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Beautiful Stranger
German 3-track CD
[Buy it!]
The Spy... Soundtrack CD Limited Edition
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Releasedate:
Europe: June 1, 1999
Japan: July 14, 1999
Tracklist:
01. Beautiful Stranger [LP Version] Lyrics
02. Beautiful Stranger [Calderone Radio Mix] Lyrics
Credits:
Written and produced by: Madonna and William Ørbit
Guitars and Keyboards by: William Ørbit
Flute by: Emma Fowler
Keyboards and Programming by: Damian LeGassick
Engineered by: Pat McCarthy, Mark Endert and Dave Chelsea
Assistant Engineers: Jeff Gregmay and Wassim Zariek

Remix and additional production by: Victor Calderone
Interesting Facts:
'Beautiful Stranger' is taken from the soundtrack-album Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

The track was specifically written for an inclusion on this soundtrack. The track has obviously been recorded in the same sessions as Amazing which has a similar lyrical theme and instrumentation. It is believed that both songs were offered for an inclusion on the soundtrack with 'Beautiful Stranger' making it in the end. 'Amazing' got later on included on Madonna's Music-album in the year 2000.

Also noteable: Ørbit used a very similar - if not almost identical - bassline for this song like in Ray Of Light. Ripping off own songs may be quite okay but at the same time fans became aware that the track is also quite similar to a '60s track from the band Love called 'She Comes In Colours'. Also the intro-chords of 'Beautiful Stranger' are almost identical to 'Light My Fire' by The Doors. In any case, both William Ørbit and Madonna did a great job in having these songs in mind when writing 'Beautiful Stranger' because it turned out to be one of the best '60s retro-songs ever!

Unfortunately the song was not released commercially in the US [a marketing strategy which was copied soon again for American Pie] thus only making it to #19 in the US Hot 100 Charts. Still a fabulous achievement for a song with no generated sales. Also the marketing strategy succeeded: The soundtrack-album for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me ended up selling more than 2 million copies in the US!

The single did even better on the international market where a commercial single was released. It cracked all Top 10 charts with several #1 chartings.

In the UK, 'Beautiful Stranger' ended up being the most played song on UK radio EVER [!] with 2'462 broadcasts in one week!

The 'Beautiful Stranger'-single garnered a Grammy win for Madonna and William Ørbit in the best song written for a motion picture, television or other visual media category.
Chart-Performance [Selection]:
Swiss Singles Charts:
Entry: June 13, 1999
Top Position: #6
Weeks on Chart: 20

UK Top 40 Singles Charts:
Top Position: #2
Weeks on Chart: 13

US Billboard Singles Charts:
Top Position: #19
Weeks on Chart: 19
Videoclip:
[Beautiful Stranger Videoclip]
[Beautiful Stranger Videoclip]
[Beautiful Stranger Videoclip]
[Beautiful Stranger Videoclip]
Click here or on pictures above for more information on the 'Beautiful Stranger' videoclip!
Go to: Beautiful Stranger Single Reviews I Discography-Index