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My writing session for review purposes began more than two months ago with the analysis of Madonna's Erotica, an artist whom I particularly favor among the vast array of stars that the music world absorbs (and sometimes is forced to absorb). This review I am about to present to you, dear DeBaserian friends, concerns the work that more than any other ignited a deep interest in Miss Ciccone within myself. I am speaking of Ray Of Light, dated 1998.
Among the multitude of music material produced by Madonna, Ray Of Light represents, or should represent, the Summa of her artistic journey, a work that succeeded in that very important goal, namely, the widespread critical approval of Madonna and her music, which, especially after the subversive Erotica, had further turned up its nose at that brazenness and excess that Ciccone embodied even in her songs. Finally, after years of not a few disapprovals from the most authoritative music critics and their affiliates, Madonna was able to combine millions of albums sold with acclaims from the stern reviewers of Rolling Stones and others.
Ray Of Light is generally conceived as the most radical "turn" in Ciccone's musical journey: a definite, strong, complete shift from the '80s and '90s mainstream pop (with, of course, various seasonings and contaminations, including R&B, Soul, and Hip Hop (Bedtime Stories), Jazz (I'm Breathless, Erotica), Rock (Like A Prayer) to electronics and derivatives, Trance, Acid House, Minimal, Techno, a genre that had not yet fully entered the mainstream consciousness of artists and '90s masses, except in reference to alternative and innovative bands such as Prodigy and Chemical Brothers who, however, were beginning to have a worthy media and commercial following. The work is, therefore, widely considered as the true "initiator" of that electro/electro-pop revolution that raged for years, especially in the Old Continent, and that today has been warmly embraced even by the United States, traditionally oriented towards West Coast/East Coast Rap/Hip Hop. In the album in question, Madonna sheds the guise of the sadomasochistic mistress of Erotica and Evita to fully immerse herself in a new world where spirituality, religion, reflection, true Life are the essential prerogatives. And the soundtrack of this "new Life," Madonna intends to seek in electronics, ambient, techno, new-wave, in those sounds precisely that allow for an intimate journey into one's subconscious in search of oneself and one's essence, in the pantheistic attempt to merge into one with Nature. An attempt at transcendence, ecstasy, ascendance that offers the listener almost 70 minutes of pleasure for the mind and body.
The architect of this unrepeatable, umpteenth Cicconian transformation is William Orbit, a lesser-known artist from the acid-house underground, creator of innovative melodies, who had already come to Madonna's presence in the days of Justify My Love with the purpose of remixing that scandalous track. Intending to create a homogeneous album consistent with her in fieri state of mind, Orbit could prove perfect for the musical celebration of her spiritual and moral "rebirth."
The musical show begins with Drowned World/Substitute For Love, a track that, while anticipating the new musical direction, does not intend to yet "open the dance," in which Madonna, on ambient, chill-out, and subdued new wave sounds, light and soft percussion and beats, sings the change that her existence has embraced, from the rejection of materialism and superficiality to the joy of having a daughter, a human being to whom to give unique affection and love. Soft and minimal can also describe Swim, in which one rises from sin and inner evil toward a purification of the soul, symbolized by immersion in the waters (I can't carry these sins on my back - Don't wanna carry any more - I'm gonna carry this train off the track - ....Gonna swim on the ocean floor - Crash to the other shore - Swim to the ocean floor).
From repentance to redemption, to ecstasy, to ascension: the title-track Ray Of Light, with its electronic, minimal, techno distorted, and sped-up beats, with Madonna's ecstatic voice screaming almost in a trance state "Quicker Than A Ray Of Light", is the anthem to the heavens of the new Life.
The track that summarizes Madonna's innovation made in Orbit isSkin, in which a frenetic dance floor beat meets electronic, psychedelic, Acid-House, Trance, and Techno sounds that in a good 6 minutes and 20 seconds takes the listener into a transcendental, frenetic, ecstatic world. The same goes for the subsequent Nothing Really Matters and Sky Fits Heaven, danceable, engaging, fast.
From the new dance floor, one returns fully convinced to individual asceticism, ignoring the tribal-New Age-Ambient sounds of Shanti/Ashtangi (with lyrics in Sanskrit), a track that anticipates with excitement the fabulous Frozen, one of Madonna's most sincere and valid melodies, expressing in ambient, chill-out, electronic, almost lyrical sounds a unique and irresistible pathos and sentiment, a convincingly expressed mysticism. I invite you, DeBaseriani, to take a look at the "lyrics" of Frozen "You only see what your eyes want to see - How can life be what you want it to be - You're frozen - When your heart's not open". Particularly valid are the pauses, the continuous interspersing of the melodies that anticipate a hyperbolization of sentiment and expression. Beautiful.
The production of the tracks Little Star and The Power Of Good-Bye features Patrick Leonard, an old collaborator of Madonna from the times of True Blue, Who's That Girl and Like A Prayer, who creates two simple examples of pop more mainstream compared to the rest of the album, but still convincing and sincere. In Little Star, Madonna sings a sort of "lullaby" for her little daughter, accompanied by very soft, New-Wave, almost ambient, relaxing and gentle sounds.
The work concludes with Mer Girl, a very bizarre alternative/New Wave/Minimal melodic track, percussion-free, accompanied by simple and repeated bleeps and "natural" tones, a song in which Miss Ciccone describes her family, particularly her deceased mother, defined with an Anglo-French phrase as a "sea girl". Disturbing drama and sudden carefreeness blend in this piece, creating an intersperse of pathos and emotion, made so by a series of pauses. A decidedly "theatrical" track: "I ran to the forest - I ran to the trees- I ran and I ran - I was looking for me - I ran to the lakes - And up to the hill - I ran and I ran - I'm looking there still - And I smelt her burning flesh - Her rotting bones - Her decay - I ran and I ran - I'm still running today."
From Ray Of Light, electronics and its derivatives become prerogatives in the Queen of Pop's music. With the subsequent Music, Madonna will return to the dance floor and similar scenes, reaffirming that status of Queen Of The Dance Floor, contended by illustrious colleagues like Kylie Minogue or the "Baby Stars" like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Frivolity, carefreeness, playfulness, and fun will far outweigh intimacy's spirituality and reflection. And she will favor a new genius of distorted and minimized sounds, Mirwais Ahmadzai, relegating Orbit to a minor position who, however, will remain for years to come her male"muse" and inspiration for future American Life and Confessions On A Dance Floor, all works that are the offspring of his teaching and collaboration.
This album is a dedication to all those fanatical Madonna detractors who intend to deny the goodness of her art because of its extremely commercial and poppish side: Ray Of Light is the concrete proof that true musical creativity can also concern the pop, mainstream world and the like. To whom can this work be recommended? To everyone, I believe, or better yet, hope.
Madonna - Ray Of Light (1998)
Tracklist:
1 Drowned World/ Substitute For Love
2 Swim
3 Ray Of Light
4 Candy Perfume Girl
5 Skin
6 Nothing Really Matters
7 Sky Fits Heaven
8 Shanti/ Ashtangi
9 Frozen
10 The Power Of Good-Bye
11 To Have And Not To Hold
12 Little Star
13 Mer Girl
Japanese Version 14 Has To Be
Singles:
1998 Frozen
1998 Ray Of Light
1998 Drowned World/ Substitute For Love (No U.S.A.)
1998 The Power Of Good-Bye
1999 Nothing Really Matters
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 Swim (05:00)
Put your head on my shoulder baby
Things can't get any worse
Night is getting colder
Sometimes life feels like it's a curse
Bridge:
I can't carry these sins on my back
Don't wanna carry any more
I'm gonna carry this train off the track
I'm gonna swim to the ocean floor
Chorus:
Mmmmm
Crash to the other shore
Mmmmm
Swim to the ocean floor
Children killing children
While the students rape their teachers
Comets fly across the sky
While the churches burn their preachers
Bridge2:
We can't carry these sins on our back
Don't wanna carry any more
We're gonna carry this train off the track
We're gonna swim to the ocean floor
(chorus)
Let the water wash over you
Wash it all over you
Swim to the ocean floor
So that we can begin again
Wash away all our sins
Crash to the other shore
Mmmmmm
(bridge)
(chorus)
(bridge2)
Crash to the other shore
Swim to the ocean floor
Mmmmmm
03 Ray of Light (05:20)
Verse:
Zephyr in the sky at night I wonder
Do my tears of mourning sink beneath the sun
She's got herself a universe gone quickly
For the call of thunder threatens everyone
Chorus:
And I feel like I just got home
And I feel
And I feel like I just got home
And I feel
Faster than the speeding light she's flying
Trying to remember where it all began
She's got herself a little piece of heaven
Waiting for the time when Earth shall be as one
(Chorus)
Quicker than a ray of light
Quicker than a ray of light
Quicker than a ray of light
(Verse)
And I feel
Quicker than a ray of light
Then gone for
Someone else shall be there
Through the endless years
She's got herself a universe
She's got herself a universe
She's got herself a universe
And I feel
And I feel
And I feel like I just got home
And I feel
Quicker than a ray of light she's flying
Quicker than a ray of light I'm flying
05 Skin (06:21)
Chorus:
Do I know you from somewhere?
Why do you leave me wanting more?
Why do all the things I say
Sound like the stupid things I've said before?
[Put your hand on my skin]
[Put your hand on my skin]
[Put your hand on my skin]
Kiss me, I'm dying
Put your hand on my skin
I close my eyes
I need to make a connection
I'm walking on a thin line
I close my eyes
I close my eyes
(chorus)
Touch me, I'm trying
To see inside of your soul
I've got this thing
I want to make a correction
I'm not like this all the time
You've got this thing
You've got this thing
(chorus)
Kiss me, I'm dying
Put your hand on my skin
I close my eyes
I need to have your protection
I close my eyes
I close your eyes
[Kiss, kiss, kiss me]
(chorus, repeat)
Kiss me, I'm dying
Touch me, I'm trying, ohhh
I'm not like this all the time
I'm not like this all the time
Put your hand on my skin
Put your hand on my skin
Put your hand on my skin
Touch me, I'm trying, ohhh
Put your hand on my skin
Put your hand on my skin
I'm not like this all the time
I'm not like this all the time
I'm not like this all the time
06 Nothing Really Matters (04:27)
When I was very young
Nothing really mattered to me
But making myself happy
I was the only one
Now that I am grown
Everything's changed
I'll never be the same
Because of you
Chorus:
Nothing really matters
Love is all we need
Everything I give you
All comes back to me
Looking at my life
It's very clear to me
I lived so selfishly
I was the only one
I realize
That nobody wins
Something is ending
And something begins
(chorus, repeat)
Nothing takes the past away
Like the future
Nothing makes the darkness go
Like the light
You're shelter from the storm
Give me comfort in your arms
(chorus, repeat and fade)
07 Sky Fits Heaven (04:47)
Sky fits heaven so fly it
That's what the prophet said to me
Child fits mother so hold your baby tight
That's what my future could see
Fate fits karma so use it
That's what the wise man said to me
Love fits virtue so hold on to the light
That's what our future will be
Chorus:
Traveling down this road
Watching the signs as I go
I think I'll follow the sun
Isn't everyone just
Traveling down their own road
Watching the signs as they go
I think I'll follow my heart
It's a very good place to start
Traveling down my own road
Watching the signs as I go
Traveling down my own road
And I'm watching the signs as they go
Traveling, traveling
Watching the signs as I go
Hand fits giving so do it
That's what the Gospel said to me
Life fits living so let your judgments go
That's how our future should be
(chorus)
Traveling down my own road
Watching the signs as they go
Traveling down my own road
And I'm watching the signs as I go
Traveling, traveling
Watching the signs as I go
08 Shanti/Ashtangi (04:29)
Vunde gurunam caranaravinde
Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe
Nihsreyase jangalikayamane
Sansara halahala moha santyai
Hala hala
Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Ahahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Dharinam dharinam sahasra sirasam
Vande
''(Translation:
I worship the gurus' lotus feet
Awakening the happiness of the self revealed
Beyond comparison, working like the jungle physician
To pacify loss of consciousness from the poison of existence
In the form of a man up to the shoulders
Holding a conch, discus and sword
Thousand headed, white
I bow respectfully
Peace)''
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
Om Shanti, Om Shanti
Shanti shanti
Shantay Om
(REPEAT ENTIRE SONG)
09 Frozen (06:12)
You only see what your eyes want to see
How can life be what you want it to be
You're frozen... when your heart's not open
You're so consumed with how much you get
You waste your time with hate and regret
You're broken... when your heart's not open
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... If I could melt your heart
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... We'd never be apart
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... Give yourself to me
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... You... hold... the key
Now there's no point in placing the blame
And you should know I'd suffer the same
If I lose you... my heart will be broken
Love is a bird... she needs to fly
Let all the hurt inside of you die
You're frozen... when your heart's not open
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... If I could melt your heart
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... We'd never be apart
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... Give yourself to me
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... You... hold... the key
You only see what your eyes want to see
How can life be what you want it to be
You're frozen... when your heart's not open
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... If I could melt your heart
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... We'd never be apart
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... Give yourself to me
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... You... hold... the key
If I could melt your heart
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... We'd never be apart
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... Give yourself to me
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... You... hold... the key
If I could melt your heart
10 The Power of Good-Bye (04:12)
Your heart is not open, so I must go
The spell has been broken, I loved you so
Freedom comes when you learn to let go
Creation comes when you learn to say no
You were my lesson, I had to learn
I was your fortress, you had to burn
Pain is a warning that something's wrong
I pray to God that it won't be long
Do you wanna go higher
There's nothing left to try
There's no place left to hide
There's no greater power
Than the power of goodbye
Your heart is not open, so I must go
The spell has been broken, I loved you so
You were my lesson, I had to learn
I was your fortress
There's nothing left to lose
There's no more heart to bruise
There's no greater power
Than the power of goodbye
Learn...to...say...good...bye
I yearn...to...say...good...bye
There's nothing left to try
There's no more places to hide
There's no greater power
Than the power of goodbye
There's nothing left to lose
There's no more heart to bruise
There's no greater power
Than the power of good-bye
11 To Have and Not to Hold (05:22)
To have and not to hold
So hot, yet so cold
My heart is in your hand
And yet you never stand
Close enough for me to have my way
To love but not to keep
To laugh, not to weep
Your eyes, they go right through
And yet you never do
Anything to make me want to stay
Chorus:
Like a moth to a flame
Only I am to blame
Ba ba da ba ba ba
What can I do?
Ba ba da ba ba ba
I go straight to you
Ba ba da ba ba ba
I've been told
You're to have, not to hold
To look but not to see
To kiss but never be
The object of your desire
I'm walking on a wire
And there's no one at all
To break my fall
(chorus)
You're to have, not to hold
You're to have, not to hold
(chorus)
You're to have, not to hold
You're to have, not to hold
You're to have, not to hold
To break my heart
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Other reviews
By lovi
Madonna will never make an album like this again!
This album moves me, and that’s not a small thing for me.
By pluto1992
"There are few songs that give you chills (at least for me), and 'Ray of Light' is one of them."
"Quicker than a ray of light, I’m flying... Quicker than a ray of light, she’s flying."
By pluto1992
It remains, in fact, one of the best pop albums in history, considered by VH1 among the 10 best albums ever.
When I first listened to 'Ray of Light,' this feeling (of ridiculousness in maturing artists) disappeared.
By theacrobat
Ray of Light is an innovative and experimental electronic-spiritual journey.
Simply, Madonna’s best album.
