Ray of Light (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Ray of Light


Artist = Madonna
from Album = Ray of Light
B-side = "Has to Be"
Released = May 18, 1998 (Europe) June 30, 1998 (United States)
Format = CD single, CD maxi-single, Video single, Cassette single, 7" Single, 12" maxi-single
Recorded = 1998
Length = 5:20
Genre = Pop, electronica, dance
Label = Maverick, Warner Bros.
Writer = Madonna
William Orbit
Clive Muldoon
Dave Curtiss
Christine Leach
Producer = Madonna
William Orbit
Last single = "Frozen"
(1998)
This single = "Ray of Light"
(1998)
Next single = "Drowned World/Substitute for Love"
(1998)Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate covers
Type = studio


Lower caption = UK CD single 2 cover Extra album cover 2
Type = studio


Lower caption = UK promo CD single cover

"Ray of Light" is the second single by American singer Madonna from her 1998 album of the same name, and is based on Curtiss Maldoon's "Sepheryn", although other than the first verse the comparison is loose. The song was written by Madonna, William Orbit, Clive Muldoon, Dave Curtiss and Christine Leach, and was produced by Madonna and Orbit.

Song information

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 areas, but with a different melody and instrumentation. All five (Madonna, Orbit, Muldoon, Curtiss and Leach) are credited for Madonna's version of the song. The song was remixed by Victor Calderone, Sasha and Orbit.

Madonna performed "Ray of Light" with Lenny Kravitz at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards (where it won six awards including "Best Female Video" and "Video of the Year" awards), at an Oprah Winfrey show in 1998, and at the 2006 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California. "Ray of Light" was also performed during the Drowned World Tour, the Confessions Tour [ [http://www.madonnaonline.com.br/noticias/busca1.asp?word=mirhan MadonnaOnline Brasil - MOL - Feels like home! ] ] , the Sticky & Sweet Tour, Live 8 and Live Earth.

The song was used by Microsoft in its 2001 advertising campaign for Windows XP, in combination with an image named Bliss, as well as a campaign for Sunsilk shampoo in 2008. Premiering on Super Bowl Sunday, the Sunsilk ad included shots of Marilyn Monroe and Shakira with songs well known by them, and ends with several video shots of Madonna to the sounds of "Ray of Light".

The song was voted #100 on VH1's 100 Best Songs of the Past 25 Years. In 2005, the song placed at #401 on Blender Magazine's "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born". [http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=1759]

Mash-up

In 2003, UK DJ Mark Vidler was creating a mash up of "Ray of Light" with The Jam's "To Be Someone" when he noticed a poster challenging DJs to create a punk mash up. He decided to abandon The Jam version and teamed "Ray of Light" with The Sex Pistols' "Pretty Vacant" and "Anarchy in the UK". Their resultant song "Ray of Gob" became one of the most successful mash ups to date, and after receiving copyright permission from both Madonna and The Sex Pistols the track became a huge radio hit. Vidler soon received an unsolicited email from production company Red, offering to produce a video for the track. Vidler has stated it was this track alone which allowed him to give up his day job and become a full time remixer/producer. [ [http://www.gohomeproductions.co.uk/history.html Mark Vidler // Go Home Productions ] ]

Cover versions

As part of BBC Radio 1's Established 1967, Natasha Bedingfield recorded a cover version of "Ray of Light". It was played during the Chris Moyles Show on Wednesday 19th September 2007 and can be found on the "Radio 1. Established 1967" compilation CD released shortly afterwards.

On 2004's, Platinum Blonde NRG, Vol. 2: Nrgised Madonna Classics, a Hi NRG cover is performed by Future Force.

In 2008, Iggy Pop and The Stooges played "Ray of Light" (along with "Burning Up") during Madonna's induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [http://www.madonnatribe.com/news/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1811]

Chart performance

The track, due to its combination of high-energy techno sounds and guitar riffs, was considered by many to be groundbreaking.Fact|date=April 2008 It debuted at #2 in the UK and has sold 262,514 copies to date. 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 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 and peaked, on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot 100 Singles Sales, at #5. 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.

In 2003, Madonna fans were asked to vote for their Top 20 Madonna singles of all-time by "Q-Magazine". "Ray of Light" was allocated the #4 spot.

Music video

"Ray of Light" is also noted for its "Koyaanisqatsi"-inspired music video, featuring time-lapse images of daily life, from people riding a subway, ordering food, bowling, and children in a classroom to sped-up city-scapes and freeways at night. It should be noted that in almost every scene with people in it, such as in the club or classroom, one person is staring directly at the camera, while everyone else goes on with their daily life.

The video was directed by Jonas Åkerlund, with Madonna's scenes being shot on March 25-26, 1998 at Raleigh Studios and at a nightclub in downtown Los Angeles. The images of various cities include Los Angeles, New York, London, Las Vegas and Stockholm, Sweden. It also featured a couple of clips from the Swedish television game show "Bingolotto", which is broadcasted from Gothenburg, Sweden. An alternate version, set to Sasha's Ultraviolet Mix of the song, features additional footage of both Madonna and of the environment.

The video was ranked #40 on VH1's 100 Greatest Videos, listed #1 on "Back In..." 98's Top 5 Best Videos, ranked #7 on Listed's Top 40 Memorable Videos Pt. 1 & 2, on MuchMoreMusic, and ranked #26 on MuchMusic's 100 Best Videos.

*Director: Jonas Akerlund
*Producer: Nicola Doring
*Executive Producer: Billy Poveda
*Director of Photography: Henrik Halvarsson
*Editor: Jonas Akerlund
*Production Company: Oil Factory Inc.

Live version

In February 2007, a live performance of "Ray of Light" was released as a music video to promote "The Confessions Tour" CD+DVD. It was filmed on August 15-16, 2006 at Wembley Arena in London, England.

*Director: Jonas Akerlund
*Producer: Sara Martin
*Director of Photography: Eric Broms
*Editor: Jonas Akerlund
*Production Company: Black Dog Films

Tracklistings and formats

;US 12" vinyl (SAM 3269) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/516937 Madonna - Ray Of Light ] ]
*A "Ray of Light" (Sasha's Strip Down Mix) — 5:00
*B "Ray of Light" (Orbit's Ultra Violet Mix) — 6:59

;US 2 x 12" vinyl (9 44523-0) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/14423 Madonna - Ray Of Light ] ]
*A1 "Ray of Light" (Sasha's Ultraviolet Mix) — 10:43
*A2 "Ray of Light" (Sasha's Strip Down Mix) — 5:00
*B1 "Ray of Light" (Victor Calderone Club Mix) — 9:29
*B2 "Ray of Light" (William Orbit Liquid Mix) — 8:06
*C1 "Ray of Light" (Sasha Twilo Mix) — 10:58
*C2 "Ray of Light" (Victor Calderone Drum Mix) — 5:26
*D1 "Ray of Light" (Orbit's Ultra Violet Mix) — 6:59
*D2 "Ray of Light" (Album Version) — 5:19

;EU 12" vinyl (W 0444 T) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/63086 Madonna - Ray Of Light ] ]
*A1 "Ray of Light" (Sasha's Ultraviolet Mix) — 10:43
*A2 "Ray of Light" (William Orbit Liquid Mix) — 8:06
*B1 "Ray of Light" (Victor Calderone Club Mix) — 9:29
*B2 "Ray of Light" (Album Version) — 5:19

;EU CD single (9362 44535-2) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/699905 Madonna - Ray Of Light ] ]
# "Ray of Light" (Album Version) — 5:19
# "Has To Be" — 5:15
# "Ray of Light" (Sasha's Ultraviolet Mix) — 10:43

;US promo CD single (PRO-CD-9349-R) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/1207578 Madonna - Ray Of Light ] ]
# "Ray of Light" (Radio Edit) — 4:35
# "Ray of Light" (Album Version) — 5:19;US promo CD single (PRO-CD-9327-R) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/746934 Madonna - Ray Of Light ] ]
# "Ray of Light" (Sasha Ultra Violet Mix Radio Edit) — 5:07
# "Ray of Light" (William Orbit Liquid Mix Radio Edit) — 5:11
# "Ray of Light" (Victor Calderone Club Mix Radio Edit) — 4:56

;US 7" vinyl (7-17206) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/1188412 Madonna - Ray Of Light ] ] ;US CD single (9 17206-2) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/683651 Madonna - Ray Of Light ] ] ;AU CD single (5439-17209-2) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/713235 Madonna - Ray Of Light ] ] ;JP CD single (WPCR-10525) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/688366 Madonna - Ray Of Light ] ] ;UK cassette single (W0444C) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/721462 Madonna - Ray Of Light ] ]
# "Ray of Light" (Album Version) — 5:19
# "Has To Be" — 5:15

;US Maxi-CD (9 44523-2) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/54033 Madonna - Ray Of Light ] ] ;AU Maxi-CD (9362-44521-2) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/713238 Madonna - Ray Of Light ] ] ;EU Maxi-CD (W 0444 CD) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/66016 Madonna - Ray Of Light ] ] ;JP Maxi-CD (WPCR-1860) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/688363 Madonna - Ray Of Light (Remixes) ] ] ;UK CD single 1 (W 0444 CD) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/253932 Madonna - Ray Of Light (CD1) ] ]
# "Ray of Light" (Album Version) — 5:19
# "Ray of Light" (Sasha's Ultraviolet Mix) — 10:43
# "Ray of Light" (William Orbit Liquid Mix) — 8:06
# "Ray of Light" (Victor Calderone Club Mix) — 9:29

;UK CD single 2 (W 0444 CD2) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/121064 Madonna - Ray Of Light (CD2) ] ]
# "Ray of Light" (Sasha Twilo Mix) — 10:58
# "Ray of Light" (Sasha's Strip Down Mix) — 5:00
# "Ray of Light" (Victor Calderone Drum Mix) — 5:26
# "Ray of Light" (Orbit's Ultra Violet Mix) — 6:59

Official versions

* Album Version (5:19)
* Radio Edit (4:34) (Promo Single, GHV2)
* William Orbit Liquid Mix (8:08)
* William Orbit Liquid Mix Radio Edit (5:13) (Promo Only)
* William Orbit Ultra Violet Mix (7:00)
* Victor Calderone Club Mix (9:29)
* Victor Calderone Club Mix Radio Edit (4:55) (Promo Only)
* Victor Calderone Drum Mix (5:29)
* 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)

Charts and certifications

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.

References