Like a Prayer
Madonna
1989

Back to the freshman year dorms for this one.  I’ve always been a fan of the Material Girl, Ms. Dennis Rodman, Madge herself.  Actually Madonna is one of the very first pop artists I can remember hearing.  Material Girl (the song) came out in 1984 and I remember the woman who would give us a ride home from school as part of our carpool listening to it and remember thinking, “this singer doesn’t sound like the John Denver and Neil Diamond that my parents listen to.”  No, little Jason, she didn’t sound like them.  She also didn’t really act like them, either.

So I’ve been a fan for a while, and The Immaculate Collection was one of the first albums I acquired through Columbia House.  This one right here is my favorite Madonna song.  I’m no dancer, but one random evening during freshman year, my boy Nate Dogg and I decided to film ourselves doing some karaoke to this one, among others, and we literally cut the rug in the 4th floor of W Hall (RIP).  Our friend Nick and another cat named Otto (if you know, you know) were also involved.  Video of this does, in fact, exist, and I own it.  Sadly, though, it exists on VHS and I did not have time to digitize before releasing the Top 100.  Just picture the awesomeness in your minds.

Putting aside that trip down memory lane, the song itself is pop music at its best.  The rhythm.  The melody.  And of course, don’t forget the provocative nature of that music video!  (Did Madonna ever do anything that wasn’t provocative?) Because I’m a sucker for songs featuring gospel choirs, I also love the way this one builds to a crescendo with the choir at the end (“let the choir sing!”).  A true masterpiece.

Other Songs Considered:
Express Yourself, Material Girl, Borderline, Open Your Heart