Madonna video ‘top rule-breaker’
Madonna’s “Like a Prayer“, condemned by Christian organisations as blasphemous upon its release in 1989, has topped a poll of videos which “broke the rules“, BBC News reported today.
The clip came first in a survey of 10,000 MTV viewers, with Madonna’s songs “Ray of Light” and “Vogue” also in the top five.
“Featuring burning crosses, statues crying blood and Madonna seducing a black Jesus, “Like a Prayer” even brought condemnation from the Vatican for its use of religious imagery,” MTV said.
Madonna – one of the icons of the MTV age – has been excluded from the network’s playlist on more than one occasion because of the content of her videos. It refused to show “Justify My Love” in 1990 because of its sexual themes.
“Erotica” and “What it Feels Like For a Girl” – depicting an angry woman on a crime spree – would be screened only in the early hours when they were released in 1992 and 2001 respectively.
• VIDEOS WHICH BROKE THE RULES
1. Madonna, Like a Prayer
2. Britney Spears, Baby One More Time (pictured)
3. Michael Jackson, Thriller
4. Madonna, Ray of Light
5. Madonna, Vogue
6. Michael and Janet Jackson, Scream
7. Robbie Williams, Rock DJ
8. Eric Prydz, Call on Me
9. Jamiroquai, Virtual Insanity
10. Spice Girls, Wannabe
From the BBC News and Reuters UK.