"Express Yourself" Written And Produced By Madonna And Stephen Bray Was Released As A Single On May 9 1989. The Song Is One Of Female Empowerment Urging Women Never To "go For Second-Best" And To Put Their Love "to The Test". Madonna Explained As Quoted In The Book Madonna 'talking' Madonna In Her Own Words "The Ultimate Thing Behind The Song Is That If You Don't Express Yourself If You Don't Say What You Want Then You're Not Going To Get It. And In Effect You Are Chained Down By Your Inability To Say What You Feel Or Go After What You Want." Source Express Yourself Songfacts .