Madonna Recording 'Ray of Light' (1997) | You Had To Be There

[@jonathanreilly7503]

They were literally creating a masterpiece

[@jesusislife9259]

🤣😂🤣You have low expectations for masterpieces!

[@DIETRICHCICCONE]

STOP saying 'literally' 😂

[@edoardo0180]

@@jesusislife9259 no

[@gabrielgil0593]

Well I agree

[@volta5550]

@@jesusislife9259 ray of light is easily one of her strongest albums

[@loveandpeace_totheworld]

This was her best look. She seemed so down to earth during this ray of light album era.

[@dtnuh]

I agree, this is why RoL was my favorite era. She seemed to be at her most humble, human and approachable here. I wish those traits carried on in her later projects!

[@lucianofigueiredo7220]

@@dtnuh Verdade

[@MichelSarmento]

@@dtnuh that happened because that was the time when she starting attending full time to the Kabbalah center..

[@duane_313]

@@dtnuh I’m shocked at how human she looks and feels here. Like, she’s a PERSON! I know it’s weird to say, but that’s what I see

[@headfullofmusic422]

i feel in this clip she seems quite the opposite of vulnerable and down to earth..

[@hlgrmdr9556]

Best album of her entire career! Even the demos are masterpieces

[@henriquemerlin8926]

ROL and Confessions on a Dance Floor, two masterpieces.

[@TwasNeverThus2]

This was humble William Orbit's masterpiece. Madonna sang on it. He's an unheralded genius. Check out "Water From A vine Leaf" and "Story Of Light" His creativity and genius knows no bounds kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHnWc4F-mcZ9o7c

[@acjazz01]

That's hard to say, because she has so many great albums. But Ray of light is among the best for sure.

[@TheFever77]

My fav is Bedtime Stories

[@trueblue-blackout9900]

Erotica and bedtime stories are her best

[@DarkWarlord2024]

Ray Of Light should've won Grammy For Album Of The Year.

[@elizabethmcleod246]

It was deserved…a fabulous album. ❤

[@dennyii5292]

It did win a Grammy for *Best Pop Album* 😊

[@jessejameslatimer8686]

Her best album hands down. Confessions on a Dancefloor was very good as well though.

[@JoshPinder92]

True Blue/Like a Prayer/Ray of Light/Confessions on a Dance Floor I feel are the quartet everyone will agree came at monumental moments in her life. True Blue proving she could achieve so much more and create a full on ALBUM of material and prove she could have major hits and hit the social narrative/discussion too in her 20s...Like a Prayer shocked the world, it was ambitious and creative post public divorce and in her early 30s she took over the entire world/paved way for Blond Ambition. Ray of Light after mass controversies/healing/having her first child/big wins for Evita at 40 she showcased she could reinvent in a massive creative way which again inspried millions globally in her Drowned World Era and Confessions at nearly 50 she hit another major peak after massive backlash again for her politics/she healed herself (literally after breaking bones) and poured out her soul and created a record breaking hit album/grammy winning and pioneering. Whilst yes I adore many albums of hers inbetween (Bedtime Stories/Erotica/I'm Breathless, Music,American Life, Rebel Heart and Madame X are all top tier stuff) I do feel those 4 will be forever regarded as her opuses for sure

[@Idolikethis]

Oh god yes baby! Im gonna blast that on the way to work now

[@JWDrama1980]

She’s so calm and relax. Kurt always had the best interviews with her.

[@theandresricardo]

yes. those 2 albums

[@thescarecrowcat]

@@JoshPinder92 Well said. I agree completely.

[@tenzenrecordings]

William Orbit and Madonna are beyond a powerhouse.

[@CrystalCoffin]

We would never find any other Orbit-related album that is anywhere near as splendid as Ray of Light - I guess we know who is the real powerhouse here.

[@ForeverRetro31]

Don't forget Patrick Leonard. He co-wrote half the songs.

[@tenzenrecordings]

​@@CrystalCoffin Water from a Vine Leaf by Orten and Orbit is a sincerity beyond the depths of Madonna's pop nature capabilities.

[@theveganenemy]

except she's just a voice and he did all the work

[@joskokrstulovic1258]

​​@@ForeverRetro31Exactly! Album like True Blue , Like a prayer also,the most best song's in her carrier have his signature.

[@bigneon_glitter]

When this was recorded, Madonna was the most famous woman on the planet. Really something to see her so chill, friendly, & normal.

[@RecoverArt_Ivan]

1997

[@user-td6fq7or8d]

Not true! When this was recorded people had already started to write her off as a has been. She was not selling albums the way she use to. Ray of light was considered her comeback.

[@RecoverArt_Ivan]

@@user-td6fq7or8d Actually fame wise Madonna was indeed huge in 1997 she had just filmed Evita which gave her a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for best song. Madonna hadn't gone anyway her it had been only 2 years since she had a billboard #1 and a top 5 (Take A Bow, Secret) she had gone nowhere to require a "come back" sure she was making a comeback to the recording studio with ROL but let's face it she has always maintained a goddess level of fame albeit her music chart topping years plateaud in the late 80s. Radio has never been kind to Madonna not since the 1980s. But Madonna has NEVER needed a "comeback" she has never stopped working.

[@FindingMadonna]

@@user-td6fq7or8d Of course she was the most famous woman on the planet. Of course, 15 years into her career she was selling less than at her commercial peak, but she was an icon at this point. The most famous woman in the world besides maybe Hillary Clinton. Not to mention her previous album featured her biggest US hit ever and she'd just won a Golden Globe for Evita. She was still a mega star in 1997.

[@FindingMadonna]

@@RecoverArt_Ivan Radio was very kind to her in the 90s. "Take a Bow" was her biggest radio hit ever. "I'll Remember" was huge too. They even played the remix of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" to death - it was very clear that whatever she did next was going to be big. And then "Music" was an even bigger hit in 2000.

[@GoD_Quake]

I absolutely loved this era of Madonna. She was so on point during this time.

[@dawnr6381]

Yes! I was a teenager when she first became popular. I remember the craziness around her, my favorite cd of hers is Ray of Light.

[@madferit_live4ever]

One of the 90's best albums!

[@glampingo]

And most popular.

[@jamesroman9576]

Skin's original name was Flirtation Dance, in case anyone was wondering. I saw this when it aired. Imagine watching this and hearing those sound bites before the album came out. It was like nothing you'd heard from her before. It was beyond exciting.

[@awkwardfellow6912]

I was

[@giggles7179]

Ha! Thanks - I just had to Google it because I couldn't make it out. Wish I would have seen your comment a couple of minutes earlier, but it wasn't hard to find. I remember this MTV special when it first came out too. As for the album, I instantly loved most of it upon my first listen, some of it took a minute for me to appreciate fully, but it is indeed a masterpiece through and through. I was just getting my first taste of freedom after graduating high school when it came out, so I'm grateful that it always takes me back to a time I remember so fondly.

[@nanoboy25]

I make a screenshots yo see the name ❤ thanks

[@koko1974ify]

Whatever people think of Madonna, no-one can deny that her music connects people. I love this period when she briefly conquered her inner ego and became An Earth Mother.

[@wagu7003]

I agree although without that same ego (and narcissism?) she probably wouldn't have had such a great, long and influential career.

[@koko1974ify]

@@wagu7003 Totally. It's ultimately her ego that has driven her and still does....giving us decades of enjoyment along the way!

[@maximilianovalverde6692]

To me, it was all an act (even then). I don't buy Madonna being a spiritual person.

[@koko1974ify]

@@maximilianovalverde6692 Neither do I. I think it lasted until the next album.

[@maximilianovalverde6692]

@@koko1974ify Exactly. Then she changed that for a ladylike housewife persona when she was married to Guy Ritchie. After they divorced, the Madonna from the 1980's persona returned and never left again (because that's the real Madonna).

[@mandonnaa5574]

There will never be another album like “Ray Of Light.” She paved the way for Pop artists to experiment on records.

[@laurisaarinen1126]

Well, Prince already did that before her but i'm not trying to undermine the impact of this album, it's still huge

[@glampingo]

Madonna is a genius.

[@jimhughes2621]

Yeah, Beatles who?

[@ITHINKDAFUCKNOTYOUTRICKASSBITC]

@@laurisaarinen1126 prince wasn't successful with it though.. MMHMM

[@Imxel21]

@@ITHINKDAFUCKNOTYOUTRICKASSBITC Yes he was

[@jamiecampbell8855]

An absolute masterpiece of a pop album. She's so underrated as a musical artist.

[@evilqueen90s00s]

When i hear every time the same word underrated. I become really sick.

[@SPICEUNITE]

How can she be underrated when she's the most successful woman ever

[@josenavarrete6203]

@@SPICEUNITE people don't appreciate her as a songwriter/producer they just see her as another pop star

@@SPICEUNITE maybe for the new generations. Compare the views of her videos with Taylor's, Dua Lipa's or Ariana's. Anyway, I love Madonna and she's above of all those girls.

[@csa856]

@@SPICEUNITE people attribute her success to scandals and controversy, not to her artistic and creative ability

[@theandroids]

"What has William brought to this project" LOL He had no idea of the beast that is Orbit. First time she was awarded a GRAMMY because of this genius and co.

[@Heybabetv]

I like Kurt but he was being a bit of a douche throughout this whole segment

[@mikhurtado320]

What I love about this interview is the fact of everyone coming and going everywhere, not knowing exactly how to appear, what to say, how to flow over the moment. It is absolutely mesmerizing to see Madonna in wide creative process, surrounded by Billy Bubbles and more people involved in this masterpiece. Thanks MTV for mastering and bringing this back!

[@fredpittman1972]

Yes!! And Guy was just a hanger on. He went on to great things.

[@djwalkerfemaledj]

Ray of Light is one of Madonna's best albums

[@yan3562]

Its the best

[@felipeyoutube04]

It’s by far her best album

[@soundseeker63]

Ray Of Light is one of those special albums where you feel like the stars had to align perfectly in order for it to be created.... And they did! Having Lourdes was a real inflection point for Madonna, it brought out a maturity and depth in her that was captured and displayed beautifully on this album. This was/is her high watermark in terms of output, but also a defining moment for pop music in general. Man, I miss those times, and still love the album 25 years on!

[@veryeyeofnight]

This album is true art “Drug music without drugs“ 💙💛

[@nickmonopoli3579]

Never seen her so natural looking ❤️

[@elizabethmcleod246]

She looks stunning here. So natural.

[@TatoMQZD]

Yes. She had a very relaxed look in this era. Her best era by the way

[@ChloeDust]

Ray of Light is such a great album, i loved her energy and look here.

[@patrickm100]

She's so relaxed and fun here.

[@jbt6007]

rare I know

[@dms2447]

This album changed my life. What a masterpiece! 👏🏼👍🏼🙌🏽❤️👑

[@mathc856]

You can tell not only how proud she is of the record, but also of the people she worked on it with. It’s really heartwarming to see how giddy she is.

[@RattusYu]

I remember watching this 1998. Has To Be is one of my favorites.

[@dtnuh]

IMO this is where she was the most wise, down to earth, and relatable in her entire career.

[@chocolate70]

And now she’s totally lost and completely plastic 😐.

[@jmsl910]

why do you say she is lost? in what way?

[@stevej4328]

@@jmsl910 have you seen her lately? She's very lost.

[@DanAxl-x9d]

​@@stevej4328did you see her on stage the other night. Oh my gosh

[@stevej4328]

@@DanAxl-x9d no, what happened?

[@giggles7179]

It's interesting to hear her say "Vogue" felt a hundred years away....Awhile back, I was watching "Truth or Dare" for my 500th time (give or take a few) and I found myself thinking how strange it would have been to see the "Blond Ambition" incarnation of Madonna perform "Ray of Light" or to see how she would have reacted to hearing it. They feel like a lifetime apart, and yet there were only SEVEN years between them.

[@ericasawthat]

She reinvents herself like no other. She keeps it interesting. Truth or Dare is one of the best documentaries ever and way ahead of its time.

[@maximilianovalverde6692]

For a few years, Madonna refused to sing all her 1980's music like it had never existed. It was until 2001 that she sang "Holiday" and "La Isla Bonita" again.

[@TatoMQZD]

Madonna evolves really quickly. For example, you can't compare her debut single "Everybody" to her own "Like a Prayer" 7 years later. She is like a totally different person. She and her career evolved extremely fast. That's why "Vogue" felt so far away from "Ray of Light" although it was only 7 years difference between them

[@antoniobeardall6520]

Thank you for this MTV, the M who put the M in MTV. Ahh the good old days when MTV was actually about music.

[@DeuDeoEgo]

Whoever believes that Madonna has not part in the production of her albums should listen to William Orbit's words here ❤🎉

[@Bm0ney]

I still listen to Ray on high rotation. Even my young kids love it. Pure perfection

[@thetruesoulofanaquarius9302]

I remember watching this she had took a short hiatus from music because she had her daughter the previous year mannn time flies almost 25 years ago this was aired

[@UnTiempoParaRecordarHD]

And mainly because of Evita.

[@laurenmeltzer7159]

@@UnTiempoParaRecordarHD she was robbed of an Oscar nomination for Evita. ☹️

[@rofidel178]

​@@laurenmeltzer7159nothing against Madonna because she did great but I'd rather have it that way, Peron and Evita were nefarious figures and as an argentinian I'm sick of peronists and their cult of personality

[@absoluteacw]

Drowned World, Substitute for Love. A musically immersive experience. Wonderful.

[@bubbakushingtonIII]

Man wish I could go back to 1997 especially nowadays. I was 13 years old in 97 lol.

[@thetruesoulofanaquarius9302]

Lol me too 84 babies ❤❤❤

[@RecoverArt_Ivan]

I was 17...

[@mrbukater2794]

I was 3

[@mistersurrealist]

I was 11. I really liked that year and the previous one. The days were so long and I had so many exciting PC games to play.

[@rylanrocks4u]

Same

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

Miss Madonna, one of the greatest female singers of all time since the past.

[@rgrndu]

Since the past?

[@owain.b3070]

You mean since the 20th century?

[@Sttephy30]

singers? More like artist.

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

@@owain.b3070 Yes.

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

@@rgrndu Yeah. When she performs the best songs in the late 1980s to the early 1990s before many female singing artists like Katy Perry, Bebe Rexha, or even Kacey Musgraves in the 2000s.

[@infinite_vortex]

love the behind the scenes 90's era

[@ErikaMcQueen89]

This album was incredible 97/98 was a great year Music

[@pabloi3391]

To me "Drowned World/Substitute for love" is the best song from the album, and also "nothing really matters".

[@stephaniel5402]

When MTV used to be fun to watch and would give you a look behind the scenes of your idols. 🎶🎧

[@Miss7ilac]

It’s incredible how much the birth of her Child inspired her. This album was a masterpiece.

[@shannonlmajor]

One of the most significant albums of all time.

[@akiswid]

OMG Guy Oseary was 25 here??? Amazing he’s still with Madonna after all these years

[@parisht2381]

I wish we could actually hear her recording :(

[@NocturneSoul]

Well, this is the edited version, the original interview aired in 1997 had Madonna recording pieces of Skin, Ray of Light and Little Star, and you could see her there singing and sounding amazing. I have it on VHS

[@247snob6]

I hope Someday to see this WHOLE unedited recording. This..this time magical. Dying to see more. Watched it on repeat lie a movie back then.

[@247snob6]

** thanks auto correct

[@Felktl09]

I love how chill and not trying too hard she was.

[@buzzfunk]

Epic. Love Kurts dry sense of humor. Too bad MTV killed itself.

[@JamesFrew1]

Lol Kurt was who I wanted to be and the reason I wanted to move to NYC. Too bad indeed.

[@dtnuh]

Never really cared for Kurt myself...he had a clear bias and was a big ol queeny stan for Madge, and didn't seem to care much for any of her contemporaries.

[@lchherrarte490]

Agree

[@Patrick3183]

I heard that the record labels began charging so much to mtv to license their videos that MTV couldn’t afford it

[@SDoesNotKnow]

@@dtnuh He started out as a critic of hers and compared her unfavorably to Cyndi Lauper during both of their debuts. But he later grew to respect her, and when MTV wanted to interview her, he was the one Madonna chose exclusively to be interviewed by until he left or stepped back.

[@seanohalloran384]

Madonna's "Ray Of Light" is one of the best songs of all time.

[@tristinkirby]

This was her very best album. The best era of Madonna.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

Definitely my second favorite

[@αρτιαννα]

Such a classic!!!!! I want a re-recording of this song!

[@blahblah4129]

This album was so well produced!

[@seviregis7441]

Love Madonna, so humble and genuine in person. Wish there was more footage of this session to catch her in the booth and watch the mixing in action.

[@MySkinnydip]

My favorite song later was Some Girls but I loved,loved Ray of Light! So happy they remixed Frozen! It is a masterpiece!😊

[@Jay-mi5dg]

Love this video 🔥 William orbit is an absolute genius for creating ray of light it still sounds amazing. Madonna looks stunning here too 😍

[@AntajuanGrady]

1999 was such a good year. I know the album is from 98 but it was all over 1999 along with debuts of Britney, Eminen, Xtina, JLo...

[@lafranzlafranzweewee5090]

I used to work with Kurt. Kurt is honestly one of the coolest human beings I've ever met in my life. I used to see him playing guitar in pink sock with his shoes off at MTV while he was waiting for the crew to set up his show in the common area outside of the green rooms. He talked kindly to everyone famous or not.

[@mrhcl6kerson1783]

In my opinion this was Madonna at her best in all aspects, musically, aesthetically, spiritually, she was so free and natural something magical happened to her in that time

[@readyfxrtheweekendx]

she was on a different level, a different mindset at that time. a lot of her ideas relating to spirituality and life philosophy during this era are what a great deal of people are only opening themselves up to now. truly a record of the future

[@gutspillage]

It's amazing to see how humble the production of the greatest pop music album was. Everything changed after Ray of Light.

[@JoshPinder92]

I was 6 years old when this album came out, As a 90s kid I am thankful my parents had a copy of Dick Tracy on VHS...I watched that after seeing BATMAN 1989/BATMAN RETURNS, it had a similar comic book noir energy..loved Madonna's songs on that...my parents had Breathless soundtrack/Immaculate Collection and accompanying video collection on VHS as well as Bedtime Stories....and that really brought me at a young age into the universe of Madonna...Ray of Light my parents played all the time...and it's true it really is an album that transports you truly outside of yourself....and that is incredible...Madonna was 40 here...achieved so much already/incredible albums and videos yet ROL solidified she could do it and bring the energy into the millenium and beyond too! No one today I think could ever achieve such incredible liberation/freedom and manage a incredible concept album (Beyonce, Gaga, maybe Lana/Taylor...but it all comes across too manufactured these days) I love hearing and seeing BTS on Madonna's albums this was a real triumphant first for MTV to see Madonna creating an iconic album (the impact would not be known then,,,,but over 20 million records and Gramy wins later history was made) I would have adored hearing the process of her work on Confessions...we kinda got to hear about the process of Madame X and her fight to get back to direct studio sessions without interfering voices/too many cooks in the kitchen like the majority of Pop music post 2010....this is art...this video clip alone could be studied and shown for decades to come too! thank you Madonna.

[@absoluteacw]

An excellent album. Groundbreaking. Madonna was making that step into musical greatness. It was that confidence of daring to be different technically.

[@robcanz7508]

Ray of Light album is in my TOP 3 for Madonna! She was in such a great headspace for for this album.

[@WasWasLo]

Legendary album

[@felipeyoutube04]

This is one of the greatest pop albums ever. She was so down to Earth, creative, imaginative, free, courageous. She knew how hard it would be to create this album, and still she took up the challenge like a boss 😎

[@tommylbthllr]

It’s crazy that people already called her old during this time, she was just 14 years in the business!

[@pabloi3391]

Very true!

[@matthewfajardo8461]

I will always come back to Ray of Light for the rest of my life !!!

[@carlosalenduran4630]

Ray of light is my favorite album by Madonna I love the whole project.she looks so gorgeous here.

[@danielamspaugh7519]

She's so different and down to earth here,

[@impopquiz]

It’s interesting to hear her say she’s not a musician in that aspect and yet she knew which place her vocals or music should be at. She was definitely the manager of the album. 😅

[@KS-oh9no]

Ray of Light one of Madonna's greatest record

[@donkeydrop]

what a cracking album! William Orbit and Madonna collab...i wish they collaborated more! Two masters at work!

[@MarabelleBlue]

I was obsessed when this album came out and this video was perfect at the inside look of making the songs especially when she "accidently" showed the original title to Skin. As for guitars, clearly we all know she took lessons later on in her career :-)

[@jurikii]

I miss this authenticity. It feels awkward and real. That is sorely lacking in todays super contrived industry where everything is completely curated, down to what people say and how they are “allowed” to act. This video shows the realness of being human in a collaborative artistic space. It’s chaotic and true. I love the vibe!

[@GuyunZhongli-ow4ti]

for real! but then multiple ppl working on tracks these days do not need to come all at once in the studio so cool

[@shadeyxo]

Ray of light was released a day after I was born and my name literally means ray of light in finnish

[@benjaminmtang]

iconic landmark album. such a treat to see the behind the scenes that created this masterpiece

[@BUweB]

Still Madonna s best Album. It still sounds amazing.

[@dreamygirlwow]

A phenomenal album, still invincible and utterly spiritual ❤❤💋💋🌹🌹Madonna's the best!!!

[@remingtongraves]

Happy birthday, Madonna!

[@conatcha]

Best BEST era of her.

[@codiestrauss9270]

This is when Madonna was More Hip love this era

[@SabaSaliba]

Both Ray of Light & Like A prayer are both masterpieces. None of her albums have topped them.

[@fabianfernandopereznavarro7922]

In fact when she recorded Madame X she puts a fragment of this video remember the old good times, she misses this reunions full of ideas

[@pablososa5697]

I love how stoned she was during this lol and it's even funnier looking at her face saying none of them were on something

[@elm1230]

Madonna is a fine artist working within the medium of pop music. I don’t know any other mainstream pop artist that is so deeply entrenched in nearly every facet of the creative process. Just listen to any interview from any era, and she can expound upon her references, the visual aspects, and succinctly communicate her ideals for a given work. It pains me to see her compared to her younger contemporaries, because what she does is still a cut above conceptually, visually, and intellectually. She’s painfully underrated as an artist, and it sucks most don’t get the irony in her work.

[@leftyla]

Oh wow, she haven't even decided the name of the cd when this was filmed!! This is awesome stuff!!

[@antonkern639]

definetly its her best cd - love to see her talking, drinking green tea.... 💛💚💙💜❤ what a great situation to interview her.... by far one of the biggest talents

[@vellbariaofficial]

This song is personal to me and still my personal favorite song of hers because I was also in the moment of finding myself in a society where people control you while you have little to no freedom of being yourself. I'm in that situation since my childhood now. I wanted to be free and gracefully embrace my inner independent self after living my life full of pretense.

[@naurking5388]

Legendary act

[@Maloveciri]

Great to see the full unedited cut. Thank you!!!

[@laurenmeltzer7159]

I think I remember seeing this when it was originally on. Ray of Light is by far her best album.

[@errizerikhalanceta3698]

Ray of light was a masterpiece

[@adriancolon8435]

Grammy-Winning Masterpiece ❤️

[@haroldkingsantiagosongs]

I bought this 'Ray Of Light' Album right away when It was released. 🎙🎶❤🙏😇

[@a.g364]

Good old days, wish I could turn back time

[@WaldyOnline]

OMG uno de mis álbumes favoritos de la reina del pop ♥ MADONNA ROCKS!!!

[@jenniferwebb677]

She was beautiful here❤❤

[@ReneContrerasMarzol]

I'll never stop saying this is the best album of 90's should have won album of the year at the Grammys and that's the most stunning elegant refine sofisticated gorgeous 40 years in a human being I've ever seen only after Cher's 40. Madonna look more amazing in her 40 year than when she was younger

[@doctorgenerous]

She is just effortlessly cool and engaging. Endlessly enamored by her artistry - she has gone places that have left me inspired and changed.

[@beachstreet101]

Love seeing her working. She’s her most authentic self here.

[@KarinaModie]

I remember watching this. Kurt’s interviews with Madonna were always the best.

[@kadeshow]

Ray of Light, Confessions and American Life are her masterpieces. They’re where she reveals her true self, outside of the persona.

[@conuco26]

Ahh, love love love this era, this album and this interview ❤❤❤

[@mrqs1549]

I love her sense of humor.