Iconic (song)

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During the recording process of Rebel Heart, Madonna enlisted several collaborators, including MoZella, Symbolyc One and Toby Gad. Madonna posted a photograph of the trio working with her in a recording studio on her Instagram account.{{cite news|last1=Wass|first1=Mike|title=Madonna List Of New Album Collaborators Grows To Include MoZella, S1 And Toby Gad|url=http://www.idolator.com/7514712/madonna-new-album-collaborators-mozella-s1-toby-gad|access-date=January 5, 2016|publisher=Idolator|date=April 17, 2014|archive-date=September 20, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140920020328/http://www.idolator.com/7514712/madonna-new-album-collaborators-mozella-s1-toby-gad|url-status=dead}} She said on the photograph, "Having an Iconic Moment in the studio with Toby-Mozilla and S1. My throat hurts from singing, laughing and crying."{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a565600/madonna-working-with-miley-cyrus-wrecking-ball-writer-mozella.html|title=Madonna working with Miley Cyrus 'Wrecking Ball' writer MoZella|last=Levine|first=Nick|date=April 18, 2014|access-date=May 27, 2014|work=Digital Spy}} Gad worked with Madonna on fourteen songs, twelve appeared on the album's multiple track lists, with one being "Iconic". According to Gad, "The first week she was quite intimidating. It was like a test phase. You have to criticize, but you can't really offend. But she also likes honest, harsh critics to say things as they are. It worked out really well and she got sweeter and sweeter."{{cite news|last1=Pareles|first1=Jon|title=Madonna on 'Rebel Heart,' Her Fall and More|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/06/arts/music/madonna-talks-about-rebel-heart-her-fall-and-more.html|access-date=January 5, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=March 5, 2015}} For the track, she initially asked American rapper Jay Z to be featured on with verses about icons, however he called American rapper Chance the Rapper and said that it would be better if somebody that was a new person and that he thought that could be a new icon got on the record. Chance and Madonna had met before through American recording artist Frank Ocean in a concert and became friends, prompting the singer to accept Jay Z's suggestion.{{cite news|last1=Fleischer|first1=Adam|title=Jay Z Called Chance The Rapper With Some Madonna-Related Advice|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2091049/chance-the-rapper-jay-z-madonna-frank-ocean-advice/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228012917/http://www.mtv.com/news/2091049/chance-the-rapper-jay-z-madonna-frank-ocean-advice/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 28, 2015|access-date=March 8, 2016|publisher=MTV News|date=February 26, 2015}}

Madonna also enlisted American professional boxer Mike Tyson to give a speech that would be used on the track. According to the singer, "I was thinking: who is in my eyes super iconic, who do I look up to, who is alive today that's been through what I feel like I've been through, that's been through a lot, survived, has stories to tell, has evolved as human being [...] is a survivor, his name came to mind right away." She also revealed that she was moved and impressed after seen his HBO-documentary "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth", directed by Spike Lee and contacted him.{{cite news|title=Madonna on 'Rebel Heart', Collaborating With Kanye, and Old Rock Star Sexism|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai-NTCUajKo|access-date=March 11, 2016|work=Complex|date=March 9, 2015}} Tyson revealed that he ad-libbed his part of the song in one take and was inspired by Benito Mussolini, who Tyson admitted that was seen as arrogant, but he tried to come from a positive perspective and be uplifting. In an interview for Rolling Stone he explained: "I didn't know what the hell I was going there for. I'm just there having a good time and hanging out with Madonna. She has her producer there and I go into the studio and I didn't know if she wanted me to talk or rap. I just go in there and start talking. I'm talking about my life and things that I have endured. I'm saying some really crazy stuff. It was really intense."{{cite magazine|last1=Newman|first1=Jason|title=Mike Tyson Talks 'Intense, Crazy' Cameo on Madonna's 'Rebel Heart' LP|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/mike-tyson-talks-intense-crazy-cameo-on-madonnas-rebel-heart-lp-20150123|access-date=March 11, 2016|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=January 23, 2015|archive-date=January 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150125224743/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/mike-tyson-talks-intense-crazy-cameo-on-madonnas-rebel-heart-lp-20150123|url-status=dead}}

In December 2014, thirteen unfinished demos of tracks for the album, including "Iconic", were leaked to the Internet.{{cite news |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6406626/madonna-2015-album-tracklist-leak|title=Madonna Dismisses New Album Leak As 'Unfinished Demos Stolen Long Ago'| last=Lynch| first= Joe| date=December 17, 2014| magazine=Billboard| access-date=December 19, 2014}} The leaked material included artwork suggesting the album was to be titled Iconic as well.{{cite news|last1=Michaels|first1=Sean|title=Madonna new music leak is 'form of terrorism' says singer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/dec/18/madonna-new-music-leak-terrorism-iconic|access-date=March 8, 2016|work=The Guardian|date=December 18, 2014}}{{cite news|title=Madonna's new album leaks before it's even been announced|url=http://www.factmag.com/2014/12/17/madonna-album-leaks-in-full-before-its-even-announced/|access-date=March 9, 2016|work=Fact|date=December 17, 2014}} The leaked version didn't feature either Chance the Rapper or Mike Tyson. In the same day, Madonna expressed her dissatisfaction with the leaked material, claiming it was an artistic rape and a form of terrorism.{{cite news|last1=Cooper|first1=Leonie|title=Madonna calls new album leak 'a form of terrorism'|url=http://www.nme.com/news/madonna/81802|access-date=March 9, 2016|work=NME|date=December 17, 2014}} To avoid further leaks, Madonna released six completed tracks with the pre-order for the album on the iTunes Store on December 20, 2014, as an "early Christmas gift".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-responds-to-rebel-heart-leak-by-releasing-six-songs-20141220|title=Madonna Responds to 'Rebel Heart' Leak by Releasing Six Songs|date=December 20, 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=December 20, 2014|archive-date=December 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223010314/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-responds-to-rebel-heart-leak-by-releasing-six-songs-20141220|url-status=dead}} On January 22, 2015, an updated version of the previously-leaked demo version surfaced online, with Chance and Tyson.{{cite news|last1=Corner|first1=Lewis|title=New Madonna song leaks following hacker arrest|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a623496/new-madonna-song-leaks-following-hacker-arrest/|access-date=March 9, 2016|work=Digital Spy|date=January 22, 2015}} On February 9, 2015, the singer released three other finished tracks, including the final version of "Iconic", as well as the album's track list.{{cite news|last1=O'Sullivan|first1=Erin|title=Madonna Releases 3 New Songs, Including Mike Tyson Track|url=http://www.accesshollywood.com/madonna-releases-3-new-songs-including-mike-tyson-track_article_103998|access-date=August 9, 2015|work=Access Hollywood|date=February 9, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Minsker|first1=Evan|title=Chance the Rapper and Mike Tyson Are Featured on the Same Madonna Track|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/57949-chance-the-rapper-and-mike-tyson-are-featured-on-the-same-madonna-track/|access-date=March 12, 2016|work=Pitchfork Media|date=January 19, 2015}}

"Iconic" was written by Madonna, Toby Gad, Maureen McDonald, Larry Griffin Jr., Chancelor Bennett, Dacoury Natche and Michael Tucker. It was produced by Madonna, Gad, Afsheen and Josh Cumbee, while DJ Dahi and Tucker served as additional producers. It features Chance the Rapper and Mike Tyson. Gad, Afsheen and Cumbee were also responsible for programming and the song's instruments, with Gad also providing background vocals. The track was engineered and mixed by Demacio "Demo" Castellon with Gad and Angie Teo.{{Cite web |title=Rebel Heart – Credits |url=http://www.madonna.com/newalbum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621042110/http://www.madonna.com/newalbum |archive-date=June 21, 2015 |access-date=June 21, 2015 |publisher=Madonna.com}} It is an EDM,{{cite news|last1=Geslani|first1=Michelle|title=Listen to Madonna's "Iconic" featuring Chance the Rapper and Mike Tyson|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/02/listen-to-madonnas-iconic-featuring-chance-the-rapper-and-mike-tyson/|access-date=March 12, 2016|work=Consequence of Sound|date=February 3, 2015}}{{cite web |last1=Geffen |first1=Sasha |title=Album Review: Madonna - Rebel Heart |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2015/03/album-review-madonna-rebel-heart/ |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=August 4, 2020 |date=March 26, 2015}} hip hop and dance-pop{{cite web |last1=McCormick |first1=Neil |title=Madonna, Rebel Heart, review: 'she's in the game again' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/11431568/Madonna-Rebel-Heart-review-shes-in-the-game-again.html |website=The Telegraph |access-date=7 January 2020 |date=May 9, 2015 |quote=Dance pop tracks like Illuminati and Iconic reflect a contemporary trend for fast, furious and funny mash ups of conflicting ideas [...]}} with trap influences,{{cite news|last1=Robinson|first1=Peter|title=Madonna review – queen of pop returns to scene of cape-gate|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/02/madonna-review-02-arena-london-queen-of-pop-graham-norton|access-date=March 13, 2016|work=The Guardian|date=December 2, 2015}} that starts with a "crowd cheering" and "rapturous applause" as Tyson opens the song with "a boastful spoken word segment".{{cite magazine|last1=Lynch|first1=Joe|title=Madonna Drops 3 New Songs, Including Chance the Rapper/Mike Tyson Track|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6465705/madonna-new-songs-chance-the-rapper-mike-tyson|access-date=March 12, 2016|magazine=Billboard|date=February 9, 2015}} Later, the verses build up, with the hook having "a stomping rhythm to be sung 'en masse', with a high euphoric melody like a precocious, pre-recession club classic", as The Quietus{{'}} Amy Pettifer described. As she added, "the sonically sparse verse breaks down" with the song featuring "machinic stabs" and "grinding electronic gears." Its pre-chorus "drops into stabs of ice-cold synths," with other instrumentation consisting in "marching drums and booming bass." Its "weird" beat was described by Sam C. Mac of Slant Magazine as "Kanye and Jay-Z's 'H•A•M' arm-wrestling Skrillex."

Lyrically, "Iconic" talks about taking control of your life and letting your inner fire burn{{cite news|last1=Claymore|first1=Gabriela Tully|title=Madonna – "Iconic" (Feat. Chance The Rapper & Mike Tyson) & "Veni Vidi Vici" (Feat. Nas)|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1734181/madonna-iconic-feat-chance-the-rapper-mike-tyson/mp3s/|access-date=March 12, 2016|work=Stereogum|date=February 3, 2015}} and encourages listeners to pursue their dreams.{{cite web|last1=Holz|first1=Adam R.|title=Rebel Heart Album Review 2015 | Plugged In|url=http://www.pluggedin.com/music-reviews/album/madonna-rebel-heart/|work=Plugged In (publication). Focus on the Family|access-date=March 12, 2016}} During the song, she urges the listeners to "making [their] voices heard before someone does it for [them]" with her voice "echoing like the announcer in the ring." In another part, during the motivational encouragement, she informs that "there's only two letters difference between 'I Can't' and 'Icon',"{{cite news|last1=Haynes |first1=Gavin |title=NME Reviews – Madonna – 'Rebel Heart' |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/madonna/15961 |access-date=March 12, 2016 |work=NME |date=March 4, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314140951/http://www.nme.com/reviews/madonna/15961 |archive-date=March 14, 2015 |df=mdy-all }} while also inspiring the listeners to find their own greatness, singing: "Just shine your light like a beautiful star / Show the world who you are."{{cite news|last1=Zoladz|first1=Lindsay|title=Concert Review: On the Rebel Heart Tour, Madonna's Still Asking, 'Who's That Girl?'|url=http://www.vulture.com/2015/09/madonna-concert-review-new-york.html?mid=twitter-share-vulture|access-date=March 13, 2016|work=Daily News|location=New York|date=September 18, 2015}} Tyson opening speech talks about how he's ‘the best the world's ever seen' and that he "worked hard and sweated [his] tears." He later proclaims: "I'm never falling again and if I did, I'll come back."{{cite news|last1=Christ|first1=Shawn|title=[LISTEN] to Madonna, Nas, Chance the Rapper and Mike Tyson on "Iconic" and "Veni Vidi Vici" from 'Rebel Heart'|url=http://www.musictimes.com/articles/27181/20150203/listen-madonna-nas-chance-rapper-mike-tyson-iconic-veni-vidi-vici-rebel-heart.htm|access-date=March 25, 2016|work=Music Times|date=February 3, 2015}} Chance, on the other hand, raps about idolatry.

"Iconic" received favorable reviews from most music critics. Randall Roberts of the Los Angeles Times noted that the song is driving by "focus", which puts it "into that sweet spot between club frenzy and revelatory lyricism, the kind that can lift spirits to emotional heights."{{cite news|last1=Roberts|first1=Randall|title=Madonna channels defiance and devotion on confident 'Rebel Heart'|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-madonna-rebel-heart-review-20150308-column.html|access-date=January 6, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 9, 2015}} Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph described it as a song that "reflect[s] a contemporary trend for fast, furious and funny mash ups of conflicting ideas, constantly teetering on the edge of collapse but pulling out another beat or hook to keep things moving."{{cite news|last1=McCormick|first1=Neil|title=Madonna, Rebel Heart, review: 'she's in the game again'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/11431568/Madonna-Rebel-Heart-review-shes-in-the-game-again.html|access-date=January 7, 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=March 9, 2015}} In a similar mode, Kyler Anderson of Entertainment Weekly confessed that he thought the song would be his "most-skipped track", but admitted that he "kind of admire its barely-conscious chaos."{{cite magazine|last1=Anderson|first1=Kyle|last2=Markovitz|first2=Adam|title=Madonna's 'Rebel Heart,' reviewed: Two fans, no pulled punches|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/09/madonna-rebel-heart-review|access-date=March 13, 2016|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 9, 2015}} James Grebey of Spin dismissed Tyson's inclusion, however he praised the song for having a statement that is the album's lynchpin and that "[w]ith its robotic, authoritarian droning, 'Iconic' conveys the point that — love her or hate her — Madonna is an icon, and you’re not getting rid of her anytime soon."{{cite news|last1=Grebey|first1=James|title='Rebel Heart' Tamed: Our 12-Track Edit of Madonna's New Album|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/02/madonna-rebel-heart-album-edit-new-track-list/|access-date=March 7, 2016|work=Spin|date=February 6, 2015}} John Marrs of Gay Times gave the track four out of five stars, claiming that "the finished product is wholly different from the demo and much more gutsy, getting better with every play."{{cite news|last1=Marrs|first1=John|title=Review: Rebel Heart by Madonna|url=http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/Interact/Blogs.aspx?articleid=14464|access-date=August 10, 2015|work=Gay Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709191321/http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/Interact/Blogs.aspx?articleid=14464§ionid=760|archive-date=July 9, 2015 }} Lewis Corner of Digital Spy defined it as "a club-ready dash of trap-pop" and selected the song as one of the "tracks to download".{{cite news|last1=Corner|first1=Lewis|title=Madonna: Rebel Heart album review – "Some truly great pop songs"|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/review/a633737/madonna-rebel-heart-album-review-some-truly-great-pop-songs.html|access-date=August 10, 2015|work=Digital Spy|date=March 6, 2015}} Nick Levine of Time Out agreed, writing that "the sassy stuff is excellent, especially the catchy, trap-tinged 'Iconic'."{{cite journal|last1=Levine|first1=Nick|title=Madonna – 'Rebel Heart'|journal=Time Out|date=February 26, 2015|url=http://www.timeout.com/london/music/madonna-rebel-heart-album-review|access-date=March 6, 2015}}

Sam C. Mac of Slant Magazine noted that the song has the album's "toughest, weirdest beat, not to mention a show-stopping Chance the Rapper verse and a pretty disarming message from the singer herself." He was unsure if Madonna meant to "embrace her iconic status or fight her way out from under its oppressive expectations" during the track, but praised the discontent and uncommon message for making the album her "most committed work since 2003's underrated 'American Life'."{{cite news|last1=Mac|first1=Sam C.|title=Madonna Releases Three More Songs from Rebel Heart: 'Joan of Arc', 'Iconic', & 'Hold Tight'|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/article/madonna-releases-three-more-songs-from-rebel-heart-joan-of-arc-iconic-hold-tight|access-date=August 10, 2015|work=Slant Magazine|date=February 9, 2015}} Bradley Stern of MuuMuse was positive, saying that the result is "a confidence-boosting compliment to a grueling gym workout." He continued: "The ominous beat drops are certainly more ‘on-trend’ than, say, 'Hold Tight,' but the song still feels (mostly) fresh and strange, as opposed to the late-to-the-party dubstep/EDM excursion on 'MDNA'. [...] It's a thrilling, weird and semi-embarrassing-yet-ultimately-empowering centerpiece of Rebel Heart that feels as bold as a song called 'Iconic' by Madonna should."{{cite news|last1=Stern|first1=Bradley|title=Madonna, 'Rebel Heart': Track-By-Track (Part Two)|url=http://www.muumuse.com/2015/02/madonna-rebel-heart-track-by-track-part-two.html/|access-date=March 13, 2016|publisher=MuuMuse|date=February 12, 2015}} Joe Lynch of Billboard called the collaboration "just about as odd as you'd expect", but labeled it "a fairly overwrought affair. Chance's verse is fire, but the intense, busy production ultimately adds up to very little." Michelle Geslani of Consequence of Sound pointed out that "as odd as the circumstances might be, the track surprisingly gels together far more smoothly than one would expect." Ben Kelly of Attitude named it "her own ‘bow down bitches’ moment."{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Ben|title=Attitude reviews Madonna's Rebel Heart|url=http://attitude.co.uk/attitude-reviews-madonnas-rebel-heart/|access-date=August 10, 2015|work=Attitude Magazine|date=February 24, 2015|archive-date=July 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712000053/http://attitude.co.uk/attitude-reviews-madonnas-rebel-heart/|url-status=dead}} while Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of Financial Times said that the song is "wonderfully unhinged."{{cite news|last1=Tilney|first1=Ludovic Hunter-|title=Madonna: Rebel Heart — review|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0141a1a8-c35b-11e4-8fa9-00144feab7de.html|access-date=August 10, 2015|work=Financial Times|date=March 5, 2015}}

In a mixed analysis, Amy Pettifer of The Quietus called it "a Ted-talk of well-worn, motivational encouragement cloaked in a club anthem."{{cite news|last1=Pettifer|first1=Amy|title=Madonna's Rebel Heart: A Track By Track Review|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/17298-madonna-m-track-by-track-review|access-date=July 28, 2015|work=The Quietus|date=February 25, 2015}} Saaed Saaed of The National called the album's "mini slump,"{{cite news|last1=Saeed|first1=Saeed|title=Track-by-track review: Rebel Heart – Madonna|url=http://www.thenational.ae/arts-lifestyle/music/track-by-track-review-rebel-heart---madonna|access-date=October 13, 2015|work=The National|date=March 2, 2015}} while Jonh Murphy of musicOMH noted that the song "falls rather flat."{{cite news|last1=Murphy|first1=John|title=Madonna – Rebel Heart|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/madonna-rebel-heart|access-date=March 13, 2016|work=musicOMH|date=March 9, 2015}} Annie Zaleski of The A.V. Club was confused with the song's message, saying that it "can’t decide if it wants to skewer fame or encourage people to embrace it."{{cite news|last1=Zaleski|first1=Annie|title=With Rebel Heart, Madonna bridges her bulletproof past and reflective present| url=http://www.avclub.com/review/rebel-heart-madonna-bridges-her-bulletproof-past-a-216191| access-date=July 27, 2015| work=The A.V. Club| date=March 10, 2015}} Lydia Jenkins wrote for The New Zealand Herald that the song "could definitely be accused of trying to emulate the success of Katy Perry's 'Dark Horse."{{cite news|last1=Jenkin|first1=Lydia|title=Album review: Madonna, Rebel Heart|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11412097|access-date=March 6, 2015|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=March 5, 2015}} Lauren Murphy of The Irish Times dismissed Tyson's appearance, declaring that his spoken word turn on 'Iconic' is tokenistic."{{cite news|last1=Murphy|first1=Lauren|title=Madonna: Rebel Heart Album Review|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/madonna-rebel-heart-album-review-1.2127285|access-date=August 10, 2015|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=March 5, 2015}} Sasha Geffen of Consequence of Sound criticized the song's "lazy rhymes", which according to herself, lumps into "an awkward hybrid of EDM and hip-hop featuring one of hip-hop's finest [that] sounds out of place here amid the bass drops and robot vocals."{{cite news|last1=Geffen|first1=Sasha|title=Madonna – Rebel Heart|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/03/album-review-madonna-rebel-heart/|access-date=January 7, 2016|work=Consequence of Sound|date=March 26, 2015}}

File:Madonna - Rebel Heart Tour - Antwerp 1.jpg (2015–16) with a performance of "Iconic"]]

"Iconic" was chosen to be the opening song from the Rebel Heart Tour (2015–16). It begins with a video featuring Madonna in a glamorous dress cavorting with bare-bodied males juxtaposed with Mike Tyson talking inside of a cage.{{cite news|last1=Leach|first1=Robin|title=Preview: Madonna's 'Rebel Heart' stop at MGM Grand with Mike Tyson, hits galore|url=http://lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2015/oct/22/preview-madonna-rebel-heart-stop-mgm-grand-mike-ty/|access-date=March 13, 2016|work=Las Vegas Sun|date=October 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316182843/http://lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2015/oct/22/preview-madonna-rebel-heart-stop-mgm-grand-mike-ty/|archive-date=March 16, 2016|url-status=dead}} Tyson commented about the shooting, saying: "Riveting is not [the word]. It's just intense... I'm in a cage. I'm a hostage. I'm chained. I'm naked. I look like a savage. When I [shot] it, it didn't seem that intense. But then you watch it and go, 'Whoa'. It was like [something out of] National Geographic. I need to be tamed, man."{{cite news|last1=Telegraph Reporters|title=Mike Tyson: My naked Madonna video was 'intense'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/11737805/Mike-Tyson-My-naked-Madonna-video-was-intense.html|access-date=March 13, 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=July 14, 2015}} Madonna performed wearing an "ornate kimono-like robe with wide sequin-lined sleeves"{{cite news|last1=Lee|first1=Ashley|title=Madonna Expertly Touts Irreverence, Cultural Immersion on Rebel Heart Tour at MSG: Concert Review|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/concert-review-madonna-rebel-heart-824367|access-date=March 13, 2016|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 18, 2015}} inside a medieval-looking cage surrounded by religious iconography that she later breaks out of as she sings the first lines,{{cite news|last1=Yates|first1=Siana|title=Madonna doesn't disappoint as pop icon hits the stage at Auckland's Vector Arena video|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/gig-reviews/77588411/madonna-doesnt-disappoint-as-pop-icon-hits-the-stage-at-aucklands-vector-arena|access-date=March 13, 2016|publisher=Stuff.co.nz|date=March 6, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/18/arts/music/madonna-returns-to-the-garden-unapologetic-and-playful.html|title=Madonna Returns to the Garden, Unapologetic and Playful |last=Pareles|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Pareles|work=The New York Times |date=September 19, 2015 |access-date=September 19, 2015}} while guards dressed similar to the ones who guarded the Wicked Witch of the West's castle marched onstage.{{cite news|last1=Hamersly|first1=Michael|title=Review: Madonna brings a heartfelt, personal touch to her Miami concert|url=http://www.miami.com/review-madonna-brings-heartfelt-personal-touch-her-miami-concert-article|access-date=March 13, 2016|work=The Miami Herald|date=January 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306031034/http://www.miami.com/review-madonna-brings-heartfelt-personal-touch-her-miami-concert-article|archive-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=dead}} During the performance, she also hung upside down on a cross.{{cite news|last1=Copsey|first1=Rob|title=Madonna's Rebel Heart tour live at London's O2 Arena: Review|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/madonnas-rebel-heart-tour-live-at-londons-o2-arena-review-__12816/|access-date=March 13, 2016|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=December 2, 2015}}

The performance was received with a positive response from critics. Jordan Zivitz of Montreal Gazette called the performance "insanely theatrical, Broadway-worthy."{{cite web|last1=Zivitz|first1=Jordan|title=Concert review: Madonna's Rebel Heart Tour starts beating at the Bell Centre|url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/music/concert-review-madonnas-rebel-heart-tour-starts-beating-at-the-bell-centre|work=The Gazette|access-date=September 10, 2015|date=September 10, 2015}} Melissa Maerz wrote for Entertainment Weekly that "As visually spectacular as it was narratively {{sic}} heavy-handed, it felt like a callback to her last tour, 'MDNA', which featured a dark charade that found Madonna wielding a gun on stage. But when the song ended with video footage of the gladiators knocking over a saintly-looking Madonna statue, the tone changed. Madonna has built a career by playing with what we hold sacred, whether it's crucifixes or underground dance crazes. Now the only sacred thing she's tearing down is Madonna herself."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/09/17/madonna-rebel-heart-review|title=Madonna reigns over New York's Madison Square Garden—and reinvents her classics |last=Maerz|first=Melissa|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=September 19, 2015 |access-date=September 19, 2015}} The performance of the song at the March 19–20, 2016 shows in Sydney's Allphones Arena was recorded and released in Madonna's fifth live album, Rebel Heart Tour.{{cite video|people=Madonna|title=Rebel Heart Tour|medium=2× CD, DVD, Blu-ray|publisher=Eagle Records|year=2017}}

• Webo Girl Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP)/Atlas Music Publishing and Gadfly Songs (ASCAP)/EMI April Music, Inc. and Mo Zella Mo Music (ASCAP)/WB Music Corp.
• Roc Nation Music and Vohndee's Soul Music Publishing WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)//Chancelor Bennett (BMI) c/o Davis, Shapiro, Lewitt, Grabel, Leven, Granderson & Blake/Sony/ATV Sonata and Dahi Productions (SESAC).
• Michael Tucker Music (ASCAP) c/o Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, These Are Songs of Pulse (ASCAP) and OWSLA Trax (ASCAP) c/o Kobalt Songs Music Publishing.

{{div col}}

• Madonna – vocals, songwriter, record producer
• Maureen McDonald – songwriter
• Toby Gad – songwriter, producer, programming, instruments, audio mixer, backing vocals
• Larry Griffin Jr. – songwriter
• DJ Dahi – songwriter, additional producer
• Michael "Diamonds" Tucker – songwriter, additional producer
• Chance the Rapper – songwriter, vocals
• Mike Tyson  – speech
• Afsheen – producer, programming, instruments
• Josh Cumbee – producer, programming, instruments
• Dan Warner – guitar
• Demacio "Demo" Castellon – engineer, audio mixer
• Angie Teo – additional recording and mixing

{{div col end}}

Credits adapted from Madonna's official website.

{{Reflist}}

• {{YouTube|QrrRxhmlJ0A|Iconic}}

{{Madonna songs}}

{{Chance the Rapper}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Good article}}

Category:2015 songs

Category:Electronic dance music songs

Category:Madonna songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Afsheen

Category:Song recordings produced by BloodPop

Category:Song recordings produced by DJ Dahi

Category:Song recordings produced by Josh Cumbee

Category:Song recordings produced by Madonna

Category:Song recordings produced by Toby Gad

Category:Songs written by BloodPop

Category:Songs written by Chance the Rapper

Category:Songs written by DJ Dahi

Category:Songs written by Madonna

Category:Songs written by Mozella

Category:Songs written by Symbolyc One

Category:Songs written by Toby Gad