Music videos: David Bowie's 'The Next Day' is not the first time a pop star has tried to emulate Christ

The latest stage of David Bowie’s remarkable comeback is a video for his song “The Next Day”. And he has chosen to mine the rich seam of Christian imagery, following a path set by a number of modern videos.

Directed by Floria Sigismondi, it stars Gary Oldman as a gangster-esque priest and Marion Cotillard as the prostitute who shows signs of the stigmata, while Bowie plays a Messianic figure in flowing robes. It appeared for the first time today and was swiftly removed from YouTube for violating its “terms of service”.

The ban guarantees not only greater interest, but also that pop culture will continue to mock Christianity.

Cross? The church was flaming well furious after Madonna’s ‘Like a Prayer’ video was released in 1989.

Hey Judas Lady Gaga’s 2011 hit ‘Judas’ was considered by many to be a ‘homage’ (ahem) to Madonna’s early work.

Lord, this is heavy Nas walks through the garden of Gethsemane in his 1999 video for ‘Hate Me Now’.

Feeling a little thorny Nicki Minaj used her 2012 song ‘Freedom’ to show off her massive ark.

Watch the Christ-inspired videos below:

Madonna - Like a Prayer

Lady Gaga - Judas

Nicki Minaj - Freedom

Nas - Hate Me Now