Studio Album · No. 7
Ray of Light
Produced by William Orbit, Patrick Leonard, Madonna
Madonna wrote 13 of 13 documented tracks
Authorship Breakdown 13 / 13 documented
Scored across the 13 tracks with documented writers, by whether Madonna carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 13 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Awards & Recognition 3
Madonna co-wrote every track on Ray of Light, with William Orbit as her main writing and production partner, joined by Patrick Leonard and Rick Nowels on several songs. The reinvention from dance-pop to electronica was hers creatively as well as sonically, since she retained writing credit throughout the album. The opener 'Drowned World/Substitute for Love' interpolates a Rod McKuen lyric, the only outside writing of note on a deeply self-authored record.
Ray of Light, released in February 1998, was a significant artistic reinvention for Madonna, embracing electronica, ambient, and trip-hop under the primary production of William Orbit. She co-wrote all 13 tracks, most with William Orbit, others with Patrick Leonard and Rick Nowels, marking her most consistent run of full creative ownership across an entire album. The record won four Grammy Awards including Best Pop Album and was widely praised as a sophisticated, spiritually inflected departure from the club-oriented pop of her earlier work. 'Frozen,' co-written with Patrick Leonard, was the lead single and reached number one in sixteen countries, while the propulsive title track became one of the album's defining anthems. Ray of Light demonstrated that after nearly two decades in the industry, Madonna could still credibly reinvent herself and retain complete authorship while doing so.
Track Listing & Credits 13 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Drowned World / Substitute for Love
|
MadonnaWilliam OrbitRod McKuenAnita KerrDavid Collins | MadonnaWilliam OrbitRod McKuenAnita KerrDavid Collins | William Orbit | Madonna (Vocals) |
| 2 |
Swim
|
MadonnaWilliam Orbit | MadonnaWilliam Orbit | William Orbit | Madonna (Vocals) |
| 3 |
Ray of Light
#5
|
MadonnaWilliam OrbitClive MuldoonDave CurtissChristine Leach | MadonnaWilliam OrbitClive MuldoonDave CurtissChristine Leach | William Orbit | Madonna (Vocals) |
| 4 |
Candy Perfume Girl
|
MadonnaWilliam OrbitSusannah Melvoin | MadonnaWilliam OrbitSusannah Melvoin | William Orbit | Madonna (Vocals) |
| 5 |
Skin
|
MadonnaPatrick Leonard | MadonnaPatrick Leonard | William Orbit | Madonna (Vocals) |
| 6 |
Nothing Really Matters
#93
|
MadonnaPatrick Leonard | MadonnaPatrick Leonard | William Orbit | Madonna (Vocals) |
| 7 |
Sky Fits Heaven
|
MadonnaPatrick Leonard | MadonnaPatrick Leonard | William Orbit | Madonna (Vocals) |
| 8 |
Shanti / Ashtangi
|
MadonnaWilliam Orbit | MadonnaWilliam Orbit | William Orbit | Madonna (Vocals) |
| 9 |
Frozen
#2
|
MadonnaPatrick Leonard | MadonnaPatrick Leonard | MadonnaPatrick Leonard | Madonna (Vocals) |
| 10 |
The Power of Good-Bye
#11
|
MadonnaRick Nowels | MadonnaRick Nowels | William Orbit | Madonna (Vocals) |
| 11 |
To Have and Not to Hold
|
MadonnaRick Nowels | MadonnaRick Nowels | William Orbit | Madonna (Vocals) |
| 12 |
Little Star
|
MadonnaRick Nowels | MadonnaRick Nowels | William Orbit | Madonna (Vocals) |
| 13 |
Mer Girl
|
MadonnaWilliam Orbit | MadonnaWilliam Orbit | William Orbit | Madonna (Vocals) |