Ray of Light (song)
| "Ray of Light" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single cover | ||
| Single by Madonna | ||
| From the album Ray of Light | ||
| Released | April 1998 | |
| Single format | CD single CD maxi-single Video single Cassette single 7" Single 12" maxi-single | |
| Recorded | 1998 | |
| Song length | 5:20 | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Record label | Maverick Warner Bros. | |
| Writers | Madonna William Orbit Clive Muldoon Dave Curtiss Christine Leach | |
| Producers | Madonna William Orbit | |
| Madonna singles chronology | ||
| "Frozen" (1998) |
"Ray of Light" (1998) |
"Drowned World/Substitute for Love" (1998) |
"Ray of Light" is a single by American singer Madonna from her 1998 album Ray of Light.
The song was written by Madonna, William Orbit, Clive Muldoon, Dave Curtiss, and Christine Leach. It was produced by Madonna and Orbit.
It has received the remix treatment from Victor Calderone, Sasha and William Orbit himself.
Chart performance
The track, due to its combination of high-energy techno sounds and its guitar riffs, was considered by many to be groundbreaking. It debuted at #2 in the U.K. The U.S. seemed to take to it as well; however, the commercial maxi and single CDs were released with a one-month delay, when the momentum of the track was already fading.
The single managed to break two Madonna records; it sold about 73,000 copies in its first week, and entered both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot 100 Singles Sales at number five, which is where it ultimately peaked on both charts. The song also did well on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, becoming another number-one hit for Madonna; it went on to become the top Dance Music/Club Play single of 1998.
Trivia
The song is based on the track "Sepheryn", which was originally written by Clive Muldoon and Dave Curtiss. William Orbit re-recorded the song with Christine Leach before he started working with Madonna. However it ended up being recorded by Madonna with its lyrics only changed in a few spots, but with a changed melody and instrumentation. All five (Madonna, William Orbit, Clive Muldoon, Dave Curtiss, and Christine Leach) are credited for Madonna's 1998 version of the song.
Charts
U.S.
| Year | Single | Chart | Position | Number of Chart-Topper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | "Ray of Light" | Billboard Hot 100 | #5 | — |
| 1998 | "Ray of Light" | Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #1 | — |
| 1998 | "Ray of Light" | World Chart Show | #1 (3 weeks) | — |
| 1998 | "Ray of Light" | UK Singles Chart | #2 | — |
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.
- Album Version (5:19)
- Ultra Violet Mix (10:43)
- Liquid Mix (8:03)
- Calderone Club Mix (9:29)
| Studio albums | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack albums | |
| Live albums | |
| Remix albums | |
| Compilation albums | |
| Limited releases | |
| Video releases | |
| Concerts and tours | |
| Films directed | |
| Documentaries | |
| Television | |
| Books authored | |
| Companies and brands | |
| Works about Madonna |
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| Impact and legacy | |
| Related articles | |
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Limited Edition Video
see also Ray of Light Limited Edition VHS