Madonna’s 40-Year-Old Single Finally Becomes A Bestseller

Madonna’s “Dress You Up” debuts on the U.K. Official Singles Downloads chart at No. 93 and the Official Singles Sales chart at No. 97. American singer and actress Madonna at a Pro-Peace rally in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, 5th October 1985. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)

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Most artists who break through in top 40 pop only enjoy a few years of mainstream success, at least in the eyes of the general public. Madonna defied that pattern decades ago, and while she works on new material and develops a biopic, she continues to reissue older tracks, turning them into collectibles and chart wins — in some cases, for the very first time.

The pop icon recently dropped a special edition of “Dress You Up,” one of her earliest smashes, and the fortieth anniversary release has become a bestseller in the United Kingdom, sending a decades-old single onto several tallies.

“Dress You Up” Debuts

“Dress You Up” launches on a pair of U.K. charts this week. The tune narrowly secures spots on both the Official Singles Downloads and Official Singles Sales rankings, arriving at Nos. 93 and 97, respectively.

Three New Hits in 2025 Alone

Throughout her career, Madonna has sent dozens of tracks to both purchase-only rankings, and 2025 has been busy for the Queen of Pop — even though she hasn’t pushed anything entirely brand new. In just the past few months, she has sent both “Live to Tell” and “Gone Gone Gone” onto the Official Singles Sales and Official Singles Downloads charts.

“Dress You Up” Dropped 40 Years Ago

Originally released in the summer of 1985 as the final single from Like a Virgin, Madonna’s second album, “Dress You Up” was one of several global smashes from that era, alongside the title track, “Material Girl,” and “Angel,” among others. The song peaked at No. 5 in both the U.S. and the U.K., adding to her growing list of top 10 smashes.

The new three-track digital release includes a remix, a 12-inch formal mix, and what’s billed as a “casual instrumental mix.” Hardcore Madonna fans purchased enough copies to make it a chart hit on tallies that didn’t even exist when the song was first promoted.

Veronica Electronica Holds at No. 1

The arrival of “Dress You Up” follows Veronica Electronica, her latest full-length, which remains on two U.K. charts for a second week. The set collects remixes from her Ray of Light era, and it holds at No. 1 on the Official Dance Albums roster while falling from No. 3 to No. 41 on the Official Album Downloads tally. Two other compilations — Finally Enough Love and The Immaculate Collection — also appear on one list each in the U.K.