Izdavač: Ostalo
Žanr: Elektronska muzika, Pop
Poreklo: Strani izvođač

Original, made in EU Germany

Knjizica od 16 str.

Odlicno ocuvano

knjizica 5 Cd 5

Studio album by Madonna
Released February 22, 1998
Recorded May–November 1997
Studios
Larrabee North (North Hollywood)
The Hit Factory (New York City)
Genres
Electronicatrip hoptechno-popnew-age
Length 66:52
Labels
MaverickWarner Bros.
Producers
MadonnaWilliam OrbitPatrick LeonardMarius de Vries
Madonna chronology
Evita
(1996) Ray of Light
(1998) Music
(2000)

Ray of Light is the seventh studio album by American singer and songwriter Madonna. It was released on February 22, 1998, by Maverick Records. A major stylistic and aesthetic departure from her previous works, Ray of Light reflected the singer`s embrace of Kabbalah, study of Hinduism and Buddhism, and daily practice of Ashtanga yoga.

Madonna began developing Ray of Light with producers Babyface and Patrick Leonard following the birth of her first child, Lourdes Leon. After those sessions failed to produce the direction she wanted, Madonna adopted a new musical approach with English producer William Orbit. Its recording process was the longest of Madonna`s career and was frequently delayed by problems with Orbit`s hardware setup, which repeatedly broke down and required repairs. Ray of Light`s electronica, trip hop, techno-pop, and new-age production features instrumentation such as dense analog synthesizers and electric guitars. Its introspective themes include fame, spirituality, motherhood, and enlightenment.

Six singles supported the album, with `Frozen` topping the charts of nine countries worldwide, `Ray of Light` becoming Madonna`s highest-debuting song on the US Billboard Hot 100, and `The Power of Good-Bye` achieving top-ten chart success throughout Europe. Ray of Light topped the charts in 17 countries and received multi-platinum certifications across the Americas, Europe, and the Asia–Pacific region. Debuting at number two on the US Billboard 200, it yielded the highest first-week sales for a woman at the time. It was further promoted with the Drowned World Tour, her first tour in eight years and the highest-grossing solo tour of 2001. Ray of Light has sold over 16 million copies worldwide.

On release, Ray of Light received universal acclaim from music critics, who praised Madonna`s musical reinvention, introspective songwriting, and mature vocal performances, as well as Orbit`s innovative and cohesive production. The album won four of its six nominations at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Album. Retrospectively, the album has been recognized for popularizing electronica in popular music and reaffirming Madonna`s relevance at 39 years old, at a time when the industry was largely dominated by major teen-focused artists. Regarded as a pop music classic, Ray of Light is often called Madonna`s magnum opus and is considered one of the greatest albums of all time.

Background
Madonna released her sixth studio album, Bedtime Stories, in late 1994. The album adopted a softer musical style and image in an effort to regain public favor following the overwhelmingly negative reactions to the sexually explicit Erotica (1992)—her fifth studio album.[1] Bedtime Stories debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and produced two top-three US singles: `Secret` and `Take a Bow`. The latter spent seven weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her longest-running number-one hit.[2][3] A year after releasing Bedtime Stories, Madonna issued Something to Remember, a compilation album of ballads that sold ten million copies worldwide.[4][5]

After being cast as Argentine political leader Eva Perón in the musical film Evita in 1996, Madonna began undertaking vocal training and studied Argentina`s history and Perón`s life.[6] That same year, she gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Lourdes Leon.[7] In 1997, Madonna began developing an interest in Eastern mysticism, Hinduism, and Kabbalah, introduced to her by close friend and actress Sandra Bernhard.[8] Madonna stated that it `was a big catalyst for [her]` and that it `took [her] on a search for answers to questions [she`d] never asked herself before`.[9]
Ray of Light track listing[205]
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. `Drowned World/Substitute for Love[a]`
MadonnaWilliam OrbitRod McKuenAnita KerrDavid Collins
MadonnaOrbit
5:08
2. `Swim`
MadonnaOrbit
MadonnaOrbit
5:00
3. `Ray of Light`
MadonnaOrbitClive MuldoonDave CurtissChristine Leach
MadonnaOrbit
5:20
4. `Candy Perfume Girl`
MadonnaOrbitSusannah Melvoin
MadonnaOrbit
4:36
5. `Skin`
MadonnaPatrick Leonard
MadonnaOrbitMarius de Vries
6:21
6. `Nothing Really Matters`
MadonnaLeonard
MadonnaOrbitVries
4:26
7. `Sky Fits Heaven`
MadonnaLeonard
MadonnaOrbitLeonard
4:47
8. `Shanti/Ashtangi[b]`
MadonnaOrbit
MadonnaOrbit
4:29
9. `Frozen`
MadonnaLeonard
MadonnaOrbitLeonard
6:12
10. `The Power of Good-Bye`
MadonnaRick Nowels
MadonnaOrbitLeonard
4:12
11. `To Have and Not to Hold`
MadonnaNowels
MadonnaOrbitLeonard
5:22
12. `Little Star`
MadonnaNowels
MadonnaVries
5:18
13. `Mer Girl[c]`
MadonnaOrbit
MadonnaOrbit
5:31
Total length: 66:42


Personnel
Information is adapted from the album`s liner notes.[205]

Madonna – vocals (2–5, 7–13, lead on 1, 6), producer
William Orbit – producer, guitar, programming, sound effects
Mike Bradford – programming
Craig Armstrong – string arrangements (9–10)
Pablo Cook – flute (2)
Mark Endert – engineer
Fergus Gerrand – drums (1–2), percussion (13)
Kerosene Halo – design
Niki Haris – background vocals (6)
Vyass Houston – translation
Jon Ingoldsby – engineer
Ted Jensen – mastering
Suzie Katayama – conductor
Patrick Leonard – additional music arranger (9), producer
Donna De Lory – background vocals (6)
Patrick McCarthy – engineer
Marc Moreau – guitar (5)
Kevin Reagan – art direction, design
Dave Reitzas – engineer
Steve Sidelnyk – additional drum machine (6, 12)
Matt Silva – engineer
Eddie Stern – translation
Mario Testino – photography
Marius de Vries – keyboard (9), music programming (9), producer