Like a Prayer Quiz: Madonna's Video, Pepsi and Controversy

This Like a Prayer quiz revisits Madonna's 1989 single and its storm of a music video. Play 10 interactive questions on director Mary Lambert, a church scene with a gospel choir, a saint statue that comes to life, burning crosses, the Pepsi commercial pulled after one airing, the fee Madonna kept, the Vatican's anger and the song's run to number one.

Start Like a Prayer Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Artist
Who released Like a Prayer?
Director
Who directed the music video?
Choir
What kind of choir sings in the song?
Statue
What comes to life in the video?
Fire
Which image caused outrage?
Brand
Which soft drink used the song in a commercial?
Pulled
What happened to the commercial after the video's release?
Fee
What did Madonna keep despite the cancellation?
Church
Which religious authority condemned the video?
Chart
Where did the single peak in the US?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Who released Like a Prayer?
Answer: Madonna
It came out in 1989.
Q2: Who directed the music video?
Answer: Mary Lambert
She made several Madonna videos.
Q3: What kind of choir sings in the song?
Answer: A gospel choir
It lifts the chorus.
Q4: What comes to life in the video?
Answer: A saint statue in a church
He kisses Madonna's forehead.
Q5: Which image caused outrage?
Answer: Burning crosses
It appears on a hillside.
Q6: Which soft drink used the song in a commercial?
Answer: Pepsi
It aired in March 1989.
Q7: What happened to the commercial after the video's release?
Answer: It was pulled
Pepsi faced boycott threats.
Q8: What did Madonna keep despite the cancellation?
Answer: Her fee from Pepsi
It was reportedly millions of dollars.
Q9: Which religious authority condemned the video?
Answer: The Vatican
Religious groups protested.
Q10: Where did the single peak in the US?
Answer: Number one
It topped charts worldwide.

A Hit Wrapped in Controversy

Like a Prayer, released by Madonna in 1989, mixed pop with a gospel choir in a song about faith and desire. It reached number one in the United States and many other countries and became one of her signature songs.

The music video, directed by Mary Lambert, shows Madonna witnessing a crime, taking refuge in a church where a saint statue comes to life, and dancing before burning crosses on a hillside. Religious groups protested, and the Vatican condemned it.

Pepsi had paid Madonna to use the song in a commercial that aired in March 1989. After the video came out, Pepsi faced boycott threats and pulled the ad, but Madonna kept her fee. The episode showed how far she would push pop imagery.

What This Quiz Teaches

Pop fans will enjoy these questions.

What the song is about
What the video shows
Why Pepsi pulled out
Who condemned it
How the single performed

Did You Know?

The album shares the song's name.
The video tackles racism too.
Stigmata appear on her hands.
The song opens with a guitar riff.
MTV played it heavily.