This song is part of our “THE SUMMER 97 (1998 x 2023)” playlist. Check out the full list.
Momentous life events often yield creative breakthroughs for an artist. On her 1998 opus “Ray of Light,” Madonna combined her newfound appreciation for mystics and electronica to revitalize her sound and image with the most effective and profound reinvention of her chameleonic career. “Nothing Really Matters,” the album’s final single, is a reflective, zen anthem that grapples with karma and maturation. Atop the bouncy, House-inspired EDM track, Madonna muses meditative mantras of motivation with a vocal delivery that is at times om-like. As the track progresses, its tempo and layers build with one goal: liberation via levitation.
Watch the “Nothing Really Matters” video, stream it, or purchase “Ray of Light” on vinyl.
In celebration of summer, the staff at THE 97 has compiled a playlist containing some of our favorite summer songs, from then and now. Each day we will reveal one song, rotating daily between past and present with pairings from 1998 and 2023, for a total of 97 days/songs. Since we love nostalgia, we’re celebrating summer songs from 1998 as they turn 25, alongside new songs that we feel deserve some shine. Pairings could be thematic, sonic, or based connections between the artists.
Check out our full “THE SUMMER 97 (1998 x 2023)” playlist here.
