Like a Prayer is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriterMadonna, released on March 21, 1989, bySire Records. It saw the singer reunited withPatrick Leonard andStephen Bray, with whom she had collaborated on her previous studio albumTrue Blue (1986), and thesoundtrack to the 1987 filmWho's That Girl; artistPrince also collaborated on the record, co-writing and co-producing one of the tracks alongside Madonna. Her most introspective release at the time,Like a Prayer is apop record with elements ofrock anddance-pop. Its lyrics deal with personal themes she had been too afraid to approach on previous albums: herCatholic upbringing, her troubled marriage to actorSean Penn, the death of her mother, and her relationship with her father.

Like a Prayer
Studio album by Madonna
Released	March 21, 1989
Recorded	September 1988 – January 1989
Studio	Johnny Yuma Recording, Burbank Saturn Sound, Sherman Oaks Ocean Way, Hollywood Paisley Park,Chanhassen
Genre	Pop
Length	51:16
Label	Sire Warner Bros.
Producer	Madonna Patrick Leonard Stephen Bray Prince
Madonna chronology
You Can Dance (1987) Like a Prayer (1989) I'm Breathless (1990)
Madonna studio chronology
True Blue (1986) Like a Prayer (1989) Erotica (1992)
Singles from Like a Prayer
"Like a Prayer" Released: March 3, 1989 "Express Yourself" Released: May 9, 1989 "Cherish" Released: August 1, 1989 "Oh Father" Released: October 24, 1989 "Dear Jessie" Released: December 4, 1989 "Keep It Together" Released: January 31, 1990

Upon its release,Like a Prayer received universal acclaim from music critics, who praised its introspective tone, cohesiveness, and Madonna's increasedartistic merit. It was also an international success, reaching the top of the charts in 20 countries, and was certifiedquadruple platinum in the United States by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Worldwide, it has sold over 15 million copies. Six singles were released from the album: thetitle track became Madonna's seventh number one hit on theUSBillboard Hot 100, while "Express Yourself" and "Cherish" both peaked at number two, and "Keep It Together" became a top-ten hit.

The album was promoted on Madonna's third concert tour, 1990'sBlond Ambition World Tour, which visited cities in Asia, North America, and Europe. In retrospective reviews,Like a Prayer has been noted as a turning point in Madonna's career; she began to be seen as a serious artist rather than a mere pop star. Critics and authors also pointed out influence from the album on the work of modern female singers. Often referred to as one of the greatest albums of all time,Like a Prayer has been included in several musical reference books and best-of lists, includingRolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

1988 was a quiet year on the recording front for Madonna. Following the lack of critical and commercial success of her 1987 filmWho's That Girl, she acted in theBroadway productionSpeed-the-Plow. However, unfavorable reviews once again caused her discomfort. Her marriage to actorSean Penn ended and the couple filed for divorce in January 1989.^[2] Madonna had also turned 30, the same age at which her mother had died, and thus experienced more emotional turmoil.^[3] "I wouldn't say [turning 30] was traumatic [...] [but] [it] was the age my mother was [when she died]. I just flipped because I kept thinking, 'I'm now outliving my mother'", she recalled.^[4]

As the new decade was approaching, the "greed is good" mentality of the mid-1980s was starting to fade away because of theBlack Monday. The rise ofrap acts likePublic Enemy andRun-DMC, andGrunge precursors likeFaith No More andJane's Addiction, created a change in the public's mood; Madonna came to the conclusion that she had to move away from teen appeal and the "commercial gloss" of her previous works if she wanted to reach more mature audiences and create longevity in the music industry.^[5] She wanted her new sound to be "instinctive rather than calculating", and knew her next record had to be "vibrant, challenging, and different".^[5][6]

Realizing that it was time to show a "darker, more spiritual side" of her, Madonna took a "more sophisticated approach"; she revealed that, "in the past I wrote a lot of songs that [revealed my inner self], but I felt they were too honest or too frightening or too scary and I decided not to record them".^[7][8] Thoughtfully, she sifted through her personal journals and diaries, and began considering her options. She had certain matters on her mind, including her troubled relationship with Penn, her family, the loss of her mother, and even her belief in God; "What was it I wanted to say? I wanted [the album] to speak to things on my mind", she explained.^[9]

According to author Mark Bego, a lot of the "somberness" onLike a Prayer stemmed from what Madonna was going through while she was in New York working onSpeed-the-Plow.^[11] The role, which she described as "incredibly draining and spiritually depressing", as well as the play's introspective themes, caused her feelings of "frustration and despair".^[11][12] She was upset and dealing with a lot of sadness that she hadn't felt in a long time.^[11] She went on to say that, whereas her previous albums came from the "little girl" in her, interested only in "being entertaining and charming and frivolous",Like a Prayer is the "adult side [of me], which is concerned with being brutally honest".^[3][13] The record drew its title from Catholicism's influence on Madonna's early life, as well as her struggles with religion; "the theme [of Catholicism] runs rampant [on the album] [...] It's me struggling with the mystery and magic that surrounds it. My own Catholicism is in constant upheaval", she said.^[14][15]

For the album, Madonna chose to work withStephen Bray andPatrick Leonard, with whom she had collaborated on her previous studio albumTrue Blue (1986), and theWho's That Girlsoundtrack (1987).^[10][16] Both Bray and Leonard wanted to bring their unique style to the project, and developed different musical ideas to present to Madonna; Bray's approach was more "kinetic" anddance pop-oriented, while Leonard's focused more on melodies.^[9] Madonna was aware of the contrast between the producers' work, but never did anything to deter them, as she felt tension was "good for creativity and business".^[9] It was Leonard who convinced Madonna to create songs that were "intensely emotional experiences".^[17] His way of work was "completely intellectual", whereas Madonna relied more on instinct.^[18] He would create the music while she worked on the lyrics; "[Pat] puts together these really strangechord progressions and these really greattime signatures [...] I'd start singing words to it and making them fit", the singer explained.^[18] All the songs had one common theme: Madonna's Catholicism, her family and relationships.^[19]

Title track "Like a Prayer" was the first song Madonna and Leonard worked on; once she had conceptualized the way she would interpose her ideas with Leonard's music, she wrote the lyrics in about three hours.^[20][21] "Promise to Try" followed the same dynamic: Madonna sang as Leonard played piano.^[21] In just two weeks, they had created "Like a Prayer", "Till Death Do Us Part", "Promise to Try", "Cherish", "Dear Jessie", and "Spanish Eyes".^[22] Leonard recalled that they only wrote songs that would be included on the final track list; "[we] wrote a song a day, and we didn't change them [...] that's it. A few hours and they were done".^[10] Despite this mentality, they created other songs: "Supernatural" ―issued asB-side on the "Cherish" single―, "Just a Dream" ―given to Madonna's back-up singerDonna De Lory for herdebut album―, and "Angels with Dirty Faces";^[10][23][24] in 2019, Leonard uploaded some of the demos he worked on with Madonna toYouTube.^[25]

Madonna's sessions with Bray were similar; he would send herdemos and they would get together and work on the ones she'd approve.^[26] Bray would come up with a verse or chorus and, alongside Madonna, created thebridge.^[22] As with Leonard, the singer was in charge of the lyrics and intervened in the final touches; "I've always done the ribcage and the skeleton of the songs, she's there for the last things like the eyebrows and the haircut", noted Bray.^[26] The songs they came up with were "Express Yourself", "Keep It Together", "First is a Kiss", and "Love Attack"; these last two, however, were scrapped from the track list as they didn't align with the album's "confessional" mood.^[22]

Prince also worked on the album. He and Madonna met at the1985 American Music Awards and quickly became friends.^[27] They talked about collaborating multiple times, and even considered writing amusical together.^[11] Madonna flew to Prince'sPaisley Park studios where they created several songs, but none were ever completed.^[11][28] Sessions were messy, as the two artists had different personalities: Madonna was more organized while Prince liked things "mercurial and improvisational".^[29] Madonna then went back to Los Angeles to start rehearsals forSpeed-the-Plow; some time later, Prince went to New York see a performance of the play and gave the singer a rough tape with the songs they had recorded over the phone.^[27] "Love Song" was one of the songs on the tape, as well as the only one Madonna liked.^[28][30] Despite wanting to get together to complete the track, Madonna and Prince ended up working long distance, sending each other tapes back and forth;^[30] "it was great. It was a completely different way to work", recalled Madonna.^[18] Prince also played guitar on "Like a Prayer", "Keep It Together", and "Act of Contrition", though he remained uncredited.^[18][31]

Recording took place at Los Angeles' Johnny Yuma, Saturn Sound and Ocean Way Recording studios, and Prince's Paisley Park, from September 1988 to January 1989.^[17][32] As it was an album with "so bleak an outlook", sessions were generally very focused; they took place mainly at Johnny Yuma, the studio Madonna and Leonard built with the incomes fromTrue Blue.^[6] According to authorLucy O'Brien, Madonna was a "new woman in the studio"; she had clear knowledge not only of the instrumentation, but knew how to articulate and achieve the sounds she heard in her head.^[33] Leonard recalled that Madonna usually works fast, but due to its emotional tone, it took her "maybe three or four times as long to make [Like a Prayer] because she kept breaking down".^[3] As it was the second time she produced an album, Madonna felt she had to "prove to everyone [it] wasn't a fluke", and would get into fights with Leonard.^[33] The producer recalled that during one of their arguments, the singer held up theTrue Blue cover and shouted at him, 'Whose picture is that?'; the fights stopped from there on.^[17]

Unlike her previous albums,Like a Prayer was recorded in the studio with live musicians, rather thanoverdubbing the vocals on top of the finished music.^[34] It also used a "greater proportion" of live first takes.^[3] Madonna recalled that it was the first time that she was in the same room as the musicians, which she considered a "more integral" approach to the music, and resulted in "more emotional [and] spontaneous" vocals.^[19] Leonard, who had experience recording with live musicians, explained the recording process: He and Madonna would write the songs, record the demos, and replace thedrum machines andpercussions with real musicians; they then would add background singers and guitar players.^[10] He described the process as "personal, not the product of big songwriting teams".^[17]

Musicians working onLike a Prayer includedBruce Gaitsch,Jonathan Moffett,Jeff Porcaro, Jain Winding, andGuy Pratt; the latter had met Leonard through his work withBryan Ferry.^[6][32] The title track originally featuredbongos andLatin percussion, but were quickly discarded; Madonna then decided to add achurch organ and achoir.^[20]Andraé Crouch and hisgospel choir, who had worked with artists likeStevie Wonder,Chaka Khan, andQuincy Jones, were hired. They accepted the offer after analyzing the lyrics; "we're very particular in choosing what we work with, and we liked what we heard", recalled Crouch.^[35] When recording, Madonna encouraged all present in the studio to "surrender themselves to passionate abandon".^[17] Leonard was asked to work on "Love Song" but, being a Prince fan, found himself shaken and "overawed"; nonetheless, he was happy to work on "Keep It Together".^[17] "Cherish" reunited Madonna with backup singers Donna De Lory andNiki Haris, with whom she worked on 1987'sWho's That Girl World Tour. De Lory recalled the sessions: "[We] worked on it until we were really tight [...] [Madonna] knew exactly what she wanted and how to break it down”.^[17]

Initially planned to be recorded with anorchestra, "Promise to Try" was done with a piano and aquartet, and Madonna's "naked" voice.^[36] The orchestra was used for "Oh Father"; the singer and Leonard worked on the track in "this really dingy awful little studio" in New York'sGarment District.^[36] First, they recorded Madonna's vocals; then the orchestra, and ended things up with adoubletracking.^[10]

Like a Prayer is an album that bends "classicpsychedelic rock with then-currentsynth-pop sounds".^[37] It has been noted apop record withrock anddance elements, with influence from acts from the 1960s and 70s such asthe Beatles,Simon & Garfunkel, andSly and the Family Stone.^[38][15] As Madonna's most personal and introspective album up to the time, its lyrics talk, in her own words, about "the influence of Catholicism on my life, and the passion it provokes in me [...] They're about an assimilation of experiences I had in my life and in relationships. They're about my mother, my father, and bonds with my family, about the pain of dying, of growing up and letting go".^[39][40]

Opener "Like a Prayer" is a song about a young woman "so in love with God that it is almost as though he were the male figure in her life".^[15] It is apop rock song with elements ofgospel music; a choir provides background vocals that heighten the song's spiritual nature, and a rock guitar keeps the music "dark and mysterious".^[3] The second track, "Express Yourself", is one of the album's two tributes to Sly and the Family Stone.^[8] It talks about rejecting material pleasures and only accepting the best for oneself; throughout the song,subtexts are employed.^[24] "Love Song" is a duet with Prince that begins with Madonna asking in French, "I'm ready, are you ready?".^[24] The track has been compared to the work ofEddie Kendricks andthe Temptations; Prince provides "Jimmy Nolen funk guitar[s] andfalsetto vocals", singing both in his upper and lower registers.^[24] Originally titled "State of Matrimony", fourth track "Till Death Do Us Part" is an "autobiographical account of [Madonna's] ill-fated marriage to Penn".^[28] It is a fast tempo track that expresses the conflict of being in love with someone who doesn't love themselves, and ends with the sound ofwah-wah guitars and broken glass.^[24]

"Promise to Try" is a moody ballad that talks about the death of Madonna's mother. The piano arrangement in the song is reminiscent of the work ofElton John, and has acello solo towards theBridge. In one part of the song, Madonna specifically asks:Does she hear my voice in the night when I call? Later, an adult seems to admonish a child with the lyrics,Little girl, don't you forget her face/Don't let memory play games with your mind/She's a faded smile frozen in time.^[24][37][42] The sixth track is "Cherish". Built around the themes of love and relationship, withWilliam Shakespeare'sRomeo and Juliet being one of the major inspirations, the song includes a line from "Cherish" (1966) bythe Association.^[41] The lyrics illustrate it as a simple love song, where Madonna talks about devotion and having her lover by her side, whom she would never leave.^[43] Following "Cherish" is "Dear Jessie"; according to Rikky Rooksby, the song sounds more like a children'slullaby than a pop song.^[41] The lyrics encourage the little girl Jessie to use her imagination; it summons up a psychedelic landscape, where pink elephants roam with dancing moons and mermaids. It references fairy-tale characters and creates an image of children playing with each other.^[44]

"Oh Father" is abaroque pop ballad that talks about Madonna's troubled relationship with her father Tony during her childhood.^[41][45] She described it as the "second half" ofTrue Blue's "Live to Tell", and is her tribute to Simon & Garfunkel.^[8] She uses a contrast of timbre, her higher smoother voice with a lower one. in the vocal bridge, Madonna talks about the realization that her father never meant to hurt her, and why she runs away.^[41] Described as Madonna's take onSister Sledge's "We Are Family" (1979), "Keep It Together" is the other tribute to Sly and the Family Stone;^[8][46] afunk-inspired number with doubletracked vocals on the refrain, she sings about the importance of family, and mentions that "blood is thicker than any circumstance".^[8][37] "Spanish Eyes" is a slow, sombre track that features instrumentation fromcastanets, and revisits the Spanish vibe of 1987's "La Isla Bonita".^[41] It has been described a "cross betweenBen E. King's 'Spanish Harlem' and something byBilly Joel".^[47] Its lyrics are ambiguous and have been subject to various interpretations: AIDS, a Hispanic mother's lament over the death of her son due to gang violence, or someone going off to fight in a war.^[37][41][48] Closer "Act of Contrition" is an experimental song with psychedelic tones;^[49] it begins with a "whispered invocation" and features distorted guitar and backward tracking of a gospel choir. It has Madonna reciting the Catholic prayerof the same name, before the vocals deteriorate into a monologue in which she grows obstreperous over being denied a restaurant reservation.^[50][51]

ForLike a Prayer, Madonna adopted a new image; she dyed her blonde hair dark, wore well-worn jeans, multiple rings on her fingers, garnet-encrusted crucifixes, a string of colored beads and glass gemstones around her neck.^[52] This new look was described as "very sixties" and a "cross between [a] gypsy and [a] hippie" by Mark Bego and Adam Sexton, respectively.^[52][53] It was Madonna's first studio album that didn't feature her face on the front cover.^[54] Shot byHerb Ritts, it depicts aclose-up of the singer's crotch and hands; the first two buttons of her fly are undone and her fingers, adorned with rings and beads, hold down the top of her jeans.^[12][48][52] According to O'Brien, the cover was inspired by Madonna's mother, who used to cover up herSacred Heart statue with zip-up jeans each time a woman came to visit.^[17] Critics have compared the artwork to that ofSticky Fingers (1971) bythe Rolling Stones, which shows a close-up ofMick Jagger's crotch, andBorn in the U.S.A. (1984) byBruce Springsteen.^{[28][46][52][55]} Writing for theSan Francisco Examiner, Barry Walters noted that the artwork sees Madonna "virtually exposing herself", while forAttitude's Matthew Burton, "for a woman whose album and single artwork had been so inextricably linked with her face, [Like a Prayer] announced a new kind of Madonna".^[48][54] On CD editions, the album's back cover shows ablack and white image of Madonna dancing with a flowing purple chiffon top, while the photograph used on the inner sleeve shows a dark-haired Madonna in a praying pose. The vinyl editions used the "praying" picture as the back cover, and the "dancing" one on the inner sleeve.^[12][54]

On January 24, 1989,Billboard reported thatLike a Prayer would be released on February 28;^[56]The Albany Herald, however, reported the release date would be March 15.^[57]Billboard then informed on February 11 that the album would be sent to radios on March 17, and released four days later.^[58] Bray toldThe Lewiston Journal that the public would be "very surprised" at the album's personal tone; "anyone expecting but get up and boogie will be most disappointed". There were reports that label executives were "biting their nails" at howLike a Prayer would be received, but these claims were soon refuted; "it's going to be a significant album [...] sure it's deep stuff, but it's not obscure or gratuitously arty", declared Bob Merlis, publicity chief for Warner Bros.^[16] On March 2, Spain'sCadena SER managed to play three of the album's tracks: "Like a Prayer", "Love Song", and "Act of Contrition". Rafael Revert, SER's music manager, explained that the leaks did not come from WEA.^[59] Bettina Bose, general manager to WEA Spain, revealed that SER got areel-to-reel recording from Mexico, which was copied from a raw factory tape.^[59] A similar situation occurred in Chicago: On March 15, two days before radio distribution, Ric Lippincott from Z-95 radio station began airing the album on its entirety. Warner Bros sent the station acease and desist and tried unsuccessfully to contact Lippincott, who revealed that he didn't think it was a legit court order, but a "strong request" from the label. The source of the leak remained unknown.^[60]

Like a Prayer was officially released on March 21, 1989.^[28][61] Initial pressings were scented withpatchouli oil to give the album a "church-type feel".^[62] "[Madonna] wanted to create a flavor of the '60s and the church. She wanted to create a sensual feeling you could hear and smell", a spokesperson for Warner Bros. explained.^[28] The "final serious component" to the album was afactsheet aboutsafe sex andHIV/AIDS.^[12][28] Noting that it is an "equal opportunity disease", and that "people with AIDS – regardless of their sexual orientation – deserve compassion and support", it marked the first time a mainstream artist had ever included AIDS-related information within a product.^[12][60]Attitude's Matthew Barton saw this as "further proof of Madonna's commitment to, and understanding of,LGBT issues".^[54] To commemorate the album's 30th anniversary, a "devoted playlist" was made available on March 21, 2019; it included the original track list ―with the exception of "Promise to Try" and "Act of Contrition"―, remixed versions of the singles, and the previously unreleased "Supernatural".^[63]

To market the album, WEA spent over $2 million, their most expensive campaign up that point.^[59] Promotional items included different sized posters of the cover and the photograph of Madonna used on the inner sleeve, andbadges depicting the logo. Three days before the official release, custom madepress kits with a promotional pre-release CD were sent to the media.^[59] A patchouli-scented photograph of Madonna's bare midriff with the slogans "It Shall Be Released" and "Lead Us Into Temptation" was featured on the spread ofBillboard magazine.^[62] In August 1989, to promoteLike a Prayer in Japan, Warner Music released anextended play titledRemixed Prayers, which included several remixes of "Like a Prayer" and "Express Yourself";^[64] it peaked at number 24 on theOricon chart.^[65] The EP was exclusively for Japan until December 1993, when it was released in Australia to coincide with Madonna's visit to the country withthe Girlie Show concert tour.Remixed Prayers reached number 92 on theARIA Albums Chart, where it was present for three weeks.^[66]

On September 6, 1989, Madonna opened theMTV Video Music Awards with a performance of second single "Express Yourself".^[67] She wore an ensemble consisting of baggy pants, a bustier and amonocle, and was joined by Donna De Lory and Niki Haris.^[68][69] The number began with the singer descending from a flight of stairs; she then removes her coat to reveal the bustier and, together with Haris and De Lory, did a dance routine calledvoguing.^[70] The performance received positive reviews from critics;Rolling Stone named it Madonna's best, and placed it among the best opening numbers in the show's history.^[69][71] Author Ian Inglis singled out the "provocatively choreographed, dance production number" that went on to "highlight the 'TV' part of MTV, and in a way heralded [Madona] and the network as a cultural arbiter".^[70]

Like a Prayer was further promoted on 1990'sBlond Ambition World Tour, Madonna's third concert tour.^[72] Originally planned as the Like a Prayer World Tour, it kicked off on April 13 inChiba, Japan, and concluded on August 5 inNice, France.^[73][74] The concert was divided into five different thematic segments:Metropolis,Religious,Dick Tracy,Art Deco, and finally, anencore.^[73] The art direction was by Madonna's brotherChristopher Ciccone, while the costumes were created by French fashion designerJean-Paul Gaultier.^[75][73] Blond Ambition was awarded "Most Creative Stage Production" award at thePollstar Concert Industry Awards, and grossed US$62.7 million ($150.9 million in 2024 dollars).^[76][77][78] The tour was subject to controversy due to its sexual and Catholic imagery;Pope John Paul II urged the general public and the Christian community not to attend the concerts, referring to the tour as "one of the most satanic shows in the history of humanity".^[79] In Toronto, the police threatened to arrest Madonna over the performance of "Like a Virgin" (1984), which featured her simulatingmasturbation. Nevertheless, the show went on unaltered.^[80]

Title track "Like a Prayer" was released aslead single on March 3, 1989.^[81] Acclaimed by music critics, who deemed it one of Madonna's best, it became her seventh number one on the USBillboard Hot 100, remaining in that position for three consecutive weeks.^[82][83] It was a global success, reaching number one in Canada, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland.^[84] The accompanyingmusic video, directed byMary Lambert, sees Madonna withstigmata on her palms, dancing in front ofburning crucifixes and praying to a crying statue of a black saint, who comes to life and seduces her.^[83] TheVatican condemned the visual, while family and religious groups protested against its broadcast.^[15][85]

Released on May 9, second single "Express Yourself" received positive reviews from critics, who applauded its gender equality message and deemed it a hymn to freedom and encouragement to women and oppressed minorities.^[86][87][88] Commercially, the song peaked at number two on the Hot 100 and reached the first spot of theEuropean Hot 100 Singles chart.^[89][90]David Fincher directed the music video, which was inspired by theFritz Lang classic filmMetropolis (1927). With a budget of $5 million ($12.68 million in 2024 dollars^[78]), it was the most expensive music video made up at the time. The visual shows a city full of tall skyscrapers and railway lines; Madonna plays two characters: a masculineMarlene Dietrich-like persona, and a submissive wife chained half naked to a bed.^[91] Critics noted that the video's depiction of female sexuality and Madonna's masculine image wasgender-bending.^[92]

"Cherish" was released asLike a Prayer's third single on August 1, 1989.^[93] It was well received by critics, who were surprised by the change of content and the music's lighter tone in contrast to the previous singles.^[94][95] In the United States, the single peaked at number two on the Hot 100, giving Madonna the record for the most consecutive top-five singles by any act, with 16.^[89] "Cherish" reached the first spot of theAdult Contemporary chart.^[96] Herb Ritts directed the music video, which depicts the singer in a beach interacting withmermen.^[97][98] "Oh Father" was released on October 24.^[99] It was less successful than its predecessors, peaking at number 20 in the Hot 100 and ending Madonna's streak of 16 consecutive top five singles and 17 consecutive top ten singles.^[100] Critics reacted positively towards the track, highlighting its confessional nature.^[46] The music video, directed by Fincher, was reportedly inspired by Madonna's memories of her own mother's funeral and shows a little girl stepping up to view her mother's coffin only to find the dead woman's lips have been sewn shut.^[91]

Released on December 4, "Dear Jessie" reached the top 5 in the United Kingdom and Ireland;^{[101][102][103]} it was not released in America.^[104] Critics compared the track to the work of the Beatles.^[15][47] The music video combines live action and animation, portraying a young girl waking up in bed and interacting with fantasy characters.^[105][106] "Keep It Together" was the final single fromLike a Prayer, released on January 31, 1990.^[107] In Australia, it was released on March 20 as adouble A side with "Vogue".^[108] It peaked at number 8 on theBillboard Hot 100, becoming Madonna's 18th top-ten hit in the United States, breaking the record previously held byAretha Franklin as the female solo artist with the most top-tens in history.^[89][109]

Like a Prayer received universal acclaim from critics.^[122][123]AllMusic'sStephen Thomas Erlewine deemed it Madonna's "best and most consistent album", and applauded its "kaleidoscopic variety of pop styles".^[38] Barry Walters also named it the singer's best and most consistent; the author noted the record covers "more stylistic and emotional grounds" than Madonna's previous works, and goes beyond "being merely a great assembly of future singles". Walters concluded that, unlike other records from the time,Like a Prayer "truly holds together [as an album]" by "deliberately and quite effectively juxtapos[ing] moods and messages". He ended his review on a glowing note: "[This] is the album where Madonna crossed the boundary between craft and inspiration. From the start, she's had an intuitive grasp of how to put on a good show. Now she's got the guts to show us what she has inside".^[48] For Don McCleesee from theChicago Sun-Times, "this is Madonna's best album, and for those who think that such an assertion is damning with faint praise, it's a very good album by the standards of any popular artist".^[110] InBillboard's review,Like a Prayer was named "less accessible than [Madonna's] previous efforts, but [is] ultimately her most satisfying, lyrically and musically".^[124] In the same vein, Rikky Rooksby said it was her "most engaging [and] listenable".^[3] ForBlender's Tony Power,Like a Prayer is Madonna's "most touching, least strident record".^[115]

Daryl Easlea, author ofMadonna: Blond Ambition, described it as a "personal work of great beauty, and one that delves deep into Madonna's soul. [It is] her most accomplished and audacious [album]".^[6] In a similar note,J. D. Considine fromRolling Stone expressed: "Daring in its lyrics, ambitious in its sonics, this is far and away the most self-consciously serious album she's made". He went on to hailLike a Prayer, "as close to art as pop music gets [...] proof not only that Madonna should be taken seriously as an artist but that hers is one of the most compelling voices of the Eighties".^[94]Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani said it was one of the "quintessential pop albums of all time", and highlighted its "sophisticated arrangements, deeply felt lyrics, and [Madonna]'s stronger, more assured vocals".^[125] The staff ofThe New York Times noted that, "[she] has never sung with more feeling".^[52]USA Today's Edna Gundersen elaborated: "Madonna's voice will never be brilliant, but she summons so much emotional intensity onLike a Prayer that the calculated come-on inLike a Virgin sounds like a disembodied chirp".^[52] InEncyclopedia Madonnica,Matthew Rettenmund singled out the "intensely personal lyrics and mature vocals".^[12]

Writing forBillboard, Kenneth Partridge considered it Madonna's "most introspective and eclectic album to date [...] funky, poignant [...] [it's] one of her most fully realized collection of songs".^[37] Jonathan Takiff fromThe Philadelphia Inquirer praised the album for being "serious and reflective, [and] at times heavily laden with psychic trauma. You might considerLike a Prayer to be [Madonna]'sMisfits... or her hour in the confessional box".^[47] Nick Levine fromVice referred to it as the singer's "first undisputed masterpiece", that proved she was a "meaningful artist, not just an uncommonly savvy and driven pop star. She bared her navel on the album's cover, and her soul in its songs".^[126] FromSpin, John Leland perceived a "strong sense of independence" throughout the album, comparing its tracks toadvice columns and adding: "Within [Like a Prayer] [...] there's a basic sense of triumph and self worth. [Madonna] expresses herself musically in ways that aren't commercial or what people would want from her [...] You won't find this sort of breadth in aJanet Jackson record".^[127] Joseph Earp from Australian websiteJunkee comparedLike a Prayer to the work of Prince; "his purple shadow is all over [...] That's not to take [it] away from Madonna, mind you. At the end of the day, this is the kind of album that only she could release — full of sweet, gasping life, from start to finish. Who else releases a record this smart?".^[128] Maura Johnston, writing forPitchfork, classiffied it as a "spectacular" album that proves "just how grand, artistic, and personal a pop star could be at the very height of her fame". Johnston also noted: "Like a Prayer showcase[s] her growth as a pop artist [...] [Madonna] takes more chances lyrically and musically, and while they don't always work, they do give a glimpse at her restlessness and increased willingness to take musical chances".^[31]

To theLos Angeles Times' Chris Willman, "her first real entry as a student in the 'confessional' school of singer/songwriters [...] Madonna's fourth is also quite a leap musically--though not always quite as great a leap as you might hope for. [...] The easy admonition of 'You can dance' has given way to 'Let the choir sing', and if [Like a Prayer] is far from a perfectly crafted transition in her development, it's a perfectly honest one".^[111] More critical was Chaz Repak fromThe Cavalier Daily; he applauded the "improved" songwriting, but wasn't convinced with the idea of a "mature Madonna", concluding: "Like a Prayer constitutes [her] best work to date. But after such work as 'Material Girl', 'Burning Up' and 'Open Your Heart', that's not saying much".^[129] FromSpin, Christian Logan Wright felt that, "talking about stuff that doesn't sit well in pop music [...] [OnLike a Prayer] your relationship to Madonna changes from to song to song, and it makes you uncomfortable. It's like sitting on a table with a friend who's telling too much about herself to people she doesn't know".^[127] One negative review came fromThe Pittsburgh Press. Peter B. King criticized the singer's vocals, lamented the lack of "catchy" songs, and wrote: "Isn't this supposed to be Madonna's much-hyped 'confessional' album? [...] As usual with [her],Like a Prayer is a lot more image than substance [...] uninspired dance-floor fodder [...] [that] goes down like flat Pepsi".^[130]

On April 8, 1989,Like a Prayer entered theBillboard 200 at number 11.^[131] It was Madonna's third studio album in a row to enter the top ten in just two weeks.^[132] On April 22, it reached the chart's first spot.^[133] Her third consecutive number one album afterLike a Virgin andTrue Blue, Madonna became the first artist to top the chart with three studio albums in a row since the Rolling Stones.^[133] It tookLike a Prayer just three weeks to reach number one, compared to the five weeks forTrue Blue and 11 weeks forLike a Virgin.^[133] It spent six weeks at the top, becoming her longest-running number one album, and a total of 77 weeks on the chart.^[134][135]Like a Prayer was eventually certifiedquadruple-platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of four million units in the US, and has sold 5 million copies as of March 2015.^[136][137] In Canada,Like a Prayer debuted on the eleventh spot of theRPM Albums Chart on April 1.^[138] Almost one month later, it peaked at number two behindThe Raw & the Cooked byFine Young Cannibals.^[139]Like a Prayer was the fourth best-selling album of 1989 in Canada, and was certified five times platinum by theCanadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) for shipments of 500,000 copies.^[140][141] It reached number one in Argentina and became one of thebest-selling international albums in Brazil, with over 700,000 units sold as of October 1993.^[142][143]

In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number one on theAlbums chart on April 1, 1989; it remained on this position for two weeks, and total of 73 on the chart.^[102] It was certified four-times platinum by theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments of 1.2 million copies and, as of June 2019, is Madonna's fourth best-seller in the country.^[144][145]Like a Prayer also topped the albums chart in France;^[146] in July 1989, it was certified platinum by theSyndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP) for shipments of 300,000 copies, and once again in 2001 for shipments of 600,000 copies.^[147] Across Europe,Like a Prayer topped the charts in Belgium, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, Portugal and Spain.^[146] In Belgium, it ended as one of the Top 5 best-selling international albums of 1989.^[148] In Germany, the album was certified three times gold by theBundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) for having shipped over 750,000 copies.^[149] Over 800,000 copies have been sold in Italy as of 2019.^[84]Like a Prayer reached the first spot of theEuropean Top 100 Albums chart;^[150] by May 1990, it had sold 5 million copies in Europe, with 3 million of which being sold in its first four-month of release.^[151][152]

In Japan,Like a Prayer reached number one on theOricon Albums Chart, and remained on the chart for 22 weeks.^[153] At the 1990Japan Gold Disc Awards held by theRecording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), Madonna won three awards for Best Album of the Year – Pops Solo, Grand Prix Album of the Year, and Grand Prix Artist of the Year; the last two were given for the best-selling international album and the best-selling international artist of the year, respectively.^[154]Like a Prayer was Madonna's sixth platinum album in Hong Kong.^[155] In Malaysia, it sold 23,000 units on its first day alone.^[156] With 60,000 copies sold in three months,Like a Prayer is one of WEA Singapore's all-time best-sellers.^[157] In Australia, the album debuted and peaked at number four on April 2, 1989, spending a total of 49 weeks on theARIA albums chart.^[158] It was the sixth best-selling album of the year, and was certified quadruple-platinum by theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipments of 280,000 copies.^[159][160] In New Zealand, the album peaked at number two behindWatermark byEnya, and was certified double platinum by theRecorded Music NZ for shipments of 30,000 copies.^[161][162]Like a Prayer has sold over 15 million copies worldwide.^[163]

According toEntertainment Weekly's Nicholas Fonseca,Like a Prayer marked an "official turning point" in Madonna's career, as it earned her "a long-awaited, substantive dose of critical acclaim".^[165] Similarly, theBBC's Mark Savage noted that it was the moment when critics first begin to consider Madonna "an artist, rather than a mere pop singer".^[166] According to author Julia Holt,Like a Prayer "made [Madonna's] critics eat their words".^[167] Kenneth G. Bielen, inThe Lyrics of Civility: Biblical Images and Popular Music Lyrics in American Culture, wrote: "Five years earlier, [Madonna] was a dance-pop 'Boy-Toy'. WithLike a Prayer, she proved she was an artist who could think with more than her body".^[168] For Annie Zaleski, it is the singer's "first truly substantial" album that separated her "chirpy club-kid days" from the "mature sounds and themes" she would go on to explore in the 1990s. She concluded that, "the album's themes of religious and sexual oppression still feel all too relevant. Madonna dictated pop's future direction while also being firmly in control of her own fortunes".^[8] In the same vein, Thomas Harrison documented that Madonna "pushed boundaries" by addressing "uncomfortable song topics" inLike a Prayer.^[169]

Writing forThe Guardian, Lucy O'Brien expressed that, by "dismantling old Catholic patriarchal messages [Madonna] created aconcept album, moving from pop stardom to artistry".^[17] To the staff ofThe Advocate, "True Blue started changing minds about Madonna, but [Like a Prayer] confirmed [she] was here to stay".^[170]Pitchfork's Cameron Cook wrote that Madonna "reshaped the role of “pop star”" withLike a Prayer, also adding that it is the record where she "not only earned her crown as the Queen of Pop, but rightfully established herself as the Mother of Reinvention".^[171] Sal Cinquemani concluded: "By the late '80s, Madonna was already one of the biggest pop stars of all time, but withLike a Prayer, she became one of the most important".^[172] FromNPR, Laura Rydell said the album led the way for a new generation of female pop singers to "express themselves", to which Liza Lentino fromSpin added that, "[Madonna] lit a blowtorch and poured taboo-based gasoline on restrictions for women in music".^[173][174]VH1's Christopher Rossa held thatLike a Prayer was the first record to "evoke what female artists explore today: sexuality, religion, gender equality and independence".^[175]

Writing forNME, El Hunt noted influence ofLike a Prayer in the work of contemporary female artists such asChristine and the Queens,Rihanna, andAriana Grande.^[55] SingerTaylor Swift stated that with the album, Madonna made "the most incredible, bold, risky, decisions as far as pop music goes", calling the title track "legitimately one of the greatest pop songs of all time".^[176] Rossa went on to say that, "[Like a Prayer] was pioneering, and no woman in music has come close to doing something as groundbreaking", and will always be "more influential" than other "iconic" female albums likeBlackout (2007),The Fame Monster (2009), andBeyoncé (2013).^[175][177] Nick Levine added:

"[Like a Prayer] is a rare beast: an iconic pop album that retains its ability to surprise you, using richly evocative songcraft to explore deeply personal themes—sometimes spiritual, sometimes socially conscious—from a woman's perspective. With it, Madonna had once again remodeled people's expectations of what a female pop singer could achieve. Decades beforeBeyoncé'sLemonade and Ariana Grande'sThank U, Next, it laid the foundation for the deeply persona pop blockbuster, auteured by a strong woman at the peak of her creative powers".^[126]

Like a Prayer is often referred to as one of the greatest albums of the 1980s and of all time.^{[171][172][174][178][179]} In 2003,Rolling Stone named it the 239thgreatest of all time; nine years later, it dropped to the 239th position on the magazine's revisited list. Finally, in 2020, it was allocated at number 331.^[180]In a 2005 poll conducted byChannel 4,Like a Prayer was voted the eight greatest album in music history.^[181] That same year, it was included among the1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, where it was named the "most spectacular" pop album since the Beatles'Revolver (1966).^[182]Time deemed it one of the 100 "greatest and most influential musical compilations since 1954".^[179] In 2024,Apple Music rankedLike a Prayer 77th on their100 Best Albums list.^[183]Like a Prayer was featured in the bookSpin Alternative Record Guide, where it was given a perfect score of 10/10 by reviewerRob Sheffield; this score is given to albums considered "unimpeachable" masterpieces or "flawed record[s] of crucial historical significance".^[184] It is also considered one of the greatest albums ever made by a woman.^[173][185] In 2015,Billboard named it Madonna's best studio album that "continues to inspire decades later, and remains [her] thrilling high-water mark".^[186] FromThe National, Saeed Saeed also named it the singer's best, adding that, although "[Madonna] went on to release more adventurous material, nothing beats the pure thrills found in this landmark release".^[187] Taraborrelli wrote that, "every important artist has at least one album in his or her career whose critical and commercial success becomes the artist's magic moment", for Madonna, it wasLike a Prayer.^[188]

All songs written and produced byMadonna andPatrick Leonard, except where noted.

Notes^[32][190]

• In certain editions of the album, "Spanish Eyes" is listed as "Pray for Spanish Eyes".
• In the album's notes, "The powers that be" (Madonna and Leonard) are credited as producers of "Act of Contrition".

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.^[32]

Musicians

Production and design

• Like a Prayer atDiscogs (list of releases)
• Like a Prayer playlist onYouTube
• Library + Archives:Like a Prayer at theRock and Roll Hall of Fame