Ray of Light

Madonna

About Ray of Light

"Ray of Light" is a song by American singer Madonna. It is the title track from her seventh studio album Ray of Light (1998), and was released as the album's second single on May 6, 1998, by Maverick Records. The song was also included on the compilation albums GHV2 (2001) and Celebration (2009). Written by Madonna, William Orbit, Clive Maldoon, Dave Curtiss, Christine Leach, and produced by Madonna and Orbit, "Ray of Light" is based on Curtiss Maldoon's "Sepheryn" and is an electronic dance song with techno, trance, Eurodance, and disco influences. "Ray of Light" consists of a main synth sound oscillating on the primary musical note, and an electric guitar riff. Lyrically, the song has a theme of freedom. The song has received critical acclaim by music critics, for its club-friendly, electronic sound, lyrics, and "emotional warmth". The song was also nominated for three Grammy Awards; for Record of the Year, Best Dance Recording, and Best Short Form Music Video, winning the last two. "Ray of Light" debuted and peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Madonna's highest debut on the chart to date. It also reached number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Internationally, the song reached the top five in Canada, Finland and the United Kingdom, and peaked at number one in Greece, Scotland, and Spain. 


Year:
2012
5:20
122 
#1

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Zephyr in the sky at night I wonder
Do my tears of mourning sink beneath the sun
She's got herself a universe gone quickly
For the call of thunder threatens everyone

And I feel like I just got home
And I feel
And I feel like I just got home
And I feel

Faster than the speeding light she's flying
Trying to remember where it all began
She's got herself a little piece of heaven
Waiting for the time when Earth shall be as one

And I feel like I just got home
And I feel
And I feel like I just got home
And I feel

Quicker than a ray of light
Quicker than a ray of light
Quicker than a ray of light

Zephyr in the sky at night I wonder
Do my tears of mourning sink beneath the sun
She's got herself a universe gone quickly
For the call of thunder threatens everyone

And I feel

Quicker than a ray of light
Then gone for
Someone else will be there
Through the endless years

She's got herself a universe
She's got herself a universe
She's got herself a universe

And I feel
And I feel
And I feel like I just got home
And I feel

Quicker than a ray of light she's flying
Quicker than a ray of light I'm flying

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Madonna

Madonna (born Madonna Louise Ciccone /tʃɪˈkoʊneɪ/ chi-KOH-nay; August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, director, dancer and entrepreneur. She has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and is recognized as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records. Considered to be one of the "25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century" by Time for being an influential figure in contemporary music, she is known for continuously reinventing both her music and image, and for retaining a standard of autonomy within the recording industry. Critics have praised her diverse musical productions which have also been known to induce controversy. more »

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Written by: Dave Curtiss, Clive Maldoon, Christine Leach, Madonna Ciccone, William Orbit

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


14 facts about this song

Album
"Ray of Light" is a song from Madonna's seventh studio album of the same name.
Release Date
The "Ray of Light" single was released on May 6, 1998.
Production Data
The song was written and produced by Madonna and William Orbit, an English musician and recording artist known for his work in dance music.
Inspiration
The song was reportedly influenced by Madonna's understanding of Kabbalah, which informs the song's theme of wonder at the beauty of life.
Chart Success
"Ray of Light" reached number two in the UK Singles Chart and number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
Award Nominations
The song was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Dance Recording.
Music Video
The music video for the song, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, won a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video and also won Video of the Year at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards.
Lyrics
The song's lyrics speak of a spiritual awakening, possibly influenced by Madonna's practice of Yoga and studies of Eastern philosophies.
Original Song
The melody for "Ray of Light" was borrowed from a 1971 folk song called "Sepheryn" by Curtiss Maldoon.
Critical Reception
The song received critical acclaim globally, with many critics praising its upbeat tempo and Madonna's vocal range.
Album Success
The "Ray of Light" album is often cited as one of Madonna's best works. It’s known for its mature, spiritual, and electronic sound, helping her to sustain her popularity in the late 1990s.
Pop Culture Impact
The song has been covered by high-profile artists such as Natasha Bedingfield and has appeared on several TV series, including Glee and Cold Case.
Recording Location
"Ray of Light" was recorded in 1997 at Larrabee North Studio, Universal City, California, and Maverick Recording Studio, Beverly Hills, California.
Background Vocals
Background vocals for "Ray of Light" were provided by Donna De Lory and Niki Haris, Madonna’s longtime background singers.

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    Ray of Light

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1998

    Billboard #5


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