Nothing Really Matters ● (1999) ● 'Ray of Light'

 

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To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Madonna's seventh studio album Ray of Light, Song of the Week brings you the five official singles from that era...

 

Background

As well as working with Orbit and Leonard, Madonna collaborated with Marius de Vries to create the fifth and final single, Nothing Really Matters (de Vries also worked on Skin and Little Star). The song incorporates Madonna confronting those who "judged and dissected her creative process" and the birth of her daughter, Lourdes: "...the most important thing is loving people and sharing love. The birth of my daughter has been a huge influence. It's different to look at life through the eyes of a child, and suddenly you have a whole new respect for life and you kind of get your innocence back."

 

Nothing Really Matters had reasonable chart success, becoming a Top 10 hit in Canada, Italy, New Zealand and UK. It's sales in the UK stood at 128,000 as of August 2008, however was still certified 'Silver' by the BPI for shipments of 200k. However, in the US it became her lowest charting single at #93 (although other singles have not charted at all). It was generally reviewed positively by critics, praising the remixes and was seen as a highlight on the album.

 

The video for Nothing Really Matters was influenced by the Geisha style and shows "white-clad Swedes of Asian heritage" butoh dancing whilst Madonna dances in another scene. At the beginning of the video, she's seen holding what looks like a baby - symbolising her Lourdes - however turns out to be a bag of water to show materialism. The video was nominated at the MTV Video Music Awards for Best Special Effects but lost to Garbage's Special.

 

Like The Power of Goodbye, Madonna has never included Nothing Really Matters on the set-lists for her tours, however she did perform it at the 1999 Grammy Awards which captured the look of the official music video.

 

Opinion

This is my least favourite single from Ray of Light, however I still enjoy hearing it on the album, the last verse which beings "nothing takes the past away..." especially. The video is a little weird but I do like the style of it - that red clothing she wears and I think the dark hair always looks good on her. Her performance at the Grammies was an enjoyable watch, another example of Madonna's improved vocals.

 

Versions

Album Version [4:27]

Edit [4:11]

Club 69 Funk Mix [8:00]

Club 69 Future Dub [5:48]

Club 69 Future Mix [8:19]

Club 69 Mix Show Mix [5:40]

Club 69 Radio Mix [3:45]

Club 69 Speed Dub [10:25]

Club 69 Speed Mix [10:35]

Club 69 Vocal Club Mix [7:51]

Kruder & Dorfmeister Remix [11:10]

Vikram Cybercut [13:44]

Vikram Radio Remix [7:43]

Vikram Remix [8:37]

 

Videos

Official Music Video:

 

1999 Grammy Awards performance:

 

If you have any requests for Song of the Week, feel free to PM me or SweetCandy! Also, I've added links to previous Songs of the Weeks below, so if you missed one, please do comment in them.

 

Songs of the Week

Week 1: I Know It

Week 2: Bad Girl

Week 3: Jump

Week 4: Sky Fits Heaven

Week 5: Causing a Commotion

Week 6: Die Another Day

Week 7: Dress You Up

Week 8: Frozen

Week 9: Ray of Light

Week 10: Drowned World/Substitute of Love

Week 11: The Power of Goodbye

Week 12: Nothing Really Matters

It's my favourite single from the album, love it!!.

The video has some great images of Madonna (I love the bit towards the end where she's pointing her finger looking cross and laughing, don't ask me why I just do lol).

 

I was disappointed that the song didn't make the DWT set list and it could of easily sat in the second section of the show and even more disappointed that it never made the RIT set list but at least the intention was there I guess and I understand why it was dropped, at least she's performed it live. I do wish its performed again someday.

One of my favourites from the album especially the video where Madonna looks fierce. Shame it did so badly on the Billboard 100 but at least a respectable peak in the UK

From memory it didnt get pushed in americ due to beautiful stranger hype .

That's right.

This is another album highlight for sure and was a great single choice. I believe this song as a great chance of being a video interlude on a tour

I guess with it being the fifth single from an incredibly successful album wouldn't have been it's favour. Funnily enough, Beautiful Stranger wasn't released as an official single, but the hype was definitely there since it reached #19 on the Billboard 100 due to radio airplay.