan performs "Sagarra Jo" sung in Euskara. After the song, Madonna explained the meaning of the Basque song, where the smashing of apples represents the smashing of prejudices.
On the Rebel Heart Tour, Open Your Heart was performed as the surprise song in the Latin / Gypsy Segment, but only in Manchester.