Madonna's 'Like a Prayer' Named Best Karaoke Song, Sparking Controversy Since 1989
The magic that makes a song perfect for karaoke is hard to explain. Maybe the track needs lyrics that practically beg to be sung at full force or a chorus that feels designed for a group of people to perform together. What is clear is that a highly respected outlet has named its choice for the best karaoke song ever made. Amazingly enough, their winning choice is a track that was so controversial it spawned an international scandal.
This Massive 1989 Billboard No. 1 Was Named the 'Best Karaoke Song Ever Made'
In December 2025, Time Out published an article that featured its choices for the "best karaoke songs ever made." The ranking included iconic tracks by artists like Adele, Toto, the Spice Girls, Whitney Houston, Journey, and many more. The song that surpassed them all to be ranked at No. 1 was Madonna's 1989 classic, "Like a Prayer." Long before it topped the list, the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 22, 1989, and stayed on top for an impressive three weeks in total.
Even though it is a track that has stood the test of time, Madonna's hit wasn't the most obvious choice when an iconic song like Frank Sinatra's "My Way" was also in the running. The outlet explained its choice by detailing how powerfully the opening notes can capture any audience's attention. It went on to praise the track's "swinging melody," "unignorable beat," "absolutely slamming breakdown," and the greatness of its crescendo.
In addition to Time Out's explanation, there are other reasons that make "Like a Prayer" a great karaoke song. For example, the song is challenging vocally but not so much that it is out of reach for most people. It is also such a memorable song that many people who frequent a karaoke club would know the lyrics and be able to join in, microphone or not. Perhaps the greatest element of the track for karaoke is that it builds dramatically and reaches a powerful climax that is likely to cause jubilation in those who truly commit to every note.
From Vatican Condemnations to a Multi-Million Dollar Corporate Panic
When Madonna released "Like a Prayer" as a single, she accompanied it with a music video that sparked a backlash that was almost too fierce to overstate. It featured religious iconography that outraged many viewers, to say the very least. As a 2010 Time article noted, the controversy reached such an international level that the Vatican formally condemned the scandalous music video. Additionally, The Sydney Morning Herald noted in 2019 that the footage was so controversial that the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal investigated whether it should be deemed blasphemous.
If igniting international outrage wasn't enough, the "Like a Prayer" clip also cost Pepsi millions. In 1989, the company signed a groundbreaking $5 million sponsorship deal with Madonna, who was one of the biggest stars in the world at the time. As part of the deal, the pop superstar starred in a Pepsi commercial set to "Like a Prayer" that aired only once. After the outrage garnered headlines around the world, the company pulled the ad and entirely severed its relationship with the singer. That meant that the other aspects of the sponsorship deal were all canceled as well.
Next: 52 Years Ago Today, a 1974 Track Voted One of the ‘Worst Songs of All Time' Hit No. 1
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 10:45 AM.