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'''''Ray of Light''''' is the eighth ] by singer ], released in ] (see ]). The introspective ], an aural hybrid of atmospheric ], ] and emotional ], is widely considered to be Madonna's greatest artistic acheievement thus far. '''''Ray of Light''''' is the eighth ] by singer ], released in ] (see ]). The introspective ], an aural hybrid of atmospheric ], ], and emotional ], is widely considered to be Madonna's greatest artistic acheievement thus far.


Drawing influence from a number of Eastern philosophies such as ], mystical ] and The ], the record explores the themes of motherhood, death and re-birth. The production by ] includes signature Eastern percussion such as the sitar, ] and ]. One track, ], is sung entirely in ]. Drawing influence from a number of Eastern philosophies such as ], mystical ], and the ], the record explores the themes of motherhood, death, and re-birth. The production by ] includes signature Eastern instrumentation such as the sitar, ], and ]. One track, ], is sung entirely in ].


''Light'' won three awards at the ] ], was voted the tenth greatest album of all time by ] viewers in the ] and the 29th best recording ever by ] readers in ]. ''Light'' won three awards at the ] ], was voted the tenth greatest album of all time by ] viewers in the ] and the twenty-ninth best recording ever by '']'' readers in ].


==Instrumentation== ==Instrumentation==
''Ray of Light'' includes elaborate instrumental arrangements — for example, the string arrangement on ]— and extensive use of mordern studio effects including echo, ] and ]. Many of these effects were devised in collaboration with producer ], an ] electronic artist who created a string of ] albums in the 1990s. Orbit later revealed how he banged on trash cans to create the effect on ], unale to achieve a similar sound on a ] or ]. ''Ray of Light'' includes elaborate instrumental arrangements – for example, the string arrangement on "]" – and extensive use of mordern studio effects including echo, ], and ]. Many of these effects were devised in collaboration with producer William Orbit, an underground electronic artist who created a string of ] albums in the 1990s. Orbit later revealed how he banged on trash cans to create the effect on "Frozen", unale to achieve a similar sound on a ] or ].


In another innovation, the track ] segues straight into ] through the use of a seemingly endless loop made by the runout groove looping back into itself. In another innovation, the track "]" ]s straight into ] through the use of a seemingly endless loop made by the runout groove looping back into itself.


Juxtaposed alongside Orbit's synths, stuttering break beats and trip hop textures, Madonna's vocals are notably stronger, the result of extensive vocal training for her previous project, the motion-pitcture adaption of the musical ]. Juxtaposed with Orbit's synths, stuttering break beats, and trip-hop textures, Madonna's vocals are notably stronger, the result of extensive vocal training for her previous project, the film adaption of the musical '']''.


==Drugs== ==Drugs==
Although Madonna has never been a habitual drug user (despite claims that she had been smoking ] when appearing on a notorious episode of the ] in 1994), the singer controversially told ] that she believed "the whole record would sound great on drugs" because of the trippy effects and themes on ''Light'', especially during the tracks ], ] and ]. Madonna later told reporters that she was not advocating substance abuse. Although Madonna has never been a habitual drug user (despite claims that she had been smoking ] when appearing on a notorious episode of the '']'' in 1994), the singer controversially told VH1 that she believed "the whole record would sound great on drugs" because of the trippy effects and themes on ''Light'', especially during the tracks "]", "]", and "]". Madonna later told reporters that she was not advocating substance abuse.


In 1998, ] believed Ray Of Light contains a number of tracks which glorifies the experience of taking Ketamine, a drug nickname "psychedelic ]" which is synonymous with UK clubbing culture. In 1998, '']'' claimed that ''Ray of Light'' contains a number of tracks that glorify the experience of taking Ketamine, a drug nicknamed "psychedelic ]" which is very common in UK clubbing culture.


==Album Cover== ==Album cover==
The album packaging was created by art director Kevin Reagon, in collaboration with photographer ]. It featured an etheral Madonna on the cover; the lyrics were printed in the accompanying booklet. The album packaging was created by art director Kevin Reagon, in collaboration with photographer ]. It featured an etheral Madonna on the cover; the lyrics were printed in the accompanying booklet.


==Track listing== ==Track listing==
#"]" (Collins, Kerr, Madonna, McKuen, Orbit) - 5:09 #"]" (Collins, Kerr, Madonna, McKuen, Orbit) - 5' 09"
#"Swim" (Madonna, Orbit) - 5:00 #"Swim" (Madonna, Orbit) - 5' 00"
#"]" (Curtis, Leach, Madonna, Muldoon, Orbit) - 5:21 #"]" (Curtis, Leach, Madonna, Muldoon, Orbit) - 5' 21"
#"Candy Perfume Girl" (Madonna, Melvoin, Orbit) - 4:34 #"Candy Perfume Girl" (Madonna, Melvoin, Orbit) - 4' 34"
#"Skin" (Leonard, Madonna) - 6:22 #"Skin" (Leonard, Madonna) - 6' 22"
#"]" (Leonard, Madonna) - 4:27 #"]" (Leonard, Madonna) - 4' 27"
#"Sky Fits Heaven" (Leonard, Madonna) - 4:48 #"Sky Fits Heaven" (Leonard, Madonna) - 4' 48"
#"Shanti/Ashtangi" (Madonna, Orbit) - 4:29 #"Shanti/Ashtangi" (Madonna, Orbit) - 4' 29"
#"]" (Leonard, Madonna) - 6:12 #"]" (Leonard, Madonna) - 6' 12"
#"]" (Madonna, Nowels) - 4:10 #"]" (Madonna, Nowels) - 4' 10"
#"To Have and Not to Hold" (Madonna, Nowels) - 5:23 #"To Have and Not to Hold" (Madonna, Nowels) - 5' 23"
#"]" (Madonna, Nowels) - 5:18 #"]" (Madonna, Nowels) - 5' 18"
#"Mer Girl" (Madonna, Orbit) - 5:32 #"Mer Girl" (Madonna, Orbit) - 5' 32"


==Personnel== ==Personnel==
*Madonna - ] *Madonna — ]
*Pablo Cook - ] *Pablo Cook — ]
*Donna Delory - background vocals *Donna Delory — background vocals
*Marius DeVries - ] *Marius DeVries — ]
*Fergus Gerrand - ], ] *Fergus Gerrand — ], ]
*Nikki Harris - background vocals *Nikki Harris — background vocals
*Suzie Katayama - conductor *Suzie Katayama — conductor
*Marc Moreau - ] *Marc Moreau — ]
*William Orbit - sound effects *William Orbit — sound effects


==Production== ==Production==
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==Charts== ==Charts==
'''Album''' - ] (North America) '''Album''' — ] (North America)
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width="550px" {| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width="550px"
!align="left"|Year !align="left"|Year

Revision as of 17:12, 17 July 2005

Untitled

Ray of Light is the eighth album by singer Madonna, released in 1998 (see 1998 in music). The introspective concept album, an aural hybrid of atmospheric electronica, drum and bass, and emotional trance, is widely considered to be Madonna's greatest artistic acheievement thus far.

Drawing influence from a number of Eastern philosophies such as Hinduism, mystical Judaism, and the Kabbalah, the record explores the themes of motherhood, death, and re-birth. The production by William Orbit includes signature Eastern instrumentation such as the sitar, rebana, and tabla. One track, Shanti/Ashtangi, is sung entirely in Hebrew.

Light won three awards at the 1998 Grammy Awards, was voted the tenth greatest album of all time by VH1 viewers in the United Kingdom and the twenty-ninth best recording ever by Rolling Stone readers in 2002.

Instrumentation

Ray of Light includes elaborate instrumental arrangements – for example, the string arrangement on "Frozen" – and extensive use of mordern studio effects including echo, modulation, and compression. Many of these effects were devised in collaboration with producer William Orbit, an underground electronic artist who created a string of instrumental albums in the 1990s. Orbit later revealed how he banged on trash cans to create the effect on "Frozen", unale to achieve a similar sound on a snare drum or rebana.

In another innovation, the track "Sky Fits Heaven" segues straight into Shanti/Ashanti through the use of a seemingly endless loop made by the runout groove looping back into itself.

Juxtaposed with Orbit's synths, stuttering break beats, and trip-hop textures, Madonna's vocals are notably stronger, the result of extensive vocal training for her previous project, the film adaption of the musical Evita.

Drugs

Although Madonna has never been a habitual drug user (despite claims that she had been smoking Indo when appearing on a notorious episode of the Late Show With David Letterman in 1994), the singer controversially told VH1 that she believed "the whole record would sound great on drugs" because of the trippy effects and themes on Light, especially during the tracks "Skin", "Sky Fits Heaven", and "Shanti/Ashanti". Madonna later told reporters that she was not advocating substance abuse.

In 1998, The Good Drugs Guide claimed that Ray of Light contains a number of tracks that glorify the experience of taking Ketamine, a drug nicknamed "psychedelic heroin" which is very common in UK clubbing culture.

Album cover

The album packaging was created by art director Kevin Reagon, in collaboration with photographer Mario Testino. It featured an etheral Madonna on the cover; the lyrics were printed in the accompanying booklet.

Track listing

  1. "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" (Collins, Kerr, Madonna, McKuen, Orbit) - 5' 09"
  2. "Swim" (Madonna, Orbit) - 5' 00"
  3. "Ray of Light" (Curtis, Leach, Madonna, Muldoon, Orbit) - 5' 21"
  4. "Candy Perfume Girl" (Madonna, Melvoin, Orbit) - 4' 34"
  5. "Skin" (Leonard, Madonna) - 6' 22"
  6. "Nothing Really Matters" (Leonard, Madonna) - 4' 27"
  7. "Sky Fits Heaven" (Leonard, Madonna) - 4' 48"
  8. "Shanti/Ashtangi" (Madonna, Orbit) - 4' 29"
  9. "Frozen" (Leonard, Madonna) - 6' 12"
  10. "The Power of Good-Bye" (Madonna, Nowels) - 4' 10"
  11. "To Have and Not to Hold" (Madonna, Nowels) - 5' 23"
  12. "Little Star" (Madonna, Nowels) - 5' 18"
  13. "Mer Girl" (Madonna, Orbit) - 5' 32"

Personnel

  • Madonna — vocals
  • Pablo Cook — flute
  • Donna Delory — background vocals
  • Marius DeVries — keyboard
  • Fergus Gerrand — percussion, drums
  • Nikki Harris — background vocals
  • Suzie Katayama — conductor
  • Marc Moreau — guitar
  • William Orbit — sound effects

Production

  • Producers: Madonna, Marius DeVries, Patrick Leonard, William Orbit
  • Engineers: Mark Endert, Jon Ingoldsby, Patrick McCarthy, Dave Reitzas, Matt Silva
  • Mastering: Ted Jensen
  • Programming: Mike Bradford, Marius DeVries
  • Drum programming: Steve Sidelnyk
  • Arranger: Patrick Leonard
  • String arrangements: Craig Armstrong
  • Translation: Vyass Houston, Eddie Stern
  • Art direction: Kevin Reagan
  • Design: Kerosene Halo, Kevin Reagan
  • Photography: Mario Testino

Charts

Album — Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1998 The Billboard 200 2
1998 Top Canadian Albums 1

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1998 "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" Canadian Singles Chart 18
1998 "Frozen" Adult Contemporary 8
1998 "Frozen" Adult Top 40 9
1998 "Frozen" Canadian Singles Chart 2
1998 "Frozen" Hot Dance Music/Club Play 1
1998 "Frozen" Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales 2
1998 "Frozen" Rhythmic Top 40 15
1998 "Frozen" The Billboard Hot 100 2
1998 "Frozen" Top 40 Mainstream 4
1998 "Ray of Light" Adult Top 40 39
1998 "Ray of Light" Canadian Singles Chart 7
1998 "Ray of Light" Hot Dance Music/Club Play 1
1998 "Ray of Light" Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales 2
1998 "Ray of Light" Rhythmic Top 40 32
1998 "Ray of Light" The Billboard Hot 100 5
1998 "Ray of Light" Top 40 Mainstream 13
1998 "Sky Fits Heaven" Hot Dance Music/Club Play 41
1998 "The Power of Goodbye" Adult Contemporary 14
1998 "The Power of Goodbye" Canadian Singles Chart 6
1998 "The Power of Goodbye" The Billboard Hot 100 11
1998 "The Power of Goodbye" Top 40 Mainstream 18
1998 "The Power of Goodbye" Top 40 Tracks 21
1999 "Nothing Really Matters" Canadian Singles Chart 6
1999 "Nothing Really Matters" Hot Dance Music/Club Play 1
1999 "Nothing Really Matters" Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales 3
1999 "Nothing Really Matters" The Billboard Hot 100 93
1999 "Nothing Really Matters" Top 40 Mainstream 25
1999 "The Power of Goodbye" Adult Top 40 40

Awards

Grammy Awards

Year Winner Category
1998 Ray of Light Best Recording Package
1998 "Ray of Light" Best Dance Recording
1998 Ray of Light Best Pop Vocal Album
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