devil pray devil pray song recorded american singer songwriter madonna thirteenth studio album written produced madonna additional writing early stages album madonna encouraged manager work team songwriters worked seven songs devil pray composed madonna desired talk experiences drugs quest spirituality lyrically song deals themes drug addiction sin desire salvation drug fueled devil pray song combines elements country pop folk similarities madonna single don tell previous work animals version traditional folk song house rising sun song received high praise critics musical elements highlighted self conscious lyrics criticism list drugs chorus following release pre ordered song song charted european territories reaching finland greece hungary lebanon madonna performed song time italian tempo wearing black background release madonna met singer appeared ultra music festival premiere remix single girl gone wild produced later developing upcoming album madonna manager suggested singer work songwriting team singer accepted fan work march singer posted picture account house work heading studio week later posted photos team songwriters claiming great songs interview interview madonna said song people drugs connect god higher level consciousness saying matrix high lot people drop acid drugs want closer god going short circuit illusion drugs illusion getting closer god ultimately kill destroy mean tried soon high spent time drinking tons water system soon high obsessed like interview said song written particular merely sharing experiences rolling_stone published article madonna advocated intense personal exploration drug use asked devil pray run risk misunderstood song encouraging drugs madonna replied certainly judging people drugs saying don drugs saying things connect higher level ultimately going lost people getting high trying connect higher level consciousness way sustain demo version devil pray leaked internet december alongside demos upcoming album following madonna released album titled pre order december ordered tracks automatically downloaded including devil pray madonna stated songs meant early christmas gift added prefer fans hear completed versions songs instead incomplete tracks circulating recording composition devil pray written produced madonna additional writing responsible providing keyboards programming providing guitars additional recording mixing song engineer devil pray described moody mid tempo semi acoustic pop song overcoming addiction country tinged style comparison tracks album critics found similarities song madonna single don tell country pop elements traditional folk song house rising sun vibe devil pray brings madonna devoted disciple drawn darker kind prayer noted story deals sin song starts hand guitar country edge characteristic swedish producer output claimed chorus contains warning list offer brief relief sings drugs smoke drink whiskey yeah high drop acid second verse madonna understand spiritual plight sings mother mary help cause gone angels flown away warning near later advises providing brief relief use drugs provide positive effect user warning yeah run hide won find answers invite help making devil pray pitched voice joins plea soul saved sings save soul save soul save devil fool bed samples rises mix tiny madonna voices abyss critical reception devil pray received positive response music critics noting song reaches pop single don tell subject matter house rising sun jim new york daily news praised addition house beat gives lure found similarities devil pray songs defining acoustic guitar electro cowboy song melody doesn attempt hide familiarity house rising sun huffington_post pointed madonna evoked traditional dance known time enthusiastically wrote song fit radio year british house pop hey brother idolator praised blood diamonds ing divine pair devil pray hear styles woven beat independent found devil pray recalled career apex achievements like prayer nme opined song reminiscent lady_gaga dance tune stephen allmusic picked best songs calling expert rolling_stone agreed noting helps madonna revive beats vibe music slant_magazine went calling best song years continued praising devil pray ing animals band witch house tendencies salvation rid unexpected low end groove saw song highlight describing gospel tinged acoustic guitar irresistible plea salvation divine guidance face drugs consequence sound considered devil pray madonna best release years chorus strongest decades praised madonna voice pitch shifted echo unlike bitch beats production perfectly hell song getting heavy longing self direction new_york_times shared view noting song showcase madonna best singing years national felt song similar animals version house rising sun praised better country dance song madonna cover american pie criticism directed list drugs chorus devil pray washington_post criticized fact lyrics feel violently resistant wisdom citing menu chorus asking best help forget happening spin wrote laundry list referenced song noting makes devil pray sound like pitchfork media went criticize list strange tender comical thing ultimately boring stadium song seeking big god madonna madonna sic downfall rebel heart alexis_petridis guardian negative devil pray production claiming pretty transparent attempt come lines hit wake chart performance devil pray charted european territories release album tracks december song reached greece hungary peaking numbers respectively finland lebanon sweden devil pray managed reach reaching numbers spain song reached number album lowest charting song france devil pray highest charting song living love album second single respectively peaked number live performances march madonna performed song time italian tempo album second single episode featuring appearance aired march performance devil pray madonna wore extravagant black writer yahoo noticed performances warmly received audience appreciated madonna emphasis melodies vocals performance costumes stage props idolator noted performance weekend sins singer emotionally sings tune devil pray currently performed madonna rebel heart tour following supper themed performance holy water vogue madonna climbed center stage perform devil pray performance male dancers dressed priest engaged dance dancers montreal gazette said found performance challenging previous song promotional videos related tour rehearsals dancer interviews credits personnel inc bmi bmi sony scandinavia team songs personnel personnel adapted madonna official website charts
Devil Pray