Beautiful Stranger

"Beautiful Stranger"
Single by Madonna
from the album Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Released May 29, 1999[1]
Format CD single, 12", 7", cassette
Recorded February 1999[2]
Genre
Length 4:22
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Madonna
  • William Orbit
Madonna singles chronology
"Nothing Really Matters"
(1999)		 "Beautiful Stranger"
(1999)		 "American Pie"
(2000)

"Beautiful Stranger" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was released on May 29, 1999 by Maverick Records. Madonna co-wrote and co-produced the song with British songwriter and musician William Orbit for the soundtrack and motion picture Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. The song later appeared on two separate Madonna greatest hits collections; GHV2 (2001) and Celebration (2009). "Beautiful Stranger" is an up-tempo love song featuring heavily reverberated guitars and bouncy drum loops with lyrics telling a tale of romantic infatuation. It received positive feedback from critics.

Commercially, "Beautiful Stranger" also fared well, reaching number two in the United Kingdom. Although it did not receive a physical release in the United States, it reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, a considerable achievement at the time for a song that did not receive a commercial release. The single was also a hit on the dance charts, reaching number one on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart. In 2000, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. For the music video for "Beautiful Stranger" directed by Brett Ratner, Mike Myers made an appearance. It was performed by Madonna on the 2001 Drowned World Tour and covered by some artists.

Composition
"Beautiful Stranger"
Sample of the song featuring '70s psychedelic-inspired reverberated guitars and bouncy drum loops while Madonna sings the chorus.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Beautiful Stranger" is an up-tempo love song featuring heavily reverberated guitars and bouncy drum loops with lyrics telling a tale of romantic infatuation. The song was specifically written for inclusion on the Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack. It employs a lyrical theme and instrumentation similar to that found in the song "Amazing" which is included on Madonna's album Music (2000). A full-length video was also produced to accompany the lyrics to the song. It prominently features Mike Myers in the role of Austin Powers as his fantasies of being with Madonna become fully realized at video's end.[3][4]

Critical reception

Chris True of AllMusic reviewed the single: "Madonna and Orbit step from the more atmospheric soundscapes like "Frozen" and "Skin" and make one damn dancy pop record. With flutes, horns, and that infectious "da da da da da" of the chorus, this is one of those songs that just sticks in your head."[5] Gina Boldman of Allmusic highlighted the song and described: "which has a wonderful Beatles-meets-techno-lite feel."[6] When Stephen Thomas Erlwine reviewed the "More Music from the Motion Picture Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" he wrote that "superfluous remix of "Beautiful Stranger" is a filler.[7] In 2000, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.[8]

Chart performance

Madonna performing "Beautiful Stranger" during the Drowned World Tour on 2001.

In the United States, the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 78 on June 12, 1999,[9] and peaked at number 19 on July 13, 1999 on the strength of radio airplay only, a considerable achievement at the time for a song that did not receive a commercial release.[10] "Beautiful Stranger" was also a hit on the Billboard dance charts, reaching number one on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart and number three on the Hot Dance Singles Sales Chart.

In the United Kingdom, the song was a huge hit, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart, being kept from the number one spot by S Club 7's "Bring It All Back". The song spent 16 weeks on the singles chart, with seven of those being within the top 20. "Beautiful Stranger" also became one of the most played songs on UK radio ever. At one point the song received 2,462 broadcasts per week.[11] According to the Official Charts Company, the song has sold 520,000 copies there.[12] Elsewhere the song was also a hit, reaching number one in Canada, South Africa, Finland and Italy. It also went top five in Australia and top twenty in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland and Japan. In Europe it peaked at number two and was the second most-played single of the year, behind Britney Spears' "...Baby One More Time."[13] The single sold around 2.5 million copies worldwide.

Music video

Madonna and character Austin Powers in the music video.

The accompanying music video for "Beautiful Stranger" was directed by Brett Ratner and shot on May 1, 1999 at Universal Studios in Universal City, California.[14][15] In the video, Austin Powers (played by actor Mike Myers) is seen driving down the road in his "Shaguar" as he gets the assignment from his boss Basil (Michael York) to catch a spy (Madonna), "a master of disguise", who is "seducing top agents".[16] As the video continues Austin Powers finds Madonna at a club singing and dancing on stage in front of a crowd of people (including Verne Troyer in character as Mini-Me). As he watches her perform he finds himself mesmerized by her feminine charms and begins to fantasize about spending time with her.[17] In his fantasies he imagines that Madonna is with him in his car, and as he is driving down the road, Madonna is doing things to him such as licking his face, pressing her breasts up against him, and dancing with her butt up against his face. The video ends within one of Austin's fantasies, Austin proclaiming "It's good to be me!" as Madonna playfully strokes his cheek. The music video was extremely successful, winning an MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film.[18]

Live performances and usage

Madonna performed it as the fourth song in the setlist of the Drowned World Tour, between "Candy Perfume Girl" and "Ray of Light". The beginning of the performance features a short scene of Mike Myers as Austin Powers, while another song from the movie's soundtrack, "Soul Bossa Nova", was being played in the background. Near the end of the song, a "lost" technician appears on the stage playing the role of the 'beautiful stranger'.[19]

The song also plays during the opening credits of the TV film Sabrina Down Under.

Track listing and formats

UK 7" single, Cassette single / European 2-track CD single (W495)
  1. "Beautiful Stranger" (LP Version) – 4:22
  2. "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Radio Mix) – 4:00
European / UK / Japanese / Australian CD single (W495CD, 9362-44699-2)
  1. "Beautiful Stranger" (LP Version) – 4:22
  2. "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Club Mix) – 10:12
  3. "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Radio Mix) – 4:00
US 12" promo vinyl (PRO-A-9838-A)
  1. "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Club Mix) – 10:12
  2. "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Radio Mix) – 4:00
  3. "Beautiful Stranger" (New Club Edit) – 5:12
  4. "Beautiful Stranger" (LP Version) – 4:22
US / UK promo CD (PRO-CD-9760, PR0-1417-CD)
  1. "Beautiful Stranger" (William Orbit Radio Edit) – 3:58
  2. "Beautiful Stranger" (LP Version) – 4:22

Personnel

Source[20]

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[21] 5
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[22] 14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] 15
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[24] 12
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[25] 1
Denmark (IFPI)[26] 4
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles) 2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[27] 1
France (SNEP)[28] 17
Germany (Media Control Charts)[29] 13
Ireland (IRMA)[30] 3
Italy (FIMI)[31] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[32] 6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[33] 5
Norway (VG-lista)[34] 8
Spain (AFYVE)[35] 4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 6
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[38] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[39] 19
US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 23
US Hot Dance Music/Club Play 1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[40] 19

Year-end charts

Country Position
Australia[41] 34
Canada[42] 14
France[43] 48
Germany[44] 100
Italian Singles Chart[45] 14
Netherlands[46] 54
Switzerland[47] 45
United Kingdom[48] 23

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[49] Gold 35,000^
France (SNEP)[50] Silver 125,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[51] Gold 532,500[52]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Cover versions

References

  1. ↑ "Billboard". google.co.in.
  2. ↑ "NewsLibrary.com – newspaper archive, clipping service – newspapers and other news sources". Nl.newsbank.com. 1999-02-25. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
  3. ↑ "Herald-Journal - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
  4. ↑ Kevyn Aucoin a Beautiful Life: The Success, Struggles, and Beauty Secrets of ... - Kerry Diamond - Google Books. Books.google.co.in. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
  5. ↑ Chris True. "Beautiful Stranger - Madonna - Listen, Appearances, Song Review - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  6. ↑ Gina Boldman. "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me - Original Soundtrack - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  7. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "More Music from the Motion Picture Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me - Original Soundtrack - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  8. ↑ "Madonna.com". madonna.com.
  9. ↑ "Music: Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
  10. ↑ "Music: Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
  11. ↑ "Top Gear host quits after conviction". BBC News. July 14, 1999.
  12. ↑ "Madonna: The Official Top 40". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
  13. ↑ "Women Rule 1999 European Charts".
  14. ↑ "News - Articles - 1431576 - 19990505". mtv.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008.
  15. ↑ The Video Collection p3:99, Madonna, Warner Bros
  16. ↑ Madonna as Postmodern Myth: How One Star's Self-Construction Rewrites Sex ... - Georges-Claude Guilbert - Google Books. Books.google.co.in. 2002-10-28. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
  17. ↑ Money for Nothing: A History of the Music Video from the Beatles to the ... - Saul Austerlitz - Google Books. Books.google.co.in. 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
  18. ↑ "Mtv Video Music Awards An Odd Night At The Opera". Philly.com.
  19. ↑ "Reading Eagle - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
  20. ↑ Beautiful Stranger (Liner notes). Madonna. 1999.
  21. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Madonna – Beautiful Stranger". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  22. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Madonna – Beautiful Stranger" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  23. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Madonna – Beautiful Stranger" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Madonna – Beautiful Stranger" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  25. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  26. ↑ "Billboard". google.ca.
  27. ↑ "Madonna: Beautiful Stranger" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  28. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Madonna – Beautiful Stranger" (in French). Les classement single.
  29. ↑ "Chartverfulgong > Madonna > Beautiful Stranger – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  30. ↑ "Irish Singles Chart – Search for song". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  31. ↑ "Hit Parade Italia - Indice per Interprete: M". Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Madonna search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
  33. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Madonna – Beautiful Stranger". Top 40 Singles.
  34. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Madonna – Beautiful Stranger". VG-lista.
  35. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  36. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Madonna – Beautiful Stranger". Singles Top 60.
  37. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Madonna – Beautiful Stranger". Swiss Singles Chart.
  38. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1999-06-13" UK Singles Chart.
  39. ↑ "Madonna Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Madonna.
  40. ↑ "Madonna Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Madonna.
  41. ↑ "1999 Australian Year-End Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. ARIA Annual Chart. 1999. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  42. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 70, No. 8, December 13, 1999". RPM. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  43. ↑ "Classement Singles – année 1999" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  44. ↑ "1999 German Annual Chart". Universität Würzburg. 1999. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  45. ↑ "I singoli più venduti del 1999". Hit Parade Italia. Federation of the Italian Music Industry. 1999-12-31. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  46. ↑ "JAAROVERZICHTEN - SINGLE 1999". 1999-12-31. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  47. ↑ "1999 Year-End Chart". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien. 1999. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  48. ↑ The Official Charts Company (1999). "U.K. Annual Chart" (PDF). The Official Charts. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  49. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  50. ↑ "French single certifications – Madonna – Beautiful Stranger" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  51. ↑ "British single certifications – Madonna – Beautiful Stranger". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 17, 2015. Enter Beautiful Stranger in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  52. ↑ Myers, Justin (7 March 2015). "Open your chart to me... Madonna's Official Top 40 Biggest Selling Singles". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  53. ↑ US. "Cats & Jammers | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's". Profile.myspace.com. Retrieved 2012-01-09.

External links