MADONNA FRIDAY: THE POWER OF GOODBYE

Fact: Madonna's Ray of Light album is amazing. Denial or refusal of this fact could result in deafness, the inability to walk or death. Beware. In 1998 Madonna was everywhere. Her ROL album was a huge hit and it's influence was just at the beginning of its changing the music industry. The third single from the album (fourth in the UK and most other territories) was the sweeping The Power of Goodbye. The song, written by Madonna and Rick Knowles and produced by Madonna, William Orbit and Patrick Leonard, is full of strings and, as per the ROL album, heavy electronic sounds. It was rumored that the lyrics were about Sean Penn ("learn to say goodbye. I yearn to say goodbye" et al) but Madonna has never commented on it. The video is one of Madonna's most beautiful. The theme of water and drowning as a rebirth are found throughout the ROL album, and this video is the most literal product of that theme. Madonna is shown in a beautiful house with a beautiful man, played by ER's Goran Visnjic (yum), all of which she seems unhappy with. The conclusion of the video has Madge drowning herself in the ocean, only to be seen thereafter happily sitting on the beach. It's simply outrageously gorgeous. The song reached #11 in the US in the fall of 1998, #6 in the UK, #1 in Mexico and is considered one of Madonna's best ballads. By me at least, and really...isn't that all that matters? Here is the excellent video for The Power of Goodbye. Happy Madonna Friday!