Seeing how U.S. critics have reacted to the AMERICAN LIFE lyrics makes me understand why she chose not to release this one stateside, nonetheless it's a really top notch song. This import contains the excellent album version, a really amazing club mix by BT and Sasha, as well as Sasha's take on "Sky Fits Heaven", which is less enjoyable, but still quite listen-able. For the Madge fan, it's a good choice, plus this is one of those rare occasions when a b-side also got the remix treatment (another example being the remix of "Waiting" on the U.S. "Rain" maxi back in 1993).

The third single that Madonna released from the album Ray Of Light was Drowned World/Substitute For Love. The song peaked at No.10 in the UK, and spent just five weeks on the chart. The song was - as I have just said - the third single to be released from the Ray Of Light album, but the song was never released in the US. As a result, The Power Of Goodbye was the third single to be released from the album in the US and the fourth to be released in the UK.

Drowned World/Substitute For Love begins eerily. The smooth bass runs deep and sleepily, before Madonna begins singing the first verse, "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. I suffered fools. So gladly. And now. I find. I've changed my mind." The song then slows down, and then rises as Madonna sings the chorus, "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." The beat then picks up pace and Madonna begins singing the second verse, "I travelled around 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. Basking in the spotlight. I never felt so happy." Madonna then sings the chorus once more, before the beat picks up and the song gets ready to peak with a wonderful guitar. Madonna wails, "Mmmmmm, oooooooo" before she sings the best and most flamboyant part of the song, "No famous faces, far off places. Trinkets I can't buy. No handsome stranger, heady danger. Drug that I can't try. No ferris wheel, no heart to steal. No laughter in the dark. The one night stand, no far off land. No fire that I can't spark." Madonna then wails softly "Mmmmmm" before she repeats the chorus once more. The song is now blazing and shining in all its powerful glory, and the instruments are excellent. The song then dies down and Madonna sings "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 song then dies down quietly and fades out.

The video to Drowned World/Substitute For Love is good, but not one of Madonna's best. We see Madonna in her apartment, a wildlife documentary on the television. She runs down the stairs and gets into her limousine with all the paparazzi around her. She sits in her car with her sunglasses on, even though it's night time, while motorbikes pursue her in her car. She gets out of the car and arrives at a hotel with yet more people following her. It's her case of fame and how she sees it. She sees a woman who smiles at her. Madonna smiles back, but it turns out to be another case of someone just wanting a photo. Madonna runs off into a club where everyone has distorted faces because of their obsession with fame and wealth. Madonna ignores it, and runs out and back home to her daughter - realising that's where her heart belongs. All in all, a classic Madonna tune with a thought-provoking video to match.

Drowned World has been one of my favorite song from the Ray of Light album. No wonder why she decided to start the Drowned World Tour with this song. The Sasha Remix of this ballad is truly a great one. It perfectly fits among unreleased club mixes of Love Don't live Here Anymore by Mark Pichiotti, and I Want You Remixes by Junior Vasquez. More remixes of this song would have been great too, at least an edit version. This song is a perfect one for a REMIX VIDEO!