The Retroscope: 22 April

22 April 1989: Although her abilities were undermined by sexual posturing and provocative demeanour Madonna started her three week run at #1 on the US singles chart with “Like A Prayer”, a #1 hit in the UK as well. Controversy pursued that prompted Pepsi Cola to withdraw a commercial featuring the artist. The track contains elements of gospel music and a choir providing background vocals that projects the spiritual undertones yet a rock guitar keeps the theme dark and mysterious. It begins with this heavy rock sound that is suddenly cut off and replaced with the choir and the sound of the organ. Madonna described “Like A Prayer” as the song of “a passionate young girl so in love with God that it is almost as though He were the male figure in her life”. http://www.eighties-music-fan.blogspot.com http://www.bubblews.com/news/423799-the-retroscope-22-april