Drowned Madonna: Hi Peter, welcome to Drowned Madonna. Your father, Bob Rafelson, created The Monkees with Bert Schneider, and also produced "Easy Rider" and directed "Five Easy Pieces". How did this affect your youth and your aspirations?

Peter Rafelson: Seeing everything in Hollywood so early gave me a bit of a head start- I was ambitious at a young age and determined to make a mark. By the time I turned 21, I had already acted in many movies and written songs recorded and released by name artists.

DM: Now that you're not a young kid anymore, do you feel that all this is just an illusion. It's not what it seems? Just like Madonna says in her "American Life" songs?

PR: No. I always knew that everything in life IS an illusion. Growing up in Hollywood, there is little separation between reality and dreams. I find it best to assume that what you see is never quite real...

DM: When did you start learning how to play guitar and keyboards?

PR: I was 8 years old. When The Monkees (60's music group) broke up, my parents were away from home making a movie. The Monkees' equipement arrived in a massive moving van. I hid all their gear in our basement and taught myself to play everything.

DM: What were your idols?

PR: I listed to much rock and soul growing up: The Stones, Beatles, Otis Redding, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Crosby Stills and Nash. I was especially a big fan of authentic Blues music. I discovered Jimi Hendrix in my early teens and flipped. I studied jazz and listened to classical too. I am very eclectic and enjoy anything that is different and well done.

DM: We read that you built your very first studio up from scratch in your parents' basement with all the instruments that you acquired from the Monkees. Please, describe how it was and what you experimented.

PR: I managed to become a nerd at an early age - after I learned to play the instruments, I began experimenting with tape machines and started off early on very first computers. I kept building and growing my studios and now I have 8 complete studios in North Hollywood. I now advise and consult to many major companies including, Apple, MicroSoft, Toshiba, Compaq, and all the major music and software companies....

DM: What was your first cut?

PR: I was playing at the famous Troubador nightclub in a rock band - At 3 a.m. that night I was in the dirty alley loading gear to leave and I realized that this was not very glamorous. Next day, I purchased my first synthesizer and sequencer - I wrote and recorded "Blinded by the Boogie" on my 21st birthday I played the song over the phone for Hawk Wolinski who was in Chaka Khan's band called Rufus - they recorded the song that week and I was on my way...

DM: Let's talk about "Open Your Heart". We have been told that you originally wrote it for Cindy Lauper. Is it true?

PR: Yes - I was a fan and wanted to write for her.

DM: And then?

PR: Gardner Cole said he had access to Cindy. I thought it would be wise to let him help. We spent a whole year to record the demo and when it was done, he never got it to her.

DM: So you never sent it to Cindy?

PR: Never.

DM: Why did you send “Open Your Heart” to Madonna?

PR: Garner said he was going to submit a demo without “Open Your Heart” to Madonna. I broke into his studio one night and secretly recorded our song on his tape - She heard it and picked “Open Your Heart”!!

DM: Who did introduce Garner to Madonna?

PR: He was friends with Bennet Freed at Wisner Demann (Madonna's managers).

DM: What was the work-in-progress title?

PR: "Open your Heart" was the name from the beginning. I tend to write the title of a song early in the process.

DM: What were the original lyrics about?

PR: I wrote the lyric about a beautiful girlfriend who did not speak much English - the power to communicate Heart to Heart was how we fell in love.

DM: Do you remember the original lyrics?

PR: Yes - between Gardner and Madonna, it did not change drastically - but they both did a great job to make it a better song - Thanks G & M!

DM: Can you reveal them to our readers?

PR: I HAVE A DEMO, with my voice singing the original. I can offer you a listen. (Click here to download it).

DM: Can you tell us more about the other tracks included in the demo that Garner sent to Madonna?

PR: I never heard anything else on that demo tape - and Madonna only used "Open Your Heart".

DM: Is it true that there was a mistake and Madonna contacted only your friend and co-writer Gardner Cole but not you?!?

PR: The demo tape did not list my name - she thought it was a song that was written on the box - I never added "Open Your Heart" to the label.

DM: Did you interact with Madonna during the recording sessions?

PR: No - I heard a ruff mix from a friend who went to her studio and that was the first time I realized she had record MY song and not a different song on that demo...

DM: What were your first reactions when your heard her demo?

PR: I was very excited but I tried not to share my emotion with others - in this business, "nothing is final till it's on vinyl."

DM: What were the changes made by Madonna?

PR: She changed some lyrics and the feel of the song became more up-tempo.

DM: Are you happy with her rendition of the song?

PR: It is no less than perfect! I have re-recorded it too, and I also LOVE the late, great Ofra Haza's rendition!

DM: "Open Your Heart" reached the number 1 on Billboard Single Chart. It was Madonna's fifth #1 in the US and your first #1 as author. What did you feel when the song reached the top spot?

PR: I was overwhelmed with a sense of blessing and higher purpose- the 1st big hit may be luck, the second one is talent. When I had a second big hit #9 USA ("Rush Hour") with Jane Weidlin (from the Go-Go's), I knew this was not just luck!

DM: Did you expected this huge success?

PR: I always say "HIGH HOPES - NO EXPECTATRIONS" - This way there is never disapointment.

DM: "True Blue" did repress a real turning-point for Madonna, musically and vocally. What was your first impression when you heard her singing "Open Your Heart" for the first time?

PR: I was shocked and so happy at the same time - It was difficult to keep my emotions a secret, but I did not want anyone to know until it was released.

DM: Did you like the video directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, which caused another stir in Madonna's career tough it was a "pretty innocent transgression"?

PR: I introduced Mondino to David Naylor, who produced her video - I still love that Video - Also, Leo DiCaprio made his debut appearance as the young boy in.

DM: Who did introduce Jean-Baptiste to you?

PR: I met JB because he was at Hugo's the night I introduced myself to David Naylor and Janice Dickenson (the supermodel) - we all sat down and talked and "Open Your Heart" was their first collaboration.

DM: Why is Britney Spears credited near "Open Your Heart" song on your website?

PR: She sang "Open Your Heart" in her movie, "Crossroads" - she said it is her favourite song ever.

DM: Did you write any other track for Madonna?

PR: We are friends and I never tried to push my way onto her. I did not want to risk rejection.

DM: Madonna is still the Queen after more than 20 years. What is the secret of her incredible success?

PR: She is a master of change, brilliant at re-inventing herself, beautiful, intelligent and VERY ambitious - she will not stop to get what she wants!

DM: Which are your favourite Madonna's songs and albums?

PR: I LOVE "Live to Tell" and also the work with William Orbit - one of my influences.

DM: Did you introduce William Orbit to her or suggest her to work with him?

PR: I was a BIG fan of William long before he worked with Madonna. When they began to collaborate I was simply very happy for both of them - it was a perfect marriage...

DM: Peter, you also worked with Fem 2 Fem. Can you tell us something about them?

PR: I helped create that group for females to have music written from a feminine perspective. I love dance music and it allowed me to be very experimental and not be controlled by record labels taste. We did quite well and I wound up writing and directing a huge London Stage Musical called "Voyeurz", which featured the girl from F2F.

DM: You moved your first steps in the "analog days". What do you think of digital technology?

PR: Everything has it's time and place - I try not to limit myself to one way of producing - I love both mediums for there different sounds and uses.

DM: Do you still use you analog equipment?

PR: Yes I do - I have collected 30 years of gear!!

DM: What softwares do you use?

PR: I have everything known to mankind and unknown too...

DM: Let's talk about Rafelson Media. How would you describe it?

PR: It is a mirror of my life - renaissance /eclectic/ambitious/creative/aggressive/gentle and passionate about all we do...

DM: What are your working right now?

PR: Producing films, televisions shows, albums, single, music label and film scoring too - never a dull day!

DM: Can you reveal us your upcoming projects?

PR: Just finished two albums on two new Artists: Leana from Sweden and Valentina Agius from Malta - I love working around the world!

DM: Would you like to collaborate with Madonna again?

PR: More than anything. She credited "Open Your Heart" as be an inspiration for a recent song of hers with the lyric "I hold the Key" - I hope that we will work together again.

DM: "Open Your Heart" influenced "Frozen". Isn't it?

PR: Yes - there are even some of the same words in both...

DM: How would you describe Madonna musical and personal evolution?

PR: Always full of surprises - we can never second guess her next move... She is fascinating.

DM: What do you expect from her upcoming album (Confessions on a Dance Floor)? Had you the chance to listen to something and/or give some input?

PR: No I never tried to push my way into her work - When I see her she is always lovely to me and I like to keep our friendship - When I visited her with Sandra Bernhart on the set of the David Letterman Show, she insisted that the entire staff leave the area where she was dressing, but she asked me to stay - That made me feel very special!

DM: Thank you Peter. Do you want to say something to our readers?

PR: It is the fans who really sustain an artist and the music. I owe you everything and I promise NEVER to forget each one of you. Thank you all for this life-long blessing. Every day I think about you and do my best to create what I hope will make you all happy. Music is the universal language - let's all stay in touch!