365 Day Song Challenge

Day 255 - Your favorite song by Madonna

Like a Prayer - Madonna


This was the first song by a major artist to be used in a commercial before being released to stores or radio stations. It was used in an ad for Pepsi which was first shown on The Cosby Show.
The video aired on MTV the day after the commercial. It showed Madonna dancing in front of burning crosses, which caused outrage among some Catholic groups. Pepsi pulled the spot, which aired only once.
Madonna signed a $5 million endorsement deal with Pepsi at the time this was released. Pepsi pulled out of the deal when religious groups threatened a boycott over the video. Pepsi had 2 more commercials planned and was going to sponsor her Blonde Ambition tour, but they dropped all association with Madonna, who got to keep the $5 million.
The Andrae Crouch gospel choir was brought in to sing on this. They refused to appear in the video.
This won the Viewer’s Choice Award at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards.
Madonna wrote this with Patrick Leonard, who she teamed with for many of her hits in the late ’80s. Madonna explained toRolling Stone why her relationship with Leonard has proved to be so successful: “We’re both from the Midwest, and deep down at our core, we’re both geeks. He’s melancholic, and he is a classically trained musician with an incredible sense of melody. We just hit it off from the start. We always come up with something interesting. We usually don’t write frivolous songs, although we’ve done that, too. There’s something magical about our writing.”
Worldwide, this is Madonna’s most popular song. It went to #1 in several countries.
The video was shot in California and directed by Mary Lambert, who had worked on videos for “Borderline,” “Like A Virgin” and “Material Girl.” The commercial was shot in Arizona and directed by Joe Pytka, who had previously worked with Pepsi on a Michael Jackson commercial. The Pepsi people expected the video to be similar to the commercial.
Madonna’s original idea for the video was to have her and the black saint-figure shot in the back.
Madonna had recently divorced actor Sean Penn when this was released. The cover of the single was drawn by her brohter, Christopher, and contained the letters “MLVC”, with a “P” falling away. They represented Madonna’s initials, “Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone,” with the “Penn” falling away. (Songfacts.com)


Lyrics:

God?

Refrain:

Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone.

I hear you call my name and it feels like

Home.

Chorus:

When you call my name, it’s like a little

Prayer. I’m down on my knees, I wanna take you

there. In the midnight hour, I can feel your

Power. Just like a prayer, you know I’ll take you there

I hear your voice, it’s like an angel sighing.

I have no choice, I hear your voice, feels like

Flying. I close my eyes, oh God, I think I’m

Falling, out of the sky. I close my eyes, Heaven

Help me.

Chorus:

When you call my name, it’s like a little

Prayer. I’m down on my knees, I wanna take you

There. In the midnight hour, I can feel your

Power just like a prayer. You know I’ll take

You there.

Like a child, you whisper softly to me. You’re

In control just like a child, now I’m dancing.

It’s like a dream, no end and no beginning.

You’re here with me, it’s like a dream. Let

The choir sing.

Chorus:

When you call my name, it’s like a little

Prayer. I’m down on my knees, I wanna take you

There. In the midnight hour, I can feel your

Power, just like a prayer. You know I’ll take

You there.

Chorus:

When you call my name, it’s like a little

Prayer. I’m down on my knees, I wanna take you

There. In the midnight hour, I can feel your

Power just like a prayer. You know I’ll take

You there.

Refrain:

Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone.

I hear you call my name and it feels like

Home.

Bridge:

Just like a prayer, your voice can take me

There. Just like a muse to me , you are a

Mystery. Just like a dream, you are not what

You seem. Just like a prayer, no choice,

Your voice can take me there.

Intermediate:

Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there. It’s

Like a dream to me. Just like a prayer, I’ll

Take you there. It’s like a dream to me. Just

Like a prayer, I’ll take you there. It’s like

A dream to me. Just like a prayer, I’ll take

You there. It’s like a dream to me.

(Medley)

Bridge:

Just like a prayer, your voice can take me

There. Just like a muse to me, you are a

Mystery. Just like a dream, you are not what

You seem. Just like a prayer, no choice,

Your voice can take me there.

Intermediate:

Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there. It’s

Like a dream to me. Just like a prayer, I’ll

Take you there. It’s like a dream to me. Just

Like a prayer, I’ll take you there. It’s like

A dream to me. Just like a prayer, I’ll take

You there. It’s like a dream to me.

1 Notes/ Hide

  1. letty23 posted this

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