Madonna, “Papa Don’t Preach” | Controversial Tunes 😈🎶

On the 11^th edition of Controversial Tunes (2022), we explore the controversy behind the song, “Papa Don’t Preach” by Madonna.   

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ring on the controversy! Controversial Tunes 😈🎶 is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows and totally stirred the pot.  The records that grace Controversial Tunes are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.  On the 11^th edition of Controversial Tunes (2022), we explore the controversy behind the song, 🎵 “Papa Don’t Preach” by 🎙 Madonna.

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Theme & Lyrics ✍

Last time I checked, 🎙 Madonna was a democrat, or, at least, she’s supported democratic politicians for years.  We are well aware that the controversial pop icon wasn’t a fan of 45.   Why do I mention Madge’s political affiliation? Well, her 1986 hit, 🎵 “Papa Don’t Preach”, played better with the GOP (aka republicans) than democrats, at least at the time. Why did republicans enjoy this one more, you ask? Well, exhibit A, the chorus, seems to explain why:

“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, ooh

I’m gonna keep my baby.”

Oh boy! So, we have a teenage girl who’s become pregnant with her boyfriend.  Rather than have an abortion, she decides she’ll keep the child against the judgment of many folks in her life.  Does her father advise her to abort the child? That’s not clear, but what is clear is that Madonna doesn’t want her father to give her a sermon – aka his opinions about her troublesome, deep situation – she’s taking matters into her own hands.  Furthermore, her boyfriend is going to step up, or so Madonna sings in the second verse:

“He says that he’s going to marry me

And we can raise a little family

Maybe we’ll be all right

It’s a sacrifice.”

So, there’s no shortage of controversy.  Teenage pregnancy is rarely without controversy, particularly when it graces a song released in the 1980s.  Furthermore, the decision to keep the baby is polarizing. Abortion advocates loathe it.  Pro-life peeps embrace it – “I’m gonna keep my baby.” Madonna, of course, didn’t take a stance on the hot button issue.  Controversy sells, so, it’s no surprise “Papa Don’t Preach” reached no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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Final Thoughts 💭

Madonna never fails to court controversy.  “Papa Don’t Preach” is a prime example of courting it.  Teen pregnancy? Deciding to keep or abort the baby? The father/daughter dynamic? This 💿 True Blue gem is intriguing.  🎙 Mario Winans enjoyed sampling it (🎵 “Never Really Was”).

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🎙 Madonna • 💿 True Blue • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 1986

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 Madonna, “Papa Don’t Preach”: Controversial Tunes 😈🎶 No. 11 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, cottonbro, Darkmoon_Art,  TheDigitalArtist, inna mikitas, Isabela Catão, Jonathan Nenemann, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, Tazz Vaughn, Victoria Borodinova, Warner, zzzvector]

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