One of the greatest music videos of all time. The level of controversy that this caused back in 1989 was EPIC. I thought here career would not live to tell aferr that. Like a Prayer went on to become the biggest song worldwide of that year.
Wow, really?! Didn’t Madonna song Papa Don’t Preach also create a huge controversy and turn into a huge hit for her? I know Like a Virgin did. Madonna knows how to play chess! 😎
your reaction and picking up of the vast level of detail she put into the video is brilliant, I’ve been waiting for it to drop. Madonna has no fear - don’t underestimate how much balls and vision this took as a while woman in 1989. Sadly she depicts is still America now.
Thanks for watching! Yeah, the song and video definitely took balls. Both are a stroke of genius and dare I say might be Madonna’s most impressive work that I’ve seen those far.
I was going to say! I’m obsessed with the this song and video and have yet to see someone pick up on the themes of the video so quickly. What a great watch!
This is a great reaction. It’s important to remember that the actor Leon actually played two different characters in this video… the innocent bystander, and the religious statue (maybe Jesus but likely to be St. Martin de Porres). The kissing scene was with the bystander character, and in a room with lit candles in the background (not necessarily in the church). At the time this video came out there was a movie playing in the theaters called Mississippi Burning with Gene Hackman, tackling racism in the South.
I think I got the gist of it during the first viewing but I did watch it a second time to pick up any other details that I thought I might’ve missed. It’s a very quick moving video!
Thee most controversial music video in music history! She was excommunicated from the catholic church by the Pope himself. Pepsi broke her contract deal for supporting her next world tour. She was the first major pop star in talking about racism abuse, interracial relationships. She put her career in danger by doing this. Anyway, she won.
Wow! They actually excommunicated her for this?! That’s a bit extreme. I heard about the Pepsi thing. That seems a bit much too. I mean were they using the video for an ad campaign?
@@AceM-Reacts Actually, the first video was the ad, you should react to it. It was nothing to do with the actual video of course. It was a worldwide premiere! The next day, Madonna launched this video and the scandal was huge! As I told you, the Pope himself excommunicated her. And when she was in Rome with the Blonde Ambition Tour, the Pope tried to boycott those concerts.
@@AceM-ReactsPepsi kinda retract from that decision only this year, 34 years later they played an edit version of the add during the Superbowl (I don't know if it was on TV or only in the internet). At the time they were pragmatic cus people were boycotting their products. Now I guess the theme has more commercial appeal, right 🤡🤷🏻♂️ And this is not the only time she'll be condemned by the Vatican, but no spoilers 🤫
The individual who authored thIs comment demonstrates an intellect that is significantly above average. Their commentary centers on Madonna's audacious confrontation not only with the Catholic Church in her music video, but also her challenging of entrenched racism and the Ku Klux Klan. This fearless stance places her at the vanguard of our cultural zeitgeist, as she navigates the turbulent sea of our societal issues. Within the annals of the past century of popular culture, no other music video has so deftly captured the zeitgeist of the times or so potently addressed our current societal dilemmas as this video has, even though it first aired 34 years ago. The figure of Madonna who dared to tackle these issues is greatly missed. Her boldness and social commentary have been absent for such a lengthy period, that it appears unlikely we will ever witness her in that capacity again. Yet, her legacy persists in her audacious illumination of cultural problems that mainstream society preferred to overlook until she forced them into the light. For that, we owe a profound debt of gratitude to Madonna. Equally, our accolades extend to the thoughtful commentator who sparked this enlightening discussion. Their insight has certainly enriched our conversation.
Absolutely and this was pre-Internet and pre-social media. I don’t think it was as fashionable for a celebrity to be this blatant with social messages during that time.
Black Jesus is enough of a bold and actually shocking imagery to publicly put out there. To me this is Madonna's first video moment along with audio, the song is honestly her best and almost divinely inspired. To me asa long time fan, this is her artistic peak. Totally switched it up
The statue and man, played by Leon, was actually St. Martin de Porres, patron saint of racial harmony and mixed race couples. The video was a statement that racism was alive and well. She tackled social issues before it was cool to do so.
It's interesting because this is, at its core, a gospel song. It was written as a gospel track, 4-5-1 chord progression but then Madonna added the melody, wrote the lyrics, and recorded the vocal that same day (which is the finished track vocal). In it, she's basically conflating praying with oral sex ("I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there", the "there" being the climax ("let the choir sing"). There are other things there, but that's it in the nutshell. And then there's a video, which deals with completely issues altogether. But that's Madonna.
Great reaction as always! There's so much to say about this one I might split into several comments lol - first, as you may have noticed, the chronology of the story is out of order: > She witnesses the crime then runs away from the gang to hide in the church (first scene) yes, looking for guidance and protection > she then prays to the black figure (which is not exactly Jesus, but Saint Matin de Porres, the patron of mixed-raced people and those seaking racial harmony. In Catholicism they have statues of saint figures to pray to as interveners - but they're only considered saints because they embodied the word and spirit of Jesus in life - so technically it's the same symbol: statue represents saint that represents Jesus) > then she lies on the bench and fall asleep and dream she's falling from the sky etc , she kisses his feet, he comes alive, the choir, all a dream > notice that the moment she kisses him and they seem to be making love is the same moment where the choir leader puts her hand in Madonna's head. She's experiencing an spiritual ecstasy at that moment with the choir, and that equals kissing and making love to God, in a spiritual maner. In Catholicism nuns are called the brides of Christ for a reason. There are real stories of female saints like Saint Theresa who had physical plasure in her adoration of Christ. It's a real thing lol > the burning crosses might also have another meaning, considering all the symbology of kissing God, stigmata, crying blood, all supernatural phenomena regarding Jesus - in that layer of meaning the crosses on fire also mean the spirit of God manifesting. But of course you got the main message here of what it's primarily referencing. That's not all, I have to say that 34 years later I'm still discovering things and meanings about this video. Often considered amongst the top 3 videos of all time
Damn! What a breakdown! I didn’t even consider the double meaning of the the choir leader touching her head intercut with the scene of her passionate moment with the saint. This is definitely a video that has to be studied multiple times to get every nuance. And yeah the out of order sequence almost demands that you look at it more than once to pick up. It starts with like a summary and then explains everything as it goes on.
I was telling a girl about my romantic fantasies... without having seen this Madonna video, and the surprising thing is that the video was almost the same as what I had dreamed of so much... now I feel a little ashamed of being fantasizing that after knowing so much controversy... embarrassed but I admit it, it's still my fantasy, I love it
Against racism , ku kux clan and Vatican at that time ! She had a lot of courage to do that video ! She was excommunicated to pope . She always fight for equality and against racism homophobia ecc ..
Couple more things to add: - you mention her hair change - that's actually Madonna's natural hair and marks a deep search into her roots - literally and metaphorically - this is her most personal album yet. - I saw you comparing this controversy to Like a Virgin and Papa Don't Preach. Yes, she definitely gained experience from those, but this one was much more serious and really risky for her career. Those touched only teenage issues and their concerned parents, this one pushed everyone's button, religion is something that brings the most irrational feelings in people. Keep in mind that at the time the Catholic Church was the most powerful institution in the western world, there's no comparison with the current situation. The Pope was up there among the most important heads of state, with the advantage of having no national boundaries for his powers. If you were popular back then, you certainly wouldn't want to mess with his Sanctity himself. In largely Catholic countries like mine (at the time 80% of the population of Brazil was Catholic, the largest in the world), anything the Pope decided kinda turned into a moral law that everyone should follow... Yet her popularity grew even more everywhere - for good and for bad she was becoming a kind of an ideal scapegoat in pop culture. The other thing that really stirred up people was of course the interracial element. A white woman considered a model by millions kissing a black man's feet? Kissing and suggesting intercourse? How dare she? For some the problem was not the profanation of a religious symbol that bothered, if you know what I mean. Madonna herself commented about it recently, how in the media and in the public opinion in general *no one ever mentioned or even noticed the explicit denounce about racial profiling*, the main message ofthe whole video, some 20 years before Black Lives Matter. That part was completely ignored. Lastly,I highly recommend you this interview/documentary with Patrick Leonard - there's wonderful insights and behind the scenes anecdotes as well as a good context in the introduction. It's worth watching, I promise: ua-cam.com/video/cqU83zE8mp0/v-deo.htmlsi=WcVR7b-UjfuQT0qW
Hey there. Great reaction. It’s such an iconic video ( and she looks a million times better than a year prior). I’m curious ( I’m Latino and M has used my culture many many times and I find it so flattering, it seems so authentic and like she admires the Latin culture). Do you feel similarly about her using black culture in her work? I feel like it also comes from a place of admiration and authenticity and appreciation. Can you tell me your feelings about that topic? Thanks ace !
I don't have any issue with artists using elements of black culture in their work. While specific cultures may originate from and generally represent certain groups of people, I believe that all culture belongs to the world, and anyone genuinely interested in it can indulge in it. I don't agree with the concept of "cultural appropriation"; to me, it's nonsense. It can become tacky when people use or exploit other culture for their own gain and don't show genuine appreciation to folks who live it, but even then, it's not a big deal to me. If Madonna wants to jam out with an AME church or braid her hair, she's more than welcome to do so.
Even your dogs had to wander off and ponder this one alone... 😁 kudos to Madonna for being so brave. Apparently unlike you, Pepsi only viewed the video once because they terminated their sponsorship with her for the world tour that year. Too bad they didn't view it multiple times and get the message 🤔
He wasn’t supposed to be a black Jesus ( even though Jesus would have been darker skinned) his portrayal is of a saint, and I forget which saint though.
One of the greatest music videos of all time. The level of controversy that this caused back in 1989 was EPIC. I thought here career would not live to tell aferr that. Like a Prayer went on to become the biggest song worldwide of that year.
Wow, really?! Didn’t Madonna song Papa Don’t Preach also create a huge controversy and turn into a huge hit for her? I know Like a Virgin did. Madonna knows how to play chess! 😎
Your reaction and your analysis of the video were the best I have seen so far! I love both the song and the video!
Your face was like a person realizing why Madonna is and always will be The Queen Of Pop
your reaction and picking up of the vast level of detail she put into the video is brilliant, I’ve been waiting for it to drop. Madonna has no fear - don’t underestimate how much balls and vision this took as a while woman in 1989. Sadly she depicts is still America now.
Thanks for watching! Yeah, the song and video definitely took balls. Both are a stroke of genius and dare I say might be Madonna’s most impressive work that I’ve seen those far.
I was going to say! I’m obsessed with the this song and video and have yet to see someone pick up on the themes of the video so quickly. What a great watch!
This is a great reaction. It’s important to remember that the actor Leon actually played two different characters in this video… the innocent bystander, and the religious statue (maybe Jesus but likely to be St. Martin de Porres). The kissing scene was with the bystander character, and in a room with lit candles in the background (not necessarily in the church). At the time this video came out there was a movie playing in the theaters called Mississippi Burning with Gene Hackman, tackling racism in the South.
You are correct, it is St. Martin de Porres... the patron saint of mixed races.
The most spot on reaction to this video. This was 1989. We’re in 2024 now. Have we changed as a society? Great great great reaction.
I love that you got the theme on the first viewing 👏👏
I think I got the gist of it during the first viewing but I did watch it a second time to pick up any other details that I thought I might’ve missed. It’s a very quick moving video!
Masterpiece...bold and ground breaking and ahead of its time
💯💯💯
The best music 80s & 90s my opinion❤
Thee most controversial music video in music history! She was excommunicated from the catholic church by the Pope himself. Pepsi broke her contract deal for supporting her next world tour. She was the first major pop star in talking about racism abuse, interracial relationships. She put her career in danger by doing this. Anyway, she won.
Wow! They actually excommunicated her for this?! That’s a bit extreme. I heard about the Pepsi thing. That seems a bit much too. I mean were they using the video for an ad campaign?
@@AceM-Reacts Actually, the first video was the ad, you should react to it. It was nothing to do with the actual video of course. It was a worldwide premiere! The next day, Madonna launched this video and the scandal was huge! As I told you, the Pope himself excommunicated her. And when she was in Rome with the Blonde Ambition Tour, the Pope tried to boycott those concerts.
@@AceM-ReactsPepsi kinda retract from that decision only this year, 34 years later they played an edit version of the add during the Superbowl (I don't know if it was on TV or only in the internet). At the time they were pragmatic cus people were boycotting their products. Now I guess the theme has more commercial appeal, right 🤡🤷🏻♂️
And this is not the only time she'll be condemned by the Vatican, but no spoilers 🤫
The individual who authored thIs comment demonstrates an intellect that is significantly above average. Their commentary centers on Madonna's audacious confrontation not only with the Catholic Church in her music video, but also her challenging of entrenched racism and the Ku Klux Klan. This fearless stance places her at the vanguard of our cultural zeitgeist, as she navigates the turbulent sea of our societal issues.
Within the annals of the past century of popular culture, no other music video has so deftly captured the zeitgeist of the times or so potently addressed our current societal dilemmas as this video has, even though it first aired 34 years ago. The figure of Madonna who dared to tackle these issues is greatly missed. Her boldness and social commentary have been absent for such a lengthy period, that it appears unlikely we will ever witness her in that capacity again.
Yet, her legacy persists in her audacious illumination of cultural problems that mainstream society preferred to overlook until she forced them into the light. For that, we owe a profound debt of gratitude to Madonna. Equally, our accolades extend to the thoughtful commentator who sparked this enlightening discussion. Their insight has certainly enriched our conversation.
An iconic video and (sadly) still relevant today. I still think the reason people were outraged was the kiss... not the burning crosses.
Historical, video. Kudos to Madonna for daring speak of so important social issues!
Absolutely and this was pre-Internet and pre-social media. I don’t think it was as fashionable for a celebrity to be this blatant with social messages during that time.
Black Jesus is enough of a bold and actually shocking imagery to publicly put out there. To me this is Madonna's first video moment along with audio, the song is honestly her best and almost divinely inspired. To me asa long time fan, this is her artistic peak. Totally switched it up
You gave this video the most understanding reaction and synopsis I have ever seen. A++ to you!
WOW KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DO MAN!!! YOU OWN THIS
I appreciate it. Please keep watching and commenting! 😉
The Live version of this from the Truth or Dare Documentary (from the Blond Ambition Tour) is worth a watch. It is very High Energy
Brilliant!
Yep! 💯
The statue and man, played by Leon, was actually St. Martin de Porres, patron saint of racial harmony and mixed race couples. The video was a statement that racism was alive and well. She tackled social issues before it was cool to do so.
I've been looking forward to seeing what you think of this. Spot on as always! Can't wait to see what you think of the rest of the album.
Thanks for watching and commenting! I just finished the reaction for her song Express Yourself. That will be up very soon.
It's interesting because this is, at its core, a gospel song. It was written as a gospel track, 4-5-1 chord progression but then Madonna added the melody, wrote the lyrics, and recorded the vocal that same day (which is the finished track vocal). In it, she's basically conflating praying with oral sex ("I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there", the "there" being the climax ("let the choir sing"). There are other things there, but that's it in the nutshell. And then there's a video, which deals with completely issues altogether. But that's Madonna.
Curiosity: The doberman behind you seems the one on the "Frozen" video by Madonna, what a coincidence!
Very beautiful dogs❤❤❤❤
Thank you! 😉
Very well done review! I love that you got all the details. One of the best videos ever made!
💯💯💯
Great reaction as always!
There's so much to say about this one I might split into several comments lol
- first, as you may have noticed, the chronology of the story is out of order:
> She witnesses the crime then runs away from the gang to hide in the church (first scene) yes, looking for guidance and protection
> she then prays to the black figure (which is not exactly Jesus, but Saint Matin de Porres, the patron of mixed-raced people and those seaking racial harmony. In Catholicism they have statues of saint figures to pray to as interveners - but they're only considered saints because they embodied the word and spirit of Jesus in life - so technically it's the same symbol: statue represents saint that represents Jesus)
> then she lies on the bench and fall asleep and dream she's falling from the sky etc , she kisses his feet, he comes alive, the choir, all a dream
> notice that the moment she kisses him and they seem to be making love is the same moment where the choir leader puts her hand in Madonna's head. She's experiencing an spiritual ecstasy at that moment with the choir, and that equals kissing and making love to God, in a spiritual maner. In Catholicism nuns are called the brides of Christ for a reason. There are real stories of female saints like Saint Theresa who had physical plasure in her adoration of Christ. It's a real thing lol
> the burning crosses might also have another meaning, considering all the symbology of kissing God, stigmata, crying blood, all supernatural phenomena regarding Jesus - in that layer of meaning the crosses on fire also mean the spirit of God manifesting. But of course you got the main message here of what it's primarily referencing.
That's not all, I have to say that 34 years later I'm still discovering things and meanings about this video.
Often considered amongst the top 3 videos of all time
Damn! What a breakdown! I didn’t even consider the double meaning of the the choir leader touching her head intercut with the scene of her passionate moment with the saint.
This is definitely a video that has to be studied multiple times to get every nuance.
And yeah the out of order sequence almost demands that you look at it more than once to pick up. It starts with like a summary and then explains everything as it goes on.
Exactly, that kind of script writing was very unusual at the time and very innovative, specially in pop culture
I was telling a girl about my romantic fantasies... without having seen this Madonna video, and the surprising thing is that the video was almost the same as what I had dreamed of so much... now I feel a little ashamed of being fantasizing that after knowing so much controversy... embarrassed but I admit it, it's still my fantasy, I love it
Great reaction ❤
Thank you!! 😁 Glad you enjoyed it!
Against racism , ku kux clan and Vatican at that time ! She had a lot of courage to do that video ! She was excommunicated to pope . She always fight for equality and against racism homophobia ecc ..
Couple more things to add:
- you mention her hair change - that's actually Madonna's natural hair and marks a deep search into her roots - literally and metaphorically - this is her most personal album yet.
- I saw you comparing this controversy to Like a Virgin and Papa Don't Preach. Yes, she definitely gained experience from those, but this one was much more serious and really risky for her career. Those touched only teenage issues and their concerned parents, this one pushed everyone's button, religion is something that brings the most irrational feelings in people. Keep in mind that at the time the Catholic Church was the most powerful institution in the western world, there's no comparison with the current situation. The Pope was up there among the most important heads of state, with the advantage of having no national boundaries for his powers. If you were popular back then, you certainly wouldn't want to mess with his Sanctity himself. In largely Catholic countries like mine (at the time 80% of the population of Brazil was Catholic, the largest in the world), anything the Pope decided kinda turned into a moral law that everyone should follow... Yet her popularity grew even more everywhere - for good and for bad she was becoming a kind of an ideal scapegoat in pop culture.
The other thing that really stirred up people was of course the interracial element. A white woman considered a model by millions kissing a black man's feet? Kissing and suggesting intercourse? How dare she? For some the problem was not the profanation of a religious symbol that bothered, if you know what I mean. Madonna herself commented about it recently, how in the media and in the public opinion in general *no one ever mentioned or even noticed the explicit denounce about racial profiling*, the main message ofthe whole video, some 20 years before Black Lives Matter. That part was completely ignored.
Lastly,I highly recommend you this interview/documentary with Patrick Leonard - there's wonderful insights and behind the scenes anecdotes as well as a good context in the introduction. It's worth watching, I promise:
ua-cam.com/video/cqU83zE8mp0/v-deo.htmlsi=WcVR7b-UjfuQT0qW
Hey there. Great reaction. It’s such an iconic video ( and she looks a million times better than a year prior). I’m curious ( I’m Latino and M has used my culture many many times and I find it so flattering, it seems so authentic and like she admires the Latin culture). Do you feel similarly about her using black culture in her work? I feel like it also comes from a place of admiration and authenticity and appreciation. Can you tell me your feelings about that topic? Thanks ace !
I don't have any issue with artists using elements of black culture in their work. While specific cultures may originate from and generally represent certain groups of people, I believe that all culture belongs to the world, and anyone genuinely interested in it can indulge in it. I don't agree with the concept of "cultural appropriation"; to me, it's nonsense. It can become tacky when people use or exploit other culture for their own gain and don't show genuine appreciation to folks who live it, but even then, it's not a big deal to me. If Madonna wants to jam out with an AME church or braid her hair, she's more than welcome to do so.
The statute is of Martín de Porres the patron saint of racial harmony…
When this video came out, the Church, along with the various family and religious groups, lost their collective shit.
It seems like Madonna rocked the world with this one!
Even your dogs had to wander off and ponder this one alone... 😁 kudos to Madonna for being so brave. Apparently unlike you, Pepsi only viewed the video once because they terminated their sponsorship with her for the world tour that year. Too bad they didn't view it multiple times and get the message 🤔
Sounds like a dumb business move on Pepsi’s end. Wasn’t this song a big hit? Oh well, I prefer Coke anyway! 😎
@@AceM-Reacts they were big on pop stars that year, including Michael Jackson
The kiss was more to do with her getting kissed by the power of christ.
Many probleme with the Vatican no change many year after so sad
He wasn’t supposed to be a black Jesus ( even though Jesus would have been darker skinned) his portrayal is of a saint, and I forget which saint though.
1989 ….The scandal . It was wonderful
The Queen was BLM before BLM