Nothing Really Matters

"Nothing Really Matters"
Single by Madonna
from the album Ray of Light
B-side	"To Have and Not to Hold"
Released	March 2, 1999
Format	CD single, 7", cassette
Recorded	1997
Genre	Dance, house
Length	4:27
Label	Maverick, Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Madonna Patrick Leonard
Producer	Madonna William Orbit Marius De Vries
Certification	Silver (UK)
Madonna singles chronology
"The Power of Good-Bye" (1998) "Nothing Really Matters" (1999) "Beautiful Stranger" (1999)

"Nothing Really Matters" is a pop-dance music song written by American singer Madonna and Patrick Leonard for Madonna's seventh album Ray of Light (1998). The song was released as the final single from the album in the spring of 1999. It was produced by Madonna, William Orbit and Marius De Vries and received a positive reception from music critics.

Background

In J. Randy Taraborrelli's book Madonna: An Intimate Biography, she said that the main inspiration behind "Nothing Really Matters", and "The Power of Good-bye" from the same album, was other people judging and dissecting her creative process. Elaborating on the statement, she added: "I don't really want to [allow others] to dissect my creative process too much. What's the point, really? In 'Nothing Really Matters' and 'The Power of Good-bye', I want people to have a visceral and emotional reaction to things, rather than to have in their mind where all my stuff comes from. With the songs, I wanted to say that it does not matter really what you think or do, just think by yourself, and not judge and dissect others. You know if I see a bug crawling across the floor and it inspired me to write the most incredible love poem, I don't want people to be thinking about their relationship, and then think of my bug crawling across the floor. It's then that the power of good-bye becomes better than the power of acceptance."^[1] The other important inspiration behind the song was her daughter Lourdes, whom she gave birth in 1996. Madonna stated,

"There's a song on the album called 'Nothing Really Matters', and it is very much inspired by my daughter. it's just realizing that at the end of the day, the most important thing is loving people and sharing love. The birth of my daughter has been a huge influence. It's different to look at life through the eyes of a child, and suddenly you have a whole new respect for life and you kind of get your innocence back. It's this realisation which I incorporated in 'Nothing Really Matters', 'Little Star' and 'Mer Girl'."^[2]

Chart performance

In the United States, the song debuted at number 25 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Chart, before appearing on the Billboard Hot 100 six weeks later, peaking at number 93, becoming Madonna's lowest peak position on the Hot 100. Many fans in the U.S. blamed Warner Bros. Records' marketing strategy for the song's poor charting. Warner released the music video in early February 1999 and then released a commercial single almost two months later. "Nothing Really Matters" was a hit on the Billboard Dance Charts though, reaching number one on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart and number three on the Hot Dance Singles Sales Chart. Internationally, the single was a modest success, reaching the top ten in countries such as the UK (where it is certified Silver), Canada, New Zealand, and Finland. In Spain, "Nothing Really Matters" debuted at number one on the AFYVE singles chart on the issue date March 10, 1999, staying at the top spot for three weeks.^[3] According to The Official Charts Company, "Nothing Really Matters" has sold 128,137 copies in the United Kingdom, as of August 2008.^[4]

Music video

Madonna dressed as a geisha in the music video for "Nothing Really Matters".

The music video was directed by Johan Renck and filmed on January 9–10, 1999 at Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, New York. The video shows Madonna in a geisha-inspired look (reportedly from "Memoirs of a Geisha") carrying what looks like a baby but is actually a bag of water meant to symbolize all that is materialistic, and alternately in a red and black kimono dancing to the song. Another part, featuring white-clad Swedes of Asian heritage performing butoh dance moves, was shot in the decommissioned R1 Reactor below the Royal Institute of Technology in central Stockholm.

The kimono Madonna wore in the video had been created by Jean-Paul Gaultier, who would later design Madonna's geisha-inspired costumes on her Drowned World Tour in 2001. Madonna later re-used the look of the video for her performance at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards in February 1999.

• Director: Johan Renck
• Producer: Nicola Doring
• Director of Photography: Gosta Reiland
• Editor: Max Vitali
• Production Company: Pettersson Akerlund Filmproduktion

Track listings and formats

US 7" vinyl (7-17102)[5] US CD single (9 17102-2)[6] A "Nothing Really Matters" (Album Version) — 4:27 B "To Have and Not to Hold" — 5:23 US 12" promo vinyl (PRO-A-9665-A)[7] A "Nothing Really Matters" (Vikram Cybercut) — 13:44 B "Nothing Really Matters" (Kruder & Dorfmeister Remix) — 11:10 US 12" promo vinyl (PRO-A-9700-A)[8] A "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Speed Mix) — 10:35 B "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Speed Dub) — 10:25 US 2 x 12" vinyl (9 44613-0)[9] A1 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Vocal Club Mix) — 7:51 A2 "Nothing Really Matters" (Album Version) — 4:27 B1 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Future Mix) — 8:19 B2 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Radio Mix) — 3:45 C1 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Funk Mix) — 8:00 C2 "Nothing Really Matters" (Vikram Radio Remix) — 7:43 D1 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Future Dub) — 5:48 D2 "Nothing Really Matters" (Kruder & Dorfmeister Remix) — 11:10 EU 12" vinyl (9362 44625 0)[10] A1 "Nothing Really Matters" (Album Version) — 4:27 A2 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Vocal Club Mix) — 7:51 B1 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Future Mix) — 8:19 B2 "Nothing Really Matters"(Kruder & Dorfmeister Remix) — 11:10 EU CD single (9362 44622 2)[11] "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Future Mix) — 8:19 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Funk Mix) — 8:00 "Nothing Really Matters" (Vikram Remix) — 8:37 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Mix Show Mix) — 5:40 AU CD single (93624 46202)[12] "Nothing Really Matters" (Album Version) — 4:27 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Radio Mix) — 3:45 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Vocal Club Mix) — 7:51 "Nothing Really Matters" (Kruder & Dorfmeister Remix) — 11:10

UK 12" promo vinyl (GFL 001)[13] A "Nothing Really Matters" (Kruder & Dorfmeister Dub) — 11:36 UK 12" vinyl (9362 44624 0)[14] A1 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Future Mix) — 8:19 A2 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Future Dub) — 5:48 B1 "Nothing Really Matters" (Kruder & Dorfmeister Remix) — 11:10 B2 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Radio Mix) — 3:45 UK cassette single (5439 16997 4)[15] "Nothing Really Matters" (Album Version) — 4:27 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Radio Mix) — 3:45 UK promo CD single (A5721 13)[16] "Nothing Really Matters" (Edit) — 4:11 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Radio Mix) — 3:45 UK CD single 1 (W471CD1)[17] "Nothing Really Matters" (Album Version) — 4:27 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Radio Mix) — 3:45 "Nothing Really Matters" (Kruder & Dorfmeister Remix) — 11:10 UK CD single 2 (W471CD2)[18] "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Radio Mix) — 3:45 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Future Mix) — 8:19 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Future Dub) — 5:48 JP Maxi-CD (WPCR-10298)[19] "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Future Mix) — 8:19 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Funk Mix) — 8:00 "Nothing Really Matters" (Vikram Radio Remix) — 7:42 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Mix Show Mix) — 5:40 US Maxi-CD (9 44613-2)[20] "Nothing Really Matters" (Album Version) — 4:27 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Vocal Club Mix) — 7:51 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Future Mix) — 8:19 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Funk Mix) — 8:00 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Speed Mix) — 10:35 "Nothing Really Matters" (Kruder & Dorfmeister Remix) — 11:10 "Nothing Really Matters" (Vikram Remix) — 8:37 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Future Dub) — 5:48 "Nothing Really Matters" (Club 69 Radio Mix) — 3:45

Credits and personnel

• Lead vocals — Madonna
• Background vocals — Donna DeLory, Niki Haris
• Drum programming — Steve Sidelnyk
• Audio engineers — Mark Endert, Jon Ingoldsby, Patrick McCarthy, Dave Reitzas, Matt Silva
• Mastering — Ted Jensen
• Art direction & design — Kevin Reagan
• Photography — Luis Sanchez

Charts and certifications

Chart (1999) Peak position Australia ARIA Singles Chart[21] 15 Austrian Singles Chart[21] 29 Belgian Flemish Ultratop 50[21] 43 Belgian Wallonie Ultratop 40[21] 39 Canadian Singles Chart[22] 6 Dutch Top 100[21] 34 Eurochart Hot 100 Singles[23] 16 Finnish Singles Chart[21] 6 French SNEP Singles Chart[21] 48 German Singles Chart[24] 38 Irish Singles Chart[25] 28 Italian Singles Chart[26] 7 New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart[21] 7 Spanish Singles Chart[3] 1 Swedish Singles Chart[21] 41 Swiss Singles Chart[21] 26 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[27] 93 U.S. Billboard Hot Singles Sales[28] 27 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[27] 1 UK Singles Chart[29] 7

Country Certification Sales/Shipments United Kingdom[30] Silver 200,000

Preceded by "You Gotta Be" by Des'ree	Spanish Singles Chart number-one single March 10, 1999 - March 24, 1999	Succeeded by "Promises" by The Cranberries
Preceded by "(You Got Me) Burnin' Up" by Cevin Fisher featuring Loleatta Holloway	Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single March 13, 1999 - March 20, 1999	Succeeded by "Jackie's Strength" by Tori Amos

Release history

Country	Date
Europe	March 2, 1999
United States	April 13, 1999
Japan	April 21, 1999

References

1. ^ *Taraborrelli, Randy J. (2002). Madonna: An Intimate Biography. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781416583462. 
2. ^ Lysloff, René; Gay, Leslie (2003). Music and technoculture. Wesleyan University Press. pp. 192. ISBN 0819565148. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 8480486392. 
4. ^ Jones, Alan (2008-08-19). "The Immaculate Guide To 50 Years Of Madonna". Music Week (UBM plc). http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=22&storycode=1035210. Retrieved 2011-06-11. 
5. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
6. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
7. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
8. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
9. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
10. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
11. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
12. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
13. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
14. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
15. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
16. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
17. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
18. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
19. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
20. ^ Madonna - Nothing Really Matters
21. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} "European charts". hitparade.ch. http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?key=3874&cat=s. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 
22. ^ Allmusic
23. ^ Madonna: chart data (1999). "Eurochart". mariah-charts.com. http://www.mariah-charts.com/chartdata/PMadonna.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 
24. ^ Charts-Surfer (1999). "German Singles Chart (Search)". charts-surfer.de. http://www.charts-surfer.de/. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 
25. ^ Irish Charts (March 4, 1999). "Irish Singles Chart (Search)". irishcharts.ie. http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 
26. ^ "Madonna: Discografia Italiana" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. 1984-1999. http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/mono/madonna_disco.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 
27. ^ ^{a b} Allmusic (1999). "Billboard Charts". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p64565/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 
28. ^ Billboard magazine (May 1, 1999). "Hot Singles Sales". billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=353&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Singles+Sales&ci=3033945&cdi=7437984&cid=05%2F01%2F1999. Retrieved 2008-08-06. ^{[dead link]}
29. ^ Every Hit (March, 1999). "UK Singles Chart (Search)". everyhit.com. http://www.everyhit.com/. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 
30. ^ British Phonographic Industry (April 1, 1999). "U.K. certification (search)". bpi.co.uk. http://www.bpi.co.uk/. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 

External links

• Billboard.com. link. Last accessed on Feb. 25, 2006. - US chart positions.
• MoCaW: Madonna on Charts around the World. link. Last accessed on Feb. 25, 2006. - Worldwide chart positions and certifications.
• EIL.com. link. Last accessed on Feb. 25, 2006. - Formats and track listings.