16 March 1989
I can remember the ad for the ad, which was also going to be the world premiere of the single, but I don’t recall actually seeing the ad itself. In any case, the ad was only ever shown once or twice and then dropped – not because of the ad, but because of the video, which provoked so much controversy that the offended groups called for a boycott of the product in the ad. I can’t remember if the video was subsequently just shown in an edited version or actually banned. So, that’s ‘Like A Prayer’ by Madonna and oh yeah there was a song too.
In one sense, ‘Like A Prayer’ the song was secondary to ‘Like A Prayer’ the video and perhaps even tertiary to ‘Like A Prayer’ the controversy. All of this is grand; any song that enabled that video which pissed off those people is fine by me! Still, it’s worth bearing in mind that the song itself isn’t controversial. This isn’t Madonna’s take on organised religion or her ‘Fight The Real Enemy!’ Using the rapture of religious devotion as a metaphor, even a simile, for the rapture of earthly love was nothing new. What’s more, if your given first name actually is Madonna then “when you call my name / it’s like a little prayer” is simply a statement of fact.
Of course, we can’t really take the song in isolation from the video and the hullaballoo and the Madonna; even the title ‘Like A Prayer’ calls to mind the subversive and assertive ‘Like A Virgin’. Still, for what it’s worth, ‘Like A Prayer’ the song is a dynamic and compelling gospel-injected bop that generates real drama and release: there’s the full-on gospel choir, obviously, but also the rock guitar shredding lower in the mix, like static electricity. And Madonna herself is giving this the full 110% with a performance just as impressive as on ‘Papa Don’t Preach’. Even the ’80s power ballad-y opening is at the fun, cheesy, ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ end of the ’80s power ballad spectrum.
So, ‘Like A Prayer’ the song is really, really good. Now go on, watch the video.
