Ray of Light is the most artistic and creative album Madonna has ever recorded. Instead of trying a new look (although she did), she decided to try a new sound. Ray of Light is filled with electronic music and edgy dance songs. The result is brilliant. Her voice is stronger than ever and her sound is a lot more refined -- very different from the pop ditties she recorded in the past. Yes, she is not as outspoken as she used to be, but then again she has evolved as a person and as an artist. I love "The Power of Goodbye"; the lyrics are very touching. I also like "Ray of Light," "Frozen," "Nothing Really Matters," and "Skin." The songs have a common theme: spirituality and self-discovery.

I urge you to purchase this incredible CD. And for all of you reluctant Madonna fans out there: Madonna is better than ever. Give this CD a whirl.


People, if you're gonna review do it for real   December 17, 1999
 28 out of 32 found this review helpful

This is a superb album. It is well produced and the music is beautiful. The lyrics are simple yet deep and somewhat thought provoking. The artist herself shows an evolution in her vocal ability as well as her songwriting style. Some clever moments are seen in tracks like "Nothing really matters," "To have and not to hold," and 'The Power of goodbye." The latter is a sad yet uplifting ballad which truly stands out as one of Madonna's best tracks in the 90's. Other songs like "Ray of Light" and "Frozen" are good dance anthems that stand out as very good pop material (although this album is touted as "electronica" I wouldn't really place it in that category---except for the fact that William Orbit's genius is behind it). In general I believe this album to be a great recording and I'd like to take a moment to tell all of those people who "review" this album (or any other for that matter) and say a bunch of horrible things only to anger other fans or to insult the artist, you people need to grow up, stop being stupid and offensive. If you don't like a book, CD, movie or any other product please be objective and explain in your review what the flaws may have been. Don't just say that this or that stinks or "I want my money back"type of cliches. Those readers and listeners who actually respect others expect more from Amazon than to read your ridiculous little brain type of comments, OK?


Madonna's "Ray of Light" a breath of fresh air   January 20, 2001
 16 out of 16 found this review helpful

Family matters have always been a good forum for Madonna. After all, 1989's "Like a Prayer," dealing with the breakup of her marriage, her mother's death, and her complicated relationship with her father, shattered the notion that Madonna was an artist best relied on for singles; the deep and expressive set made for a mature album that could be enjoyed from start to finish. Unfortunately, subsequent recordings weren't as sharp: "Erotica" and "Bedtime Stories" definitely had their moments but just as surely had their share of filler. Luckily for us, "Ray of Light" picks up on the flip side of "Like a Prayer": this time around, Madonna's the parent, and the topic of family provides a springboard for musings on love versus fame and what a grown adult considers truly important. Adding to the mix is her collaboration with electronica producer William Orbit, making "Ray of Light" one of the most mature and satisfying albums of dance music you're likely to ever hear.

And while the opening track gets things off to an unexpected start with a hypnotic slice of slow rock, the lyrics of "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" set the pace of the record: "I traded fame for love/without a second thought...I found myself in crowded rooms/feeling so alone." Halfway through the song the music backs off and Madonna distances herself from side-effects of fame: "no famous faces, far off places/trinkets I can buy/no handsome stranger, heady danger/drug that I can try." As the list continues the decibel level grows until both Madonna and her music are at an in-your-face level, clearly declaring that fame may be nice but enough is enough.

The club-happy "Nothing Really Matters" is another summation of her new point of view; singing to her newborn daughter, the onetime Material Girl admits that she once "lived so selfishly," but now "everything's changed because of you/nothing really matters, love is all we need." The concept is simple but nonetheless a touching one. It could even be argued that the album's first single, the entrancing "Frozen," holds a deep premise. Lyrics like "you only see what your eyes want to see/how can life be what you want it to be/you're frozen when your heart's not open" could have easily been written from her daughter's point of view, as if Madonna realized during pregnancy what changes in outlook her child would need from her and decided to set it to music.

Not all the lyrical content is parental, however: the slow hip-hop of "Swim" offers a grim look at current events with a nonetheless optimistic plea for change, while "Shanti/Ashtangi" sets her spiritual beliefs to a funky, computer-laden rhythm. And then the midtempo "Power of Goodbye" and the near-Bossa Nova "To Have and Not to Hold" are flat-out love songs, albeit doomed ones. Still other songs appear to be about nothing in particular: "Candy Perfume Girl" is a trippy electronica workout laced with seemingly random poetry, while the frenetic title track has a lyrical spin that is either about Mother Earth, the downscaling of celebrity, or something in between.

And while the drum-and-bass lullaby "Little Star," a blessing to her child for a contented life, may come off feeling a little lightweight, the album's only true stumble is the spooky closer, "Mer Girl." Whereas "Like a Prayer" offered a moving account of a young girl missing her desceased mother in "Promise to Try," "Mer Girl" is instead a dreamlike sequence in which a new celebrity mother is still in search of the mother she didn't have long enough. It may sound like a touching idea, but lyrics like "I smelt her burning flesh/her rotting bones/her decay" are too dour and heavy after twelve tracks of mostly dance music. But all in all, "Ray of Light" marks her most successful connection with dance music and her most compelling efforts as a lyricist. It's a relief to know that, years after enjoyable ear candy like "Holiday" and "Like a Virgin," Madonna grew up and matured over the years just like the rest of us. As she observes on "Sky Fits Heaven": "isn't everyone just travelling down their own road/watching the signs as they go/I think I'll follow my heart/it's a very good place to start." Very good? Some would say brilliant.


Ray of Light truly is like a prayer   August 26, 2007
 13 out of 13 found this review helpful

This is Madonna's work of art. And this CD is the very best collection of any music she has ever produced since "Erotica." Madonna's lyrics are beautiful and strong because even after 9 years it still stands the test of time. It's completely impossible for this CD to be dated; with the electronica beat and fast moving dance numbers, such as the title-track this CD was way ahead of its time. Even in the double-00's "Ray of Light" is still very trendy.

Besides the song, "Ray of Light," I also adore "Frozen." This was the perfect song to be the lead-single because it mixed both the old and new Madonna into one. "Frozen" also helped resonate a steady flow of continuity.

I also love the song "Shanti/Ashtangi." In this song Madonna sings a very pretty melody in Sanskrit that is both unique and uplifting. I don't know what she's saying but I do know that I want to keep listening. I wish she would have done an entire CD like this (although she did release a similar song, "Music's" B-side, "Cyberraga" in 2000.)

Some of the other truly magical tracks on this CD are: "Swim" "Skin" and "Sky Fits Heaven." These songs are like pieces to an intricate quilt that come perfectly together. "Ray of Light" is almost like one big tune because all the songs on this CD live as one in perfect harmony.

Why is this CD so perfect? Because it mixes the old with the new. It includes a very young sound that still sounds familiar and welcoming. "Ray of Light" totally reminds me of Madonna's two other greatest masterpieces, "Erotica" and "Like A Prayer."

This is the Madonna that I truly love because this CD was so unique and artistic. She took a huge gamble with "Ray of Light" because she hadn't had a hit record in years and boy did it pay off. You cannot deny "Ray of Light" its place in music history as one of the greatest popular dance records of the 90's.

A reporter in Europe once asked Madonna what she liked the most about the "old Madonna" and she said something to the effect of, "both the old Madonna and new Madonna have a sense of humor about these sort of questions." I suppose she didn't want to spend her time talking about the "old Madonna." Instead she was more interested in the present. And that's what "Ray of Light" is about. It's like a day at the beach with someone you love. It's a reminder that even after the dark there is some light. It's like a sunny day when everything turns out great. In this crazy world, "Ray of Light" gives me hope that there is still some optimism out there. You are home with "Ray of Light."


IF YOU WANT TO HEAR SOMETHING DIFFERENT READ ON...   November 9, 1999
 11 out of 13 found this review helpful

I've been looking through some of the other reviews (boy are there a lot!) and I've noticed that most are either fanatical ('she's a goddess') or very derogatory ('Madonna sucks'). Excuse me, but aren't we reviewing an album rather than a person? Saying she sucks sounds to me like childish spite. I do not worship the woman or think that she is a goddess; I think that she's an intelligent, creative, talented person who unfortunately gets herself misunderstood frequently because of the things she says. If you take the time to listen to/read an interview or two with her rather than reading out-of-context quotes then you will probably see this for yourself. However much certain people may question her originality, she has undoubtedly profoundly affected modern music. Her music may not be quite as ground-breaking nowadays as in the 80s when she was constantly pushing barriers, but she is, in my opinion, still innovative and interesting. And if she 'isn't cool' anymore then how come the fashion world still copies almost everything she does? Sure they mostly don't state that it's her influence, but if you look around you it's obvious.

As for the album; it's a beautiful, intricate work of art. The themes aren't new, but does that honestly matter when she sets them spinning in a new, more eloquent direction than others have? Mariah, Whitney etc may have more traditionally beautiful voices but they would be utterly out of place on this album. Personally I much prefer Madonna's understated vocals. Claims that she can't sing only make sense when applied to some of her pre-solo work such as 'In The Beginning' (a cheap attempt by some guy she used to sing backups for to cash in on her success that I wouldn't recommend to any music fan). Even those early efforts are vastly preferable to Emma Bunton's flat, bland singing on her debut solo. At least with Madonna's earliest work you can hear what she's trying to achieve and that she has talent waiting to be explored.

I apologise for the length of this (I had a lot to say) and for the heading being all in caps (I realise that's rude, but it got your attention didn't it! )

PS, do yourself a favour and buy Radiohead's 'OK COMPUTER' - it's fab :)