Madonna – Like a Prayer (1989)

Once again working with Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray on various songs, Madonna co-wrote/produced all the tracks on her landmark release, Like a Prayer.  The 1989 album sees a shift to more mature themes as Madonna tackles a failing marriage, her relationships with her family, the death of her mother, and religion.  The title track was the first single released with much hype on the back of a promotion with Pepsi that would end with just one airing of the infamous commercial. On the song, a choir humming emerges from the ether as Madonna sings, “life is a mystery…” In the verses, it’s just the choir and some twinkling background sounds before the chorus erupts with gospel singers.

“Express Yourself” appears here in a different form than the version on The Immaculate Collection. It sounds more joyous with added horns but loses the throbbing bassline on the female empowerment single that would go to #2 in the US with the line, “don’t go for second best, baby”. “Cherish” is one of Madonna’s most infectious singles. The charming song is the sound of a summer day with Madonna singing that “Romeo and Juliet they never felt this way I bet”.

Prince appears on three tracks, most prominently on the electro funk “Love Song”.  Surprisingly, two titans of music coming together brings very little heat. Better is the perky dance pop of “Till Death Do Us Part” whose music hides the lyrics of her failing marriage.  UK single “Dear Jessie” is a whimsical, lyrically psychedelic track that has a childlike simplicity to it.  In contrast, one of Madonna’s best album tracks is about the death of one of her friends from AIDs.  “Spanish Eyes” is a lovely, touching song that sees her voice reach for the lines “I light this candle and watch it throw/tears on my pillow” on this heartfelt ballad.

Like a Prayer sees Madonna grow as an artist, especially on failed single, “Oh Father”. Based on her feelings of her Mom dying while she was still a child, it speaks to her relationship with father and also an abusive male relationship.  The dramatic ballad reaches an empathic climax when Madonna sings, “Maybe someday/When I look back, I’ll be able to say/You didn’t mean to be cruel/Somebody hurt you too”.  It’s one of her best tracks but also broke her string of top 10 hits so doesn’t appear on greatest hits albums.  “Oh Father” is one of many powerful moments on an excellent pop album that further pushed Madonna even further into superstardom.

10/10