Madonna paid tribute to her Ray of Light producer William Orbit following news of his death at the age of 69.
“I had an epiphany when I met you and started working with you. I realized that music did not have to fit into categories or genres. So we created
our own,” Madonna wrote on social media Saturday.
“You pressed a magic button inside of me and I fell into a galaxy of unrealized dreams. Your music gave me a magic carpet to fly on and I visited many places. Sad and Joyful.”
Orbit, whose death on July 23 was announced Friday, first remixed Madonna songs like “Justify My Love” and “Erotica” before working with the Material Girl herself.
“I sang in ways I’d never sung before. I used words without caring if they made sense or not. In many ways you were my Ray of Light – as was my daughter Lola who was born around this time,” Madonna wrote.
“I was starting a new chapter, I was choosing another road to walk down-and you were right by my side with your crooked teeth and your genius, way of hearing music. The studio was often church like and I would sit in silence, waiting for your ideas to explode out of your keyboard or your guitar and then I would run with them…”
Alongside the tribute, Madonna also posted a video of her and Orbit winning Best Pop Album at the 1999 Grammys. The pair would continue to collaborate over the years, with Orbit assisting on Madonna’s Music and MDNA.
“I miss those days. Only you could inspire me to write a song like Drowned World or Swim. You were so otherworldly. So singular,” Madonna added.
“The years passed and I moved on to make music with other people, but I have never forgotten you or the magical time we spent together. Goodbye Billy Bubbles. I was so lucky to have known you and fallen down the rabbit hole with you.”
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