Madonna - Ray Of Light

by itemvn  |  February 09, 2009

Ray of Light is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on March 3, 1998 by Maverick Records. The RIAA certified it Quadruple Platinum on March 16, 2000, recognizing four million shipments in the United States, making it her fifth best-selling recording there. In 1999, the album received three Grammy Awards, including "Best Pop Vocal Album", and "Best Dance Recording."

In 2002, Q Magazine named "Ray of Light" the 2nd Greatest Album of All-Time by a Female Artist.

Ray of Light debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard Top 200 albums chart, where it sold 371,000 copies in its first week. It was kept from the top spot by the soundtrack to the popular film, Titanic (1997). On April 22, 1998, almost two months after its release, the album was certified double Platinum. Since its release, it has been certified 4x Platinum in the U.S., where after fifty-nine weeks, it descended from the top one hundred. In Canada, the album debuted at number one, and has since been certified 7x Platinum. It became Madonna's first album since Erotica to reach the top position in Canada.

"Frozen", the lead single from the album, became Madonna's eighth number one single on the UK Singles Chart, and reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100. Co-written by Patrick Leonard, the song featured Madonna's vocals over layers of string.

The second single, "Ray of Light", based on the track "Sepheryn", written by Clive Maldoon & Dave Curtis, featured a combination of high-energy techno sounds and electric guitar riffs. It debuted at No. 2 in the UK. It reached the top 5 in the U.S., and was certified Gold in both countries. The song was also a dance hit in the U.S., remaining at number one for four weeks, and became the top Hot Dance Club Play single of 1998. The song was nominated for "Record of the Year" at the 1999 Grammy Awards, but lost to Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On."