Cherish

Madonna stepped away from the religious controversy of her fifth album to release a bright, sun-drenched ballad on August 1, 1989. Cherish arrived as the second single from Like a Prayer, offering listeners a moment of pure joy before the record's darker themes took over. The track blends late-80s production with a nostalgic nod to 1960s doo-wop, featuring drum machines, synthesizers, and a saxophone solo that anchors the bridge. Its lyrics paint a picture of unwavering commitment, drawing inspiration from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet while directly quoting the 1960s band The Association in the line "Just like they said in 'Cherish'." This intertextual reference created a bridge between generations of love songs.

The accompanying music video directed by Herb Ritts captured Madonna frolicking on Malibu beaches alongside a troupe of mermen. The ethereal aesthetic avoided the provocative imagery often associated with the artist and was later interpreted by critics as a subtle nod to LGBTQ+ themes given the presence of male figures and the message of unconditional love. Commercially the song became a massive global hit topping the charts in Canada and securing top-ten positions across Europe, Australia, and Ireland. In the United States it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 extending Madonna's streak of consecutive top-five hits to sixteen. [edit]