Madonna, The #7 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Five

 

(Continued from Part Four)

Madonna released the comeback album Ray of Light in 1998.  "Frozen" landed in the Top 10 in every major country and also went Gold.

 

Ray of Light, recorded at Larrabee North Studio in North Hollywood, California, has now sold over 16 million copies worldwide.  When "Frozen" peaked at #2, it put Madonna in the record book for the most #2 hits of the Rock Era with six.  The title song roared to #1 in Spain, #2 in the U.K. and Italy and #5 in the U.S. and has sold over one million copies.   

She scored Grammy Awards including Best Pop Album and Best Dance Recording and was nominated for Album of the Year and Record of the Year (for "Ray Of Light", while "Ray Of Light" won Video of the Year and Best Female Video and was nominated for Breakthrough Video and Best Dance Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Madonna also hit #1 in Spain and achieved good success in other European countries with "Drowned World"/"Substitute For Love".  It is an homage to the novel The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard, in which Madonna examines her personal difficulties from a lack of privacy and the constant presence of the paparazzi.

 

"The Power Of Good-Bye" stopped at #11 in the U.S., but reached #2 in Spain, #4 in Germany and #6 in the U.K.

Madonna teamed with Patrick Leonard to write this song, inspired by Madonna's daughter Lourdes.  "Nothing Really Matters" reached #1 on the Dance chart and received good airplay in Europe.

Madonna founded an organization that focused on women, education, and global development called the Ray of Light Foundation.  She released the single "Beautiful Stranger" for the movie Austin Powers:  The Spy Who Shagged Me in 1999.  It was a Top 10 song in most countries but stalled at #19 in the United States, thought it did reach #1 on the less-competitive Dance chart, giving Madonna a third streak of five consecutive #1 Dance hits.

The song earned a Grammy for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media (she was also nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance) and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song and won Best Video from a Film and was nominated for Best Female Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.  

Madonna was named Top-Selling Female Rock Artist of the Century by the RIAA in 1999.  She starred in the movie The Next Best Thing in 2000 and recorded two songs for the soundtrack, including her ill-advised cover of the all-time classic "American Pie" by Don McLean.

Madonna released the album Music in 2000, which gave her a #1 album in over 20 countries.  The title song went to #1 in every major country except Germany (where it peaked at #2) and France (#8).  It has sold over two million singles and dominated the Dance chart, her seventh consecutive #1 on that scene.

Music sold four million copies in 10 days.  It was her first #1 album in 11 years.  "Don't Tell Me" raced to #1 in Canada and Italy and #4 in the U.S. and United Kingdom and also has been certified Gold while earning an MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Female Video.

Madonna wrote this song while pregnant with her second child, Rocco.  "What It Feels Like For A Girl" was a #1 Dance hit in the U.S. that also placed #2 in Canada.

 

French producer Mirwais Ahmadzai encouraged more experimentation, with Music featuring more of an electronica vibe.  We also want to feature "I Deserve It" from the album.

Madonna was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album and Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Music" at the Grammy Awards.  She had met director Guy Ritchie in 1998 and gave birth to their son Rocco and married Ritchie in 2000.  Afterward, Madonna went on tour for the first time in eight years.  She grossed $75 million from 47 shows, the highest-grossing tour of the year by a solo act.

Madonna released the compilation GHV2 along with a video release of the same name featuring clips of the tour. 

Join us for Part Six of Madonna!