Ray of Light
Madonna
1998
Annual listening-list association, not an original-release-date field. Original release year reconciled with reviewed recording-specific Artist Essentials evidence in v3.6.
Release: 1998
Release: 1998Source checked
V3.6 reconciles the original release year with the reviewed Artist Essentials entry for this exact retained recording ID. Year precision is used; an album-first release is not silently replaced by a later single, reissue or annual-list year. The selected original recording is documented on Ray of Light (1998). Year precision does not substitute a later single, video, remaster or annual-list date.
The large badge identifies this listening list, not a newly issued recording. Later reissues and renewed chart popularity do not replace an original release date. How years are assigned.
Owner-supplied release annotations
Reported dates in 1998.html, 1998.html. Not independently established; neighboring dates can reflect album/single or regional differences.
Ray of Light - official original album catalog
Documents the original 1998 album. Original album contains Frozen, Ray of Light, Drowned World/Substitute for Love, The Power of Good-bye and Nothing Really Matters. The producer credits include William Orbit.
Inspiration and background
Supplied note - not independently verified
This note came with the supplied collection and has not been independently verified.
The song was influenced by Madonna's study of Kabbalah and motherhood.
Evidence scope: Source-provided note, not an established account of the songwriter's intent
Sources for this information
Owner-supplied 1998.html, song-list position 68
Supplied annotation reproduced with attribution; underlying historical claims have NOT been independently verified.
Other appearances and versions
catalog version unspecified
Textual identity reconciliation, not audio-fingerprint or exact-pressing verification. Version labels are catalog safeguards.
An annual chart year and an original release date are different. Similar titles may be covers or different masters; no audio fingerprint has been performed.
Sources and scope
Source-backed annual association (secondary source; not a complete discographic review)
Editorial artist-repertoire classification
Billboard year-end 1998 table (Wikipedia transcription)
Secondary chart transcription reviewed for title, artist and annual association. Not proof of release date, genre or inspiration.
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.