Dear Jessie
"Dear Jessie" is a song by American singer Madonna from her fourth studio album Like a Prayer (1989). It was released as the fifth single from the album on December 4, 1989, by Sire Records. Written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, the song was inspired by Leonard's daughter Jessie. The release of "Dear Jessie" was limited to the United Kingdom, certain other European countries, Australia and Japan. The track is composed more like a children's lullaby rather than a pop song, and features strings, synthesizer and strummed acoustics. A change in tempo occurs during the breakdown, where instrumentation from trumpets is included. Lyrically, the song evokes a psychedelic fantasy landscape, in which pink elephants roam with dancing moons and mermaids.
This article is about the song by Madonna. For the song by Rollergirl, see Dear Jessie (Rollergirl song). For the 1998 documentary film, see Dear Jesse."Dear Jessie"
"Till Death Do Us Part"
December 4, 1989
1988
Johnny Yuma (Burbank, California)
4:20
- Madonna
- Patrick Leonard
- Madonna
- Patrick Leonard
Upon its release, "Dear Jessie" received mixed reviews from critics, who felt that the fantasy imagery of the song was overdone, but complimented its composition. Other reviewers likened the song to the music of the Beatles. The track was a moderate success commercially, reaching the top 5 in the United Kingdom and Ireland and the top 20 in Germany, Spain and Switzerland. The music video of "Dear Jessie" combines live action and animation, portraying a young girl waking up in bed and interacting with fantasy characters. Madonna appears in the video only as an animated, Tinker Bell-type fairy.
Background[edit]
When Madonna started work on her fourth studio album, Like a Prayer in 1988, she was in an emotional state of mind following her split from Sean Penn, her 30th birthday and unfavorable reviews for her acting endeavors.[1] She had certain personal matters on her mind that she thought could be the musical direction of the album.[2] As Madonna considered her alternatives, producers Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray experimented with instrumental tracks and musical ideas for her consideration.[2]
One day, while recording of the title track was going on at Johnny Yuma Studios, Leonard went to pick up his daughter Jessie from school. Since his wife was out of town, he brought Jessie to the studio.[3] Madonna, who was initially angry with Leonard for his late arrival, struck up a rapport with Jessie. She commented: "It was like as if I was my mother and [she] was me. We were playing in our backyard again."[3] Witnessing their connection, Leonard approached Madonna with a song he had written for his daughter, titled "Dear Jessie". Madonna changed some of the lyrics and agreed to record the track for Like a Prayer; it was finished within the next three days.[3]
"Dear Jessie" was released as the fourth single from Like a Prayer in Europe, while it served as the fifth single from the album in Australia and Japan; it was never released in the United States.[4] The single cover used a photo from 1987, taken by Herb Ritts.[5] It showed Madonna in bed, clutching a bed sheet to her bosom and sporting a pair of Minnie Mouse ears. The photo was a reference to the early criticism of Madonna's work, when reviewers had described her voice as "Minnie Mouse on helium".[3]
Composition[edit]
According to Rikky Rooksby, author of The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna, "Dear Jessie" sounds more like a children's lullaby than a pop song.[4] A baroque pop and psychedelic pop song,[6][7][8] it begins with the sound of strings, ushering a joyous melody, with Madonna singing in a full voice. The verses are sung without any background vocals to accompany Madonna's voice. However, in the chorus, when she sings the lines, "Pink elephants and lemonades, Dear Jessie hear the laughter raining on your love-parade", a different set of vocals are interwoven with hers, continuously chanting the words "La-la".[4] Synthesizer and strummed acoustics are added during the second verse, followed by the repetition of the chorus, when a change in tempo and time signature occurs, followed by the sound of a child's laughter.[4]
As Madonna finishes singing the intermediate lines, "Close your eyes, sleepy-head, It is time for your bed, Never forget what I said, Hang on...", a trumpet starts playing alongside the main rhythm. The breakdown has the feel of Spanish music, with the glissando evoking the string arrangements.[4] This is followed by the bridge and the chorus being repeated twice. "Dear Jessie" ends with all instrumentation and vocals fading out, except the orchestra, which is equalized to make it sound very thin and trebly, as if coming out from a distorted radio.[4] The lyrics encourage the young girl Jessie to use her imagination. It summons up a psychedelic landscape, where pink elephants roam with dancing moons and mermaids. It references fairy-tale characters and creates an image of children playing with each other.[9]
According to the sheet music published by Warner/Chappell Music, "Dear Jessie" is written in the time signature of common time, with a tempo of 120 beats per minute. Normally written in 4⁄4, the song has a change in time signature after the second chorus, changing it to 3⁄4.[10] It is composed in the key of D major, with Madonna's voice ranging from C3 to D5. The song's chord progression follows a sequence of Bm–A–Bm–D–A in the verses and changes to D–Bm–G–A–D in the chorus.[10]
Chart performance[edit]
In the United Kingdom, "Dear Jessie" debuted at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, for the issue dated December 16, 1989. After two weeks, it reached a peak position of number five on the chart, staying there for another two weeks. It was present on the UK Singles Chart for a total of nine weeks, and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipment of 200,000 copies of the single.[21][22] According to Official Charts Company, the song has sold 255,000 copies in the UK as of August 2008.[23] In Australia, the song reached number 51 on the ARIA Singles Chart, remaining there for two consecutive weeks.[24] On the international chart for Japan, "Dear Jessie" reached the top 40, but could not move up above number 25.[25] In Germany, the song reached a peak of number 19 on the chart, but it remained within the German Top 100 for a total of 19 weeks.[26] In Ireland, the song reached a peak of number three, remaining on the chart for a total of six weeks.[27] The song failed to reach the top 20 in Austria, and was present on the chart for two weeks.[28] It also failed to reach the top ten in Spain and Switzerland, reaching a peak of number 17 and number 16, respectively.[29][30] "Dear Jessie" entered the Dutch Top 40 at number 37, ultimately reaching a peak of number 25.[31] On the Pan-Eurochart Hot 100 Singles, compiled by Music & Media, "Dear Jessie" peaked at number nine.[32]
Credits and personnel adapted from Like a Prayer album liner notes.[40]