Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...
from her third studio album, '' True Blue'' (1986). Written by Brian Elliot, it was produced by the singer and her collaborator
Stephen Bray
Stephen Pate Bray (born December 23, 1956) is an American songwriter, drummer, and record producer. He is best known for his collaborations with Madonna, being a member of the band Breakfast Club, and for winning the 2017 Grammy Award for the ...
. In the United States, the song was released as the album's second single on June 11, 1986, whereas in most European countries, the release was five days later. A
dance-pop
Dance-pop is a Music genre, genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit ra ...
track that mixes elements of
baroque
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
,
post-disco
Post-disco is a term and genre to describe an aftermath in popular music history circa 1979–1986, imprecisely beginning with the backlash against disco music in the United States, leading to civil unrest and a riot in Chicago known as the Dis ...
and
classical music
Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...
, its lyrics deal with
teenage pregnancy
Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in a female under the age of 20.
Worldwide, pregnancy complications are the leading cause of death for women and girls 15 to 19 years old. The definition of teenage pregnancy i ...
. Elliot wrote it inspired by teen gossip he'd hear outside his recording studio. Originally intended for a singer named Christina Dent, Warner Bros. RecordsA&R executive Michael Ostin convinced Elliot to let Madonna record it instead. The singer then added and altered a few of the lyrics and received a songwriting credit.
Upon release, the song was lauded by critics, with praise being given to Madonna's vocals. Additionally, it became her fourth number one single in the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100. "Papa Don't Preach" also topped the charts in Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, and peaked within the top-five of multiple European countries. The accompanying music video, directed by James Foley, shows the singer in her first "head-to-toe" image makeover, with a leaner, more muscular body. In it, Madonna plays a teenager who confesses her pregnancy to her father, played by actor
Danny Aiello
Daniel Louis Aiello Jr. () (June 20, 1933 – December 12, 2019) was an American actor. He appeared in numerous motion pictures, including ''The Godfather Part II'' (1974), ''The Front'' (1976), ''Once Upon a Time in America'' (1984), ''Hide in ...
. The scenes are juxtaposed with shots of her dancing and singing in a small, darkened studio.
The song caused controversy because of its lyrical content and video. Women's organizations and others in the family planning field accused Madonna of promoting teenage pregnancy, while groups opposed to abortion saw the song as having a positive
pro-life
Anti-abortion movements, also self-styled as pro-life movements, are involved in the abortion debate advocating against the practice of abortion and its legality. Many anti-abortion movements began as countermovements in response to the lega ...
message. Madonna has performed "Papa Don't Preach" in five of her concert tours, the last being 2019–2020's Madame X Tour. The single's performance at the Who's That Girl World Tour (1987) caused Madonna's first conflict with the
Vatican
Vatican may refer to:
Geography
* Vatican City, an independent city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy
* Vatican Hill, in Rome, namesake of Vatican City
* Ager Vaticanus, an alluvial plain in Rome
* Vatican, an unincorporated community in the ...
, as she dedicated it to
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005.
In his you ...
, who urged Italian fans to boycott her concerts. In 2002, British personality
Kelly Osbourne
Kelly Michelle Lee Osbourne (born on October 27 1984) is an English television personality, singer, actress, and fashion designer. She is a daughter of Ozzy Osbourne, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, and came to prominence while appearing on the reali ...
released a cover of the song, which received mixed reviews but achieved commercial success.
Background and recording
Brian Elliot wrote "Papa Don't Preach". Based on teen gossip he would hear outside his recording studio, which had a large front window that was used as mirror by schoolgirls from the Los Angeles'
North Hollywood High School
North Hollywood High School (NHHS) is a public high school in the North Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is in the San Fernando Valley and enrolls approximately 2,500 students. Several neighborhoods, including m ...
, Elliot described the track as a "love song, maybe framed a little bit differently ..about a young girl who found herself at a crossroads in life and didn’t know where to turn". In 1986, Elliot ―who'd previously attempted a singing career to no avail― was working and writing songs for Christina Dent, an upcoming singer signed up to Warner Bros. Records. Elliot then played the
demos
Demos may refer to:
Computing
* DEMOS, a Soviet Unix-like operating system
* DEMOS (ISP), the first internet service provider in the USSR
* Demos Commander, an Orthodox File Manager for Unix-like systems
* Plural for Demo (computer programming ...
he'd created for Dent, among them "Papa Don't Preach", to Warner Bros. A&R executive Michael Ostin. Ostin had discovered " Like a Virgin", and asked Elliot if he could play "Papa Don't Preach" to Madonna, who at the time was working on '' True Blue'', her third studio album, alongside
Patrick Leonard
Patrick Ray Leonard (born March 14, 1956) is an American songwriter, keyboardist, film composer, and music producer, best known for his longtime collaboration with Madonna. His work with Madonna includes her albums '' True Blue'' (1986), '' Who ...
and
Stephen Bray
Stephen Pate Bray (born December 23, 1956) is an American songwriter, drummer, and record producer. He is best known for his collaborations with Madonna, being a member of the band Breakfast Club, and for winning the 2017 Grammy Award for the ...
. Madonna heard and liked the song, so Ostin talked Elliot into letting her record it. Elliot had been working with Dent for six months and was reluctant to let the song go to another artist, but he eventually gave in, finding the idea of Madonna recording one of his songs "hard to resist". Madonna's contribution was limited to a few altered and added-on lyrics, making "Papa Don't Preach" the only song on the album that she did not have a strong hand in writing; nonetheless, she managed to get a songwriting credit.
"Papa Don't Preach", along with the rest of the ''True Blue'' album, was recorded at Los Angeles' Channel Recording studios. When they met at the studio, Madonna allegedly asked Elliot if she had "wrecked his song", and the two got into a brief discussion that was eventually resolved. Personnel working on the song included Bray on keyboards and percussions, alongside Fred Zarr and Jonathan Moffett; David Williams, Bruce Gaitsch and John Putnam played guitars, while background vocals were provided by
Siedah Garrett
Deborah Christine "Siedah" Garrett (born June 24, 1960) is an American singer and songwriter who has written songs and performed backing vocals for many recording artists in the music industry, such as Michael Jackson, the Pointer Sisters, Brand ...
and Edie Lehmann. Zarr had worked on Madonna's 1983 debut, and she called him back to work on ''True Blue''. When working on the song, Zarr came up with a string sequence while "doodling around" on an Emulator II synthesizer. After Madonna heard it, she liked it and decided to use it as
introduction
Introduction, The Introduction, Intro, or The Intro may refer to:
General use
* Introduction (music), an opening section of a piece of music
* Introduction (writing), a beginning section to a book, article or essay which states its purpose and g ...
, putting it at the beginning of the song; Zarr, however, remained uncredited.
Composition and release
"Papa Don't Preach" is a
dance-pop
Dance-pop is a Music genre, genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit ra ...
song with elements of
baroque
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
,
post-disco
Post-disco is a term and genre to describe an aftermath in popular music history circa 1979–1986, imprecisely beginning with the backlash against disco music in the United States, leading to civil unrest and a riot in Chicago known as the Dis ...
,
classical music
Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...
and "
Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...
-style
psychedelia
Psychedelia usually refers to a Aesthetics, style or aesthetic that is resembled in the psychedelic subculture of the 1960s and the psychedelic experience produced by certain psychoactive substances. This includes psychedelic art, psychedelic ...
time signature
A time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, and measure signature) is an indication in music notation that specifies how many note values of a particular type fit into each measure ( bar). The time signature indicates th ...
of
common time
A time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, and measure signature) is an indication in music notation that specifies how many note values of a particular type fit into each measure ( bar). The time signature indicates the ...
, with a moderate
tempo
In musical terminology, tempo (Italian for 'time'; plural 'tempos', or from the Italian plural), measured in beats per minute, is the speed or pace of a given musical composition, composition, and is often also an indication of the composition ...
of 116
beats per minute
Beat, beats, or beating may refer to:
Common uses
* Assault, inflicting physical harm or unwanted physical contact
* Battery (crime), a criminal offense involving unlawful physical contact
* Battery (tort), a civil wrong in common law of in ...
. Written in the key of
F minor
F minor is a minor scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature consists of four flats. Its relative major is A-flat major and its parallel major is F major. Its enharmonic equivalent, E-sharp ...
, Madonna's
vocal range
Vocal range is the range of pitches that a human voice can phonate. A common application is within the context of singing, where it is used as a defining characteristic for classifying singing voices into voice types. It is also a topic of stud ...
spans from F3 to C5. She uses a "mature, centered" lower range, a contrast to her previous works. Lyrically, it's about a teenage girl who reveals to her father that she is pregnant, and refuses to have an
abortion
Abortion is the early termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. Abortions that occur without intervention are known as miscarriages or "spontaneous abortions", and occur in roughly 30–40% of all pregnan ...
or give the child up for adoption. It is constructed in a verse-chorus form, with a
bridge
A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...
before the third and final chorus.
The song begins with a " Vivaldian" orchestral string introduction that "sets the mood" before the drums kick in: Fm–E–D–Cm–D–E–Fm–D–E–Fm. The strings then give way to "jittery, propulsive synth-bass and big, mechanized drums". In the opening verse, the singer addresses her father directly, asking him to treat her as an adult, not a child; ''Papa, I know you're going to be upset/Cause I was always your little girl/But you should know by now, I'm not a baby''. Madonna's vocals in the pre-chorus are "more dramatic, almost pained": ''The one you warned me all about'', she sings, ending nearly in cries when she pronounces the word ''please''. In the chorus she states that she's decided to keep the child; ''Papa, don't preach, I'm in trouble deep/Papa, don't preach, I've been losing sleep/But I've made up my mind, I'm gonna keep my baby''. As the song goes on, the singer's vocals become "stronger", gaining a sense of "anguish an desperation".
The second verse has a doubtful Madonna imagining a possible future with the father of her child: ''He says that he’s going to marry me/We can raise a little family/Maybe we’ll be all right/It’s a sacrifice''. She also feels pressure from her friends, who encourage her to not become a teen parent; ''My friends keep telling me to give it up/Saying I'm too young, I ought to live it up''. Also present in the song is an acoustic guitar, Spanish-inspired bridge, which was noted for being one of the earliest examples of the influence that
Hispanic music
The term Hispanic () are people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an ethnic or meta-ethnic term.
The term commonly applie ...
had on Madonna's musical style. The song ends with Madonna singing ''Don't you stop loving me, daddy'', as it fades out. In ''Madonna's Drowned Worlds'', Santiago Fouz-Hernández and Freya Jarman-Ivens perceived
queer
''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are non-heterosexual or non- cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against LGBTQ people in the late 19th century. From the late 1980s, queer activists began to ...
subtexts on the lyrics, as members of the
LGBT community
The LGBTQ community (also known as the LGBT, LGBT+, LGBTQ+, LGBTQIA, LGBTQIA+, or queer community) comprises LGBTQ people, LGBTQ individuals united by LGBTQ culture, a common culture and LGBTQ movements, social movements. These Community, comm ...
could relate to them when
coming out
Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBTQ people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity.
This is often framed and debated as a privacy issue, ...
to their parents. In the United States, "Papa Don't Preach" was released as ''True Blue''s second single on June 11, 1986. In most European countries, it was issued five days later. It was then added to Madonna's
compilation albums
A compilation album comprises tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from one artist, then generally the tracks we ...
Since its release, "Papa Don't Preach" has been acclaimed by critics. On his review of ''True Blue'', ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason.
The magazine was first known fo ...
''s
Davitt Sigerson
Davitt Sigerson (born 1957) is an American retired songwriter, record producer, record executive, and journalist.
Early life and education
Davitt Sigerson was born in New York City and attended school at Oxford University in England.
Career
Si ...
wrote that, "only the magnificent 'Papa Don’t Preach' has the high-profile hook to match 'Like a Virgin', ' Dress You Up' and ' Material Girl'", and compared it to
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...
's "
Billie Jean
"Billie Jean" is a song by the American singer Michael Jackson, released by Epic Records on January 3, 1983, as the second single from his sixth studio album, ''Thriller (album), Thriller'' (1982). It was written and composed by Jackson, produ ...
" (1983). It was deemed "stunning" and a "masterstroke" by the ''
Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...
''s Daniel Brogan and
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
's
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and former senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of multiple artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance ...
, respectively. For ''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
''s David Browne, "a 30-ish urban sophisticate singing in the voice of a pregnant teen ..ought to sound ridiculous. With the help of collaborators like Stephen Bray and Patrick Leonard, though ..tturns into a perfectly conceived pop record".
Adam Sexton, author of ''Desperately Seeking Madonna: In Search of the Meaning of the World's Most Famous Woman'', named it ''True Blue''s "boldest" track, comparing it to " Bodies" (1977) by
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols are an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they became culturally influential in popular music. The band initiated the punk movement in the United Ki ...
, and Graham Parker's " You Can't Be Too Strong" (1979). Sexton further pointed out that the melody was just as "insistently chugging" as the singer's previous singles " Into the Groove" and "Dress You Up" (1985), but the mood is "tense and claustrophobic". On this note, John Quayle from the ''
Observer–Reporter
The ''Observer–Reporter'' is a daily newspaper covering Washington County, Greene County, and the Mon Valley in Pennsylvania, with some overlap into the South Hills of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylv ...
'' noted a departure from the "sugar-coatedness" of Madonna's past songs. ''
Slant Magazine
''Slant Magazine'' is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New Yor ...
''s Sal Cinquemani said it was "undeniably more mature" than Madonna's previous works, further adding that, with songs like "Papa Don’t Preach", " hemade the transition from pop tart to consummate artist, joining the ranks of the decade's icons like Michael Jackson and
Prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...
.
Caroline Sullivan from ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' opined it was the artist's "first socially controversial single, and one of her best tunes to boot ..it wasn't her first attempt at a teenage persona (see 'Dress You Up'), but it was the most endearing". Tom Breihan added that, " Papa Don't Preach'signaled that Madonna had enough juice to make a social-issue song that was ''also'' a stylistic left-turn". He also said it proved "how Madonna, a technically limited singer, could always capture the feeling of a song", and referred to "Papa Don't Preach" as a "masterful piece of pop craftsmanship". From ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'',
Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden (born July 18, 1941) is an American writer, poet, and music and film critic.
Biography
Holden earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Yale University in 1963. He worked as a photo editor, staff writer, and eventually be ...
praised the singer's vocals; " hesings it in a passionate, bratty sob that makes the plea immediate and believable".
Robert Hilburn
Robert Hilburn (born September 25, 1939) is an American pop music critic, author, and radio host. As music critic and editor at the ''Los Angeles Times'' from 1970 to 2005, his reviews, essays, and profiles have appeared in publications worldwide ...
, writing for the ''
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'', expressed that the "most obvious growth is in the control and character in Madonna's singing", and considered the lyrics to be "tailor-made for video. "Papa Don't Preach" boasts "some of the strongest vocals Madonna ever recorded", according to author Matthew Rettenmund.
Writing for ''
PopMatters
''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...
'', Peter Piatkowski said it was an "idiosyncratic tune", that shared the "maturity and ambition" of previous single " Live to Tell". Santiago Fouz-Hernández concluded the track was a "significant milestone in adonnas artistic career". This sentiment was echoed by ''
The Arizona Republic
''The Arizona Republic'' is an American daily newspaper published in Phoenix. Circulated throughout Arizona, it is the state's largest newspaper. Since 2000, it has been owned by the Gannett newspaper chain.
History
Early years
The newspap ...
''s Ed Masley, who perceived "more soul than was expected at the time" in Madonna's vocals, and referred to the song as a "richly orchestrated dance track". From website Albumism, Justin Chadwick said that "Papa Don't Preach" was, "arguably the most unforgettable of ''True Blue''s many memorable moments". In ''The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna'', Rikky Rooksby gave a mixed review: "The chorus is punchy enough, and there's a pleasant acoustic guitar solo, but as a whole, he songseems musically a trifle under-powered". Negative criticism came from '' The Daily Iowan''s Jeff Hamilton: " adonnahad a good year at the stores, but can anyone take her music seriously? ..In terms of scrutable ideology Papa Don't Preach'doesn't represent a change from 'Like A Virgin'". The '' Record-Journal''s Jim Zebora was also negative, referring to the song as "perfectly annoying".
Barbra Streisand
Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand ( ; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress, songwriter, producer, and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success across multiple fields of entertainment, being the ...
's ''
The Broadway Album
''The Broadway Album'' is the twenty-fourth studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released by Columbia Records on November 4, 1985. Consisting mainly of classic show tunes, the album marked a major shift in Streisand's career. She ha ...
''. Furthermore, it's often referred to as one of Madonna's finest singles. The staff of ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' placed it on the 28th spot of the magazine's ranking of the singer's songs. On ''
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats, or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually some variety ...
''s ranking, where it came in at number 25, Samuel R. Murrian praised it for treating a "complicated subject with the humanity and gravity it merits", and having an "ace pop hook driving it". Chuck Arnold, writing for ''Entertainment Weekly'', named it her 21st greatest song. "Papa Don't Preach" also came in at number 21 on ''Slant Magazine''s ranking, where Paul Schrodt wrote: " tmay well be the only song about choosing ''not'' to have an abortion that also feels rebellious, even dangerous".
For the ''
HuffPost
''HuffPost'' (''The Huffington Post'' until 2017, itself often abbreviated as ''HPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and covers p ...
'' Matthew Jacobs, "Papa Don't Preach" is Madonna's 14th best song, and its "sweeping string arrangement" one of "pop music's most engaging openings". On the ranking of Madonna songs created by '' Gay Star News'', "Papa Don't Preach" was allocated the tenth spot. From ''The Guardian'', Jude Rogers named it Madonna's fifth greatest song, praising her vocals and the "glorious string arrangement". Finally, Nayer Missim from '' PinkNews'' named it the third best song of the singer's discography: "A rare example of Madonna-as-storyteller ..Unfairly dismissed (or claimed) as a pro-life anthem, its lyrics are much more personal, open and interesting than that".
Chart performance
On June 18, 1986, "Papa Don't Preach" was added to 174 of 226 pop reporting radio stations, which caused it to debut on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 at number 42. One month later, the song reached the sixth place of the chart, becoming Madonna's ninth consecutive top-ten single. This made her the fourth female artist in the rock era to earn this amount of consecutive top-ten singles, behind only
Brenda Lee
Brenda Mae Tarpley (born December 11, 1944), known professionally as Brenda Lee, is an American singer. Primarily performing rockabilly, pop, country and Christmas music, she achieved her first ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' hit aged 12 i ...
,
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Soul", she was twice named by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine as the Roll ...
and
Donna Summer
Donna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948May 17, 2012), known professionally as Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the "Queen of Disco", while her music ...
. "Papa Don't Preach" reached the Hot 100's first position on August 16, and spent two weeks there. It was Madonna's fourth number-one, and her eighth consecutive top-five hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The single also reached the 16th and fourth position of the Dance/Disco Club Play and
Adult Contemporary
Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...
charts, respectively. By the end of 1986, it ranked 29th on the Hot 100. In October 1998, it was certified
gold
Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...
by the
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA) for shipment of 500,000 copies. In Canada, "Papa Don't Preach" debuted at number 53 of the ''
RPM
Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, rev/min, r/min, or r⋅min−1) is a unit of rotational speed (or rotational frequency) for rotating machines.
One revolution per minute is equivalent to hertz.
Standards
ISO 80000-3:2019 def ...
'' 100 Singles chart on July 5; one month later, it reached the top spot and remained there for two weeks. On ''RPM''s 1986 year-end chart, it came in at number 13.
In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at the 13th position of the
singles chart
A record chart, in the music industry, also called a music chart, is a ranking of recorded music according to certain criteria during a given period. Many different criteria are used in worldwide charts, often in combination. These include re ...
on June 28, and peaked at number one two weeks later. It held the first spot for three consecutive weeks, and was present on the chart a total of 15 weeks. "Papa Don't Preach" was certified gold by the
British Phonographic Industry
BPI (British Recorded Music Industry) Limited, trading as British Phonographic Industry (BPI), is the British recorded music industry's trade association. It runs the BRIT Awards; is home to the Mercury Prize; co-owns the Official Charts C ...
(BPI) in August 1986 for shipment of 500,000 copies. According to ''
Music Week
''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future.
History
Founded in 1959 as ''Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music We ...
'' magazine, over 629,386 copies of the single have been sold in the United Kingdom as of 2008. The song was commercially successful across Europe as well, reaching the first spot of the charts in Belgium, Ireland, and Norway. It also peaked within the top-five in Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland. "Papa Don't Preach" reached the first position of the
European Hot 100 Singles
The European Hot 100 Singles was compiled by '' Billboard'' and ''Music & Media'' magazine from March 1984 until December 2010. The chart was based on national singles sales charts in 17 European countries: Austria, Belgium (two charts separately ...
chart, where it remained for 11 weeks. It also topped the charts in Australia, and reached the top-five in South Africa and New Zealand.
Music video
Background
The music video for "Papa Don't Preach" was directed by James Foley, with whom the singer had previously worked on "Live to Tell". Crew included David Naylor and Sharon Oreck on production, while Michael Ballhaus was in charge of
cinematography
Cinematography () is the art of motion picture (and more recently, electronic video camera) photography.
Cinematographers use a lens (optics), lens to focus reflected light from objects into a real image that is transferred to some image sen ...
. Having just done the "glamorous and stylized" videos for "Material Girl" and "Like a Virgin", for "Papa Don't Preach", Madonna wanted to "tap into a
working-class
The working class is a subset of employees who are compensated with wage or salary-based contracts, whose exact membership varies from definition to definition. Members of the working class rely primarily upon earnings from wage labour. Most c ...
environment", and do something "a bit more grounded and 'drama'", thus Foley suggested filming on
Staten Island
Staten Island ( ) is the southernmost of the boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County and situated at the southernmost point of New York (state), New York. The borough is separated from the ad ...
. Shooting took three days, with the
ferry
A ferry is a boat or ship that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus ...
being used for one; the director recalled that, "there were thousands of people and
paparazzi
Paparazzi (singular form paparazzo) are independent photographers who take pictures of high-profile people, such as actors, musicians, athletes, politicians, and other celebrities who go about their daily life routines. Paparazzi are known f ...
and everything". The singer chose actor
Danny Aiello
Daniel Louis Aiello Jr. () (June 20, 1933 – December 12, 2019) was an American actor. He appeared in numerous motion pictures, including ''The Godfather Part II'' (1974), ''The Front'' (1976), ''Once Upon a Time in America'' (1984), ''Hide in ...
to portray her father in the visual. Aiello recalled that he did not think of Madonna as a "music star or tabloid gossip queen. We were shooting a drama, so I viewed both of us through our characters". He also revealed that he agreed to star in the video as a favor to actor
Sean Penn
Sean Justin Penn (born August 17, 1960) is an American actor and film director. He is known for his intense leading man roles in film. List of awards and nominations received by Sean Penn, His accolades include two Academy Awards, a Golden Gl ...
―Madonna's husband at the time― and because his daughter was a fan of the singer's.Alex McArthur ―whom Madonna had spotted in the 1985 film '' Desert Hearts''― was cast as her romantic interest. "I was out in the garage working on my Harley..I answered the phone and a voice said, 'Hi, this is Madonna. I would like you to be in my next video'", McArthur recalled. The singer's friends, actresses Debi Mazar, Bianca Hunter and dancer Erika Belle, also participated.
According to Samuel R. Murrian, the video marked Madonna's first "head-to-toe image makeover". No longer wearing heavy jewelry and make-up, she instead adopted a gamine look, similar to the one donned by
Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty; April 24, 1934) is an American actress and author. With a career spanning over 70 years, she has received List of awards and nominations received by Shirley MacLaine, numerous accolades, including a ...
and
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Kathleen Hepburn ( Ruston; 4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress. Recognised as a film and fashion icon, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the third-greatest female screen legend from the Classical Holly ...
in the 1950s. Her body was also leaner and muscular. The video's main storyline revolves around an
Italian American
Italian Americans () are Americans who have full or partial Italians, Italian ancestry. The largest concentrations of Italian Americans are in the urban Northeastern United States, Northeast and industrial Midwestern United States, Midwestern ...
teenager (Madonna) with an unexpected pregnancy who seeks the approval of her father. Author David James noted that Madonna wanted to "make sure the world could see she'd been working out heavily, ndno longer was a streetwise 'tramp'", thus additional footage of her singing was shot. Foley explained how this idea came to be:
We took the script literally from the lyrics of the song, and I remember having a moment's hesitation about doing that because most videos are not literal interpretations. But I just felt like it was something that tied into her desire to dip into the working-class world. edid have the idea that there should be a segment of the video where she was Madonna —not the character in the story— and that's where it cuts to the black and white stuff of her dancing around for the chorus.
Synopsis
The video begins with shots of the New York City skyline, the
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty (''Liberty Enlightening the World''; ) is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, within New York City. The copper-clad statue, a gift to the United States from the people of French Thir ...
, and Staten Island Ferry. Madonna, as a sixteen-year-old
tomboy
A tomboy is a girl or young woman who generally expresses masculine traits. Such traits may include wearing androgynous or unfeminine clothing and engaging in activities and behaviors traditionally associated with boys or men.
Origins
The w ...
ish teenager in her first months of pregnancy, walks down the sidewalk with a "determined" gaze. She wears tight jeans, a striped boatneck sweater, and carries a leather jacket to her back; her blonde hair is done in a
pixie
A pixie (also called pisky, pixy, pixi, pizkie, piskie, or pigsie in parts of Cornwall and Devon) is a mythical creature of British folklore. Pixies are speculated to be particularly concentrated in the high moorland areas around Devon and Cor ...
style. When she gets home, the story of her life as an only child raised by a single father (Aiello) is told through flashbacks. The main story is intercut with footage of Madonna singing and dancing against a black background. In these sequences, her appearance is more "glamorous": She wears a black bustier and pedal pushers, her hair is slightly curled, her lips red, and her eyes "colorfully glossed and outlined".
Another flashback shows the teenager, dressed in a black T-shirt with the caption "Italians do it better", meeting and being smitten by an attractive
mechanic
A mechanic is a skilled tradesperson who uses tools to build, maintain, or repair machinery, especially engines. Formerly, the term meant any member of the handicraft trades, but by the early 20th century, it had come to mean one who works w ...
(McArthur). In the next scene, she ditches her girlfriends to be with him. They spend a romantic evening together on the ferry, where they reflect upon their lives after spotting an elderly couple. As the clip goes on, the teenager ―now aware of her pregnancy― is determined to keep the baby, but is worried about the situation and having to break the news to her father. She walks up a huge outdoor stone staircase from which the camera springs outward to pan the neighborhood. At home, she finally comes clean with her father, who is shocked and leaves the room to think about the situation. When he comes back, he breaks down, and the final scene is of a reconciliatory hug between father and daughter.
Reception
Critical feedback towards the video was generally positive. Stephen Holden called Madonna's performance in the video "virtuoso ..like Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean', the song and its video have an iconographic resonace that could push ercareer to an even higher plateau". Author Mary Gabriel added that it shared the song's "dramatic tension" and themes: "Love, longing, excitement, confusion, isolation, fear ―but never shame. And ''that'' was a breakthrough. In real teen pregnancies, the girls are the 'sinners' who carry their shame. Madonna's pregnant main character has none". Gabriel also added that Madonna began to be compared to fellow singer
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American Rock music, rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Nicknamed "the Boss", Springsteen has released 21 studio albums spanning six decades; most of his albums feature th ...
for allegedly "speaking to working-class women and girls the way pringsteenspoke to working-class men and boys".
To the staff of ''Rolling Stone'', it marked the moment the singer began "treating the music video concept as more of a
short film
A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film o ...
than promotional clip". They also applauded Madonna's "rather unglamorous" new look. For Hal Marcovitz, author of ''The History of Music Videos'' (2012), it marked a "sharp departure" from what the public was used to seeing in Madonna's videos. Mark Bego added that, "not everyone could do such an about-face with their looks and not lose their audience. However, adonnapulled it off ―as she would time and time again". This opinion was shared by ''Slant Magazine''s Eric Mason, who pointed out the sharp contrast with the "glamorous extradiegetic Madonna of 'Material Girl'". The singer's look with the leather jacket and "Italians do it better" T-shirt is considered to be one of her most "iconic" and "unforgettable". Mason concluded that, "in addition to igniting controversy over freedom of choice and teen pregnancy, Madonna continued to revolutionize the music video form by expanding its capacity for narrative". At the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, "Papa Don't Preach" won Best Female Video, and was nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Overall Performance.
Retrospective reviews have named it one of Madonna's best music videos. On the rankings created by The Backlot and ''Parade'', it was named her sixteenth and fifteenth greatest video, respectively.Louis Virtel, writing for the former, highlighted the singer's "serious Ciccone angst", and felt it was the "urgency in erperformance
hat
A hat is a Headgear, head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorpor ...
makes this video". In the ranking of Madonna videos created by ''Slant Magazine'', "Papa Don't Preach" came in at number 12. Rocco Papa from
The Odyssey
The ''Odyssey'' (; ) is one of two major epics of ancient Greek literature attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest surviving works of literature and remains popular with modern audiences. Like the ''Iliad'', the ''Odyssey'' is divi ...
highlighted its views of New York City, and named it the singer's fourth best music video. It also came in at number four on '' Idolator''s ranking; Mike Neid praised it for "showing off a more serious side of her artistry". "Papa Don't Preach" is considered one of the singer's most controversial music videos by ''HuffPost''s Daniel Welsh, and Sal Cinquemani. It can be found on Madonna's video compilations '' The Immaculate Collection'' (1990) and '' Celebration: The Video Collection'' (2009).
Analysis
Journalist Ellen Goodman referred to the video as a "commercial for teen-age pregnancy", and chastised Madonna for "glamorizing" said subject; " erboyfriend is a hunky dreamboat with a conscience and moral compass, while her father is loving, supportive and even-tempered". Goodman argued that few pregnant teenagers would find a similar support from their boyfriends and families. "This happily-ever-after image has about as much to do with the reality of adolescent motherhood as Madonna's (shapely) figure has to do with pregnancy", the journalist concluded, and asked Madonna to "call off the propaganda". Fellow singer
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper ( ; born June 22, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Known for her distinctive image, featuring a variety of hair colors and eccentric clothing, and for her powerful four-octave vocal range;Jerome, ...
added: "If you're a teen mother who wants to keep her baby ..you're not going to look like Madonna ..it ain't gonna be that easy. Fathers don't always come around to give you their blessing. The guy who knocked you up doesn't always hang around". In a 1993 study of Madonna's early music videos, "race and gender" were found to be factors in how teenagers interpreted the visual. 50% of African American females and 43% of African American males saw "Papa Don't Preach" as being about a father-daughter relationship, as opposed to the 25% of white females and 22% of white males who saw it that way. Most white viewers perceived it to be about pregnancy.
Susanne Hamscha, one of the authors of ''The Fiction of America: Performance and the Cultural Imaginary in Literature and Film'', argued that the clip oscillates between liberal and
conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
ideology, private and public, feminism and patriarchy, and "female independence and the need for paternal approval". Amy Robinson added that the topic of abortion is "explicitly" addressed in terms of the "private/public dive", and noted how Madonna's character "glorifies parental consent". In her book ''Experiencing Music Video: Aesthetics and Cultural Context'', Carol Vernallis compared the video of "Papa Don't Preach" to that of
No Doubt
No Doubt is an American rock band formed in Anaheim, California in 1986. For most of its career, the band has consisted of vocalist and founding member Gwen Stefani, guitarist Tom Dumont, bassist Tony Kanal and drummer Adrian Young. Keyboar ...
's " Don't Speak" (1995), as in both cases, the songs' music and lyrics offer "imprecise evocations of time", and allow the viewer to "fill the gaps" regarding the videos' plots. "'Papa Don't Preach' does not say for how long or how often Madonna dated, or when she became fully committed to her boyfriend ..In 'Don't Speak', how long
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani Shelton ( ; born October 3, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer.
Stefani rose to fame as a member and lead vocalist of the band No Doubt, whose hit singles include " Just a Girl", " Spiderwebs", an ...
had a relationship with a member of the band and when she developed troubles is also uncertain", Vernallis wrote.
Controversy
As the popularity of the song and video increased in the United States, so did the criticism and support it received from groups concerned with pregnancy and abortion. Conservatives saw Madonna advocating a
pro-life
Anti-abortion movements, also self-styled as pro-life movements, are involved in the abortion debate advocating against the practice of abortion and its legality. Many anti-abortion movements began as countermovements in response to the lega ...
stance; others, including woman's organizations and parents, criticized her for "promoting" teenage pregnancy. Feminist lawyer Gloria Allred, spokeswoman of the
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an American feminist organization. Founded in 1966, it is legally a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S. states and in Washington, D.C. It ...
(NOW), angrily called for the singer to make a public statement or another record supporting the track's opposite point of view. Alfred Moran, executive director of New York City's
Planned Parenthood
The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA), or simply Planned Parenthood, is an American nonprofit organization
, went as far as to send out a "critical demo" to radio and TV stations, advising them to "think carefully" before playing the song or airing the video. According to Moran, the song's message is that "getting pregnant is cool d having the baby is the right thing and a good thing and don't listen to your parents, the school, anybody who tells you otherwise —don't preach to me, Papa". He further told ''The New York Times'': "Everybody I've talked to believes adonnahas more impact on young teen-agers than any other single entertainer since the Beatles, that's what makes this particular song so destructive". Conservative
social worker
Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social wo ...
Kathie Peters added that, "too many kids are getting pregnant. They don't know what they're getting into. I don't like the ong'smessage". Prior to its release, the singer herself discussed the song with Stephen Holden:
"'Papa Don't Preach' is a message song that everyone is going to take the wrong way. Immediately they're going to say I am advising every young girl to go out and get pregnant. When I first heard the song, I thought it was silly. But then I thought, wait a minute, this song is really about a girl who is making a decision in her life. She has a very close relationship with her father and wants to maintain that closeness. To me it's a celebration of life. It says, 'I love you, father, and I love this man and this child that is growing inside me'. Of course, who knows how it will end? But at least it starts off positive".
In contrast, groups opposed to abortion applauded "Papa Don't Preach". Susan Carpenter-McMillan, president of the
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
chapter of
Feminists for Life
Feminists for Life of America (FFL) is a non-profit, anti-abortion feminist, non-governmental organization (NGO). Established in 1972, and now based in Alexandria, Virginia, the organization publishes a biannual magazine, ''The American Feminist' ...
(FFL), said that, " bortionis readily available on every street corner for young women. Now what Madonna is telling them is, 'hey, there's an alternative'". Brian Elliot himself allegedly said that, "if adonnahas influenced regnantyoung girls to keep their babies, I don’t think that’s such a bad deal".Mary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore, co-founder of the
Parents Music Resource Center
The Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) was an American committee formed in 1985 with the stated goal of increasing parental control over the access of children to music deemed to have violent, drug-related, or sexual themes via labeling albums ...
(PMRC), and who two years earlier had condemned Madonna's single "Dress You Up", deemed "Papa Don't Preach" an "important song, and a good one, which discusses, with urgency, a real predicament which thousands of unwed teenagers face in our country ..It also speaks to the fact that there's got to be more support and more communication in familiies about this problem". In this vein, Joyce Millman wrote in the ''
Boston Phoenix
''The Phoenix'' (stylized as ''The Phœnix'') was the name of several alternative weekly periodicals published in the United States by Phoenix Media/Communications Group of Boston, Massachusetts, including the now defunct ''Boston Phoenix'', '' ...
'': " Papa Don't Preach'is Madonna's finest three minutes, not merely because it addresses teen pregnancy, but because it suggests that a portion of the blame rests on parents' reluctance to discuss, not lecture, about sex". Mary Gabriel noted how in the 1980s, ''
Roe v. Wade
''Roe v. Wade'', 410 U.S. 113 (1973),. was a List of landmark court decisions in the United States, landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States protected the right to have an ...
'' and the subject of abortion were still "overwhelmed by the religious right, which shifted the focus to the ''
fetus
A fetus or foetus (; : fetuses, foetuses, rarely feti or foeti) is the unborn offspring of a viviparous animal that develops from an embryo. Following the embryonic development, embryonic stage, the fetal stage of development takes place. Pren ...
''. The woman carrying it became a troublesome bit player". With "Papa Don't Preach", Madonna "returned the woman to the center stage ―it became about what ''she'' wanted".
Madonna herself did not comment on the song's use as a pro-life statement. Her publicist Liz Rosenberg released a statement saying that, " he'ssinging a song, not taking a stand ..her philosophy is people can think what they want to think". The song's performance on 1987's Who's That Girl World Tour also caused controversy, as Madonna dedicated it to
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005.
In his you ...
. The
Vatican
Vatican may refer to:
Geography
* Vatican City, an independent city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy
* Vatican Hill, in Rome, namesake of Vatican City
* Ager Vaticanus, an alluvial plain in Rome
* Vatican, an unincorporated community in the ...
publicly denounced the singer and John Paul II urged fans to boycott the concerts in Italy. Georges-Claude Guilbert found it hard to believe that, " adonnadid not know that she was going to cause a huge controversy ..With such a song and video, she was throwing in America's face the image of a country ravaged by the abortion debate, which is far from being resolved". In 2016, ''Spin'' magazine listed "Papa Don't Preach" among the most controversial songs of all time.
Live performances
"Papa Don't Preach" has been included on five of Madonna's
concert tours
A concert tour (or simply tour) is a series of concerts by an artist or group of artists in different cities, countries or locations. Often, concert tours are named to differentiate different tours by the same artist and to associate a specific ...
Madame X
''Madame X'' (original title ''La Femme X'') is a 1908 Play (theatre), play by French playwright Alexandre Bisson (1848–1912). It was novelized in English and adapted for the American stage; it was also adapted for the screen sixteen times ...
(2019―2020). On the first one, she performed the song wearing a 1950s blue dress and a leather jacket. The screen in the background projected images of Pope John Paul II, then-
president of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...
, the
White House
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
, and the phrase "
Safe sex
Safe sex is sexual activity using methods or contraceptive devices (such as condoms) to reduce the risk of transmitting or acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs), especially HIV. "Safe sex" is also sometimes referred to as safer ...
". Writing for ''The New York Times'',
Jon Pareles
Jon Pareles (born 1953) is an American journalist who is the chief popular music critic in the arts section of ''The New York Times''.Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
Turin
Turin ( , ; ; , then ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The city is main ...
on September.
On the Blond Ambition World Tour, "Papa Don't Preach" was given a
Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
theme. The stage was set up to resemble a candlelit
cathedral
A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...
, while Madonna wore black
vestments
Vestments are liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christian religion, especially by Eastern Churches, Catholics (of all rites), Lutherans, and Anglicans. Many other groups also make use of liturgical garments; amo ...
. The number featured seven dancers, and the choreography mixed modern and classical
ballet
Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...
, as noted by Mary Gabriel. Carlton Wilborn, one of the dancers, played a priest Madonna interacted with. While reviewing the
Houston
Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...
concert, the staff of the ''
Orlando Sentinel
The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is the primary newspaper of Orlando, Florida, and the Central Florida region, in the United States. It was founded in 1876 and is currently owned by Tribune Publishing Company.
The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is owned by pare ...
'' highlighted the number's "joyous gospel and heavy gothic organ scorings". Performances of the song can be found in ''Blond Ambition Japan Tour 90'', taped in
Yokohama
is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...
Nice
Nice ( ; ) is a city in and the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one million
For the song's performance on the Re-Invention World Tour, Madonna donned a plaid
kilt
A kilt ( ) is a garment resembling a wrap-around knee-length skirt, made of twill-woven worsted wool with heavy pleats at the sides and back and traditionally a tartan pattern. Originating in the Scottish Highland dress for men, it is first r ...
and a black T-shirt that read " Kabbalists Do It Better" ―a nod to the music video. The number, which included a
Ring a Ring o' Roses
"Ring a Ring o' Roses", also known as "Ring a Ring o' Rosie" or "Ring Around the Rosie", is a nursery rhyme, traditional music, folk song, and playground game. Descriptions first appeared in the mid-19th century, though it is reported t ...
circle dance
Circle dance, or chain dance, is a style of social dance done in a circle, semicircle or a curved line to musical accompaniment, such as rhythm instruments and singing, and is a type of dance where anyone can join in without the need of Partne ...
, was praised for its "playfulness and innocence" by ''
Newsday
''Newsday'' is a daily newspaper in the United States primarily serving Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, although it is also sold throughout the New York metropolitan area. The slogan of the newspaper is "Newsday, Your Eye on LI" ...
''s Glenn Gamboa. On the MDNA Tour, the "dark and apocalyptic" performance of "Papa Don't Preach" sees Madonna "manhandled and bound by military thugs". Timothy Finn, for ''
The Kansas City Star
''The Kansas City Star'' is a newspaper based in Kansas City, Missouri. Published since 1880, the paper is the recipient of eight Pulitzer Prizes.
''The Star'' is most notable for its influence on the career of President Harry S. Truman and a ...
'', noted that it was the number that caused the "first big eruption" from the crowd. The performances of the song at the November 19–20 shows in
Miami
Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
live album
An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track or cassette), or digital. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th centur ...
(2013). "Papa Don't Preach" was one of the songs performed during Madonna's visit to ''
The Late Late Show with James Corden
''The Late Late Show with James Corden'' (also known simply as ''Late Late'') is an American late-night talk show that aired on CBS from 2015 to 2023. It is the fourth and final iteration of '' The Late Late Show'', and aired in the United Sta ...
'' in December 2016.
On the Madame X Tour, Madonna sang the first verse and chorus of "Papa Don't Preach" against a backdrop of '' Susanna and the Elders'' by
Artemisia Gentileschi
Artemisia Lomi Gentileschi ( ; ; 8 July 1593) was an Italian Baroque painter. Gentileschi is considered among the most accomplished 17th century, 17th-century artists, initially working in the style of Caravaggio. She was producing professional ...
, following an "impassioned tirade about abortion". She additionally changed the lyric ''I'm keeping my baby'' to ''I'm not keeping my baby''. Selena Fragassi, from the ''
Chicago Sun-Times
The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' is a daily nonprofit newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Since 2022, it is the flagship paper of Chicago Public Media, and has long held the second largest circulation among Chicago newspaper ...
'', applauded the singer for turning the song into a "platform for pro-choice beliefs".
The song's string introduction was used as coda during the performance of "
Erotica
Erotica is art, literature or photography that deals substantively with subject matter that is erotic, sexually stimulating or sexually arousing. Some critics regard pornography as a type of erotica, but many consider it to be different. Erot ...
" (1992) on the Celebration Tour (2023―2024). In the sequence, Madonna simulates being masturbated by a dancer wearing the Jean-Paul Gaultier-designed corset from Blond Ambition, and recreates "Papa Don't Preach"s choreography from that tour. Reviewing one of the
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...
concerts, Michael Rietmulder from ''
The Times
''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'' lamented the absence of the full song.
Covers
Kelly Osbourne
A pop-metal cover of "Papa Don't Preach" was recorded by
Kelly Osbourne
Kelly Michelle Lee Osbourne (born on October 27 1984) is an English television personality, singer, actress, and fashion designer. She is a daughter of Ozzy Osbourne, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, and came to prominence while appearing on the reali ...
in 2002. In April of that year, MTV reported that Osbourne had recorded a "rough" demo of the song per her mother
Sharon
Sharon ( 'plain'), also spelled Saron, is a given name as well as a Hebrew name.
In Anglosphere, English-speaking areas, Sharon is now predominantly a feminine given name, but historically it was also used as a masculine given name. In Israel, ...
's suggestion. Produced by her brother Jack, it featured
Incubus
An Incubus () is a demon, male demon in human form in folklore that seeks to have Sexuality in Christian demonology, sexual intercourse with sleeping women; the corresponding spirit in female form is called a succubus. Parallels exist in many c ...
Jose Pasillas
Incubus is an American Rock music, rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer José Pasillas while enrolled in Calabasas High School and later expanded t ...
on guitar and drums, respectively. Executives for '' The Osbournes'' were impressed with the demo and requested a studio version, which would be included on a planned soundtrack to the series. According to Osbourne, series executives originally wanted her sister Aimee to record the song, but she declined and suggested Kelly do it instead. Osbourne then re-recorded the song without the involvement of her brother or the Incubus members. The rendition was included on '' The Osbourne Family Album'' soundtrack, and released as a single on August 13. The following year, it was added as a hidden bonus track to Osbourne's debut album '' Shut Up''. Explaining the cover, Osbourne said, "I love Madonna. Who doesn't?"
To promote the release, Osbourne shot a music video in Los Angeles, under the direction of Marcos Siega. She also appeared on ''
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' is an American television talk show broadcast by NBC. The show is the fourth and sixth installment of ''The Tonight Show''. Hosted by Jay Leno, it aired from May 25, 1992, to May 29, 2009, replacing ''The Ton ...
'', and sang the single live at the
MTV Movie Awards
The MTV Movie & TV Awards is a film and television awards show previously presented annually on MTV. It began as the MTV Movie Awards in 1992, when its 1992 MTV Movie Awards, first edition was held, and adopted its current name in 2017, beginnin ...
, where her
father
A father is the male parent of a child. Besides the paternal bonds of a father to his children, the father may have a parental, legal, and social relationship with the child that carries with it certain rights and obligations. A biological fat ...
introduced her to the audience. Critical reviews were generally mixed: For ''Billboard'', Chuck Arnold considered it an "aggressive
post-punk
Post-punk (originally called new musick) is a broad genre of music that emerged in late 1977 in the wake of punk rock. Post-punk musicians departed from punk's fundamental elements and raw simplicity, instead adopting a broader, more experiment ...
anthem" that's "certainly good for three minutes of steering-wheel banging on the way to the market" and "could just make Ozzy one proud daddy". ''NME''s Peter Robinson, on the other hand, said it made "precisely zero sense", and panned it as a "sorry mess hat'sbarely distinguishable". From ''Entertainment Weekly'', Rob Brunner was also negative on his review, dismissing the cover as "unnecessary".
Despite lukewarm reviews from critics, the cover was commercially successful: It peaked at number three in the United Kingdom and Australia, where it was certified platinum by the
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) is a trade association representing the Australian recording industry which was established in the 1970s by six major record companies, EMI, Festival Records (Australia), Festival, Sony Music ...
(ARIA) for having sold over 70,000 units. Furthermore, Osbourne's rendition of "Papa Don't Preach" reached the top 40 in Austria, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand, the top 20 in Sweden, and the top 10 in Ireland and Finland.
Other artists and versions
In 1986, American singer
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic ( ; born October 23, 1959) is an American comedy musician, writer, and actor. He is best known for writing and performing Comedy music, comedy songs that often Parody music, parody specific songs by contempo ...
incorporated "Papa Don't Preach" into "List of "Weird Al" Yankovic polka medleys#Polka Party!, Polka Party!", one of the polka medleys taken from his Polka Party!, album of the same name. Danny Aiello, who played Madonna's father in the music video, released "Papa Wants The Best For You", an answer song written by Artie Schroeck, told from a father's point of view. According to the actor, the father and daughter from "Papa Don't Preach" seemed "unable to talk to one another about something that is going to change their lives forever", thus he decided to make his own statement. Aiello recorded a video for the song, and even asked Madonna to participate, but she turned the offer down. In 1987, Dutch Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Angus released a rendition of the song under the title "Papa Don't Freak!". That same year, Canadian singer Céline Dion sang the track on a Canadian sketch show, wearing a blonde wig and a black strapless getup like the one Madonna wore on the video.
In 2002, French–Dutch group Mad'House did a Eurodance take on the song for their album ''Absolutely Mad''. One Year later, Irish band Picturehouse (band), Picturehouse sang it for the first ''Even Better Than the Real Thing Vol. 1, Even Better Than the Real Thing'' covers album. "Papa Don't Preach" was heavily sample (music), sampled by American singer Mario Winans' song "Never Really Was" (2004). Renditions of the song for tribute albums include one by Brook Barros on ''The Music of Madonna'' (2005), and a jazz version on Bo.Da's '' Plays Madonna in Jazz'' (2007). In 2009, Dianna Agron sang the track on "Hairography", the eleventh episode of American television series ''Glee (TV series), Glee''. Ten years later, Palestinian artist and activist Shahd Abusalama released "Madonna Don't Go", a parody that addressed the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and urged the singer to pull out of performing at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019, Eurovision Song Contest.
Track listing and formats
*US 7" single
#"Papa Don't Preach" – 4:27
#"Pretender" – 4:28
*UK 7" single
#"Papa Don't Preach" – 4:27
#"Ain't No Big Deal" – 4:12
*Japan 7" single
#"Papa Don't Preach" (Radio Edit) – 3:47
#"Think of Me" – 4:54
*International CD Video single
#"Papa Don't Preach" – 4:27
#"Papa Don't Preach" (Extended Remix) – 5:43
#"Pretender" – 4:28
#"Papa Don't Preach" (Video) – 5:00
*US 12" Maxi-single
#"Papa Don't Preach" (Extended Remix) – 5:43
#"Pretender" – 4:28
*European limited edition 12" single
#A1."Papa Don't Preach" (Extended Version) – 5:45
#B1."Ain't No Big Deal" – 4:12
#B2."Papa Don't Preach" – 4:27
*Germany CD Maxi-single (1995)
#"Papa Don't Preach" (Extended Version) – 5:45
#"Ain't No Big Deal" – 4:12
#"Papa Don't Preach" – 4:27
*Digital Single (2024)
#"Papa Don't Preach" – 4:28
#"Ain't No Big Deal" – 4:13
#"Papa Don't Preach" (Extended Remix) – 5:42
Credits and personnel
Credits and personnel are adapted from the ''True Blue'' album liner notes, and the US twelve-inch single liner notes.
* Brian Elliot – Music and lyrics
*
Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...
– additional lyrics, producer, lead vocals
*
Stephen Bray
Stephen Pate Bray (born December 23, 1956) is an American songwriter, drummer, and record producer. He is best known for his collaborations with Madonna, being a member of the band Breakfast Club, and for winning the 2017 Grammy Award for the ...
– producer, keyboards, synth bass, drums, percussion
* Reggie Lucas – producer of "Ain't No Big Deal"
* David Williams – rhythm guitar
* Bruce Gaitsch – electric guitar
* John Putnam – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
* Fred Zarr – additional keyboards
* Jonathan Moffett – percussion
* Billy Meyers – string arrangements
*
Siedah Garrett
Deborah Christine "Siedah" Garrett (born June 24, 1960) is an American singer and songwriter who has written songs and performed backing vocals for many recording artists in the music industry, such as Michael Jackson, the Pointer Sisters, Brand ...
* List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1980s
* List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1986, List of ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number ones of 1986
* List of number-one singles of 1986 (Canada)
* List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1986, List of ''Cash Box'' Top 100 number-one singles of 1986
* List of European number-one hits of 1986
* List of number-one hits of 1986 (Italy)
*
{{Authority control
1986 songs
1986 singles
2002 debut singles
Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Cashbox number-one singles
European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Kelly Osbourne songs
Madonna songs
MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video
Number-one singles in Australia
Number-one singles in Belgium
Number-one singles in Italy
Number-one singles in Norway
Oricon International Singles Chart number-one singles
RPM Top Singles number-one singles
UK singles chart number-one singles
Songs about abortion
Songs with feminist themes
Songs written by Madonna
Song recordings produced by Madonna
Song recordings produced by Stephen Bray
Songs about fathers
Sire Records singles
Warner Records singles
Music video controversies
Obscenity controversies in music
Music videos directed by James Foley
Music videos shot in the United States