Dear Jessie

Album: Like A Prayer (1989)
Charted: 5
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Madonna wrote this with Patrick Leonard, who collaborated with her on several of her '80s hits. The song is a pop lullaby which displays Madonna's maternal side. It was written for Patrick Leonard's daughter, Jessie.
  • Madonna only appears in the music video as an animated fairy. The clip was directed by Derek Hayes, who did two other popular animated videos: Rod Stewart's "The Motown Song" and Elton John's "Club At The End Of The Street." Animated often go over very well with viewers and free up the artist, since he or she doesn't need to participate.
  • The chorus of the song was used for the trance track "Dear Jessie" by a German Eurodance project called Rollergirl. It peaked at #22 in the UK and was the semi-official anthem of Berlin's Love Parade.
  • This was a hit in the UK, but it was not released as a single in the US.

Comments: 3

  • Leo from Westminster 1, MdDear Jessie-brilliant psychedelic/orchestral ballad about Lola's older spiritual sister!
  • Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnProbably the only song that doesn't fit Madonna but that's a good thing.
  • Sum Sum from New Delhisounds like a nursery rhyme..they also play it in the club...no remix.. i mean the real original version. sounds good there also..
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"Songwriter Interviews

Ian talks about his 3 or 4 blatant attempts to write a pop song, and also the ones he most connected with, including "Locomotive Breath."

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger

Kelly Keagy of Night RangerSongwriter Interviews

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger tells the "Sister Christian" story and explains why he started sweating when he saw it in Boogie Nights.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

Lecrae

LecraeSongwriter Interviews

The Christian rapper talks about where his trip to Haiti and his history of addiction fit into his songs.