MADONNA - RAY OF LIGHT ALBUM REACTION 

🌅🧘🏻🙏🏼~TIMESTAMPS~🙏🏼🧘🏻🌅 Drowned World / Substitute for Love - 2:26 Swim - 5:42🌟 Ray of Light - 9:11🌟 Candy Perfume Girl - 12:30 Skin - 15:01 Nothing Really Matters - 17:56🌟 Sky Fits Heaven - 20:37 Shanti / Ashtangi - 23:43 Frozen - 25:20🌟 The Power of Good-Bye - 28:23🌟 To Have and Not to Hold - 31:15 Little Star - 32:31 Mer Girl - 34:28🌟 🌟= my fave!

This album is often regarded as her best and her masterpiece. I'd say go back to the first album and continue chronologically.

This was one or the biggest albums of her career. It was massive.

"The Power of Goodbye" is severely underrated. A lyrical wrecking ball! It's that binch.

This album is a masterpiece!! Its often credited for bringing electronica to the mainstream. Was way ahead of its time like most of what Madonna has done throughout her career. I would really suggest you give her full discography a listen. Also her live performances and music videos are essential to understanding the impact she’s had and the incredible talent she is. She’s the queen of reinvention and has really created the formula most pop stars follow till this day when releasing new eras with different sounds and looks. But more importantly she pushed boundaries and was never afraid to use her platform to challenge societal norm. She was outspoken for the gay community in the 80s way before it was “cool” to do so. Also her work always dealt with topics like race sexuality and female empowerment when very little would back then in fear of backlash. I can’t wait for you to explore her work more. If you aren’t keen on going chronologically, confessions is a great disco banger that influenced many albums to this day like most recently Dua lipa’s future nostalgia. Great reaction really had fun

This is THE album that brings Electronica, especially trip-hop, into mainstream pop music. One of the most important albums in the 90s.

I think ROL is regarded as her more critically acclaimed. Among the fans it is probably regarded as one of the bests, but not by all. Each of Madonnas albums are distinctly different and cohesive pieces of autobiographical art. I think you almost need to react to the FiIRST self-titled album. To appreciate ROL is to understand where Madonna came from. The album is solid. It’s very R&B dance/disco pop with brazen self-confidence. It’s got a very “street” feel to it. She was hungry and unapologetic. Maybe read a brief bio on her rise to fame. She was the girl who dropped out of University of Michigan and came to NYC with $37 and asked to be dropped off in the “Center of Everything”. She originally wanted to be a dancer and was sort of part of the lower east side art scene and started performing with a few bands. She was THAT girl who would walk around with a demo tape, trying to meet studio executives and get DJs to play her music.

I'd definitely say you need to check out Confessions on a Dancefloor - it still has a lot of the great female empowerment and political takes that Madonna is known for but with a very fun, disco twist. Many of the songs could be released today and fit in with what is currently a "radio friendly" sound. Confessions and Erotica definitely tie for my favorite 2 Madonna albums!

omg you're giving us madonna today OKAY I love her more experimental and weird sounding music like american life with all that autotune, it's the perfect album for when I'm feeling distorted.

William Orbit produced most of the Ray of Light album. He would go on to produce songs for All Saints on their Saints & Sinners album (Pure Shores, Black Coffee, Dreams and Surrender).

Glad you're giving her a shot with an open mind. At the end of the day, when you put all of the drama and fan battles aside, it's about the music and there's a reason she's lasted this long. The top tier Madonna albums are usually considered to be this, Like a Prayer, Erotica, and Confessions On A Dance Floor. Bedtime Stories, Music, and American Life are also fan faves and definitely underrated. The 80s albums are classics obviously. And a lot of fans love her last two albums - Rebel Heart and Madame X, but I would start with the others first or you might not fully "get" the newer ones. I'm Breathless is also a great album/soundtrack.

I think it was Rick Knowles who said once that Madonna was the utterly underrated as a song writer

I think you need a lot of backstory to truly feel it all. Especially Mer Girl. It’s about her struggle with losing her mother when she was 5. Especially starting with her new found love (her first child, her daughter Lourdes) and then ending with her journey still continuing. She struggles even till now with the loss of her mother at a young age of 5. She was once asked if she could replace everything fame and money for one thing, she said her mom. At this time of recording I believe she just had Lourdes and she just had this big shift. And she was soon to turn 40 when recording it (she turned for 40 on august 16, 1998)

Ray of Light (1998) is widely considered Madonna's best album. Inspired by her physical reinvention and spiritual reawakening after giving birth to her daughter, Lourdes, the album became a huge critical and commercial comeback after the backlash of her hypersexual album, Erotica (1992) and the more subdued success of her R&B album, Bedtime Stories (1994). Ray of Light is credited for bringing electronica into the mainstream and features the best vocals of her career thanks to vocal training during Evita (1995). The album sold 16M copies and won Madonna her first four Grammy awards. Ray of Light is an essential highlight in Madonna's extensive discography.

It brings me so much joy and happiness to my heart to see a younger generation being flabbergasted by Madonna. It also reminds me of how lucky I am to have experienced her whole journey in real time.

OMG Yes, the Madonna experience is something everyone needs Hope you continue with her other albums , they're amazing

‘Music’ (the album that followed Ray of Light) is probably my favourite Madonna album. ♥️

Okay but how are you gonna like Gaga but not Madonna? That’s just weird, especially considering how prevalent Madonna’s influence is on Gaga’s early music and visual work. But anyway, better late than never. Also, Madonna never called Gaga reductive, she called the comparisons between the two reductive. And she was correct.

Our Queens really experimented with their sound back then.First was Bjork album Homogenic. Then month later Kylie Minogue released her album in 1997. And year later Madonna released this album

this was and is my favorite album. as a gay teen in 1998 it was everything to me

Will echo the other comments in praising Ray of Light's masterpiece status. Never tire of it and an album I love listening to start to finish. For you I'd say try Confessions on a Dance Floor, Bedtime Stories and American Life next.

You definitely have to continue your journey. I really enjoyed your reaction to madonna, she has so many good albums, you have to watch her videos, you won't be dissapointed. Next suggestion is bedtime stories..

Your emotional journey in this reaction is awesome to watch 👏👏 The Power of Goodbye definitely evokes tears in me. The video is even more emotional. ROL era totally revitalized her career. Awesome reaction 💯 I love how you said you needed more at the end. Completely agree and of course I’ve felt that way about Madonna since her debut album.

I've been a Madonna fan since the beginning. This album was when the music academy started taking Madonna seriously. She won 4 grammy's for this record. I was extremely excited for this album to come out back in the day. Her mother died when he was 5 years old. She became a mom herself 2 years before ROL came out. I knew this album was going to be special. She exceeded my expectations. Little Star was written for her. Of interesting note, Madonna co produces all of her songs. Her contribution is writing the song lyrics. She is an underrated song writer.

The language in Shanti/Ashtangi is Sanskrit. ;) The English translation is below: I worship the gurus' lotus feet Awakening the happiness of the self revealed Beyond comparison, working like the jungle physician To pacify loss of consciousness from the poison of existence In the form of a man up to the shoulders Holding a conch, discus and sword Thousand headed, white I bow respectfully Peace

OMG, got home from work, warmed up some leftover pizza and this video was everything I needed. 😭🙏🏻 Madonna, Orbit and company really did magic with this one. Imagine actually being at the studio MAKING this piece by piece, imagine Frozen being constructed. 🥵 This album is always a journey, everytime I want to travel I go to this one.

This album is almost a collaboration as it sounds a lot like the producer, William Orbit. I recommend his Strange Cargo III. They're both at the top of their game on this one.

I recommend her albums "Bedtime Stories" and "American Life".

I've got a limited edition copy of Ray of Light the album with a vinyl blue cover with just the words written in the middle and photo book on the inside...I will treasure it always

this, like a prayer, erotica and confessions on a dance floor are definitely the quintessential madonna albums for me! i'd say check those other three out for sure

An interesting note about "Swim": During interviews about the making of the Ray of Light album, producer William Orbit revealed that Madonna was one of the first people Donatella Versace called about Gianni being murdered, on the very same day Madonna recorded the vocals for “Swim.”

I was 8 years old when this album came up and although I didn't understood the lyrics on any deep level it did make me realize how much I loved pop and music production ♥️ Glad to see you going back to some classic gems

Erotica and Confessions on a dance floor are her best next to this. They will blow you away and both very different from each other.

Loved the reaction! She really saw herself as an alternative artist during 1998-2003. Music (2000) is the next album after this and honestly imo much better. More experimental and less ”commercial”. Would love to see your reaction to it!

You got it! This is her most artistically acclaimed album, which brought the electronica/techno sound to the mainstream. Madonna takes you on a spiritual journey based on her newly found motherhood and personal growth. The overall cohesiveness of this album along with the textured production of each track is out of this world and raises the bar for any album out there, imv. I think you're gonna enjoy the albums 'Music,' 'Confession,' especially, and 'American Life' -- all of which continue to explore and experiment with this electronica/techno type of music. Enjoyed your reaction!

As a long time hard-core Madonna fan since 1982. it warms my heart to see new generations discovering her brilliance and artistry. "Ray of light" comes under the heel of Madonna being in the business after 16 years. her first 10 years was her imperial reign, she was the biggest pop star in the 80s after Michael Jackson. In 1992, 10 years into her career, she released her magnum opus "Erotica", unfortunately, she received major backlash because of the subject matter. 2 years after that, 1994 she dialed it down for the next album "Bedtime stories" a gem in itself with R&B influence, a new musical direction for her. 2 years later in 1996, her campaign to play "Evita" finally paid off, winning her Golden globe "Best actress". leading up to 1998 "Ray of light". she had her first child. she wrestled with some big life questions, musically, she's at a cross road, she could have gone soft on her pop musical career and become an adult contemporary artist with the release of a ballad album called "Something to remember", she could have stayed in the R&B genre (Bedtime stories), or go back to her dance roots, instead she channeled her angst, energy, new found purpose in life as a mother ("little star" is a lullabye for her daughter, "Mer girl" post partum depression) and together with her spiritual quest, Yoga (Ashanti is an Indian Mantra turned into an electronic song) and Kaballah (Jewish mysticism). she got back together with one of her best song writing partner Patrick Leonard ("Like a prayer" "True blue" albums) co writing 4/5 songs, and employing a new producer "William Orbit". The result is yet another reinvention, this time she hit the mark in more ways than one. bringing electronica into the mainstream with thoughtful lyrics, and powerful vocals. winning her critical acclaim and multiple Grammys

Ashtanga yoga chant is what she is singing. This album is AMAZING!

Great réaction !! One of the best réaction i saw about Madonna

Simply a masterpiece

The final song sounds so much like a Björk song, who also worked with many of these producers at this time.

Drowned World / Substitute for Love is awesome. Still gives me nice shivers up and down my spine :) Please do the rest of her discog in chrono order! oh, and do yourself a favour and watch the video for Nothing Really Matters. It's fab

The whole album is a unique and mysterious experience. It is the reinvention once again of the Queen

One of the best albums ever with her album confessions on a dancefloor true masterpieces

Fresh off of Evita and becoming a mum, This album is a classic. She was finally taken seriously as an artist and songwriter. Huge departure from her previous work and spotlighted William Orbits massive talent

What an honest and real review I absolutely enjoyed watching this whole video and watching you experience one of Madonna's most experimental and great albums. So more madonna

This is the best pop album in the history of mankind. And alienkind for that matter.

I’m a bit late but WOW mate it’s my favourite album and you have made it even better THANKYOU. New subscriber here

A true masterpiece..you should try starting her work from the beginning and working your way through.. you'll see tremendous growth and a really wide spectrum of genres

Without doubt her best album. It got the best reviews of her career. It's so personal and deep Great reaction I'd suggest that you listen to Like a Prayer too, it's really great

The lenguage is hindi (sanskrit) from India. Shanti/Ashtangi is a prayer of Ashtanga Yoga as Cyberraga (an extra song from Music album)

this is my fav madonna album give me nostalgia takes me back to when i was younger you should do reaction to mdna too

Universally acclaimed: Ray of Light, Like a Prayer, Confessions on a Dance Floor Underrated/fan favorites: Erotica (panned at the time, but now regarded as a masterpiece), Music, American Life Very good: Bedtime Stories The 80's classics everyone loves: Madonna, Like a Virgin, True Blue Hidden gem: I'm Breathless Good ideas, poor execution: Madame X Errr...: Hard Candy, Rebel Heart Pretend it doesn't exist: MDNA

Your album reaction was spot on! Truly enjoyed it! New subscriber. More Madonna!!!

The sample “You See” is by San Sebastián Strings “Why I Follow The Tigers”

Great great great review of a magnificent piece of music. I was blown away when I was 8 hearing it firts time but didn't expect I will actually review my life lessons enchanted in it now. This album proves that Madonna is saved for the eternity and glorified for ages and maaaan, I need your T-shirt so badly!!!

LOVED your reaction! So genuine and fun! You obviously appreciated her ballads so you should listen to her Something to Remember album. This album is very peculiar because although it is a compilation album, due to the amount of songs previouly released only as singles (not available in any of her studio albums) and to the brand new songs, it sounds more like an AMAZING original studio album. "For producing the new songs for the album, Madonna worked with David Foster, Nellee Hooper and Massive Attack. Something to Remember was met with critical acclaim. With the commercial success it achieved, Something to Remember set a trend of releasing ballad albums afterward, such as the 1996 albums Love Songs by Elton John and If We Fall in Love Tonight by Rod Stewart." wikipedia

Wow!!!! Such a fantastic reaction. 💙

I was 17 when I ran to the records store to buy this. I could not believe my ears, I couldn’t understand what I listening to but at the same time couldn’t stop listening to it, probably cause of the amazing production. So ahead of its time, so nostalgic for me now that I’m about to turn 42

I really like how you give EVERY singer a chance! Love it, Some other people love hold grudges:/

I just signed up to your $10 Patreon just so I can live your Madonna experience. BTW besides being articulate and open minded you are soooo cute. That mullet and mo 🔥🔥🔥 I AM TELLING YOU THIS. Your Madonna journey will get you more comments than you’ve ever had. Love you babes. Keep being you. Love from Sydney

Love this!!! Her voice was at top level with this album. You should continue with the first OR the last: Madonna or MadameX, before continuing with another fan favourite as Like a Prayer, Erotica, Confessions or American Life. I think you will love Music too. Love that you open your heart to Madonna; Ray of light, particularly Frozen and The Power of Goodbye were the key🤭. After these two, she needed to calm the album with To have...(very underrated coming after these two) and Little Star to reach one of her best creations, Mer Girl. Revisiting this album with your reaction, I noticed that Little Star was artistically necessary to make the transition to the end. She ends the sing, as you pointed, whispering, "making her baby sleep" so she can go to the "post part depression"🤣 and deal with her inner demon, the death of her mother when she was a child. This is a recurrent theme through her discography. This last song were written after waking up from a dream, from where the scenes of the narrative belong. She rarely performs her non singles besides the correspondent álbum tour, but she performed Mer Gir (and many other "bault" songs) in a more rare special show in 2016, "Tears of a Clown". She changed the final word of the song: "I ran and i ran, im still running today", a detail that can give more insight on her world behind all the pop personality masquerade.

ABSOLUTELY love the album and ur reaction but omg the shirt is so cool😭

Love the queen of pop ❤️❤️ can’t wait for the next albums !!!

Back in my day we’d hang out with Ms.Molly while listening to this whole album, especially “Skin”, and it was FUN.

Most Fans consider this one of her best! CONFESSIONS IS ONE OF HER BEST!

My favorite Madonna album hands down. This along with Bedtime Stories, Erotica and Confessions on a Dance Floor are just top tier records. Just amazing bodies of work. Ugh! A living legend. 🌹🥹 Thanks for another great honest and raw reaction.

The sounds of this album are addictive, if you listen to the songs more than once you won't be able to stop listening to them anymore.

definitely recommend “american life” or “music” if you want to explore more madonna on here!

Please react to her MUSIC album (2000) right after this was released.

If you want more, do check out “Has To Be”, a Japanese bonus track. I’d suggest listening to “Confessions On A Dance Floor” next!

Love u maronna’s reaction!! Keep goin please 🖤🌻

Omg yazzss, please react to all of her albums, including I'm Breathless and Evita. And some of her songs included only in her greatest hits albums, like Justify My Love, Rescue Me, Crazy For You, You'll See, Celebration, Revolver. You should react in chronological order to get a little bit of context

Oh man, please to a Madonna journey from first album on! Plus I love you know the producers hahaha!

Yass The Queen!!! This album was her return after a short break to focus on 'Evita' and becoming a mother. She was very much in a self-reflective, spiritual phase. The controversies surrounding her early 90s SEX era had faded, so critics and public praised this release. The previous 2 albums were more of a R&B hiphop production. Erotica is my #1 all time favorite album Confessions on a Dancefloor is a total bop. MDNA is my least fave, but it has grown on me over the years. Can't wait for the rest of the discography. I could talk about Madonna constantly. She's my everything

Please go back Chronologically so that you can understand how she arrived to Ray of Light. It’s a wild ride but i think you’re in danger of loving it 🥰 Subscribed! X

Great reaction. You should definitely do madonnas music album next. You will love it

OMG!!! I LOVE YOUR LOOK!!!

Her best albums are from 1986s True Blue through to 2000s Music. The rest is good, especially Madame X which is about the best post 2000, but she sometimes tried too many styles in one. Hard Candy was awful, a quick made album to end her recording contract, but some love it. I personally like her debut more than Like A Virgin, but both are dated and more producers than Madonna. I'd say to do it chronologically, but I'm afraid the first two might put you off if you don't like severely dated 80s pop. True Blue is where we start getting the Madonna we know and love. And include her soundtrack albums and the Something To Remember compilation of non-album tracks, her soundtrack contributions are also amazing, Especially Who's That Girl.

I would definitely suggest ‘Erotica for your next Madonna album listen. It’s definitely her best

Next Madonna reaction should be Confessions on a Dance Floor. It’s completely different than this album but based on the other albums you’ve reacted to and enjoyed, I think you’d dig it.

Best ”ray of light” review i’ve seen so far! 👍

Madonna was obsessed with trip-hop, Tricky, and Massive Attack at this time. Nellee Hooper, etc. So, she found William Orbit to produce her album. Really, I Want You was Madonna’s best trip hop effort.

Oh and you got yourself a subscriber 😁

I waited in a LONG line at midnight, at the now closed Tower Records on Sunset Boulevard the morning Ray of Light was released. For the better part of 1998/1999, it was my sonic bible. Whenever i hear Frozen, Ray of Light, The Power of Goodbye, and To Have and Not to Hold, i get chills of nostalgia. I have been following, appreciating, and loving Madonna's music since 1984. If you continue on reacting to her discography, you may notice there are always three central themes, love, sex, and truth, which evolve sonically with each album she released. The one thing Madonna does, is she does not repeat her previous sound. She likes to paint, with every color she can. Like A Prayer, Erotica, Ray of Light, Confessions on A Dance Floor, Rebel Heart, and Madame X are all turning points in Madonna's artistic and vast creative/musical legacy. Really great to see you discover and enjoy Ray of Light, decades after it was released.

One of my favorite albums ever 🤍

New subscriber here !!! You’ll love Madonnas discography I love her ! Is immaculate. Btw I felt like u , but the opposite , I didn’t give a chance to Gaga because of the problems she had with Madonna. But I decided to give her a chance and she’s amazing! Both great artists !

Little Star was written after the birth of her daughter Lourdes and Mer Girl is about the dreams she had after her mother died

William Orbit….. production genius. Confessions of a Dance Floor rivals Ray of Light

Hey Ben, I would personally go back to the start of her discography so that you can see the progression of her music, sounds, style and lyrical themes. It's only when you do, you realise the magnitude of what she has done and how groundbreaking she has been. Through her music, she has broken down so many societal and cultural barriers and tackled taboo topics way ahead of her time (and paid the price for it). She has made so many styles of music mainstream, she made the visual music video a huge part of being an artist during the MTV generation and she's credited with beginning the theatrical concert tour that we know today as a standard (The Blond Ambition Tour). There's a reason why people compare female artists of today to her and it's because it would be hard pressed to not find something that wasn't done first by Madonna. She's pretty much created and laid the platform over four decades to enable today's female artists to do and be whatever the hell they want. I think if you go back to the start, you're going to be able to see where all female artists of today have either knowingly or unknowingly taken their inspiration. Love your review as well😃.

It's so cool to be the witness of how your perception of M as an artist has changed this year. Would love to watch your first time reaction to this album from the point where you are now in this M journey. But unfortunately it already would never be the first reaction..

This will always be one of my favorite albums of all time.

Being who you are, I would go next to 2003's American Life. And don't read review before, it is polarizing !

Amazing reactions , Love your Channel 👏🏻 best Madonna album for me is Bedtime Stories … but Ray of Light also changed music

There is a Mexican singer called Fey.. She made an album called Vertigo... You could listen... There are 2 versions English and Spanish.. Similar sounds...

One of my favourite albums of hers next to Erotica. William Orbit worked on this one with her and was the genius behind some of those amazing soundscapes.

this might be my favorite album of all time

'the' Queen of Pop Madonna is the blueprint of how to be a Pop Star of all genres... Truth... so Reductiveness is invetible.

A lot of what Madonna has said about Gaga has been in jest and tongue-in-cheek. She always says how highly she thinks of Gaga… the press just like to play them off against each other unfortunately. This album is one of her best… won multiple awards! Mer Girl is very strange, she lost her mother when she was 5yrs old and this is all about how she was running away from the pain and memories of that loss and emptiness in her life. But it’s also about letting go of fearing death. Little Star was about her first born Lordes. You should definitely give Erotica a listen, one of her best and a highly underestimated album in my opinion!! Confessions on a Dancefloor is amazing too as is Bedtime Stories… to hell with it, you should listen to them all 😂

Next album to react too in confessions on a dance floor and then like a prayer. Both masterpieces in Madonna’s discography. But if you want to get a real picture of Madonna react to her discography In chronological order with her first album Madonna from 1983

New subscriber here lol. Can’t wait for you to do all of her albums.