This Used to Be My Playground

Madonna

About 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 arrangement. 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. "This Used to Be My Playground" 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, but the track ends abruptly. Lyrically it discusses visiting one's childhood places and not letting go of the past. 


Year:
1995
5:10
277 
#4

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This used to be my playground 
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend
Why did it have to end
And why do they always say

Don't look back
Keep your head held high
Don't ask them why
Because life is short
And before you know
You're feeling old
And your heart is breaking
Don't hold on to the past
Well that's too much to ask

This used to be my playground (used to be)
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend
Why did it have to end
And why do they always say

No regrets
But I wish that you
Were here with me
Well then there's hope yet
I can see your face
In our secret place
You're not just a memory
Say goodbye to yesterday (the dream)
Those are words I'll never say (I'll never say)

This used to be my playground (used to be)
This used to be our pride and joy
This used to be the place we ran to
That no one in the world could dare destroy
This used to be our playground (used to be)
This used to be our childhood dream
This used to be the place we ran to
I wish you were standing here with me

This used to be our playground (used to be)
This used to be our childhood dream
This used to be the place we ran to
The best things in life are always free
Wishing you were here with me

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


Madonna

Madonna (born Madonna Louise Ciccone /tʃɪˈkoʊneɪ/ chi-KOH-nay; August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, director, dancer and entrepreneur. She has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and is recognized as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records. Considered to be one of the "25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century" by Time for being an influential figure in contemporary music, she is known for continuously reinventing both her music and image, and for retaining a standard of autonomy within the recording industry. Critics have praised her diverse musical productions which have also been known to induce controversy. more »

16 fans

Written by: Shep Pettibone, Madonna Ciccone

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Artist Background
"This Used to Be My Playground" is a song by American singer Madonna. She is a highly renowned pop artist known for her constant reinvention and versatility in music, film, and fashion.
Song Details
The song was initially released in 1992, it's a pop ballad that ranges from melancholic longing to nostalgic reminiscence.
Creation Process
Madonna co-wrote and co-produced "This Used to Be My Playground" with longtime collaborator Shep Pettibone.
Song's Theme
Lyrically, the song discusses Madonna's childhood, reflecting on the loss of her mother and her father's remarrying.
Movie Connection
"This Used to Be My Playground" was commissioned for the 1992 film "A League of Their Own," in which Madonna starred.
Chart Performance
The song enjoyed great success on the charts, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and securing top 10 positions in various countries.
Music Video
The accompanying music video was directed by Alek Keshishian and features a mix of black-and-white and color scenes, with Madonna reminiscing about the past.
Awards and Accolades
"This Used to Be My Playground" received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song in 1993.
Emotional Connection
Many listeners have noted that the song's themes of nostalgia and moving on resonated with them, leading to its enduring popularity.
Criticial Reception
Critics praised Madonna's vocal performance in the song, noting a depth and maturity that differed from her earlier, more dance-oriented work.

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    This Used to Be My Playground

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1992

    Billboard #1


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