Question: Is "Papa Don't Preach" REALLY that bad?

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OrdinaryMelkite

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I mean, yes, it is Madonna…but she has done and written about far worse things.

The song came on the oldies station I was listening to while I driving the car the other day. I listened to it and thought:
  1. She does not have the abortion. “I’m keeping my baby.” So in that sense it is a PRO-LIFE song.
  2. She has pre-marital sex with a boy but she is in love with the boy and he promises to marry her. The act will end up in her and the guy becoming parents.
  3. She deceives her father and asks him not to “judge” her and “preach” to her. Judge not lest ye be judged? :rolleyes:🙂
Was the whole controversy at the time (which I vaguely remember) the fact that, although it was a Pro-Life song, it seemed that it normalized pre-marital sex outside of marriage? Even though there was the possibility of marriage?

Or was it the fact that she deceived her father? And that she asked him not to “preach” to her?

Madonna has been (I personally think) is into Satanic stuff for years now and she is no longer (nor should ever be, despite being a great songwriter) a role model…but in the instance of this song…was the brouhaha really necessary? Even now the cloud over has not totally gone away. Comments welcome.

(One ironic fact, though…Madonna allegedly has had several abortions during her life, according to some biographers, so to many it seems kind of hypocritical of her to be singing about not having an abortion as a positive thing when she had several. I don’t know. I don’t have the proof of that. just relating what I’ve read. But I would be very hypocritical of her if it was true, though.)🤷
 
Yes, it is a PRO-LIFE song, and no, it’s really not that bad.

Neither, for that matter, is “Let’s Wait a While” by Janet Jackson (who did just that and chose life later in life.)
 
It is really that bad. And it is worth every word of criticism leveled at it. It came out during the mid-80’s, a time when Madonna wanted to be a sex symbol. Papa Don’t Preach may reference dad but it is her decision only, and it could have gone either way. This was the 50/50 period in pop culture, where, depending on who you’re talking about, like Prince, the slide was into more sex, and appearing on MTV dressed like a stripper, which MTV was against but after a “talk” with her record label, somehow changed its mind.

This was the period where part of an album could be about love and another part could be raunchy, or include profanity. The good parts were pared away until I heard George Michael yelling I Want Your Sex on the radio in 1987 – and it kept on going downhill till today. Some radio stations refused to play it at the time, so a little sanity was still there, but the goal was “into the abyss.”

The radio in my car stays off.

Ed
 
I suppose it depends! Parent tries to raise daughter with morals, warns her the guy she’s with is not a good choice. ( Usually the parents can tell these sorts of things) Parent’s worst nightmare comes true, two young people are now trying to make things right. Daughter may have meant that she is not going to abort her baby or not giving her baby up for adoption and that the baby’s dad is treating her really well and “SAYS” he is going to marry her. But daughter doesn’t want to hear anything from her dad about any of this! On one hand, you want to commend them for choosing life, but I bet daughter’s dad says, "Oh really, he wants to marry you? Talk is cheap, I’ll believe it when I see it! Just how are the two of you going to support this baby? " The last thing anyone wants is to be told they goofed when they are down and already know it. But “Papa Don’t Preach”? Really?? This will definitely affect more than daughter and boyfriend. They will need “Papa’s” help financially and probably childcare, etc. And what parent/ grandparent wouldn’t help their child/grandchild?
 
edwest2 said:
It is really that bad. And it is worth every word of criticism leveled at it. It came out during the mid-80’s, a time when Madonna wanted to be a sex symbol. Papa Don’t Preach may reference dad but it is her decision only, and it could have gone either way. This was the 50/50 period in pop culture, where, depending on who you’re talking about, like Prince, the slide was into more sex, and appearing on MTV dressed like a stripper, which MTV was against but after a “talk” with her record label, somehow changed its mind.

This was the period where part of an album could be about love and another part could be raunchy, or include profanity. The good parts were pared away until I heard George Michael yelling I Want Your Sex on the radio in 1987 – and it kept on going downhill till today. Some radio stations refused to play it at the time, so a little sanity was still there, but the goal was “into the abyss.”

The radio in my car stays off.

Ed
Click to expand...
I agree with you, Mr. West.

It is quite depressing to see us Catholics trying to indulge in apologetics for someone who is a saleswoman for sexual perversion of the worst kind. We must reject such forms of secular culture and not fall prey to their blandishments. Next, we will hear that we should all listen to Satanic heavy metal bands such as Slayer because they have performed one pro-life song (“Silent Scream”). Instead, we must offer Catholic cultural alternatives to the polymorphous perversity of today’s world.

Besides, as a Papa, I reserve the right to preach to my children as I see fit. 😃
 
edwest2 said:
It is really that bad. And it is worth every word of criticism leveled at it. It came out during the mid-80’s, a time when Madonna wanted to be a sex symbol. Papa Don’t Preach may reference dad but it is her decision only, and it could have gone either way. This was the 50/50 period in pop culture, where, depending on who you’re talking about, like Prince, the slide was into more sex, and appearing on MTV dressed like a stripper, which MTV was against but after a “talk” with her record label, somehow changed its mind.

This was the period where part of an album could be about love and another part could be raunchy, or include profanity. The good parts were pared away until I heard George Michael yelling I Want Your Sex on the radio in 1987 – and it kept on going downhill till today. Some radio stations refused to play it at the time, so a little sanity was still there, but the goal was “into the abyss.”

The radio in my car stays off.

Ed
Click to expand...
Interesting viewpoint, Edwest2. It always is with you. Thanks. 👍👍
 
RomanoAmerio said:
I agree with you, Mr. West.

It is quite depressing to see us Catholics trying to indulge in apologetics for someone who is a saleswoman for sexual perversion of the worst kind. We must reject such forms of secular culture and not fall prey to their blandishments. Next, we will hear that we should all listen to Satanic heavy metal bands such as Slayer because they have performed one pro-life song (“Silent Scream”). Instead, we must offer Catholic cultural alternatives to the polymorphous perversity of today’s world.

Besides, as a Papa, I reserve the right to preach to my children as I see fit. 😃
Click to expand...
As a daughter I find, even when well into adulthood, that I have been treated on occasion like "little girl"rather than an adult. And in times of trouble I find practical help more beneficial than a lecture (after all, most adults are aware when they have done wrong). And that with the best will in the world parents can err in their judgment.

So while I respect your right as a father to preach, on behalf of daughters everywhere I assert a reciprocal right to respectfully disagree on occasion with said preaching. 😃
 
OrdinaryMelkite said:
I mean, yes, it is Madonna…but she has done and written about far worse things.

The song came on the oldies station I was listening to while I driving the car the other day. I listened to it and thought:
  1. She does not have the abortion. “I’m keeping my baby.” So in that sense it is a PRO-LIFE song.
  2. She has pre-marital sex with a boy but she is in love with the boy and he promises to marry her. The act will end up in her and the guy becoming parents.
  3. She deceives her father and asks him not to “judge” her and “preach” to her. Judge not lest ye be judged? :rolleyes:🙂
Was the whole controversy at the time (which I vaguely remember) the fact that, although it was a Pro-Life song, it seemed that it normalized pre-marital sex outside of marriage? Even though there was the possibility of marriage?

Or was it the fact that she deceived her father? And that she asked him not to “preach” to her?

Madonna has been (I personally think) is into Satanic stuff for years now and she is no longer (nor should ever be, despite being a great songwriter) a role model…but in the instance of this song…was the brouhaha really necessary? Even now the cloud over has not totally gone away. Comments welcome.

(One ironic fact, though…Madonna allegedly has had several abortions during her life, according to some biographers, so to many it seems kind of hypocritical of her to be singing about not having an abortion as a positive thing when she had several. I don’t know. I don’t have the proof of that. just relating what I’ve read. But I would be very hypocritical of her if it was true, though.)🤷
Click to expand...
I think that it’s such an old song that many of the target audience are probably beyond reproductive age. 😊

I don’t know if younger people listen to her. I have found her songs occasionally on easy listening channels.
 
With all due respect to opinions here, I’m honestly surprised by the condemnation of lyrics for a song that is, frankly, often the reality of the life we live. The story is of someone who made a big mistake, then tries to do the right thing to deal with it.

As a long time musician, I have always been more interested in the overall projection of a particular song in all its parts rather than being concerned by lyrics alone - which I usually take with a grain of salt, anyway. I don’t let song lyrics influence my beliefs, but I do understand the potential influence certain music can have on younger kids.

I’m no Madonna fan (except for maybe Vogue :p), but I fail to see the problem with these lyrics.
metrolyrics.com/papa-dont-preach-lyrics-madonna.html
 
Caldera said:
With all due respect to opinions here, I’m honestly surprised by the condemnation of lyrics for a song that is, frankly, often the reality of the life we live. The story is of someone who made a big mistake, then tries to do the right thing to deal with it.

As a long time musician, I have always been more interested in the overall projection of a particular song in all its parts rather than being concerned by lyrics alone - which I usually take with a grain of salt, anyway. I don’t let song lyrics influence my beliefs, but I do understand the potential influence certain music can have on younger kids.

I’m no Madonna fan (except for maybe Vogue :p), but I fail to see the problem with these lyrics.
metrolyrics.com/papa-dont-preach-lyrics-madonna.html
Click to expand...
It was a sign of the times. I work in the media and part of my job is to study it and I also study it on my own time. Lyrics mean something. This particular song combined with her public persona was just the next step, at the time, of what was to come. More sexual, immoral lyrics and more lewd and even blasphemous performances. A certain contemporary singer is following Madonna and her performances aren’t worth mentioning.

The poison was dripped into our veins slowly, gradually.

Ed West
 
edwest2 said:
It was a sign of the times. I work in the media and part of my job is to study it and I also study it on my own time. Lyrics mean something. This particular song combined with her public persona was just the next step, at the time, of what was to come. More sexual, immoral lyrics and more lewd and even blasphemous performances. A certain contemporary singer is following Madonna and her performances aren’t worth mentioning.

The poison was dripped into our veins slowly, gradually.

Ed West
Click to expand...
Madonna’s persona and what was to come is a straw man.🙂 Is there anything specific you find offensive with the lyrics?
 
LilyM said:
As a daughter I find, even when well into adulthood, that I have been treated on occasion like "little girl"rather than an adult. And in times of trouble I find practical help more beneficial than a lecture (after all, most adults are aware when they have done wrong). And that with the best will in the world parents can err in their judgment.

So while I respect your right as a father to preach, on behalf of daughters everywhere I assert a reciprocal right to respectfully disagree on occasion with said preaching. 😃
Click to expand...
Dear LilyM,

You are quite right in saying this. I pray that when my children are grown, I will respect this and not come across as overbearing. 😃
 
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