This was one of her more controversial videos. The black Jesus was representative of unfairly imprisoned black men which came out later in the video. Madonna was blasted for what was considered blasphemy at the time against religious symbolism. The burning cross I think we all unfortunately know what that meant. I grew up with Madonna. She has a lot of very good, catchy songs. I love Cherish and I think Take A Bow showcases her voice a little more. Out of her older songs I like Get Into The Groove.

Madonna abolished boundaries and paved the way for many female pop stars today. She changed pop culture.

Don't underestimate the amount of controversy it caused. It was major news at the time, but the song itself was so great that nothing could hold it back from becoming one of her most memorable.

Fun fact, the guitar riff in the beginning is played by Prince. Try "Live to Tell" next. It's a great showcase of her voice and songwriting.

Madonna had already been a superstar for five years when she released this song in 1989, so it's not really "early Madonna". For that, you'll have to listen to 'Holiday', 'Borderline', 'Burning Up' and 'Lucky Star', which are all from her first album. There's nobody else like Madonna. She truly is the Queen of Pop and has almost 40 years of hits for you to explore and discover. Enjoy the journey.

Madonna had just signed a $5 million sponsorship deal with Pepsi and had filmed a very sweet wholesome commercial featuring this very song. THEN she released the actual video and all hell broke loose. Pepsi was threatened with boycotts, pulled the commercial after one airing and canceled Madonna's contract. But she kept the $5 million.

She shattered glass ceilings with this song and video during such a turbulent time in society. An absolute classic 👏

On March 3, 1989, Madonna released the hit song, “Like a Prayer.” And it was a monumental moment unlike no other before it at the time. After three back-to-back multi-platinum albums, a record-breaking world tour, it seemed like the singer was on top of the world as she readied the release of her fourth album, Like a Prayer, in March of 1989. That January, ahead of its release, Madonna brokered an endorsement deal with Pepsi for $5 million. The deal included the launch of the album’s title song in a television commercial -- an unheard-of arrangement at the time -- and the cola brand sponsoring the singer’s next world tour. The following month, Pepsi debuted its highly anticipated commercial during the 31st GRAMMY Awards, with an estimated 250 million reportedly watching the ad worldwide. A month later, it was time for the unveiling of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” music video, which was scheduled to make its worldwide debut during Entertainment Tonight before being shown in full on MTV. But as Lu Murray, the show's producer at the time, remembers, the anticipation of the music video was met with immediate shock and awe. “It was a huge deal and we were anxiously waiting for the video,” she says, recalling that it kept getting “later and later” before the video finally arrived on set, after ET already started taping that night’s episode. “I remember snatching the video and running into an edit bay and handing it to the editor and saying we got to cut this very quickly. We popped in the video and started watching it, and then we looked at each other and I went, ‘Uh oh. I don’t know if we're going to be able to air this.’” Presumably, the first people outside of Madonna’s team and director Mary Lambert to watch the video, what they saw was far from what they were expecting. Opening with Madonna witnessing a murder of a young woman, the video then sees an innocent African-American man incarcerated by the police before Madonna eventually flees to a church. There, she sees a wax saint that resembles the arrested man, which eventually comes to life and kisses her. Throughout the video, Madonna is seen singing in front of burning crosses, in a church with a children’s choir and in moments of erotic embrace with an African-American religious figure. Because the video arrived so late, it was decided that it would run during the end credits, but ET could only use certain portions of the video not so visibly controversial. “We stayed away from the burning crosses and some of the other aspects that were going to create controversy,” Murray explains, adding: “We played it safe that day.” While its initial debut was cut short, the full video made its way to MTV and was met with immediate backlash. “We knew it was going to be a big story,” Murray says. Religious groups called for a boycott, with Pope John Paul II even speaking out against it. “The video is a blasphemy and insult because it shows immorals inside a church,” Italian Roman Catholic historian Roberto de Mattei said at the time. Within days of protests and complaints, Pepsi was forced to drop the ad and ultimately cancel its deal with Madonna. “It may go down as one the most expensive advertising blunders ever,” host John Tesh reported on ET soon after. The fight with religious groups didn’t stop with the music video, however. The Vatican even tried to boycott her “Blond Ambition” tour when it came through Italy. “I am aware that the Vatican and certain communities are accusing my show of being sinful and blasphemous, that they are trying to keep people from seeing it,” Madonna said at the time. “I think I'm offending certain groups, but I think that people who really understand what I’m doing aren't offended by it.” Despite the controversy, which could have devastated an artist of lesser assurance, “Like a Prayer” went on to be nominated for MTV Video Music Awards’ Video of the Year and has since been viewed over 72 million times on KZfaq. Meanwhile, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100. Today, it’s considered one of the singer’s best and is listed in Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” ==Courtesy of Entertainment Tonight

With its inter-racial content, religious references and anti racism message, this was very controversial at the time - something Madonna has never shied away from. I think it's nothing short of a masterpiece and something to remind us of how cutting edge Madonna actually was for her time.

Madonna’s ‘Papa Don’t Preach’ is another amazing song from the 80’s … So many really.

Im so glad to have grown up in the 80's and 90's experiencing the careers of some great performers. Madonna is one of them. Shes a Queen. Love this song too. Looking forward to more Madonna reactions.

I can’t even explain why, but one of my favorite Madonna songs is “La Isla Bonita” and i enjoy most of her catalog.

Also, Madonna has always used her platform to elevate causes she championed. Racism, gender inequality, gay rights... it goes on and on but those would be her big 3. She has a knack for causing a commotion (chuckle chuckle for any avid Madonna fan out there who got this). She's also used her beauty and sexuality to push the envelope, if she hadn't things would be quite different. Nikki Minaj, Britney Spears, Xtina... all that came after owe Madonna the nod, the tip of the hat. This woman made me the strong, independent, vocal woman I am today. She taught us to not be afraid, to question when we felt like it needed to be.

A little backstory: Madonna could have taught a Masterclass in free publicity and shocking conservative America and owning her sexuality… Pepsi had signed Madonna as a spokesperson. A multimillion $ contract. A really big deal at the time. The song she chose to tie into the campaign was Like A Prayer. Pepsi had just rolled out the campaign and within days Madonna released her video and the uproar over the imagery in the video and her kissing a black Jesus figure was just to much for the cancel culture of the day. Pepsi caved and pulled the ads. Madonna got to keep her payday. And the song went to #1. When I was a teen, Madonna pushed everyone’s buttons and I was so there for it.

This video caused quite the controversy: Many Catholics were offended and even protested Madonna because of it. Not the first time this happened with her songs. She would push against the edges of what was considered respectful. Way to go Madonna!

I love Madonna jams like “Papa Don’t Preach” “Crazy for You” and my most favorite “Into the Groove”. So many! 🔥

First of all, this song is a masterpiece from the queen of pop herself and secondly Prince is the one playing that opening guitar riff. I would really encourage you checking out more Madonna, Express Yourself is a must listen.

You could do a whole series on Madonna. She was like a chameleon, changing vocal style, song style, hair style, fashion, et. al with every album. Two things that never faded in any of them was they were danceable and they were controversial in some way (for the time).

For me, this is possibly my favorite song and video from Madonna. She put it ALL out there. She brought out the belief that Jesus was Black, interracial relationships, racism, religious rapture, idolatry, need I go on?! It is near perfection. Love it!!!

One of the best bass lines ever committed to tape by the great Guy Pratt. Arrangement, keyboards and cowritten by the amazing Pat Leonard

Gotta Watch Papa Don't Preach. Even earlier Madonna but still amazing.

The fact that this song caused so much controversy because it called out racism tells us how much progress has been made for equal rights since 1989.

In the 80's it was MJ and Madonna who reigned supreme. Madonna's early stuff is her best, but I really, really like her song MUSIC made around 2000. It has a disco-synth-techno-pop-electronica sound to it that I think she pulls of wonderfully.

Yep, most of her videos accompanying her songs have been 'challenging' in their message and in many cases led to controversy and 'shock', and so great that she did that. Always more than 'just a singer', a real artist.

This song really takes me back... Although you should take him back further, maybe 'Borderline' or 'Lucky Star'

When this came out, she had just gotten a Pepsi endorsement - the second pop star Pepsi had featured in commercials after Michael Jackson. The commercial launched the song, which was an immediate hit UNTIL the music video came out and people were so shocked that she kissed a black man, had a black man representing Jesus, and because of the burning crosses, that Pepsi dropped her as a spokesperson, but still paid her $10M for the ad. When Like A Prayer won video of the year that year, Madonna thanked Pepsi for causing "SO much controversy." Here's the link to the Pepsi commercial - it only aired once. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oplketucmMqreoE.html

The song that shows Madonna's voice the best: ONE MORE CHANCE

Just one example of why she is the G.O.A.T. 👑

Madonna is a completely different person in each of her songs, but always great! Her versatility is fantastic!as someone already said: Madoona did not follow the trends, she set them!back that time, this video caused many troubles to Madonna, among others, Pepsi canceled a contrat with her. 🥰

This was always my favorite Madonna song next to "Material Girl." It was also the best use of a gospel choir for a long time...until Heart did "Stairway to Heaven" at the Kennedy Center Honors. You should definitely check out that performance. It's a MUST for any reactor.

A fun sounding Madonna song is "Dear Jessie". Her first song was "Everybody"

When this video came out, my mom wouldn’t let me watch it. She said it was sacrilegious with the burning crosses. I remember all the controversy at the time and how Madonna upset so many people. As an adult, I love the song and the video. Definitely one of Madonna’s best. I agree, the choir adds so much to it!

Actually, guys, this is only a year before Vogue. You’d have to go back further for younger Madonna. Testament to her talent.

Whoo! Talk about a song that caused a controversy.

I remember when this first came out, I felt what I feel every single time I watch it, eternal. Please consider reacting to her Superbowl :) You guys are great

I have to laugh now at how so many young women dressed like Madonna - she was a style icon also. She made a mainstream movie called Desperately Seeking Susan and she was just mesmerizing!

For future Fridays, I'd suggest Helen Reddy, I Am Woman (a real feminist statement from the '70s) and Joan Baez, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. Joan used to be in a relationship with Bob Dylan. And when you're ready to get back to The Carpenters, I'd suggest We've Only Just Begun, Goodbye to Love (believe it or not it has an amazing guitar solo), or I Won't Last a Day Without You. You might also consider an incredible cover they did of Leon Russell's A Song for You.

She was in the 1992 movie A League of Their Own and wrote the music for it. All about women playing baseball when the guys went off to war. EXCELLANT !! MOVIE

Everyone, including me, is always so surprised when they discover/remember that she really can sing! One song that really showcases her singing voice is Don't Cry For Me Argentina from the film version of Evita. It's such a beautiful song and OMG, if you know the story of Evita - it makes me cry every stinkin' time.

THIS was and will always be the true masterpiece of her career! She was one of the first artists to come out with a real video that's all the full story I was a little bit longer than others. But that was okay because it would sucked you into the story that with that. It wasn't just a video we continued on to add a couple more choruses of the song. This video was something that made you think, and then at the end it turned out it was actually a play. A lot of people were taking aback. Because this was something that nobody ever done before with a video. Most videos only had one story line going on to match this song this has so many layers that were woven into it. Each layer had such deep meanings if you perception to understand where it was coming from. MANY were thinking this video is almost like watching a mini movie and wow it almost was! A lot of people were freaked out by the burning crosses but they didn't understand the symbolism of that. It wasn't just about the connection to the racism on a national level that had gone on against black people. It was about the connection of the representation of the cross in its religious sense and of that prior persecution. It was a dual message because most people are under the impression that the Christian Jesus is a white man. When even in the Bible Scriptures it states that his skin was dark and as always like wool. Coming from the regions where he was that would not make him a white man. So it is false idea to have of this long flowing straight hair along with the light complexion and blue eyes. There's very few videos I can say this out, and I've been around since THE DAY THAT MTV hit the airways. Myself and a feel my friends actually stayed up all night...just so we can watch when MTV put up its first video at 12:01 AM! THIS is one of the few videos that wants you see it, you can close your eyes and listen to the music again and never unsee it. Don't just never be able to hear the music the same way again without having the video version of this playing alongside it in your head. Just trust me on this. I'm so glad you guys got to see this, I really hope that you get to check out more of her. I know you've reviewed another song but believe me, there's so much more to her anthology. She's one of the few artists that was actually able to successfully reinvent herself over and over again for many decades #NewYorkGenXBikerLady .

It was a very very controversial video at the time and the Catholic church WAS pissed. Another controversial song that was good was Papa Don't Preach.

I think it's one of the best pop songs ever recorded.

My personal favorite of her work, and i'm not a big fan, but she really pushed the right buttons here.

This was one of the most controversial videos from 1989. I remember this like yesterday. She played it well. People were mad and thought the video was about religion and a black Jesus...but it did what she intended it to do, bring out the inner racism of people. She was deemed blasphemous by the church and was excommunicated (a total of three times) because of the burning crosses in the video. The burning crosses represent the white supremacists who murder the pregnant Latin woman. This is a subject Madonna has never shied away from. All her videos have a deeper meaning and open the door to conversations.

You REALLY need to check out her first album from '83, it was transformational and she was like nothing anyone had ever seen, and was made for MTV. This is from' 89, where she was more mainstream, although still controversial. To me, '83 Madonna, was my favorite.

For more 80's Madonna: Holiday, Like A Virgin, Into The Groove, Gambler, Live To Tell, La Isla Bonita, Who's That Girl, Causing A Commotion, Express Yourself For 90's Madonna: Justify My Love, Deeper And Deeper, Secret, Frozen, Nothing Really Matters For 21st century Madonna: Music, Nothing Fails (has a Like A Prayer-like gospel choir), Hung Up, Sorry, 4 Minutes, Celebration, Living For Love, God Control

All time classic. One of the best pop songs of all time. Revolution!!

Been a fan since 84 - the Queen of Pop - a chameleon. Always pushing boundaries. My favourite album was True Blue 1986 - she was madly in love with her new husband, Sean Penn, and the album reflected that. It was Perfect pop. Like a Prayer was 89, she was divorced and resulted in a darker album. The words of Til Death Do Us Part will break your heart.

There were several occasions in Madonna's early career where she effectively pushed the edge of the envelope if not stepped over the normal lines of the "status quo" let's call it!! This video was one of those times!! I love when an artist can stir the pot and get thoughts provoked that are normally not thought!! Madonna accomplishes that in this video!!

Probably one of the most important music videos in MTV history. I don’t think the song and video are completely unconnected, the song is about religious ecstasy and redemption and the video just takes that concept further and places it in a specific context. Fabulous thing about this song is only Madonna can really sing the song with the same meaning because her name ‘Madonna’ means ‘mother of Christ’ so the lyrics ‘when you call my name it’s like a little prayer’ are actually kind of literal not just figurative.

There is no better live performance artist than Madonna. Her concerts set records for a reason. Express Yourself is a must see and still one of the most expensive videos ever made (number 3 I believe). A masterpiece. This Like A Prayer video was 32 years ago and is just as relevant a social commentary today. She was decades, I mean decades, ahead of her time as an artist and has left a massive footprint on society and culture. MORE MADONNA!!

Madonna was always able to reinvent herself. You've got 80s Madonna like this, 90s Madonna with Evita and all that, then in the 2000s she made 'Ray of Light' which sounded like nothing she had done before

One of the greatest pop songs of all times. The music video is brilliant, important, provocative and in my opinion, the best music video of all times. Need to react to: Frozen, Papa Don’t Preach, Human Nature, Hung Upm, Express Yourself and Music. Madonna is the Queen of Pop- time to go down this rabbit hole of greatness.

She had 38 top ten hits and 12 numbers ones, by any metric she ranks way up there, When she burst onto the scene it was Madonna mania for years. Her most amazing strength is her ability to reinvent her self and stay new and fresh to people. She has had hits on the charts from around 1983 to late 2000s.

I remember being a kid in the early 90s and watching this video after coming home from school. I lived in Mexico back then, and we got all kinds of weird channels on our cable programming. One of those would play music videos between shows instead of commercials. Anyway, I have a memory of thinking Madonna was very pretty in this video and wanting to see the video every day XD. Of course, I was too young to actually acknowledge the subtext of the imagery in the video. Now that I've been a musician for over 20 years, I've always liked the bass lines in the second half of the song :D

Thank you for reacting to Queen Madonna 👑👑👑 Her songs are endless. A suggestion is Human Nature. In this song she talks back to her critics with coolness like no other can. ✨

This one of my favorite Madonna songs. "Take a bow" is another good one that showcases her voice. Her videos are always..."interesting" and/or controversial. I think sometimes it distracts from how talented she is as a singer.

My favorite song of hers! Never gets old! Could come out today and be great still! Video was so controversial when it came out.

This is Madonna's best song-IMO-and a classic as good as any-controversial video (which it was) or not.

I absolutely love your reactions & your comments. The video has such a deep meaning. This was from 1989 & this video was made 34 years ago with a White man committing the crime & an innocent black man was accused, and by the end, it took a brave white woman to tell the truth & save the black man from going to jail forever. Sadly, 34 years later, the racism Madonna is talking about is sadly still going on in 2023 & it’s even worse now than it was 34 years ago if you can even imagine that & how silly of us to think that we as humans would change for the better and that we wouldn’t still be dealing with racism, sexism, homophobia, transgender rights ect 34 years later.

Earth shattering, trend setting, owned the charts for what seemed like the entire 80's. Always been a metal head but I can appreciate good songs and shes had a few.

I am not a big fan of Madonna. However, I have to give credit for a good song, and she has made two songs I absolutely LOVE! This one (Like A Prayer) and "Live To Tell."

The Madonna song "Oh Father" showcases another side of her. The song is about her troubled relationship with her father Tony Ciccone.

My favorite Madonna song. It moves me so much. I get choked up every time.

The younger Madonna was the best Madonna

You are absolutely correct. The video has nothing to do with the song. The song is a comparison between religious ecstasy and physical love. The video is about racism and doing the right thing. Madonna CAN sing. It's just that she's usually dancing while singing and not many people at all can do that well. This was from her 4th album. Do something really early next like "Borderline".

She had the holier than thou community up in arms because of this video. Madonna's whole thing was shock and awe.

"Like A Prayer" was a huge #1 hit in 1989. Madonna wanted Gospel music to be heavily involved in the song, so she enlisted Gospel legend Andrae Crouch and his choir to add vocals after the song already had been recorded. Crouch studied the lyrics to make sure they didn't conflict with his Christian beliefs. Then Crouch wrote the choir's arrangements. Their awesome singing (and Madonna's too!) makes "Like A Prayer" one of her best songs ever!

Madonna has always had the ability to change her style with the times.

Crazy For You by Madonna is an underrated masterpiece. 😊

Madonna has made around 75 videos and very few fail to make a statement. I love her art so much. A true trailblazer.

She was groundbreaking and is very talented.

This is a great song that was very controversial at the time. A song that I believe is one of her best is “ Live To Tell “ beautiful song. 💕

I wouldn't say this was VERY early in her career. This was the title track from her 4th Album!

You guys have been my favorite reaction channel that I've seen. A lot of the music and videos you react to are already my favorites so it's like I'm watching them again, but with friends.

Madonna number one ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Heart singing Stairway to Heaven… I randomly keep requesting & know one day you’ll do it. Going to be an epic reaction! Love y’all ❤️

1989 was a great year for music, and this song was HUGE!!! Great choice for female Friday. ☺

I hope you continue reacting to Madonna. She's one of those artists that you appreciate more, the more you hear. Madonna was a hit machine. Each new hit sounded very different than the one before, she pushed the envelope, didn't care what people thought, brought things on the margins to the mainstream, and managed to continually re-invent herself. It's impressive how she managed to stay at the forefront for 20+ years. That's very hard to do.

You are my FAVORITE reactionists on KZfaq by far ! So real and enjoyable.

Absolutely love this song. I've always considered it to be the female equivalent of Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror. I'm not sure if it's simply down to the choir parts in both tracks, but both legendary tunes from the King and Queen of pop.

Not a great fan of Madonna but I LOVE this song!! The story, the shift in tempos, all of it. My favorite Madonna song. The visuals are amazing, what a masterpiece!!

Madonna is THE QUEEN OF POP! This is one of my favorite songs EVER!!!!!!!

Madonna is iconic ❤

This such a great catchy song. She was great at doing that.

You would absolutely love Melanie's "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) with the Edwin Hawkins Singers. Hippie vibes, plus an amazing gospel choir!

Man, that woman could dance. I love her music.

THE CONTROVERSY over this song when it came out I remember was absolutely earth shattering..The whole world changed after this

These "types" of Madonna songs are my favorite because they showcase her voice really well. My all time favorite and I highly recommend, Live to Tell.

Love her or hate her Madonna is a legend. This video caused so much shit!! People were pissed!! They pulled the video off mtv cause religious people were in an uproar over the black Jesus. Lol times have changed but Madonna is so good at causing a big stir.

Welcome aboard! Madonna has been a great entertainer since the beginning of her career, and she is a very good dancer.

Love the song and video for her song, "Don't Tell Me". Madonna is an icon for sure!

Came out in 1989. She is Italian, hence her real hair is dark and curly. I think that looks better, personally. This song caused controversy because it sexualized religion. A love affair with God.

"Crazy For You", "Take A Bow", "Rain", "Live To Tell", "Vogue", "Express Yourself", .... Madonna is an ICON!!!!❤❤❤❤

Madonna is a perfect artist. Iconic always. Love her!!!! React more of her please

“Cherish” . Happy feel-good song! Underrated.

One of her best! Papa Don't Preach is one of my favorites! Check it out! Like a Prayer is calling out racism and she was bashed by many for it.

This was when Madonna was at the peak of her career in ‘89. This is off her 4th album. She was already an established star. Her early hits were Borderline and Lucky Star.

Absolutely loved this reaction! Madonna is full of music masterpieces

This was really good, thank you SO MUCH!!!!👍👍💙💙👊👊zane