"Borderline" is a song by American singer Madonna from her debut studio album Madonna (1983). Written and produced by Reggie Lucas, the song was remixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez.
It was released by Sire Records as the fifth and final single from the album on February 15, 1984. The song is also included on Madonna's greatest hits albums The Immaculate Collection (1990) and Celebration (2009).
Lyrically, the track talks about unrequited love and finds the singer using refined and expressive vocals. The song received critical acclaim; contemporary critics and authors called it the most harmonically complex track from Madonna, and lauded the singer's vocals. In the United States, "Borderline" became Madonna's first top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number ten in June 1984. Billboard ranked the song No. 35 for 1984.
In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number two after it was re-released as a single in 1986. The song reached the top 10 or 20 in numerous European nations and topped the singles chart of Ireland.
The "Borderline" music video portrayed Madonna as the girlfriend of a Hispanic man, to whom she returns after being enticed to pose and model for a white photographer. It generated academic interest for its use of power as symbolism. According to some critics, the video helped establish Madonna's early success, and she was credited for resisting the taboo of interracial relationships within it.
"Borderline" was placed at No. 2 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Singles of 1984. Pitchfork ranked it among the 200 best songs from the 1980s.
Madonna performed it on two of her concert tours: Virgin (1985) and Sticky & Sweet (2008). The song has been covered by artists such as Duffy, Jody Watley, Counting Crows, and The Flaming Lips.