Critical reception Drowned World/Substitute for Love

madonna opening drowned world tour performance of drowned world/substitute love .

o brien commended usage of electronic sounds , bleeps in track bell clarity in madonna s vocals, result of training had received evita days. kenneth bielen, author of lyrics of civility declared record slice of madonna s autobiography , praising lyrics forecasting singer s life become. allen metz wrote in book, madonna companion, lyrics did not give impression of sophisticated wordplay , commendable telling truth madonna s life , career. stephen thomas erlewine allmusic labelled song swirling , meditative opener . david browne entertainment weekly described track, along frozen album, breathtaking , complimenting beats. sal cinquemani slant magazine found madonna s belting emotionally candid has been since fourth studio album, prayer (1989).

other critics complimented different nature of song , production. reviewing album michigan daily, lark praised track saying [ drowned world/substitute love ] [creates] brilliant, ecstatic pop catharsis eclipses every mistake s ever made, including virginal writhing, gold-tooth sporting , naked hitchhiking of sordid past , last part referring madonna s antics during fifth studio album, erotica (1992) era. rob sheffield rolling stone found perfect opener ray of light , various contradiction filled tracks. noting different musical elements, including drum loops, strings, computer bleeping jungle snares, sheffield compared them person s shopping experience , unpacking of bags after activity ends. reviewer ended saying track came off loud, tacky , ridiculous , still exuded emotion in music. in review madonna s greatest hits album, ghv2 (2001), charlotte robinson popmatters commended orbit s production work on track along others ray of light. added songs testament ability use gadgets , electronic wizardry not alienate listeners, draw them in .

in 2003, madonna fans asked vote top 20 madonna singles of all-time q. drowned world/substitute love allocated number 17 spot. during retrospective review of ray of light, idolator s stephen sears described track first chapter of great novel setting tone rest of record. rolling stone placed track @ number 20, on ranking of madonna s 50 greatest song in 2016, describing ballad exploring epiphanies fame , family .