I’m an 80s baby through and through, deeply in love with the decade that defined pop culture like no other. It wasn't always clear how this passion would shape my journey, but my love for both 80s-inspired music and jams straight from the era has led me on a wild adventure from depressed corporate girly to embodying the essence of 80s pop-rock on stages around the world with my band, Guardians of the Jukebox.
So whether you're an 80s aficionado, a fellow artist drawing inspiration from this colorful decade, or someone curious about my transformation from mundane 9-to-5 to musician living a retro-tinged dream, you've found your crew. Let’s be kind, rewind, relive, and re-love the 80s together.
Welcome to “80s, Baby!” I’m your host, Seersha.
My mom is originally from South Korea and she didn’t bring a lot with her to the US when she moved here. But some of the few precious objects that she did bring over were her cassette tapes. I have this distinct memory of flipping through those tapes; my parents had those little tape drawers that would hold the cassette boxes, and seeing these epic 80s pop artists’ names represented there: Cyndi Lauper, Freddie Mercury, Madonna. My dad was a music guy, too–he was into the 80s hair bands, and he got into some heavy metal–Quiet Riot, Judas Priest, early Metallica–but he also had a very wide breadth of musical taste, from Bananarama to Prince to Whitesnake.
So for me, this music isn't just about appreciating it as a professional musician – the boundary-pushing sounds, the catchy hooks, the iconic voices – it's a living, breathing connection to my own upbringing, a tapestry of sonic memories that has woven its way into the very fabric of who I am as an artist. I find myself endlessly inspired by the artists that came out of this distinctive time period. And especially as someone bringing 80s music to life in my band, it’s vitally important to me that I deep-dive into the history, the ethos and the connections behind these songs.
These days, I’m traveling the globe sharing my voice and artistry – I am literally living out the dream I had as a little girl – and so much of my journey has been guided by leaning into that which brings me joy – simply put, the 80s. So as I share some of my favorite stories behind 80s songs and artists, I hope to inspire you to find connections between your own influences, the art and culture that you love, and how leaning into that can reveal at most, profound lessons about ourselves and our calling, and at least, a little bit more joy into our lives.
On each episode of our journey, we’ll explore the origins of an 80s song. We’ll look at the creative process behind it and the context surrounding its release, but we’ll also consider any deeper learnings we can take away from the story behind the song.
Today, we’re looking at a song that is probably my favorite to perform in the Guardians set, although I hesitate to say that because I truly love all of the songs. But this one is super special. This artist is pivotally influential and inspirational for me. I actually got to experience her Celebration tour recently and I was absolutely blown away. Let’s dive into the background behind Madonna's seminal hit, "Like a Prayer."
“My first couple of albums I would say came from the little girl in me, who is interested only in having people like me, in being entertaining and charming and frivolous and sweet,” Madonna said in May 1989. “And this new one is the adult side of me, which is concerned with being brutally honest.” While Madonna is talking about the Like A Prayer album as a whole here, her fourth full-length studio album released on Sire Records on May 21, 1989, this quote rings true when it comes to the single, as well.
This is a Madonna era where we see her pushing the envelope both musically and lyrically, and taking more control over the narrative around her. We hear her in a more intimate and vulnerable way, as well, as she performed these songs in the studio with her backing musicians. She told Interview magazine: “We had every intention of going back and fixing the vocals, but then we’d listen to them and say, ‘Why? They’re fine,’” They were a lot more emotional and spontaneous when I did them with the musicians… There are weird sounds that your throat makes when you sing: p’s are popped, and s’s are hissed, things like that. Just strange sounds that come out of your throat, and I didn’t fix them. I didn’t see why I should. Because I think those sounds are emotions too.” I think this is one of the things that makes these songs feel so nostalgic to our ears now–we’re so used to modern pop music sounding incredibly polished, practically sterile and squeaky clean–hearing those natural sounds on a vocal track feels that much more organic and emotional.
Ok, now that we’ve set a bit of the stage for this song, let’s go back to the very beginning of the track. That guitar riff. You know who that is, right? None other than Prince. He was initially uncredited for the riff, which is another thing I actually love about 80s music; not the fact that he was uncredited but the fact that I’m constantly learning about some musician who popped into another musician’s studio session and laid down some epic guitar or synth riff and then just floated off into the ether. What a magical time.
So how did this song come out into the world? It actually first premiered on TV as part of a Pepsi commercial. Which feels like the most Madonna thing ever – this song is such an art piece yet it’s still pure pop – as she told The New York Times in 1989, “What I do is total commercialism, but it’s also art.”
But after the "Like A Prayer" video premiered, the American Family Association along with other religious organizations called for a yearlong boycott of Pepsi products and PepsiCo's subsidiaries, including KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. The ad ran only twice in the US before Pepsi pulled the plug on it. The music video was also banned by the Vatican and Pope John Paul the second encouraged fans to boycott Madonna in Italy. If you haven’t seen the video, you definitely need to, I’ll link it in the show notes. The imagery includes stigmata wounds, burning crosses, and Madonna getting it on with a saint statue who comes to life. We might not bat an eye at this kind of boundary-pushing today, but it was absolutely outrageous in 1989.
The pope went on to call Madonna's Blonde Ambition tour "one of the most satanic shows in the history of humanity." Can you imagine being banned by the pope? Especially as someone who grew up Catholic. In response, she told reporters at the time: “I am aware the Vatican and some Catholic communities are accusing my show of being sinful and blasphemous and that they are trying to stop people seeing it. If you are sure that I am a sinner, then let he who has not sinned cast the first stone. If you are not sure, then I beg of you, as righteous men and women of the Catholic church that worship a God who loves unconditionally, to see my show and then judge me.”
In May of 2022, Madonna tweeted at Pope Francis, “I’m a good Catholic. I Swear! I mean I don’t Swear! It’s been a few decades since my last confession. Would it be possible to meet up one day to discuss some important matters? I’ve been excommunicated 3 times. It doesn’t seem fair. Sincerely Madonna.”
Let’s circle back to the highly controversial music video for a moment – did you know it was directed by a woman, Mary Lambert? Lambert also directed many of Madonna's early videos including "Borderline," "Like a Virgin," "Material Girl," and "La Isla Bonita." She also directed videos for Annie Lennox, Mick Jagger, The Go-Go's, Whitney Houston, Mötley Crüe, Queensrÿche, Sting, Debbie Harry and more. We’re talking some of the biggest names in the game in the 80s. To put in perspective how remarkable this is, consider this: of the top 250 grossing films of 2022, only 11% of directors were women. In 2022!
I’ve shared with you the highlights of my research into the origins of Like A Prayer – now I’d like to offer two takeaways for us as creatives that stood out to me from our deep dive.
The first concept I want to offer is something I’ll call “spiritual confidence.” Whether we are looking solely at Like A Prayer or considering her entire body of work, I think it’s safe to say that Madonna is a very spiritual person and artist. And her individual spirituality is not bound by or dampened by the critical response to her work. To evolve and create so freely, and then to be able to respond to such a deep level of misunderstanding from the ultimate in authority figures with complete self-possession – that is absolutely badass. As creatives, that level of internal confidence is something we ought to aspire to and to do the work to cultivate within ourselves. We actually need to create and hold space to be misunderstood as artists, and to build the spiritual confidence and resilience to withstand and transcend being misunderstood. I have got to get SO clear on what I believe and who I am that even if the Pope misunderstands me, criticizes me and my work, like he did Madonna, I can stand in the face of that with complete spiritual confidence. I can know that I am shining my light with purity of heart and nothing can shake that.
The second concept I want to offer centers around the beauty of paradox. Let’s outline a simple definition of paradox here: in a paradox, two contrary ideas can both be true at the same time. Our brains have a really hard time with paradox because our brains want things to be clearly black and white, yes or no, on or off – it’s challenging for our brains to hold yes and no as simultaneously true. I think Madonna demonstrates her mastery of paradox in multiple ways here. Take, for example, her statement that “what I do is total commercialism, but it’s also art.” On the surface, those are two contradictory labels; it’s commercialism OR it’s art; how can it be both? The answer is via the beauty of paradox. I would offer too, that her approach to the recording process for Like A Prayer utilized paradox. Recording live with the band meant that they had to perform with exacting precision and yet they also left room for the organic and emotional expression of her voice. I’ll leave you with this question: how can we as artists apply paradox to our process and our work, to add depth and complexity to what we create?
Much like Madonna did with "Like a Prayer," we must be willing to evolve. To explore the space of paradox. To take risks. To stand in our vision and our voice, even when we receive pushback. To be unshakeable.
So as we bid farewell to this episode, I encourage you to let the ethos of "Like a Prayer" be a guiding light for your own artistic journey. Dare to be different, to push boundaries, and to create from a place of unwavering you-ness.
And if you feel like, ok Seersha, but HOW do I do that? Here’s a practical step I would offer to you – choose one thing that you really love, that brings you joy – it could be a genre of music, a style of clothing, a favorite color that you want to bring more of into your home – and bring a little more of that thing into your life today. Listen to that new album uninterrupted; stop at a thrift store on your way home and look for pieces that fit that style you love; take time for a home art project to add that pop of color. It might seem small, but it’s these baby steps of creative courage that eventually add up to a brighter, more fulfilling, more authentic life. And that, babes, is the place where we find the power to inspire and transform the world around us.
Until next time, keep the music playing, the inspiration flowing, and don't be afraid to turn up the volume on your own distinctive voice. This is your host, Seersha signing off. Shine bright and love on your friends!
And that's a wrap on the first episode of our musical journey through the 80s! I hope you feel inspired, moved, and maybe even a little nostalgic after diving deep into the story behind Madonna’s Like A Prayer.
Be sure to tune in next time as we uncover the secrets behind another beloved 80s anthem. Until then, keep that creativity flowing, babes!
And of course, a big thank you to our production team for making this all possible:
Written and Produced by: Seersha
Edited by: Kacie Willis Luaders (Lew-Aiders)
Theme Music by: Seersha and Richard James Smith
Special thanks to Could Be Pretty Cool
For more information, or to suggest a song you'd love us to explore, DM me on social media @seershamusic or find me online at www.seershamusic.com.
