"Like a Prayer" by Madonna

<p>Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone... except for everyone listening to this episode, because we're traveling together through doubt and deliverance with Madonna's "Like a Prayer."</p> <p>Kirk takes a look at the high-contrast drama of the megastar's 1989 megahit, with its cathedral-like verses, bus-driving guitar rhythms, bouncy basslines, and perfectly placed Latin percussion flourishes. The music video got a lot of attention back in the day, but there's plenty in the song itself to celebrate, from Prince's mystery guitar to Madonna's vulnerable vocals to the joyful power of the Andraé Crouch Choir.</p> <p><strong>Band/Artist:</strong> Madonna</p> <p><strong>Album:</strong> <em>Like a Prayer</em>, 1989</p> <p><strong>Composed by:</strong> Madonna and Patrick Leonard</p> <p><strong>Listen/Buy:</strong> <a href= "https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-nightmare-before-christmas-special-edition/1440662430"> Apple Music</a> | <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/album/48AGkmM7iO4jrELRnNZGPV">Amazon</a> | <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/album/48AGkmM7iO4jrELRnNZGPV">Spotify</a></p> <p><strong>------</strong></p> <p><strong>ALSO FEATURED/DISCUSSED:</strong></p> <ul> <li>"Open Your Heart To Me" by Madonna from <em>True Blue</em>, 1986</li> <li>"Like a Prayer" as covered by the cast of <em>Glee</em></li> <li>The music video for "Like a Prayer": <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA983t3Rdzs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA983t3Rdzs</a></li> <li>Three excellent music documentaries: "Muscle Shoals," "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," and "20 Feet From Stardom." (Seriously, watch all three!)</li> </ul> <p><strong>OUTRO SOLOIST: Steve Pardo<br /></strong></p> <p>This episode's outro soloist is the one and only Steve Pardo. Steve and Kirk met when they were both jazz saxophone students at the University of Miami; Steve currently lives and performs around the Nashville, TN area. He's a producer, composer, and does work in the world of video games, having spent several years at Harmonix, where he helped