Ray of Light (song)
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| "Ray of Light" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Madonna | ||
| from the album Ray of Light | ||
| B-side(s) | "Has to Be" | |
| Released | April 1998 | |
| Format | CD single CD maxi-single Video single Cassette single 7" Single 12" maxi-single |
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| Recorded | 1998 | |
| Genre | Dance | |
| Length | 5:20 | |
| Label | Maverick Records Warner Bros. Records WEA International |
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| Writer(s) | Madonna William Orbit Clive Muldoon Dave Curtiss Christine Leach |
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| Producer(s) | Madonna William Orbit |
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| Chart positions | ||
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| Madonna singles chronology | ||
| "Frozen" (1998) |
"Ray of Light" (1998) |
"Drowned World/Substitute for Love" (1998) |
"Ray of Light" is the second single by American singer Madonna from her 1998 album Ray of Light.
The song was written by Madonna, William Orbit, Clive Muldoon, Dave Curtiss, and Christine Leach. It was produced by Madonna and Orbit. The original version (called "Sepheryn") was released on the first Curtiss Maldoon album from 1971.
It has received the remix treatment from Victor Calderone, Sasha and William Orbit himself.
Contents |
[edit] Chart performance
The track, due to its combination of high-energy techno sounds and its guitar riffs, was considered by many to be groundbreaking. It debuted at #2 in the UK. The U.S. seemed to take to it as well; however, the commercial maxi and single CDs were released with a one-month delay, when the momentum of the track was already fading.
The single managed to break two Madonna records; it sold about 73,000 copies in its first week, and entered both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot 100 Singles Sales at number five, which is where it ultimately peaked on both charts. The song also did well on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, becoming another number-one hit for Madonna; it went on to become the top Dance Music/Club Play single of 1998.
[edit] Trivia
The song is based on the track "Sepheryn", which was originally written by Clive Muldoon and Dave Curtiss. William Orbit re-recorded the song with Christine Leach before he started working with Madonna. However it ended up being recorded by Madonna with its lyrics only changed in a few spots, but with a changed melody and instrumentation. All five (Madonna, William Orbit, Clive Muldoon, Dave Curtiss, and Christine Leach) are credited for Madonna's 1998 version of the song.
The song is also noted for its Koyaanisqatsi inspired music video, featuring sped-up images of daily life, from people riding a subway, ordering food, bowling, and children in a classroom to sped-up cityscapes and freeways at night. The World Trade Center was shown, briefly, 4 times in the video.
The song was used by Microsoft in its 2001 advertising campaign for Windows XP, in combination with an image named Bliss.
Ray of Light appeared on Madonna's 2001 Drowned World Tour, where she energetically danced around the stage. It also made an appearance on her record breaking 2006 Confessions Tour, as she played the guitar while simultaneosly singing, as all her male dancers danced robotically around her.
[edit] Charts
| Chart (1998)[1] | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 31 |
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 6 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 7 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 22 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 Singles | 9 |
| Finnish Singles Chart | 2 |
| French Singles Chart | 18 |
| German Singles Chart | 9 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 14 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 32 |
| UK Singles Chart | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 13 |
| U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 | 32 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40 | 39 |
| United World Chart | 2 |
[edit] Credits
- Written by Madonna, William Orbit, Clive Muldoon, Dave Curtis, and Christine Leach.
- Produced by Madonna and William Orbit.
- Engineered by Pat McCarthy.
- Art Direction/design by Kevin Reagan.
- Photography by Mario Testino.
[edit] Tracklisting and format
UK CD1
- Album Version (5:19)
- Ultra Violet Mix (10:43)
- Liquid Mix (8:03)
- Calderone Club Mix (9:29)
UK CD2
- Sasha's Twilo Mix (10:58)
- Sasha's Strip Down Mix (5:00)
- Victor Calderone Drum Mix (5:26)
- Orbit's Ultra Violet Mix (6:59)
North American CD & Cassette / UK Cassette
- Album Version (5:19)
- Has To Be (Non-Album Track) (5:15)
North American CD Maxi
- Album Version (5:19)
- Sasha Ultra Violet Mix (10:43)
- William Orbit Liquid Mix (8:03)
- Victor Calderone Club Mix (9:29)
[edit] Remixes
Commercially-released remixes of "Ray Of Light" include ones by William Orbit, Sasha, and Victor Calderone.
- Album Version (5:23)
- Radio Edit (4:37)
- Video Edit (5:03)
- Video Instrumental (5:03)
- Acapella (6:02) Unreleased
- Instrumental from William Orbit Promo CD (4:02) Promo Only
- William Orbit Intense Violet Mix (12:10) Promo Only
- William Orbit Liquid Mix (8:08)
- William Orbit Liquid Mix Radio Edit (5:13) Promo Only
- William Orbit Ultra Violet Mix (7:00)
- William Orbit Stereo Odyssey Version (6:59) Unreleased [instrumental demo]
- Victor Calderone Club Mix (9:29)
- Victor Calderone Club Mix Radio Edit (4:55) Promo Only
- Victor Calderone Drum Mix (5:29)
- Sasha's Infra Red Mix (6:14) Promo Only
- Sasha's Ultra Violet Mix (10:48)
- Sasha's Ultra Violet Mix Radio Edit (5:10) Promo Only
- Sasha's Stripped Down Mix (5:04)
- Sasha's Twilo Mix (10:59)
[edit] References
- ^ Chart peak positions:
Albums: Madonna (1983) · Like a Virgin (1984) · True Blue (1986) · Like a Prayer (1989)
I'm Breathless (1990) · Erotica (1992) · Bedtime Stories (1994) · Ray of Light (1998) · Music (2000)
American Life (2003) · Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
Discography · Tours · Videography · Filmography · Achievements and Awards · Bibliography · Unreleased songs · Controversies
