Cherish

Madonna’s 1989 single, Cherish, offered a sun-drenched counterpoint to the more provocative themes of its parent album, Like a Prayer. Emerging on August 1, 1989, this track, co-written and co-produced with Patrick Leonard, leaned into the timeless narrative of devoted love, drawing inspiration from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It even paid homage to the 1960s band The Association with a lyrical nod. The song itself is a bright, doo-wop inspired pop confection, built on a foundation of drum machines, keyboards, and a prominent saxophone solo. It paints a picture of unwavering commitment, a promise of constant presence in a lover's life.

This lighter fare stood in stark contrast to the intense religious and sexual imagery that defined much of Like a Prayer. Critics noted this shift, finding the lyrical parallels to Juliet’s plight a charming touch. Commercially, Cherish proved a significant hit. It topped the charts in Canada and reached the top ten across Europe, Australia, and Ireland. In the United States, it climbed to number two on the Billboard Hot 100, extending Madonna's record for consecutive top-five hits to an impressive sixteen. The accompanying music video, directed by Herb Ritts, presented a more ethereal Madonna frolicking on a Malibu beach with a troupe of mermen, a visual that later drew academic interpretations regarding its symbolism for the LGBTQ+ community. [edit]