| HITS - RAY OF LIGHT released, certified triple platinum (3 million copies sold US) and sales of almost 5 million overseas. Her most since 1990's THE IMMACULATE COLLECTION -Frozen hits #2 on Billboard, #1 in UK and #1 in the clubs -Ray Of Light hits #5 on Billboard, #2 in UK and #1 for 4 weeks in the clubs! -Roxy performance in February, a triumphant return to performing live -Oprah performances and interview -Rosie interview -November European Promo Tour -Virtual sweep of the MTV Video Music Awards -MTV Europe Awards -VH1 Fashion Awards performance and wins (bonus points for wearing three different stunning outfits!) -The Power Of Goodbye was an overseas hit -So was Drowned World/Substitute For Love (a small hit, but a hit) -Year End Lists: Rolling Stone: Albums That Mattered In '98 and Ray Of Light was chosen as the #2 single of the year! -Entertainment Weekly put RAY OF LIGHT at #5 on its best of music list Great hair all year! all in all, a great year and a great album | MISSES -She may have looked great, but her nervousness translated to sourness during her presentation of Best Song at the Oscars (I'd be sour too, handing it over to the evil Titanic song) -MTV Video Music Awards performance - Shanti/Ashtangi was done well, but Ray Of Light was an off-key tone deaf mess that was a big let down after the Oprah peerformance -World Vaishnava Associtation attacked the MTV performance for combining her facial paitings that meant purity with a see through top. Madonna's response: "If their so pure, why are they watching MTV?" diffussing a stupid scandal before it could start. -Ray Of Light limited edition video single sold only about 32,000 copies of its 40,000 copy print. Why? Because you could see the video every third song on MTV all summer! -Dropped out of 50 Violins and no one's holding their breath for Chicago to ever happen. -The Power Of Goodbye peaked at a disapointing #11, and may have peaked higher but Billboard changed its methods and now there is no longer a pop chart, so Madonna has to compete with Counry Music and R&B, which have there own chart as well, pop does not. Stupid Billboard. It will be interesting to see how this affects her next singles. |