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The title track 'Like A Prayer' is a classic track, but one which caused many problems for Madonna. She was criticised by the church and religious people the world over, and even many of her less devoted fans felt that she had crossed the line of decency, but it was only a song after all..and ... Read review
Like a Prayer - Madonna
Considered by many to be the Material Girl's most mature effort of the 1980s, Like a ... more
Prayer upped the ante of controversy with its gospel-infused title track and the singer's emotional confessions throughout. It also unveiled the hit "Express Your...
Like a Prayer - Madonna
Considered by many to be the Material Girl's most mature effort of the 1980s,Like a ... more
Prayerupped the ante of controversy with its gospel-infused title track and the singer's emotional confessions throughout. It also unveiled the hit "Express Yoursel...
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A review by nicanddarrell on Like A Prayer - Madonna February 15th, 2003
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Advantages:
An album crammed full of talent and beautiful music
Disadvantages:
The last two tracks mean that the album limps to the finish
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
I have been reading Madonna's autobiography this week on the insistence of my wife. It has made me think more about the person and her music, rather than just the image that she projects. Living with a pretty serious Madonna fan means that I have access to most of her album releases, so I had a look through and listened to most of them, and I have decided that this album is probably my favourite. It was released 14 years ago in 1989, at a time when Madonna was at her most deliberately confrontational. So many people were shocked by the images portrayed in her videos, but when I look at them now they just seem so tame compared to some of the images we find ourselves presented with on a day to day basis, and at the time I think she was singled out because we were having a glut of seemingly wholesome soapstars thrust into the music world, and Madonna stuck out like a sore thumb because she actually had something to say.
The title track 'Like A Prayer' is a classic track, but one which caused many problems for Madonna. She was criticised by the church and religious people the world over, and even many of her less devoted fans felt that she had crossed the line of decency, but it was only a song after all..and a good one at that! The mix of rock, pop and gospel works very well here, and the slow building verses lead to the chorus which is now known all over the world. It is a song I never tire of, and is certainly one of the high points of her long career, and in my eyes when she was at her most attractive with her brunette curls.
'Express Yourself' is song which encourages the women to trample on us poor men. It is a song which rouses even the most withdrawn of women that I know. Some great lyrics, but the simple ones always work the best such as 'don't go for second best baby, put your love to the test'. Oh how true that is! A good solid pop song which has dated very well, and once again it had the powerful video to match and this made sure that the song was listened to by more than just devoted fans, because the video gripped people at every given opportunity.
A collaboration with Prince is probably one of the least likely duets that I would have predicted, but on 'Love Song', Madonna and Prince create a breathy, sensual and very sexy track, and although it was not a commercially praised track, I think it is one of the high points of this album. It oozes attitude, but it is so hard to put it into one category, so I will just say that it is a ballad with a hard edge, and some very clever lyrics, which when they are sung by two stars of this magnitude then they are always going to sound tremendous.
Madonna is a pop artist, and that never could be denied, but I would never had put any of her tracks in the 'bubblegum pop' genre until I heard the catchy 'Til Death Us Do Part'. It is an upbeat tale of a couple who have fallen out of love and trying to make the best of a bad situation, which mirrored Madonna's own personal situation, as her marriage to Sean Penn had crashed and burned not long before this album was released. As this was the case, I am surprised that the album only had this song which touched on the subject of the split.
Most fans will know that Madonna's mother died when she was young, and the track 'Promise To Try' is a tribute to her. A beautiful ballad, which lets us see Madonna open up a little. The words, the music and the mood make for a very powerful track. For me, there are certain songs which remind me of hot sunny summer days, and 'Cherish' is one of those. Another update pop tune, which has also dated very well. Like some of the songs I have mentioned, this also had an unforgettable video, and featured a beautiful child on an idyllic beach with Madonna and her cropped blonde hair.
'Dear Jessie' is a song which I love if it catches me in the right mood, but if I am feeling even the slightest bit irritable then it grinds on me big time! It is the kind of song I would play to my daughter and I just know that she would love it! There has already been a song for her mother on this album, and there is also one for her father. 'Oh Father' is not a tribute though, and it paints a very dark picture of a childhood without a mother. Here I think Madonna's voice is at it's best. The songs starts off sounding very much like Dear Jessie, but then the piano kicks in, and the tempo slows down, the mood darkens, and a song which always affects me rises out. The lyrics are so telling...'you can't hurt me now, I got away from, I never thought I would, you can't make me cry, you once had the power, I never felt so good about myself. It is strong stuff, but so so good, and the musical arrangement only adds to the strength of the track. A classic.
In case that has left you feeling a bit flat, then 'Keep It Together' is the perfect antidote. A well tried formula of pop and simple lyrics proves to be a winner time and time again, and this track is no exception. It is about the bond that families have, and how you need to make sure that you keep your family close as they are 'gold'.'Pray For Spanish Eyes' is very much in the same vein as La Isla Bonita, although it is notably slower, and in case you had not guessed by the title, then it has a big Mediterranean influence in it, but it just not hit the spot where I am concerned, and at times, especially the chorus, Madonna sounds quite hoarse. Final track 'Act Of Contrition' is the lowest point on the album, and it is a shame it was included. It is a mix of talking....backwards, and this means that the album does not end on the high that it should.
There you go, that is my take on this album. I love it, and as many of you know, for a rock fan those are hard words to say, and I would urge you to buy it even if it only for 'Like A Prayer' and 'Love Song'. Since then, I think on 'Music' has even come close to the standard set by this album.
More Reviews
Classic Album Review ofLike A Prayer - Madonnaby
LostWitness
Advantages: Full of great tracks Disadvantages: Forget the last two songs!
Like A Prayer is by far and away my favourite album by Madonna, and probably rates as one of my favourite albums of all time. Before you dismiss my music tastes immediately, I shall try to explain some of the reasons why I like the album so much.
Like A Prayer was released in 1989 at a time when pop music was struggling a bit. The charts had been taken over by the various signings of the Stock Aitken and Waterman camp, most notably by Kylie Minogue. ... ...1. The title track, Like A Prayer, had been heralded in a blaze of publicity - which I am sure was what Madonna and her record company wanted. The video, sponsored by Pepsi, featured a busty brunette Madonna cavorting with a black Jesus amidst burning crosses and gospel singers. It was an exciting video - and an epic song. It is probably my favourite track on the album because it complements Madonna's voice so well, and I love the arrangement. The ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: entertaining and enyjoyable Disadvantages: you have to buy it
...‘Like a Prayer’. Like a prayers material is varied from song to song and shows her true feelings and emotions. It was her first break from teenybopper pop that she had been doing before into controversial issues and she really does ‘express herself’. So what makes this album so good? Lets have a look… 1: Like a Prayer (5.51) This song when released caused a huge stir. It was meant to originally be on a Pepsi advert. ... ...Over al the song sounds like one big struggle. It is about a bad patch in a relationship when you are not sure if the person is just playing with you or trying not to hurt you. Its not very good and I normally skip this song to one of the better songs on the album. 4: Death Do Us Part This is one of my favourite songs on the album. Its about a marriage that has gone wrong. He doesn’t love her anymore and she loves him too much to leave. It ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: absolutely everything Disadvantages: nothing, its madonna
Critically acclaimed, massively popular, this album literally caused a massive stir, not only for its wonderful songs with their meaningful lyrics, but for its blatant blasphemy(well, this is Madonna I'm talking about). This album is one of those rare ones, where every track is as good as the singles released.
First on the album is the title, "Like a Prayer". No one could possibly do justice to the overwhelming grandeur that is this song, and not ... ...toward her confusion(to put it nicely) toward the Catholic church. The video is equally breathtaking, while it courts bad publicity, it is in itself a faultless piece of cinematic art.
Whew. So that being over, the rest of the album moves along seamlessly. "Express Yourself" is a lively, purely pop song, demonstrating "girl power" way before the Spices. Difficult subjects are dealt with aplomb, divorce in "Till Death Do Us Part", child abuse in ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: classic tracks such as Like A Prayer, Cherish etc. Disadvantages: Love Song with Prince is a bit disappointing
...I was able to get Like A Prayer for free, and it's much more satisfying. For me, Like A Prayer is Madonna at her most confident, and there's a great mix of traditional upbeat Madonna songs as well as contemplative ballads and more experimental tracks. The lyrics are also more intelligent than on Music, and seem to reveal a lot more about Madonna herself. Here's the track listing:
1. Like A Prayer - one of my favourite Madonna singles of all time, ... ...heard it, this track sounded like very simple play it by numbers pop, but the lyrics are actually about Madonna's marriage to Sean Penn and are quite dark. Gets better and better the more you listen to it and is reminiscent to me of the late, great Dubstar.
5. Promise To Try - a song about dealing with her mother's death, the lyrics are again powerful and moving and the musical arrangement is understated. One of her best ballads ever, I would say.
...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: A fantastic, personal, truly fascinating album Disadvantages: Two tracks on the album kind of let it down
...laugh it cuts me just like a knife, I'm not your friend, I'm just your little wife'.. despite the subject matter being this way, the song is extremely upbeat and it is fascinating to listen to.
'Promise to Try'... A very beautiful ballad, about Madonna's Mother...very touching.
'Dear Jessie'.. This song is fantastic, the lyrics are wonderful and very childlike, although it seems Madonna has had too much sherry trifle, this really is a cute and ... ...and violins galore... My daughter loves it!
'Oh Father'... This rather dark but very moving ballad seems to be about Madonna growing up and her feelings towards her father, and it seems rather as if she directs it at her religion aswell... The piano is gorgeous in this song and the whole piece just tugs at the heart strings.
'Keep it Together'.... What can I say?? A fantastic dance record that speaks about family values and their importance.. fantastic ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: great original music Disadvantages: not enough songs!
...This is another excellent album from Madonna, who appears not to be able to do anything wrong as far as music is concerned. From Like A Prayer (with the exception of Bedtime Stories) every album she has produced has been better thean the previous one and this is no exception. The title track, Music, is a wonderfully addictive mix of synthesiser and pop, which gets better with each listen. All the other tracks are equally upbeat and fresh sounding, leaving an album that is great for playing in the car or at parties. Go for this one, and here's to the next Madonna albuM!!...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: almost all tracks are classics Disadvantages: Justify My Love, Rescue Me
...This CD has always been one I planned to get but I'm ashamed to say that I only bought it a few weeks ago.
Within the first listen I was hooked and it isn’t an exaggeration to say it has barely left my CD player since. I was able to rediscover classic songs like ‘Holiday’, ‘Lucky Star’ and ‘Vogue’ and remember just how good they are, as well as my favourite ‘Like a Prayer’. The album covers her best hits from ‘Holiday’ in 1984 to ‘Vogue’ in 1990, and it’s amazing the different styles on the album from the emotion of ‘Crazy For You’ to the Spanish influenced ‘La Isla Bonita’ and the gospel tinged ‘Like a Prayer’, proving that Madonna’s constant reinvention is nothing new.
Madonna is probably the most famous...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: sensational songs Disadvantages: no faults
...When you think of Madonna's music you probably think of three periods. The first being the eighties and early nineties which is covered by this CD, the second being the early to mid nineties when her musical direction was heavily criticised by the media for its sexual overtone, and the third being the late nineties where her music was once again embraced by the masses thanks to her hugely successful "Ray Of Light" album. This CD covers the first period which was amazingly fruitful for Madonna and covers the disco days of the early eighties with tracks like "Holiday" and "Lucky Star", "Like A Virgin", "Material Girl" and "Into The Groove". The album then proceeds into a number of more pop based hits such as "Live To Tell" and "Papa Don't Preach" and ends with a more dance based sound on tracks like "Like A Prayer", "Express Yourself...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Immaculate Collection (The Best Of Madonna) - Madonna
Product details
Title: Like A Prayer
Performer: Madonna
Genre: Rock & Pop
Release Date: 03/1994
Recomended Retail Price: 10.99 GBP
Original Release Year: 1989
Label / Distributor: Sire / Cinram Logistics
Engineer: Bill Bottrell
Pieces in Set: 1
Studio / Live: Studio
Stereo: Stereo
Format: Performer
EAN: 75992584425
Catalogue Number: 7599258442
SPAR code: DDD
Additional notes
Album Notes: Personnel: Madonna (vocals, keyboards); Chester Kamen, David Williams, Dann Huff, Bruce Gaitsch, Marcos Loya (guitar); Larry Corbett (cello); Patrick Leonard, Jai Winding, Stephen Bray, Geary Lanier (keyboards); Joseph Mayer, Richard Todd (French horn); Guy Pratt, Randy Jackson (bass); Jonathan Moffett, Jeff Porcaro, John Robinson (drums); Luis Conte, Paulinho da Costa, Sandra Crouch (percussion); Niki Harris, Marilyn Martin, Donna Delory, Ali Nadirah, Lynne Fiddmont, Rose Banks, Marcos Loya, Andrae Crouch Choir (background vocals). Producers: Madonna, Pat Leonard, Stephen Bray, Prince. Recorded at Johnny Yuma Recording, Burbank, California; Saturn Sound, Sherman Oaks, California; Ocean Way Recording, Los Angeles, California; Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, Minnesota. Madonna's exquisite sense of the pop song, and suitably stylish aesthetic to match, was pushed to the hilt for 1989's LIKE A PRAYER. Sporting a bare midriff and a stylishly dark bob, she immediately set the Moral Majority up in arms with the title track's video, depicting, among other things, a black Christ and a hillside of burning crosses. The song, however, was as strong and as dazzling as the images. Before deciding on utilizing a constant barrage of public sexuality over songs, Madonna made great records. Highlights here include the sexy bubble-gum of "Cherish" and the delightful "Express Yourself." Great pop to go.
Album Reviews: Rolling Stone (10/31/02, p.136) - Ranked # 16 in Rolling Stone's "Women in Rock: The 50 Essential Albums" NME (9/25/93, p.19) - Ranked #44 in NME's list of the `50 Greatest Albums Of The '80s.' NME (10/2/93, p.29) - Ranked #91 in NME's list of the `Greatest Albums Of All Time.'
Titles on disc 1
1.: Like A Prayer
2.: Love Song
3.: Promise To Try
4.: Dear Jessie
5.: Keep It Together
6.: Act Of Contrition
7.: Express Yourself
8.: Till Death Do Us Part
9.: Cherish
10.: Oh Father
11.: Spanish Eyes
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