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This Used to Be My Playground

{{Short description|1992 single by Madonna}}

{{Good article}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}

{{Infobox song

| name = This Used to Be My Playground

| cover = Madonna This Used to Be My Playground.png

| alt = Madonna wearing sunglasses and beachwear, while standing in front of a white lifeguard tower.

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Madonna

| album =

| B-side=

| released = June 16, 1992

| recorded = March–May 1992

| studio = Oceanway Recording (Los Angeles, California)

| genre = Pop

| length = 5:08

| label = {{hlist|Sire|Warner Bros.}}

| writer = {{hlist|Madonna|Shep Pettibone}}

| producer = {{hlist|Madonna|Shep Pettibone}}

| prev_title = Rescue Me

| prev_year = 1991

| next_title = Erotica

| next_year = 1992

|misc={{External music video|{{YouTube|RhXDO2a3-sE|"This Used To Be My Playground"}}}}}}

"This Used to Be My Playground" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna. It is the theme for the film A League of Their Own, which starred Madonna, and portrayed a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Madonna was asked to record a song for the film's soundtrack. At that time she was busy recording her fifth studio album, Erotica, with producer Shep Pettibone. They worked on some ideas and came up with "This Used to Be My Playground" in two days. Once presented to director Penny Marshall's team, the song was released as a standalone single on June 16, 1992, by Warner Bros. Records. However, it was not available on the film's soundtrack due to contractual obligations and was later added to the Olympics-inspired Barcelona Gold compilation album, released that summer. The song was included on Madonna's 1995 ballads compilation Something to Remember.

Written and produced by Madonna and Pettibone, "This Used to Be My Playground" was the first time that Pettibone worked with live string arrangements. Madonna recorded the song on a Shure SM57 microphone, with instrumentation from piano, organ, strings and a basic drum sounds. During the final recording, the duo had to redo the whole orchestra section to tailor it for the song. The song starts with a keyboard introduction and strings, with Madonna singing in expressive but subdued vocals. Its verse and chorus merge into each other for having a continuity in the song, yet the track ends abruptly. Lyrically it discusses visiting one's childhood places and not letting go of the past.

The song received positive reviews from critics, who noted it as an essential addition in Madonna's repertoire. The song earned the singer a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Original Song. It was a commercial success, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100; the track was Madonna's tenth chart-topping single, breaking her tie with Whitney Houston to become the female artist with the most number one singles at that time. Later that November 1992, Houston would again tie Madonna with her tenth number-one, "I Will Always Love You". It also reached the top of the charts in Canada, Finland, Italy and Sweden, while reaching the top-ten of the charts in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Madonna had never performed the song live despite its commercial success until February 2, 2024, on The Celebration Tour in Chicago, where she sang a snippet of it with the crowd.

Background and release

File:Penny Marshall 1976.jpg, which was directed by Penny Marshall (pictured).]]

In 1992, Madonna starred in the Penny Marshall directed film A League of Their Own, which portrayed a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL).{{harvnb|Taraborrelli|2008|p=90}} Columbia Records representatives presented music supervisor Jay Landers with the film's script. Together with Michael Dilbeck, head of music for Columbia Pictures, they decided to compose a soundtrack for the film. According to Landers, Marshall being well connected to the music community also helped them choose the artists they wanted to work with. The director wanted the music and songs to be performed by contemporary artists, but catering to the period of 1943–44, which was the film's timeline. Carole King had already written the opening song for A League of Their Own, and Madonna being associated with it, Columbia wanted her to record another song. Lars recalled that there was some "early hesitation" if Madonna's character should be kept the same or separated from that in the film and the song, and in the end they decided to go with the latter concept.{{harvnb|Bronson|2003|p=810}}

After the shooting was over, Madonna was busy in the recording sessions for her fifth studio album, Erotica with producer Shep Pettibone. Throughout January–March 1992, Madonna and Pettibone worked on demos for the album and finally decided on 15 of them.{{cite news|url=http://www.sheppettibone.com/sp_erotica_diaries.htm|title=Erotica Diaries|last=Pettibone|first=Shep|author-link=Shep Pettibone|publisher=ShepPettibone.com|access-date=July 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830193214/http://www.sheppettibone.com/sp_erotica_diaries.htm|archive-date=August 30, 2011|year=1992|url-status=dead}} When Lars called Madonna and asked her to record a song for the film, the singer and Pettibone had just completed working on the ballad "Rain". Madonna admitted that she did not have any material for the film and Lars explained that Marshall wanted only a ballad. Pettibone composed a track the same night and Madonna had some ideas she wanted to incorporate. She came up with the melody of "This Used to Be My Playground" by humming over computer-generated chords and rewrote a string arrangement while an orchestra waited in the studio.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/madonnas-50-greatest-songs-w430518/this-used-to-be-my-playground-from-barcelona-gold-1992-w431107|title=Madonna's 50 Greatest Songs|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 27, 2016|access-date=August 8, 2017|archive-date=August 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808233443/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/madonnas-50-greatest-songs-w430518/this-used-to-be-my-playground-from-barcelona-gold-1992-w431107|url-status=live}} During an interview with The Guardian, Madonna described the process as "assignment writing" since it was completely separate from her Erotica sessions.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/dec/03/madonna-pornographic-pictures-naked-women-interview|title=Madonna: 'I don't see anything pornographic about beautiful pictures of naked women'|last=Martin|first=Gavin|date=September 8, 1992|access-date=March 1, 2016|work=The Guardian|archive-date=August 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808193918/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/dec/03/madonna-pornographic-pictures-naked-women-interview|url-status=live}} It took them two days to write and produce the song, and the final version was submitted to Marshall's team. Lars recalled that they "immediately loved it... We all thought it would be a very successful record and we knew right away it would be perfect."

For contractual reasons, the track could not be included on the official A League of Their Own soundtrack; instead, it was included on the compilation Barcelona Gold, which was released to promote the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics.{{cite news|last1=Wilker|first1=Deborah|title=Madonna hit single not on soundtrack|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19920724&id=3qlJAAAAIBAJ&pg=1445,2433212&hl=en|access-date=February 27, 2016|work=Bangor Daily News|date=July 24, 1992|archive-date=October 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006053017/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19920724&id=3qlJAAAAIBAJ&pg=1445,2433212&hl=en|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last1=Morris|first1=Chris|title=Artists for Warner Olympics album, Coke tie-in detected|magazine=Billboard|date=June 27, 1992|page=3|volume=104|issue=26|issn=0006-2510|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wBAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3|access-date=February 27, 2016}} "This Used to Be My Playground" was officially released as a standalone single to promote the film, on June 16, 1992, by Warner Bros. Records. The song was later included on Madonna's 1995 ballad compilation album Something to Remember.{{harvnb|Rooksby|2004|p=85}}

Recording and composition

Recording the track was a new experience for Pettibone since it was the first time that he worked with live musicians and arrangements. Pettibone took the demo of the song, and added live drums, piano and strings to it. They did not have any strings written originally for the song, and chose composer Jeremy Lubbock for the music arrangement; Lubbock had previously worked with Madonna on her soundtrack album I'm Breathless (1990). Madonna recorded the song on a Shure SM57 microphone, with the melody being played over and over again, accompanied by the piano, organ, strings and a basic rim-looping sound on a portable Macintosh computer. Pettibone spent the rest of the recording session working on the verses and final structure of "This Used to Be My Playground" was completed. The day after the song was finished, Madonna traveled to Oregon to work on her next film, Body of Evidence, giving Pettibone the time to finish off the songs for Erotica.

{{listen

|pos=left

| filename = Madonna - this used to be my playground.ogg

| title="This Used to Be My Playground"

| description = A 30-second sample of "This Used to Be My Playground" which displays the subdued but expressive vocals by Madonna, as well as an accompaniment of strings.

| format = Ogg

}}

The duo met again in May 1992 at Oceanway Studios in Los Angeles to complete the orchestration of the song. Lubbock's arrangement was chosen for adding the final touches and the recording started. However, Madonna and Pettibone did not like the orchestra parts and wanted to redo the whole composition. The producer recalled, "Madonna and I had to change the whole arrangement, right there in the studio, with a full orchestra sitting there getting paid for taking up space—around $15,000 for three hours, $3000 for every half-hour over that. And of course, Lubbock was talking to two people who didn't know a C from a B natural. The pressure was on". So they stood near Pettibone's Mac and sang the notes, with Lubbock correcting them. The total recording was finished off in 2 hours and 58 minutes, thereby saving to pay the orchestra the extra fees. The last recording of the song was on Memorial Day where Madonna re-did the lead vocals and improved them. Together they did some final edits of the track and finished it.

"This Used to Be My Playground" features a keyboard introduction, followed by the strings and the song starts. Musically, the song is set in the time signature of common time with a slow tempo of 77 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of G minor with Madonna vocals ranging from the chords of G3 to B{{music|flat}}4. The song follows a basic sequence of Gm–F/G–E{{music|flat}}maj7–Dm7–Gsus–G as its chord progression.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0119873|title=Madonna 'This Used to Be My Playground' Sheet Music|date=July 8, 2013 |publisher=Musicnotes.com|access-date=February 27, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131640/http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0119873|url-status=live}} The chords have an unexpected flow in terms of the beginning and the ending, moving from E{{music|flat}} down to Gm and momentarily to F major, then going back to the previous sequence again. The song has a lush, romantic quality, with the melody going through different ranges and peaks, and the verse and the chorus flow into each other, making it sound seamless. Madonna sings in subdued but expressive vocals, aided by the strings and background singers during the third verse. Towards the end the singer's voice is double tracked and produces little amount of roughness. Lyrically the song talks about Madonna revisiting the places from her childhood ("This used to be my playground / This used to be my childhood dream"), and evokes the songwriting on her fourth studio album, Like a Prayer (1989). The singer is in a dilemma between choosing the past and letting go, concluding that the latter is difficult ("Say goodbye to yesterday (the dream) / Those are words I'll never say (I'll never say))". The track ends abruptly with a sustained chord by the orchestra and Madonna uttering the line "Wishing you were here with me", which was addressed to her mother.

In an interview for The Village Voice, Madonna was asked what had inspired the song. She revealed that she had been thinking of the East Village, Danceteria, The Roxy, and her friends who died of AIDS in the 1980s, most notably her best friend, Martin Burgoyne, who died from AIDS-related complications when he was just 23-years-old. Burgoyne would further inspire the song "In This Life", for the album Erotica (1992), which was produced during the same recording sessions as this song. The "playground" serves as a metaphor for the dance floor.{{cite journal |last=Aletti |first=Vince |date=8 September 1992 |title=Never Can Say Goodbye |journal=The Village Voice |pages=84}}

Critical response

After its release, "This Used to Be My Playground" received positive reviews from music critics. J. Randy Taraborrelli, author of Madonna: An Intimate Biography, called the track a "melancholic performance".{{harvnb|Taraborrelli|2008|p=220}} Michelle Morgan, author of the book Madonna, described it as a "beautiful ballad".{{harvnb|Morgan|2015|p=182}} Similarly, Humberto Quiroga Lavié called it one of Madonna's best ballads in his essay Secretos y Misterios de Hombres y Mujeres.{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K5kjn9hxAggC|title=Secretos y Misterios de Hombres y Mujeres|last=Quiroga Lavié|first=Humberto|access-date=November 15, 2015|format=essay|language=es |trans-title=Secrets and Mysteries of men and women}} Author Rikky Rooksby wrote in his book The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna, that the song was appropriate for the film and its nostalgic moment towards the end, showing the characters grown up and reuniting at a museum opened for themselves and the titular league. He called it "one of Madonna's very best recordings and most expressive single".{{harvnb|Rooksby|2004|p=87}} While reviewing Something to Remember, author Chris Wade wrote in his book The Music of Madonna, that the song conjured up a "strangely sad, nostalgic feel, reminding ourselves of memories from yesteryear". He commended Madonna's vocals calling it as the song's "premier sound" and adding that the way "she sings and captures the melancholic melody is heartbreaking [...] it's one of her finest ever ballads."{{harvnb|Wade|2016|p=83}} Encyclopedia Madonnica writer and journalist Matthew Rettenmund noted in the book that the song's rise to the top of the charts was aided by its "honest delivery and aching sense of loneliness, regret and nostalgia for friendship lost."{{harvnb|Rettenmund|2016|p=506}}

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "She offers a subtle and melancholy vocal amid a string-filled production, ably handled by

collaborator Shep Pettibone". He added it as "a mature and thoroughly satisfying effort".{{cite magazine |first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Single Reviews |magazine= Billboard |date= July 4, 1992 |page= 68 |access-date= October 25, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-07-04.pdf |archive-date= October 14, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221014062805/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-07-04.pdf |url-status= live }} Cashbox called it a "reflective ballad".{{cite magazine |title= Music Reviews: Singles |magazine= Cashbox |date= July 4, 1992 |page= 5 |access-date= November 1, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1992/CB-1992-07-04.pdf |archive-date= August 17, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200817233843/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1992/CB-1992-07-04.pdf |url-status= live }} Gavin Report commented, "This change of pace for Madonna is a seamless knuckler of a slow song rich in melody and thoughtfully pitched."{{cite magazine |title= A/C: Reviews |magazine= Gavin Report |date= June 19, 1992 |page= 26 |access-date= October 17, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/92/Gavin-1992-06-19.pdf |archive-date= October 18, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201018161425/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/92/Gavin-1992-06-19.pdf |url-status= live }} Matthew Jacobs from The Huffington Post, placed it at number 32 on his list "The Definitive Ranking of Madonna Singles". He wrote: "What's surprising is that this heartfelt ballad's release was sandwiched between 'Justify My Love' and 'Erotica', which corroborates the many checkered crowns that Madonna can wear".{{cite web|last1=Jacobs|first1=Matthew|title=The Definitive Ranking Of Madonna Singles|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/22/the-definitive-ranking-of-madonna-singles_n_5078934.html|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=September 18, 2015|date=March 10, 2015|archive-date=March 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327133855/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/22/the-definitive-ranking-of-madonna-singles_n_5078934.html|url-status=live}} Similarly, AllMusic's Jose F. Promis called it "a quiet predecessor to her most notorious album Erotica". Promis also believed that the single version of the song was worth of collecting since it was not released in CD version in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/this-used-to-be-my-playground-mw0000259371|title=Madonna > This Used to Be My Playground|last=Promis|first=Jose F.|date=July 27, 1999|website=AllMusic|access-date=February 18, 2016|archive-date=March 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325190457/http://www.allmusic.com/album/this-used-to-be-my-playground-mw0000259371|url-status=live}} Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine, called it one of the singer's "soundtrack gems".{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/madonna-ghv2|title=Madonna: GHV2 – Music Review|last=Cinequemani|first=Sal|work=Slant Magazine|date=November 8, 2001|access-date=September 18, 2015|archive-date=October 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003130432/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/madonna-ghv2|url-status=live}} Writing for the Deseret News, Chris Hicks called the song "a lovely change-of-pace number" for Madonna.{{cite web|last1=Hicks|first1=Chris|title=Madonna's All Over the Place, But Her 'Playground' Is Not|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/240456/MADONNAS-ALL-OVER-THE-PLACE-BUT-HER-PLAYGROUND-IS-NOT.html?pg=all|work=Deseret News|access-date=February 18, 2016|date=August 3, 1992|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305082519/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/240456/MADONNAS-ALL-OVER-THE-PLACE-BUT-HER-PLAYGROUND-IS-NOT.html?pg=all|url-status=dead}} Richard LeBeau from Medium called it "a gut-wrenching ballad that explores themes related to nostalgia, grief, and heartbreak [...] the best ballad of her career and one of the best ballads of the 90s".{{cite web |last1=LeBeau |first1=Richard |title=Ranking All 57 of Madonna's Billboard Hits in Honor of Her 60th(!) Birthday |url=https://medium.com/rants-and-raves/ranking-all-57-of-madonnas-billboard-hits-in-honor-of-her-60th-birthday-b4f5e2d10fcd |publisher=Medium |access-date=June 2, 2019 |date=August 16, 2018 |archive-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602160751/https://medium.com/rants-and-raves/ranking-all-57-of-madonnas-billboard-hits-in-honor-of-her-60th-birthday-b4f5e2d10fcd |url-status=live }}

Louis Virtel, from TheBacklot.com, placed "This Used to Be My Playground" at number 52 of his list "The 100 Greatest Madonna Songs". He wrote; "The theme to Madonna’s best movie is nostalgic and sweet, and it gave her a major hit that utilized the lachrymose qualities in her voice."{{cite web |last1=Virtel |first1=Louis |author-link=Louis Virtel |date=February 3, 2012 |title=The 100 Greatest Madonna Songs |url=http://www.newnownext.com/the-100-greatest-madonna-songs/02/2012/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020234731/http://www.newnownext.com/the-100-greatest-madonna-songs/02/2012/ |archive-date=October 20, 2015 |access-date=February 18, 2016 |publisher=TheBacklot.com}} Mary Ann A. Bautist, from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, called it one of the singer's "alternative tunes [...] that can be as romantic and touching as any ballad".{{cite news|last1=Bautist|first1=Mary Ann A.|title=Most Romantic Songs Ever Written|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20010210&id=F342AAAAIBAJ&pg=1837,19462996&hl=es|access-date=February 18, 2016|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=February 10, 2001|archive-date=May 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510142532/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20010210&id=F342AAAAIBAJ&pg=1837%2C19462996&hl=es|url-status=live}} Liz Smith, from The Toledo Blade, called it an "exquisite ballad".{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Liz|title=Rumors of writes & The New Yorker|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19920718&id=DA8wAAAAIBAJ&pg=3510,4867939&hl=es|access-date=February 18, 2016|work=The Toledo Blade|date=July 18, 1992|archive-date=May 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510142531/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19920718&id=DA8wAAAAIBAJ&pg=3510%2C4867939&hl=es|url-status=live}} On his review of the compilation Barcelona Gold, The Daily Gazette{{'}}s Bill Rice wrote: "Madonna's plaintive single 'This Used to Be My Playground', is one medal winner".{{cite news|last1=Rice|first1=Bill|title=Record Releases|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1957&dat=19920809&id=OcBKAAAAIBAJ&pg=2088,2315600&hl=es|access-date=February 18, 2016|work=The Daily Gazette|date=August 9, 1992|archive-date=October 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006053016/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1957&dat=19920809&id=OcBKAAAAIBAJ&pg=2088,2315600&hl=es|url-status=live}} Music Week stated that "this is Madonna at her most grown up on a thoughtful, downtempo and tender track".{{cite magazine |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-07-11.pdf |title= Mainstream: Singles – Pick of the Week |magazine= Music Week |date= July 11, 1992 |page= 8 |access-date= October 2, 2020 |archive-date= March 9, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210309081354/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-07-11.pdf |url-status= live }} A negative review came from Stylus Magazine{{'}}s Alfred Soto, who dismissed the song as a "slushy rewrite of Like a Prayer{{'}}s 'Promise to Try'".{{cite web|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/on_second_thought/madonna-erotica.htm|title=On Second Thought, Madonna – Erotica|date=January 17, 2006|first=Alfred|last=Soto|work=Stylus Magazine|access-date=May 14, 2016|archive-date=May 30, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060530143324/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/on_second_thought/madonna-erotica.htm|url-status=dead}} Also negative was Stereogum{{'}}s Tom Breihan, who pointed out that it lacked "the dreamy sweep of older Madonna ballads like 'Crazy For You' and 'Live to Tell'. Instead, it sounds cheap and chintzy". Breihan also deemed it "exactly the wrong song for a singer like Madonna", that should've been sung by a "grand ’90s balladeer" like Whitney Houston or Celine Dion.{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=The Number Ones: Madonna's "This Used To Be My Playground" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2173474/the-number-ones-madonnas-this-used-to-be-my-playground/columns/the-number-ones/ |work=Stereogum |access-date=21 January 2022 |date=January 21, 2022 |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121210304/https://www.stereogum.com/2173474/the-number-ones-madonnas-this-used-to-be-my-playground/columns/the-number-ones/ |url-status=live }} "This Used to Be My Playground" was nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Original Song, but lost to "A Whole New World" from Aladdin.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-12-30-ca-2649-story.html|title='Men' Reaches Out for a Few Good Globes|last=Fox|first=David J.|date=December 30, 1992|access-date=February 19, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306100957/http://articles.latimes.com/1992-12-30/entertainment/ca-2649_1_globe-nomination/2|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F22312C2FA6BB19&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=- San Antonio Express-News Archive|publisher=newsbank.com|access-date=October 12, 2010|archive-date=October 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023175730/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F22312C2FA6BB19&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=live}} It won two accolades at the ASCAP Awards, in the categories of Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures and Most Performed Pop Song.{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/showbiz/2009-11/04/content_8914325.htm|title=Showbiz > Madonna|work=China Daily|date=November 4, 2009|access-date=December 11, 2010|archive-date=October 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024061818/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/showbiz/2009-11/04/content_8914325.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-05-21.pdf|title=The ASCAP Gallery of Pop|date=May 21, 1994|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=106|issue=21|pages=11|access-date=March 1, 2016}}

Chart performance

File:Whitney Houston Welcome Home Heroes 1 cropped.jpg (picture) as the female artist with the most number one singles on the US Billboard Hot 100.]]

In the United States, "This Used to Be My Playground" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 35, for the week of July 4, 1992.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1992-07-04|title=The Billboard Hot 100: Week of July 4, 1992|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 18, 2015|archive-date=November 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117232053/http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1992-07-04|url-status=live}} The debut was aided by just airplay points which enabled it to enter the Hot 100 Airplay chart at number 14. The song received immediate heavy rotation in US radio stations like Hot 97 in New York and Wild 107 in San Francisco.{{cite magazine|last1=Ellis|first1=Michael|title=Hot 100 Singles Spotlight|magazine=Billboard|date=July 4, 1992|page=79|volume=104|issue=27|issn=0006-2510|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QRIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA79|access-date=September 18, 2015}} One week later, the song jumped to number 17 on the Hot 100, having had the largest sales and airplay gain of any record on the chart.{{cite magazine|last1=Ellis|first1=Michael|title=Hot 100 Singles Spotlight|magazine=Billboard|date=July 11, 1992|page=69|volume=104|issue=28|issn=0006-2510|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA69|access-date=September 18, 2015}} On August 8, 1992, the song reached the top of the chart for one week, becoming Madonna's tenth number one single, breaking her tie with Whitney Houston as the female artist with the most number one singles at that time.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6634626/this-week-in-billboard-chart-history-in-1992-madonna-sported-the|title=This Week in Billboard Chart History: In 1992, Madonna Sported the No. 1 'This Used to Be My Playground|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=August 3, 2015|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 18, 2015|archive-date=September 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912074409/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6634626/this-week-in-billboard-chart-history-in-1992-madonna-sported-the|url-status=live}} The song replaced "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot although it was number three on the Hot Singles Sales and Hot 100 Airplay charts. According to Michael Ellis from Billboard, the song edged out "Baby Got Back" by a small margin of chart points.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-08-08.pdf|title=Hot 100 Singles Spotlight|pages=75, 82|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 28, 2016|date=August 8, 1992|last=Ellis|first=Michael}} The song spent a total of 20 weeks on the chart and ranked at number 21 on the Hot 100 year end chart for 1992.

"This Used to Be My Playground" also reached peak positions of number two on the Hot 100 Airplay and number four on the Adult Contemporary charts. On September 10, 1992, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of 500,000 copies. Billboard ranked it at number 22 on their list of "Madonna's 40 Biggest Hits" on the Hot 100.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/list/499398/madonnas-40-biggest-billboard-hits|title=Madonna's 40 Biggest Billboard Hits|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=August 16, 2015|access-date=February 18, 2016|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=October 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019111645/http://www.billboard.com/articles/list/499398/madonnas-40-biggest-billboard-hits|url-status=live}} In Canada, the song debuted at number 60 on the RPM Top Singles chart on July 4, 1992.{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.2006.pdf|title=Top RPM Singles: Issue 2006|work=RPM|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=February 28, 2016|archive-date=May 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521082122/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.2006.pdf|url-status=live}} After seven weeks it reached the top of the chart and was present for a total of 19 weeks.{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.1897.pdf|title=Top RPM Singles: Issue 1897|work=RPM|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=February 28, 2016|archive-date=May 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531104344/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.1897.pdf|url-status=live}} It also reached number two on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart.

In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart, and reached a peak of number three the week of August 25, 1992, and was present on the top 100 for a total of 9 weeks. It was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on September 1, 1992, for shipments of 200,000 copies. The single has sold over 275,000 copies as of October 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/charts/official-uk-countdowns/madonna-official-top-40|title=Madonna: The Official Top 40|publisher=MTV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010185423/http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/charts/official-uk-countdowns/madonna-official-top-40|archive-date=October 10, 2010}} In Italy, the song spent 4 consecutive weeks at the top of the Musica e dischi charts.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=Musica e Dischi|language=it|access-date=May 29, 2022|archive-date=December 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201160637/http://musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|url-status=live}} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Madonna". The song also achieved great success across Europe, hitting number one in various countries including Finland and Sweden and charting within the top ten in other countries. It resulted in the song achieving a peak of number two on the European Hot 100 Singles chart. In Australia the song reached a peak of number nine on the ARIA Charts and received a gold certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipment of 35,000 copies.

Music video

The accompanying music video, directed by Alek Keshishian, was filmed in June 1992 at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, California, and Malibu Beach. It premiered on MTV on June 30, 1992, a day before the release of A League of Their Own. The video shows a man viewing a photo album, as Madonna sings in different settings from within the various pictures. Scenes from A League of Their Own also appear on the album during and after the song's instrumental break. As the video ends, the man having reached the end of the album, then scrolls backwards through the previous pages. As a whole, the video wherein a man viewing a photo album tells of bringing back childhood memories, but even tells that never hold on to the past. The video was commercially released in 2004 as a bonus feature on the 2-disc special edition DVD of A League of Their Own.{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/57380/league-of-their-own-a/|title=A League of Their Own: Blu Ray Video|publisher=DVD Talk|access-date=February 29, 2016|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306010014/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/57380/league-of-their-own-a/|url-status=live}}

According to Rettenmund, unlike most music videos related to film soundtracks, "This Used to Be My Playground" did not give emphasis on having shots from the film in the video itself. Instead Keshishian and Madonna chose introspection as the theme, with simple images to portray them. Rettenmund notes, "At the end, the man who has been looking back at his scrapbook of Madonna lays his head down, sealing the video with the perfect bit of sadness to resonate with Madonna's ennui."

The clip was compared to singer Boy George's music video for his 1987 single, "To Be Reborn", released less than five years before "This Used to Be My Playground". In George's video, he also appears on pages of a photo album, performing the song. George himself stated in his autobiography that he was "furious" after watching Madonna's clip and renamed it "This Used to Be My Video".{{harvnb|George|1995|p=521}}{{cite web|url=http://www.afterelton.com/people/2011/03/boy-george-interview?page=last|title=Interview: Boy George on Lady Gaga, Madonna, Adele and Much More!|access-date=December 28, 2012|publisher=AfterEllen.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306133158/http://www.afterelton.com/people/2011/03/boy-george-interview?page=0%2C1|archive-date=March 6, 2011|last=Rotter|first=Josh|date=March 1, 2011|url-status=dead}}

Live performance

Madonna performed "This Used to Be My Playground" live for the first time on February 2, 2024, during the Chicago concert as a part of The Celebration Tour. She sang an acapella excerpt, following the speech about the memories of filming A League of Their Own in Chicago.{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |title=Madonna Performs 'This Used to Be My Playground' Live for the First Time at Chicago Concert|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/madonna-this-used-to-be-my-playground-live-chicago-1235597382/|magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 3, 2024|date=February 3, 2024}}

Track listings

  • US 7-inch and cassette single; Japanese 3-inch CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=This Used to Be My Playground|others=Madonna|year=1992|type=Cassette single liner notes|publisher=Sire. Warner Bros.|id=9362-48373-02}}
  1. "This Used to Be My Playground" (single version) – 5:08
  2. "This Used to Be My Playground" (the long version) – 6:03
  • European 12-inch vinyl and CD single
  1. "This Used to Be My Playground" (single version) – 5:08
  2. "This Used to Be My Playground" (instrumental) – 6:54
  3. "This Used to Be My Playground" (long version) – 6:03
  • Digital Single (2024)
  1. "This Used to Be My Playground"  – 5:10
  2. "This Used to Be My Playground" (long version) – 6:04
  3. "This Used to Be My Playground" (instrumental Version) – 6:56

Credits and personnel

  • Madonna – songwriter, producer, vocals
  • Shep Pettibone – songwriter, producer, programming
  • Jeremy Lubbock – string arrangement, programming
  • Al Schmitt – engineer, mixing
  • Jeri Heiden – designer

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Something to Remember and the single release of "This Used to Be My Playground".{{cite AV media notes|title=This Used to Be My Playground|others=Madonna|year=1992|type=CD single liner notes|publisher=Sire. Warner Bros.|id=9362-40510-0}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Something to Remember|others=Madonna|year=1996|type=Liner notes|publisher=Maverick Records, Warner Bros. Records|id=9 46100-2}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

= Weekly charts =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Weekly chart performance for "This Used to Be My Playground"

!scope="col"|Chart (1992)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|9|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="aus"}}
{{single chart|Austria|11|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="aut"}}
{{single chart|Flanders|6|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="bel"}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|chartid=1966|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="rpm"}}
{{singlechart|Canadaadultcontemporary|2|chartid=1936|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="rpmac"}}
scope="row"|Canada Retail Singles (The Record){{cite book|last=Lwin|first=Nanda|author-link=Nanda Lwin|date=2000|title=Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide|publisher=Music Data Canada|page=173|isbn=1-896594-13-1}}

|1

scope="row"|Canada Contemporary Hit Radio (The Record)

|1

scope="row"|Denmark (IFPI){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-08-22.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=34|page=22|date=August 22, 1992|access-date=March 21, 2018|archive-date=August 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817001201/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-08-22.pdf|url-status=live}}

|5

scope="row"|Eurochart Hot 100 (Music & Media){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-08-22.pdf|title=Hits of the World: EUrochart Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|volume=104|issue=34|page=48|date=August 22, 1992|access-date=February 18, 2016|archive-date=February 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208141655/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-08-22.pdf|url-status=live}}

|2

scope="row"|European Hit Radio (Music & Media){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-08-08.pdf|title=EHR Top 40|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=32|page=19|date=August 8, 1992|access-date=July 31, 2019|archive-date=July 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711035523/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-08-08.pdf|url-status=live}}

|1

scope="row"|Europe Adult Contemporary (Music & Media){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-09-19.pdf|title=Adult Contemporary Europe|magazine=Music & Media|date=September 19, 1992|page=24|access-date=October 24, 2021|archive-date=October 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024131842/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-09-19.pdf|url-status=live}}

|1

scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{harvnb|Nyman |2005 |p=190}}{{cite web|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf|title=Sisältää hitin: 1 January 1960 – 30.6.2021|date=2021|publisher=Musiikkiarkisto|language=fi|pages=156–157|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|access-date=September 5, 2022|archive-date=January 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122233715/https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf|url-status=live}}

|1

{{single chart|France|7|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="fra"}}
{{single chart|Germany|6|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|songid=2481|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="ger"}}
scope="row"|Greece (IFPI){{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-08-08.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=32|page=14|date=August 8, 1992|access-date=March 20, 2018|archive-date=July 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711035523/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-08-08.pdf|url-status=live}}

|10

scope="row"|Iceland (RÚV){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2601273?iabr=on#page/n5/mode/2up/search/Madonna|title=Vinsældalisti Íslands|date=July 31, 1992|access-date=July 12, 2023|language=is|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|page=42}}

| align="center"|12

{{single chart|Ireland2|2|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="ire"}}
scope="row"|Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-08-15.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=33|page=18|date=August 15, 1992|access-date=November 23, 2019|archive-date=July 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714193931/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-08-15.pdf|url-status=live}}

|1

scope="row"|Japan (Oricon Singles Chart){{cite web |title=マドンナのシングル売り上げランキング |trans-title=Madonna's Single Sales Chart |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/162927/ranking/cd_single/ |publisher=Oricon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029234716/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/162927/ranking/cd_single/ |archive-date=October 29, 2014 |language=ja}}

| 59

{{single chart|Dutch40|8|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="top40"}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|7|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="top100"}}
scope="row"|Mexico (AMPROFON){{cite journal|url=http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=EDT%2F1992%2F09%2F28%2F45%2FAr04503.xml&CollName=EDT_1990_1999&DOCID=1088966&PageLabelPrint=45&skin=ElSiglo&AppName=2&sLanguage=English&Content=ALL&selLanguage=&sPublication=EDT&sQuery=Madonna%2Bprimer%2Blugar&sScopeID=DR&sDateFrom=01%252F01%252F1984&sDateTo=12%252F31%252F2000&x=0&y=0&ViewMode=HTML|title=El disco de Madonna logra la popularidad|journal=El Siglo de Torreón|date=September 28, 1992|page=45|access-date=February 15, 2022|language=es|archive-date=February 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215083616/http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=EDT%2F1992%2F09%2F28%2F45%2FAr04503.xml&CollName=EDT_1990_1999&DOCID=1088966&PageLabelPrint=45&skin=ElSiglo&AppName=2&sLanguage=English&Content=ALL&selLanguage=&sPublication=EDT&sQuery=Madonna%2Bprimer%2Blugar&sScopeID=DR&sDateFrom=01%252F01%252F1984&sDateTo=12%252F31%252F2000&x=0&y=0&ViewMode=HTML|url-status=live}}

|1

{{single chart|New Zealand|14|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="nz"}}
{{single chart|Norway|3|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="nor"}}
scope="row"|Panama (El Siglo de Torreón){{cite journal|url=http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=EDT%2F1992%2F08%2F14%2F52%2FAr05202.xml&CollName=EDT_1990_1999&DOCID=1047399&PageLabelPrint=52&skin=ElSiglo&sPublication=EDT&sLanguage=English&Content=ALL&selLanguage=&sQuery=Madonna%2Bdisco%2Bde%2Boro&rEntityType=&sScopeID=DR&sDateFrom=02%252F01%252F1983&sDateTo=02%252F03%252F1994&sSorting=Score%252Cdesc&x=51&y=17&RefineQueryView=&StartFrom=10&ViewMode=HTML|title=Discos más populares en Latinoamérica|journal=El Siglo de Torreón|date=August 14, 1992|page=52|access-date=March 5, 2021|language=es|archive-date=July 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711122937/http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=EDT%2F1992%2F08%2F14%2F52%2FAr05202.xml&CollName=EDT_1990_1999&DOCID=1047399&PageLabelPrint=52&skin=ElSiglo&sPublication=EDT&sLanguage=English&Content=ALL&selLanguage=&sQuery=Madonna%2Bdisco%2Bde%2Boro&rEntityType=&sScopeID=DR&sDateFrom=02%252F01%252F1983&sDateTo=02%252F03%252F1994&sSorting=Score%252Cdesc&x=51&y=17&RefineQueryView=&StartFrom=10&ViewMode=HTML|url-status=live}}

|7

scope="row"|Portugal (AFP){{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-09-05.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=36|page=16|date=September 5, 1992|access-date=March 20, 2018|archive-date=July 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723133129/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-09-05.pdf|url-status=live}}

|8

scope="row"|Spain (AFYVE){{harvnb|Salaverri|2005|pp=267}}

|6

{{single chart|Sweden|1|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="swe"}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|6|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="swi"}}
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|3|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|artistid=28948|rowheader=true|access-date=July 15, 2021|refname="uk"}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="hot100"}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|4|artist=Madonna|song=This Used to Be My Playground|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="bbac"}}
scope="row"|US CHR & Pop (Radio & Records){{cite web|url=https://gghunt.utasites.cloud/charts/madonna.html|title=Madonna|work=Radio & Records|access-date=December 16, 2022}}

|1

{{col-2}}

= Year-end charts =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Year-end chart performance for "This Used to Be My Playground"

!Chart (1992)

!Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|title=ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 50 Singles 1992|publisher=ARIA Charts|access-date=February 29, 2016|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-50-singles-1992.htm|archive-date=June 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617010257/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-50-singles-1992.htm|url-status=live}}

|45

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|title=Jahrescharts 1992|publisher=Ultratop. Hung Medien|access-date=February 29, 2016|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1992|archive-date=October 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014034905/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1992|url-status=live}}

|38

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|title=The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992|magazine=RPM|volume=56|issue=25|page=8|date=December 19, 1992|access-date=April 15, 2019|url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume%2056-No.%2025-December%2019,%201992.pdf|archive-date=April 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401015137/http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume%2056-No.%2025-December%2019,%201992.pdf|url-status=live}}

|8

scope="row"|Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM){{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.1824&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.1824.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.1824|title=The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary tracks of 1992|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|date=December 19, 1992|access-date=April 15, 2019|archive-date=August 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819112515/http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.1824&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.1824.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.1824|url-status=live}}

|8

scope="row"|Eurochart Hot 100 (Music & Media){{cite magazine|title=1992 YEAR-END AIRPLAY CHARTS . 1992 YEAR-END SALES CHARTS|magazine=Music & Media|pages=17–18|date=December 19, 1992|access-date=May 20, 2021|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-12-19.pdf|volume=9|issue=51/52|archive-date=November 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129152602/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-12-19.pdf|url-status=live}}

|14

scope="row"|European Hit Radio (Music & Media)

|2

scope="row"|Germany (Media Control){{cite web|title=Top 100 Singles Jahrescharts 1992|publisher=Offizielle Top Singles|language=de|access-date=February 29, 2016|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1992|archive-date=May 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509002247/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1992|url-status=live}}

|35

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1992|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1992|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=March 28, 2021|archive-date=March 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322013942/https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1992|url-status=live}}

|64

scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|title=Jaaroverzichten 1992|publisher=Single Top 100|access-date=February 29, 2016|url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1992&cat=s|language=nl|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627210519/http://www.dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1992&cat=s|url-status=live}}

|43

scope="row"|Norway Summer Period (VG-lista){{cite web|url=http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-20-single/1/dato/1992/periode/sommer|title=Topp 20 Single Sommer 1992|publisher=VG-lista|access-date=May 17, 2021|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719082542/http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-20-single/1/dato/1992/periode/sommer|archive-date=July 19, 2012|url-status=dead}}

|4

scope="row"|Sweden (Topplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.grammotex.se/topp92singlar.htm|title=Årstopplistan 1992, Singlar|publisher=Grammotex|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010225021610/http://www.grammotex.se/topp92singlar.htm|archive-date=February 25, 2001|access-date=April 7, 2025}}

|6

scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|title=Jahreshitparade 1992|publisher=Schweizer Hitparade|access-date=February 29, 2016|url=http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1992|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304233938/http://www.swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1992|url-status=live}}

|15

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=Year End Charts: Top Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=8|date=January 16, 1993}}

|42

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-12-26.pdf|title=Billboard Archive: Year End issue 1992|date=December 26, 1992|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 24, 2016|pages=73, 91}}

|21

scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)

|33

scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100 Singles{{cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/90s_files/1992YESP.html|title=The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1992 . TOP 50 POP SINGLES|work=Cash Box|access-date=April 10, 2021|date=December 28, 1992|archive-date=December 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228105958/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/90s_files/1992YESP.html}}

|21

= Decade-end charts =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Decade-end chart performance for "This Used to Be My Playground"

!Chart (1990–1999)

!Position

scope="row"|Canada (Nielsen SoundScan){{cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_1990.html|title=Top 100 singles of the 1990s|last=Lwin|first=Nanda|publisher=Jam!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000829070927/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_1990.html|archive-date=August 29, 2000|access-date=March 26, 2022}}

|31

{{col-end}}

Certifications and sales

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "This Used to Be My Playground"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1992|refname="aria"|source=book|id=174}}

{{Certification Table Entry |region=Japan (Oricon Charts) |nocert=yes |salesamount=24,240 |salesref={{cite book|author=|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005.|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|publisher=Oricon Charts|date=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Madonna|title=This Used to Be My Playground|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=1992|certyear=1992|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="bpi"|id=7574-2003-1|salesamount=275,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Madonna|title=This Used to Be My Playground|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1992|certyear=1992|access-date=March 29, 2015|refname="riaa"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

See also

Notes

{{Reflist}}

References

{{Refbegin|colwidth=30em}}

  • {{cite book|last=Bronson|first=Fred|title=The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits|publisher=Billboard books|year=2003|isbn=0-8230-7677-6|author-link=Fred Bronson}}
  • {{cite book|last=George|first=Boy|author-link=Boy George|title=Take It Like a Man|year=1995|publisher=Pan Books|isbn=978-0-330-32362-8}}
  • {{Cite book|last=Morgan|first=Michelle|title=The Mammoth Book of Madonna|year=2015|publisher=Running Press Book|isbn=978-0-7624-5621-5}}
  • {{cite book|first=Jake|last=Nyman|year=2005|title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja|trans-title=Finland list of Songs and chartings|publisher=Tammi|location=Helsinki|isbn=951-31-2503-3|language=fi}}
  • {{Cite book|last=Rettenmund|first=Matthew|author-link=Matthew Rettenmund|title=Encyclopedia Madonnica 20|publisher=Boyculture Publications|year=2016|isbn=978-0-692-51557-0}}
  • {{Cite book|last=Rooksby|first=Rikky|title=The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna|year=2004|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=0-7119-9883-3|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/madonnacompleteg0000rook}}
  • {{cite book|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|year=2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}
  • {{Cite book|last=Taraborrelli|first=Randy J.|author-link=J. Randy Taraborrelli|title=Madonna: An Intimate Biography|publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=2008|isbn=978-1-4165-8346-2}}
  • {{Cite book|last=Wade|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Wade (writer)|title=The Music of Madonna|publisher=Wisdom Twins Books|year=2016|isbn=978-1-326-53580-3}}

{{Refend}}{{Madonna songs}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1990s ballads

Category:1992 singles

Category:1992 songs

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Madonna songs

Category:Music video controversies

Category:Music videos directed by Alek Keshishian

Category:Number-one singles in Finland

Category:Number-one singles in Italy

Category:Number-one singles in Sweden

Category:Pop ballads

Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Sire Records singles

Category:Film theme songs

Category:Songs written by Madonna

Category:Songs written by Shep Pettibone

Category:Song recordings produced by Madonna

Category:Song recordings produced by Shep Pettibone

Category:Warner Records singles

Category:Songs involved in plagiarism controversies

Category:Songs about nostalgia