Papa Don't Preach
Released as a single in 1986 and later released on Madonna's third studio album, True Blue, Papa Don't Preach was one of the most controversial songs by Madonna. Although it was the only song of the album which Madonna didn't have much of a hand in writing, it fit her style perfectly and couldn't have been performed as well by any other artist. Sparking arguments with the Catholic Church as well as heating tensions between pro-abortion and anti-abortion groups, Madonna seemed to have struck a nerve with the majority of the population one way or another.
Video Analysis
Verse 1
Papa I know you're going to be upset Because I was always your little girl But you should know by now I'm not a baby You always taught me Right from wrong I need your help Daddy please be strong I may be young at heart But I know what I'm saying |
The video begins with Madonna walking proudly down a lane, in a new short haircut and tomboy appearance. We see short snippets of Madonna mixed in when she was just a little girl with her father taking care of her. These represent her fathers image of her, still very much young and innocent.
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Chorus
Papa don't preach I'm in trouble deep Papa don't preach I've been losing sleep But I made up my mind I'm keeping my baby I'm going to keep my baby mmm |
In the chorus, we see Madonna transition into a tight fitting black outfit as she dances alone on a stage. The scene seems to represent her strength and rebellion, due to the black color of her outfit and her confident dancing style. She emits no sadness through her actions, which would otherwise be implied by the lyrics.
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"...there were so many opinions – that’s why I thought it was so great. Is she for “schma-smortion,” as they say in Knocked Up? Is she against abortion?"
Verse 2
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 But my friends keep telling me To give it up Saying I'm too young I ought to live it up What I need right now is Some good advice.. please |
During the second verse, Madonna shows up looking sad and disheveled to her boyfriends work, signifying difficult times. In the lyrics, she describes her friends opposition to the baby as well, and the video shows Madonna leaving her group of friends, not with sadness however, but with confidence. She immediately climbs a long staircase, perhaps signifying her rise into a more responsible adult. Before reaching the end of the staircase, it transitions to the chorus, showing Madonna once again demonstrating her strength
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Outro
I'm gonna keep my baby Ooh don't you stop loving me daddy I know I'm keeping my baby |
In the outro and through the ending of the song, Madonna shows the first true sign of weakness, looking troubled as she waits for her fathers reaction. The video ends with her father embracing her, signifying his support for her choice.
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A Deeper Look Into the Controversy
On the first look, "Papa Don't Preach" seems like a simple story of teenage pregnancy, but it sparked an enormous amount of controversy when it was released for two major reasons. The first reason was due to the implied pre-marital sex that Madonna had with her boyfriend, and the second reason is due to the stance against abortion by Madonna in the music video.
In an interview with the New York Times on July 10, 1986, Madonna predicted such an outcome. "'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." Absolutely correct in her judgement, the chorus sparked enormous controversy due to its clear pro-life anti-abortion stance.
In the circles of people debating abortion, it pleased a lot of people against abortion such as then president of the California chapter of Feminists for Life in America, Susan Carpenter-McMillan. ''Abortion is readily available on every street corner for young women. Now what Madonna is telling them is, hey, there's an alternative.'' On the other hand, it also enraged just as many people such as then executive director of Planned Parenthood of New York City, Alfred Moran. ''The message is that getting pregnant is cool and 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. The reality is that what Madonna is suggesting to teen-agers is a path to permanent poverty.''
The other society which "Papa Don't Preach" got a reaction from was the Catholic Church. What was interesting from their reaction was that they had two different stances on the song. First off, they were big supporters of the pro-life message of the lyrics, and believed that was a good influence. However, they despised the fact that it seemed to praise pre-marital sex and believed it was a terrible influence on young women because of that.
In an interview with the New York Times on July 10, 1986, Madonna predicted such an outcome. "'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." Absolutely correct in her judgement, the chorus sparked enormous controversy due to its clear pro-life anti-abortion stance.
In the circles of people debating abortion, it pleased a lot of people against abortion such as then president of the California chapter of Feminists for Life in America, Susan Carpenter-McMillan. ''Abortion is readily available on every street corner for young women. Now what Madonna is telling them is, hey, there's an alternative.'' On the other hand, it also enraged just as many people such as then executive director of Planned Parenthood of New York City, Alfred Moran. ''The message is that getting pregnant is cool and 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. The reality is that what Madonna is suggesting to teen-agers is a path to permanent poverty.''
The other society which "Papa Don't Preach" got a reaction from was the Catholic Church. What was interesting from their reaction was that they had two different stances on the song. First off, they were big supporters of the pro-life message of the lyrics, and believed that was a good influence. However, they despised the fact that it seemed to praise pre-marital sex and believed it was a terrible influence on young women because of that.