“Ray of Light” turns 20 this February

[Arcanum 5,142]

And so it came to pass 20 years ago that the music landscape would change forever.

February 22 was the official first date that the album Ray of Light was released in select territories. Madonna collaborated with William Orbit, Patrick Leonard & Marius De Vries, to produce a more consistent mature album, infusing pop music with electronic sounds. Ray of Light was the beginning of a new era, when –once underground- electronica and dark ambient music meddled with pop sounds bringing to the forefront more avant-garde pop gems that were critically and commercially acclaimed. Its content ranges from songs about motherhood, to songs about love, from songs about spirituality to songs about self-exploration. The whole album is a journey between different emotions beginning with a self declaring opener “Drowned World/Substitute for Love” ending full-circle with Madonna at her most haunting intimate song “Mer Girl”. The album was considered the 1st case of serious re-invention of an artist considered declined.

 

Madonna’s popularity declined severely ever since 1992, when controversial Erotica hit the shelves, bringing a hypocritical outburst of political correctness in the media. The backlash kept till 1996 when Madonna took the lead to Evita, receiving critical acclaim for her role, contrary to everyone's expectations at the time. 1998 was a year of return to form. She delivered as she and Celine Dion conquered the music market which at the time was fully adult contemporary directed.

The album has amassed sales of 16 millions around the world. 5 official singles were released:

1. FROZEN

US #2

UK #1

 

2. RAY OF LIGHT

US #5

UK #2

 

3. DROWNED WORLD/ SUBSTITUTE FOR LOVE

UK #10

 

4. THE POWER OF GOOD-BYE (with LITTLE STAR in certain territories)

US: 11

UK: 6

 

5. NOTHING REALLY MATTERS

US: 93

UK: 7

In 1999 Grammy Awards, Ray of Light received 4 awards out of 6 nominations.  The album won Best Pop Album and Best Recording Package, and was nominated for Album of the Year, while the title track won Best Dance Recording and Best Short Form Music Video, and was nominated for Record of the Year. The album gave Madonna her first musical Grammy of her career as previously she only won in the video category. Madonna also became the biggest winner of the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, winning six awards from nine nominations.

 

Funny Facts:

·         It was the first time Madonna went fully dark haired since 1989 to promote her singles.

·         Madonna in the RoL music video often draws comparisons to Sarah Jessica Parker.

·         Ray of Light was not supported by a tour until 2001.

·         Initial title was considered “Mantra”, but (thank God) Madonna abandoned the idea.

·         It was her first album after her conversion to Kabbalah.

·         25 is strongly influenced by Ray of Light, according to Adele.

·         Frozen became her 6th song stuck to no.2 of Billboard Hot 100.

 

What’s your opinion? Do you revisit the album and its songs?

Let’s pay our respect to this album this month little monsters.

Let’s hope Madonna releases such an influential album once more. 

[TEANUS 14,838]

Frozen and Nothing Really Matters 

[Luxe Ford 3,481]

Shocking realisation: I was a fan of William Orbit before Ray of Light. How old does that make me?

For a while I seriously thought Madonna tapped my brain for ideas. First I got into voguing. One year later she released 'Vogue'. Then I took an interest in the Qabalah and I allways said that if I was a popstar I'd want Bill Orbit to produce me. And what happens?

I'll sue!

[Phoebe Buffay 12,525]

This album's pure GOLD.  My fave tracks are: Ray of Light, Skin, Sky Fits Heaven, Frozen and The Power of Good-Bye.

[Arcanum 5,142]

2 minutes ago, Luxe Ford said:

Shocking realisation: I was a fan of William Orbit before Ray of Light. How old does that make me?

For a while I seriously thought Madonna tapped my brain for ideas. First I got into voguing. One year later she released 'Vogue'. Then I took an interest in the Qabalah and I allways said that if I was a popstar I'd want Bill Orbit to produce me. And what happens?

I'll sue!

I realized just a few years back that he remixed Justify my Love. I was broken to flop pieces all over my boudoire. 

[ryanripley 86,575]

Frozen is one the best songs of all time, i hope one day gaga can create a track as magical as that

[Sneaky Oliver 21,962]

My fav album from Madonna. It's so beautiful  Frozen, Nothing Really Matters and Swim are my top3. I love "Has To Be" so much it should be included in the tracklist everywhere

[The Bling 12,253]

22 minutes ago, Arcanum said:

·         25 is strongly influenced by Ray of Light, according to Adele.

Wait what? 

[The Bling 12,253]

Not my favorite Madonna album, but I appreciate it for what it tried to be and what it meant to the world. Also, was the album that solidified Madonna as a legend 

Frozen is THAT song 

Arioso shouldn't have been scrapped tho 

[Arcanum 5,142]

6 minutes ago, The Bling said:

Wait what? 

http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a772874/adele-was-inspired-by-madonnas-ray-of-light-while-making-new-album-25/

Yep! I know I was shook as well!!

8 minutes ago, Sneaky Oliver said:

My fav album from Madonna. It's so beautiful  Frozen, Nothing Really Matters and Swim are my top3. I love "Has To Be" so much it should be included in the tracklist everywhere

It DEFINITELY should have been in the international edition. Haunting! This albuk has great B sides and unreleased gems!!

 

[Luxe Ford 3,481]

19 minutes ago, Arcanum said:

I realized just a few years back that he remixed Justify my Love. I was broken to flop pieces all over my boudoire. 

And I didn't even know! Watched Charlies Angels on TV recently (total crap btw) and had forgot he produced Feel Good Time by  Pink. 

[Arcanum 5,142]

1 minute ago, Luxe Ford said:

And I didn't even know! Watched Charlies Angels on TV recently (total crap btw) and had forgot he produced Feel Good Time by  Pink. 

Omg. Didn't know either! 

This remix was sampled to this highly successful new age song in 1991:

 

[Luxe Ford 3,481]

Ray of Light should also be remembered for Jonas Åkerlunds video for the title track and having the genius Chris Cunningham making the dullest video of his career for Frozen. It looks good, but I can only think of the lost potential (Björks 'All Is Full Of Love', The Aphex Twins 'Window Licker').

[Luxe Ford 3,481]

Oh, and Johan Renck for directing Nothing Really Matters. He directed Bowies two last videos.

...and I met him. Yes, you can touch me if you want.

[Rifek 51,753]

Frozen and The Power of Good-bye 

I still get chills listening to them