#5: “Like a Prayer” by Madonna

Madonna’s 1989 hit Like a Prayer became one of her most controversial yet successful songs. Its provocative music video, featuring burning crosses, stigmata imagery, and a Black saint, sparked outrage among religious groups and the Vatican, which condemned it as blasphemous.

Boycotts followed, and Pepsi dropped Madonna from a major endorsement deal after airing a commercial featuring the song. Despite the backlash, Like a Prayer, soared to No. 1 on the charts, praised for its gospel-infused sound and deeply personal lyrics.