like a prayer
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TRANSCRIPT
ANALYSIS OF MADONNA
MOTIFS IN THE MUSIC VIDEO
Motifs are common characteristics that are present
in music videos. There are many different motifs that
can be present in a music video such as
Intertextuality; which is art recognizing itself as art,
Ritual celebration; which is usually portrayed in the
music video as the artist at a party and lastly, music
videos usually have mythical and mysterious places.
MYTHICAL AND MYSTERIOUS PLACES
Mythical and mysterious places are usually the
setting for many music videos. In ‘Like a Prayer’ the
video is mostly set inside a church and the
surrounding area is a grave yard at night. This could
be seen as a mysterious place as there is also
burning crosses in the backdrop.
FRAGMENTATION OF THE BODY
A common Motif in music videos is fragmentation of the
body. This can be seen in Like a Prayer, as there are many
close ups of Madonna’s body. Close ups are usually used
as sexual objectification. Or as seen in the second picture
it draws attention to a certain object or body part to
emphasize it.
RITUAL CELEBRATION
Ritual celebration in music videos usually show black
people dancing and being happy. This motif is
present in Like a Prayer, where Madonna and a choir
are at church dancing and singing.
CONTROVERSY IN LIKE A PRAYER.
Madonna's Like a Prayer music video caused a lot of
controversy. A controversial scene in Like a Prayer
would be when Madonna holds a knife on her hands
and cuts her hand. This means Madonna is saying
that she has been chosen by God.
CONTROVERSY IN LIKE A PRAYER
Another aspect of controversy in Like a Prayer would
be the burning crosses in the background. This is a
ritual preformed by the Ku Klux Klan and it was
deemed as controversial as the Ku Klux Klan’s views
were not supported by many people.
HOW LYRICS INFORM THE NARRATIVE
Life is a mystery,
Everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home
[Chorus:]
When you call my name it's like a little prayer
I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour I can feel your power
Just like a prayer you know I'll take you there
I hear your voice, it's like an angel sighing
I have no choice, I hear your voice
Feels like flying
I close my eyes, Oh God I think I'm falling
Out of the sky, I close my eyes
Heaven help me
[Chorus x2]Life is a mystery, everyone must stand aloneI hear you call my nameAnd it feels like...[Chorus x2 (with Choir)](Just like a prayer, I'll take you thereIt's like a dream to me)
HOW LYRICS INFORM THE NARRATIVE
The lyrics for this song can be taken literally or
sexually.
For example ‘Im down on my knees, I wanna take
you there’ This could be taken sexual act or religious
act.
‘I hear you call my name and it feels like home’ This
could be taken as when she enters the church she
feels at home.