Like a Prayer (album) even today, "Like a Prayer" remains provocative and progressive: The racial tension alluded to in the "Like A Prayer" video is striking, while the album's themes of religious and sexual oppression still feel all too relevant. Madonna dictated pop's future direction while also being firmly in control of her own fortunes. According to Christopher Rosa from VH1, ""Like a Prayer" was the first pop album to evoke what female artists explore today: sexuality, religion, gender equality and independence. It was pioneering, and no woman in music has come close to doing something as groundbreaking." He believed that the album was
Like a Prayer (album) language and imagery". According to the list of "All-TIME 100 Albums" by "Time" magazine's critics, "Like a Prayer" is one of the 100 greatest and most influential musical compilations since 1954. In 2003, "Rolling Stone" magazine named it the 239th greatest album of all time. Apart from that the album was also featured in the "Women Who Rock" list made in 2012, at number 18. "Like a Prayer" is also featured in the book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". In 2006, "Q" magazine placed the album at number 14 in its list of "40 Best Albums of