Madonna is one of the most recognisable faces of pop music across generations (Image: Getty)
Few artists have reshaped pop culture like Madonna. From her rise as a provocateur in the 1980s to her constant reinvention across four decades, she’s remained a fixture on charts, in headlines, and on dancefloors.
Now, in the streaming era, her legacy lives on through a new generation of fans she ir managing to reach across the globe. But which of her many hits are racking up the most listens today?
Based on current Spotify figures, here are Madonna’s 10 most-streamed songs:
10. Crazy for You (1985)
Streams: 161,973,316
One of Madonna’s earliest attempts at making ballads, ‘Crazy for You’ surprised critics and fans alike. Released as part of the Vision Quest soundtrack, it showed that under the pop provocateur persona was a capable vocalist with a sense for subtle, romantic storytelling.
With its soft-rock arrangement and yearning lyrics, the track marked a sonic shift from the dance-heavy hits that had made her a star. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and became a slow-dance staple of the mid-80s.
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9. Frozen (1998)
Streams: 192,355,308
Released as the lead single from Ray of Light, ‘Frozen’ marked a radical reinvention. Moving away from the playful pop of the ‘80s and early ‘90s, Madonna embraced electronica, ambient textures, and spiritual imagery. The track’s lush production – courtesy of William Orbit – was paired with moody strings and trip-hop beats, while the lyrics reflected themes of heartbreak and emotional repression.
Its surreal desert-set video, where she morphs into a flock of crows, is seen by some as one of her most visually arresting. Frozen hit No. 1 in the UK and signalled Madonna’s transformation into a more innovative, future-embracing artist, right before the turn of the millenium.
8. Vogue (1990)
Streams: 272,054,865
A cultural icon to this day, ‘Vogue’ took the underground ballroom scene of New York and shot it into the global mainstream. Built around house beats and spoken-word verses listing classic film stars, the track became an anthem of celebration, glamour, and queer expression.
At the time, the voguing style was relatively unknown outside LGBTQ+ spaces, but Madonna’s embrace of the movement gave it unprecedented visibility. The accompanying music video – directed by David Fincher – is elegant, black-and-white, and packed with choreography, and is one of her most remarkable across generations. The song topped charts in over 30 countries.
7. Like a Virgin (1984)
Streams: 322,940,355
Perhaps no single moment defined early Madonna more than her performance of ‘Like a Virgin’ at the first MTV Video Music Awards. Then, wearing a wedding dress and rolling on the stage floor, she shocked older audiences and thrilled young fans.
Written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, the song spent six weeks at No. 1 in the US and helped Madonna break into international superstardom – plus, it is still one of the most pivotal songs in pop history.
6. 4 Minutes (feat. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland) (2008)
Streams: 395,029,688
In the late 2000s, Madonna pivoted toward a slicker, more urban pop sound, and ‘4 Minutes’ was the defining track of that transition. Produced by Timbaland and featuring Justin Timberlake, the track delivered a brass-heavy beat, military drums, and verses thrown between Madonna and Timberlake.
Released during the Hard Candy era, ‘4 Minutes’ topped the charts in over 20 countries and gave Madonna one of her last major global hits so far.
5. La Isla Bonita (1987)
Streams: 492,849,918
A gentle, Latin-inspired ballad with rich imagery and graceful melody, ‘La Isla Bonita’ is one of Madonna’s most beloved departures from mainstream pop. Originally written for Michael Jackson, the song ended up as a standout on her True Blue album.
Its Spanish guitar lines, conga rhythms, and romantic references to a mythical island made it stand out against most tracks on the charts at the time. Madonna’s vocal performance gave it a breezy charm that was appreciated globally – ‘La Isla Bonita’ topped the UK charts and remains one of her most known tracks in Europe and South America to this day.
4. Hung Up (2005)
Streams: 519,889,532
Sampling ABBA’s iconic ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)’, ‘Hung Up’ was a glittering disco comeback. Released as the lead single from Confessions on a Dance Floor, it re-established Madonna’s reign in club culture, decades after her first works in the genre.
The track featured moving beats, slick production, and a catchy chorus made to stick. It topped charts in no less than 41 countries and became her most successful single in terms of international reach. For many fans, it was the last truly massive Madonna hit.
3. Material Girl (1984)
Streams: 583,259,721
Madonna has often said she regrets how strongly this song defined her image, but there’s no denying its influence. With its catchy hook, synth-heavy production, and self-aware lyrics, Material Girl was as much a social commentary as a pop song.
The music video, which saw her channelling Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, only amplified the buzz around her persona. Though the song never hit No. 1 in the US, its title became part of the mainstream, and it saw its moments of social media virality in the 21st century.
2. Like a Prayer (1989)
Streams: 595,327,341
From its gospel choirs to electric guitars, ‘Like a Prayer’ was adventurous and daring – touching on themes of faith, sexuality, and identity. It marked a more mature, introspective side to Madonna.
Its music video, featuring burning crosses and a Black saint, sparked intense backlash at the time – including the loss of a multimillion-dollar Pepsi sponsorship for Madonna. But artistically, it was a success – the song hit No. 1 around the world and remains one of the most praised pop songs of all time, often cited as one of her creative peaks.
1. Popular (with The Weeknd & Playboi Carti) (2023)
Streams: 1,102,525,093
Perhaps surprisingly, Madonna’s most streamed song ever is one of her newest. A collaboration with The Weeknd and Playboi Carti, Popular featured on the soundtrack of TV show The Idol and quickly gained traction on TikTok and streaming platforms. The track is minimalist, moody, and brooding – on-brand for The Weeknd’s sonic universe – while allowing Madonna to inject her trademark charm.
Her vocals are confident and contrast with Carti’s style of rap and The Weeknd’s verses about fame and disillusionment. While the show itself received mixed reviews, the song became a breakout hit – makind Madonna more familiar to a new generation and proving she still had the star power to compete in a completely changed music industry. Crossing the one billion mark on Spotify, it’s her biggest digital hit to date.
