Madonna's "Ray of Light" is truly a Ray of Light!!! :)
In 1998, Madonna had been through a lot. She had just become a mom, she rediscovered her spirituality, and it seemed she had matured in the best way musically and emotionally as well. During from her acting role as Evita in the 1996 film (Her only movie that wasn't ripped to shreds by critics), she had vocal training to increase her range for the role and it payed off and it is shown throughout "Ray of Light"
Album History: Madonna began work on this record with a few producers but those didn't quite work so eventually she turned to British electronic/ambient producer William Orbit. Orbit brings this sort of ambient, dreamy, darker scenario and atmosphere. It's quite a shocking sound for the legendary Queen of Pop, whose sound in this record is well to simply put it.... Less poppy, less mainstream, and more of a move toward Electronica, Techno, and dance elements. A sound that she would continue to use in her later albums. William Orbit's production is quite astonishing. And even people who are not fans of Madonna have to hear how beautiful and real this is.
One thing that is a major key point in this record is the songwriting. It's very emotional, sad, and poetic. Madonna's songwriting abilities have been overlooked. But at least a few people saw when this came out, that she was a better vocalist and songwriter than what people give her credit for. Don't get me wrong, she's no Celine Dion or Whitney. But she made it in this business for a reason.
Madonna's lyrics are very poetic and self-reflecting as some of Major themes in this are about motherhood, fame, love and spirituality And here she talks about fame and love
"I traded fame for love
Without a second thought, It all became a silly a game
Some things cannot be bought" M sings on the opening track "Drowned World/Substitute For Love" or the bittersweet breakup song "The Power of Goodbye" she sings
"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"
These are the most beautiful lyrics I ever heard on an album and Orbits production combined make it a dreamy, emotional, self-reflecting experience.
Let's go through it full on shall we?
Track 1: "Drowned World/Substitute For Love.
The album opens up with a quiet atmospheric sad sound. Almost like wind blowing. Then she sings as if she's about to cry
"I traded fame for love
Without a second thought
It all became a silly a game
Some things cannot be bought" She sings. The song mainly about her experiences with fame and how it caused her to not really find love. And she sings "I find that I changed my mind"
"The face of you, my substitute for love" She sounds in despair, but it's calm despair. In the last line, she sings "This is my religion" declaring her newly discovered spirituality. It's probably one of my favorite tracks on the album and probably my favorite Madonna song ever. Just because I can relate to it. And it really sets the album up perfectly
Track 2: "Swim"
Another gorgeous song. It brings more of a quiet indie-rock sort of element to it with it's atmospheric guitar and the albums same Orbit electronica sound. Madonna sings about all the hate and bad things in the world and wanting to "Swim to the ocean floor" as she says. Really good musically and lyrically. It's another fav for me.
Track 3: "Ray of Light"
Okay, the title track and probably the most memorable off the record. It's a happier sounding song but it's so beautiful how it starts and then it suddenly turns into a trancy techno dance track but don't mistake this as just another pop song. The lyrics are so moving and you really feel like you're flying as you listen and it makes you want to dance... IN THE SKY FASTER THAN THE RAY OF LIGHT haha. You might remember it being joke on Family Guy when Peter drank the red bull and he started singing the song and mimicking the video.
Track 4: "Candy Perfume Girl"
Not my favorite, but it sounds cool. The lyrics are just too random. I guess I just don't get what the song is about, And the title confuses me. I kinda wish they'd cut this song out, skip to "Skin" and then the album would have room for "Has To Be" at number 12 before "Mer Girl" but whatev, it's a cool song, just not the best on the record :)
Track 5: "Skin"
A haunting highlight on this album. I don't listen to it much. But it really is a highlight. It makes you want to dance but it's a calming dance song (Oxymoron I know but it's the truth) that you just go "Wow". Madonna and Orbit really glow on this song
Track 6: "Nothing Really Matters"
A pretty simple song lyrically about self-reflection and maturity. Probably the most pop song on the record. And I commend it for it's simplicity and it's relate-able lyrics.
Track 7: "Sky Fits Heaven"
One of the most beautiful songs on here. Who knew Madonna was a poet? Another song about self-relfection and wanting to move forward with life. It's about her about to follow her own road, pay attention to the signs of life and destiny but also listen to her heart, cause that's the way to stay in the " light ".
Its a very positive song, makes me feel good. When the chorus hits with that piano, It gives you goosebumps. And the bridge when it gets fast, I have no words to explain it, Just WOW. It's definitely a highlight, and a beautiful song. I sound like a broken record saying that but it's true
Track 8: "Shanti/Ashtangi"
Umm is that how you pronounce it? It's certainly the weirdest song on the album. This is actually a prayer of some sort or chant based on her new found spirituality called "Kababblah" or something. And it's not in English but I'll translate it for you.
"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"
I honestly like it, A lot of people don't but it's very different and even though you can't understand a word she's saying, You don't know what it means and you don't follow that religion, It has an awesome beat and Orbit's beat and instrumentation on this song is one of the best on the album.
Track 9: "Frozen"
Ok, here is our first single. Firstly, the video is soo dark and beautiful so I suggest you check that out, but this track speaks the truth. Madonna expresses the dark side of love... the depression you go through, the hurt, the heartache, the breaking-up... even though, you will never leave because the love is that strong. It's about opening that other person's heart; trying to get in there... with them. It does a great job of blending Classical Music, and Electronica/Trip-hop influences. It has somewhat of a Bjork influence. It starts with a beautiful classical string section, then kicks in with Orbit's signature production and ends with the haunting strings. Madonna's vocals sounds the best here in my opinion. It's definitely easy to relate to. And I certainly can. It's so well produced and it's certainly a track-pick
Track 10: "The Power of Goodbye"
Here is my personal favorite besides "Drowned World". This I guess is the Ballad of the album. It's somewhat reminiscent of her 1994 ballad "Take A Bow" but this is better in my opinion. In this song, she speaks of love lost and moving on, She really captured the emotion and you can feel it when she sings. The video is beautiful too. If you need a sad break up song, here it is. This is pretty poppy but it's a gorgeous track. And Madonna captured that aesthetic emotion of lost love. Track pick :)
Track 11: "To Have and Not To Hold"
One might say that this is where Ray of Light gets boring. But this is a boring track if you're not in that kind of mood. but it is catchy when she hits the chorus with that "ba ba da ba ba ba", you find yourself in a dreamy landscape. It's a sad and mellow song but it's an acquired taste. This is probably the darkest song on the record (besides "Drowned World" and "Frozen) Not the most exciting on the album but certainly worth a listen when you're depressed or just in a calm mood.
Track 12: "Little Star"
This is a sweet moment on Ray of Light. Some fans have called this song cheesy but come on!!! You can't make an album like Ray of Light and not have a song dedicated to her newborn daughter. Madonna tells her child, to never forget how to dream and who she is and how much she has changed Madonna. It really is a tender and happy moment on this record. Parents of newborn babies would love this and moms could sing or play this track to their babies as it does sound like a dreamy lullaby. Personally, I think of my baby niece Brianna when I hear this song. :)
Track 13: "Mer Girl"
The album ends with a very quiet, lush and haunting song. Madonna sings about her experiences and the troubles in her life but it's a pretty hopeful sentiment.
"I ran from my house
That cannot contain me
From the man that I cannot keep
From my mother who haunts me
Even though she's gone
From my daughter that never sleeps
I ran from the noise and the silence" sings Madonna referring to her late mother mostly. It's a pretty dark song but it is hopeful. People say this is the most boring song she has done but it's the perfect way to end the album. The album ends with the line "I ran and I ran and I'm still running away" Saying that she still has problems but that there is hope because she has found the light in her life. At that line, she sounds so emotional and almost like she's crying. You can tell all the emotion she put into this song and the rest of the album.
*UNRELEASED BONUS* TRACK 14: "Has To Be"
This is the only problem I absolutely HATE about this album!!! This wasn't on there (Although it was on the Japanese version of the album). I heard this and I fell in love. Anyone who is lonely and looking for love can relate to this song. Says the lyrics "I know there's someone out there Waiting for me
There must be someone out there There just has to be" William Orbit's instrumentation on this song is plain awesome. It sounds so spiritual and has a lovely aesthetic. This in my opinion should have been on the album but Madonna said she only wanted 13 tracks because 13 is the lucky number for Kabablah or something like that. But she should have cut out "Candy Perfume Girl" and put "Has To Be" before "Mer Girl". That's the only thing I hate about this album but that's a selfish reason.
RECAP: Okay, so wrapping this review up. This was Madonna's peak. Her later work was still awesome and retained the electronic qualities of "Ray of Light" (Except the disaster that was "Hard Candy" ughhh). But those never captured the magic of the original. Our female pioneer matured as a musician, songwriter, and most importantly a human being by the looks of it. William Orbit as a producer was GENIUS and his instrumentation is awesome (Check out his solo instrumental work, they are awesome. I recommend "Sea Green"). William Orbit would later work with Madge on her follow up "Music" (2000) and on her newest record "MDNA" (2012) (Which made me really happy). Without him, this album would not have been possible so I consider this his album too.
This is one of my favorite albums of all time and this is the album that made me fall in love with Electronica music and some of Madonna's music (I'm a straight 16 year old dude saying this lol)
Overall: Madonna's "Ray of Light" truly is a Ray of Light :)
Score: 10/10
