Papa Don't Preach
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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"Papa Don't Preach" is a song by Madonna and the second single from her third studio album True Blue (1986). It was released in summer 1986 and reached number one in the United States, Australia and the UK, where it was the eighth biggest seller of the year. The song was written by Brian Elliot with additional lyrics by Madonna.
Controversy
"Papa Don't Preach" is sung from the perspective of a teenage girl who admits to her father (played by Danny Aiello in the music video) that not only is she pregnant, but she plans to keep and raise the child. Typical for Madonna, the single caused some controversy because of its somewhat taboo subject matter. It was criticized by parents and women's organizations because it seemed to glorify teenage pregnancy. Madonna has always flatly denied these criticisms, stating that the song aims to illustrate the real-life experience of young girls who fall in love. Her friend and actress Debi Mazar plays one of Madonna's friends in the video. Debi Mazar has also been seen in Madonna's videos for Europe's True Blue, Deeper and Deeper, and Music. The actor Alex McArthur plays the role of her boyfriend.
The song also earned Madonna her first praise from former critics from across the political spectrum. Tipper Gore, who just a year earlier had denounced Madonna and her single "Dress You Up" as "vulgar" and had led a campaign against vulgar music, commended Madonna for speaking candidly about such a relevant and important social issue. Conservatives also supported Madonna's message that she was choosing to keep her unborn child rather than undergoing an abortion.
Despite the controversy surrounding the song, it was a huge success that topped the singles charts in several countries including the United States of America.
