Madonna
Ray of Light

THE REVIEW

When critics around the world proclaimed the beauty and sophistication of Madonna's new album, everyone was left speechless.

Her music had changed, her lyrics matured, and she had become a mother.
To this day, it remains her most mature album.

It was a surprise... many foreign artists, when trying to mature, often make their music fall into the ridiculous sooner than expected. But when I first listened to "Ray of Light," this feeling disappeared. I immediately bought the album and listened to it until I wore it out. It remains, in fact, one of the best pop albums in history, considered by

-VH1, among the 10 best albums in history.
-Rolling Stones, among the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Ray of Light has sold, to date, 17 million copies worldwide.

Madonna.
In this album, we hear Madonna after her performance in the musical "Evita". And you can tell.
Madonna sings extraordinarily. The songs don't follow a logical thread within the album; but all remain avant-garde even 11 years after the release of the CD. There are great melodies, especially: Frozen, Ray of Light, Skin, Sky Fits Heaven.

The Lyrics.
The album's lyrics are a big step forward. It talks about spirituality, life, motherhood, success, and love. There is also a song in Sanskrit, Shanti/Ashtangi, whose translation is provided below:

I pray at the lotus feet of the Supreme Indian Sage
Who teaches the greatest knowledge
Showing the way to know
The great awakening of happiness
That the jungle doctor
Capable of removing the poison of ignorance
Of conditioned existence
An incarnation of Adisesa
White in color with 1000 heads emitting rays
To him, I bow
Peace

The Music.
Techno is a world for relaxing, not something that serves to "explode" as we Westerners think. Trance rhythms blend with disco beats, while the percussions make the album's atmosphere calm and hypnotic. The best of the album is found especially in Frozen, Nothing Really Matters, and Skin.

Mer Girl.
The first time I listened to Mer Girl, I was a little disconcerted. Orbit's influence is stronger than ever in this song, where ambient rhythms form the background to a distressed and anguished voice. Then, reading the translation of the text, I imagined that the composition was initially born as poetry...

I fled from my home that cannot contain me
From my mother who haunts me, although she is dead
I fled from the noise and the silence
From the traffic in the streets
I fled into the forest, I fled into the trees
I ran and ran, I was searching for myself
Beyond the apple orchards and the woman who never speaks
On top of the hills, I fled into the cemetery
I held my breath, and thought of your death
And I saw the crumbled tombs
All the forgotten names
I tasted the rain, I tasted my tears
I cursed the angels, discovered my fears
And the ground gave way beneath my feet
And the earth grabbed me in its arms
The dark sky unfolded, blinding me
And I smelled her burning flesh
Her bones
Her decay
I ran and ran
I'm still running away.

Written by Madonna and William Orbit.

After all, this album is a gem of pop. An album that, when listened to, creates an atmosphere of relaxation around you. An album that announces Madonna's new image. An album that finally, after so many years of career, brings Grammy Awards to Madonna.

Tracklist:
- Drowned World/Substitute for Love
- Swim
- Ray of Light
- Candy Perfume Girl
- *Skin
- *Nothing Really Matters
- **Sky Fits Heaven
- Shanti/Ashtangi
- **Frozen
- **The Power of Goodbye
- **To Have & Not to Hold
- #Little Star
- Mer Girl
- **Has To be (Bonus Track)

Produced by Madonna and William Orbit
**Produced by Madonna, William Orbit and Patrick Leonard
*Produced by Madonna, William Orbit and Marius De Vries
#Produced by Madonna and Marius De Vries