Wiktionary
n. 1 (context physics English) a path a photon or a group of photons takes through space, visible as a column of light 2 (context idiomatic English) an inspiring or enlightening person or thing
WordNet
n. a column of light (as from a beacon) [syn: beam, beam of light, light beam, ray, shaft, shaft of light, irradiation]
Wikipedia
Ray of Light is the seventh studio album by American singer Madonna. It was released on February 22, 1998 by the Maverick and Warner Bros. Records. After giving birth to her first child, Lourdes, Madonna started working on the album with producers Babyface and Patrick Leonard. Following failed sessions with them, Madonna pursued a new musical direction with English producer William Orbit. The recording took place over four months and experienced problems with Orbit's hardware arrangement, which would break down, and recording would have to be delayed until they could be repaired.
A major departure from her previous work, Ray of Light is an electronica record which incorporates several genres, including techno, trip hop, drum and bass, ambient, rock, and classical music. Vocally, the album saw Madonna sing with greater breadth and a fuller tone. Mystical themes are also strongly present in both lyrics and music as a result of Madonna embracing Kabbalah, her study of Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as her daily practice of Hatha Yoga.
The album received universal acclaim with reviews commending the singer's new musical direction. Called her "most adventurous" record, Ray of Light has been noted for its mature, restrained nature; reviewers also praised Madonna's vocals. Ray of Light won four Grammy Awards from a total of six nominations. Commercially, the album peaked at number one in many countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. On the US Billboard 200, the album debuted and peaked at number two, with the biggest first week sales by a female artist at the time. Ray of Light has sold more than 16 million copies worldwide.
Five singles were released from the album including the international hits " Frozen" and " Ray of Light". The album's promotion was later supported by the Drowned World Tour in 2001. Academics noted the album's influence on popular music, and how it introduced electronica into mainstream pop culture. They also noted Madonna's musical re-invention with the album, which helped her remain contemporary among the teenage artists of the period. Ray of Light has been ranked among lists of greatest albums of all time.
"Ray of Light" is a song by American singer Madonna. It is the title track from her seventh studio album Ray of Light (1998), and was released as the album's second single on May 6, 1998, by Maverick Records. The song was also included on the compilation albums GHV2 (2001) and Celebration (2009). Written by Madonna, William Orbit, Clive Muldoon, Dave Curtiss, Christine Leach, and produced by Madonna and Orbit, "Ray of Light" is based on Curtiss Maldoon's "Sepheryn" and is an electronic dance song with techno, trance, Eurodance, and disco influences, "Ray of Light" contains several sound effects such as whistles, bleeps and bells, the usage of electric guitar, and underlying synths. Lyrically, the song has a theme of freedom.
The song has received critical acclaim by music critics, for its club-friendly, electronic sound, lyrics, and "emotional warmth". The song was also nominated for three Grammy Awards; for Record of the Year, Best Dance Recording, and Best Short Form Music Video, winning the last two. "Ray of Light" debuted and peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Madonna's highest debut on the chart to date. It also reached number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Internationally, the song reached the top five in Canada, Finland, Italy and the United Kingdom, and peaked at number one in Scotland and Spain.
An accompanying music video for "Ray of Light" was directed by Jonas Åkerlund and shows scenes from different cities around the world, with Madonna singing the song in front of them. The video was critically acclaimed, receiving the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video, as well as winning five awards at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards. Later, Stefano Salvati accused her of plagiarizing the concept of a music video he directed for Biagio Antonacci in 1994. The song has been performed in three of Madonna's concert tours, most recently on her Sticky & Sweet Tour (2008–09). It has been covered by a number of artists, and has been featured in several elements of popular culture, such as on the FOX show Glee, as well as different advertising campaigns.
Ray of Light is the second solo album by Malaysian singer Michael Wong, released on 8 November 2002. Originally titled 光芒 (Guāng Máng) when it was released in China and Malaysia, the international re-release was titled as "Ray of Light".
Ray of light is an abstract model of light used in optics.
Ray of light may also refer to:
- Light beam, a narrow beam of light
- Crepuscular rays, rays of sunlight
Ray of Light, is a public artwork by artist Barton Rubenstein, located on the north side of the Redwood Shores Library, in Redwood City, California, United States. The sculpture, constructed from stainless steel, was commissioned as part of the G.R. Cress Bird Bath Project.