Blog Entry #3

Papa Don’t Preach
by Madonna
Papa I know you’re going to be upset
cause I was always your little girl
But you should know by now
I’m not a baby

You always taught me right from wrong
I need your help, daddy please be strong
I may be young at heart
But I know what I’m saying

The one you warned me all about
The one you said I could do without
Were in an awful mess, and I don’t mean maybe - please

Chorus:

Papa don’t preach, I’m in trouble deep
Papa don’t preach, I’ve been losing sleep
But I made up my mind, I’m keeping my baby, oh
I’m gonna keep my baby, mmm...

He says that he’s going to marry me
We can raise a little family
Maybe well be all right
Its a sacrifice

But my friends keep telling me to give it up
Saying I’m too young, I ought to live it up
What I need right now is some good advice, please

(chorus)

Daddy, daddy if you could only see
Just how good he’s been treating me
You’d give us your blessing right now
cause we are in love, we are in love, so please

(chorus)

Papa don’t preach, I’m in trouble deep
Papa don’t preach, I’ve been losing sleep
(repeat)

Oh, I’m gonna keep my baby, ooh
Don’t you stop loving me daddy
I know, I’m keeping my baby



I’ve already heard this song since way back when…

During the time this video was created, Madonna was already a pop icon despite the many people who disliked her. Her influence was apparent especially among the youth at that time. She had the image of a rebel who practically went against the traditions and norms of the society at that time. Her image advocated change. Her impact among the young, especially her fashion style, was disseminated through television. Through television, everything about her was advertised including the principles she stood (or still stands) for. And also, with the advent of the Music Television or more popularly known as MTV, her songs including her dance moves were imitated internationally. She became a pop (referring to the music genre) sensation.

This music video “Papa Don’t Preach” is just one of her many controversial songs. The song is basically a plea of help to her father. The first lines in the song already indicate or serve as a clue that she has a problem. She got herself in a “mess” which required her father’s help. There may be some other interpretation, but the most probable one is that the mess she referred to is that she got pregnant. She wants to keep the baby and be with the guy that she supposedly loves. She’s telling her father not to haul over the coals, but just be there for her as a father who still loves her. She asks for her father’s advice because her friends keep telling her she’s “too young” and that she ought to give up the baby. The following lines succeeding the chorus show how she convinces her father that the father of her child is actually “good” and that they are in love. The word please repeated a couple of times indicate that she’s practically begging for her father’s approval as if it would make everything alright.

[The song does make use of a cliché – falling for the good bad boy (Alex McArthur). A lot of movies have this storyline and so do many of the TV series until today.]

The song and its implications are still relevant today. Maybe even more relevant, because of the continuing debates and arguments about abortion by young mothers. This song is a kind of song that gave way for other topics that are taboo to be boldly shown on television screens.

Even though I highly doubt that the fashion during the time of this music video will ever be revived, it sure had an impact and gave way to other experiments on fashion. Madonna as a pop icon, was also a trendsetter. I’m not a fan of her eyebrows, her hair, or of her black leather jacket, but I’ve seen traces of its influence… Evidence of its relevance today, is the revival of the song by the controversial and scandalous singer-actress, Kelly Osbourne. She definitely represents many of the kids in this generation.