Like A Prayer

A great window onto a very particular kind of intricate pop arrangement and production

Yeah, I like the poppy sound. Sometimes you listen to an album so much you know the next song that comes up, but might not know the name of the song because it isn't regularly played. This is one of those albums for me.

One masterpiece, some good singles, but better than I remembered.

Is it gay to like Madonna? Yes! Did I like it? Yes!

Better than I thought

Enjoyed that - I know the Madonna hits and a few others. Was fun listening to a proper album

I'm my opinion Like A Prayer is the greatest pop song ever written. However, as a full album this is not the best. I'm shocked to see that Lucky Star isn't on this list because I think it's a much better album. Regardless it is a good album.

it was sooo good! Some songs were just so long! (I wanted to give it a 4.5)

Very pretty songs, marvelous hits

Really enjoyed this album. Clever lyrics and beautifully crafted songs.

Some would call it a classic, v depends on your mood

A classic, still a great album

64. Donna Summer; 82. Madonna

Lovely Album

The pleasing pop album with a good-hearing voice and fast and lively music.

An amazing pop album with so many hits it's unreal. An artist at the top of her game.

Perfect pop - contains some of her greatest tracks, very little anyone could class as throwaway.

classic. overplayed. inoffensive

Loved Madonna and the shock value she brought. The true queen

A Valerie classic

Classic...no wonder she's a star.

legend

Good

I've never cared for Madonna, but this album was pretty good. Classic 80s pop.

excellent pop album

Ok album. I've always been fairly mixed on Madonna. The hits are the hits, the others are ballady or not as interesting. One interesting stand out though was Till Death Do Us Part. Just a really interesting guitar/keyboard thing going on there. There are times on Madonna songs where she uses incredibly catchy and interesting progressions. Those are few and far between though

Good one time listen

Fun, breezy. Feels like it was forever ago but also still fresh

Not one of her best albums. Three stars...

George Michael yesterday Madonna today thats a lot of keyboards and programmed drums. There are some excellent pop moments on here, delivered with just the right amount of drama and flare. It’s so funny to hear “Love Song” for the first time. It’s so easy to tell RIGHT away thats a Prince song. Then he starts singing too! The ultimate bit of humor is when she starts speaking French momentarily and Prince audibly goes “wut?” I think “Till Death Do Us Part” is a bit ahead of its time. It’s very sped-up and tight with lots of syncopated instrumentation. I hear bits of what would become y2k ballads in how this song is written. But the best song BY FAR is “Dear Jessie”. Oozing whimsy and sincerity, it’s a candy sweet chorus hook that doesn’t need drums to stay in your head. File under the subcategory “albums that surely helped birth vaporwave” strong 3/5, maybe 4/5

This an album of highs and lows. The big hits are pop staples and well done, but the rest are just average. Using two producers with disparate styles really fractured the cohesion and flow. Love Song was really unnecessary and just ended up being another arrogant Prince song rather than a Madonna song. Oh Father however, was an enjoyable soundtrack-esque song with a big "wall of sound". None of the filler songs are awful, but they just don't hit for me as I would have expected.

Madonna is iconic but outside like a prayer...

The big singles are now standards, and deserve to be. The rest of the album doesn’t really compare - it’s very uneven, and whilst there is some really good stuff (Spanish Eyes in particular is very strong) everything just tends to hang around a minute too long. It’s good enough.

Clásico del pop pero no de mi gusto

Like a Prayer was released in 1989 and obviously has feelers out for what could be the next big sound in the 90s. As such, it feels a bit disjointed and lacks cohesion. It also leads to peaks and valleys when those feelers land, and more frequently, don't. Prince's involvement is heard and felt but not really necessary.

The hits are known and loved. Was kind of hoping I'd find a deep cut that I could really get into, but they're not here (not even the one with Prince, which is kind of a dud).

Wasn't a big M fan in the 80s .. I appreciate the music but it still doesn't do that much for me.

3.2/5 Favorite Songs: Like a Prayer Express Yourself Till Death Do Us Part Cherish Keep It Together

Decent 3

more catchy than I thought and I knew more songs like "Express Yourself", not sure how. But its just a typical pop album, not bad or good. I am in-different! 2.5 round to 3, cause it was better than I thought

This really did nothing for me. The title track is good, but the rest of the album is just average. I've never really understood why Madonna was so big, not that she is bad, it's just nothing I've heard from her has ever wowed me. This is also one of the most 80s sounding albums to a fault. I love the 80s, but this is a little much at times Mid 3.

QUE TEMON LIKE a prayer, el resto meh, nada del otro mudno, la q hablan en español tambien algo buena la bata

I mean, it's Madonna, who was never really my jam, but is unquestionably someone who we should all listen to at least once in our lives. This one's as good as any. Can be self-indulgent, but can also rise to the absolute sublime beauty of "Like a Prayer."

Classic

This album represented a push back into the spotlight for Madonna. I personally preferred the earlier material, but I'm biased as I was DJing in clubs at the time and her early records were a breath of fresh air. There was a lot of controversy over the "Like a Prayer" music video, which I think was absolutely intentional, and brilliant... I don't think this record makes nearly that big of an impression without that video. Speaking of which, I think one could argue that Madonna fits firmly into a group of artists that really caught fire because of MTV. I can't listen to her records without images from the videos popping into my brain.

I’m not deaf I can hear this is well made and well written. The production is precise and everything has a sharp metallic sheen. The singles are particularly well made, and the title track has a wonderful energy that hasn’t diminished after 40 years but it just doesn’t do for me quite enough

Madonna is madonna but i am not rlly into pop.

It started out so strong, the first two songs are amazing, but then - just like any mid-tier generic 80s, 90s album.

I was surprised how boring this album is, aside from two songs.

Like a Prayer has to be top 5 best pop songs surely! Decent run of songs up to Cherish. Enjoyed the funkiness of Keep It Together.

Love Madonna but she’s a greatest hits woman that’s all you need

Pretty much exactly what I expected a Madonna album to sound like. Some hits/bangers, some weird songs and some ballads. The guitars on the last track surprised me. Other than that, nothing to write home about.

Forgot to rate this after I listened to it a few days ago, but this album being all over the place was the main thing I remember. There are a couple great songs, with Like A Prayer being an all-time classic, but there are also some really strange tracks as well. Even the song with Prince feels totally out of place. I’d listen to the hits and that’s about it.

iconic, dancy, catchy, fun, sad, emotional, 'introspective', poppy, fantastical, dreamy?, produced, of its time. idk it's interesting listening now because i'm aware of the tiktok sound trends, memes, and what madonna is today. wonder what the listening / enjoying experience was in 1989. fave songs probably like a prayer, cherish, and oh father. this is like a 3.85 for me bc idk if the introspection is real or for the records to sell and i think its a mix of both.

Good album

Fine. Really just not my thing but not bad.

pure 80’s joy

Favorite Track: Like A Prayer

6/10 Algunas partes buenas y otras no me llamo mucho la atención

The bangers are great the rest a bit meh

Always enjoy a little Madonna!

I always thought she only did pop dance songs. Guess there's more to her.

Maybe a 7/10

I understand why this was so popular, although Madonna's (if that IS her real name!) voice annoys me. I like some of the stuff on here: "Love Song" with Prince, "Oh Father", and that weirdo at the end "Act of Contrition." Which if you let the album loop around and start again, meshes strangely well with the intro to Like a Prayer. I hate myself for liking this as much as I do. Especially "Express Yourself."

A few tracks I enjoyed and were catchy pop songs. The rest I could take or leave. Not as good as Ray of Light.

It’s still a baseline level of good because Madonna knows how to write iconic pop music, but the album very clearly peaks immediately with the title track. Not my favourite of hers by any stretch but still very listenable.

This album has too many long saccharine ballads, and I’m probably never gonna be impressed by Madonna as a vocalist. Still, I come away from this more impressed by her talents than either of the last two I heard.

The first two tracks of this record spring into life with incredible energy and an extremely charming 80s pop vibe to them. The album is sprinkled with a really strong collection of upbeat bangers, and each of them are brilliant. The slight issue I have with the album is that the slower, more whimsical tracks really don't land the same with me. A good few songs here feel drawn out and moody, jarring with the more energetic side of the album. It gets a 7/10 as a result, incredible highs but more than a few middling moments.

Started off with a bang but fizzled out pretty quickly. Not something that I would put on for myself.

This feels very manufactured, which I am certain it was. I am most of the way through this project now and I have noticed that all too many of the female artists tend to be pop groups and singers who don't write their own songs, where their main contribution is basically for their voice to be the lead instrument. That's a problem of the list's, though, not Madonna's. How did I like this album? It's fine. Manufactured as it is, it's still a very listenable product although not to my taste. Very poppy. The songs are all too long, clocking in around 5 minutes each, when they could each be a tighter 3 minutes or 3 minutes 30. It knows what it is and what it wants to do and it achieves it. Standout songs for me (for different reasons) were the hilarious Like a Prayer, then the fun and sweet Dear Jessie, and Oh Father. Does more than other pop artists on this list. Three stars. (Although Act of Contrition is a bizarre note to end on.)

I have this album having bought it at time of release. I really liked the title track and a few others. Promise to Try being the pick of the crop. But it is really an album of its time and I haven’t played it in years. Madonna has released some really significant albums but this ain’t one of them. 3/5 13/5/26

Like a Prayer still slaps, great song.

My rating 3.2 What a weird little album. Such a departure from anything previous. Many songs overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the title song and the subsequent video. Liked the Prince collab.

Everyone, including myself, has heard 'Like A Prayer' a thousand times. So it's a bit hard for it to have any kind of magic left, especially considering Madonna is not exactly my favourite artist. Still, no denying it's a classic. And the star of the album. I found the rest of the album a bit lackluster. It's very 80s sounding pop, with 'Express Yourself' and 'Keep It Together' decent tracks. Sadly, the rest is not that interesting. This might be due to the record sounding dated, but also because textbook pop like this is not where my music taste is at. Still, I think this defnitely deserves a spot on the list. Having at least one 80s pop record on the list feels mandatory, and why not pick Madonna who was one of the most successful artists in this segment.

Definitely some classics on here, though its sound is definitely dated. Title track is a banger ofc and I also really cherish

3/5

I though this would be better than it actually is. It was a massive hit at the time, but I found it a bit watered down and pretty generic pop. I thought i would also have a lot more notable songs. It was not terrible but no remarkable either. Promise to Try was probably the standout song. 3 stars

An easy listen. Fun as ever. 3.25 rounded down to 3.

3.5 because prince earns extra

Lots of classics here

Its just so damn clean and wholesome sounding. The giggling baby noises sent it way over the top. Just really not my vibe. #notmymadonna

As someone that grew up having to listen to this being played on pop radio having to go through that was brutal. It's good work, I just don't want to have to listen to it

Bangersarna är bangers, resten inte så märkvärdigt

Går inte att argumentera mot hur inflytelserikt och självklart på listan det är, men inget som jag skulle lyssna igenom på eget bevåg annars.

Titelspåret är grymt men blev inte så imponerad av resten, även om jag inte heller ogillade det.

A few of the songs at the start and end are good. The ones in the middle not so much. Prince does some solid work. The production is nice.

Not bad but not incredible.

It started off pretty good, 80's for sure, but toe tapping and singing along good. Then the song Cherish. I really, really hate that song. I rank it up there with magnificently bad songs like Sussudio (sussudiocide), Never Gonna Give You Up (Rick Roll) or Party All The Time (comedy?). This album was made when Madonna was at her peak though. I believe it belongs on the list.

Good, but not really a goto for me.

Some good ones, some not so good ones...

Starts very strong with an all time classic and some bangers. Middle of the album is quite forgettable but it finishes strong

I am pretty much just here for the hits, but the production of this album is nice. I loved the Prince duet. Besides that the songs outside of the hits didn't really do it for me. My girlfriend loves this album though, and she was singing along to every song in the car while we were driving to the city today lol. So a solid 3

Muy chulo

I found myself bobbing my head quite aggressively. This isn’t my genre of choice but there is some catchy stuff here

The hits hit, the other stuff is a tad boring which surprises me.

Her most 80s album is only ok.

I liked the prince songs but even the hits were a bit long

I think Like a Prayer is one of the greatest pop songs ever written. It is outrageously good. The rest of the album could never meet the same standards but there were some decent pop songs on there, padded out with a bit of filler.

Great title track, not as blown away by the rest.

6.5/10

Listened Before? Y Yep, it's a Madonna album. Pretty good. Lots of pop bangers here. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Express Yourself

The title track is a genuine classic, and the gospel choir is the reason. It does exactly what backing vocals should do — responding to and amplifying the emotional urgency of the lead vocal rather than hovering decoratively around it. Call and response in the truest sense, the choir as a force rather than a texture. After Solomon Burke’s record earlier in this project, where a great voice was undermined by syrupy decoration, hearing a choir actually earn its place is its own small revelation. The front half of Like A Prayer largely delivers on that promise. “Express Yourself” and “Oh Father” show Madonna drawing on genuine emotional material, and the Prince duet “Love Song” is the moment another musical intelligence briefly enters the room — looser, funkier, and more alive than some of what surrounds it. When the album is working it feels like an artist reaching for something real rather than calculating an effect. The back half is where that reach falls short. The material thins out, the cheesiness that was held at bay early starts creeping in — “Dear Jessie” being the clearest example, a whimsical lullaby that sits awkwardly between more serious material — and the emotional coherence that made the opening so compelling gradually dissipates. A great single and an uneven album. The choir moment alone is worth the price of admission, but it can’t carry everything that follows it. A fair three.

This album is more interesting than I expected. It has some classic well known Madonna songs. There were some that are classic Madonna hits, some strange ones that seemed more experimental, and some that are clearly more emotionally raw. As a whole album I don't know how much I would revisit it. But I will probably add some more of the songs into my rotation.

i think this is the album where madonna officially 'taps' in and becomes cool... the madonna album choices on this list are a bit silly... but alas i like most madonna albums :)

A couple of incredible era defining pop hits and some solid filler tracks channeling disco and all the 80s production wizardry available but also a lot of slow burning ballads that really stink up the place. Definition of a greatest hits not an album artist, but what hits!!

I went in not being a huge fan but always respected her talent. The album started strong and pulled me in right away. There was a real sense of nostalgia, and for a moment I thought my opinion of her might be changing. However, after the first few tracks, the momentum faded. I tend to prefer Madonna’s more upbeat, energetic songs, and the slower material here didn’t hold my attention as much. Overall, it had its moments, but it ended up losing my interest as it went on.

Would rate a 3.5. Like a Prayer is such a good song.

Pop, 1989 -> 3

I grew up in an era when Madonna was ubiquitous, for good reason. She was a hit machine in this era and seemingly couldn't miss. This record features three of her all time classics, the title track, Express Yourself, and Cherish. The rest? Meh. Even the track with Prince is only mildly interesting. Which is wild considering both were arguably at peak powers, but there was no musical synergy here. It just sounds like a mediocre Prince outtake. Strange choice as an album overall, but I understand the impulse to include the most important artists of an era, so we move on

wasn’t as good as I expected it to be

+++

So far I’ve felt like I’ve been pretty hard on Madonna, not that she didn’t deserve it, she did, but I felt bad cause I can tell that she’s legitimately musically gifted, I just hadn’t heard any good music yet. I can say this album isn’t awful desperate out of touch garbage. It’s actually pretty good, especially the title track, that might be my favorite song of hers. As a whole it is a lot of mom pop rock, which gets grating over time. But the good news is this album comes right out the gate with all the best songs on the album being the first three. Not terrible, not great. EDIT: Actually, small correction, like a prayer is not my favorite song or the best song on this album. That totally belongs to the prince song on this album called “love song”. But honestly having prince on your album feels like cheating. The other song on this album I really like is express yourself.

This is about as 80s as it gets. A few songs caught my attention here, like the title track and Express Yourself, but I'm not completely into the album as a whole.

For every banger on here, there's one that I just don't connect with. She's an icon though and I love her style.

estuvo chimba, buenas vibras y bacano pero tampoco mucho mi estilo, madonna tiene temas durísimos pero este álbum al final me pareció un roce repetitivo

Sympa mais tout de ressemble un peu dommage

c correc

2nd Madonna album I am getting on this list. Much better than the last one I got. Title song is great, however I did not know any of the other songs. Prince collab is wonderful as well. Polished 80s pop sound. Probably 3 stars.

Listenable

0815 Pop aber war bestimmt mal was Neues

Gear: Penon FAN 3s Artwork: 💍👖😳 Production: 🎛️💸🧼 Music: 📻🎶🤩 Rating: 🙏🙏🙏/5

The album moves through a surprising range of styles, from the gospel-like intensity of the title track to the bright but ironic pop of “Till Death Do Us Part,” the simple and emotional ballad “Promise to Try,” and finally the noisy, almost metal-like “Act of Contrition.” Because she became such a huge pop icon, it’s easy to forget this side of her. But listening to the album as a whole, what stands out is how naturally she moves between very different musical approaches and still makes them feel like part of the same work. It reminded me that before anything else, Madonna is a musician.

3.2 Maybe this list has worn me down, but I actually enjoyed that in places. Til Death Do Us Part is actually a great song, and Oh Father was another highlight. The lows weren't too low. I enjoyed the random Kate Bush rip off in the middle. The title track is fine, it's one of those that sound so familiar but I don't think I've ever actually sat down and listened to it properly. Some other pass me by, but overall I'm not upset at it's appearance on here.

I just dont see why I should care

I like the titular track a lot, but the rest of the album is quite dated in my opinion. I guess she's more of a hits artist than an albums artist. Didn't really like the rest of the album that much. 5 / 10

Some classics, but a bit of bland filler. Still, those classics are all-timers.

A weirdly inconsistent album. Odd Prince collab song I had forgotten about. A Disney like, seemingly out of place song. Crazy last track. I remember her as the pop queen, 80s version of Taylor Swift but this is a strange one.

Had a knee-jerk reaction to this thinking it's for sure about a 2. It came out when I was in my teens and I pretty much hated all things pop and she was the quintessential pop girl. So, never on my player. I tried to listen with fresh ears, which wasn't super hard because I'm sure I've only ever heard the singles and I hadn't heard any of them in at least 25 years, either. But I'd heard them enough that I still knew most of the words! It's fairly typical of girl pop of the decade, "Cherish" being almost a perfect rep of this trite, weak garbage. BUT, I can't dunk on the whole thing. The songs with Prince on them are quite good. Never heard them before or even know that he was on here. "Love Song" and "Keep It Together" are pretty hot tunes. Still poppy, but with some funky bass and guitar flairs. "Oh Father" is an apparently well-known song that I hadn't heard, but it is a big swing for a pop girl to sing so strongly about abuse. While it's not my type of music, I don't hate it (Well, "Cherish" sucks!) It's decently played, especially the Prince bits, but outside of that her voice is fine. Sounds good and she doesn't do all that dramatic keening and throw in tons of vocal flairs like the young ones from a few years later. And it was mighty influential. Not necessarily musically influential as much as being a strong rep for girls that they can do anything. She earned her way into pop stardom and always took a lot of chances. Hard to stay in the pop world and keep experimenting. Good on her for that. I'll give this a 3 because while it's not something I'll play again, I can understand why people will. And her influence is still strong.

Yassss queen.

The title track, 'Dear Jessie', 'Oh Father' are highlights but aside from the standouts, the other tracks are, to my ears, mostly filler. Appreciate this is sacrilege to lovers of the genre or Madonna herself but overall not to my taste. Will return to individual songs only.

A couple good, catchy hits, and rest just kinda flopped.

not a bad album. this one was a turning point from her bubble gum type pop songs into more personal songs like "Express Yourself" and "Like a Prayer".

This was a nice listen. Wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Tolerable. Not what I would choose to listen to. A couple songs had some songwriter talent, and her voice is really good.

Not a Madona fan, but it was a "fun" listen. Makes me think of early MTV. When they actually did videos.

Obviously, there are the closet hits, but as far as the rest of the album, as far as I am concerned is mediocre. This is not an album that I would purchase.

Mh. Mi aspettavo di più da un sedicente album introspettivo

It's not my style of music, but I know she gives an amazing ;ive performance!

Meh

Better than some of the other pop albums. Still not really my thing though.

Madonna's middle period just doesn't hold up well. It is hard to believe the level of her influence based on her music from the late 90s on. Pass.

Live from the beach once again. I don't exactly know why, but whenever I'm down here I feel the urge to tap out one of these reviews on my shitty, busted up Android. I WILL make beach reviews a regular series and I WILL disclose that I'm at the beach every time and it IS imperative that you know this information. Anyhoo, yet another blast from the past. This is my second Madonna album after Ray of Light, which I listened to about 360 albums ago. I recall thinking that was alright. Just a perfectly decent trip hoppy pop album from the late 90s. I'm surprised to learn that Madonna got her start in the 80s. I'm ashamed, frankly. In my elite gamer brain, I've always possessed the knowledge that Sonic the Hedgehog was originally meant to have a human girlfriend named Madonna, though I've never connected the dots and realised that Madonna must have started her career prior to 91. I'm not sure what genre this album will belong to given that it predates Ray of Light by 9 years. Upbeat, jumpy pop tunes and pronounced vocal harmonies are what I'm expecting. Back home now. I listened to half of this album while holding my phone speaker up to my ears at a volume which wouldn't make passerbys aware to the fact that I was listening to Madonna. Surprise, surprise, it didn't make for a very good listening experience and I'm more favourable to this album now that I'm listening to it with my usual setup. This was a good time. I can appreciate this style of gimmicky, dance-oriented, punchy 80s music as a relic of its time. The songwriting is decent - I like the moments with stressed syllables most, though the harmonies are also pretty good. There's some decent variety in the synths on this album, though they generally fall under a lush/bassy sound that I think is pleasant. Some of the analogue instrumentation is good too, though that obviously isn't the emphasis of this album. My only significant criticism is that this album is inconcise. Most of these songs dragged on for a minute longer than they needed to. Book time. "...the most spectacular pop album since Revolver." The rest of this entry is just talking about its collaborators and range of influences. Wikipedia says this album was co-written and co-produced by Prince, which makes a lot of sense now that I think about it. Her most personal release at the time. A big hit with critics. Had six singles, most of which were very successful. Was a pivotal release within her discography. I was doubtful at first, but this is a solid pick. Granted, I'm still skeptical when it comes to the inclusion of post-70s pop stars. The air around them is different. They're a lot less iconic and a lot more commercial. I know Madonna was a huge, gargantuan deal, though I don't think she's monolithic enough to wrench out three list albums. I suppose I'll just have to wait and see when I roll her final album. Until then, I cosign this inclusion.

Conventional pop isn't exactly my world, but Madonna has some cool stuff here. I have my respect for Madonna, after all, she has her cool factor, she was even hanging around with folks in the New York no wave scene way back when. But I just didn't expect for the music to click as much with me. But it kind of did. She has a collection of really enjoyable pop songs here. There's still a skew towards New Wave that give the album a cool flavor, especially on Love Song. And I think the assembly, production and performances here are really artfully done. I guess there's maybe a little filler here, and it doesn't really speak to my aesthetic eye as strongly as some other 80's pop. But I definitely see that theres something here that's really worth celebrating.

Un personaje fundamental en la historia de la música. Sin gran voz, sin ser ninguna belleza, sin un cuerpo espectacular, sin buenas dotes de composición pero con una inteligencia, ambición y determinación incomparables. Madonna es un figura clave de los 80 y 90´s. Este no es su mejor disco, al anterior True Blue’ (1986) es mejor y sobre todo Ray of Light (1998), Music (2000) y Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005). Luego ya perdió el pie, y el favor del público, a ver si los recupera, talento tiene. De aquí todo es interesante: la portada con olor a pachuli, el vídeo con el escándalo del beso a un Jesús negro, cruces del KKK etc etc, y sobre todo los dos temas más conocidos Like a prayer, Cherish y Express yourself. En esta época Madonna dominaba el mundo. El resto del disco no llega a la altura, con algunos temas bastante flojos como Love Song (colaborando con Prince y es decepcionante) Spanish eyes (sobre el SIDA una temática que sobrevuela en todo el disco) y otros mejores como Till death do us part o la beatlemaniaca Dear Jessie, un gran Canciones para su madre (Primise to try) y su padre (Oh father) y temas que se quedan anclados en su momento, como Keep it together, pero que han perdido el encanto. Act of contrition es un cierre extraño que no aporta nada ni encaja con el resto. Demasiado escándalo, triunfo total , pero la estaban esperando para cobrarle las deudas pendientes y con Erotica la hundieron (o trataron de hacerlo) un disco que ha venido ganando con el tiempo. Luego ya resurgió con los discos citados hasta caer en la irrelevancia, por el momento. Lady Gaga, Spice Girls, cualquiera que se haya dedicado a la música sabe quel deben mucho a Madonna, y buena parte a este disco, que ha envejecido mal.

Pretty decent tbf

11/02/2026 I had higher expectations and was left disappointed. Spotify listeners: 41.9 million

Starts off strong with Like a Prayer but then most of the rest of the album feels like filler. Another low 3 from me.

Three decent songs that reminded me of middle school the rest of the album was trash.

The first two songs on side A and the first song on side B are all time classics. Disco-pop Madonna was definitely my favourite era of Madonna. Apparently my wifes favourite Madonna album!

The hits are incredible masterpieces. The ballads pain me a little. Stereotypically 80s.

the queen of pop does it again with impossibly catchy rhythms and even dabbling with elements of funk at times. the title track was groundbreaking and so controversial that she lost a sponsorship deal with pepsi because of the video. but then, in the 80’s controversy sold and madonna is a master marketer who always knew what to do to get attention.

7/10

Price song rules

Oh man I remember people being PISSED about Like a Prayer. It was great. She's got some really great pop songs on this album. The lyrics seem personal to her as well. It's probably one of her better albums, if not her best honestly. There are some that just don't land in this but she worked with two different folks on making it so that fits, Prince helped with this album, you can tell his guitar work in a couple of songs. That was a fun discovery for me. I won't listen to it again but it wasn't a bad listen, her Ray of Light album was blocked this one if it shows up in a feed later I won't be upset.

First two tracks are great, the rest are okay. A 3.

iconic album. Not really for me but its got a couple of nice songs

Very 80s pop with elements of rock and dance. Like A Prayer and Express Yourself are both fantastic but the other tracks were mostly just ok.

madonna the goat

Yep, it was important back then, Madonna was a big gigantic star, yes, yes, I'll understand and agree with you all - but back in the day I didn't listen nor I really enjoy Madonna's work and it seems nothing has changed for me! I could die without listening to this, I don't think it's a game changer nor anything like that :-( So, a 3, considering its importance back then

The singles are SO good that it almost makes up for the filler being completely unremarkable, other than the enjoyment of hearing Prince’s fingerprints all over most of it. As an album, it’s probably skippable. But the singles are something everyone needs to hear before they die.

I’m surprised, I like this much more than I expected! I could see myself putting this on again when the mood strikes. Madonna is a blind spot of mine, besides her legendarily famous status I didn’t really know much about her work. The album being entirely normal pop songs and ending with “Act of Contrition” made me do a double take to make sure I was still listening to the album. It is wildly different from the rest of the tracks. There’s a lot of whispering and an electric guitar. It didn’t work for me, but it was a fun way to end the album.

Best Track - "Like A Prayer"

I have never been much of a Madonna fan, but I didn’t hate this. I did like the ballads more than the others. This is a three star album for me.

Ah, Madonna. Some good now-classic pop songs here. I enjoyed it overall, a nice throwback.

Really wanted to give this a higher rating, given its pop culture importance, but unfortunately, there are just too many songs on the album that feel dated or I have no interest in listening to again. Alas Madonna, you shall do better on future releases. Fave songs: Dear Jessie Express Yourself Like a Prayer

This album has some pop bangers on it, “like a prayer”, “till death do us part”, the one with PRINCE. But there are also some boring duds on here.

Top 3: 1. Express Yourself 2. Like a Prayer 3. Love Song Least Favourite: Dear Jessie

Classic pop

Started off very strong - some great tunes but the vibe dwindled as it went in. Still a solid, well-crated pop album.

First two songs are bangers, but the rest of the album hasn’t aged well. 2.5 stars.

That was fine. Kinda slow, kinda basic. Seems like Madonna is as much an icon as an artist (of course, this is my first full album of hers I've listened to). Hard to do well on a list of albums if you're known for your hit singles. - Fun! Poppy. Anything that isn't rock is notable on this list - Getting more classic 80s as we go - "Love Song" is funky and I'm here for it - Pretty mid so far. Pleasant, there are some decent songs but mostly just background noise

I couldn't finish listening to this. What i heard was good, but i just hate 80s dance pop. I'm a much bigger fan of New Wave. I don't even hate Madonna, there's just so much more interesting stuff I could be listening to.

Sports chants, for instance.

*1989. *Opens strong with Like a Prayer and Express Yourself. *Cherish Is also on here. *Pretty solid pop album. RATING - 7/10

Promise to Try and Keep It Together when you listen to this album.

Ok Madonna, you can have this one. You got some bops here.

時代を感じますね

Deadpool & Wolverine forever changed this for me

esperava bem mais, mas os singles são mto bons, isso é fato

With the four hits "Like A Prayer", "Express Yourself", "Cherish" and "Dear Jessie" it is potentially a four stars album. Unfortunately the rest of the tracks are not my favour. If there were any doubts whether to give it four or three stars the tracks "Love Song" and "Act of Contrition" were the decider. 3,5

Yer

I love the title track of this album, the rest left me quite lukewarm unfortunately.

Last two songs sucked. Otherwise, pretty good

When 'Love Song' came on I immediately thought "wow this sounds like a Prince song" and yes, looks like Captain Obvious was right again. Co-produced, co-written and performed by Prince. Always love to discover artist collabs I'd never hear otherwise. I did take a long look in the mirror though after hearing that baby laugh in 'Dear Jessie' and thought "what am I doing listening to this album?" With that said listening to this led me to follow it up with 1998's 'Ray of Light' and I had a wayyyy better time. It made me appreciate this album more in retrospect.

Imagine writing songs with Prince and then being like.. nah that’s alright I don’t need them.

The two openers are pop perfection. Like A Prayer especially is fantastic. I prefer the other version of Express Yourself more. The horns here are a bit cheesy. However, the rest of the album I found boring. Which is really quite disappointing. I love pop music and should love Madonna. Maybe this just needs a re-listen.

Like a Prayer is the standout track, excellent song. The rest of the album is an easy enough listen, enough variety between the songs to keep it interesting.

Just like a dream! You are not what you seem! Unfortunately this album is not able to stand up as a whole against the power of the title track/opener, which would be a tall order, but - still. A lot of the back half felt wandering. I listened to "Like a Prayer" at least four times today. Then "Black or White" by Michael Jackson because I get the intro guitar bits to those two mixed up sometimes so one makes me think of the other. Then "Like a Prayer" again. And "Hung Up" once.

Wholly carried by a banger.

It's Madonna and some of her biggest singles are in there, but as an album it's nothing really remarkable

this album is super groovy and i really loved listening to “love song” from the album

Certainly an iconic piece for the era, as was she in general, but other than the few hits the rest is just meh. Low 3.

Seems like quality, highly produced pop music.

Fine. Listenable. didn't hate it.

Classic 80s pop music. This record is not bad but also not that good.

Express yourself!

Can't call myself a Madonna fan, but she does have some pretty good tunes. Love Crazy For You! Slow danced with my wife more than a few times at the dance bars while we were in college. But this album didn't have that song so no doubt the best song off this album was Love Song. I probably would have enjoyed this album a lot more if the other songs were similar in nature and she let the guy in the duet sing a lot more, if not most of the album. But here we are. The 3 radio tunes are pretty good, Express Yourself, Cherish and Like a Prayer, in that order. Rest of the other stuff was OK with Act of Contrition being another stand out. All in all a pretty good album. Shout out to Prince for allowing himself to be part of a mediocre album. 3

3 From one ‘80s pop diva to another, though I’m a bit surprised that we’re just now seeing Madonna pop up on this list for the first time. I’m not going to pretend that I’m any kind of expert on her discography, but I feel like it won’t be the last. But yeah, as far as her body of work goes… I’m pretty indifferent. On a scale of annoying to catchy, I’d place most of her music somewhere in the middle. Like, it’s fine, but it doesn’t really do much for me, and after listening to this album, I would say my opinion has changed very little. However, I’ll give it credit for this - the songwriting and production holds up incredibly well. The signs of this being a 1989 release are definitely there, but generally, this has aged a lot better than many other contemporary pop releases from this era, to the point where I’d say you can hear the influence of this album in many modern pop artists today. Still, I just didn’t find any song here overly interesting… except for one in particular. You can probably guess where I’m going with this, and I’m risking sounding like my dad in saying this, but Love Song with Prince is the best track on this album by a mile. But, let’s be honest with ourselves, despite whose name is on the cover, it’s not a Madonna song with a Prince feature - it’s very much a Prince song with a Madonna feature. His style of production is all over this thing, and while I mean no disrespect to the Queen of Pop, it's the best song here because of it. Unfortunately, not as much of an impression was left from the rest of this tracklist. I was a bit surprised to see that the title track is one of her most popular songs because I certainly haven’t heard it before - or, it’s entirely possible I have and just forgot about it. I guess a lot of people have hailed Express Yourself as empowering; I found it kind of formulaic, though I’m also a man, so I can acknowledge I’m probably not the target audience there. After Love Song, a lot of this started to blend together, with Promise to Try being an especially slow and boring number, but I did kinda dig the ethereal, Enya-esque sort of quality to Oh Father. Act of Contrition was sort of a weird outro given that it's mostly just a collage of noise over a guitar solo, but even weirder, the second least-streamed song after it is Love Song. I guess there isn’t as much of a crossover between the Madonna and Prince fandoms as one would think. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Overall, this was okay, but we’re going to round up to a 3 solely because of the Prince song. Though, I guess it wasn’t his only feature here - he also played guitar on Like a Prayer, Keep It Together, and Act of Contrition, all uncredited. However, despite all of that, the actual coolest thing about this album? It came with a factsheet about safe sex and HIV/AIDS in a show of support for the LGBT community. Respect.

Pretty good stuff

Like a Prayer is amazing. Express Yourself is also a banger. Cherish is a really nice 80s pop song. There are some fillers - or at least songs that definitely aren’t good enough to stand the test of time, but all in all this is just a good pop album - and of course a cornestone in pop music generally.

Wow! I had no idea this would be as enjoyable as it is. I skipped Cherish. Really interesting religious and family themes, pretty sad at times. Loved the bookending of Like A Prayer and Act of Contrition.

This album has 3 hit songs and the rest is unmemorable. Although, I was surprised to hear the Madonna/Prince collaboration and that they couldn't combine to make a hit song. I also began to wonder if the 3 hit songs would be memorable or hit songs in my mind on a first listen... as opposed to already knowing those three tracks and then not recognizing any others. If three different tracks had been played over and over on MTV would I question why Cherish hadn't been a single? or would I think it was unmemorable? I'll listen a few more times and see if anything sticks.

Some good hits and other songs I hadn't heard before

I like the Prince stuff but most of it is just kinda bland

It was alright Like a Prayer and Spanish eyes were the only ones I liked. 3 stars.

Not too bad but the first two songs were more exciting than the rest. Standout tracks: Like a Prayer, Express Yourself

After such strong opening, the rest of the album feels underwhelming. Like a Prayer as the first song sets such a bar that I personally just skipped through the rest of the album chasing the high that first song gave.

Wow holy shit

If one wanted a masterclass in late 80’s pop, this might be the top of the list. Unfortunately for me I don’t really want that but I can admit it is pretty masterful.

esta muy bueno. grandes temas. 80s mas no poder

So I always heard from my dad that Madonna was the "it" of the 80s and 90s, but honestly I mean while it was good it wasn't my favorite. Maybe because it just isn't my favorite genre / style? It was a very close race between a 3 and a 4 but I think it was 1 song away from being a 4.

Decent pop.

About as Madonna as it gets.

Like A Prayer is a 5 star classic but, overall, I wanted to like this more than I did. The other two singles hold their own, but the Prince duet is more interesting as a curio than a song. The rest ranges from "fun but forgetable" to "clunky and dated."

Suffice it to say, I was not looking forward to this listen. Apparently, the title track was highly controversial on release, which is weird because it's pretty standard fare lyrically and musically. It's catchy, but standard fare nonetheless. The rest of this album follows the blueprint set by that track(brainless yet catchy 80s pop). The more upbeat tracks work far better than the ballads in this album. Overall, it is nowhere near as bad as I expected it to be.

Ever was a big fan. But she’s talented for sure. I might enjoy a greatest hits album

Just a good pop album. Like a prayer is a good tune - if I was to have a top Madonna track - it would be this one. Overall it’s fine.

Peak Madge. That said, I'm pretty ambivalent. The hits (and there are plenty here) are all great pop music. The rest? Meh.

Had its moments , the song with prince was the best part

The title track is pure pop perfection—dramatic, daring, and still electrifying. The rest? A mixed bag weighed down by filler that doesn’t come close to matching its brilliance. One iconic song propping up an uneven album.

Ahhh - the very last album I bought on Vinyl before the revival.... 80s very much my era, and this is the end of what I consider to be her 'classic' 80s album run. After this she's reinventing herself every time. It's a really solid album, but it's a mixed bag and there is some filler here (just like on all her albums tbh). When it's good, its great...title track and Oh Father being the standout tracks for me. However, the Prince / Madonna track is just awful...should have never seen the light of day. Just drones on and on (and on). 3 (nearly a 4)

A good listen! There’s a choir like sound to most of these that I really appreciate. Sweeping instrumentals and meaningful lyrics. Till death do us part and obviously Like a prayer are standouts for me

Nudy na 3

3.5 I l9ve all the hits but the fillers took it down a peg.

Classic! Great album! I find myself turning it up. It's great!... Ok after Express Yourself it kind of took a turn. I guess it's the big hits that I really like.

Ok, I've always wanted to listen to this album, but as a pop enthusiast, this is quite a let down. The melodies and instrumental feel very dated and for 2025, just a feel songs ("Like a Prayer", "Cherish") translate well.I know why this album should be in list but it's not good and not coherent. Madonna was never a good vocalist, but some of the songs here are painful. Thank God she did better albuns afterwards. ButbI am really disappointed 3/5

Not a bad listen. Singles are obviously incredibly well known but the rest of the content was surprisingly good.

Pas mal mais aucun morceau n'a retenu mon attention

The album is just o k. The better songs were the popular songs that stood out. And some of these other ones are horrible.

I am giving it a 3 instead of 2 only because the title track is epic af. The rest is boring.

If you like Madonna, then this is a classic album for you. If you don’t like Madonna then you won’t understand what all the fuss is about. It’s ok. The hit songs are good. The rest is forgettable.

Album 948 of 1089 Madonna - Like A Prayer (1989) Rating : 3.5 / 5 My first impulse is always to lean a little negative when it comes to Madonna, but I’ve been proven wrong before - and I was again today. While I can’t quite put it in the category of “greatest albums ever,” there’s no denying that this one represents its era and its genre incredibly well. It’s a well-produced, confident record that shows Madonna at the top of her pop game. The title track alone still holds up as one of her most powerful moments - bold, catchy, and perfectly crafted. The rest of the album keeps a steady, upbeat tone, with her vocals right on point and the production polished without feeling overdone. She knew exactly what she was doing here and executed it flawlessly. I have to give her props - she delivered what was expected of her and did it extremely well. Even if this era of pop isn’t my usual lane, I can recognize when it’s done right, and this is a fine example of that.

Some of these songs are familiar, I suspect I heard many of these tracks on the radio in period. Certainly none of my friends were Madonna 'fans'; she was 'pop' and we didn't do 'pop'. The track 'Like a Prayer' could be an ABBA number... dunno if that's a good thing. I completely panned 'Ray of Light' when it came up here. This is better. A more honest pop album, fun at times, and she has a great voice without a doubt. It is not really my thing and I don't want it in my album collection, I wouldn't choose to listen to it but if someone started playing it I wouldn't yell at them to change to something else. 3/5.

Three stars, barely. Would have been two if it weren't for Like a Prayer

En la presura del día escuché por error el álbum "Like A Virgin" en lugar de "Like A Prayer", lo cual en cierto sentido ayudó en mejorar la experiencia de escucha por comparación. "Like A Virgin" es un álbum más inmaduro, con una esencia adolescente y una ideología que hace apología del consumismo capitalista y relaciones sexo-afectivas tóxicas. Además la voz de Madonna suena demasiado chillona e infantil. "Like A Prayer" es una mejora sustancial del estilo y el contenido. Por supuesto no deja de ser música comercial que abraza el capitalismo y el concepto de que "el sexo vende", pero se percibe mucho más maduro, y además la voz suena mucho mejor. El trabajo musical es interesante y no tan predecible como parece, a pesar de que son todas canciones pop, hay por momentos ciertos temas que sorprenden en cuanto a su estilo, sonoridad y estructura. Creo que sobre todo tienen mucho trabajo de orquestación (tradicional, electrónica y orquestal combinados). No es un estilo de música que me guste demasiado escuchar, pero aprecio el trabajo.

I don’t think it was the vibe for today, but it wasn’t bad by any means. It very obviously influenced a lot of stuff, which I can get behind. Favorites: Like a Prayer, Love Song, Act of Contrition

Really enjoyed some songs and really didn’t like others. Very strange way to end the album.

The first track is great. The rest is pretty good.

First listen. I think Like a Prayer is... fine. It opens with a very strong run, and then kind of progressively tapers off from there. Initially, I found the slower, more ballad-y tracks to be good for the album's pacing - even though they were individually on the weaker side - but eventually, they started to take up a bit too much of the runtime. The album is at its best when it fully leans into unabashed, glittery dance-pop; and it really does shine in those moments, but sadly, they're a bit too scarce as far as I'm concerned. Perfectly cromulent, but nothing extraordinary. Fav. Track: Like a Prayer

Overall pretty good and catchy, recognized a lot of these songs and I think the Artist formerly known as Prince was included on some songs? Overall a 3 for me however

I never realized Cherish was a Madonna song. I was surprised by the quality of the album, I normally scoff at Madonna and don’t think I’ve ever spun LAP in full before, but it was quite listenable.

Some good songs here, but it’s also kind of a weird album. The hits have that 80’s pop ballad sound, but the rest of the album is a mix - some of it is Disney-ish. Notable tracks include Like A Prayer, Express Yourself, Cherish, Oh Father, Spanish Eyes.

Solid 3, it’s good pop music.

songs i liked: like a prayer express yourself cherish

I'm too young to appreciate this

Not for me. It's sort of catchy and obviously a cornerstone of pop music, but I'm not into it.

Like a prayer is the stand out and a classic but the rest was middling pop. Expected more from the Prince collab. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.

An iconic voice, I think there are better Madonna albums out there Fav song - Like a Prayer 3/5

Like a prayer is great and the random chamber pop song in the middle was fun

The 'Like A Prayer' music video was on constantly when I was growing up, seemingly every music video channel had it queued up to play multiple times a day, and this was over ten years after the song's release. It was this almost gothic religious affair. It haunts me still. Otherwise, this was a load of cheese and I worry what the neighbours think.

There are a few great songs on here, but also quite a bit of filler. This isn't as consistently good as Ray of Light or Music IMO.

I liked this more than the Ray of LIght or Music, so I guess I'll bump it from my original thought of 2 stars.

I developed a secret crush on Madonna the first time I watched the video for "Material Girl." Though, I was never moved to buy her albums. She seemed ubiquitous from 1984 on. Like A Prayer was released at the end of my freshman year in high school. I remember the "Like A Prayer," "Express Yourself," and "Cherish" videos in heavy rotation on MTV. By the end of my sophomore year, "Vogue" came out and the cycle kept repeating itself for a time. Fun fact: my junior yearbook, when I was on the yearbook staff, was titled "Express Yourself." I have lost it. For me, Like A Prayer suffers because of its success. However, I did like "Love Song" with Prince, "Till Death Do Us Part," and laughed heartily at the line "What do you mean it's not in the computer?!"

listening to this made me realize - of madonna's hit singles - like a prayer is the one i like the least, and the rest of the album didn't really hit the same high as the title track. so: we go from middling to a little under middling (middling-lite, maybe). a little bit disappointed to be so underwhelmed, but i did save a handful of songs, so it evens out. highlights - like a prayer, express yourself, love song, till death do us part, cherish

Fav: Like A Prayer Least Fav: Act Of Contrition One of the most front-loaded albums I’ve ever listened to. A great first half that the second half cannot hold a candle to, frustratingly

The album lead in is excellent. Loved the 1st 3 songs, especially the Prince collab. Never knew that song existed. Some of these songs are a bit too 80s for me but I can see why Madonna was the pop diva of her time. Poppy and catchy.

3 absolutely brilliant songs, but the rest just ok 3/5

Reminds me of going to the mall as a child. This is the late 80s pop sound of America.

When I was a preteen, at least 50% of the music on my iPod had to be Christian music. Call me crazy, but I don’t think this album would have qualified.

The highs are as good as Madonna gets, the album tracks, including one with Prince(!) are a bit of a let down.

Me gusta el pop de Madonna de los 80.

Couple slow ones I didn’t much care for but the hits carried it to a three

Like A Prayer is a pretty good album. Instead of having a whole bunch of electronic elements like Ray Of Light did, This one seems to go for more of a typical 80s pop album. I like the former style more because it just sounds more interesting but this style is pretty good too. The songs could be pretty enjoyable but tend to blend in with each other a little too much. Madonna's vocals are the real highlight of this album as they could be really good and fit the songs perfectly. I also did like Prince's vocals in the one song that he appeared in. There are not too many stand out tracks here but i still enjoyed this album to a decent degree. Best Song: Keep It Together Worst Song: Cherish

Very good album. 3,5

It’s an 80’s Madonna album.

Classic Madonna, but not quite my jam

De twee openingstracks zijn natuurlijk klassiekers. Ik had geen idee dat er een Prince-track op stond, maar dat is dus de derde track. Heel fijn. Daarna zakt de boel wat in. "Till Death Do Us Part" en "Promise to Try" kun je overslaan. Daarna weer wat singletjes, waarvan "Cherish" er bovenuit steekt. "Dear Jessie" en "Oh Father" vallen meer in de categorie b-kantjes. "Keep it Together" is een beetje een slappe Prince-ripoff. Had dan die "By Alien Means" track met hem opgenomen. De laatste twee tracks kun je ook weglaten. Bepaald geen plaat om per se te horen voor je doodgaat, maar wel goede singles natuurlijk.

Like a Prayer and Express Yourself is one hell of a one-two punch to open an album. Unfortunately the rest of the album doesn’t live up to this high. Basically every pop album I’ve ever listened to has a lot of filler. This one has less than average but I wish it had been more consistent throughout. One time at karaoke sometime put on Like a Prayer and it turned into the greatest group singalong of all time. The song just keeps going but somehow it keeps getting better? It’s genius. Other highlights: Till Death Do Is Part (what a catchy song about an abusive husband… Sean Penn, I’m looking at you), Cherish

This is a tough one. The album starts with one of the greatest pop songs ever written. And everything else after it feels underwhelming in comparison, which isn't fair to these songs. I don't know why they didn't put Like a Prayer as the last song on the album. Build up to it for christ sake. Give the rest of the songs a chance. Like a Prayer even feels like it's an epic final track, a conclusion of sorts (see the recent deadpool movie where it's used as the song in the epic climax of the film). It would be perfect at the end. And it seems like they even know that since they put a little reprisal track at the end that revisits and remixes pieces of Like a Prayer. It even has a religious title (Act of Contrition). They want what I want. Buttttt at the time I know on pop records it was customary to front load the album with the singles (i'm not sure if this is still a thing in the streaming era, but it was for a long time), so their hands were tied. It really doesn't do this album any favours. Now getting past that... the rest of the album is a mixed bag. These are long pop songs. Everything is over 4 minutes except the outro and Promise to Try. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it means when a song hits you get lots of it... but when it doesn't, you also get lots. What doesn't hit.... Express Yourself - Hot take... this song isn't very good. I think it was a hit, I just don't like it. It does sound like something lady gaga has ripped off aggressively though which is kinda funny (i feel like i know the lady gaga ripoffs which somehow taints the original? i dunno). I guess the message of the song is good... definitely an empowerment anthem about not settling? Also the title just makes me think of that old soul song "express yourself" which is just better. Love Song - I like Prince. I like Madonna. But this is just a hot mess. It feels like these 2 massive egos threw a shit ton of ideas at this song and neither one would back down or cut their ideas, so the whole kitchen sink is here and it is a bit of a disaster. I almost feel like there are a few good songs in here that just got mashed into one ugly one. I don't like it. Promise to Try - A slow piano ballad just doesn't work for Madonna. I feel like she doesn't have the singing chops to pull this off. She's not an Adele or even a Gaga. Dear Jessie - it's very whimsical and strange. It has like a medieval fair vibe at points (but with 80s production). Madonna just doesn't fit on this. Oh Father - Her vocals work better on this ballad.. but it kinda feels like she's ripping off Kate Bush... and not delivering on that. Keep It Together - I hate this song. Kinda feels like a Michael Jackson b-side. I also hate this message of "even if your siblings suck ass, you can go back to them and they'll always accept you." Perhaps as a celebrity this feels more real. I just hate the blood is thicker than water shit. Your family can be whoever you want. Spanish Eyes - this song is a mess. I don't like it. What does hit... Till Death Do Us Part - What a bubbly but moody 80s pop banger. I've never heard this before, but I love it. Such a great track. Worth listening to the album just to find this. Chorus is stuck in my brain. That synth line in the background is also great. Cherish - It almost feels like the theme song for an 80s sitcom about a teen girl named Cherish and i'm here for it. It's fun, 80s pop. Big anthemic chorus. I dig it. Act of Contrition - Anything that even has a hint of Like a Prayer, and I'm in. The solo that plays is sick. The weird distorted samples are awesome. Madonna monotone talking/singing a prayer overtop of the chaos... but then the prayer turns into a rant about a reservation being denied... and that iconic final line she shouts: What do you mean it's not in the computer?! It's pretty awesome. Like a Prayer - I stand by my statement that it's one of the greatest pop songs ever written. It's complex. Bold as fuck. Epic. Catchy as hell. It's perfect. I re-discovered it a few years ago and was obsessed. It was one of my top spotify songs that year. How the fuck did she make a song comparing sex and love to a religious experience in the 80s and have it go to number 1 in the US and around the world? It's a god damn miracle. She basically turned water into wine. I feel like I could write a few 1000 words about this song, but I will restrain myself because it's almost 3 am. A couple thoughts: 1) I love how even though it's almost 6 minutes long, it still leaves you wanting more. The bridge is this massive tease that feels like you're building to a final epic chorus and it never hits. Instead she fades out on this incredible bridge and it makes you want to put the song back on to get that chorus payoff you're brain told you was coming. I don't know if this was on purpose to make people keep requesting it to the radio station... but it's brilliant. 2) THE CHOIR. I don't need to say anything more. 3) There was this video that went viral where you had a church in the states now embracing the song and singing it as part of a sermon. This made me chuckle since the church was not happy about the song at the time, especially the video with black Jesus. I can't tell if them singing it is progress or hypocrisy or stupidity or just the passage of time. I hope they followed it up with a speech about abstinence. It would really complete the insanity. I once played it at a party and my one friend accused my one religious friend of putting it on and i just laughed and said read the lyrics. 4) Great claps. Without Like a Prayer, this album is a 2... maybe a 2.5 if i'm feeling generous. With Like a prayer.... it might be a 3.5... but i have to round down because half of the record kinda sucks.

It's okay. Title track is legendary.

Some great songs here - “Express Yourself” in particular has always been a favorite. I found myself too distracted by several factors to really feel like I’mable to evaluate this album fairly. First off, can’t listen to “Like a Prayer” without hearing the music video pitch from Kevin Gilbert’s “Shaming of the True”. But most of all, every time the little moments where Prince shows up, which are pretty pervasive, I suddenly wished I was listening to a Prince album instead. Madonna deserves her place in pop’s history.

Some of this is great, you can hear the Prince influence, and I love the baroque flourishes on tracks like Dear Jessie. Like A Prayer is a real earworm. Some of this bored me quite a bit. Pray For Spanish Eyes, for example, is just not a good song whatever way you cut it. Still, overall its not bad for super mainstream 80s pop.

Grew up in prime Madonna days, she was absolutely huge, as much as a pre internet ⭐️ can be.. her jams played at every party, so some fun memories. From a music standpoint, it really doesn’t have a place

Takes me back to elementary school. I used to love hearing Madonna on the radio as a kid. If you’d caught me in 5th grade, this would’ve been a solid 4.

good

The title track and “Oh Father” are good songs. I appreciate the leap Madonna made here with subject matter, musical complexity, and additions like gospel backup. Still, I prefer Lucky Star and Burning Up-era gay club princess Madonna to Serious Madonna.

like a prayer is gold and ya she's queen of pop, I get it. I just got bored of it pretty quickly...

I went back and forth on this one, but it has some great moments. Obviously Like a Prayer is a perfect song and Express Yourself is great too. Cherish and Love Song are both fun but I found them too repetitive. Oh Father has a GREAT buildup I was not expecting. I think it's a 3.5 overall.

Decent 80s pop

Liked it a bit, typical 80s, nice vocals, some decent sound and songs that probably go on far too long. 3 stars

Madonna was always the Queen of Reinvention. This album was definitely her move from teen chanteuse to Queen of Pop. It’s hard not to enjoy the first part of this album. Like a Prayer is gospel infused goodness in the Church of Madonna, and Express Yourself is a pop dance anthem for the disco or kitchen floor. I had to verify with Siri that Prince was a cowriter of Love Song, as it emanated his touch of retro-pop-funk. The album tapers off more than I remember it at the halfway point. Dear Jessie sounded like Alan Menken of 1990s Disney Princess fame could have written it, which was kind of the point of fantasy, and Oh Father I imagined came out of a therapy session. Good for you Madonna! You came to terms with your personal childhood trauma! I’m split: Top o’ the Album is an emphatic 5! The bottom of the album is a meandering 2. Is 3.75 and option?

Random thoughts: * Like a Prayer is still a pretty good jam. I remember seeing the video debut on TV live when I was a kid. I remember everyone losing their minds because of the burning crosses. * I forgot about Express Yourself. Fun song and fun flashback! * Madonna and Prince did a song together! What?!?! I don't remember this but listening to it was more like Prince did a Madonna song since it was so much more Prince than Madonna. * Cherish was also a fun bop that also brought back some nostalgia. * I enjoyed this album more than I expected. However, I won't be seeking it out anytime soon.

Avausmegahitti on toimivaa poppia, mutta taas levyllä on aika paljon tylsää ilmaa. miksi tämän piti kestää 51 min?

Really good.

5.5/10

weird at the end

Ouais pas mal pas le classique de l’année mais sympa

This is a good album - but I just can't stand much pop. She's great, talented, and great production on here. Songs are catchy. But still - pop.

This is a solid pop/dance album! Obviously the stand out tracks on here are ‘Like a Prayer’ and ‘Express Yourself’ so the album starts off very strong and then falls off from there for me. The songs are not very deep and you don’t need to overthink them like most pop music. Overall, I enjoyed my first listen through of a Madonna album but I’m not sure if I would pick this album up again.

I like Madonna, always did.

A few solid pop songs the rest are just okay.

Not a big Madonna fan. This didn't win me over, but there were some good songs.

While I have enjoyed some of her radio hits over the years, I have never understood the hype behind Madonna. Her level of celebrity, especially at its peak in the 80s and 90s, it’s more a testament to her sheer will to be famous rather than to her level of talent, whether in music or film.

Madonna is one of those artists that’s most always been around. I’m mean, still, she is still making music and reinventing her sound. My first encounter with Madonna was her ‘Ray of light’ era. As I have got older I really think her 80s music is my favourite, although I wouldn’t say I was a massive fan, I love the hits. ‘Like a Prayer’ & ‘Exspress yourself’ are easily recognisable to me. The rest of the album is new to me and it is a good mix of slow and fast pop songs, some with deep messages. I can see why it’s a successful and celebrated album, although I do think some songs are a bit too long.

Like a prayer the song is a stunner. And all the other singles work great. But non singles including duet with Prince are mediocre to bad. Glad she tried though

80s pop, with some exceptions, kinda bores me. This is especially true for the 80s output of the two biggest pop musicians-- Madonna and Michael Jackson. Not that they're bad. They're are expertly written, sung and produced. But there's not much interesting in there. 3/5

It's fine, growing up in the 80s and 90s Madonna was played everywhere. It hasn't improved or spoiled with time. Take that as you will.

I quite enjoyed listening to this. I was an indie kid in the 80s with a stereotype to adhere to so I’ve never knowingly listened to a Madonna album before. I’ve quietly approved of some of her singles over the years (Borderline and Ray of Light for example) but I’ve never really considered myself to be in her demographic. Obviously, gospel singers can make anything sound good but this is neatly crafted pop and I was surprised at how many of these songs I knew. That said, I’m not sure how it qualifies for the list, it doesn’t stand out particularly, it’s just… quite good. If you like that sort of thing.

Like a Prayer

Веселенький, но я не развеселился. Было бы странно, если бы мне альбом очень понравился.

I didn't know some of the tracks are Madonna. Fairly enjoyable overall, but not something I need in my life.