November 29 1997 Golden Beach Miami FL Photographed by Mario Testino for Vanity Fair

SoulAlive said:

Revenge [Outtake]

There is no such thing as revenge

You will not give as good as you got

There is no such thing as an eye for an eye

If you think you're the giver, you're not
There is no such thing as regret

There is no point in placing the blame

Hate destroys the one who hates And everyone suffers the same
What you seeIs not necessarily what you get

Eyes are the window to the sou

lTake your judgements

And let them go
There is only love and respect

To thine own self be true

When you point three fingers,

There are three fingers pointing back at you
What you see

Is not necessarily what you get

Eyes are the window to the soul

Take your judgements

And let them go

Let them goLet them goLet them go
Recognize that God is alive in everyone

Recognize that love lives in us all
What you see Is not necessarily what you get

Eyes are the window to the soul

Take your judgements

And let them go

Let them goLet them goLet them go
What you see

Is not necessarily what you get

Eyes are the window to the soul

Take your judgements

And let them go

Let them goLet them goLet them go

"Revenge"---an unreleased outtake from the Ray Of Light sessions (1997)

Sings the woman who sings Gang Bang....

alphastreet said:

SoulAlive said:

Revenge [Outtake]

There is no such thing as revenge

You will not give as good as you got

There is no such thing as an eye for an eye

If you think you're the giver, you're not
There is no such thing as regret

There is no point in placing the blame

Hate destroys the one who hates And everyone suffers the same

Sings the woman who sings Gang Bang....

that's the beauty of life, we struggle with things

Madonna and her brother Christopher Ciccone arrive at the 1998 Vanity Fair Oscar party. Photograph by Dafydd Jones.

“When we take a picture, we have a negative. We put the right
solution on it and, suddenly, the picture comes
to life. So what do we do? We take the negative and turn
it into a positive.” —madonna

HERB RITTS: THE GOLDEN HOUR
By Charles Churchward
Foreword by Richard Gere and Introduction by David Fahey
Hardcover with Jacket / 8.5” x 11” / 320 pages with over 200 color and B&W illustrations
$65.00 U.S., $76.00 Canadian, £40.00 UK
Rizzoli New York / ISBN: 978-88-317-3472-3
Release date: October 2010

Ray of Light

• 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.

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

Chorus:

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
Shes got herself a little piece of heaven
Waiting for the time when earth shall be as one

(chorus)

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

(verse)

And I feel
Quicker than a ray of light
Then gone for
Someone else shall be there
Through the endless years

Shes got herself a universe
Shes got herself a universe
Shes 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 Im flying

US 12" vinyl (SAM 3269)

• A "Ray of Light" (Sasha's Strip Down Mix) – 5:00
• B "Ray of Light" (Orbit's Ultra Violet Mix) – 6:59

US 2 × 12" vinyl (9 44523-0)

• 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

An up-tempo electronic pop song with techno, trance, European dance and disco influences, "Ray of Light" contains elements of rock music, which have drawn comparison to the work of Oasis, as well as several sound effects such as whistles, bleeps and bells, the usage of electric guitar, and underlying synths. Lyrically, the song has a theme of freedom. The song has received positive critical reception, being acclaimed for its club-friendly, electronic sound as well as its greater level of lyrical maturity, "emotional warmth", and the way in which it shows a more spiritual side to Madonna. Critics also praised the fact that the song was a departure from Madonna's previous work; "Ray of Light" is oriented in Madonna's dance roots, yet, it goes deeper, and incorporates more underground genres. The song also received several nominations and awards; it was 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" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number five, becoming Madonna's highest debut on the chart to date. It also reached the top five in Canada, Finland, Italy and the United Kingdom, and peaked at number one in Spain.

^^I have the "Ray Of Light" maxi-single.At the end of one of the remixes,Madonna busts out laughing I love that part

This era was very shocking for me. Not in a negative way, though. Frozen was a great first single, with an awsome video... But beyond the expectations a Madonna fan usually has, there was Madonna, singing great lyrics on very different type of music. She was using her voice to the max, and that was a great discovery.

Don't get me wrong, I lover her, but this was one of the last times I really felt she was totally enjoying making music. No shocking strategies. Just music. And you could tell that from her interviews, her videos, her lyrics.

Miss her.

^ It's probably because motherhood was a new experience for her and she was not on tour like the other times she was raising new babies.

tritoncin said:

This era was very shocking for me. Not in a negative way, though. Frozen was a great first single, with an awsome video... But beyond the expectations a Madonna fan usually has, there was Madonna, singing great lyrics on very different type of music. She was using her voice to the max, and that was a great discovery.

Don't get me wrong, I lover her, but this was one of the last times I really felt she was totally enjoying making music. No shocking strategies. Just music. And you could tell that from her interviews, her videos, her lyrics.

Miss her.

I think the Confession album was another period

she was free from her marriage

and I think she really was into this album, and the music, the interviews from this period

tells she was in a new place and even talking about how they recorded a lot of the music-being in a house/studio right on the street hearing traffic and people outside, she said it reminded her of her earlier times, going to club Roxy in NYC and dancing all night

She was really relaxed and free this period, it was all about dancing and what it can do for you

The album's second single, "Ray of Light", was released on May 6, 1998. It peaked at number one in Spain and attained the top five position in Canada, Finland, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States. It entered the Hot 100 at number five, becoming Madonna's highest debut on the chart ever. The song was also a hit on Hot Dance Club Play chart, remaining at number one for four weeks, and became the "Top Hot Dance Club Play Single" of 1998. Critically, it also received positive reviews, being praised for its club-perfect, yet "sonically progressive" sound, as well as her powerful vocals...

Producers

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

The music video for the song was directed by Jonas Åkerlund; shot in different metropolis around the world, it is essentially a high-speed time-lapse, showing the daily life of people. The video for "Ray of Light" was also critically acclaimed, ranked as one of the greatest music videos of all time, receiving the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video, as well as receiving eight nominations and eventually winning five awards at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year and Best Female Video. Despite this, the music video prompted a lawsuit from Stefano Salvati who claimed that the video copied the concept of his music video for "Non è Mai Stato Subito", the 1994 single of Italian singer Biagio Antonacci

Background

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 include Los Angeles, New York, London, Las Vegas and Stockholm, Sweden. It also features 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 Don't Tell Me Promo Tour.

Synopsis

The music video starts over the land of sunset with the rising of the sun, until it progresses into a Koyaanisqatsi-esque section, 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 is staring directly at the camera, while everyone else goes on with their daily lives. Madonna, dressed in jeans, a simple white tank top, and golden blonde hair, can be seen dancing at the same time. As the video goes on, night starts to fall, and high-speed images of Madonna dancing in a discothèque progress, until she is seen falling asleep on the dance floor.

Reception

The video was ranked No. 40 on VH1's 100 Greatest Videos, listed No. 1 on Back In... 98's Top 5 Best Videos, ranked No. 7 on Listed's Top 40 Memorable Videos Pt. 1 & 2, on MuchMoreMusic, and ranked No. 26 on MuchMusic's 100 Best Videos. It was ranked at number four on "The Top 100 Videos That Broke The Rules", issued by MTV on the channel's 25th anniversary in August 2006.

The video received a total of eight MTV Video Music Awards nominations, becoming Madonna's second most-nominated video at the award show, after "Vogue" in 1990. It won five awards for Video of the Year, Best Female Video, Best Direction, Best Editing and Best Choreography, becoming her most-winning song at the show.

"Non è Mai Stato Subito" lawsuit

In June 1998 Italian director Stefano Salvati accused Madonna's Warner Bros. Records imprint Maverick Records of plagiarizing the concept of a music video he directed for Biagio Antonacci's 1994 single "Non è Mai Stato Subito." 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. Both videos featured the respective singers performing at regular speed against a backdrop of high-speed images.

I've been her fan forever.

In my adolescence, I kind of find it was shameful to like her, influenced by many people's opinion, which, after all, I discovered, where nothing but machist.

Years later, when I relistened to her albums, I had to recognize the great pop artist she is. I think after all, Madonna is UNDERrated.

I don't know, from Ray of Light, Like a Prayer and Music what's my favorite album. I think these three are her peak.

Like a Prayer, Vogue, Ray of Light, Like a Virgin... who would say these and many other songs of hers don't rank as some of the best pop songs ever?

One day she'll be far more recognized, critically, I believe.

[Edited 3/22/13 23:41pm]

Does anybody know if Prince has ever said anything about her work? I read that he found Warner paid too much attention to her, leaving him aside, that, of course, they had a rapid affair in the 80s, Love Song from Like a Prayer, that she's been invited to co-star Under the Cherry Moon but refused (this I read here in the org), and that he sent an open letter to her by the 1999 Grammys, asking her to protest against music label's tyranny.

But has he ever said anything about her work?

[Edited 3/22/13 23:49pm]

Cool era and I really dig her image with the natural brown-reddish hairdoo. It suits her well. Also great photo series by Mario Testino.

BrazilianOnRaspberryBeret said:

Does anybody know if Prince has ever said anything about her work? I read that he found Warner paid too much attention to her, leaving him aside, that, of course, they had a rapid affair in the 80s, Love Song from Like a Prayer, that she's been invited to co-star Under the Cherry Moon but refused (this I read here in the org), and that he sent an open letter to her by the 1999 Grammys, asking her to protest against music label's tyranny.

But has he ever said anything about her work?

So far bumped into 2 topics with Madonna's views:

Prince's involvement on '...A Prayer'?

Prince on madonna's."Like...yer" album

And a few other recent links which are more focussed on media exposure

2013: Prince Had To Open His Mo...; Maroon 5 (org topic)

2013: Prince Slams Madonna, Mar... Interview

2011: Prince and Madonna End De...ling Stone

There are some similar beefeud articles on google

Not big on this record, but I think The Power of Good-Bye, Drowned World/Substitute for Love and Frozen are good lyrics.

I'm not a big Madonna fan but besides her first album(which i really like), Ray of Light is the one Ive listened to the most.

She's very good at what she does.

[Edited 3/23/13 23:54pm]

BrazilianOnRaspberryBeret said:

Does anybody know if Prince has ever said anything about her work? I read that he found Warner paid too much attention to her, leaving him aside, that, of course, they had a rapid affair in the 80s, Love Song from Like a Prayer, that she's been invited to co-star Under the Cherry Moon but refused (this I read here in the org), and that he sent an open letter to her by the 1999 Grammys, asking her to protest against music label's tyranny.

But has he ever said anything about her work?

He also asked her to co-star in Graffiti Bridge with him.She saw the script and refused to do it

I've never heard him say anything about her music.

SoulAlive said:

He also asked her to co-star in Graffiti Bridge with him.She saw the script and refused to do it

I've never heard him say anything about her music.

I thought this happened on Under the Cherry Moon. Did it also happen on GB, the same way?? Wow!

He's not a guy who praises much other artists, but, somehow, I have an intuition that he likes her music. Otherwise, he would have said he disliked t, this he's not affraid to say.

[Edited 3/24/13 14:40pm]

BrazilianOnRaspberryBeret said:

SoulAlive said:

He also asked her to co-star in Graffiti Bridge with him.She saw the script and refused to do it

I've never heard him say anything about her music.

I thought this happened about Under the Cherry Moon. Did it also happened for GB the same way?? Wow!

He invited her to Paisley Park in September 1987,where he showed her an early script of Graffiti Bridge.He wanted her to play a character named Ruthie Washington,one of his two love interests in the film.Cat was the other one.It is rumored that the track "Love Song" (a duet with Prince that Madonna released on her 1989 Like A Prayer album) was actually intended for the film.

SoulAlive said:

He invited her to Paisley Park in September 1987,where he showed her an early script of Graffiti Bridge.He wanted her to play a character named Ruthie Washington,one of his two love interests in the film.Cat was the other one.It is rumored that the track "Love Song" (a duet with Prince that Madonna released on her 1989 Like A Prayer album) was actually intended for the film.

Hmm, thank u, didnt know that.

BrazilianOnRaspberryBeret said:

He's not a guy who praises much other artists, but, somehow, I have an intuition that he likes her music. Otherwise, he would have said he disliked it, this he's not affraid to say.

In his 1990 Rolling Stone cover story/interview,the writer asked him about other artists and he gave favorable mentions to the likes of Michael Jackson and Madonna,and a few others.

You know, I was thinking now. I believe he liked MJ's music. But the only thing I know he said about Michael was that funny story about the your-butt-is-mine Bad duet invitation by Quincy Jones. I think Prince was inelegant not to have said anything about his death. I didnt find nothing, at least. Then, more recently, he started performing Dont stop til you get enough, Dancing machine and Shake your body down to the ground.

Maybe, he's hiding similar feelings about Madonna's work. I'm not saying it will be necessary that she dies before he plays, say, Borderline live, you know...

SoulAlive said:

BrazilianOnRaspberryBeret said:

He's not a guy who praises much other artists, but, somehow, I have an intuition that he likes her music. Otherwise, he would have said he disliked it, this he's not affraid to say.

In his 1990 Rolling Stone cover story/interview,the writer asked him about other artists and he gave favorable mentions to the likes of Michael Jackson and Madonna,and a few others.

Hmm, interesting. Ill search for that interview.

BrazilianOnRaspberryBeret said: