Like a Prayer

 

 

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It's been over twenty years since I've listened to Madonna's "Like a Prayer" album and I've always been baffled by those who regarded it as one of her best works. At the time of its' release I failed to be as instantly captivated by this effort as I had been by "Madonna" and "Like a Virgin". Back in '89, I was expecting some bouncy, get-up-on-the-dance-floor fare like "Spotlight" or "Causing a Commotion" and what I got were Disney-esque fairy tales about pink elephants and lemonade, and sombre odes to Spanish soldiers. Needless to say, after a few spins I was not pleased and tucked this one away for decades. In the wake of the disappointing "MDNA", I have been revisiting Lady M's back catalogue, and in hindsight "Like a Prayer" is a darn good album and the first point in her career where Madonna truly showed growth and maturity. Most of the album feels like a personal catharsis for Madonna as she draws on her own human experience to craft personal, heartfelt, poignant yet catchy songs inspired by the loss of her mother, her father's indifference and a turbulent marriage, as well as her conflicting feelings about religion.

The original versions of "Express Yourself" and "Keep It Together" are textbook examples of how to make dance music the old-fashioned way without synths or technical assistance. "Keep" comes off especially funky here compared to the "Soul II Soul"-radio remix that came later. "Express Yourself" still sounds great though I do admit to loving the bass-driven dance version found on "The Immaculate Collection" most of all. The percolating keyboards that appeared on "Live to Tell" are sped-up to underscore the boppy yet moody spousal-abuse tale "Til Death Do Us Part" and the hypnotic beats of the Prince duet "Love Song" will ricochet off your brain. "Dear Jessie" ALMOST veers into Kate Bush territory had the lyrics been less saccharine, and "Cherish" is just a breezy take on the '60s girl-group sound that continues where "True Blue" (the single) left off. The most haunting and powerful moments, of course come in a pair of introspective piano cuts dealing with Madonna's feelings of loss, denial then acceptance and empowerment regarding her parents in "Promise to Try" and "Oh Father"--definitely her most raw and personal material to date. The feedback-laden "Act of Contrition" is an annoying throwaway that should have been scrapped and included only as the B-Side of one of the many 12" singles.

Like a Prayer 5/5
Express Yourself 5/5
Love Song 4/5
Til Death Do Us Part 5/5
Promise To Try 5/5
Cherish 4/5
Dear Jessie 4/5
Oh Father 5/5
Pray For Spanish Eyes 3/5
Act of Contrition 1/5

Of Madonna's '80s output, "Like a Prayer" seems to have aged the best, though "Like a Virgin" is still my favorite album of hers from that decade. If you dismissed this album years ago as I did, try listening to it from a fresh perspective--you'll hear what you may have missed the first time--one of Madonna's most honest and personal contributions to her huge legacy.

I am a Madonna fan to the core! This album is a collection piece. There are too many good songs to enjoy! You do not have to be a Madonna fan to get "like a prayer". You will anjoy as this one is timeless!

This is the album that established Madonna as a serious artist. She stopped dying her hair blond, and with that more serious brunette image, made a controversial and religious album. An fact often overlooked is that this is not only her most religious album, it is also one of her best.

Album Cover: 2.5/5
The album cover features Madonna's bellybutton, with a great logo. For some reason, I don't really like it, even though I love Madonna's bellybutton. But the logo is surely her best.

1. Like A Prayer: 5/5
This song is Madonna's most religious, and features some soulful choir in the background that added to this song's religious tinge. This is a fan's favourite, and the melody is enough to guarantee that. This was credited with being Madonna's first song to feature a guitar in years. The lyrics are up to the standards of "Ray Of Light", and the melody is sweet, yet serious enough to make this one of the best-selling song of the 1980's.

2. Express Yourself: 5/5
This is Madonna's best self-power anthem. Its strong vocals and bouncy beats makes this one of the best dance songs on this record.

3. Love Song: 4/5
Although lots of people don't like this Prince duet, I actually enjoyed it. It fit with the rest of the record, yet it is different enough to be interesting. The interesting choice of instruments and layout only added to its charm.

4. Till Death Do Us Part: 4/5
This song is filled with hate and vengeance, yet it is also filled with love and sadness. It tells of Sean Penn and Madonna's marriage at the time, and they soon divorced. Its electronic beats and Madonna's non-feeling voice somehow made this song work, and the same thing happened with Rihanna for "Umbrella".

5. Promise To Try: 4/5
This is the first quartet of songs about Madonna's mother, and frankly this is the worst, but it is also very good. (The best is "Inside Of Me".) It is a simple piano ballad, probably Madonna's simplest in terms of production. Madonna's unexpected "real"ness and tenderness is endearing.

6. Cherish: 5/5
This beat "True Blue" as the happiest song of Madonna's career. Its bouncy beats and Madonna's sunlit vocals and valentine lyrics will have you singing along more effectively than Hilary Duff's "Wake Up".

7. Dear Jessie: 4.5/5
Madonna is probably the only major artist to have a children's song. Its silliness and cheesiness can work wonders on your rainiest day, and Madonna's cheerful delivery will have you forget your troubles and remember the best best about your childhood.

8. Oh Father: 5/5
This is Madonna's only song directed at her father. The sweetened vocals paved the way for a final powerful outro. It sounds strangely innocent, yet centuries old and wise, and will connect with anyone who was wronged by their parent.

9. Keep It Together: 4.5/5
This song's bridge definitely inspired the one for Christina Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man". This song is addicting, and the bridge will have you singing it over and over and over...

10. Spanish Eyes: 4.5/5
This is one of Madonna's best ballads. Her voice cracking only added to the emotional strength of the song. Her frustration and helplessness is eventually channeled into her "American Life".

11. Act Of Contrition: 5/5
HILARIOUS. You have to listen to it to understand. Looks like Madonna can still have fun while being serious.

Overall Rating: 5/5

Since its release, this has sold over 15,000,000 copies worldwide.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Her best album
This album is the crowning achievement in Madonna's career. There was a lot of controversy surrounding this album, particularly in relation to the videos for Like A Prayer and... Read more

Published on Oct 31 2006 by Brian loves music

4.0 out of 5 stars awesome
like a prayer is one of madonna's best songs ever. actyually it probably is my favorite one from her. Read more

Published on Aug 22 2005 by Gimpster

5.0 out of 5 stars A Defining Moment
A favorite of Madonna fans, Like A Prayer is arguably Madonna at her very best. So many factors contribute to this rather grand statement, least of which is the music. Read more

Published on July 15 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars THE EIGHTIES AT ITS BEST
THIS ALBUM PROVED THAT MADONNA WAS MORE THAN A POP TART. THIS ALBUM REALLY PROVED SHE HAD SOMETHING TO SAY. Read more

Published on Jun 16 2004 by SOUL LYRIC

5.0 out of 5 stars Madonna's Rubber Soul
Like A Prayer, Madonna's fourth studio effort, released in the spring of 1989, was the album Ms. Ciccone got down to business. Read more

Published on Jun 10 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Her best and most mature work of the 80's.
Like A Prayer is her best work of the 80's and her most personal to date. Overall it's her 2nd best album, next to the 1992 Erotica. Read more

Published on Jun 1 2004 by DM

5.0 out of 5 stars The mature Madonna start
I think this album really started madonna's mature. real lyrics,including her most selling single Like a prayer, the cd single sold 4 million copies around the world and of course... Read more

Published on May 18 2004 by Armando J. Carranza

5.0 out of 5 stars Setting the standards others cannot match
It is unfortunate that so many people judge Madonna by her image rather than her music. Even among those who listen to her music, some quickly spot her limited vocal range and... Read more

Published on May 8 2004 by Peter Durward Harris

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice effort
20 years from now, Madonna will be remembered for... er, let me think. The Material Girl video? No way. The steel cone bras... nah. Her Evita dress, who was Evita again? Read more

Published on April 6 2004 by Big Kahuna

5.0 out of 5 stars Like A Prayer - Madonna
WARNING:THIS ALBUM MAY CAUSE TEARS.
On reviewing this album I'll have to agree mostly with what Karen said, but let me add my own opinion. Read more

Published on Feb 10 2004 by Lena Jawad

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