| "Nothing Really Matters" | ||||
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| Single by Madonna | ||||
| from the album Ray of Light | ||||
| B-side | "To Have and Not to Hold" | |||
| Released | February 9, 1999 | |||
| Recorded | 1997 | |||
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| Length | 4:27 | |||
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| Madonna singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Nothing Really Matters" on YouTube | ||||
"Nothing Really Matters" is a song by American singer Madonna for her seventh studio album, Ray of Light (1998). It was written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, and was produced by the singer with William Orbit and Marius De Vries. The song was released as the sixth and final single from the album on February 9, 1999, by Maverick Records and Warner Bros. Records. An electronic dance track on which Madonna experiments with different musical genres, "Nothing Really Matters" includes ambient music and electronic noise frequencies that were added by De Vries. Lyrically, the recording delves on the singer's first daughter Lourdes Leon. It also covers themes of selfishness, affection, and motherhood.
The song was critically appreciated for its lyrical content and composition, and was declared by reviewers as one of Madonna's most personal efforts; however, some critics felt it was tepid and lacklustre compared to other tracks from Ray of Light. In the United States, the song remains Madonna's lowest entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 93. Its low chart peak was due to lack of airplay and the delay in releasing it in CD single formats, to which the singer's fans protested against Warner Bros. The song became her 23rd number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart, reaching the top spot in Hungary and Spain, and entering the top ten in countries including Canada, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Scotland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
An accompanying music video was directed by Swedish director Johan Renck, and was released on February 13, 1999. Inspired by Arthur Golden's 1997 novel Memoirs of a Geisha, the video portrays Madonna as a geisha dancing in a small room. The red kimono worn by her in the video was designed by French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier and worn by the singer during her performance of the song at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. The costume and music video have been cited by journalist and academics as owing to one of Madonna's most iconic and best reinventions.