Ray of Light

File:Madonna - Wembley Arena 120806 (35).jpg, performing the album's opening track, "Drowned World/Substitute for Love", on the 2006 Confessions Tour]]

Following the release of her compilation album Something to Remember (1995), Madonna started taking vocal lessons in preparation for her role as Eva Perón in Evita (1996). She would also give birth to her daughter, Lourdes Leon, later in 1996. These events inspired a period of introspection. "That was a big catalyst for me. It took me on a search for answers to questions I'd never asked myself before", she said to Q magazine, in 2002. During the same period, she embraced Kabbalah and started studying Hinduism and yoga, all of which helped her "step outside [myself] and see the world from a different perspective". Madonna felt that there was a "whole piece" of her voice left unused, which she decided to utilize for the album.{{cite magazine|title=Making of Ray of Light|first=Johnny|last=Black|magazine=Q|date=August 2002|volume=17|issue=8|issn=0955-4955}} By May 1997, Madonna had started writing songs for the album. She began collaborating with Babyface, who had first worked with her on her previous album Bedtime Stories (1994). The two wrote a couple of songs together before Madonna decided the collaborations were not going in the musical direction she wanted for the album. According to Babyface, the songs "had a 'Take a Bow-ish' kind of vibe, and Madonna didn't want, or need, to repeat herself".{{cite magazine|last=Walters|first=Barry|date=April 1998|title=Madonna: The 'Ray of Light' Cover Story, 'Madonna Chooses Dare'|url=http://www.spin.com/2016/03/madonna-ray-of-light-cover-story-1998/|magazine=Spin|access-date=March 4, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114308/http://www.spin.com/2016/03/madonna-ray-of-light-cover-story-1998/|url-status=live}}

After abandoning the songs she had written with Babyface, Madonna turned to musician Rick Nowels, who had previously co-written songs with Stevie Nicks and Celine Dion. The collaboration produced seven songs in nine days, but those songs also did not display the album's future electronic musical direction. Three of the songs, "The Power of Good-Bye", "To Have and Not to Hold" and "Little Star", appear on the album. Madonna then began writing songs with Patrick Leonard, who had produced many songs for Madonna in the late 1980s. Unlike her previous albums, Leonard's songwriting collaborations were accompanied by very little studio input. Madonna believed that Leonard's production "would have lent the songs more of a Peter Gabriel vibe", a sound that she did not want for the album. Guy Oseary, chairman of Maverick Records, then phoned British electronic musician William Orbit, and suggested that he send some songs to Madonna. Orbit sent a 13-track digital audio tape to Madonna. "I was a huge fan of William's earlier records, Strange Cargo 1 and 2 and all that. I also loved all the remixes he did for me and I was interested in fusing a kind of futuristic sound but also using lots of Indian and Moroccan influences and things like that, and I wanted it to sound old and new at the same time," Madonna said.

{{Quote box|align=left|width=25%|quote="It took a long time to do the album, months. And it wasn't like we were slacking. We actually did have to work fast, and there were many times when we had to move on. One of Madonna's favorite phrases was: 'Don't gild the lily.' In other words, keep it rough, and don't perfect it too much. It's a natural urge for computer buffs to perfect everything because they can, and we were very wary of that."|source=—Orbit on working with Madonna; Keyboard magazine{{cite web|last=Kot|first=Greg|url=http://www.keyboardmag.com/features/madonna/madonna.shtml|title=The Methods and Machinery Behind Madonna's Ray of Light By Greg Rule|access-date=April 7, 2012|work=Keyboard Magazine|publisher=Miller Freeman, Inc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991009071554/http://www.keyboardmag.com/features/madonna/madonna.shtml|archive-date=October 9, 1999}}}}

In June 1997, William Orbit met Madonna at her house in New York, and she played him the music she had already worked on with other producers, which he felt sounded "slick". Sessions with Orbit began soon afterwards at the Hit Factory, where Orbit then gave Madonna a tape of musical snippets he was working on, which were usually eight or sixteen-bar phrases and stripped-down versions of tracks that would later be heard on the album. Madonna listened to the samples, over and over again, until she was inspired to write lyrics. Once she had an idea about the lyrical direction of the song, she would take her ideas back to Orbit, and they would expand on the original music ideas. As most of the instrumental demos pre-existed, Madonna worked on the lyrics and melodies while at home or while travelling.

{{Quote box|align=right|width=25%|quote="[Guy Oseary]'s our discerning ear, ... He's the guy that comes in and withholds all compliments. We'll play him tracks and then he says nothing and leaves and then we have a nervous breakdown, ... Right when I think the track's done he sort of pushes us another step further and says 'Maybe you should try this' or 'I really don't wanna hear that' and then of course it creeps into my brain and later on in the day I'm thinking 'Maybe I should've done a background vocal on that.'"|source=—Madonna on business partner Guy Oseary's influence on the album's recording process; MTV{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/m/madonna/insidemad/index.jhtml |title=MTV Bands – Archive – M – Madonna |publisher=MTV. MTV Networks |access-date=December 1, 2012 |page=2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213224729/http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/m/madonna/insidemad/index.jhtml |archive-date=December 13, 2012}}}}

Recording sessions commenced at Larrabee North Studio in North Hollywood in the summer of 1997, where the album was predominantly recorded. For most of the recording process, only three other people were in the studio with Madonna: William Orbit, engineer Pat McCarthy, and his assistant engineer, Matt Silva. Sessions were initially plagued with machinery problems, as Orbit preferred to work with samples and synth sounds, and not with live musicians. The computers would break down, and recording would have to be delayed until they could be repaired. Orbit recorded the bulk of the album's instrumentation over a four-month period. Orbit recalls playing the guitar until his fingers bled during the long hours he spent in the studio. Orbit also recalled during an interview with Q magazine that Madonna recorded "Swim" the day her friend and fashion designer Gianni Versace was killed in Miami, Florida. He also commented that this is probably why the track has an emotional impact.

After some errors in her pronunciation of Sanskrit shloka "Yoga Taravali" during the song "Shanti/Ashtangi", the BBC arranged for Madonna to take telephonic lessons to learn the basic correct pronunciation of Sanskrit words from eminent scholar Vagish Shastri. She then made the necessary pronunciation corrections on the album.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1431587/madonna-considers-signing-up-sanskrit-lessons.jhtml|title=Madonna Considers Signing Up For Sanskrit Lessons|work=MTV News|date=December 31, 1998|access-date=April 7, 2012|archive-date=January 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105051836/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1431587/madonna-considers-signing-up-sanskrit-lessons.jhtml|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Madonna-learnt-Sanskrit-via-phone-calls/articleshow/1607547901.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811114524/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2001-09-08/lucknow/27245720_1_sanskrit-shastri-madonna|url-status=live|archive-date=August 11, 2011|title=Madonna learnt Sanskrit via phone calls|date=September 8, 2001|work=The Times of India|access-date=April 7, 2012}} In a 1997 interview with Kurt Loder for MTV, Madonna discussed the impact of giving birth to her daughter Lourdes prior to the album, stating "I think probably having her's set me off on a new way of thinking and... just gone down a different road, period". Regarding the album's creative direction, she stated "It's been really fun, I've never had so much fun really working on... never felt so free to experiment."{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/m/madonna/insidemad/index.jhtml |title=MTV Bands – Archive – M – Madonna |publisher=MTV. MTV Networks |access-date=December 1, 2012 |page=2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213224729/http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/m/madonna/insidemad/index.jhtml |archive-date=December 13, 2012}}

According to spokesperson Liz Rosenberg, Madonna considered titling the album Mantra, which she thought was a "really cool title", and she also considered calling it Veronica Electronica;{{Citation|title=Madonna – Canadian interview with Sook-Yin Lee (2000)| date=July 25, 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VWlGrPSjRM|language=en|access-date=2019-12-18|archive-date=January 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123070435/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VWlGrPSjRM|url-status=live}} however, she discarded both of those ideas and called it Ray of Light, as her studio albums up to that point were always titled after one of the songs from each album's tracklist.{{cite magazine|title=Newsbytes|year=1997|issue=2|volume=7|page=15|magazine=Icon}} The artwork was taken from a November 28, 1997, photoshoot with Peruvian photographer Mario Testino. In terms of styling, Madonna and stylist Lori Goldstein opted for textures evocative of the elements water and air, which are recurrent themes on the album. For the album cover, Madonna wears a turquoise Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 1998 vinyl raincoat. Other pictures from the same shoot serve as the artworks for the "Ray of Light" and "Frozen" singles, where Madonna models items from Prada's Spring/Summer 1998 collection.{{cite web|title="Ray of Light" Album Photo Shoot by Mario Testino|date=May 12, 2020 |url=https://madonnaoutfits.wordpress.com/2020/05/12/ray-of-light-album/|access-date=June 4, 2022|archive-date=September 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906002029/https://madonnaoutfits.wordpress.com/2020/05/12/ray-of-light-album/|url-status=live}} Madonna and Testino had previously collaborated for a Versace brand collection two years earlier. Madonna was impressed with the natural look Testino had captured, so she booked him again for the album's photoshoot. He recalled, "At 2pm she said, 'OK, I'm tired. We're done'. And I said, 'But I don't have the pictures yet'. She said, 'You're working for me and I say we're done'. I said, 'No, we carry on'. The picture she used on the cover came after that".{{cite web|last1=Farndale|first1=Nigel|title=Mario Testino: 'it's not all glamour'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/photography/4733443/Mario-Testino-its-not-all-glamour.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=February 24, 2009 |access-date=November 16, 2014|archive-date=December 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206092033/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/photography/4733443/Mario-Testino-its-not-all-glamour.html|url-status=live}}

{{Quote box|width=300px|quote="I feel that talking about it trivializes it. I've been studying the Cabala {{sic}}, which is the mystical interpretation of the Torah. I've studied Buddhism and Hinduism and I've been practicing yoga and obviously I know a lot about Catholicism. There are indisputable truths that connect all of them, and I find that very comforting and kind. My spiritual journey is to be open to everything. Pay attention to what makes sense, be absorbed. For me, yoga is the closest thing to our real nature."|source=—Madonna talking about the inspiration behind "Sky Fits Heaven" and "Shanti/Ashtangi".

}}

Ray of Light was a notable departure from Madonna's previous work, and has been described as her most "adventurous" record. An electronica,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/ray-of-light-19980402|title=Ray Of Light|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=September 12, 2016|archive-date=September 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919163803/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/ray-of-light-19980402|url-status=live|quote=riding the electronica wave with her new collaborator, U.K. beat master William Orbit.}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/1998/03/06/ray-light|title=Ray of Light – EW.com|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=September 12, 2016|archive-date=November 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118062512/http://www.ew.com/article/1998/03/06/ray-light|url-status=live|quote= Madonna has dipped her latest collection of songs in a light batter of electronica.}} trip hop,{{cite web |last1=Beaumont-Thomas |first1=Ben |title=Madonna: Madame X review – her most bizarre album ever |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jun/04/madonna-madame-x-review-her-most-bizarre-album-ever |website=The Guardian |date=June 4, 2019 |access-date=21 July 2019 |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604114234/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jun/04/madonna-madame-x-review-her-most-bizarre-album-ever |url-status=live|quote= she did an about turn, delivering convincing, idiosyncratic trip-hop on Ray of Light (1998)}} techno-pop,{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ayeEJMF-CZUC&pg=PT10 |title=Mess Is More |magazine=Spin |volume=15 |issue=5 |date=May 1999 |access-date=June 9, 2016 |last=Walters |first=Barry |pages=145–46 |archive-date=February 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215013406/https://books.google.com/books?id=ayeEJMF-CZUC&pg=PT10 |url-status=live|quote=After sculpting the user-friendly technopop of Madonna's Ray of Light....}} and new-age album;{{cite web|last= Pitchfork Staff |title= The 150 Best Albums of the 1990s |website= Pitchfork |date= September 28, 2022 |url= https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-albums-of-the-1990s/|quote= Fusing icy electronica and new-age music...Ray of Light found Madonna trying...to evoke the blackest depths and most euphoric joys of the human heart.|accessdate= April 26, 2023}} it also contains elements of several different types of music, including house, ambient, drum and bass, rock, new wave, eastern and classical music.{{harvnb|Metz|Benson|1999|p=24}} Vocally, the album was also a marked change from Madonna's previous work; as the singer underwent vocal training lessons for her 1996 film Evita, her vocals exhibited greater breadth and range, as well as a fuller timbre. In many songs, she also abandoned the vibrato which was present in her previous work. Critically, the album is said to have Madonna's most full-bodied vocals.{{harvnb|Fouz-Hernández|Jarman-Ivens|2004|pp=59–61}}

The opening track and third single, "Drowned World/Substitute For Love", is a downtempo ballad drawing influences from jungle, drum and bass and trip hop music. The title is inspired by J. G. Ballard's post-apocalyptic science fiction novel The Drowned World (1962). "Swim", the second song, has a spiritual tone. She sings: "Swim to the ocean floor/So that we can begin again/Wash away all our sins/Crash to the other shore".{{cite magazine |year=1998 |title=Revolutions: Madonna's "Ray of Light" |magazine=Vibe |volume=6 |issue=3 |page=196 |issn=1070-4701 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HCwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA140 |access-date=December 25, 2010 |archive-date=January 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101182051/http://books.google.com/books?id=HCwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA140 |url-status=live }} "Ray of Light", the third track and second single, is an uptempo electronic dance-pop song with strong techno and trance influences. A "sonically progressive" track, it also incorporates elements of rock, with a prominent electric guitar riff. Its sound effects include whistles and bleeps. "Candy Perfume Girl" has a grunge intro and continues to pair post-modern beeps and beats with old-fashioned electric guitar flare ups.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2706&dat=19980310&id=9QlbAAAAIBAJ&pg=1044,2605069|title=Madonna Opens Heart and Soul on 'Light'|first=Bryan|last=Lark|work=The Michigan Daily|publisher=University of Michigan|date=March 10, 1998|access-date=November 2, 2011|archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429192607/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2706&dat=19980310&id=9QlbAAAAIBAJ&pg=1044,2605069|url-status=live}} In the next song, "Skin", Madonna sings "Do I know you from somewhere?" in a yearning voice over the beats of an electronic orchestra.

The sixth track, "Nothing Really Matters", is an up-tempo dance track which contains influences of techno.{{harvnb|Metz|Benson|1999|p=63}} "Sky Fits Heaven" focuses on Madonna's spiritual studies and her daughter Lourdes. Some lyrics include: "Sky fits heaven so fly it, that's what the prophet said to me/Child fits mother so hold your baby tight, that's what my future can see". Elements of the lyric are taken from the poem What Fits? by poet Max Blagg, the poem used for a 1993 advertisement for Gap Inc.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1431615/madonna-gets-lyrical-help-from-gap-ad-freezes-frozen.jhtml |title=Madonna Gets Lyrical Help From Gap Ad, Freezes For 'Frozen' |date=March 18, 1998 |publisher=MTV News |access-date=April 1, 2013 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203135208/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1431615/madonna-gets-lyrical-help-from-gap-ad-freezes-frozen.jhtml |url-status=dead }} "Shanti/Ashtangi" is a Hindu prayer and up-tempo techno song sung by Madonna in Sanskrit, over a driving dance rhythm. The techno dance track features Madonna singing the adapted version of Shankaracharya entirely in Sanskrit with lines such as "Vunde gurunam caranaravinde/Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe".{{harvnb|DeRogartis|2003|p=398}}{{harvnb|Gopinath|2005|p=28}}

"Frozen", the ninth track and album's first single, is a mid-tempo electronic ballad which has a layered sound enhanced by synthesizers and strings.{{harvnb|Fouz-Hernández|Jarman-Ivens|2004|pp=92}} The song additionally contains ambient qualities, a moderate dance rhythm during the chorus and techno-influenced beats towards the end. Madonna's vocals throughout the song lack vibrato, and have drawn comparisons to medieval music. Lyrically, the song is about a cold and emotionless man; nevertheless, subtexts have been noticed. According to Jarman-Ivens, lyrics such as "You're frozen, when your heart's not open" reflected an artistic palette, "encompassing diverse musical, textual and visual styles in its lyrics."{{harvnb|Fouz-Hernández|Jarman-Ivens|2004|pp=55–58}} "The Power of Good-Bye" is an emotional ballad which lyrically meditates on loss and longing. It was released as the album's fourth single. "To Have and Not to Hold" is about a distant lover and "Little Star" is about her daughter, Lourdes. Both are superficially vibrant but with underlying subtlety and restrained arrangements prevailing. "Mer Girl", the album's final track, is a surreal meditation on mortality and the death of Madonna's mother Madonna Fortin Ciccone, in which she sings, "And I smelled her burning flesh/Her rotting bones, her decay/I ran and I ran/I'm still running away." "She stepped out of the vocal booth," Orbit recalled of its recording, "and everybody was rooted to the spot. It was just one of those moments. Really spooky."{{cite magazine|first= Danny |last= Eccleston |title= Sexy Mother |magazine= Q |date= March 1998 |page= 88}}

{{See also|Drowned World Tour}}

File:SkyFitsHeavenDionisio.jpg in 2001]]

Ray of Light was released in Japan on February 22, 1998, with an additional Japan-only bonus track "Has to Be". The album was later released in the United States on March 3, 1998. In New Zealand, a box set of Ray of Light and the 1990 compilation The Immaculate Collection was released to accompany the album. It reached number 12 on the albums chart and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) for shipment of 7,500 copies.{{cite web|url=http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp?chartNum=1180&chartKind=A |title=Top 50 Albums – October 10, 1999 |publisher=Recording Industry Association of New Zealand |access-date=August 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402164010/http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp?chartNum=1180&chartKind=A |archive-date=April 2, 2012}} A promotional instore VHS compilation titled Rays of Light was released in the United Kingdom in 1999, compiling all the music videos to all five singles from the album. All five videos were later included on the compilation The Video Collection 93:99 (1999).{{cite AV media notes |title=Rays of Light|author=Madonna|year=1999|publisher=Maverick, Warner Bros., Warner Music UK|id= PRO-RAY-VHS}} "Sky Fits Heaven" was released as a promotional single in the United States. It peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/267393/celebration-madonnas-40-most-impressive-instants|title='Celebration': Madonna's 40 Most Impressive Instants|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=September 15, 2009|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 8, 2009|archive-date=July 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728083555/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/267393/celebration-madonnas-40-most-impressive-instants|url-status=live}}

To promote the album, Madonna made a number of televised appearances and live performances of the album's songs. On February 14, 1998, she debuted "Sky Fits Heaven", "Shanti/Ashtangi" and "Ray of Light" at Roxy NYC nightclub.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/3250/madonna-lights-up-new-yorks-roxy.jhtml |title=Madonna Lights Up New York's Roxy |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |publisher=MTV News. Viacom |date=February 16, 1998 |access-date=February 9, 2014 |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221050103/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/3250/madonna-lights-up-new-yorks-roxy.jhtml |url-status=dead }} "Frozen" was performed on The National Lottery Show in the UK (February 21),{{cite web|url=http://www.madonna.com/news/title/madonna-performs-at-the-bbc-national-lottery-show|title=Madonna performs at the BBC National Lottery Show|work=Icon: Madonna Official Website|publisher=Madonna.com|date=February 21, 1998|access-date=June 30, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111140/http://www.madonna.com/news/title/madonna-performs-at-the-bbc-national-lottery-show|url-status=live}} 1998 Sanremo Music Festival in Italy (February 24),{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/3396/madonna-frozen-place-by-music-festival-host.jhtml|title=Madonna 'Frozen' In Place By Music Festival Host|website=MTV|access-date=September 12, 2016|archive-date=November 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110053756/http://www.mtv.com/news/3396/madonna-frozen-in-place-by-music-festival-host/|url-status=dead}} Wetten, dass..? in Germany (February 28){{harvnb|Vorrath|2011|p=223}} and The Rosie O'Donnell Show in the United States (March 13).{{cite web|url=http://www.madonna.com/news/title/madonna-chats-with-rosie-odonnell|title=Madonna chats with Rosie O'Donnell|access-date=September 12, 2016|archive-date=December 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208072733/http://www.madonna.com/news/title/madonna-chats-with-rosie-odonnell|url-status=live}} On April 27, Madonna made an unannounced appearance at the Rock for the Rainforest benefit concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City to sing "Frozen". She also joined the other stars of the concert, including Sting, Elton John, and Billy Joel to perform "With a Little Help From My Friends" and "Twist and Shout" with them.{{cite news|last=Pareles|first=Jon|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/29/arts/pop-review-meet-the-beatles-again-and-their-musical-fans.html|title=POP REVIEW; Meet the Beatles Again, And Their Musical Fans|work=The New York Times|date=April 29, 1998|access-date=December 8, 2012|archive-date=September 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925060144/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/29/arts/pop-review-meet-the-beatles-again-and-their-musical-fans.html|url-status=live}} On May 29, Madonna appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and sang "Little Star" and "Ray of Light" there.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1431606/madonna-steps-into-media-light-with-oprah-firms-up-film-work.jhtml|title=Madonna Steps Into The Media "Light" With Oprah, Firms Up Film Work|publisher=MTV News|date=May 27, 1998|access-date=May 13, 2012|archive-date=February 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202222425/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1431606/madonna-steps-into-media-light-with-oprah-firms-up-film-work.jhtml|url-status=dead}} On September 10, she opened 1998 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City with the performance of "Shanti/Ashtangi" and "Ray of Light" featuring Lenny Kravitz on guitar.{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/501657/19980914/index.jhtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130111124116/http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/501657/19980914/index.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 11, 2013 |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |title=Hindu Group Calls Madonna Performance Sacrilege |publisher=MTV News |date=September 14, 1998 |access-date=April 8, 2012 }} "The Power of Good-Bye" was sung at the 1998 MTV Europe Music Awards in Italy (November 12){{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/213410.stm|title=Spice Girls take MTV crown|work=BBC News|date=November 13, 1998|access-date=April 13, 2012|archive-date=June 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615153105/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/213410.stm|url-status=live}} and Top of the Pops in the UK (November 19).{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp/artists/m/madonna/clips/power_of_goodbye.shtml|title=Top of the Pops – video archive|publisher=BBC|access-date=September 12, 2016|archive-date=December 6, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041206004349/http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp/artists/m/madonna/clips/power_of_goodbye.shtml|url-status=live}} On February 24, 1999, Madonna performed "Nothing Really Matters" at the 41st Grammy Awards ceremony at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/madonna-on-stage/2012/01/25/gIQAROyERQ_gallery.html#photo=13|title=Madonna through the years|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=April 13, 2012|date=March 26, 2012|archive-date=March 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329161344/http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/madonna-on-stage/2012/01/25/gIQAROyERQ_gallery.html#photo=13|url-status=live}}

Madonna performed "Drowned World/Substitute For Love", "Ray of Light", "Candy Perfume Girl", "Sky Fits Heaven", "Frozen" and "Mer Girl" on the Drowned World Tour, her fifth concert tour, which promoted Ray of Light and its successor album. It started in June 2001 and was Madonna's first tour in eight years. The tour was to be started before the new millennium,{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9901/19/madonna.lkl/|title=Interview: Madonna reviews life on Larry King Live|date=January 19, 1999|publisher=CNN|access-date=December 28, 2009|last=King|first=Larry|author-link=Larry King|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223319/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9901/19/madonna.lkl/|url-status=live}} but she had become pregnant with her son Rocco Ritchie, released the album Music that year, and married British filmmaker Guy Ritchie in December 2000.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aZUOJ_MvDaRI&refer=europe|title=Madonna, Guy Ritchie Divorce Approved by U.K. Court|last=Lumley|first=James|date=November 21, 2008|publisher=Bloomberg Television|access-date=December 28, 2009}}{{harvnb|Guilbert|2002|p=76}} The show was divided into five sections, Cyber-Punk, Geisha, Cowgirl, Spanish and Ghetto.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1444414/20010611/madonna.jhtml|title=Few Hits, Many Costumes At Madonna Tour Launch|last=Moss|first=Cory|date=June 11, 2001|publisher=MTV|access-date=December 29, 2009|archive-date=January 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114045251/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1444414/20010611/madonna.jhtml|url-status=dead}} The Drowned World Tour received positive reviews.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/madonna-earls-court-london-677159.html|title=Madonna, Earls Court, London|last=Price|first=Simon|date=July 9, 2001|work=The Independent|access-date=December 30, 2009}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The tour was a commercial success, grossing a total of US$75 million, and it was the top concert tour of a solo artist in 2001.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1451603/20011221/u2.jhtml |title=U2, 'NSYNC, Backstreet Top List Of 2001's Biggest Concert Grossers |last=Wiederhorn |first=Jon |date=December 21, 2001 |publisher=MTV News |access-date=December 31, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090910074239/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1451603/20011221/u2.jhtml |archive-date=September 10, 2009}} The concert was broadcast live on HBO from The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on August 26, 2001.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1444026/20010524/madonna.jhtml|title=Madonna Bringing Drowned World To HBO|last=Schumacher-Rasmussen|first=Eric|date=May 24, 2001|work=MTV|access-date=July 29, 2012|archive-date=January 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113180657/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1444026/20010524/madonna.jhtml|url-status=dead}} The Drowned World Tour 2001 DVD was released in all regions on November 13, 2001. Like the original airing of the show, the DVD received very good reviews. The photographs used on the DVD packaging were taken by Madonna's friend Rosie O'Donnell.{{harvnb|Guilbert|2002|p=189}}

{{listen

| filename = FrozenSample.ogg

| title="Frozen" (1998)

| description = A slow tempo dance track featuring Madonna's voice over layers of string arrangements and synthesizers.

| pos = left

}}

"Frozen" was released as the lead single from the album on February 23, 1998. It peaked inside the top five in most musical markets worldwide, while topping the singles chart in Finland, Italy, Spain and on the United Kingdom Singles Chart, where it became Madonna's first single to debut at number one.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Madonna&titel=Frozen&cat=s|title=Madonna – Frozen|publisher=Ultratop 50. Hung Medien|access-date=November 3, 2011|archive-date=February 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221213419/http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Madonna&titel=Frozen&cat=s|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/MADONNA/|title=Madonna|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=September 9, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023000141/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/madonna/|archive-date=October 23, 2012}} It became her sixth single to peak at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, setting a record for Madonna as the artist with most number-two hits in the chart history.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/madonna/chart-history/hot-100|title=Madonna Album & Song Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 3, 2011|archive-date=November 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121093637/https://www.billboard.com/artist/madonna/chart-history/hot-100/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2011/08/16/happy-birthday-madonna/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712132240/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2011/08/16/happy-birthday-madonna/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 12, 2012|title=Happy Birthday, Madonna!|first=John|last=Mitchell|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|date=August 16, 2011|access-date=August 18, 2011}} The song received critical acclaim, and was labelled a masterpiece whose sound was described as "cinematic". However, the Belgian court in 2005 ruled that the opening four-bar theme to the song was plagiarized from the song "Ma vie fout le camp", composed by Salvatore Acquaviva. The ruling forbade the sale of the single and the entire Ray of Light album, as well as other compilations that included the track in Belgium.[https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2005-11-18-madonna-plagiarism-case_x.htm?csp=34 Songwriter wins case against Madonna] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202154502/http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2005-11-18-madonna-plagiarism-case_x.htm?csp=34 |date=December 2, 2008 }}. Associated Press via USA Today. November 18, 2005. Retrieved May 22, 2006. In February 2014, a Belgian court ruled that Madonna did not plagiarize Acquaviva's work for "Frozen". The court spoke of a "new capital offense" in the file: composer Edouard Scotto Di Suoccio and societies Tabata Atoll Music and Music in Paris had also filed a complaint for plagiarism. According to them, both "Ma vie fout le camp" and "Frozen" originated in the song "Blood Night" which they composed in 1983.{{cite web|url=http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20140203_00961255|title=Belg krijgt ongelijk in plagiaatzaak tegen Madonna over 'Frozen'|first=Rogier|last=Verschueren|date=January 4, 2014|access-date=January 4, 2014|work=De Standaard|language=nl|archive-date=February 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221231502/http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20140203_00961255|url-status=live}} After all three tracks in the case were compared, the final ruling was that the songs were "not sufficiently 'original' to claim" that any plagiarism had taken place.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a549051/madonna-frozen-ban-lifted-in-belgium-after-8-years.html|title=Madonna 'Frozen' ban lifted in Belgium after 8 years|work=Digital Spy|date=February 5, 2014|access-date=February 8, 2014|archive-date=February 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226111706/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a549051/madonna-frozen-ban-lifted-in-belgium-after-8-years.html|url-status=live}} This ruling ended the eight-year ban of the song that was in place in Belgium since 2005.

The album's second single, "Ray of Light", was released on April 27, 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Madonna&titel=Ray+Of+Light&cat=s|title=Madonna – Ray of Light|publisher=Ultratop 50. Hung Medien|access-date=November 3, 2011|archive-date=March 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313032327/http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Madonna&titel=Ray+Of+Light&cat=s|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/madonna-mn0000237205/awards|title=Madonna – Awards – Billboard Albums – Billboard Singles|publisher=AllMusic. Rovi Corporation|access-date=July 30, 2014|archive-date=November 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125045605/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/madonna-mn0000237205/awards|url-status=live}} Critically, it also received positive reviews, being praised for its club-perfect, yet "sonically progressive" sound, as well as her powerful vocals.

"Drowned World/Substitute for Love" was released on August 24, 1998, as the third single outside the United States. It reached number one in Spain and the top ten in Italy and the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Madonna&titel=Drowned+World+%28Substitute+For+Love%29&cat=s|title=Madonna – Drowned World (Substitute for Love)|publisher=Ultratop 50. Hung Medien|access-date=November 3, 2011|archive-date=May 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504103046/http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Madonna&titel=Drowned+World+%28Substitute+For+Love%29&cat=s|url-status=live}} The music video, directed by Walter Stern, caused controversy due to scenes that featured Madonna being chased by paparazzi on motor-bikes, a scenario similar to Princess Diana's death in 1997.{{cite news| title= BBC News Entertainment| work= Madonna: Mad for Success at 40| url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/150058.stm| access-date= August 4, 2007| date= August 15, 1998| archive-date= June 30, 2003| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20030630024821/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/150058.stm| url-status= live}}

The fourth single, "The Power of Good-Bye", was released on September 22, 1998. It reached the top-ten peaks in Austria, Canada, Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Madonna&titel=The+Power+Of+Good-Bye&cat=s|title=Madonna – The Power of Good-Bye|publisher=Ultratop 50. Hung Medien|access-date=November 3, 2011|archive-date=May 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504103145/http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Madonna&titel=The+Power+Of+Good-Bye&cat=s|url-status=live}} In the United States, the song peaked at number eleven on the Hot 100. Its music video was directed by Matthew Rolston. "Little Star" was released as a double A-side single with "The Power of Good-Bye" in the United Kingdom on November 23, 1998. "The Power of Good-Bye" also charted at number 91 as a standalone single.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

"Nothing Really Matters" was released as the album's

sixth and final single on March 2, 1999. It became a top-ten hit in Canada, Finland, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Madonna&titel=Nothing+Really+Matters&cat=s|title=Madonna – Nothing Really Matters|publisher=Ultratop 50. Hung Medien|access-date=November 3, 2011|archive-date=May 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504103109/http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Madonna&titel=Nothing+Really+Matters&cat=s|url-status=live}} In the United States, it became Madonna's lowest-charting single on the Hot 100, peaking at number 93, but was a number-one hit on its dance chart. Its music video, directed by Johan Renck, was inspired by Arthur Golden's book Memoirs of a Geisha, and featured Madonna dressed as a geisha.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/madonna/31821/nothing-really-matters.jhtml|title=Madonna – Nothing Really Matters video|work=MTV|access-date=July 23, 2009|archive-date=March 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328073036/http://www.mtv.com/videos/madonna/31821/nothing-really-matters.jhtml|url-status=dead}}

{{Music ratings

| title = Contemporaneous reviews

| rev1 = Chicago Tribune

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot|date=March 1, 1998|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/03/01/new-material-girl/|title=New-Material Girl|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=September 22, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110827/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1998-03-01/news/9803010300_1_shep-pettibone-pop-stars-william-orbit|url-status=live}}

| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev2Score = A−

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Sullivan|first=Caroline|title=Madonna: Ray of Light (WEA)|newspaper=The Guardian|date=February 27, 1998|page=18|issn=0261-3077}}

| rev4 = NME

| rev4Score = 8/10{{cite magazine|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000248reviews.html|title=Madonna – Ray of Light|last=Moody|first=Paul|magazine=NME|page=43|date=February 28, 1998|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817192218/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000248reviews.html|archive-date=August 17, 2000|url-status=dead}}

| rev5 = Rolling Stone

| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev6 = USA Today

| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/26894142.html?dids=26894142:26894142&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+03%2C+1998&author=Edna+Gundersen&pub=USA+TODAY&desc=Her+%27Ray+of+Light%27+shines+earnestly+in+new+direction&pqatl=google|title=Her 'Ray of Light' shines earnestly in new direction|last=Gundersen|first=Edna|author-link=Edna Gundersen|newspaper=USA Today|date=March 3, 1998|access-date=November 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317033332/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/26894142.html?dids=26894142:26894142&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+03%2C+1998&author=Edna+Gundersen&pub=USA+TODAY&desc=Her+%27Ray+of+Light%27+shines+earnestly+in+new+direction&pqatl=google|archive-date=March 17, 2013|url-status=dead}}

}}

{{Music ratings

| title = Retrospective reviews and music guides

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}

| rev2 = Encyclopedia of Popular Music

| rev2Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin|chapter=Madonna|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|publisher=Muze|edition=4th|year=2006|isbn=0-19-531373-9|page=427}}

| rev3 = MusicHound Rock

| rev3Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book|editor1-last=Graff|editor1-first=Gary|editor2-last=Durchholz|editor2-first=Daniel|title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide|publisher=Visible Ink Press|location=Farmington Hills, MI|year=1999|section=Madonna|isbn=1-57859-061-2|pages=704–706}}

| rev4 = Pitchfork

| rev4Score = 8.1/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/madonna-ray-of-light/|title=Madonna: Ray of Light|last=Frank|first=Alex|date=August 16, 2017|work=Pitchfork|access-date=July 5, 2020|archive-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926031135/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/madonna-ray-of-light/|url-status=live}}

| rev5 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev5score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Madonna: Album Guide |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/madonna/albumguide |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=February 16, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705190231/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/madonna/albumguide |archive-date=July 5, 2011}}

| rev6 = Slant Magazine

| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev7 = Tom Hull – on the Web

| rev7Score = {{Rating-Christgau|B+}}{{cite web|last=Hull|first=Tom|author-link=Tom Hull (critic)|date=2022|url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=Madonna|title=Grade List: Madonna|publisher=Official Tom Hull website|access-date=February 16, 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829164550/http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=Madonna|archive-date=August 29, 2022}}

| rev8 = The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music

| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/virginencycloped0000unse_w9d5/page/246/mode/2up?q=You+Can+Dance|page=246|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music|publisher=Virgin Books|first=Colin|last=Larkin|author-link=Colin Larkin|access-date=February 16, 2025|date=2000|isbn=9780753504277 |via=Internet Archive}}

}}

Ray of Light received universal acclaim from critics.{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,615437,00.html|title=Lauryn: Grammy Whammy|work=People|date=April 19, 1999|access-date=November 5, 2012|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223437/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,615437,00.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite magazine |last=Hé |first=Kristen S. |date=March 24, 2020 |title=Madonna in 2000: Reinventing Pop 'Music' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-in-2000-reinventing-pop-music-9341347/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250304162638/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-in-2000-reinventing-pop-music-9341347/ |archive-date=March 4, 2025 |access-date=March 4, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}} Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called it Madonna's "most adventurous record" and "most mature and restrained album".{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ray-of-light-mw0000033767|title=Ray of Light – Madonna|publisher=AllMusic|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|access-date=July 23, 2009|archive-date=June 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602180113/http://www.allmusic.com/album/ray-of-light-mw0000033767|url-status=live}} Paul Verna of Billboard commented: "Easily her most mature and personal work to date, Ray of Light finds Madonna weaving lyrics with the painstaking intimacy of diary entries and wrapping them in hymn-like melodies and instrumentation swathed in lush, melancholy ambience—with forays into classic house, trance, and even guitar pop. Of course, she balances the set's serious tone with chewy pop nuggets that allow her to flex her immeasurably widened vocal range to fine effect." He finished the review by calling the album "a deliciously adventurous, ultimately victorious effort from one of pop music's most compelling performers."{{cite magazine|title=Reviews & Previews – Spotlight: Madonna, Ray of Light|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6w4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA20|first=Paul|last=Verna|date=March 14, 1998|access-date=November 4, 2011|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=110|issue=11|page=20|archive-date=March 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305223055/https://books.google.com/books?id=6w4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA20|url-status=live}} Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine described the album as "one of the great pop masterpieces of the '90s" and stated that: "Its lyrics are uncomplicated but its statement is grand" and "Madonna hasn't been this emotionally candid since Like a Prayer".{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/madonna-ray-of-light|title=Madonna – Ray Of Light – Music Review|date=March 9, 2003|access-date=July 17, 2009|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|work=Slant Magazine|archive-date=June 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602003946/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/madonna-ray-of-light|url-status=live}} Rob Sheffield's review for Rolling Stone called the album "brilliant", but was critical of Orbit's production, saying that he doesn't know enough tricks to produce a whole album, and so becomes repetitive.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/madonna/albums/album/111072/review/18725830/ray_of_light|title=Madonna: Ray of Light|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|author-link=Rob Sheffield|date=April 2, 1998|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=December 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503115214/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/madonna/albums/album/111072/review/18725830/ray_of_light|archive-date=May 3, 2009|url-status=dead}} "Until Simply Red enlist John Zorn, or Mariah Carey works with Tortoise," Stuart Maconie wrote in Q, "she remains the only pop aristocrat who's keeping her ears open."{{cite magazine|first=Stuart|last=Maconie|author-link=Stuart Maconie|title=Expressing herself|magazine=Q|issue=139|date=April 1998|page=105}}

David Browne of Entertainment Weekly wrote: "For all her grapplings with self-enlightenment, Madonna seems more relaxed and less contrived than she's been in years, from her new Italian earth-mother makeover to, especially, her music. Ray of Light is truly like a prayer, and you know she'll take you there."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,282100,00.html|title=Ethereal Girl|last=Browne|first=David|author-link=David Browne (journalist)|date=March 6, 1998|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=July 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111032231/https://ew.com/article/1998/03/06/ray-light-2/|archive-date=January 11, 2017|url-status=dead}} Roni Sarig, in City Pages, was most impressed by Madonna's vocal range, depth, and clarity and called Ray of Light "her richest, most accomplished record yet".{{cite news|url=http://www.citypages.com/1998-03-25/music/madonna-ray-of-light/ |title=Madonna – Ray of Light |first=Roni |last=Sarig |work=City Pages |date=March 25, 1998 |access-date=November 2, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930183811/http://www.citypages.com/1998-03-25/music/madonna-ray-of-light/ |archive-date=September 30, 2010}} Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "One reason why her new Ray of Light is the most satisfying album of her career is that it reflects the soul-searching of a woman who is at a point in her life where she can look at herself with surprising candor and perspective."{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-01-ca-24100-story.html|title=Madonna, Only More So|last=Hilburn|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Hilburn|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 1, 1998|access-date=November 22, 2010|archive-date=January 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127104220/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/mar/01/entertainment/ca-24100|url-status=live}} In Melody Maker, Mark Roland drew comparisons with St Etienne and Björk's Homogenic album, highlighting Ray of Light{{'}}s lack of cynicism as its most positive aspect: "It's not an album turned on the lathe of cynical pop manipulation, rather it's been squished out of a lump of clay on a foot-powered wheel. Lovingly teased into life, Ray of Light is like the ugly mug that doesn't match but is all the more special because of it."{{cite magazine |first=Mark |last=Roland |title=Review: Madonna – Ray Of Light, Maverick |magazine=Melody Maker |date=February 28, 1998 |page=42 |issn=0025-9012}} Joan Anderman from The Boston Globe said Ray of Light is a remarkable album. He described it as a deeply spiritual dance record, ecstatically textured, a serious cycle of songs that goes a long way toward liberating Madonna from a career built on scavenged images and cultivated identities.Anderman, Joan (March 1, 1998) "Madonna Captures the Moment and Sees the Spiritual Light". Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. Retrieved June 12, 2010. Robert Christgau was less impressed in Playboy, deeming it a "great-sounding" but average record because enlightenment themes always yield awkward results for pop entertainers. However, he praised sensual songs such as "Skin" and "Candy Perfume Girl".{{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=March 1998|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/play/1998-03.php|title=Madonna, Buster Poindexter, Billy Swan, Percy Sledge|magazine=Playboy|access-date=September 22, 2015|archive-date=September 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912213848/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/play/1998-03.php|url-status=live}}

File:OliverMadonnaFrozen.jpg" on the Re-Invention World Tour in 2004.]]

Upon its release, Ray of Light topped the official charts of 17 countries. It broke the record as Warner Music Group's album with most shipments before its release at 2.5 million units worldwide, excluding the U.S.{{cite news|url=http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2000/09/26/madonna-s-music-sets-new-wmi-shipment-record|title=Madonna's MUSIC Sets New WMI Shipment Record|date=September 26, 2000|publisher=Time Warner|access-date=March 31, 2017|archive-date=August 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808011138/http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2000/09/26/madonna-s-music-sets-new-wmi-shipment-record|url-status=dead}} The album managed to sell 3 million copies in five days.{{cite web|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/ilustrad/fq07089823.htm|title=40 anos de Michael, Prince e Madonna|work=Folha de S.Paulo|first=Pedro Alexandre|last=Sanches|date=August 7, 1998|access-date=April 11, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220411234421/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/ilustrad/fq07089823.htm|archive-date=April 11, 2022|language=pt|url-access=subscription}} With over 16 million copies,{{harvnb|Taraborrelli|2002|p=303}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jul/05/william-orbit-tennyson-poem-verb|title=Orbit switches from Madonna to Tennyson with live Radio 3 epic|work=The Guardian|first=Vanessa|last=Thorpe|date=July 5, 2009|access-date=January 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002143713/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jul/05/william-orbit-tennyson-poem-verb|archive-date=October 2, 2013}} Ray of Light is one of the best-selling albums by women.

In the United States, Ray of Light debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 albums chart on the issue dated March 21, 1998.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HwoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA100|title=Between the Bullets|date=November 14, 1998|access-date=July 11, 2010|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=110|issue=46|page=100|archive-date=March 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306005549/https://books.google.com/books?id=HwoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA100|url-status=live}} It set the record for biggest first-week sales by a female artist in Nielsen SoundScan era at that time with 371,000 copies sold. However, the album was not able to top the soundtrack album of the motion picture Titanic, becoming Madonna's fifth album to peak at the runner-up position.{{cite news | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045695/first-day-sales-put-madonna-on-track-for-7th-no-1 | title=First day sales put Madonna on track for 7th No. 1 | magazine=Billboard | first=Keith | last=Caulfield | date=April 30, 2008 | access-date=May 7, 2008 | archive-date=May 29, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529025444/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045695/first-day-sales-put-madonna-on-track-for-7th-no-1 | url-status=live }} During the second week, the album sold 225,000 copies and was still kept off the top spot by the soundtrack.{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-once-again-rules-the-world-19980321|title=Madonna Once Again Rules The World|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 21, 1998|access-date=August 19, 2011|archive-date=June 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627173658/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-once-again-rules-the-world-19980321|url-status=live}} On March 16, 2000, the album was certified four times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of four million units of the album. Madonna became the first female artist to have seven multi-platinum studio albums by RIAA.{{cite magazine|title=Titanic Hits 10 Million Mark In April RIAA certifications|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Madonna+Gold+and+Platinum+Billboard&pg=PA10|first=Carrie|last=Bell|date=May 16, 1998|access-date=March 22, 2017|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=110|issue=20|page=10|archive-date=May 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502183026/https://books.google.com/books?id=QQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Madonna+Gold+and+Platinum+Billboard&pg=PA10|url-status=live}} According to Nielsen SoundScan, Ray of Light had sold 3,900,000 copies in the United States as of February 2023.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/madonna-ray-of-light-album-songs-ranked/|title=Madonna's 'Ray of Light' Turns 25: Songs Ranked From Worst to Best|last=O'Brien|first=Jon|date=February 22, 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 22, 2023}} This figure does not include units sold through clubs like the BMG Music, where the album sold over 459,000 copies.{{cite web|author=Barry David |title=Shania, Backstreet, Britney, Eminem and Janet Top All-Time Sellers |publisher=Music Industry News Network |date=February 18, 2003 |url=http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=47877 |access-date=September 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817152522/http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=47877 |archive-date=August 17, 2009}} In Canada, the album debuted at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart with first-week sales of 59,900 copies.{{cite news|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/M/Madonna/2005/11/23/1319566-ca.html|title=Madonna dances to No. 1 in Canada|work=Jam!|date=November 23, 2005|last=Williams|first=John|access-date=August 5, 2009|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209143528/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/M/Madonna/2005/11/23/1319566-ca.html|archive-date=December 9, 2012}} It was later certified seven-times platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) for shipment of 700,000 copies.

Ray of Light achieved commercial success in Latin America, being certified 3× platinum in Argentina for 180,000 copies recognized by Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (CAPIF) and platinum in Brazil for shipments of over 250,000 units certified by Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos (ABPD). In Mexico, initial shipments of the album were 30,000 units.{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/311602202|title=Son 30 mil 'rayos de luz' para Mexico|date=March 3, 1998|access-date=December 29, 2021|work=Reforma|id={{ProQuest|311602202}}|language=es|url-access=subscription|via=ProQuest|archive-date=September 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923071326/https://www.proquest.com/docview/311602202|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/316275324|title=Caeran hoy 30 mil 'rayos de luz'|date=March 3, 1998|access-date=December 29, 2021|work=El Norte|language=es|first=Carlos|last=Vega|id={{ProQuest|316275324}}|url-access=subscription|via=ProQuest|archive-date=September 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923071327/https://www.proquest.com/docview/316275324|url-status=live}} The album also achieved commercial success in Oceania, debuting at number one on the albums chart in Australia and New Zealand. It was certified triple platinum by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and platinum by Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) for shipments of 210,000 and 15,000 copies respectively. Ray of Light became the best-selling album from Warner Music in the Asia-Pacific region during 1998,{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1998/BB-1998-10-24.pdf|title=HONG KONG OPTIMISTS|date=October 24, 1998|access-date=February 5, 2021|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|page=APQ-4|archive-date=January 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127021805/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1998/BB-1998-10-24.pdf|url-status=live}} and sold over one million copies in Asia as of June 1999.{{cite web|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/1999/jun/21/oped/|title=Oped|work=Los Angeles Business Journal|first=Sara|last=Fisher|date=June 21, 1999|access-date=February 6, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210206002240/https://labusinessjournal.com/news/1999/jun/21/oped/|archive-date=February 6, 2021|url-status=live}}

Ray of Light achieved its biggest commercial reception in European countries, where it topped the European Top 100 Albums chart and was certified seven times platinum by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) for sales of seven million copies, becoming the ninth best-selling album in Europe for the 1998–2007 period.{{cite web|title=IFPI Platinum Europe Awards: Best-selling albums in Europe over the past decade (1998–2007)|publisher=IFPI|url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/platinum-europe-awards-2007.pdf|access-date=August 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725051454/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/platinum-europe-awards-2007.pdf|archive-date=July 25, 2013|url-status=dead}} In the United Kingdom, Ray of Light debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart with opening sales of nearly 139,000 copies and remained at the top spot for two weeks.{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-09-26-S-OCR.pdf#page=22|title=CHART COMMENTARY|work=Music Week|first=Alan|last=Jones|date=September 26, 1998|access-date=January 24, 2021|page=22|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309083942/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-09-26-S-OCR.pdf#page=22|url-status=live}} It was certified six times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipment of 1.8 million copies. As of 2018, the album sold 1,730,000 units in the UK according to Official Charts Company.{{cite news|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/william-orbit-reflects-on-madonna-s-ray-of-light-it-broke-all-the-rules-__8622/|title=William Orbit reflects on Madonna's Ray Of Light: 'It broke all the rules'|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=February 22, 2018|access-date=February 22, 2018|publisher=Official Charts Company|archive-date=December 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231033504/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/william-orbit-reflects-on-madonna-s-ray-of-light-it-broke-all-the-rules-__8622/|url-status=live}} In France, Ray of Light entered the albums chart at number two, staying there for seven weeks before descending the chart. It was certified three times platinum by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP) for shipments of 900,000 copies.{{cite web|url=http://www.infodisc.fr/CDCertif_P3.php?debut=50 |title=Les Albums Triple Platine |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique |access-date=November 30, 2010 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223203021/http://www.infodisc.fr/CDCertif_P3.php?debut=50 |archive-date=December 23, 2011}} In Germany, the album reached number one on the Media Control Charts and remained there for seven weeks. It remains Madonna's best-selling album in Germany with three times platinum certification from Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) for shipment of 1.5 million copies. In the rest of Europe, Ray of Light topped the official charts of Belgium, Netherlands, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Spain and Switzerland.

{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Madonna}}

File:Adi Madonna Houston.jpg" during the 2008 Sticky & Sweet Tour. The song won an MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year and a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.]]

At the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, Ray of Light received four awards out of six nominations.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-feb-25-mn-11684-story.html|title=General Categories|work=Los Angeles Times|date=February 25, 1999|access-date=July 30, 2014|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222153618/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/feb/25/news/mn-11684|url-status=live}} The album won Best Pop Album and Best Recording Package, and was nominated for Album of the Year, while the title track won Best Dance Recording and Best Short Form Music Video, and was nominated for Record of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/multiple-grammy-nods-for-city-of-angels-madonna-faith-hill-pat-metheny-and-more-as-warner-bros-and-reprise-artists-shine-73330972.html|title=Multiple Grammy Nods for 'City of Angels,' Madonna, Faith Hill, Pat Metheny And More as Warner Bros. and Reprise Artists Shine|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|date=January 5, 1999|access-date=July 30, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091942/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/multiple-grammy-nods-for-city-of-angels-madonna-faith-hill-pat-metheny-and-more-as-warner-bros-and-reprise-artists-shine-73330972.html|url-status=live}} The album gave Madonna her first musical Grammy of her career, as previously she had only won in the video category. Madonna also became the biggest winner of the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, winning six awards from nine nominations.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1424721/madonna-prodigy-will-smith-aerosmith-win-big-at-video-music-awards.jhtml|title=Madonna, Prodigy, Will Smith, Aerosmith Win Big At Video Music Awards|publisher=MTV News|date=September 10, 1998|access-date=July 30, 2014|archive-date=February 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202222420/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1424721/madonna-prodigy-will-smith-aerosmith-win-big-at-video-music-awards.jhtml|url-status=dead}} "Frozen" won Best Special Effects; "Ray of Light" won Best Choreography, Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Female Video and Video of the Year, and was also nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Dance Video and Breakthrough Video. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) honored Madonna two awards of Most Performed Song for "Frozen" and "Ray of Light" at the 1999 ASCAP Pop Music Awards,{{cite magazine|title=Waren Big ASCAP Winner: Songwriter Of The Year For the 5th Time|last=Newman|first=Melinda|date=May 29, 1999|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=111|issue=22|page=8}} as well as Top Dance Song for "Ray of Light" at the 1999 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards.{{cite news|title=Flash! / The latest entertainment news and more...|last=Hazelwood|first=Darrell T.|newspaper=Newsday|date=May 28, 1999|issn=0278-5587|pages=A.16}}

Ray of Light also gave Madonna several trophies from various international award shows—including two Danish Grammy Awards for Best International Album and Best International Female Vocalist from IFPI Denmark,{{cite news|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4859643-1.html|title=Den Gale Pose nabs four Dansk Grammys|first=Charles|last=Ferro|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 9, 1999|access-date=January 25, 2012}} a Fryderyk award for Best Foreign Album from Związek Producentów Audio Video (ZPAV) in Poland,{{cite web|url=http://www.zpav.pl/fryderyk/nominowani/index.php?year=1998|title=Nominowani i laureaci 1998|language=pl|publisher=Związek Producentów Audio Video|access-date=December 17, 2010|archive-date=March 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326063049/http://www.zpav.pl/fryderyk/nominowani/index.php?year=1998|url-status=live}} a Golden Giraffe Award for International Pop Album of the Year from Mahasz in Hungary,{{cite web|url=http://www.fonogram.hu/?menu=jeloltek_1999|title=A 1999-es Arany Zsiráf Díj jelöltjei|language=hu|publisher=Hungarian Music Awards|access-date=December 17, 2010|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305192038/http://fonogram.hu/?menu=jeloltek_1999|url-status=live}} two Porin awards for Best International Album and Best International Video ("Frozen") in Croatia,{{cite web|url=http://www.porin.info/index.php?what=porin&w=dobitnici&id=11|title=Institut Hrvatske Glazbene Industrije – Dobitnici Porin 1999|language=hr|publisher=Porin|access-date=December 17, 2010|archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201193135/http://www.porin.info/index.php?what=porin&w=dobitnici&id=11|url-status=live}} and two Rockbjörnen awards for Best International Album and Best International Artist in Sweden.{{cite news |url=http://wwwc.aftonbladet.se/noje/special/rockbjorn99/totalvinnare.html |title=Rockbjörnsvinnare sedan 1979 – här är hela listan |language=sv |work=Aftonbladet |publisher=Schibsted|date=January 16, 2006 |access-date=December 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110206021351/http://wwwc.aftonbladet.se/noje/special/rockbjorn99/totalvinnare.html |archive-date=February 6, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

In Canada, Madonna won Best International Video for "Ray of Light" at the 1999 MuchMusic Video Awards and was nominated for Best Selling Album (Foreign or Domestic) at the 1999 Juno Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.muchmusic.com/events/mmva08/rewind/1998.aspx |title=1998 Much Music Video Awards – Winners |publisher=MuchMusic Video Awards |access-date=December 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601044647/http://www.muchmusic.com/events/mmva08/rewind/1998.aspx |archive-date=June 1, 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://junoawards.ca/database/artist-summary/?artist_name=Madonna|title=Juno Awards Database: Madonna|publisher=Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|access-date=November 26, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723180559/http://junoawards.ca/database/artist-summary/?artist_name=Madonna|archive-date=July 23, 2011}} She also received Best Female and Best Album trophies at the 1998 MTV Europe Music Awards.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ABIEAAAAMBAJ&dq=MTV+Europe&pg=PA50|title=MTV Europe Music Awards Winners 1994–2000|date=November 10, 2001|access-date=September 26, 2023|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=113|issue=45|page=50}} At the 14th annual International Dance Music Awards, Madonna won Best Dance Solo Artist and Best Dance Video for "Ray of Light".{{cite web|url=http://www.wintermusicconference.com/idmaballot/nominees/archived/index.php?year=1999|title=14th Annual International Dance Music Awards|publisher=Winter Music Conference|access-date=December 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306094122/http://wintermusicconference.com/idmaballot/nominees/archived/index.php?year=1999|archive-date=March 6, 2011|url-status=dead}}

Ray of Light has been credited for bringing electronica music into global pop culture. The Los Angeles Times noted that "aside from occasional breakthroughs such as Fatboy Slim, electronica wasn't totally mainstream fare when Madonna released Ray of Light."{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/lat-madonna6_evmr0mgy20080424112140,0,2759342.photo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421090736/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/lat-madonna6_evmr0mgy20080424112140,0,2759342.photo|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 21, 2014|title=Madonna, Ray of Light|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=July 30, 2014}} Until the album brought the genre to the top of music charts, according to author J. Randy Taraborrelli, "techno and electronica had, for years, been the music played at so-called raves, hugely popular, illegal underground parties taking place in abandoned warehouse and deserted areas on the outskirts of town all around the world."{{harvnb|Taraborrelli|2002|p=301}} AllMusic editor Liana Jonas stated that the album's title track has "brought mainstream attention to electronica music, which ascended from its underground status to wild popularity in the early 21st century."{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/ray-of-light-mt0003907536|title=Ray of Light – Madonna|publisher=AllMusic. Macrovision Company|first=Liana|last=Jonas|access-date=July 30, 2014|archive-date=November 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120174739/http://www.allmusic.com/song/ray-of-light-mt0003907536|url-status=live}} The Observer{{'}}s writer Daryl Deino called Ray of Light "a risk-taking album that helped define mainstream electronic dance music."{{cite news|url=http://observer.com/2017/07/best-albums-of-the-1990s/|title=10 Albums That Defined the 1990s|first=Daryl|last=Deino|newspaper=The Observer|date=July 17, 2017|access-date=December 12, 2017|archive-date=December 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213091054/http://observer.com/2017/07/best-albums-of-the-1990s/|url-status=live}}

Elliott H. Powell in an American Studies study for New York University observed that Ray of Light made South Asian culture accessible to the American public in the 1990s.{{cite web|last1=Powell|first1=Elliott H.|title=I Don't Really Know What She's Sayin': (Anti)Orientalism and Hop Hop's Sampling of South Asian Music|url=https://www.english.upenn.edu/sites/www.english.upenn.edu/files/intersections-powell-i_dont_really_know_what_shes_saying.pdf|agency=University of Pennsylvania|access-date=March 19, 2017|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100820/https://www.english.upenn.edu/sites/www.english.upenn.edu/files/intersections-powell-i_dont_really_know_what_shes_saying.pdf|url-status=live}} Rhonda Hammer and Douglas Kellner in their book Media/Cultural Studies: Critical Approaches recalled that "the phenomenon of South Asian-inspired femininity as a Western media trend can be traced to February 1998, when pop icon Madonna released her video 'Frozen'." They explained that "although Madonna did not initiate the fashion for Indian beauty accessories [...] she did propel it into the public eye by attracting the attention of the worldwide media."{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LSpmn22SqD0C&pg=PA502 |title=Media/cultural Studies: Critical Approaches – Google Books |isbn=978-0-8204-9526-2 |access-date=August 22, 2014 |last1=Hammer |first1=Rhonda |last2=Kellner |first2=Douglas |year=2009 |publisher=Peter Lang |archive-date=March 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305233455/https://books.google.com/books?id=LSpmn22SqD0C&pg=PA502 |url-status=live }}

According to Taraborrelli, the album has been hailed as bold and refreshing in music of the late 1990s, which was dominated by boybands and teenage artists such as the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.{{harvnb|Taraborrelli|2002|p=327}} Larry Flick from Billboard said that the album "not only provided the chameleon-like artist with her first universally applauded critical success, it has also proved that she remains a vital figure amongst woefully fickle young audiences."{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LgoEAAAAMBAJ&q=Madonna+Ray+of+Light+MTV+Europe&pg=RA1-PA87|title=Awards Ceremony To Feature A Circus Theme|date=December 5, 1998|page=87|magazine=Billboard|volume=131|access-date=December 3, 2020|archive-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503175518/https://books.google.com/books?id=LgoEAAAAMBAJ&q=Madonna+Ray+of+Light+MTV+Europe&pg=RA1-PA87|url-status=live}} Journalists have discussed how the album affected Madonna's career and public perception. According to Billboard's Kristen S. Hé, Ray of Light remains the singer's most critically acclaimed album, as of 2020. Music critic Lucy O'Brien commented: "1998's Ray of Light certainly rehabilitated Madonna's image. Up to that point she had still been written off as an average pop glamour girl who got lucky, but with this record she reached a whole new audience, proving that she was a good songwriter with an intensely productive talent."{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AZ4L0Pv7QwUC&pg=PA487 |title=She Bop II: The Definitive History of Women in Rock, Pop and Soul|author-link=Lucy O'Brien |date=October 16, 2003 |isbn=978-0-8264-3529-3 |access-date=August 22, 2014 |last1=O'Brien |first1=Lucy |publisher=A&C Black |archive-date=March 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305225809/https://books.google.com/books?id=AZ4L0Pv7QwUC&pg=PA487 |url-status=live }} Mary von Aue from Stereogum stated that "Ray of Light reestablished Madonna as a groundbreaking artist",{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1786960/madonna-albums-from-worst-to-best/franchises/counting-down/attachment/rayoflight/|title=Madonna Albums From Worst To Best|date=March 11, 2015|access-date=November 6, 2015|publisher=Stereogum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430093421/http://www.stereogum.com/1786960/madonna-albums-from-worst-to-best/franchises/counting-down/attachment/rayoflight/|archive-date=April 30, 2015}} and Nick Levine of Dazed said the Ray of Light era "won Madonna the kind of critical acclaim she’d never enjoyed in the past".{{Cite news |last=Levine |first=Nick C |title=Revisiting Ray of Light, Madonna's most forward-thinking album, 20 years on |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/39140/1/madonna-ray-of-light-20-anniversary |access-date=February 4, 2025 |work=Dazed}} For PopMatters, Peter Piatkowski observed that the album effectively divided Madonna's career into two distinct eras: "those who followed her career from the beginning in 1982 ... would find themselves choosing one camp over the other: the music before Ray of Light was arguably more accessible and radio-friendly", whereas her subsequent works would contain at least some elements of the experimental electronic dance music she had embraced on Ray of Light.{{Cite news |last=Piatkowski |first=Peter |date=March 1, 2023 |title=Madonna Unveiled Her Pop Masterpiece 'Ray of Light' 25 Years Ago |url=https://www.popmatters.com/madonna-ray-of-light-atr25 |access-date=March 4, 2025 |work=PopMatters}}

Ray of Light has been featured on numerous critics' lists of greatest albums of all time. Rolling Stone magazine placed the album at number 367 on the list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/ray-of-light-madonna-19691231| title= 500 Greatest Albums: Ray of Light – Madonna|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=February 23, 2014| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101220144803/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/ray-of-light-madonna-19691231|archive-date=December 20, 2010}} In September 2020, an updated edition of the Rolling Stone list was published, showing the album rising 145 spots, at number 222.{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/madonna-ray-of-light-4-1063011/|title=500 Greatest Albums: Ray of Light – Madonna (2020 edition)|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 22, 2020|access-date=September 25, 2020|archive-date=October 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021172719/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/madonna-ray-of-light-4-1063011/|url-status=live}} In 2001, a quarter of a million music fans on VH1 voted Ray of Light as the 10th of "100 Best Albums of All Time".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/nov/22/taniabranigan|title=U2 crush Beatles in top album poll|work=The Guardian|first=Tania|last=Branigan|date=November 22, 2001|access-date=July 29, 2012|location=London|archive-date=November 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102123345/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/nov/22/taniabranigan|url-status=live}} In 2003, Ray of Light was allocated at number 17 on Q magazine readers' list of "100 Greatest Albums Ever".{{cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage2.html#Jan%202003 |title=Rocklist.net...Q Magazine Lists |publisher=Rocklistmusic.co.uk |access-date=August 22, 2014 |archive-date=October 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017152207/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage2.html#Jan%202003 |url-status=usurped }} The album is also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.{{cite web|url=http://www.1001beforeyoudie.com |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |publisher=Quintessence Editions Ltd |year=2003 |access-date=November 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101119080055/http://1001beforeyoudie.com/ |archive-date=November 19, 2010}} Mojo magazine also listed Ray of Light at number 29 on "100 Modern Classics: The Greatest Albums of Our Lifetime".{{cite magazine|title=100 Modern Classics|date=May 2006|page=64|magazine=Mojo|issn=1351-0193}} In 2013, the album was also included at number 241 on NME magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2013/10/the-top-500-albums-of-all-time-according-to-nme/|title=The Top 500 Albums of All Time, according to NME|publisher=Consequence of Sound|first=Ben|last=Kaye|date=October 25, 2013|access-date=July 30, 2014|archive-date=November 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151130010513/https://consequence.net/2013/10/the-top-500-albums-of-all-time-according-to-nme/|url-status=live}} Pitchfork ranked Ray of Light as the 55th best album of the 1990s, "Madonna's trying, with all her might, to evoke the blackest depths and most euphoric joys of the human heart. The album's title track sounds like it was forged inside a meteor; the surreal, pitch-black poem 'Mer Girl' is as still as death itself."{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-albums-of-the-1990s/|title=The 150 Best Albums of the 1990s|publisher=Pitchfork|date=September 28, 2022|access-date=September 30, 2022}}

Ray of Light has also been influential on other artists' work. Canadian singer Nelly Furtado stated that she used it as a template for her album Loose (2006).{{cite news|url=https://www.thefader.com/2016/11/23/nelly-furtado-timbaland-loose-interview|title=The Magical Story Of How Nelly Furtado And Timbaland Made Loose|last=Mistry|first=Anupa|work=The Fader|date=November 23, 2016|access-date=February 24, 2021|archive-date=March 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328074740/https://www.thefader.com/2016/11/23/nelly-furtado-timbaland-loose-interview|url-status=live}} Moreover, English singer Adele named the record as "one of the chief inspirations" for her third studio album, 25 (2015).{{cite news| url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/adele-inside-her-private-life-and-triumphant-return-20151103?page=2|title=Adele: Inside Her Private Life and Triumphant Return|first=Brian|last=Hiatt|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 3, 2015|access-date=November 4, 2015|page=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921164401/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/adele-inside-her-private-life-and-triumphant-return-20151103?page=2|archive-date=September 21, 2016|url-status=dead}} Madonna herself has considered Ray of Light the most fulfilling evolution of her career, with her referencing it as the "quintessential Madonna album" in a 2013 Reddit AMA.{{cite news |date=April 5, 2012 |title=Madonna Back on Twitter |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/04/madonna-back-on-twitter/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621122638/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/04/madonna-back-on-twitter/ |archive-date=June 21, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2012 |agency=ABC News}}{{Cite web |date=September 16, 2013|author=Madonna|title=AMAA - Ask Madonna Almost Anything |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1mj1yl/amaa_ask_madonna_almost_anything/cc9q0us/ |access-date=March 17, 2023|agency=Reddit |quote=yes. ray of light}}

{{track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| headline = Ray of Light {{nobold|– Standard edition}}

| total_length = 66:42

| title1 = Drowned World/Substitute for Love

| writer1 = {{Flat list|

• Madonna
• William Orbit
• Rod McKuen
• Anita Kerr
• David Collins}}

| extra1 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit

}}

| length1 = 5:08

| title2 = Swim

| writer2 = {{Flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit}}

| extra2 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit

}}

| length2 = 5:00

| title3 = Ray of Light

| writer3 = {{Flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit
• Clive Muldoon
• Dave Curtiss
• Christine Leach}}

| extra3 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit

}}

| length3 = 5:20

| title4 = Candy Perfume Girl

| writer4 = {{Flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit
• Susannah Melvoin}}

| extra4 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit

}}

| length4 = 4:36

| title5 = Skin

| writer5 = {{Flat list|

• Madonna
• Patrick Leonard}}

| extra5 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit
• Marius de Vries

}}

| length5 = 6:21

| title6 = Nothing Really Matters

| writer6 = {{Flat list|

• Madonna
• Leonard}}

| extra6 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit
• Vries

}}

| length6 = 4:26

| title7 = Sky Fits Heaven

| writer7 = {{Flat list|

• Madonna
• Leonard}}

| extra7 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit
• Leonard

}}

| length7 = 4:47

| title8 = Shanti/Ashtangi

| writer8 = {{Flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit}}

| extra8 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit

}}

| length8 = 4:29

| title9 = Frozen

| writer9 = {{Flat list|

• Madonna
• Leonard}}

| extra9 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit
• Leonard

}}

| length9 = 6:12

| title10 = The Power of Good-Bye

| writer10 = {{Flat list|

• Madonna
• Rick Nowels}}

| extra10 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit
• Leonard

}}

| length10 = 4:12

| title11 = To Have and Not to Hold

| writer11 = {{Flat list|

• Madonna
• Nowels}}

| extra11 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit
• Leonard

}}

| length11 = 5:22

| title12 = Little Star

| writer12 = {{Flat list|

• Madonna
• Nowels}}

| extra12 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Vries

}}

| length12 = 5:18

| title13 = Mer Girl

| writer13 = {{Flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit}}

| extra13 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit

}}

| length13 = 5:31

| all_writing =

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Ray of Light {{nobold|– Japanese bonus track}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 71:58

| title14 = Has to Be

| writer14 = {{Flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit
• Leonard}}

| extra14 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Orbit

}}

| length14 = 5:16

}}

{{track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| headline = Veronica Electronica{{Cite web |title=Veronica Electronica - Album by Madonna |url=https://music.apple.com/nz/album/veronica-electronica/1810807922 |url-status=live |access-date=June 5, 2025 |website=Apple Music}}{{Cite web |title=Veronica Electronica 12" |url=https://store.rhino.com/en/rhino-store/artists/madonna/veronica-electronica-12%22/081227819781.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 5, 2025 |website=Rhino Official Store}}

| title1 = Drowned World/Substitute for Love

| note1 = BT & Sasha's Bucklodge Ashram New Edit

| title2 = Ray of Light

| note2 = Sasha Twilo Mix Edit

| title3 = Skin

| note3 = The Collaboration Remix Edit

| length3 = 5:18

| title4 = Nothing Really Matters

| note4 = Club 69 Speed Mix Meets the Dub

| title5 = Sky Fits Heaven

| note5 = Victor Calderone Future New Edit

| title6 = Frozen

| note6 = Widescreen Mix and Drums

| title7 = The Power of Good-Bye

| note7 = Fabien's Good God Mix Edit

| title8 = Gone Gone Gone

| note8 = Original Demo Version

| extra8 = {{flat list|

• Madonna
• Nowels

}}

}}

Additional notes{{cite AV media notes|author=Madonna|title=Ray of Light|year=1998|publisher=Maverick Records|id=9362-46847-2|type=liner notes}}

• "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" contains a sample of "Why I Follow the Tigers", as performed by the San Sebastian Strings.
• "Shanti/Ashtangi" adapted from text by Shankaracharya, taken from the Yoga Taravali. Additional text: Traditional, Translation by Vyass Houston and Eddie Stern.
• "Mer Girl" contains an interpolation and elements from "Space" performed by Gábor Szabó.

Unless otherwise indicated, Information is adapted from the album's liner notes.

{{div col}}

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

{{div col end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Ray of Light}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1998|certref={{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214144253/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=10&PerDesde_AA=2000&PerHasta_MM=10&PerHasta_AA=2007&interprete=madonna&album=&LanDesde_MM=0&LanDesde_AA=0&LanHasta_MM=0&LanHasta_AA=0&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP|archive-date=February 14, 2008|url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=10&PerDesde_AA=2000&PerHasta_MM=10&PerHasta_AA=2007&interprete=madonna&album=&LanDesde_MM=0&LanDesde_AA=0&LanHasta_MM=0&LanHasta_AA=0&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP|title=Argentinian album certifications – Madonna – Ray of Light|publisher=Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas|language=es}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna |type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|refname="aria"|certyear=1999|access-date=January 27, 2014}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=album|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna|relyear=1998|award=Platinum|number=2|access-date=January 27, 2014}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=album|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna|relyear=1998|certyear=1998|award=Platinum|access-date=December 23, 2016|salesamount=100,000|salesref=Claimed sales for Ray of Light in Belgium:

• {{cite web|url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/gp6khkid|title=Kleine componist uit Bergen doet Madonna's hit Frozen verbieden|work=Het Nieuwsblad|access-date=April 13, 2021|date=November 19, 2005|language=nl|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210413061557/https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/gp6khkid|url-status=live}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/g4skhkst|title=Wat nu, Madonna?|work=De Standaard|access-date=April 13, 2021|date=November 19, 2005|language=nl|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210413060423/https://www.standaard.be/cnt/g4skhkst|url-status=live|first=Peter|last=Vantyghem|url-access=subscription |ref=none}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna |type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=1998|certyear=2005|access-date=August 21, 2012|refname="ABPD"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna |type=album|award=Platinum|number=7|relyear=1998|refname="cria"|access-date=January 27, 2014}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=album|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=1998|certyear=2006|id=35|source=chart|access-date=January 14, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna|relyear=1998|region=Finland|award=Platinum|salesamount=50,604|access-date=August 17, 2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna |type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|certyear=2001|relyear=1998|salesamount=1,000,000|access-date=January 27, 2014|salesref=*Claimed sales in France for Ray of Light

• {{cite web|url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Madonna/news-124176.html|title=Madonna : le titre rare "Has To Be" exhumé pour les 25 ans de l'album "Ray of Light"|publisher=Charts in France|access-date=March 4, 2023|language=fr|date=March 23, 2023|first=Yohann|last=Ruelle |ref=none}}

(Over 900,000 units):

• {{cite web|url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2000/10/08/95376-madonna-avec-music-louise-reattaque.html|title=MADONNA: AVEC " MUSIC ", LOUISE RÉATTAQUE...|work=La Dépêche du Midi|access-date=December 3, 2021|language=fr|archive-date=November 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106015838/https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2000/10/08/95376-madonna-avec-music-louise-reattaque.html|url-status=dead|date=October 10, 2000|author=B.-L. |ref=none}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/-21-04-2003-2004017977.php|title=Madonna|work=Le Parisien|access-date=December 3, 2021|language=fr|archive-date=February 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206154825/https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/-21-04-2003-2004017977.php|url-status=dead|date=April 21, 2003}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna |type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1998|refname="german ifpi"|access-date=January 27, 2014}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hong Kong|type=album|artist=Madonna|title=Ray of Light|award=Platinum|relyear=1998|refname="IFPI Hong Kong"|access-date=January 31, 2013|certyear=1998}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Israel|nocert=true|salesamount=55,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://i.imgur.com/zoKvD18.jpg|language=he|title=אלבומים ומכירות בארץ|trans-title=Albums and sales in Israel|magazine=LaIsha|page=56|date=August 13, 2001|access-date=August 10, 2023}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|award=Platinum|number=5|salesamount=600,000|salesref=Claimed sales for Ray of Light in Italy:

• {{cite web|url=http://www1.adnkronos.com/Archivio/AdnAgenzia/2000/09/12/Spettacolo/MUSICA-MADONNA-SUONA-DANCE-IL-NUOVO-MUSIC_162600.php|title=MUSICA: MADONNA, SUONA DANCE IL NUOVO 'MUSIC'|publisher=Adnkronos|access-date=February 16, 2021|date=September 12, 2000|language=it|archive-date=April 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401210118/http://www1.adnkronos.com/Archivio/AdnAgenzia/2000/09/12/Spettacolo/MUSICA-MADONNA-SUONA-DANCE-IL-NUOVO-MUSIC_162600.php|url-status=live}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.adnkronos.com/Archivio/AdnAgenzia/1998/07/28/Spettacolo/MADONNA-NEL-NUOVO-VIDEO-INSEGUITA-DAI-PAPARAZZI-COME-LADY-D_135000.php|title=MADONNA: NEL NUOVO VIDEO INSEGUITA DAI PAPARAZZI COME LADY D|publisher=Adnkronos|access-date=August 10, 2022|date=July 28, 1998|language=it|archive-date=February 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202105430/https://www.adnkronos.com/Archivio/AdnAgenzia/1998/07/28/Spettacolo/MADONNA-NEL-NUOVO-VIDEO-INSEGUITA-DAI-PAPARAZZI-COME-LADY-D_135000.php|url-status=live}}|certref={{cite web|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,26/articleid,0556_01_1998_0206_0030_7425348/|title=Madonna, video-choc su Diana|work=La Stampa|access-date=February 21, 2021|date=July 28, 1998|language=it|page=30|first=Luca|last=Dondoni|quote=[...] disco «Ray of light» che nel nostro Paese è già arrivato a cinquecentomila copie vendute (cinque volte platino)|archive-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503175519/http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,26/articleid,0556_01_1998_0206_0030_7425348/|url-status=live}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|artist=Madonna|title=Ray of Light|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1998|certyear=1998|certmonth=5|access-date=January 27, 2014}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=album|artist=Madonna|title=Ray of Light|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1998|certyear=1998|access-date=October 16, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|artist=Madonna|title=Ray of Light|award=Platinum|relyear=1998|certyear=1999|id=1999-03-05|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|refname="rianz"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=album|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1998|certyear=1999|salesamount=115,000|salesref={{cite news|url=https://www.vg.no/rampelys/musikk/i/wEPQw5/primadonna|title=Primadonna|work=Verdens Gang|date=September 19, 2000|access-date=August 17, 2023|language=no|url-access=registration|quote=Madonna har beholdt William Orbit som samarbeidspartner fra to og et halvt år gamle «Ray Of Light» (115 000 solgte i Norge)}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna|relyear=1998|certyear=2002|region=Poland|award=Platinum|number=2|certmonth=3|date=March 29, 2002|access-date=August 10, 2008}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Russia|nocert=true|salesamount=123,000|salesref={{cite news|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/198798|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124085840/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/198798|title=Первый проект Warner в России провалился|issue=91|date=May 23, 1998|access-date=January 23, 2021|archive-date=January 24, 2021|work=Kommersant|language=ru}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Singapore|award=Platinum|relyear=1998|certyear=1998|certref={{cite magazine|title=Competition with Compilations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Singapore+Madonna+Ray+of+Light+15%2C000+units&pg=PA54-IA6|magazine=Billboard|date=May 16, 1998|issn=0006-2510|volume=110|issue=20|pages=54|access-date=April 20, 2017|archive-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503175521/https://books.google.com/books?id=QQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Singapore+Madonna+Ray+of+Light+15,000+units&pg=PA54-IA6|url-status=live}}|type=album}}

{{Certification Table Entry | region=South Africa|nocert=true|salesamount=43,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=album|artist=Madonna|title=Ray of Light|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1998|certref=|access-date=October 16, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna|relyear=1998|region=Sweden|award=Platinum|number=3|certyear=2000|access-date=January 27, 2014}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1998| certyear=2000|access-date=January 27, 2014}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna |type=album|award=Platinum|number=6|refname="bpi"|access-date=January 27, 2014|id=5371-2003-2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Madonna|title=Ray of Light|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1998|refname="riaa"|salesamount=4,359,000|salesref=|access-date=January 27, 2014}}

{{Certification Table Entry | region=Zimbabwe|nocert=true|salesamount=3,000|salesref={{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/235963905|title=Africa: A law unto itself|newspaper=One to One|page=73|date=March 1, 1999|first=Paul|last=Gorman|url-access=subscription|via=ProQuest|access-date=March 1, 2024|id={{ProQuest|235963905}} |quote=Warner's biggest selling African releases in the first three quarters of last year were Madonna's Ray Of Light, which sold just 3,000 copies in Zimbabwe [...] big sales can be achieved in South Africa: Madonna's Evita sold 50,000 in the country in 1997 while Ray of Light sold 43,000 last year.}}}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Asia|nocert=true|salesamount=1,000,000|salesref={{efn|Sales for Ray of Light in Asia, as of June 1999}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Ray of Light|artist=Madonna|relyear=1998|certyear=2002|region=Europe|award=Platinum|number=7|refname="euro ifpi"|access-date=January 27, 2014}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=true|salesamount=16,000,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

{{Notelist}}

{{div col}}

• List of albums which have spent the most weeks on the UK Albums Chart
• List of best-selling albums by women
• List of best-selling albums in Europe
• List of best-selling albums in Austria
• List of best-selling albums in Germany
• List of number-one albums of 1998 (Australia)
• List of number-one albums of 1998 (Canada)
• List of number-one hits of 1998 (Europe)
• List of number-one hits of 1998 (Germany)
• List of number-one hits of 1999 (Germany)
• List of number-one albums of 1998 (Spain)
• List of number-one albums of the 1990s (UK)

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |title=Turn On Your Mind : Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock |last=DeRogartis |first=Jim |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-634-05548-5 |author-link=Jim DeRogatis}}
• {{cite book |title=Madonna's Drowned Worlds |last1=Fouz-Hernández |first1=Santiago |last2=Jarman-Ivens |first2=Freya |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd |year=2004 |isbn=0-7546-3372-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/madonnasdrownedw0000unse }}
• {{cite book |title=Impossible Desires: Queer Diasporas and South Asian Public Cultures |last=Gopinath |first=Gayatri |publisher=Duke University Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-8223-3513-9 }}
• {{Cite book|last=Guilbert|first=Georges Claude|author-link=Georges Claude Guilbert|title=Madonna As Postmodern Myth: How One Star's Self-Construction Rewrites Sex, Gender, Hollywood and the American Dream|publisher=McFarland & Company|year=2002|isbn=0-7864-1408-1}}
• {{cite book |title=The Madonna Companion: Two Decades of Commentary |last1=Metz |first1=Allen |last2=Benson |first2=Carol |publisher=Music Sales Group |year=1999 |isbn=0-8256-7194-9 }}
• {{cite book |title=Madonna: An Intimate Biography |title-link=Madonna: An Intimate Biography |last=Taraborrelli |first=Randy J. |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2002 |isbn=0-7432-2880-4 }}
• {{cite book|last=Vorrath|first=Armin|title=Eine außersinnliche Odyssee zu Madonna|year=2011|publisher=Books on Demand|isbn=978-3-8423-8112-4 |trans-title=An Extraordinary Odyssey to Madonna}}

{{refend}}

• {{Discogs master|67803|Ray of Light|type=album}}
• {{YouTube|p=OLAK5uy_mLiMT3gmghnluUT76rtTZ_QMGzlPmjXJ4|Ray of Light}}

{{Madonna}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for Ray of Light

|titlestyle = background: lightblue

|list1 =

{{Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album}}

{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Album}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Good article}}

Category:1998 albums

Category:Madonna albums

Category:Maverick Records albums

Category:Warner Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Patrick Leonard

Category:Albums produced by Madonna

Category:Albums produced by William Orbit

Category:Albums produced by Marius de Vries

Category:Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album

Category:Electronica albums by American artists

Category:Trip hop albums by American artists

Category:New-age albums by American artists

Category:Techno albums by American artists