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Madonna's God Control Music Video Is A 'Wake Up Call' About US Gun Reform

The Madame X singer is the victim of a mass shooting in the clip, in scenes reminiscent of the 2016 Pulse night club tragedy.
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Entertainment Editor

Madonna has revealed that her graphic new music video is intended as a “wake up call” about the importance of gun regulation in America.

On Wednesday night, Madonna unveiled the clip for her new single God Control, taken from her latest album Madame X.

While the disco-infused song’s lyrics refer to gun control in America, with lines like “when they talk reform it makes me laugh, they pretend to care it makes me laugh”, the accompanying video takes things one step further, depicting Madonna and her dancers as the victims of a mass shooting.

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Madonna in the God Control music video
Vevo

A message at the beginning of the eight-minute clip, a message reads: “The story you are about to see is very disturbing. It shows graphic scenes of gun violence. But it’s happening everyday. And it has to stop.”

Shortly after this, Madonna is seen lying covered in blood after a shooting at a night club, in scenes reminiscent of the Pulse massacre in 2016.

Later in the video, Madonna is also seen being mugged at gunpoint, interspersed with shots of her in a short black wig, sitting at a typewriter.

Madonna has said of the video: “I want to draw attention through my platform as an artist to a problem in America that is out of control and is taking the lives of innocent people.

“This crisis can end if our legislators act to change the laws that fail to protect us all.”

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A dance sequence from the video
Jonas Akerlund

God Control was directed by Jonas Åkerlund, who was previously responsible for the Madonna videos Ray Of Light, Music and Bitch I’m Madonna.

He also directed Madonna’s original American Life music video, which she ended up pulling shortly after its release in 2003, as she didn’t feel the violent content was appropriate.

“It was filmed before the war started and I do not believe it is appropriate to air it at this time,” she said at the time. “Due to the volatile state of the world and out of sensitivity and respect to the armed forces, who I support and pray for, I do not want to risk offending anyone who might misinterpret the meaning of this video.”

Watch Madonna’s God Control music video in full below:

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Madonna as a child at a party (credit:PA)
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1975Rock star Madonna performs at Anaheim Stadium (credit:PA)
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1982Madonna photographed at the Roseland Ballroom (credit:PA)
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1984Madonna performing (credit:PA)
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1985Madonna at the 12th Annual American Music Awards (credit:PA)
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1985Madonna during the opening night performance at New York's Radio City Music Hall (credit:PA)
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1986.Madonna in London forher new movie Shanghai Surprise (credit:PA)
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1986Sean Penn and Madonna at the premiere of At Close Range (credit:PA)
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1987Madonna holding her award at the American Music Awards (credit:PA)
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1987Madonna takes the microphone on a stage at New York's Times Square to kick off the gala world premiere of her new movie (credit:PA)
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1987Madonna takes a run in London's Green Park (credit:PA)
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1987Madonna out shopping in London (credit:PA)
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1987Madonna performing during her Who's That Girl world tour (credit:PA)
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1987Madonna and husband Sean Penn (credit:PA)
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1990Madonna Performing (credit:PA)
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1990Madonna in London (credit:PA)
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1991Madonna at the 44th Cannes Film Festival in France (credit:PA)
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1991Madonna's street style (credit:PA)
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1992Madonna on Malibu Beech during the video shoot for her single This Used To Be My Playground (credit:PA)
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1992Madonna at Heathrow Airport (credit:PA)
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1993Madonna in London for the UK leg of her The Girlie Show Tour (credit:PA)
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1994Madonna arrives for the film premiere of With Honors (credit:PA)
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1994Madonna seen in Soho (credit:PA)
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1995Elton John and Madonna backstage at the Brit Awards (credit:PA)
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1995Madonna takes an award for Best Female Video, Take a Bow at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony (credit:PA)
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1996Madonna at the Evita Press Conference (credit:PA)
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1996Madonna leaving the Carlton Tower Hotel in London (credit:PA)
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1998Madonna arrives at the 55th Golden Globes in Beverly Hills (credit:PA)
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1998Madonna holds the award for Best Female during the MTV Europe music awards (credit:PA)
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1999Madonna at the VH-1 Fashion Awards (credit:PA)
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2000Madonna and boyfriend Guy Ritchie arrive at the Tate Gallery (credit:PA)
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2000Madonna arrives alongside Guy Ritchie for the launch party for her latest album Music (credit:PA)
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2000Madonna with the Best Female award at the MTV Europe Music Awards (credit:PA)
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2001Madonna returns home to New York after completing her show in Boston (credit:PA)
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2002Madonna arrives with her husband Guy Ritchie for the after-show party for her new play, Up for Grabs (credit:PA)
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2002Madonna pictured leaving Incognico restaurant in London (credit:PA)
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2004Madonna arrives at the final of UK Music Hall Of Fame (credit:PA)
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2002Madonna meets Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the World Premiere of the James Bond film Die Another Day (credit:PA)
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2005Madonna attends the MTV Europe Music Awards (credit:PA)
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2006Madonna in the press room at The 2006 Brit Awards (credit:PA)
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2007Madonna arrives at a special screening of Arthur and The Invisibles (credit:PA)
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2008Madonna arriving at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes (credit:PA)
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2009Madonna attending the Vanity Fair Oscar Party (credit:PA)
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2010Madonna directing her new movie W.E (credit:PA)
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2011Lourdes Leon and Madonna arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar party (credit:PA)
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2012Madonna arriving for the UK premiere of W.E (credit:PA)
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2012Director Madonna poses at the UK photo call of W.E (credit:PA)
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2012Madonna launches Truth or Dare fragrance at Macy's (credit:PA)
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2012Madonna performs at Turk Telekom Arena Stadium in Istanbul (credit:PA)
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