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Information About

Beautiful Stranger




  Cover Beautiful Strangerjpg
  Artist Madonna
  Released June 1 , 1999 (<small> Europe </small>)<br> July 14 , 1999 (<small> Japan </small>)
  Format CD Single <br> 12" Vinyl Single <br> 7" Vinyl Single <br> Cassette Single
  Genre Pop - Dance
  Length 4:21
  Label Warner Bros / Maverick
  "Writer" class="copylinks" target="_blank">=
  Producer Madonna<br> William Orbit
  Certification Gold (<small>UK & Australia</small>)<br>Silver (<small>France</small>)
  Chart Position <ul><li>#2 <small>( United Kingdom ) <small></li></ul> <ul><li>#19 <small>( US Billboard Hot 100 ) <small></li></ul>
  Last Single <small>'''" Nothing Really Matters "'''<br>(1999)</small>
  "" class="copylinks" target="_blank">This single =
  Next Single <small>'''" American Pie "'''<br>(2000)</small>


"Beautiful Stranger" is a '' (1999). It was Produced by Madonna and Orbit, and received a mixed reception from music critics. The song was released as a Single in the summer of 1999 (see 1999 In Music ) and was a top ten hit in the United Kingdom , reaching number two. The song did not receive a commercial release in the United States , but was a respectable success on the Billboard Hot 100 , peaking at number nineteen, due to heavy radio airplay. In 2000 the song won a Grammy Award for '' Best Song Written For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media ''.


COMPOSITION AND INSPIRATION

"Beautiful Stranger" is a up-tempo love song featuring heavily reverbed guitars and bouncy drum loops, with lyrics telling a tale of infatuation. The song was specifically written for an inclusion on the ''Austin Powers'' soundtrack. The song has a similar lyrical theme and instrumentation as the song " Amazing ", which is included on Madonna's album '' Music '' (2000). Both songs were recorded during the same session and it is believed that both songs were offered for inclusion on the soundtrack with only "Beautiful Stranger" making it in the end.

Co-writer William Orbit used a very similar - if not almost identical - bassline in "Beautiful Stranger" as he did in " Ray Of Light " (1998). Elements of the song are strongly reminiscent of Love 's 1960s song "She Comes In Colours". Also, the opening chords of the song are almost identical to " Light My Fire " by The Doors .


MUSIC VIDEO

star Mike Myers in the single's Music Video .]]
"Beautiful Stranger" featured a retro Music Video that was Directed by Brett Ratner . The video begins with Austin Powers ( Mike Myers ) being assigned to catch a spy who is "a master in disguise". According to Austin's boss Basil Exposition, played by Michael York who has a Cameo in the video, Madonna (the spy) was responsible for the death of both 007 and 008. Austin heads to a club where Madonna is dancing at. While watching her perform a sexy dance on stage, Austin begins to have fantasies about him and Madonna in his car. The videos ends with the two driving away, and Austin failing to complete his mission as he has fallen in love with Madonna. The video also features cameos by Dr. Evil (another character from the movie who is played by Mike Myers as well) and the little clone Mini-Me who is seen dancing in the club.

The music video, like the song, was extremely successful, winning a MTV Video Music Award for ''Best Video from a Motion Picture''.


CHART PERFORMANCE

In the United States , the song debuted at number hundred and sixteen on the Billboard Bubbling Under Chart, before appearing on the Billboard Hot 100 , peaking at number nineteen on the strength of radio airplay only, an amazing achievement for a song with no generated sales. By not releasing the song commercially, fans in the US had to purchase the soundtrack, which has sold two million copies in the US alone. "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 sixteen weeks on the singles chart, with seven of those being within the top twenty. "Beautiful Stranger" was also a radio airplay hit, becoming one of the most played songs on UK radio ever. Once the song received 2,462 broadcasts in one week.

Elsewhere the song was hit, reaching number one in Canada , Finland and Italy . It also went top twenty in Australia , France , Germany Ireland and Japan .


Charts



Chart trajectories



REFERENCES

  • '' 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.

  • ''Enlace Madonna'' link . Last accessed on Feb. 25, 2006. - Release and music video information.