Justify My Love (1990)

FORMATS: 7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl, Cassette Single, Cassette Maxi-Single, CD Maxi-Single, VHS Video Single

HISTORY AND NOTES: "Justify My Love" was the first single from Madonna's first greatest hits album, The Immaculate Collection.

It was Madonna's first single to be released in a total of six physical formats. Various remixes were available across all the formats. The 1990 remixes of "Express Yourself" served as the b-side. The maxi-singles and VHS were Madonna's first-ever products to carry a Parental Advisory label on them.

Fueled by the controversy surrounding its accompanying music video, "Justify My Love" glided to the #1 position on the Hot 100. The song hit #1 on a few other charts, but interestingly, it was her first #1 on the Hot 100 that did not reach #1 on the airplay chart. The single sold well, being certified Platinum in the process."Justify My Love" went on to be included on 2009's Celebration compilation.

CERTIFICATION: Platinum


TRACKLISTINGS:

7" Vinyl / Cassette Single
A Justify My Love (Album Version)
B Express Yourself 1990 (this is the Immaculate Collection version)

CD Maxi-Single
1. Justify My Love (Q-Sound Mix)
2. Justify My Love (Orbit 12" Mix)
3. Justify My Love (Hip Hop Mix)
4. Express Yourself 1990 (Shep's 'Spressin' Himself Re-Remix)
5. Justify My Love (The Beast Within Mix)

Promo CD
1. Justify My Love (Q-Sound Edit)
2. Justify My Love (Orbit Edit)
3. Justify My Love (Orbit 12" Mix)
4. Justify My Love (Hip Hop Mix)
5. Justify My Love (The Beast Within Mix)

Cassette Maxi-Single
A1 Justify My Love (Q-Sound Mix)
A2 Justify My Love (Orbit 12" Mix)
A3 Justify My Love (Hip Hop Mix)
B1 Express Yourself 1990 (Shep's 'Spressin' Himself Re-Remix)
B2 Justify My Love (The Beast Within Mix)

12" Vinyl
A1 Justify My Love (Orbit 12" Mix)
A2 Justify My Love (Hip Hop Mix)
B1 Justify My Love (The Beast Within Mix)
B2 Express Yourself 1990 (Shep's 'Spressin' Himself Re-Remix)


CHARTS:

THE BILLBOARD HOT 100
Debut Date: November 17, 1990
Peak Date: January 5, 1991
Peak Position: #1 (2 weeks)
Week-by-week Rundown: 46-36-23-10-4-2-2-1-1-2-6-15-26-40-68-86-// (16 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: March 2, 1991

The Billboard Hot 100 Top 10: January 5, 1991 (the week that “Justify My Love” peaked at #1)
1. Madonna “Justify My Love”
2. Stevie B. “Because I Love You”
3. Bette Midler “From A Distance”
4. Damn Yankees “High Enough”
5. DNA featuring Suzanne Vega “Tom’s Diner”
6. Wilson Phillips “Impulsive”
7. Janet Jackson “Love Will Never Do (Without You)”
8. Ralph Tresvant “Sensitivity”
9. Surface “The First Time”
10. Whitney Houston “I’m Your Baby Tonight”

HOT 100 SINGLES SALES
Debut Date: December 1, 1990
Peak Date: December 22, 1990
Peak Position: #1 (5 weeks)
Week-by-week Rundown: 26-10-3-1-1-1-1-1-7-13-22-31-// (12 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: February 16, 1991

HOT 100 AIRPLAY
Debut Date: November 24, 1990
Peak Date: December 22, 1990
Peak Position: #5
Week-by-week Rundown: 23-16-15-11-5-5-5-5-7-10-24-33-46-58-// (14 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: February 23, 1991

HOT DANCE MUSIC / CLUB PLAY
Debut Date: December 8, 1990
Peak Date: January 19, 1991
Peak Position: #1 (2 weeks)
Week-by-week Rundown: 27-11-7-7-3-2-1-1-3-6-18-26-33-49-// (14 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: March 9, 1991

HOT DANCE MUSIC / CLUB PLAY BREAKOUTS
Debut Date: December 1, 1990
Peak Date: December 1, 1990
Peak Position: #1 (1 week)
Week-by-week Rundown: 1-// (1 week total)
Final Week on Chart: December 1, 1990

HOT DANCE MUSIC / MAXI-SINGLES SALES
Debut Date: January 12, 1991
Peak Date: January 19, 1991
Peak Position: #1 (3 weeks)
Week-by-week Rundown: 3-1-1-1-2-6-20-30-// (8 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: March 2, 1991

HOT R&B SINGLES AND TRACKS
Debut Date: December 8, 1990
Peak Date: January 19, 1991
Peak Position: #42
Week-by-week Rundown: 84-67-55-55-50-46-42-42-44-69-82-99-// (12 weeks total)
Final Week on Chart: February 23, 1991

See Also: Justify My Love (Video Single) (1990)