Ray of Light

I was never a Madonna fan truthfully. Here and there I heard her music and it was never something I bothered to take seriously given the style. A few songs before Ray of Light I enjoyed like La Isla Bonita and Like a Prayer. Her first album had an appeal too, but I never bought it. Back in 1998, I saw Ray of Light title song on TV and was surprised by how much I liked it given it was Madonna of all people. My usual tastes were into prog rock, electronics and meditative, new age music. Today, I am a huge fan of Bollywood composer AR Rahman's film scores and songs given his eclectic genius. Coming back to Ray of Light, I heard the title song in a store a couple of weeks ago and reminded me of how much I enjoyed it back in 1998. For some reason, which I now regret, I never bought the full album back then. God, what a huge mistake. I go on YouTube and hear the whole album 21 years later and I am floored. I keep listening again and again and the love for the music keeps growing and growing. It is one of the most beautifully produced and musically satisfying pop albums I have ever heard. No fillers here for me. Every track is rich in sound and melody with the genius of electronic producer William Orbit making all the difference in the world for me. The sound designs that he and Madonna created are simply out of the world and do not sound outdated today in 2019. An album way ahead of its time back in 1998, these songs have literally captured me. My favorites are tracks 9-13, the final 5 of Frozen, Power of Goodbye, To Have not To Hold, Little Star and Mer Girl. Incredible soul, melody, flow and sound production. The lyrics are very personal, thoughtful and eloquent throughout, sharing a deep understanding of Madonna's personal transformation and new maturity after her daughter was born. There is so much she wants to say in this album and boy does she ever. The music amplifies her messages so powerfully. A couple of tracks like Candy Perfume Girl and Skin have the usual sultry lyrics, but even with those, the music is phenomenal. Guitar work throughout is very crafty and edgy with the electronics. Rhythm tracks are bold and very creatively put together creating a lot of dance friendly tracks in addition to the melody and soul. This album really scores high in all areas of sound, composition, arrangements, melody, rhythm and lyrics. Hardly any weaknesses. To me, it is a masterpiece. This is a must for audiophiles and a must to hear on good headphones. Simply brilliant. What makes this album even more special are the Indian, Middle Eastern influences throughout the tracks, especially in songs Swim, Skin, Shanti, Frozen, To Have Not To Hold. Being from India and big into the Indian music scene, this album hit home in such a beautiful way that was not obvious or too upfront. The meditative elements of Orbit's electronic programming gives such a beautiful Eastern flavor as well. Ray of Light is now an all time favorite and I never would have thought Madonna of all artists would be part of my all time favorites. Such an epic and beautiful album is very rare these days especially. I am going to savor this one for life. Thank you Madonna! Thank you William Orbit! Thank you to the entire team of Ray of Light. I am infinitely grateful.

Like most Madonna fans , I remember the release date like it was yesterday. 1998's Ray of Light is nothing short of brilliant. For Madonna, the 90's have had its share of ups and downs. From the backlash of the early 90's to seeing 1994's "Take a Bow" become her best selling single, to playing Evita, to having a child. Ray of Light seems to be the culmination of what she was going for in the 90's. Madonna has always strived to back up her beats with meaning, but all too often her singles are generally known for serving as big and flashy mirrors to reflect the fashion trends, sexuality and dance moves at the particular time. It wasn't really until 1986's True Blue and 1989's Like a Prayer (her best) that Madonna matured with her ever evolving music. Being the culture sponge that she is, it was only a matter of time before she leaped into what was supposed to be "The Next Big Thing" of the mid to late 90's: electronica. For those who have said this is new to her, in a way it is, the way it is used in the context of Ray of Light, an album centered around bubbly, beeping cyber pop. Madonna has always been sweet on the synth beats; the synthesizer became the backbone of her early hits like "Holiday", "Lucky Star", and "Like a Virgin". Ray's producer William Orbit has done remix work for her in the past on such singles as "Justify My Love" and "Erotica", and 1995's "Bedtime Story" was co-written by Bjork (who is one of the very few electronic artists that have supported Madonna's latest foray into rave culture)and like much of the Bedtime Stories album, was produced by Nellee Hooper, who has worked with Bjork on several of her albums and has also produced Soul II Soul. Ray of Light reads like a guidebook for any artist who strives for reinvention. It has been the formula that has worked (most of the time) for Madonna. Here, Madonna is warm, cuddly, and maternal. Gone is the teasing come ons, the polished, well calculated dance numbers, and the bitter feelings towards those who have put her down over the years, themes that have dominated much of the singer's work in the 1990's. Opening with "Drowned World (Substitute for Love)", the album's consistent theme is introspection. She warns of the trappings of fame on this song, and she will try to mimic the message on recent albums like 'American Life' and 'Confessions on a Dance Floor" and not get too far with it. Here, the slow ballad turns into a rocking, electro-folk tune that evokes a feeling of a world spun out of control by the spotlight. Madonna is impressive in her ability to counter feeling with dance music. "Ray of Light", is a party song at the end of the world, with a head spinning sound that leaves you breathless. "Frozen", the first single, is not in the least bit cold. Madonna's voice never sounded so good and the tribal/middle eastern beats make the perfect team. Coming off Evita, Ray's vocals are stunningly beauiful. I loved "Nothing Really Matter's and didn't understand why it was overlooked when it was released as the last single. Maybe the bizzarre geisha girl video had something to do with it. Still, its easily one of the album's most accessible dance songs. "Little Star" is a high tech digitalized lullabye that flourishes and takes shape, blossoming into a sweet song which somehow avoids being labeled as sap. One of the more interesting cuts is "Mer Girl", in which Madonna explores her mother's death and her own survival techniques that sounds like a poetry reading. It's dark, eerie, and a nice contrast to Ray of Light's slick, and embracing demeanor. Ray of Light is much more than a pop comeback, its a celebration of artistic growth and an overall classic record that is sure to stand the test of time.

Super clean CD and fast delivery! I’d order more CD’s from them again. Thank you

Tracklist 1 Drowned World/Substitute For Love Drums – Fergus Gerrand, Producer – Madonna, William Orbit, Written-By – Anita Kerr, David Collins, Madonna, Rod McKuen, William Orbit 5:09 2 Swim Drums – Fergus Gerrand, Flute – Pablo Cook, Producer – Madonna, William Orbit, Written-By – Madonna, William Orbit 5:00 3 Ray Of Light Producer – Madonna, William Orbit, Written-By – Christine Leach, Clive Maldoon, Dave Curtiss, Madonna, William Orbit 5:21 4 Candy Perfume Girl Producer – Madonna, William Orbit, Written-By – Madonna, Susannah Melvoin, William Orbit 4:34 5 Skin Guitar – Marc Moreau, Producer – Madonna, Marius De Vries, William Orbit, Written-By – Madonna, Patrick Leonard 6:22 6 Nothing Really Matters Backing Vocals – Donna DeLory, Niki Harris, Drum Programming [Additional] – Steve Sidelnyk, Producer – Madonna, Marius De Vries, William Orbit, Written-By – Madonna, Patrick Leonard 4:27 7 Sky Fits Heaven Producer – Madonna, Patrick Leonard, William Orbit, Written-By – Madonna, Patrick Leonard 4:48 8 Shanti/Ashtangi Producer – Madonna, William Orbit, Translated By [Yoga Taravali - Translation By, American Sanskrit Institute] – Eddie Stern (2), Vyaas Houston, Words By [Yoga Taravali - Additional Text] – Traditional, Written-By – Madonna, William Orbit 4:29 9 Frozen Arranged By [Additional] – Patrick Leonard, Arranged By [String Arrangement] – Craig Armstrong, Keyboards, Programmed By [Additional] – Marius De Vries, Producer – Madonna, Patrick Leonard, William Orbit, Written-By – Madonna, Patrick Leonard 6:12 10 The Power Of Good-Bye Arranged By [String Arrangement] – Craig Armstrong, Producer – Madonna, Patrick Leonard, William Orbit, Written-By – Madonna, Rick Nowels 4:10 11 To Have And Not To Hold Producer – Madonna, Patrick Leonard, William Orbit, Written-By – Madonna, Rick Nowels 5:23 12 Little Star Drum Programming [Additional] – Steve Sidelnyk, Producer – Madonna, Marius De Vries, Written-By – Madonna, Rick Nowels 5:18 13 Mer Girl Percussion – Fergus Gerrand, Producer – Madonna, William Orbit, Written-By – Madonna, William Orbit 5:32 Credits Art Direction – Kevin Reagan Conductor [Orchestra] – Susie Katayama* Design – Kerosene Halo, Kevin Reagan Engineer – David Reitzas, Jon Englesby*, Mark Endard*, Matt Silva, Pat McCarthy Management [Fan Base] – Marcia Del Vecchio, Robert* Management [For Q Prime, Inc.] – Norman West (2) Mastered By – Ted Jensen Photography By – Mario Testino Copyright (c) – WB Music Corp. Copyright (c) – Webo Girl Publishing, Inc. Copyright (c) – Rondor Music (London) Ltd. Copyright (c) – Almo Music Corp. Copyright (c) – Stanyan Music Group Copyright (c) – Anita Kerr Publishing Copyright (c) – Purple Music Ltd. Copyright (c) – Chrysalis Music Copyright (c) – No Tomato Music Copyright (c) – EMI April Music Inc.

Love the songs on this album

Not that Madonna ever went away, but her couple of albums before Ray of Light, didn't impact the public as her 80s albums did. This album definitely gives you a sense of the rebirth of Madonna and self discovery. I'm sure it had a lot to do with her in having her daughter, a few years prior. At this time, Madonna was showing a more vulnerable and softer side. She wasn't so forthright and in your face with her music, visuals and sexuality. She and William Orbit really knocked it out of the part with this electronic album. It's not all dance either. There are some very beautiful ballads, where Madonna sounds gorgeous. Power of Goodbye is definitely a stand out ballad on this album. This album definitely set up her foray into music for her next few albums until she made a shift back to some pop albums and then R&B/Trap sounds. She truly is a chameleon in every sense because it doesn't seem there is one album that really is the same as the last. Possibly her follow up album MUSIC was the closest to what Ray of Light gave us. The title track is a great dance electronica song. Frozen, the lead single is another gorgeous mid tempo almost ballad like with gorgeous strings. She also worked with Rick Knowles and Pat Leonard (who produced some of her biggest hits in the 80's and early 90's). This is definitely a classic album from Madonna's huge catalog of great albums. This is a must have for any Madonna fan and a must listen to anyone who just enjoys her voice. No doubt, she can be quite a polarizing entertainer, but at the end of the day, she is a great musician specifically lyricist and all around stage performer.

This is one of those CDs that is hands down good. Reviewing it, it's important to point out that it's good because its such a departure from the rest of her work. As other reviewers pointed out, it had been a long time sense the music world had an appearance by Madonna. She returns after "Bedtime Stories," ending on the song 'Take a Bow.' During her new call to stage, she returns completely re-done and remixed. "Ray of Light" is not really pop. It experiments with trance which back then was rather new. She's of course continued to experiment with it since using it but it was here when it was all new for Madonna. This was a turning point in Madonna's personal life and her musical career. She made "Ray of Light" personal, mixing her new-found religious beliefs in with her gained insight on life she picked up during her departure. The striking difference is that she's mature and so is her music. "Ray of Light" doesn't have love songs that are about sex and lust as in "Erotica" and "Bedtime Stories." It deals with growing up, growing into the person you're meant to be, letting go of old things. I call this album the "Gospel of Madonna" mainly because you can walk away from it touched in some way. It's a moving piece of work, appealing to everyone on some level. While the title track is fun and deserving of all the acclaim it recieved and still gets, I think another release on here by the name of 'Nothing Really Matters' seemed to set the tone for this massive music star. She begins, as I said, to remix her image by scolding those who may go after material wealth and goods and overlook other important lessons and matters of life. It's a song that pulls you in and gets you moving. It's touching and even sad in some manner while having a great deal of power and influence. "Little Star" is soft and like a lullaby; something new for Madonna. It's written to her newborn child and has Madonna stepping into her new role as a mother. "Sky Fits Heaven" is another track that is fast moving and gives you the sense of urgency and progress as Madonna gives you some instuctions on how you should conduct your life. 'Shanti/Ashtangi' is another track that stands out. Though it'll take more research on your part to translate it all, it reveals that Madonna has newly acquired knowledge on life and spirituality. "Ray of Light" isn't my favorite Madonna CD but it stands as a moving piece of work that shows that Madonna is indeed a perfectionist. She put work into this and you can tell by the thoughtful songs and their moral lessons to be picked up. It's one of those CDs that you have to listen to closely to pick up on everything and once you do, it sticks with you. Inspiring in many ways and sets Madonna apart from most other artist. I can't think of many who have put out a CD as personal and moving as she has. It's a personal CD, very revealing and brutally honest which makes it great. It stands out among Madonna's works that take you into her life and mind in a very revealing manner, such as her earlier CD "Something to Remember" and her 2003 release, "American Life."

This album is wonderful! This is her opus. I say that fully realizing that she will top herself again in the future. The album gently pulls you in with "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" telling the listener where the singer is currently at in her life. Ultimately, you are drowning only to be saved by track 2 with "Swim" which offers hope and redemption regardless of the state of the world. Upon arriving at the other shore of "Swim" the listener sees (and hears) a "Ray of Light." The song rushes and speeds the listener through a life illustrating how fleeting the moment of life is. Then through "Candy Perfume Girl" Madonna takes us to a moment of enjoying and embracing sensuality only to get to a point where this become an obession in the track "Skin." Then she is redeemed and finds that importance lies within by presenting the track "Nothing Really Matters." Her she comes to terms with the world and tries to explain that she is NOT a "material girl." Her grasp of the the spiritual is exhibited in "Sky Fits Heaven." Do what feels natural and what is the natural order of life. She further gets into the spiritual with "Shanti/Ashanti." Now that she has comes to term with her path in life she can see others and what they may be missing in their life. She is telling others to clear themselves and not to waste their time with "hate and regret." Realizing that a person can not change a person, the greatest good to do for oneself is to let go, therefore "The Power of Goodbye" is realized. Rely on yourself for happiness. Then the realization that something can be contained within yet never be touched. Again happiness comes from inside not from what or who you may think you "have." Then she tells how a child (Little Star) can be taught what she has learned, understanding this is love in the purest form. The album ends with "Mer-Girl" an obvious reaction to the entire album in that she can't change the world to fit herself (whether it is the water or shore) therefore by adapting to both worlds in a form of a mer girl she can obtain the meaning of it all. "Mer Girl" is haunting and deeply personal, it takes courage to exhibit these basest of human feelings. The track is not easy to listen to due to the disturbing facts and images. The only redemption here is that life is much like a "Ray of Light" and is menacingly short. We need to make the most of every moment, embracing our experiences we have survived, learn from these and transform ourselves. The album is NOT a mere pop album, but an epihany regarding life. Buy this opus and enjoy it!

購入して良かったです。 だいぶ前に持っていたのですが、事情により、手元になくて。 ふと「聴きたいなぁ」と。 また聴くことができて嬉しいです。

Le vinyle est arrivé en parfait état, très bon album, un des meilleurs de sa carrière.

Perfeito ☺️❤️😍

Ottimo! Sia i vinili che suonano benissimo sia naturalmente i brani ormai entrati nella storia musicale.

A l'aube de ses 40 ans, elle a montré au monde entier l'artiste accomplie qu'elle était devenue.