"Like A Prayer" Part Three

Keep It Together (1990) Madonna

Keep It Together was the 5th and final single from Like A Prayer. It came out around this time of year and I like the sleeve art as it has a winter/February/Valentine's Day look to it.


Note: "Vogue" was originally supposed to be the B-side (the Keep It Together instrumental was used instead) until Sire heard it and decided it was too good and should be released on its own.

"Like A Prayer" Part Two

Oh Father (1989) Madonna

Oh Father was the 4th single from Like A Prayer. I read reviewers say it sounds like Simon & Garfunkel but I don't get that. It's a nice song though. It does have a wintertime feel to it so it makes sense that the video features a lot of snowy scenes.

The video, shot in black & white, was directed by David Fincher, who had also directed "Express Yourself", and is probably one of Madonna's best. I especially like the scene towards the end where she's just walking in the snow.

Fincher, of course, went on to direct Alien 3, and then Seven and Fight Club.


Note: the cassingle lists the B-side as "Pray For Spanish Eyes" but it's actually just the album track "Spanish Eyes".

"Like A Prayer" Part One

Like A Prayer (1989) Madonna

Madonna's Like A Prayer album came out on the first day of spring in 1989. Plans were made that after dinner my dad would drive my brother and me to the record store to get it.

When I'd gotten out of school that day I stopped at Brooks Drugs and while looking through the magazines I came across a small notice about the album. I read it quickly and misunderstood it. I thought the album contianed a song called "Express Yourself" which was a duet with Prince and about the death of her mother. Somehow I missed all the commas- the album has a song called "Express Yourself", a duet with Prince ("Love Song"), and a song about the death of her mother ("Promise to Try").

I listened to it right away when I got home. Then I listened to it a few more times with headphones in bed. By the time I left for school the next day I knew almost all the words.


Note: I love the top picture (by Herb Ritts)- the colors are awesome. The whole thing is like a beautiful painting (another image from the same photo session was used for the back cover of Like A Prayer).

"Open Your Heart"

Open Your Heart (1986) Madonna

One night my brother and I were at Strawberries Records & tapes. Even though our parents gave us shit for it and said we'd save money by only buying albums, we were really into buying 45s. We liked the sleeves, but especially we liked the B-sides (even though it was usually lesser album tracks or instrumentals).

Anyway, I was looking through a rack of albums and came across the 12" single section. Holy shit, there was Open Your Heart, only it was the size of a record album. I looked it over and saw that it had a version of Open Your Heart that was over ten minutes long. That was the night I discovered 12" remix singles. Over the next few weeks and months we found "La Isla Bonita", "Like A Virgin", and one of my favorites, "True Blue".

An RJ Battles night

After work I went on the computer and made plans with a friend. Before she came I took a 1/2 hour nap. Just when I was on the verge of falling into a deep sleep I got up and had a shower and a coffee.

The two of us went to McDonalds for snack wraps & fries and then went to another friend's house. He invited me on a freezing cold walk to the supermarket and then a 3rd friend joined us for a drive. We got back to my friend's house and me and friend #1 headed back to my place so she could leave for a date*, but before we left my friend's house I snagged a Friendly's Reeses Pieces sundae cup and a caramel Drumstick for the ride- he even let me take one of his spoons.

Now I'm watching TV and having popcorn with 1/2 a stick of butter. It's bitter cold outside but I'm nice & warm in my around-the-house clothes. It's a great RJ Battles night.


*My friend is very active in her church. I got an idea while we were driving: she should, little by little, pad her stomach. Time will go by and her belly will grow and nobody will say anything- but they'll ask questions; "So...how are things going?", "So, are you seeing anyone? We thought you were single"

"Debaser", ect.

Debaser demo, studio (1997) and
Monkey Gone to Heaven (1997) from Death to the Pixies, and
Complete B-sides (2001)

2010: Things to look forward to

2010

We're already into the second month of 2010 and while it might not seem so great so far it is winter and that always sucks. The future holds a lot of good things though, such as:

Amy Sedaris has been working on a craft book, a follow-up to I Like You.

Throwing Muses will be working on new songs (KH's demo of the first, "Sunray Venus" is up at Cash Music now).

The Pixies are still together- there's always the chance they'll put out a new song or two- maybe even a new album.

Piranha 3-D.

Shutter Island.

Plus there'll be new features here at RJ Battles. I'm going to make some terrariums and you can watch them grow.

If there's anything I forgot to mention, let me know. I'd like to hear from you.

Clem photo by Matthew Battles