Papa Don’t Preach
Papa Don’t Preach is the big worldwide hit Madonna enjoyed this month back in July 1986.
The original version was written by
Brian Elliot and intended for another singer. Elliot apparently wrote the song, about teenage pregnancy, after he heard schoolgirls gossiping about a pregnant friend outside his studio
in Los Angeles. Madonna then added some lyrics to made the song her own.
Papa was a huge a commercial success for Madonna and was well received by critics. For the video, directed by James Foley (with a cameo by her long time friend Debi Mazar), she dared to cut her hair short leaving out all the signature jewlery that was her trademark til then.
Actor Danny Aiello played Madonna’s fathe in the video. He was recently interviewed on the Jim & Kim Show and revelead that he never wanted to play Madonna’s father role in her “Papa Don’t Preach” music video back in 1986.
“My daughter talked me into that,” he said, “I didn’t want to do it because, ya know, I don’t do videos”.
He also explained he didn’t accept the $450 for the shoot in exchange for his daughter, who was a huge fan, to be allowed on set to take pictures.
Aiello’s opinion on Madonna hasn’t changed much since they met at the time her “True Blue” album was released, not to say he isn’t brutally honest about what he thinks about the Material Girl.
“She hasn’t changed much, except I think she was a better singer when she was sorta brand new,”
he told Jim & Kim.
But despite the criticism, the big screen actor still remembers her fondly.
“She was very nice to me, I suppose it was a father/daughter relationship.”
Check out the Jim & Kim Show‘s website on fresh1027 for the complete story and to listen to Aiello‘s story straight from him. (Thanks Craig)
Papa Don’t Preach became Madonna’s fourth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, and number one in the United Kingdom, Australia and Europe.
Madonna performed the song live during her Who’s That Girl Tour, Blond Ambition Tour, re-Invention Tour and MDNA Tour while in 2002 Kelly Osbourne recorded a rock version included on her debut album.