On this day in 1989: Madonna began her third and final week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Like A Prayer.’ it would be ranked the #25 song of 1989 on Billboard’s year end chart.
The song is the title track of Madonna’s fourth studio album ‘Like A Prayer.’ Madonna worked with Stephen Bray, Patrick Leonard, and Prince on the album while co-writing and co-producing all of the songs. Her most introspective release at the time, Like a Prayer has been described as a confessional record. Madonna described the album as a collection of songs “about my mother, my father, and bonds with my family.” The album was dedicated to Madonna’s mother, who died when she was young.
Like a Prayer received universal acclaim, with Rolling Stone hailing it as “close to art as pop music gets.” Commercially, the album was an international success, reaching the top of the charts in multiple territories, and was certified quadruple platinum in the United States. She released six singles off the album.
With the singles’ accompanying music videos, Madonna furthered her creativity and became known as a leading figure in the format. The music video for “Like a Prayer” was a lightning rod for religious controversy, using Catholic iconography such as stigmata and burning crosses, and a dream about making love to a saint, leading the Vatican to condemn the video causing Pepsi to cancel Madonna’s sponsorship contract. The video for “Express Yourself” was the most expensive video at its release. Like a Prayer preceded Madonna’s ground-breaking Blonde Ambition World Tour. At the end of the 1980s, following the release of the album, Madonna was named “Artist of the Decade” by several publications.
Here’s a look at the complete Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1989:
1 1 LIKE A PRAYER –•– Madonna – 8 (1)
2 2 I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU –•– Bon Jovi – 10 (2)
3 8 REAL LOVE –•– Jody Watley – 8 (3)
4 3 FUNKY COLD MEDIA –•– Tone Loc – 10 (3)
5 10 FOREVER YOUR GIRL –•– Paula Abdul – 9 (5)
6 7 SECOND CHANCE –•– .38 Special – 13 (6)
7 9 AFTER ALL –•– Cher & Peter Cetera – 9 (7)
8 15 SOLDIER OF LOVE –•– Donny Osmond – 7 (8)
9 11 ROOM TO MOVE –•– Animotion – 12 (9)
10 4 SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY –•– Fine Young Cannibals – 15 (1)
11 5 HEAVEN HELP ME –•– Deon Estus – 11 (5)
12 13 THINKING OF YOU –•– Sa-Fire – 14 (12)
13 17 CULT OF PERSONALITY –•– Living Colour – 9 (13)
14 18 ROCK ON –•– Michael Damian – 8 (14)
15 16 IKO IKO –•– The Belle Stars – 10 (15)
16 14 SINCERELY YOURS –•– Sweet Sensation & Romeo J.D – 14 (14)
17 19 ELECTRIC YOUTH –•– Debbie Gibson – 6 (17)
18 22 PATIENCE –•– Guns N’ Roses – 5 (18)
19 20 WIND BENEATH MY WINGS –•– Bette Midler – 10 (19)
20 23 EVERY LITTLE STEP –•– Bobby Brown – 7 (20)
