Review Summary: The definition of ear candy.
Released in 1989, Like a Prayer may not have as many recognizable songs as Michael Jackson’s Bad (released in 1987), yet Madonna’s album is an inspiring collection of tunes ready for dance floors. Nowadays almost everyone is called a Queen, yet Madonna was/is a true pop icon. Madonna was ahead of her time. Producers for Spice Girls and *NSYNC clearly took notes from Madonna’s early works, and for good reason. No one could touch Madonna’s brand of light, bubblegum pop which held a weight of maturity.
The magic of the album isn’t simply from songwriting perfection. Madonna swings in with vocal hooks that may cause tremors in your home — her presence is felt on a large scale. I don’t mean to dismiss modern pop in general, but Madonna’s emotive vocal presence here demolishes almost any modern pop singer you may care to mention. She does so without needlessly vomiting out a plethora of notes or showing off, her vocals are
felt. No auto-tune distraction is noticeable, it’s just us and her voice, and I can’t think of a more poignant and charming voice.
Despite the now retro synths, their impact remains the same. Bright and glittery, they sound shiny new. With equally blissful, non-intrusive, yet efficiently catchy beats, the light synthesizers bring extra layers of hypnotism via magic unicorn dust. It is cheesy but so sugary sweet one can’t help but love it. The music never overpowers Madonna’s voice, she remains in command, and with the added benefit of extra gloss around her, allowing her presence to sparkle even more. Pop with plenty disco influence is the game, though Madonna makes it her own with her stunning voice. No track is wasted, every track is impactful and addicting, with equally mesmerizing lyrics.
Like a Prayer is a stone cold classic because the music is scandalously pretty, and addictive in a way that few pop artists achieve. I could listen to this over and over and never get tired of it. Here’s my final point: replace Madonna with any other singer and the album wouldn’t be anywhere near as effective. Madonna is a household name because her singing and music is top-tier. For any pop fan, Like a Prayer remains an essential album.
