THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

774-Madonna-Like a Prayer.

1989-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.30.’Once your a Catholic, your always a Catholic, in terms of feelings, or guilt, and remorse, and whether you’ve sinned or not.Sometimes I’m wracked with guilt when I needn’t be, and that to me, is left over from my Catholic upbringing. Because in Catholicism you are born a sinner, and you are a sinner all of your life. No matter how you try to get away from it, the sin is within you, all the time.’ MADONNA.

By 1989 Madonna’s career was in the balance, she had just had two films spectacularly fail, both critically, and commercially, it was three years since her last successful Album ‘True Blue,’ and her marriage had broken down. She realised that her fan base were growing up, and if she was to survive, she would have to take her career in a different direction (see also best songs 587.)

‘Like a Prayer’ was the first of six singles released from Madonna’s fourth studio Album of the same name, from March 1989. The song was written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, with the production also being by them. Notable other names to play on the track were ‘Prince,’ (1958-2016) (see also best songs 884-487-269-85 and 54) who played guitar, although on the Albums liner notes he was not credited. Prince was also the co-writer, and co-producer with Madonna, on the Albums third track ‘Love Song.’ The choir that can be heard on ‘Like a Prayer’ was the Andraé Crouch Choir, led by the Gospel, contemporary Christian performer Andraé Crouch (1942-2015.) After realising that ‘Like a Prayer’ had lyrical content that could be construed as sexual, the Andraé Crouch Choir refused to appear in the songs now famous promotional video, so actors were used, who can be seen miming their parts.

Patrick Ray Leonard was born on March 14th, 1956, in Crystal Falls, Michigan, United States, he is best known for his longtime collaboration with Madonna. In total Patrick Leonard has worked with Madonna on five of her studio Albums between 1986-1998, with the other four Albums being ‘True Blue.’ (1986) ‘Who’s That Girl,’ (1987) ‘I’m Breathless,’ (1990) and ‘Ray of Light’ (1998.) Leonard has also played keyboards with Madonna at the 1985 ‘Live Aid’ concert. and he was the ,musical director and keyboardist on ‘The Virgin Tour,’ in 1985 and the ‘Who’s That Girl World Tour,’ in 1987. Away from Madonna, Leonard has worked with many of the worlds top artists, including Elton John, Pink Floyd, and Leonard Cohen. Madonna has always held Patrick Leonard in the highest esteem, and has said about their working relationship,’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.’

Before ‘Like a Prayer’ was officially released ‘Pepsi’ signed Madonna to a $5 million endorsement deal, which included a two minute commercial that would debut this song.The song was released the day after it aired worldwide to approximately 250 million viewers. It was also added to the ‘MTV’ playlist, but instead of using scenes from the commercial, it showed Madonna witnessing a brutal crime, and taking refuge in a church. She shares an interracial kiss, gets stigmata on her hands, and dances in front of burning crosses.The Vatican condemned it, while religious groups protested it’s broadcast. They boycotted products by ‘Pepsi,’ forcing them to drop Madonna from their promotions, but still having to pay her.

‘Like a Prayer’ is a song about a passionate young girl in love with God, who becomes the only male figure in her life. The song is controversial because the lyrics can be interpreted by some people to have dual meanings of sexual innuendo, and religion. Madonna has said,’Like a Prayer’ is a very important song to me. I felt the impact that it was going to make. That song means a lot more to me than ‘Like a Virgin’. I wrote it, and it’s from my heart. It’s a very spiritual song. I think I was much more spiritually in touch with the power of words and music by the time I started recording the song and the Album.’

‘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.’