“Like a Prayer” is a song by American singer Madonna from her 1989 fourth studio album of the same name. It was released as the album’s lead single on March 3, 1989, by Sire Records. Written and produced by both Madonna and Patrick Leonard, the song heralded an artistic and personal approach to songwriting for Madonna, who believed that she needed to cater more to her adult audience.
“Like a Prayer” is a pop rock and gospel song that also incorporates elements of funk. It features background vocals from a choir and also a rock guitar. The lyrics contain liturgical words, but they have been interpreted by some people to have dual meanings of sexual innuendo and religion. “Like a Prayer” was acclaimed by music critics upon release and was a global commercial success, becoming Madonna’s seventh No. 1 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, topping the Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks and also topping the charts in many other countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom. Rolling Stone listed “Like a Prayer” among “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
The accompanying music video for “Like a Prayer”, directed by Mary Lambert, shows Madonna witnessing a white woman being sexually assaulted and subsequently killed by a group of white men. While a black man is arrested for the crime, Madonna hides in a church for safety, seeking strength to go forth as a witness. The video depicts a church and Catholic imagery such as stigmata. It also features the Ku Klux Klan’s burning crosses and a dream sequence about kissing a black saint. The Vatican condemned the video, while family and religious groups protested against its broadcast. They boycotted products by soft drink manufacturer Pepsi, who had used the song in their commercial. Pepsi canceled their sponsorship contract with Madonna, but allowed her to retain the $5 million fee.
“Like a Prayer” has been featured on six of Madonna’s concert tours, most recently on The Celebration Tour. The song has been covered by numerous artists. Along with the parent album, “Like a Prayer” was a turning point in Madonna’s career, with critics starting to acknowledge her as an artist rather than a mere pop star. “Like a Prayer” was included on Madonna’s greatest hits compilation albums The Immaculate Collection (1990), Celebration (2009) and Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (2022).
