On May 10 1986, Live To Tell peaked at #2 on the Top 100 Singles chart in the UK.
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Today in Madonna History: May 9, 1998
On May 9 1998, Ray of Light debuted and peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart. It was held back from the top spot by another debut entry, All Saints’s double A-side charity single, Under the Bridge/Lady Marmalade.
Ray Of Light was the 68th best-selling song of 1998 in the UK, with the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certifying it Silver for shipment of 200,000 copies.
Today in Madonna History: May 8, 2013
On May 8 2013, Madonna donated her original painting of Fernand Léger’s Trois Femmes à la Table Rouge to Sotheby’s Impressionist and Modern Art Auction. The painting from 1921 was estimated to be worth $5-7 million. It sold for $7.2 million, with proceeds benefiting Madonna’s Ray Of Light Foundation, supporting girl’s education projects in the Middle East and South Asia.
The painting had been in Madonna’s collection since 1990. Here’s what she had to say about the fantastic sale:
“I am thrilled that my painting sold at Sotheby’s above and beyond expectations! I’m eternally grateful to the anonymous collector who bought it – as will every girl who will have a chance to go to school because of their generosity. Thank you. Thank You. Thank you!”
Today in Madonna History: May 7, 1991
On May 7 1991, Madonna admits her bisexuality in a controversial 2-part interview with The Advocate magazine.
Today in Madonna History: May 6, 1998
On May 6 1998, Ray of Light was released by Maverick Records. The title track from her seventh studio album was issued internationally as the album’s second single.
Ray Of Light is based on a track called Sepheryn by Curtiss Maldoon, and was included on their 1971 self-titled album. In 1996, Christine Leach, Maldoon’s niece, recorded her version of the track with William Orbit. Leach said she had always loved Dave Curtiss and Clive Maldoon’s work and noted that Sepheryn had a dream-like quality. Leach revised the chorus melody while Orbit provided new music for the song. After Madonna heard Leach’s version of the track, she immediately took to it and began reworking its lyrics.
Maldoon said he “couldn’t believe it” after he heard it, and was pleased with what Madonna had done with his original composition. Madonna said about the song: “It’s totally out of control. The original version is well over 10 minutes long. It was completely indulgent, but I loved it. It was heartbreaking to cut it down to a manageable length.”
Madonna’s original unedited version was set to be included on a remix album titled Veronica Electronica that was initially discussed as a follow-up to Ray Of Light, but plans for the collection apparently never made it past the drawing board.
Today in Madonna History: April 29, 1989
On April 29 1989, Madonna’s Like A Prayer album entered its second week at #1 on the Canadian album charts.
Hitting number #1 on April 22 1989, Like A Prayer would remain at the top of the Canadian album charts until the week of June 3 1989.
Today in Madonna History: April 27, 1985
On April 27 1985, Madonna’s Angel single was briefly reviewed in Billboard magazine as it entered the Hot 100 at #48.
The Angel 12-inch single would be issued commercially in North America in late May. It included an extended dance mix of the titular track, but let’s be real, people bought it for Into The Groove on the flip – it being the only North American home for the classic dance floor gem until a remixed version appeared on You Can Dance in 87. In Canada, young cassette-loving buyers’ interest in the b-side prompted Warner Canada to issue the first Madonna cassette maxi-single, as the format would eventually be known.
Today In Madonna History 