(Please read this story with caution.)

As I always say, "Perception Is Reality," but unfortunately, this is not the case in the story I am about to share. Growing up in the church, I was heavily involved in a youth gospel choir that recorded and toured extensively across the West Coast and Southwest regions. Our mode of transportation may have resembled the famous Partridge Family bus, but it certainly did not have a funky paint job. I even once embarked on a missionary trip to Mexico. My prior background is important to understand because it sets the stage for what's to come. You see, songwriting can be a pure form of expression of something beautiful or sometimes used for ulterior motives. Unfortunately, there are instances where artists use clever lyrics to disguise a misleading message and make it seem cool. And so, this is where our story begins.

The TikTok sensation caused by a recent performance of Madonna's 'Like A Prayer' by a church choir has sparked quite the conversation about the song's subtle sexual references. Hailed as one of the greatest songs of all time, the 1989 gospel-rock hit has always been lauded for its bold combination of religious and sexual themes. Some have even interpreted the lyrics as a double entendre for oral gratification, particularly in lines like "When you call my name it's like a little prayer / I'm down on my knees / I wanna take you there." However, Madonna herself clarified that the song is actually about a young girl who is deeply devoted to her faith and views God as a male figure in her life. In an interview with The New York Times, she shared that she had similar feelings during her childhood and even considered becoming a nun.

The popular song, 'Like A Prayer', has regained attention this year thanks to its appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine. This has led to the choir's performances of the track garnering millions of views on TikTok. Viewers seem surprised to see a church choir performing such a chart-topping hit on Christmas Day, with one TikToker commenting, "Madonna really fooled the next generation of Gen Z Christians." In fact, many comments were left criticizing the singers for being sheltered or ignorant. Other TikTokers have also shared their shocked reactions to the choir's cover, with one viewer jokingly saying, "My husband is still arguing that this is a Christian song." It seems as though many are amused by the irony of a church choir unknowingly singing a non-religious song.

Unfortunately, the viral clip has been misunderstood. Originally uploaded on Christmas Day in 2022 by GoSingChoir on YouTube, the gospel group was able to release a statement as a pinned comment under the video to clarify the situation.

According to the group's official statement, their rendition of Madonna's 'Like a Prayer' unintentionally gained immense popularity. A small snippet from their performance was shared on TikTok, falsely labeling them as a church choir unaware of the song's sexual undertones. This resulted in an overwhelming response from viewers all over the world, with millions of views and comments mocking them.
However, it should be noted that this choir is not affiliated with any church; they are a secular choir that specializes in pop songs. As they stated, their purpose is to bring people together through music and celebration.

Of course, they were well aware of the controversial nature of Madonna's song, which stirred up controversy when it was released 35 years ago. And just for clarity, their video was not filmed in a church; it took place at Gasteig, a cultural center in Munich.
In conclusion, despite the absurd attention and mixed reactions surrounding this incident, GoSingChoir wants to embrace it with humor and use it as  an opportunity to unite even more people through the joy of singing – hopefully a small step toward bridging societal divides.”

Without a doubt, they are Not a Church Choir.  And that's the Gospel truth!