"Ray of Light"
Single by Madonna
from the album Ray of Light
B-side	"Has to Be"
Released	May 6, 1998 (Europe) May 11, 1998 (United States)
Format	CD single, CD maxi-single, Video single, Cassette single, 7" Single, 12" maxi-single
Recorded	1997
Genre	Electronica, dance pop, house, experimental
Length	5:20 (Album Version) 4:35 (Radio Edit)
Label	Maverick, Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Madonna William Orbit Clive Muldoon Dave Curtiss Christine Leach
Producer	Madonna William Orbit
Certification	Gold (U.S., Australia) Silver (United Kingdom)
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 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.

Contents 1 Song information 2 Chart performance 3 Music video 3.1 Live version 4 Notable live performances 5 Tracklistings and formats 6 Official versions 7 Charts and certifications 8 Credits 9 Cover versions, live cover performances, etc. 10 In popular culture 11 References

[edit] Song information

	"Ray of Light"
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The song is based on the track "Sepheryn", which was originally written by Clive Maldoon and Dave Curtiss, but with a different melody and instrumentation. All five (Madonna, Orbit, Maldoon, Curtiss and Leach) are credited for the song. The song was remixed by Victor Calderone, Sasha and Orbit. Madonna's vocal range spans from Bb3 to F5, with the latter note sung on the last syllable of "feel" near the end of the song.

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 ^[1], 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". [1]

[edit] Chart performance

"Ray of Light" debuted at #2 in the UK and has been certified silver, selling 262,514 copies to date. It also became another big hit for Madonna in the U.S., peaking at #5 on July 11, 1998. The RIAA certified it gold on September 10th, 1998.

The single managed to break two Madonna records by selling 73,000 copies in its first week, and entering 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. "Ray of Light" went on to become the top Hot 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. "Ray of Light" was allocated the #4 spot.

[edit] Music video

"Ray of Light" was also noted for its Koyaanisqatsi-esque 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 was staring directly at the camera, while everyone else went on with their daily lives.

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 included 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 broadcast from Gothenburg, Sweden. Alternate remix versions, set to Sasha's Ultraviolet Mix and Victor Calderone's Club Mix of the track feature additional footage of both Madonna and of the environment. Footage from the making of this video was also used for the Screen Projection of 'Runaway Lover' During the Music Promo Tour

In June 1998 Italian director Stefano Salvati accused Madonna's imprint Maverick Records of plagiarizing the concept of a music video he directed for Biagio Antonacci's 1994 single "Non e Mai Stato Subito." ^[2] According to Salvati copies of his videos were submitted to Maverick before the "Ray of Light" video was shot and requested that the clip be pulled from distribution. ^[3] Both videos featured the respective singers performing at regular speed against a backdrop of high-speed images. ^[2][4]

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.

It won the Video of the Year award at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards along with a list of technical and directorial awards.

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

[edit] Live version

A live performance video of "Ray of Light" was released on January 24, 2007 to promote The Confessions Tour CD+DVD. It was filmed on August 16, 2006 at Wembley Arena in London, England. The video was made available to download on iTunes (UK), Spike (US), MuchMusic and MusiMax (Canada) and shown on many music channels.

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

[edit] Notable live performances

1. Oprah Winfrey Show;
2. MTV Video Music Awards;
3. Drowned World Tour (2001);
4. Hung Up Promo Tour (Coachella Music Festival only) (2005);
5. Confessions Tour (2006);
6. Live 8 (2005);
7. Live Earth (2007);
8. Sticky & Sweet Tour (2008-2009);

[edit] Tracklistings and formats

US 12" vinyl (SAM 3269)[5] 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)[6] 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)[7] 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)[8] "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)[9] "Ray of Light" (Radio Edit) — 4:35 "Ray of Light" (Album Version) — 5:19

US promo CD single (PRO-CD-9327-R)[10] "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)[11] US CD single (9 17206-2)[12] AU CD single (5439-17209-2)[13] JP CD single (WPCR-10525)[14] UK cassette single (W0444C)[15] "Ray of Light" (Album Version) — 5:19 "Has To Be" — 5:15 US Maxi-CD (9 44523-2)[16] AU Maxi-CD (9362-44521-2)[17] EU Maxi-CD (W 0444 CD)[18] JP Maxi-CD (WPCR-1860)[19] UK CD single 1 (W 0444 CD)[20] "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)[21] "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

[edit] Official versions

• Album Version (5:19)
• Radio Edit (4:34) (Promo Single, GHV2, Celebration)
• 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)
• Victor Calderone Video Mix (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] Charts and certifications

Chart (1998)[22] Peak position Australia ARIA Singles Chart 6 Austrian Singles Chart 31 Belgian Flemmish Ultratop 50 25 Belgian Wallonie Ultratop 40 33 Canadian Singles Chart[23] 3 Dutch Top 40 17 Eurochart Hot 100 Singles[24] 9 Finish Singles Chart 2 French SNEP Singles Chart 18 German Singles Chart[25] 28 Irish Singles Chart[26] 16 Italian FIMI Chart[27] 2 Japanese Oricon International Singles 5 Mexican Top 100 1 New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart 9 Swedish Singles Chart 14 Swiss Singles Chart 32 Tokio Hot 100[28] 5 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[29] 5 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay[30] 26 U.S. Billboard Hot Singles Sales[31] 5 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[29] 1 UK Singles Chart[32] 2

Country Certification Sales/Shipments Australia[33] Gold 35,000 United Kingdom[34] Silver 200,000 United States[35] Gold 500,000

[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] Cover versions, live cover performances, etc.

• The 2000 compilation Virgin Voices: A Tribute To Madonna, Vol. 2 features a cover by Sigue Sigue Sputnik.^[36]
• On the 2004 compilation Platinum Blonde NRG, Vol. 2: Nrgised Madonna Classics, a Hi-NRG cover is performed by Future Force.
• 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 19 September 2007 and can be found on the Radio 1. Established 1967 compilation CD released shortly afterwards.
• 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.^[37][38]
• "Weird Al" Yankovic's medley Polka Power! from the album Running With Scissors includes a polka version of the chorus.

[edit] In popular culture

The commercial for Windows XP features a clip of this song. ^[39]

[edit] References

Preceded by "Sunchyme" by Dario G

Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single June 20, 1998 - July 11, 1998

Succeeded by "Sweet Freedom" by Shawn Christopher

v • d • e Madonna Studio albums Madonna  · Like a Virgin  · True Blue  · Like a Prayer  · Erotica  · Bedtime Stories  · Ray of Light  · Music  · American Life  · Confessions on a Dance Floor  · Hard Candy Compilations You Can Dance  · The Immaculate Collection  · Something to Remember  · GHV2  · Remixed & Revisited  · Celebration Soundtracks Vision Quest  · Who's That Girl  · I'm Breathless  · With Honors  · Evita  · Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me  · The Next Best Thing  · Die Another Day Music video releases Madonna  · It's That Girl  · She's Breathless  · The Immaculate Collection  · "Justify My Love"  · "Ray of Light"  · Rays of Light  · The Video Collection 93:99  · "Music"  · The Madonna Collection  · The Ultimate Collection  · "What It Feels Like for a Girl"  · Celebration: The Video Collection Live releases Live - The Virgin Tour  · Who's That Girl - Live in Japan  · Ciao, Italia! - Live from Italy  · Blond Ambition - Japan Tour 90  · Live! - Blond Ambition World Tour 90  · Truth or Dare (aka In Bed with Madonna)  · The Girlie Show - Live Down Under  · Drowned World Tour 2001  · I'm Going to Tell You a Secret  · The Confessions Tour Tours The Virgin Tour  · Who's That Girl  · Blond Ambition  · The Girlie Show  · Drowned World  · Re-Invention  · Confessions  · Sticky & Sweet Motion pictures A Certain Sacrifice  · Vision Quest  · Desperately Seeking Susan  · Shanghai Surprise  · Who's That Girl  · Bloodhounds of Broadway  · Dick Tracy  · Shadows and Fog  · A League of Their Own  · Body of Evidence  · Dangerous Game  · Four Rooms  · Girl 6  · Evita  · The Next Best Thing  · Swept Away  · Die Another Day  · Arthur and the Invisibles  · Filth and Wisdom Documentaries Truth or Dare (aka In Bed with Madonna)  · Sex (Launch Party Exclusive)  · I'm Going to Tell You a Secret  · I Am Because We Are Related topics Albums · Singles · Videography · Filmography · Tours · Awards · Bibliography · Unreleased songs · Madonna as gay icon · Madonna wannabe · Madonna on Letterman · Madonna Studies · Raising Malawi · Live Nation · Semtex Films · Maverick · Warner Bros. Records · Sire Records · X-STaTIC Pro=CeSS

v • d • e Madonna singles discography Madonna "Everybody" (1982) · "Burning Up" (1983) · "Holiday" (1983/1984/1985/1991/1999) · "Lucky Star" (1983/1984) · "Borderline" (1984/1986) Like a Virgin "Like a Virgin" (1984) · "Material Girl" (1985) · "Angel" (1985) · "Into the Groove" (1985) · "Dress You Up" (1985) · "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" (1986) True Blue "Live to Tell" (1986) · "Papa Don't Preach" (1986) · "True Blue" (1986) · "Open Your Heart" (1986) · "La Isla Bonita" (1987) Who's That Girl "Who's That Girl" (1987) · "Causing a Commotion" (1987) · "The Look of Love" (1987) You Can Dance "Spotlight" (1988) Like a Prayer "Like a Prayer" (1989) · "Express Yourself" (1989) · "Cherish" (1989) · "Oh Father" (1989/1995) · "Dear Jessie" (1989) · "Keep It Together" (1990) I'm Breathless "Vogue" (1990) · "Hanky Panky" (1990) The Immaculate Collection "Justify My Love" (1990) · "Crazy for You (Remix)" (1991) · "Rescue Me" (1991) · "Holiday"/The Holiday Collection (1991) Erotica "Erotica" (1992) · "Deeper and Deeper" (1992) · "Bad Girl" (1993) · "Fever" (1993) · "Rain" (1993) · "Bye Bye Baby" (1993) Bedtime Stories "Secret" (1994) · "Take a Bow" (1994) · "Bedtime Story" (1995) · "Human Nature" (1995) Something to Remember "You'll See" (1995) · "Oh Father" (1995) · "One More Chance" (1996) · "Love Don't Live Here Anymore (Remix)" (1996) Evita "You Must Love Me" (1996) · "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" (1996/1997) · "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" (1997) Ray of Light "Frozen" (1998) · "Ray of Light" (1998) · "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" (1998) · "The Power of Good-Bye" (1998) · "Nothing Really Matters" (1999) Music "Music" (2000) · "Don't Tell Me" (2000/2001) · "What It Feels Like for a Girl" (2001) American Life "American Life" (2003) · "Hollywood" (2003) · "Nothing Fails" (2003) · "Love Profusion" (2003/2004) Confessions on a Dance Floor "Hung Up" (2005) · "Sorry" (2006) · "Get Together" (2006) · "Jump" (2006) Hard Candy "4 Minutes" (2008) · "Give It 2 Me" (2008) · "Miles Away" (2008) Celebration "Celebration" (2009)) · "Revolver" (2009) Other singles "Crazy for You" (1985/1991) · "Gambler" (1985) · "This Used to Be My Playground" (1992) · "I'll Remember" (1994) · "Beautiful Stranger" (1999) · "American Pie" (2000) · "Die Another Day" (2002) · "Me Against the Music" (2003) · "Hey You" (2007) · "Sing" (2008) Promo singles "I Want You" (with Massive Attack) (1995) · "Buenos Aires" (Remixes) (1997) · "Impressive Instant" (The Peter Rauhofer Remixes) (2001) · "Amazing" (2001) · "Thunderpuss GHV2 Megamix" (2001) · "Nobody Knows Me" (Remixes) (2003) · "Into the Hollywood Groove" (with Missy Elliott) (2003) · "Mother and Father" (Peter Rauhofer Re-Invention Remix) (2005) · "Future Lovers/I Feel Love (Live)" (2007) · "Music Inferno (Live)" (2007)