Song of the day: Drowned World/Substitute For Love

Written by Madonna, William Orbit, Rod McKuen, Anita Kerr and David Collins
Produced by Madonna and William Orbit
Drums by Fergus Gerrand

Drowned World starts off with a male voice saying 'You see', which is a sample of 'Why I Follow The Tigers', performed by The San Sebastian Strings. The author Rod McKuen explains: "The voice belongs to Jesse Pearson and the repeated phrase is 'You see'. If you follow the lyrics on 'Drowned World' and 'Why I Follow the Tigers' you’ll find 'Drowned' follows the plot line of 'Tigers', which is why Anita [Kerr] and I receive co-author credit on the song and not merely 'sampling mention'."

This third Ray Of Light-single was released in August 1998, but only outside the US. The song clearly shows how Madonna, especially since Lola's birth, has matured. She realized fame can be a substitute for love, but it's not the most important thing in life. In the charts, Drowned World reached #10 in the UK and Japan, #5 in Italy and #16 in Australia. It was a #1 hit in Spain.

I traded fame for love
Without a second thought
It all became a silly game
Some things cannot be bought

I got exactly what I asked for
Wanted it so badly
Running, rushing back for more
I suffered fools
So gladly

And now I find
I've changed my mind

The face of you
My substitute for love
My substitute for love
Should I wait for you
My substitute for love
My substitute for love

I traveled round the world
Looking for a home
I found myself in crowded rooms
Feeling so alone

I had so many lovers
Who settled for the thrill
Of basking in my spotlight
I never felt
So happy

The face of you
My substitute for love
My substitute for love
Should I wait for you
My substitute for love
My substitute for love
Mmmm mmm mmm mmm mmm
Oh oh oh ohh

Famous faces, far off places
Trinkets I can buy
No handsome stranger, heady danger
Drug that I can try
No ferris wheel, no heart to steal
No laughter in the dark
No one night stand, no far off land
No fire that I can spark
Mmmm mmm mmm mmm mmm
Mmmm mmm mmm mmm mmm

The face of you
My substitute for love
My substitute for love
Mmmm mmm mmm mmm mmm
Should I wait for you
My substitute for love
My substitute for love

Now I find I've changed my mind

This is my religion

The video, directed by Walter Stern, shows 'a day in the life of Madonna'. In the morning she leaves her home and is awaited by tons of paparazzi, following her around. Arriving at a hotel, crazy fans try to get to her. She constantly has to run and hide, even from the other celebs in the hotel bar. In that scene all faces, except Maddy's, are distorted to make everyone look demoniacal. A touching moment is when Madonna meets the room girl that smiles at her and sees her as a person, but then gets out a camera and sees her as a famous object. Finally Madonna comes back home to find the only true love, her daughter that loves her as a person and not as a celebrity. The child in the video isn't Lourdes however, it's a 'Substitute for Lola'! The video was criticized for similating Princess Di's death. But of course, being followed by paparazzi is an element of Madonna's daily life.



Since the Drowned World Tour was named after this song, it was also the opening song. Madonna came on stage in a red kilt on top of a black cyber-punk outfit (in the US she changed this outfit). She gave a stunning performance, standing on a rising stage, surrounded by smoke. This symbolised the birth of Venus, while the stages of the musicians, drifting apart, symbolised the continents during the creation of the (drowned) world. Imagery of blue water effects stood for the element of the first part of the show: water (followed by air, earth & fire)! Such a beautiful song, being the first tour song in 8 years, it sure sent shivers down my spine!



On the Confessions Tour Madonna took a moment to address the fans and ask them where they are from by showing their flags. She urges everyone to unite and stand up against war ("Repeat after me! No more war! We want peace! F*ck George Bush!"). While she stays seated on the steps of the catwalk, she then performs Drowned World, stripped down to a beautiful acoustic version. No fancy video or choreography, just concentrating on the beauty of the song itself. And that way it's done all justice. Fans respond to this intimate moment by waving their hands - and lighters - in the air.