From partnering with William Orbit on Ray of Light to structuring 2005’s Confessions on a Dance Floor as a DJ set, Madonna brings dance music into her evolving sound. Still, even among all those great beats and hooks, 1990’s “Vogue” remains resilient. Culled not from True Blue or Like a Virgin but rather, I’m Breathless, the soundtrack for Dick Tracy, “Vogue” has a legacy deeper than its radio ubiquity. At the heart of the classic is its use of the Roland TR-909.
Strike a Pose
Named for the angular dance form, “Vogue” achieved massive global commercial success. It hit number one in the US and UK and topped charts in Canada, Japan, and beyond. During an era when physical singles were viable products, “Vogue” was 1990’s highest earner—moving upwards of six million copies.
The cultural resonance of “Vogue” still shines brightly. On the FX series Pose, the song is a pivotal plot point. It highlights the moment at which the house-ballroom community begins to conquer the mainstream.
Enter the 909
After an airy introductory synth pad, the TR-909 makes a subtle entrance. The crisp attack of the drum machine defines the track—its snare rolls evoking the heady world of New York City and its fashionistas.
Produced on a $5,000 budget, remix-master Shep Pettibone intended the song to be a B-side. Pettibone (known for work with Pet Shop Boys and George Michael) created an atmospheric track with a Salsoul Records influence. He sent it to the singer who wrote her lyrics over the 116 BPM groove.
"During an era when physical singles were viable products, “Vogue” was 1990’s highest earner—moving upwards of six million copies."
An Innovative Collaborator
Pettibone’s innovative approach to remixing made him a sought-after collaborator. He replaced instrumentation and recontextualized songs in fresh melodic constructs. In fact, his takes on Madonna tracks like “Express Yourself” and “Like A Prayer” became the definitive versions. Speaking to Billboard in 2015 about the song’s longevity, Pettibone remarked, “It’s always on a radio somewhere. It’s still a dance floor filler after all these years too, which is amazing.”
Everlasting Crowdpleaser
Madonna keyboardist Ric’key Pageot agrees. “It has been in the setlist in every world tour I’ve done with her since 2008,” Pageot said at rehearsals for the Madame X tour. “When that song drops, the crowd always goes nuts.”
Pageot also noted the way the song builds. “The production was ahead of its time. Each drum sound is introduced layer by layer, starting with the snaps, then the high toms building anticipation. Once that iconic beat drops with that classic TR-909 kick, snare, and hi-hat, it just pounds your chest.”
The List of Legends
Finally, there is the song’s now-legendary spoken section—a spontaneous late-game addition. “We wrote down a whole bunch of names of movie stars and that’s how the rap came up,” Pettibone told Billboard. The singer’s recitation has become one of the early ’90s most iconic pop music moments.
Like the best breakdowns, this section lets the listener reevaluate the track’s fundamental parts. The TR-909 strides into the spotlight, like a vogueing dancer: all cool detachment and precision posing.
"The TR-909 strides into the spotlight, like a vogueing dancer: all cool detachment and precision posing."
Hitting at the 4-minute mark, Madonna’s laundry list of classic celebrities is as legendary as the balls from which the song took its inspiration. As Madonna sings, “Beauty is where you find it.” The dignified pulse of the Roland TR-909 on “Vogue” is nothing if not beautiful.
