In the midst of discussions on wigs, fur, implants, fillers, age, and all other superficial things that might rock your world, I challenge everyone to watch this entire interview. One might not agree with all she says but it is definitely a glimpse into who Madonna is and what she stands for/stood for, what moves her, as an artist, as a human being.
So next time, one goes on about with their ageist and superficial judgements, take a second to remember who this great artist and freedom fighter is.
It’s a long video. I dare you to watch it all and truly think about what she is saying.
Before I start the post, I just want to beg all of you to not bring religion into the discussion. I respect everyone's religious beliefs, and I'm just sharing what I have learnt recently.
Gosh I am absolutely MIND BLOWNNNNNNN. The song and video completely took on a new meaning after I've read more about spirituality recently. I am absolutely in awe of the art she has created with the team, I never knew I could love this song even more. Please bear with me, you will appreciate and love ROL even more, and understand what Madonna really wants to say through the song.
If you are not exposed to spirituality, the song can easily be misinterpreted. To the general public the song may seem to express how fast her life passes by, how she's got the whole universe as a successful person, how she feels like having a piece of heaven on earth, how her legacy will live on through the generations to come.
But after learning more about spirituality, I finally understood the intricate meanings in the song and video. Before I dive into the lyrics, I'll try my best to explain some common understandings across spiritual teachings.
Summary of my spirituality learnings
When you are awakened spiritually, you are one with the universe. In the higher spiritual realm, there is no you, there is no me. There is no hate, there is no love. No past and no present, same for every other examples of duality you can think of. Each only exist because of the absence of the other, but in the spiritual world these dualities do not exist. Very much like how yin and yang are opposites, but becomes a whole when joined. We are one with everything that needs to be known and no explanation is needed anymore, you can be anything, you can do anything, you are in heaven.
In the real physical world that we live in, concepts of dualities exist hence the chaos. You understand the meaning of peace, only when there is war in the world. You feel sadness, because you understand how happiness feels.
Our spiritual self exists through various physical forms across time. A popular belief that also shares the same concept is reincarnation. In the spiritual realm everyone and everything is connected, so your spiritual self is also known as "God" in some religions.
Song lyrics
In summary, the whole meaning of the song is about her spiritual journey and how the Universe/God/Cosmic Energy/Spiritual Self welcomes her home. At the start she struggles in the physical world, and learns about spirituality. There are times she feels one with the universe but it's always gone quickly, it is not easy to always be spiritual in the real world. As the song progresses, we can tell that she is slowly becoming one with the universe. Towards the end, she has awakened and become one with the universe.
The highlight in the song writing is when she uses third-person and first-person when referring to herself. When she uses "I", it is her true awakened spiritual self/God/Universe/CosmicEnergy that exist in various forms through time. When it comes to phrases with "she", it refers to Madonna that we all know of in the physical world.
The music starts out peaceful and heavenly, like how we are born as pure and untainted. But with the rude awakening of the real world and what society teaches, our lives become very chaotic. This is the start of Madonna's spiritual journey where she questions the world she lives in.
Zephyr in the sky, at night I wonder Do my tears of mourning sink beneath the sun
"I", her spiritually awakened self, ponders on the troubles of the world which keeps her up at night. She wonders if all this sadness will magically disappear when she wakes up.
She's got herself a universe gone quickly For the call of thunder threatens everyone
Even though "She" manages to be one with the universe when she is spiritually aware, Madonna always snaps out of this awakened state due to various threats and fear in the real world. People's hate, war, cruelty, news, consumerism etc.
And I feel like I just got home And I feel And I feel like I just got home And I feel
A celebration of the start of her spiritual journey. "I" welcomes Madonna to her true spiritual self.
Faster than the speeding light she's flying Trying to remember where it all began
"She" is becoming much more spiritually aware as she learns about the truth, questioning religion, trying to understand her world.
She's got herself a little piece of heaven Waiting for the time when earth shall be as one
"She" enjoys a little piece of heaven, because she understand what it's like to be spiritually awakened. But the rest of the world is not aware, so she waits for the world to wake up and show more compassion, to be one and not separate.
And I feel like I just got home And I feel And I feel like I just got home And I feel
"I" welcomes Madonna to her true spiritual self. This welcoming occurs throughout the song as she gets closer to the truth/God/Universe.
Quicker than a ray of light Quicker than a ray of light Quicker than a ray of light
At this point at her highest pitch, it almost feels like she has awakened spiritually and is at peace. She is one with all that defies the logic of our physical world where speed of light is the fastest.
Zephyr in the sky, at night I wonder Do my tears of mourning sink beneath the sun She's got herself a universe gone quickly For the call of thunder threatens everyone
The music quietens to an introspective mode. A sombre final question at her deathbed if all the sadness of the world will indeed disappear in the afterlife. Again in a fearful state, this time the call of thunder is death in the physical world. She sings and drags "threatens everyone" like she is breathing her last. The music finally bursts into dizzying warped effects and high pitch bleeps, like an exhilarating journey to another realm.
And I feel quicker than a ray of light Then gone for Someone else shall be there Through the endless years
At her current afterlife spiritual state, she finally sees the truth. She understands that this spiritual state she's in will end, because she will exist in the physical world again in another form, and the cycle repeats over and over.
She's got herself a universe She's got herself a universe She's got herself a universe
This time her universe is not gone quickly, she is one with the universe.
And I feel like I just got home And I feel And I feel like I just got home And I feel
At this stage, "I" is indeed home. And Madonna screams her famous triumphant shriek of victory.
Quicker than a ray of light she's flying Quicker than a ray of light I'm flying
"She" and "I" has become one finally after the whole spiritual journey.
Music Video
In the music video, the span of a lifetime is shown through the concept of day to night.
It starts with the sun rising peacefully, very much like our spiritual state when we are born. But the chaos and madness of the real world kicks in really rudely, if I may say, almost like the call of thunder.
At moments throughout the music video, we see a transparent Madonna being spiritually aware of the world she is in at various stages of her life. This is her being ecstatic and dancing freely in her awakened state, where she can be her true self, hence the awkward spontaneous dancing.
The journey progresses as she sings "And I feel like I just got home" against the backdrop of clear blue skies. She has got herself a piece of heaven, she has become more awakened spiritually. She is also becoming more and more ecstatic in her movements.
At 2:45 after climatic fast cuts of life, we see Madonna doing an yin yang, as though she has become one with all that she has learned in her life. The sun sets as she solemnly sings at the end of her life. BAM! I love this part! She starts travelling to the spiritual realm after death and is absolutely ecstatic, the visuals and lights here are insanely trippy!!! Her expression is overwhelmed in this segment, she is gaining knowledge of all that is this universe. She has become one, she expresses this very obviously at 3:48 circular motion, again at 3:55 because this cycle is endless.
Towards the end at the disco scene, she has arrived home. Everyone's blissful heaven. She has become one with everyone. A very nice touch at the end at 4:54 where she breaks the 4th wall and show the physical world spinning furiously through time. Almost to remind us how time does not exist in her heaven.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9pP0-LY9MA
Check out this video of her explaining the song at the start of the interview. You can tell she really struggled to explain the spiritual meaning for the general public and decided to go with a more generic dumbed down explanation. She has a song to promote after all. It's a shame she can't dive into the art that she so masterfully pieced together.
Many do not understand the meaning of ROL, and some find the lyrics nonsensical even. If you like my analysis, please share with other Madonna fans. Thank you for reading such a long post!
The problem with the upside down one is the fact, that they forgot to switch the color of the text.
I have recreated the original two covers as well as an upside down version with color corrected text. The album title doesn’t disappear as much in this one as it does in the one above but it’s still kinda hard to see.
I personally don’t like how they zoomed in on her. Was that really necessary?
I use this cover instead because it stays true to the original photograph and avoids the text issue altogether:
Wow people... honestly I'm AMAZED by this gesture of her!
That's what I was waiting since years and now I I bow down to her braveness and dignity! She shows the body of a mature woman for what it looks like and it's about acceptance and maturity. Nobody at her level ever did this, nobody had the courage and the strenght.
SHE FUCKING IS MY QUEEN AND I'M FUCKING PROUD OF HER TODAY!
(as for the reason, this is the anti-"Bitch I'm Madonna"-mood, wich we suppose wil be the album mood, and it's gonna make a loooot of noise on papers and web)
I really love the early Jellybean/Shep Pettibone remixes. I wish Like A Virgin would have been given full remix treatment with dubs and special 12" mixes other than the one Extended Dance Mix.
I would have loved if songs from True Blue had been remixed by Stock Aitken Waterman/Pete Hammond, especially Open Your Heart, Papa Don't Preach or even Causing A Commotion. Also would have liked La Isla Bonita or Who's That Girl be remixed by Lewis Martineé (producer of girl group Exposé and Pet Shop Boys' Domino Dancing), as he had that unique Latin flavour sound.
Would have loved songs from Erotica album be remixed by Full Force, DJ Pierre or C+C Music Factory. I know David Cole of C+C did some piano work for the You Can Dance project. Pretender should have been remixed for You Can Dance.
I'm still surprised Vogue was never fully remixed by several remixers of that time.
Justify My Love/Rescue Me/Like A Prayer mixes were all very well done. Like A Prayer could have been given the Prince remix treatment. It could have been mashed up with Love Song too. Actually I would die if Madonna ever did a new studio cover of a Prince written song--especially Vanity 6's Nasty Girl.
I really loved the Calderone mixes from the Ray of Light/Music era. Junior remixes of Secret are epic.
I remember wishing American Life songs be remixed by The Postal Service/Jimmy Tamborello/Rilo Kiley. I think it would have been fun to hear an Indie sound to that album.
I hope with the new album she introduces new DJ remixes especially from Portugal or young, fresh, off the tip of the new artsy underground, LOL. I'd love remixes by Penguin Prison, Tensnake, Sufjan Stevens, Grizzly Bear, Chromeo, Miss Honey Dijon and/or some hot queer DJ.
I think Nicolas Jaar is a genius and I would love for him to produce some sophisticated remixes for Madonna. He also would make an excellent producer for one of her albums.
In the late eighties and early nineties I was a big fan of Mylène Farmer. Her producer was Laurent Boutonnat and I have often wondered what a Madonna album would sound like if he were to produce one. I would also love Madonna working with Daft Punk and Grimes.
In the nineties I would have loved some great remixes by Rollo & Sister Bliss.
I also think Xenomania (a songwriting and production team founded by Brian Higgins) could have produced some excellent songs for Madonna. Xenomania had great succes with Girls Aloud and they really understand pop music. The melodies were sublime and the lyrics were sassy. But perhaps the Xenomania sound would be a bit too British for Madonna? Having said that, I would really dig an album produced by the Pet Shop Boys.
Remixes by Dan Snaith, Ashley Beedle, Todd Terje, Four Tet, Solomun, Quintin Harris and Junior Sanchez would really be appreciated.
I dreamed up a Deluxe Edition a few years ago.
Of course, I'd swap the dvd for a Blu Ray if I could.
http://pearlsofpassion.blogg.se/2013/november/madonna-ray-of-light-deluxe-edition-wish-list.html
I dreamed up a Deluxe Edition a few years ago.
Of course, I'd swap the dvd for a Blu Ray if I could.
http://pearlsofpassion.blogg.se/2013/november/madonna-ray-of-light-deluxe-edition-wish-list.html
I remember waiting for Thief Of Hearts to be released, and was quite bummed when it wasn't.
I love that song and desperately wanted remixes of it. It would've been a hit.
Same thing for Beautiful Killer. Too bad it was hidden away like that.
This was the second last cassette single I ever bought! Listened to it just before the album, and was somewhat excited by the single, but a bit scared by Shanti which was the B Side ....
So good memories. By that time I remember I was in Brussels, on my first trip to Europe and I heard a really short snippet of Frozen on the radio and something about a new album coming soon, it was still the pre massive internet era so all was more surprising and exciting. Then I saw the CD single in some german record store and I played it on those cd players they had for preview. I was so happy with the new sound, those incredible remixes and that beautiful cover. ROL was a great era
Celebration reacted to Madgesty in Did Madonna age faster between 1994-1997?
Celebration got a reaction from LivingForLove94 in Most memorable moments
Celebration got a reaction from Starchild in 1998 - Ray Of Light [20 Years Old]
Celebration got a reaction from skyfitswim in 1998 - Ray Of Light [20 Years Old]