“Like a Prayer” by Madonna
The shrewdest of provocateurs, a.k.a. The Queen of Pop, hit a high note with “Like a Prayer.” When the music video appeared on MTV in 1989, the criticism over portions of the lyrics was overshadowed by considerable outrage about the portrayal of religious and improper themes. Madonna’s video angered Catholics so badly that Pope John Paul II and PepsiCo condemned it. The Vatican declared it blasphemous and ordered a boycott of a new Pepsi television commercial starring Madonna singing with a church choir. Pepsi panicked and pulled the ad, but not before paying $5 million to the publicity savvy diva. It was the ideal combination of controversy and attention. “Like a Prayer” is still one of the material girl’s most successful songs.
Like A Prayer By Madonna
“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys
If you have any doubts about the roots of conservatism in the United States of America, please express them. Paul McCartney famously enthused about the Beach Boys’ 1966 love ballad while southern radio stations ignored it. The love song did not invoke the Lord’s name in vain, but a pop song with the word “God” in the title appeared blasphemous enough. Because several stations refused to broadcast it, “God Only Knows” only reached No. 39 on the US charts. However, in the United Kingdom, it soared to No. 2. Another factor is that it was neglected because it was released as a B-side to the band’s huge hit “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.”
God Only Knows By The Beach Boys
