Madonna

Ray Of Light

Awesome Album

Review Score:

(10/10)
This album is wonderful! This is her opus. I say that fully realizing that she will top herself again in the future. The album gently pulls you in with "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" telling the listener where the singer is currently at in her life. Ultimately, you are drowning only to be saved by track 2 with "Swim" which offers hope and redemption regardless of the state of the world. Upon arriving at the other shore of "Swim" the listener sees (and hears) a "Ray of Light." The song rushes and speeds the listener through a life illustrating how fleeting the moment of life is. Then through "Candy Perfume Girl" Madonna takes us to a moment of enjoying and embracing sensuality only to get to a point where this become an obession in the track "Skin." Then she is redeemed and finds that importance lies within by presenting the track "Nothing Really Matters." Her she comes to terms with the world and tries to explain that she is NOT a "material girl." Her grasp of the the spiritual is exhibited in "Sky Fits Heaven." Do what feels natural and what is the natural order of life. She further gets into the spiritual with "Shanti/Ashanti." Now that she has comes to term with her path in life she can see others and what they may be missing in their life. She is telling others to clear themselves and not to waste their time with "hate and regret." Realizing that a person can not change a person, the greatest good to do for oneself is to let go, therefore "The Power of Goodbye" is realized. Rely on yourself for happiness. Then the realization that something can be contained within yet never be touched. Again happiness comes from inside not from what or who you may think you "have." Then she tells how a child (Little Star) can be taught what she has learned, understanding this is love in the purest form. The album ends with "Mer-Girl" an obvious reaction to the entire album in that she can't change the world to fit herself (whether it is the water or shore) therefore by adapting to both worlds in a form of a mer girl she can obtain the meaning of it all. "Mer Girl" is haunting and deeply personal, it takes courage to exhibit these basest of human feelings. The track is not easy to listen to due to the disturbing facts and images. The only redemption here is that life is much like a "Ray of Light" and is menacingly short. We need to make the most of every moment, embracing our experiences we have survived, learn from these and transform ourselves. The album is NOT a mere pop album, but an epihany regarding life.

Buy this opus and enjoy it!

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