Madonna was always pushing boundaries. She knew exactly what she was doing.

She didn't really cut her hands. She held the knife and stigmata appeared. The Pope himself went on a rant about this song. All the churches wanted her banned, which of course made her even more popular.

Her voice was so pure in this song, particularly on the a capella parts. Beautiful. Her finest song ever perhaps. I remember it was very controversial as a statement on religion, race and of course sexuality mixed all throughout.

The confused look on your faces is everything 😂 Imagine, if you think this is freaky today…this was 35 years ago

She witnessed a crime and she’s afraid to report what she saw. She sees the wrongly accused man as a religious figure in a dream and she exonerates the innocent man. She was ahead of her time with this theme.

Her best song. Synth, strong percussion, choir, tender lyrics. Consider it prog pop

This song was HUGE in early 1989, spending 4 weeks at #1. At that time (from the mid 80's to 1991), it was rare for songs to spend more than 1 or 2 weeks at #1.

Madonna tackling religion, racism, racial injustice, and interracial relationships! Who else would dare do this especially with how uptight & ignorant society was & basically still is 💗 💫

this made a big impact on me at a young age. I thought it was so powerful.

She lost her Pepsi deal after this MV aired. The burning crosses and religious symbolism was very controversial.

This was when Madonna claimed Her full power & changed the music industry forever. Again !

Madonna was the definition of sexuality expression and controversy back in the day. This video was banned in a lot of countries and probably still is.

I love the gospel choir in this so much! Adds so much to the song 🥰

Madonna was raised Catholic and had reservations about the faith... the song itself was a gospel choir-inspired track. She had just gotten divorced from her 1st husband, actor Sean Penn and the album 'Like a prayer' was written in the aftermath of heartbreak. The music video got banned from MTV back then in 1989, and it was a huge statement against racism in America towards African Americans (her witnessing a black man getting arrested for helping a woman being assaulted, and then torn about whether to speak up an exonerate him) ... and controversy depicted by the burning crosses, which the kkk used to do to terrorize African Americans... a black Jesus who comes to life in church... It was provocative on purpose, but Madonna championed minority and gay rights even in those days.

This was the video that officially got Madonna banned in our household. Parents saw it on an entertainment show and sister had to give up her albums, lol.

Prince played the guitar at the beginning of this song, and features on a couple other tracks on this album.

She’s amazing! Saw her a couple times in concert, & she puts on amazing shows. Madonna always pushed things further, than was society though was acceptable. LoL

She ended her Super Bowl XLVI ('12) half-time show w/ this number (acc. by Ceelo Green ). And then, she was suddenly gone, in a puff of smoke. That one really knows how to put on a show. It's on "the tube".

The drumming on this track is absolutely stellar. It’s not a complicated part, but that is a tight groove. I’ve seen three different answers to who played on the track, so I’m not sure who it was. But whoever it was did a fantastic job.

This song is amazing!

MADONNA IS AMAZING. Só damn beautiful in this video❤️

Brad & Lex, you'll love her "Get Into The Groove" and "Dress You Up"!!!! She owned the 80s!

She wanted the song to have some innuendo, that’s why she wrote the lyric “I’m down on my knees.” She wanted ppl to question if she was talking ab praying or doing something naughty.

What a bass ! Musically it's a brilliant production

One of her better songs and the storyline is still relevant today. She was hired by Pepsi when this album came out. Then with her controversial video for this song with the burning crosses she was fired by Pepsi. Her commercial was only aired a few times before they stopped airing it. This was in 1989.

Like A Prayer (album) was a turn-around style for Madonna. After the explosion of her Like A Virgin album, she calmed down with True Blue, but with this fourth album she began making song talking about events and behavior. This song got Madonna excommunicate from the Vatican and she had a Pepsi contract (5 million dollars for a pub) and Pepsi dropped her, but she kept the money (I guess she paid her Express Yourself video with that money). It was the beginning of Madonna's downfall right after Express Yourself (her last #1 for many years until Take A Bow).

There is a beautiful message in the video and you guys didnt even notice. And its directly to both of you (Black people). Madonna expose social injustices and also a religion debate. Madonna screams "BLACK LIVES MATTERS" waaaay back in the 80s. ... Yes, Madonna is sensual and sexual, but this video (and song) messages are powerful. ... You guys really didnt notice? ... Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷

This video was very controversy back then but I still love her and this song 💙 my favorite song is Who's That Girl

This song caused an uproar in the late 1980s, especially amongst the religious groups. Madonna was in full swing, going for the shock factor.

Look how she turned out !

This is truly Madonna in her prime.

Something uplifting about a choir in a pop song.

I remember when this video came out in 1989 on MTV, it was very controversial. A lot of people wanted it banned and thought of Madonna as the Anti-Christ.

She loves to push buttons. Much respect

This and Cherish are my favorite Madonna songs.

Elle était si belle dans ce clip ! La meilleure période de Madonna.

This was my favorite of her albums.

Live To Tell and La Isla Bonita are the best 2 songs in her catalog, imo.

One of those songs I listened to alone when it came out to avoid scrutiny. 😂. Certified banger.

Love MaDonna 💖 ❤️ 😍 ❣️

Woo boy, this video was a spicy topic back in the day.

This is one of the most important videos and songs of all time. Her sexuality is an expression. The burning crosses are defying the church because of the lies. This is very deep.

In religious education back in the day (90’s), I remember a classmate discussing that she thought Jesus was black not white. The teacher was not impressed and tried to shut discussion down. I don’t think Madonna explicitly went out of her away for this video to be “sexy”. It’s just the energy she exudes in her artistic expression

Madonna is an icon. Queen!!!! Queen of Pop

Released: March 3, 1989 Recorded: September 1988

Once a Catholic always a Catholic. Madonna preaching tolerance for racial, sexual and female equality. You guys need to watch Like A Virgin into Like A Prayer from the Blond Ambition Tour. Speaking of tours, Madonna just sold out 61 shows for her upcoming CELEBRATION Tour this past Friday. Still going strong after 40 years.

I still love that she pushed the boundaries! What a time to be alive during that time!

LEON ❤️❤️portrays Saint Martin de Porres in Madonna's controversial 1989 music video. Madonna described 'Like a Prayer' as the song about a passionate young girl "so in love with God that it is almost as though He were the male figure in her life."

This song is my guilty pleasure:)

She has always had an affinity for black people.. Her adopted children are from Malawi in the heart of Africa.

Mary Magdeline washed the feet of Jesus then kissed them and dried them with her hair in the Bible. Some churches still celebrate the feet washing act in a ceremony called Love Feast.

Prince played the opening guitar on the track. first Madonna was raised by a devout and conservative Catholic father. She was named after her mother Madonna(Madonna is the Italian form of Notre Dame or Our Lady and is The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God), who died of breast cancer shortly before Madonna, Jr turned 6. Her mother was just 30. In interviews from the era she talked about how she and her 5 siblings after her mother died would pray for their mother's intercession as a Catholic would do for any saint. When she hears someone call her name she hears her mother's name and it's like a prayer to her and her mother is there in that moment. That's the song's meaning. And that's not black Jesus that is St Martin De Porre the first former enslaved person from the Western Hemisphere to be canonized by The Catholic Church and he is the patron saint of race relations. The items in his hands and his robes are the symbols of St Martin. This video is Madonna witnesses a white gang kill a woman and then a black man takes the fall and she is threatened by the gang and runs away. She stumbled across a small Catholic Chapel and seeks refuge or sanctuary (by law any criminal or immigrate can seek sanctuary in churches and the authorities can't arrest them) while there she falls asleep and has a dream. She gets stigmata to remind her of the price one has to pay to the right thing, then she falls through heaven and God the Black Gospel Leader throws out of heaven to confront the issue of the wrongfully accursed black man, she then kisses the feet of St Marin in a sign of respect before he gets up and they have some kind of physical relationship. This is common for mystics of the Catholic Church. st Theresa of Avila thought she had sex with Jesus in her dreams. And he then leaves the church to take the place of the wrongfully accused man, she then decides to confront the institutional racism of the town and that is symbolized by her dancing in front of the burning crosses then she wakes up when the choir arrives in the church and she goes and gets the wrongfully accused black man out of jail And the white gang thrown in jail. Prince, Madonna's background singer Niki Haris and the actual choir who was recorded the Andre Couch Choir refused to be in the video because of the burning crosses. Because they filmed in the Hollywood hills someone thought a real klan rally was happening and the FBI showed up armed to shut the shoot down until they found out what was going on. She had signed a 5 million deal with Pepsi to be their spokesperson in Jan of 89, the first commerical they shot aird on mar 2 1989 featuring the song like a prayer and the video debuted mar 3. So many protests and threats of boycotts happened after the video premiered the commerical was only aired once and then Pepai cancelled the contract she got to keep the money though

True Blue, and this album were her best albums. She had a lot of good songs on this one.

This is one of her top songs. But for me her best dlbum.from start to finish is Ray Of Light.

Super excited to see you two react to this brilliant video 💎

She just announced her 2023 Celebration Tour a couple days ago.

If you're going to jump down a Madonna rabbit hole, check out Live to Tell and La Isla Bonita. Both fantastic.

She will definitely play this on her upcoming World Tour. This was her big step into stardom bc any press is good press. The holy rollers had a field day with this video. Smh.

IMHO ... the most attractive version of Madonna ... and by far her best song.

Such a great song guys!

This is one of Madonna's best singles by a mile. The lyrics and especially the musicianship are brilliant. The bass playing is incredible as is the choir.

I find it fascinating that young American black people don’t understand how significant this song and video was in the 80s

Madonna was huge during the 80s and 90s. 🎶 This video was out late 80s, early 90s. At the same time she was pretty controversial usually. The video was sad, too. The black guy gets framed for a crime he didn't commit. Wrong place, wrong time. He's actually there to help the victim then cops see him with dead victim. He gets incarcerated. Judicial injustice. Also video had burning crosses on yard, something KKK used to do . Burning crosses on black ppls yards. Decades ago in the south. Also, side note. Madonna has dated many men and relationships over the years. Including interracial relationships. 2Pac, Dennis Rodman (NBA player, he was very controversial too), latino men, Asian men, etc. She was pretty sexual, too. The song and video does have gospel music style, too. Video and song freaked out the media, conservative church ppl, etc at the time.

One of the songs that shows off her voice well. Not an epic voice, but worthy of fame. Catchy tune.

Probably my favourite Madonna song

People were really uptight back in my day and this video made a lot of people mad.

All right Brad!!! Hit the nail on the head!😱

This is basic catholicism, we kiss the feet, hands on easter

Madonna in her natural brunette, is so much more beautiful than blond. This her Spanish piece, Papa Don't Preach, and Material Girl are her best works.

Madonna.courted controversy whenever she released a new.album. Any attention is good attention. She was brilliant at marketing.

My favorite Madonna song, the end 1/4 sounds so good. Madonna caught a lot of shit for this vid, but then again no publicity is bad publicity right? Congats to Lex for putting the Madonna, Virgin Mary, Like A Virgin thing together in the end. Who said Madonna didn't have a brain in there? Peace

lol your faces. I'm dying over here. 🤣 Madonna is crazy AF. More so today. It worked though, back then.

When my daughter was 1-6 months old…this was her favorite song. She’d instantly perk up and smile as we danced while I held her.

Although the song is about her in love with God, Madonna also wanted to address racism in this music video. Christian groups called for a global boycott because of the controversial music video. Like a Prayer was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989.

Honestly haven't heard this song in years. Much better than I remembered I gotta say.

She never looked or sounded better.

one of my favorite songs so had to check it out

Y’all gotta keep going with Madonna- “Live to tell”, “Crazy for you”, “Justify my love”, “Borderline.” So many great hits throughout the 80’s and 90’s- Her docu-movie called *Truth or Dare * is very interesting. I think you should check it out for sure Lex- (Brad too, if he’s willing lol) Cameras follow her as she goes on tour and you see behind the scenes. One conservative town said if she went onstage, they’d arrest her due to her performance “styles.” I’ll just say, Madonna does Madonna, period!..check it out to see what happens..😁 “Like a Virgin” and “Material Girl” are my least favorites of hers- (just me ✋🏼) LOVE Madonna though! The 80’s most definitely wouldn’t have been the same without Madonna,as well as others of course.❤️✨👍

I loved madonnas hair in this, liked the song, but the video - kind of confusing like a lot of videos can be lol Loved your honest reactions once again!🙂

I can't wait to see her in denver in July holy shit

Be your own hero is the statement.

The leading man is Joe Morton who was The Brother From Another Planet in a 1984 movie by John Sayles.

Oh guys I was expecting this a lot!!

About the "Madonna, Virgin Mary, Virgin Madonna, like a virgin" moment, also Madonna 's real name is MARIA Luisa Ciccone

I think he was a Saint.

Love you guys. Wish occasionally you'd tell us if you actually liked the song though 🙂.

So there was a lot of controversy over this song because #1 it’s Madonna who always pushed the boundaries #2 is that supposed to be black Jesus and she acts like there’s something romantic going on. Personally I love the song! Madonna was very vocal about her heavy Catholic up bringing. She’s said in interviews this is supposed to be Saint Martin Deporres who’s the patron Saint of social justice (that’s why he’s wrongfully imprisoned in the video).

One of my favorites

it's funny to me how non-catholics react to the scene where she kisses his feet

Immediate chills when I hear this song and have heard it many times in my life ❤️❤️👵🙏

Great reaction. I think Madonna's man in her "dream" was a combination of the guy in alley and the Jesus behind the bars. The last scene of the guy getting released from cell was same bars as in dream. So was a mix of real and "heavenly".......... Plus it is Madonna............ She loves controversy....... Thanks again for you video. It was fun.

Madonna and Prince was alike in some ways with their music. They both would intertwine religion and sexual suggestions although Prince was a musical genius and a true believer in Jehovah. There was multiple messages in this song and it was also done for shock. It worked. Its my fav from Madonna

One of her best from the same year 1989 is Express Yourself. The burning crosses was very controversial at the time and the pierced palms is stigmata from Catholicism

Though Pepsi got cold feet at the last minute in backing this new album and sponsoring her planned world tour, they shot themselves in the foot as Madonna laughed her way to the bank. The tour was her most legendary and groundbreaking and was the smash hit tour of that year in 1990, followed by a groundbreaking experimental film (that was ahead of it's time and was the precursor to what is reality tv shows now), Truth or Dare, chronicling the on stage and backstage antics of the tour. Maybe Pepsi should've played it safe and backed the safer, wholesome Janet Jackson that year. With Madonna, you know what you're in for, she's not a put-on like the others who dissed her, but ended up sexing up their own images. Lol

Brads t-shirt is brilliant.

This is a masterpiece It’s actually showing how the Black community is completely classed as different to whites . It highlights racism and the stigmata that the black community is experiencing prejudices. In the 1980s this was a statement to say don’t judge a book by its cover . Simply ahead of its time and Madonna making this statement iis a real statement.

This video is Madonna's statement on racism and bigotry of/in America and the Catholic church!!! Madonna's Black Lives Matter video in 1989. 👑💥🎶💯

You need to check out this used to be my playground and live to Tell two beautiful songs but in very different ways

Ask Madonna, she'll tell you straight out: she's just too cool!

That wasn't a gospel song. That was a freaky song. Brad gets it.