The Vatican called the religious imagery blasphemous, and urged Christians ... When the music video for Madonna's Like A Prayer premiered on MTV in the spring of 1989, pop shifted on its axis.

Catholic leaders condemned as blasphemous her controversial 1989 video for hit song "Like a Prayer", featuring burning crosses, statues crying blood and Madonna seducing a black Jesus. In 2004 ...

On that tally, Madonna’s blockbuster pushes nearly 20 spaces, ascending from No. 58 to No. 39. The same tune nearly re-enters the top 40 on another, related list as well. “Like a Prayer ...