page_title: Borderline (Madonna song)
section_title: Live performances
hierarchical_section_title: Borderline (Madonna song) / Live performances
caption_attribution_description: Special fan only show at The Forum, Melbourne, 10 March 2016
context_page_description: "Borderline" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her eponymous debut album Madonna. It was released on February 15, 1984, by Sire Records as the album's fifth single. Written and composed by its producer Reggie Lucas, the song was remixed by Madonna's then-boyfriend John "Jellybean" Benitez. The singer used refined and expressive vocals to deliver lyrics about an unfulfilled love.
  Contemporary critics and authors applauded the song, calling it harmonically the most complex track from Madonna and praising its dance-pop nature. In the United States, "Borderline" became Madonna's first top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number ten in June 1984. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number two after it was re-released as a single in 1986. Elsewhere, the song reached the top 10 or 20 in numerous European nations, while topping the singles chart of Ireland. "Borderline" placed number 84 on Blender magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born," while Time included it on their critics list of "All-Time 100 Songs."
context_section_description: The song was performed by Madonna on The Virgin Tour (1985) and the Sticky & Sweet Tour (2008). On the Virgin Tour, Madonna performed the song wearing a black, fringed micro-top and similar skirt, with her belly button exposed, and multiple crucifixes in various sizes hanging from different parts of her body. Madonna performed the song in its original version, appearing from behind a silhouette and descending steps while waving her hands and singing. The performance was not included on the Madonna Live: The Virgin Tour VHS in 1985.
  "Borderline" was added to the set list of the first leg of Madonn'a Sticky & Sweet Tour in 2008 during the "old school" section of the performance, in which Madonna wore gym shorts, sneakers and long socks. The outfit was designed by Jeremy Scott and was a reference to Madonna's old days in New York. Madonna performed a punk-pop version while playing a purple electric guitar before a backdrop showing Keith Haring's cartoons and graphical imagery. Jon Pareles of The New York Times called the performance enthusiastic and punk-pop. Nekesa Mumbi Moody of USA Today called it a "rocked out performance". Caryn Ganz of Rolling Stone called it a "Cheap Trick-style power pop song [performance]." The song was not included in the 2009 leg of the tour and was replaced by a rock version of Madonn'a 1985 single "Dress You Up".
  In June 2016, Madonna appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and closed the show by performing a slow, soul version of "Borderline", watched by then-President Barack Obama. An acoustic version of  "Borderline" was performed on Madonna's one-off concert in Melbourne, "Madonna: Tears of a Clown". The show started with Madonna riding a tricycle in a clown costume with a billowing dress and pink-and-yellow stockings. She began the performance by saying: "I don’t have bipolar disorder but I am a little borderline". Writing for The Guardian, Monica Tan praised the singer for "knowing her jokes were shit but using them as a segue into songs".
caption: Madonna performing "Borderline" during her Tears of a Clown concert in Melbourne, Australia in March 2016.
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