Underscores’ U – The Peace: A Review | The Fader

Billy Steinberg, the lyricist behind Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” and numerous other chart-topping hits, died Sunday at the age of 75, according to The New York Times.

Steinberg’s career spanned decades, marked by a knack for crafting deceptively simple pop songs with enduring appeal. Although known for his work with Madonna, his songwriting credits also include hits for The Pretenders, Roy Orbison, and Belinda Carlisle. He frequently collaborated with Tom Kelly, forming a prolific songwriting partnership throughout the 1980s, and 90s.

Recent attention has also fallen on Steinberg’s more recent work. Underscores, the project of musician Alex Scally, released the track “The Peace” from the album ‘U’ which The Fader described as a “drumless heater.” Steinberg co-wrote the song.

Steinberg’s influence extends to the contemporary K-Pop scene. A songwriter involved in the project ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ recently cited Steinberg’s work as a key inspiration, according to a report in Forbes. The songwriter specifically noted the emotional resonance and melodic construction of Steinberg’s lyrics as influential to their own approach.

Billboard recently published a list of the top songwriters of the 21st century on the Hot 100, a ranking that reflects Steinberg’s lasting impact on popular music. The list highlights the continued relevance of his songwriting contributions across multiple generations.