Editing Ray of Light (section)

{{short description|1998 studio album by Madonna}}
{{About|the album|the title track|Ray of Light (song)|other uses|Ray of light (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = Ray of Light
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Madonna]]
| cover        = Ray of Light Madonna.png
| border       = yes
| alt          = 
| released     = {{Start date|1998|02|22}}
| recorded     = June–November 1997
| studio       = {{ubl|[[Larrabee Sound Studios#History|Larrabee North]]|([[North Hollywood, Los Angeles|North Hollywood]], [[California]])}}
| genre        =  <!--Sourced in "Music and lyrics" section. Do not add unsourced genres -->
* [[Electronica]]
* [[trip hop]]
* [[synth-pop|techno-pop]]
* [[New age music|new-age]]
| length       = 66:52
| label        = *[[Maverick (company)|Maverick]]
*[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| producer     = * Madonna
* [[William Orbit]]
* [[Patrick Leonard]]
* [[Marius de Vries]]
 | prev_title = [[Evita (soundtrack)|Evita]]
 | prev_year  = 1996
 | next_title = [[The Next Best Thing (soundtrack)|The Next Best Thing]]
 | next_year  = 2000
| misc         = 
{{Extra chronology
 | artist     = [[Madonna]] studio
 | type       = studio
 | prev_title = [[Bedtime Stories (Madonna album)|Bedtime Stories]]
 | prev_year  = 1994
 | title      = Ray of Light
 | year       = 1998
 | next_title = [[Music (Madonna album)|Music]]
 | next_year  = 2000
}}
{{Singles
 | name        = Ray of Light
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Frozen (Madonna song)|Frozen]]
 | single1date = January 23, 1998
 | single2     = [[Ray of Light (song)|Ray of Light]]
 | single2date = April 27, 1998
 | single3     = [[Drowned World/Substitute for Love]]
 | single3date = August 24, 1998
 | single4     = [[The Power of Good-Bye]]
 | single4date = September 22, 1998
 | single5     = [[Little Star (Madonna song)|Little Star]]
 | single5date = November 23, 1998<ref name=wrhlittlestar>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-11-21.pdf#page=31|title=Singles: Releases for 23 Nov&ndash;29 Nov, 1998|page=23|magazine=[[Music Week]]|date=November 21, 1998|accessdate=October 17, 2023|via=World Radio History}}</ref>
 | single6     = [[Nothing Really Matters]]
 | single6date = February 9, 1999
}}
}}

'''''Ray of Light''''' is the seventh [[studio album]] by American singer-songwriter [[Madonna]], released in early 1998 by [[Maverick (company)|Maverick Records]]. A major stylistic and aesthetic departure from her previous work, ''[[Bedtime Stories (Madonna album)|Bedtime Stories]]'', ''Ray of Light'' is an [[electronica]] and [[synth-pop|techno-pop]] record which incorporates multiple genres, including [[ambient music|ambient]], [[trip hop]], [[psychedelic music]] and [[Middle Eastern music]]. Mystical themes are strongly present in the music and lyrics as a result of Madonna embracing [[Kabbalah]], her study of [[Hinduism]] and [[Buddhism]], and her daily practice of [[Ashtanga vinyasa yoga|Ashtanga yoga]].

After giving birth to her first child, Madonna started working on the album with producers [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]] and [[Patrick Leonard]]. Following failed sessions with them, Madonna pursued a new musical direction with English producer [[William Orbit]], which resulted in a much more experimental sound. The recording process was the longest of Madonna's career, and she experienced problems with Orbit's hardware arrangement, which would break down and cause delays until it could be repaired.

''Ray of Light'' was met with universal acclaim upon its release and is often considered Madonna's [[Masterpiece|''magnum opus'']]. Critics praised the singer's new musical direction, contemplative songwriting, and mature vocals, alongside Orbit's complex, innovative production. The album has also been credited with introducing electronica into mainstream pop culture and affirming the 39-year-old Madonna's relevance during a period of major teen-marketed artists. Retrospectively, the album has continued to receive acclaim and is considered one of the greatest [[Pop music|pop]] albums of all time.<ref>{{harvnb|Taraborrelli|2008|pp=535–538}}</ref> Madonna has referred to it as her quintessential album. ''Ray of Light'' won four [[Grammy Awards]] from a total of six nominations at the [[41st Annual Grammy Awards]].

The album entered the [[Billboard 200|US ''Billboard'' 200]] at number two, with the biggest first-week sales by a female artist at the time. It also peaked at number one in 17 countries,<ref name="countries">{{cite web|url=https://www.glamour.com/story/madonna-ray-of-light-20-year-anniversary|title=20 Years Later, 'Ray of Light' Is Still Madonna's Most Shocking Reinvention|work=[[Glamour (magazine)|Glamour]]|access-date=February 12, 2022|first=Christopher|last=Rosa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303203405/https://www.glamour.com/story/madonna-ray-of-light-20-year-anniversary|archive-date=March 3, 2018|date=March 3, 2018}}</ref> including Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain and on the [[UK Albums Chart|United Kingdom Albums Chart]], and charted within the top-five in most [[List of largest recorded music markets|musical markets]]. Worldwide, ''Ray of Light'' has sold over 16 million copies and is one of the [[List of best-selling albums by women|best-selling albums by women]]. Five [[Single (music)|singles]] were released from the album, including the international top five hits "[[Frozen (Madonna song)|Frozen]]" and "[[Ray of Light (song)|Ray of Light]]". The album's promotion was later supported by the [[Drowned World Tour]] in 2001.