Madonna | Frozen (1998)
"Frozen" is a song by American singer Madonna from her seventh studio album Ray of Light (1998). It was released as the lead single from the album on January 23, 1998, by Maverick and Warner Bros. Records.
1998-01-23 19:00:00 - Madonna
The song was also included on the compilation albums GHV2 (2001) and Celebration (2009). "Frozen" was written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, who both produced it in collaboration with William Orbit. A mid-tempo electronica ballad, "Frozen" addresses a cold and emotionless human being.
"Frozen" received acclaim from music critics, some of whom deemed it an album standout. It was described as being a masterpiece, and its melodic beat and sound were defined as "cinematic".
The single was also a worldwide commercial success. It became Madonna's sixth single to peak at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, making her the female artist with the most number-two hits in the history of that chart at the time, alongside Taylor Swift. "Frozen" also became her first single to debut at the top of the UK Singles Chart, while reaching number one in Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Scotland, and Spain, and the top five elsewhere.
The accompanying music video for "Frozen" was directed by Chris Cunningham in a desert in California, featuring Madonna as an ethereal, witch-like, melancholy persona, who shapeshifts into a flock of birds and a black dog. The music video received a MTV Video Music Award for "Best Special Effects" in 1998.
To promote Ray of Light, the singer performed the song in several occasions including the first world premiere on Sanremo Music Festival in Italy and on Wetten, dass..?. Additionally, it was performed in several of Madonna's concert tours. "Frozen" has been covered by a number of artists, such as Talisman and Thy Disease.
In 2021, a trap remix of "Frozen" made by Canadian DJ Sickick became viral on video-sharing app TikTok. On December 3, 2021, it was officially released as the first single from Madonna's plan of re-releasing her whole catalogue.
Four months later, two more renditions of the remix were released; first featuring Nigerian singer Fireboy DML, and second featuring American rapper 070 Shake, both supported by music videos.
A fourth and final remix featuring vocals from Sickick was released in May. Titled "Frozen on Fire," it was also supported by a music video.