View source for Beautiful Stranger

{{Short description|1999 single by Madonna}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Beautiful Stranger
| cover      = Madonna, Beautiful Stranger cover.png
| alt        = Madonna looking towards the camera in front of a blue background. The lower half of the cover art shows the artist and song name in front of a violet flowery background.
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Madonna]]
| album      = [[Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me#Soundtrack|Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me]]
| released   = {{start date|1999|5|19}}
| recorded   = February 1999
| studio     = {{unbulleted list|Guerilla Beach |([[Los Angeles, California]])|Enterprise|([[Burbank, California]])}}
| genre      = <!-- Sourced in the "Recording and composition" genre. -->
* [[Psychedelic pop]]
* [[disco]]
| length     = 4:22
| label      = {{hlist|[[Maverick Records|Maverick]]|[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]}}
| writer     = {{hlist|Madonna|[[William Orbit]]}}
| producer   = {{hlist|Madonna|William Orbit}}
| prev_title = [[Nothing Really Matters]]
| prev_year  = 1999
| next_title = [[American Pie (song)#Madonna version|American Pie]]
| next_year  = 2000
| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Dsh0TfIKhoE|"Beautiful Stranger"}}}}
}}

"'''Beautiful Stranger'''" is a song by American singer and songwriter [[Madonna]]. It was released on May 19, 1999, by [[Maverick (company)|Maverick]] and [[Warner Bros. Records]] as a single from the soundtrack of the film, ''[[Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me]]''. Madonna co-wrote and co-produced the song with [[William Orbit]]. The soundtrack for ''Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'' was a much expected release and Madonna's song was chosen by the album's executive producers to promote it. "Beautiful Stranger" has appeared on three separate Madonna greatest hits collections: ''[[GHV2]]'' (2001), ''[[Celebration (Madonna album)|Celebration]]'' (2009) and ''[[Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones]]'' (2022). Musically, "Beautiful Stranger" is a [[psychedelic pop]] and [[disco]] song that features heavily reverberated guitars and bouncy drum loops. Its lyrics tell the tale of a romantic infatuation.

The song received positive feedback from [[music journalism|music critics]] who praised the production and Madonna's musical progression. It was a commercial success reaching the top of the charts in Canada, Finland, Iceland and Italy, number two in the United Kingdom and top-ten in many markets. Although the song was not commercially released in the United States, it reached number 19 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] due to [[airplay]]. It reached number one on the US [[Hot Dance Club Songs|dance charts]]. "Beautiful Stranger" also earned Madonna her fifth [[Grammy Award]], winning the trophy for [[Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media|Best Song Written for Visual Media]].

The song's music video, directed by [[Brett Ratner]], prominently features Madonna singing in a club, visited by [[Mike Myers]] as his character [[Austin Powers (character)|Austin Powers]]. At the end of the video Madonna seduces Myers and goes off in his car. It won the [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film]] in 1999. Madonna performed the song on her 2001 [[Drowned World Tour]], and it has been [[cover version|covered]] by some artists, including a critically acclaimed version by Australian rock band [[DMA's]].

== Background and release ==
[[File:Guy Oseary cropped Tech Crunch.jpg|upright|thumb|[[Guy Oseary]] was one of the executive producers on the ''Austin Powers'' soundtrack and chose "Beautiful Stranger" as the first single.|alt=Guy Oseary in a coat smiling]]
Madonna and Canadian actor [[Mike Myers]] had previously collaborated for an episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' in 1991, when the singer hosted the show and invited Myers' character, [[Wayne's World|Wayne Campbell]] to play a game of [[Truth or Dare?|truth or dare]], while pitching her documentary ''[[Madonna: Truth or Dare]]''. According to Gwen Ihnat from ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', the "creative partnership [between them] works because Madonna, though serious, always seems game, and Myers, though frequently goofy, is also creatively inventive". In 1999, the singer was chosen to contribute a single on the soundtrack for Myers' second film about the spy character [[Austin Powers (character)|Austin Powers]], titled ''[[Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me]]''.<ref name="avclub">{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/madonna-made-perfect-beautiful-stranger-spy-who-sh-220572|title=Madonna made a perfect 'Beautiful Stranger' for The Spy Who Shagged Me|last=Ihnat|first=Gwen|date=June 15, 2015|access-date=June 30, 2016|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|archive-date=June 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611022808/http://www.avclub.com/article/madonna-made-perfect-beautiful-stranger-spy-who-sh-220572|url-status=live}}</ref> Madonna's former boyfriend, British screenwriter Andy Bird, was reportedly the inspiration for "Beautiful Stranger."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Morton|first=Andrew|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q-SK93CLsCMC&q=andy+bird|title=Madonna|date=2001|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=978-0-312-28786-3|pages=222–224|language=en|access-date=January 1, 2022|archive-date=September 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923093730/https://books.google.com/books?id=Q-SK93CLsCMC&q=andy+bird|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Venezia|first=Todd|date=January 19, 2001|title=MADONNA GOT DUMPED! – OUT-OF-WORK BRIT DIDN'T WANT TO BE A 'KEPT' GUY|url=https://nypost.com/2001/01/19/madonna-got-dumped-out-of-work-brit-didnt-want-to-be-a-kept-guy/|url-status=live|access-date=November 7, 2021|website=New York Post|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211062111/http://nypost.com/2001/01/19/madonna-got-dumped-out-of-work-brit-didnt-want-to-be-a-kept-guy/ |archive-date=December 11, 2015}}</ref>

The soundtrack to ''The Spy Who Shagged Me'' led to the teaming up of two music executives, [[Warner Bros. Records]] senior vice president Danny Bramson and Madonna's [[Maverick (company)|Maverick Records]]' co-owner [[Guy Oseary]]; both of them served as executive producer on the soundtrack. By May 1999, expectations were already high for the release, so the producers decided to include Madonna's track along with a song from a number of other high-profile artists like [[R.E.M.]], [[Lenny Kravitz]] and [[Mel B]] from the [[Spice Girls]].<ref name="blood">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-16-ca-37640-story.html|title='Austin Powers' Snags Madonna|last=Hochman|first=Steve|date=May 16, 1999|access-date=July 7, 2021|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185047/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-16-ca-37640-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

As recalled by Oseary, there was intense competition among artists to have their songs placed in the soundtrack, with one manager connected to the project describing the fight for the first potential single release as "a blood bath". The main intention of the producers was to have the artists contribute music which would abide by the predominant 1960s mood of the film. Ultimately, it was decided that "Beautiful Stranger" was suitable for this, and it was chosen as the first single from the soundtrack.<ref name="blood" /> However, Madonna's recording company [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]] decided not to release any [[CD single]] or remix singles to accompany the release in the United States, only [[promotional recording|promo 12-inch]] discs were sent to the dance club DJs.<ref name="trax" /> The song was only released to the [[contemporary hit radio|CHR top 40 radio]] for airplay on May 19, 1999.<ref name="vidrel" /> In the United Kingdom, the single was released on June 7, 1999, as a CD single, [[Twelve-inch single|12-inch single]], and [[cassette single]], while in Canada, a CD was issued on July 20, 1999.<ref name="UK">{{cite magazine|title=New Releases – For Week Starting 7 June, 1999: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=31|date=June 5, 1999}}</ref><ref name="CAN">{{cite web|url=http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicReleases1999/jul99.html|title=Album Releases: July 1999|publisher=[[Jam!]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817161003/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicReleases1999/jul99.html|archive-date=August 17, 2000|access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref> "Beautiful Stranger" has appeared on two separate Madonna greatest hits collections: ''[[GHV2]]'' (2001) and ''[[Celebration (Madonna album)|Celebration]]'' (2009).<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/ghv2-mw0001777679|title=GHV2 > Review|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=February 16, 2016|archive-date=February 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208065716/https://www.allmusic.com/album/ghv2-mw0001777679|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="allmusic2">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1637205|title=Celebration > Review|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|access-date=September 28, 2009|website=AllMusic|archive-date=November 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109033025/http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1637205|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 21, 2021, Madonna released the "Beautiful Stranger" remix EP to all digital and streaming outlets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/6ruadXtOpvmpvp2eXtlUR7?si=5x7RynAeTGKMRWB5HL9VFQ|title=Madonna – Beautiful Stranger|website=Spotify|date=May 21, 2021|access-date=May 22, 2021|archive-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522114727/https://open.spotify.com/album/6ruadXtOpvmpvp2eXtlUR7?si=5x7RynAeTGKMRWB5HL9VFQ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/beautiful-stranger-ep/1567207902|title=Madonna – Beautiful Stranger|website=iTunes|date=May 21, 2021|access-date=May 22, 2021|archive-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522061805/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/beautiful-stranger-ep/1567207902|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Recording and composition ==
<!-- {{listen
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| title="Beautiful Stranger"
| description = A 26 second sample from "Beautiful Stranger".
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Recording for "Beautiful Stranger" took place in February 1999 at the Guerilla Beach Studios in Los Angeles, California, as well as the Enterprise Studio in Burbank, California.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=APAB&d_place=APAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F8A0BE8E87460CF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Snippets onstage and backstage at the Grammys|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=February 25, 1999|access-date=January 9, 2012|archive-date=July 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725210842/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=APAB&d_place=APAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F8A0BE8E87460CF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=live}}</ref> Along with writing and producing the song with Madonna, Orbit also played the keyboards and the guitar on the track. Damian LeGassick did the [[programming (music)|programming]] and additional keyboard while Emma Fowler played the [[flute]]. The [[audio engineer|engineering]] team included [[Pat McCarthy (record producer)|Pat McCarthy]], [[Mark Endert]] and Dave Chelsea, with McCarthy also [[audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]] the track. Jeff Gregmay and Wassim Zartek were the assistant recording engineers.<ref name=linernotes /> According to the sheet music published by Musicnotes.com, "Beautiful Stranger" is set in [[common time]] and is composed in a [[key (music)|key]] of [[F-sharp major|F{{sharp}} major]] with a mid dance [[tempo]] of 128 beats per minute. The song begins with a basic sequence of E–B–F{{sharp}}–A–C{{sharp}} before moving to the main [[chord progression]] of C{{sharp}}<sub>sus4</sub>–C{{sharp}}<sub>7</sub>.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0033415|title=Madonna 'Beautiful Stranger' Sheet Music|date=March 29, 2000|publisher=Musicnotes.com|access-date=July 11, 2018|archive-date=July 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711152030/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0033415|url-status=live}}</ref>

"Beautiful Stranger" is a [[psychedelic pop]]<ref name="ewrev">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/1999/07/06/madonna-has-summers-most-deserving-hit|title=Madonna has the summer's most-deserving hit|last=Tucker|first=Ken|date=July 6, 1999|access-date=July 4, 2016|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-date=February 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224143356/http://www.ew.com/article/1999/07/06/madonna-has-summers-most-deserving-hit|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[disco]]<ref name="Best songs of 1999 RS">{{cite magazine |last1=Sheffield |first1=Rob |title=Rob Sheffield's 99 Best Songs of 1999 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/99-best-songs-1999-rob-sheffield-835473/madonna-beautiful-stranger-austin-powers-836839/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=April 22, 2020 |page=2 |date=June 5, 2019 |archive-date=May 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518084813/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/99-best-songs-1999-rob-sheffield-835473/ |url-status=live }}</ref> song and begins with a musical [[instrumentation (music)|instrumentation]] reminiscent of "[[Light My Fire]]" (1967) by [[The Doors]] and "[[Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds]]" (1967) by [[The Beatles]]. The song's main structure is backed by guitar, while drums come in during the choruses. Around the 1:06 mark, there is a hint of [[mellotron]] and [[flute]] being played like The Beatles' 1967 songs "[[Strawberry Fields Forever]]" or "[[The Fool on the Hill]]".<ref>{{harvnb|Rooksby|2004|p=89}}</ref> The song has similar composition to Madonna's endeavors with her previous album ''Ray of Light'', mixed with [[psychedelic music]].<ref name="retten">{{harvnb|Rettenmund|2016|p=47}}</ref> ''[[USA Today]]''{{'}}s Ken Barnes has suggested that the chorus, riff, instrumentation and structure of "Beautiful Stranger" were based on American rock band [[Love (band)|Love's]] 1966 single "[[She Comes in Colors]]".<ref name=ew>{{cite magazine|title=This week on the music beat|url=http://www.ew.com/article/1999/06/18/this-week-music-beat|last=Sinclair|first=Rom|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=June 18, 1999|access-date=July 6, 2012|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924042624/http://www.ew.com/article/1999/06/18/this-week-music-beat|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=barnes>{{cite web|title=Arthur Lee, the legend rock almost forgot|last=Barnes|first=Ken|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-08-06-arthur-lee-appreciation_x.htm|date=August 6, 2006|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=July 6, 2012|archive-date=September 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923093730/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-08-06-arthur-lee-appreciation_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Madonna: Songs We Love|last=Ulaby|first=Nela|publisher=[[NPR]]|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/03/29/113092530/madonna-songs-we-love|date=August 16, 2011|access-date=July 6, 2012|archive-date=July 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705092201/http://www.npr.org/2011/03/29/113092530/madonna-songs-we-love|url-status=live}}</ref> The band's record company—[[Rhino Records]]—executive Gary Stewart stated that "Certainly, the riff and instrumentation [of 'Beautiful Stranger'] are reminiscent of 'She Comes in Colors,'" and that the "da da da da da" chorus on the track seems to be based upon "an instrumental flourish that's an integral part of the [Love] record. It may be a conscious or an unconscious homage." Madonna denied any such influence, claiming that she had never heard of Love.<ref name=ew />

According to Michael Paoletta from ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', "no fierce-ruling club DJ in 1999 would [have] dared play the original jangly rock-etched version of the song". Hence the song was remixed by [[Victor Calderone]], who kept the basic structure of the song, while mixing it with tribal infused beats. Unlike many of his then releases—where he removed the bulk of the song's lyrics for remixing—with "Beautiful Stranger" he kept them. Paoletta described the remixes as "if Calderone fully understands the importance of a song and understands how best to unite deft beats and a dazzling vocal performance."<ref name="trax">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1999/BB-1999-06-19.pdf|title=Calderone Opens Club Doors For 'Stranger'|last=Paoletta|first=Michael|date=June 19, 1999|access-date=July 6, 2016|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|page=35}}</ref> The remixes include a [[rock music|rock]]-leaning version as well as Calderone's Club and Radio mixes.<ref name=All />

== Critical reception ==
{{quote box|width=25%|align=right|quote="It's always a joy when a well-established artist is able to show that he or she is as creatively inspired as ever. ['Beautiful Stranger'] does nothing but further Madonna's essential place in pop culture through the '80s, '90s, and now, beyond. Credible and utterly exceptional."
|source=—Chuck Taylor from ''Billboard'' reviewing "Beautiful Stranger".<ref name="bbreview" />
}}
"Beautiful Stranger" received generally positive reviews. Chuck Taylor from ''Billboard'' denoted the song as a "new shift in the wind for [Madonna]", calling it another creative high for her. He also complimented the production saying that "this latest partnership with [Orbit] taps into a walloping romp of guitars and
enough cascading organs to prompt an urge to listen to your [[The Monkees|Monkees]] collection." Taylor ended the review with positive feedback for Madonna's vocals, likening them to those for the ''[[Evita (soundtrack)|Evita]]'' album, along with commending the chorus.<ref name="bbreview">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1999/BB-1999-05-29.pdf|title=Singles: Edited by Chuck Taylor|date=May 29, 1999|access-date=July 8, 2016|magazine=Billboard|page=22|last=Taylor |first=Chuck}}</ref> In a different article for ''Billboard'' talking about the song's remixes, Paoletta described the track as "effervescent blast of psychedelic [[electronica]]".<ref name="trax" /> Writing for the ''[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]'', Gino DeLa Paz found it "cute but forgettable".<ref>{{cite news|last1=DeLa Paz|first1=Gino|title=Ray of Fright: Age Against the Machine|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20031101&id=4bhjAAAAIBAJ&pg=1066,407173&hl=es|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|access-date=April 6, 2016|date=November 1, 2003|archive-date=July 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717233824/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20031101&id=4bhjAAAAIBAJ&pg=1066,407173&hl=es|url-status=live}}</ref> Gwen Ihnat, from the entertainment website ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', labeled it as "Madonna's best song that never appeared on one of her regular albums [...]  a psychedelic pop confection that offered a few of her most indelible hooks". Ihnat also wrote that "although less ethereal than 1998's ''Ray of Light'', ['Beautiful Stranger'] is just as dance-floor ready [...] dance flute has never sounded so enticing, and Madonna's voice so sweetly seductive".<ref name="avclub" /> [[AllMusic]]'s Jose F. Promis listed the track "as one of the singer's more memorable moments, coupling [[1960s in music|1960s]] [[go-go]] rock with [[1990s in music|1990s]] electronica, resulting in nothing less than a true slice of old fashioned [[Rock and roll|rock & roll]]"; Promis also praised the two Calderone mixes.<ref name=All>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/beautiful-stranger-mw0000536249|title=Madonna > Beautiful Stranger|last=Promis|first=Jose F.|date=May 29, 1999|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=April 6, 2016|archive-date=March 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325143540/http://www.allmusic.com/album/beautiful-stranger-mw0000536249|url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[Slant Magazine]]''{{'}}s Sal Cinquemani gave the song a rating of B− and wrote: "Like any good throwaway track, 'Beautiful Stranger' doesn't pretend to be much more than it is. Whiny guitars and flutes abound, Madonna and Orbit concocted a perfect theme song for friend Mike Myers's cooky ''Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me''. Playful, wispy and ultimately forgettable".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cinquemani|first1=Sal|title=Madonna: GHV2|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/madonna-ghv2|work=[[Slant Magazine]]|access-date=April 6, 2016|date=November 8, 2001|archive-date=October 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003130432/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/madonna-ghv2|url-status=live}}</ref>  In August 2018, Paul Schrodt from the same magazine, placed it at number 53 on his ranking of the singer's singles, calling it "the antithesis of ''Ray of Light''. The hooky, psychedelic track is more accessible than Madonna’s previous work with Orbit. The innocuous lyrics could’ve been ghostwritten for anyone, but the song endears due to Madge’s playful delivery and Orbit’s sonic details".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cinquemani |first1=Sal |title=The Beat Goes On: Every Madonna Single Ranked |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/the-beat-goes-on-every-madonna-single-ranked/2/ |work=Slant Magazine |access-date=May 14, 2019 |date=August 1, 2018 |archive-date=March 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322005529/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/the-beat-goes-on-every-madonna-single-ranked/2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ken Tucker from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', declared it as the "song of the summer", and praised it for being "a piece of psychedelic pop at once so 60s and so 90s that to sully it with a 'shagalicious' joke would be an insult... The way [Madonna] has of making her voice merge into indistinguishability with the surging instrumentation in the chorus, the way she sings the title phrase with an ache in her voice, that's at once urgent and playful."<ref name="ewrev" /> Matthew Jacobs from ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' ranked the song 22 on their list of "The Definitive Ranking Of Madonna Singles".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jacobs|first1=Matthew|title=The Definitive Ranking Of Madonna Singles|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/22/the-definitive-ranking-of-madonna-singles_n_5078934.html|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|access-date=April 6, 2016|date=March 10, 2015|archive-date=March 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327133855/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/22/the-definitive-ranking-of-madonna-singles_n_5078934.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Medium (website)|Medium]]'s Richard LaBeau called it a "bold, clever and interesting bridge between the ''Ray of Light'' and ''[[Music (Madonna album)|Music]]'' eras".<ref>{{cite web |last1=LeBeau |first1=Richard |title=Ranking All 57 of Madonna's Billboard Hits in Honor of Her 60th(!) Birthday |url=https://medium.com/rants-and-raves/ranking-all-57-of-madonnas-billboard-hits-in-honor-of-her-60th-birthday-b4f5e2d10fcd |publisher=[[Medium (website)|Medium]] |access-date=June 2, 2019 |date=August 16, 2018 |archive-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602160751/https://medium.com/rants-and-raves/ranking-all-57-of-madonnas-billboard-hits-in-honor-of-her-60th-birthday-b4f5e2d10fcd |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2023, ''Billboard'' ranked the song as Madonna's 88th greatest ever, with Andrew Unterberger writing: "Madonna's still in too reflective a mindset to go full [[incense]] and peppermints with it, but she's game enough to meet Orbit's woozy [[Reverb effect|reverb]]-soaked [[Groove (music)|groove]]..."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Lynch |first1=Joe |last2=Unterberger |first2=Andrew |last3=Gracie |first3=Bianca |last4=Feeney |first4=Nolan |last5=Atkinson |first5=Katie |date=2023-03-08 |title=Madonna's 100 Greatest Songs (Critics' Picks) |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-madonna-songs/beautiful-stranger-austin-powers-the-spy-who-shagged-me-1999/ |access-date=2023-03-13 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Louis Virtel]], from [[AfterEllen.com and TheBacklot.com|TheBacklot.com]], placed "Beautiful Stranger" at number 36 of his list "The 100 Greatest Madonna Songs"; he felt that "Orbit's psychedelic styling suit Madonna's groovy wistfulness perfectly".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Virtel |first1=Louis |author-link=Louis Virtel |date=February 3, 2012 |title=The 100 Greatest Madonna Songs |url=http://www.newnownext.com/the-100-greatest-madonna-songs/02/2012/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020234731/http://www.newnownext.com/the-100-greatest-madonna-songs/02/2012/ |archive-date=October 20, 2015 |access-date=April 6, 2016 |publisher=[[AfterEllen.com and TheBacklot.com|TheBacklot.com]]}}</ref> Author Phil Dellio wrote in his book ''Interrupting My Train of Thought'' that although "Beautiful Stranger" had similarities to Madonna's own "[[Ray of Light (song)|Ray of Light]]" (1998), it had "better melody, better vocal, better light show. It's about the trippiest, most propulsive above-ground dance music since the first two minutes of [[Led Zeppelin]]'s '[[How Many More Times]]'."<ref>{{harvnb|Dellio|2014|p=380}}</ref> J. Randy Taraborrelli wrote in ''[[Madonna: An Intimate Biography]]'' that Madonna's 2000 song "Amazing", from her eighth studio album ''Music'' sounded like a cousin to "Beautiful Stranger" with its inspired composition.<ref>{{harvnb|Taraborrelli|2008|p=290}}</ref> While ranking Madonna's singles, in honor of her 60th birthday, ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'}}s [[Jude Rogers]] placed "Beautiful Stranger" at number 34, calling it a "gorgeously slinky, impish love song".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Jude |author-link=Jude Rogers |title=Every one of Madonna's 78 singles – ranked! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/aug/16/every-one-of-madonnas-78-singles-ranked |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=August 26, 2018 |date=August 16, 2018 |archive-date=August 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816144826/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/aug/16/every-one-of-madonnas-78-singles-ranked |url-status=live }}</ref> In a list of the "99 Best Songs of 1999", ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' writer Rob Sheffield placed the track at number 27 and praised it for being "the most shagadelic disco hit by a megastar shimmying into the big 4-0", adding that "Madonna has never sounded so loose, so lithe, so funny".<ref name="Best songs of 1999 RS" /> The song received a [[Grammy Award]] at the [[42nd Grammy Awards|42nd ceremony]], in the category of [[Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media|Best Song Written for Visual Media]]. It was also nominated in the category of [[Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance|Best Female Pop Vocal Performance]].<ref name="grammy">{{cite web| url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=Madonna&field_nominee_work_value=&year=All&genre=All| title=Grammy Award Winners&nbsp;– Madonna| publisher=[[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]]| access-date=April 6, 2016| archive-date=February 14, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214163455/http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=MADONNA&field_nominee_work_value=&year=All&genre=All| url-status=live}}</ref> It was also nominated for a [[Golden Globe]] award for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]], but lost to [[Phil Collins]]{{'}}s "[[You'll Be in My Heart]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Winners & Nominees 2000 Jump to Year |url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/2000 |website=[[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globes]] |publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]] |access-date=April 6, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151208181743/http://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/2000 |archive-date=December 8, 2015}}</ref> At the 2000 [[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Awards|ASCAP Pop Awards]] it was awarded the Most Performed Song.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Large Retains Top Slot For Zomba: Songwriter And His Publisher Among ASCAP/PRS Winners|last=Stark|first=David|date=November 4, 2000|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=112|issue=45|page=49}}</ref> It also won the [[Ivor Novello Award]] for Most Performed Work, while also being nominated for Best Contemporary Song.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Shania Twain Garners 4 Novello Nominations|last=Hunter|first=Nigel|date=April 29, 2000|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=112|issue=18|page=71}}</ref> The [[1999 MTV Europe Music Awards]] also nominated the track in the category of [[MTV Europe Music Award for Best Song|Best Song]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1426920/britney-bsb-top-nominations-for-mtv-europe-awards-spears-mariah-puffy-manson-to-perform/|title=Britney, BSB Top Nominations For MTV Europe Awards; Spears, Mariah, Puffy, Manson To Perform|last=Ives|first=Brian|publisher=MTV News|date=May 10, 1999|access-date=September 14, 2016|archive-date=November 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109141609/http://www.mtv.com/news/1426920/britney-bsb-top-nominations-for-mtv-europe-awards-spears-mariah-puffy-manson-to-perform/|url-status=dead}}</ref> "Beautiful Stranger" was nominated as Favorite Song From a Movie at the 1999 [[Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nick.com/kids-choice-awards/all-winners/|title=Kids' Choice Awards > All Winners|publisher=[[Nickelodeon]]|access-date=November 1, 2012|archive-date=January 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122184504/http://www.nick.com/kids-choice-awards/all-winners/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Chart performance ==
In the United States, "Beautiful Stranger" debuted on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] at number 78 on June 12, 1999.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1999-06-12|title=Billboard Hot 100: Week of June 12, 1999|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 6, 2016|archive-date=July 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714210355/http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1999-06-12|url-status=live}}</ref> It was Madonna's first soundtrack single to chart on the Hot 100 since her rendition of "[[Don't Cry for Me Argentina#Madonna version|Don't Cry for Me Argentina]]" reached number eight in March 1997. "Beautiful Stranger" also debuted at number 28 on the [[Mainstream Top 40]] chart.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1999/BB-1999-06-12.pdf|title=Chart Beat: Actress Lopez Out of Sight on Hot 100|last=Bronson|first=Fred|author-link=Fred Bronson|magazine=Billboard|pages=76, 99|date=June 12, 1999|access-date=July 6, 2016}}</ref> It gradually climbed up the Hot 100 and peaked at number 19 on July 13, 1999, on the strength of radio airplay only.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1999-07-24|title=Billboard Hot 100: Week of July 24, 1999|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 6, 2016|archive-date=June 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618144706/http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1999-07-24|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bbhot100" /> Promis said that the relative low placement was due to the CD singles not being released.<ref name=All /> "Beautiful Stranger" was successful on the ''Billboard'' [[Dance Club Songs|Dance Club Play]] chart, reaching number one.<ref name="bbdance" /> It placed at number 31 on the year-end ranking for the Dance Club Play chart in 1999.<ref name="bbdanceyear" /> In Canada, "Beautiful Stranger" was able to top both the ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' 100 Hit Tracks and Adult Contemporary charts, while also reaching a peak of number four on the Dance 30 chart.<ref name="rpm" /><ref name="rpmac" /><ref name="rpmdance" /> While the song was commercially released in Canada, it was ineligible to chart on the [[Canadian Singles Chart]] as Warner did not submit the necessary barcode information to [[Nielsen SoundScan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/home.html|title=Chart Talk Q & A|last=Lwin|first=Nanda|author-link=Nanda Lwin|publisher=[[Jam!]]|date=August 23, 1999|access-date=June 12, 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990827204532/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/home.html|archive-date=August 27, 1999}}</ref>

In Australia, "Beautiful Stranger" debuted at number eight on the [[ARIA Singles Chart]] and reached its peak of number five the next week, staying there for two weeks in total. It gradually descended down the charts, present within the top 50 for a total of 16 weeks.<ref name="aus" /> It was certified gold by the [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA) for shipment of 35,000 copies of the single.<ref name="aria" /> On the year end tabulation, the song ranked at number 34.<ref name="ARIA Annual" /> In New Zealand, "Beautiful Stranger" debuted at its peak position of number five. The single gradually descended down the chart and was present for a total of 14 weeks.<ref name="nz" />

In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at its peak of number two on the [[UK Singles Chart]] with first-week sales of over 135,000 copies. The song spent 16 weeks on the singles chart, with seven of those being within the top 20.<ref name="uksales">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/madonna-s-official-top-40-biggest-selling-singles__8266/|title=Open your chart to me... Madonna's Official Top 40 Biggest Selling Singles|last=Myers|first=Justin|date=August 16, 2017|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=August 16, 2017|archive-date=March 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308043127/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/madonna-s-official-top-40-biggest-selling-singles__8266/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="uk" /> "Beautiful Stranger" also became one of the most played songs on [[List of radio stations in the United Kingdom|UK radio]], receiving over 2,462 plays per week, breaking the previous record held by [[Cher]] with her single "[[Believe (Cher song)|Believe]]".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/394193.stm | work=BBC News | title=Top Gear host quits after conviction | date=July 14, 1999 | access-date=July 6, 2016 | archive-date=June 12, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612221901/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/394193.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> According to the [[Official Charts Company]], the song has sold 535,000 copies in the United Kingdom as of August 2016 and was certified gold by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI).<ref name="bpi" /><ref name="uksales" /> Across Europe, "Beautiful Stranger" reached the top 20 of the charts in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, while reaching the top of the charts in Finland and Italy.<ref name="aus" /> It received a silver certification in France for shipment of 125,000 copies.<ref name="snep" /> The song reached a peak of number two on the [[European Hot 100 Singles]] chart, also ranking number two in the 1999 year-end tabulation behind [[Britney Spears]]' "[[...Baby One More Time]]".<ref name="euro" /><ref name="euryear">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=949693|title=Women Rule 1999 European Charts|last=Sexton|first=Paul|magazine=Billboard|date=December 30, 1999|access-date=July 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225043254/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=949693 |archive-date=February 25, 2012}}</ref>

== Music video ==
[[File:Madonna beautiful stranger moving video.gif|thumb|left|Madonna and [[Austin Powers (character)|Austin Powers]] ([[Mike Myers]]) are shown in various scenes in the "Beautiful Stranger" video.|alt=Refer to caption]]
The song's accompanying [[music video]] was directed by [[Brett Ratner]] and filmed at [[Universal Studios Lot|Universal Studios]] in [[Los Angeles]] on May 1, 1999.<ref>{{cite web|title=Madonna, Mike Myers Team Up For 'Austin Powers' Video|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1431576/madonna-mike-myers-team-up-for-austin-powers-video/|publisher=[[MTV News]]|access-date=April 6, 2016|date=May 5, 1999|archive-date=August 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809053111/http://www.mtv.com/news/1431576/madonna-mike-myers-team-up-for-austin-powers-video/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Madonna had previously shown interest in working with Ratner after seeing his video for [[D'Angelo]]'s "[[Brown Sugar (D'Angelo song)|Brown Sugar]]" (1995).<ref name=DVD>{{cite AV media notes |title=The Shooter Series Volume One: Director Brett Ratner|others=[[Brett Ratner]] |type=Liner notes |publisher=[[Genius Products]] |location=Santa Monica, California|id=B001UDS4C2|year=2009}}</ref> Her make-up was done by [[Kevyn Aucoin]], with whom she had previously worked on her music video for "[[The Power of Good-Bye]]".<ref>{{harvnb|Diamond|Aucoin|2004|p=136}}</ref> According to Ratner, it was a rather jovial shooting:
<blockquote>
Mike was in character the entire time. He and Madonna really had a great chemistry together. This video shows her absolutely hysterical sense of humour, and it's great for everyone to see that side of her. This was by far the most fun I've ever had making a video.<ref name="vidrel">{{cite press release|title=New Madonna Single and Video to Be Released; 'Beautiful Stranger' Lead Track from 'Austin Powers' Soundtrack|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-madonna-single-and-video-to-be-released-beautiful-stranger-lead-track-from-austin-powers-soundtrack-74505907.html|agency=[[PR Newswire]]|access-date=6 April 2016|date=May 12, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819081309/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-madonna-single-and-video-to-be-released-beautiful-stranger-lead-track-from-austin-powers-soundtrack-74505907.html|archive-date=August 19, 2016}}</ref>
</blockquote>
The video begins with Myers as [[Austin Powers (character)|Austin Powers]], receiving a call from his boss [[Basil Exposition]] ([[Michael York]]), who warns him against a dangerous spy describing her as a "master of disguise". The screen of his car depicts five images of Madonna wearing different looks, and Exposition clarifies that she has been "seducing our top agents". He also warns Powers "whatever you do don't fall in love. We've already lost [[James Bond|007]] and 008".<ref name="retten" /><ref>{{harvnb|Guilbert|2002|p=113}}</ref> As the video continues, Powers finds Madonna at a club performing in front of a crowd, which includes [[Verne Troyer]] in character as [[Mini-Me]].<ref name=Austerlitz /> As he watches her perform, Powers finds himself fantasizing about the two of them dancing in front of a white background with psychedelic fluorescent whirls. He also imagines her in the passenger seat of his car, where she playfully teases him whilst he is driving through London at night.<ref name=Austerlitz>{{harvnb|Austerlitz|2007|p=136}}</ref>

According to Ratner, Myers was not comfortable with these scenes, as he felt it was too sexual and inappropriate; he even asked him to cut that particular shot. Madonna on the other hand, thought it was fun and convinced the director to keep it.<ref name=DVD /> The video ends with Powers' car fantasy, with Powers telling Madonna “You’re going the right way for a smackbottom”, to which Madonna replies “I hope so”.<ref>{{harvnb|Austerlitz|2007|p=137}}</ref> Author Georges Claude Guilbert wrote in his book, ''Madonna as Postmodern Myth'', that "Beautiful Stranger" denoted one of the series of looks reinvented by Madonna around that time, and was a "radical" change from the geisha look of her previous video for "[[Nothing Really Matters]]", released the same year.<ref>{{harvnb|Guilbert|2002|p=174}}</ref> [[Matthew Rettenmund]] wrote in his ''Encyclopedia Madonnica'' that "Madonna probably gave very little thought [behind the video]" but he felt that it was better than being a "couple of steps above a clips compilation".<ref name="retten" />

At the [[1999 MTV Video Music Awards]], the video was nominated in the categories of [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video|Best Female Video]] and [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]], and won for [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film|Best Video from a Film]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1999 Video Music Awards|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1999/|publisher=MTV|access-date=April 8, 2016|date=September 9, 1999|archive-date=August 28, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828041546/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1999/|url-status=dead}}</ref> It also received a nomination for Best Pop Clip of the Year at the 1999 [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard Music Video Awards]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Lopez is Top Billboard Music Video Awards Nominee|date=October 16, 1999|magazine=Billboard|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1999/BB-1999-10-16.pdf|page=94|access-date=July 6, 2016}}</ref> The clip won Best Cinematography and Best Make-Up at the 2000 MVPA Awards; it was also nominated for Soundtrack Video of the Year.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Chemical Bros. Video Wins 3 MVPA Awards|last=Hay|first=Carla|date=April 29, 2000|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=112|issue=18|page=94|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EA8EAAAAMBAJ|access-date=July 12, 2016|archive-date=May 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521013411/https://books.google.com/books?id=EA8EAAAAMBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> At the 1999 VH1 Fashion Awards, the video received a nomination in the category of Most Stylish Video.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/1999/STYLE/fashion/12/06/vh1.vogue/|title=VH1/Vogue dole out fashion awards|date=December 6, 1999|access-date=July 7, 2016|publisher=CNN|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304134133/http://edition.cnn.com/1999/STYLE/fashion/12/06/vh1.vogue/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The video can be found on the Madonna compilations, ''[[The Video Collection 93:99]]'' (1999) and ''[[Celebration: The Video Collection]]'' (2009).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1431573/madonna-offers-up-new-video-compilation/|title=Madonna Offers Up New Video Compilation|date=October 8, 1999|access-date=April 7, 2016|last=Basham|first=David|publisher=MTV News|archive-date=June 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601084644/http://www.mtv.com/news/1431573/madonna-offers-up-new-video-compilation/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2009/08/26/madonna-celebration-track-list|title=Madonna's 'Celebration' track list revealed: Are the greatest hits all there?|last=Greenblatt|first=Leah|date=August 26, 2009|access-date=July 6, 2016|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-date=January 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116135156/http://www.ew.com/article/2009/08/26/madonna-celebration-track-list/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Live performances and covers ==
{{See also|List of cover versions of Madonna songs|List of Madonna tribute albums}}

[[File:4.DWT-Beautiful Stranger (cropped).jpg|thumb|Madonna performing "Beautiful Stranger" during the [[Drowned World Tour]] in 2001|alt=Madonna wearing a skirt dancing on a blue it stage, in front of a video screen.]]
Madonna performed "Beautiful Stranger" on her 2001 [[Drowned World Tour]], where it was the fourth song on the setlist. It began with an introduction by Myers as Austin Powers on the video screens, the singer then asked the crowd "Do I make you horny?" (one of Powers' catchphrases) before performing the song. She was joined by backup singers Niki Haris and Donna DeLory, who also contributed with background vocals on the track.<ref name=Variety>{{cite web|last1=Gallo|first1=Phil|title=Review: 'Madonna&nbsp;– Drowned World Tour'|url=https://variety.com/2001/music/reviews/madonna-4-1200469978/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=April 8, 2016|date=September 10, 2001|archive-date=December 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228232708/http://variety.com/2001/music/reviews/madonna-4-1200469978/|url-status=live}}</ref> Costumes for the performance included spiked [[dog collar]]s, Swarovski crystal-encrusted bracelets and tattered tops; Madonna herself wore a sleeveless black top, crossover top with one net sleeve, jeans with zips and bondage straps and a tartan [[kilt]].<ref name="mtvrev">{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1444414/few-hits-many-costumes-at-madonna-tour-launch/|title=Few Hits, Many Costumes At Madonna Tour Launch|last=Moss|first=Cory|date=June 11, 2001|publisher=MTV News|access-date=April 7, 2016|archive-date=February 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225032006/http://www.mtv.com/news/1444414/few-hits-many-costumes-at-madonna-tour-launch/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The backdrop during the performance displayed scenes from the movie and psychedelic fluorescent whirls. It also featured a lost technician at the end and elements of "Soul Bossa Nova (Dim's Space-A-Nova)", another song from the film's soundtrack.<ref name="omh">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/live/madonna-earls-court-london|title=Madonna @ Earl's Court, London|last=Hubbard|first=Michael|date=July 4, 2001|magazine=[[MusicOMH]]|access-date=April 7, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304210043/http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/live/madonna-earls-court-london|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="clerk">{{harvnb|Clerk|2002|p=190}}</ref> On September 15, 2001, the tour's final date, Madonna's then husband [[Guy Ritchie]] joined her onstage as the lost technician.<ref name="fouz">{{harvnb|Fouz-Hernández|Jarman-Ivens|2004|p=133}}</ref> Michael Hubbard from [[MusicOMH]] noted that "things quickly hotted up with [...] 'Beautiful Stranger'".<ref name="omh" /> The performance on August 26, 2001, at [[The Palace of Auburn Hills]], outside of Madonna's hometown of Detroit was recorded and released in the live [[video album]], ''[[Drowned World Tour 2001]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/78099/madonnas-drowned-comes-to-home-video|last=Trust|first=Gary|magazine=Billboard|title=Madonna's 'Drowned' Comes To Home Video|date=October 9, 2001|access-date=April 7, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120743/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/78099/madonnas-drowned-comes-to-home-video|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 26, 2008, Madonna performed a snippet of "Beautiful Stranger" as the request song during the [[Chicago]] stop of her [[Sticky & Sweet Tour]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://consequence.net/2008/10/madonnas-on-fire-at-the-united-center-1026/ |title=Madonna's on fire at the United Center (10/26) |last=Roffman |first=Michael |date=October 27, 2008 |website=Consequence of Sound.net |access-date=December 3, 2016 |archive-date=October 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019045810/http://consequence.net/2008/10/madonnas-on-fire-at-the-united-center-1026/ |url-status=live }}</ref> An [[a cappella]] version of the song was also performed during the Nashville stop of her [[Rebel Heart Tour]] in January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hancock|first1=Trae|title=Photos & Review: Madonna 1/18/16, Nashville|url=http://blurtonline.com/feature/photos-review-madonna-11816-nashville/|work=[[Blurt (magazine)|Blurt]]|access-date=April 8, 2016|date=January 19, 2016|archive-date=February 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214224708/http://blurtonline.com/feature/photos-review-madonna-11816-nashville/|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2016, Madonna performed "Beautiful Stranger" during her [[Madonna: Tears of a Clown|Tears of a Clown]] show as part of a benefit dinner for her charity, [[Raising Malawi]], at [[Miami, Florida]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Kreps|first1=Daniel|title=Watch Madonna's Sultry Cover of Britney Spears' 'Toxic' at Art Basel|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/watch-madonna-cover-britney-spears-toxic-at-art-basel-w453681|access-date=December 3, 2016|date=December 3, 2016|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-date=December 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204122834/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/watch-madonna-cover-britney-spears-toxic-at-art-basel-w453681|url-status=live}}</ref>

Jon Auer, co-founder of the American [[power pop]] band [[The Posies]], recorded a cover of the song on his 2001 solo [[Extended play|EP]] ''6 ½''. Website [[Stereogum]] listed the cover at number five on their list of The 20 Best Indie Rock Madonna Covers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/986321/the-20-best-indie-rock-madonna-covers/franchises/best-covers/|title=The 20 Best Indie Rock Madonna Covers|last=Lapatine|first=Scott|date=March 27, 2012|website=[[Stereogum]]|access-date=July 8, 2016|archive-date=August 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807040832/http://www.stereogum.com/986321/the-20-best-indie-rock-madonna-covers/franchises/best-covers/|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2007 [[folk music]] tribute compilation to Madonna, entitled ''[[Through the Wilderness]]'', features a cover of the song by Golden Animals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/5859/ariel_pink_covers_madonna/news/|title=Ariel Pink Covers Madonna|date=July 16, 2007|website=Stereogum|access-date=July 8, 2016|archive-date=August 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807032610/http://www.stereogum.com/5859/ariel_pink_covers_madonna/news/|url-status=live}}</ref> Australian [[rock music|rock]] band [[DMA's]] covered the song during their [[BBC Radio 1]] sessions with [[Annie Mac]] on March 8, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/records/n3j6jx|title=Beautiful Stranger: Live|last=Mac|first=Annie|author-link=Annie Mac|date=March 6, 2016|publisher=Radio 1|access-date=July 8, 2016}}</ref> Michelle Geslani from [[Consequence of Sound]] website praised the cover saying that it would "undoubtedly be hailed as yet another successful entry in DMA's young career" and described the cover as "easily tweaking the swirling, retro number into a psychedelic, arena-ready anthem".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://consequence.net/2016/03/dmas-cover-madonnas-beautiful-stranger-listen/|title=DMA's cover Madonna's 'Beautiful Stranger'|last=Geslani|first=Michelle|date=March 14, 2016|magazine=[[Consequence of Sound]]|access-date=July 8, 2016|archive-date=May 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529052125/http://consequence.net/2016/03/dmas-cover-madonnas-beautiful-stranger-listen/|url-status=live}}</ref> Michael Carr from ''[[Music Feeds]]'' magazine also praised the cover saying "Lending itself surprisingly well to the boys’ shoegazey brit pop treatment, the lads absolutely nail it... To be honest though, they kind of won on song choice alone".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/dmas-drop-tasty-cover-madonnas-beautiful-stranger/|title=DMA's Drop Tasty Cover Of Madonna's 'Beautiful Stranger'|last=Carr|first=Michael|date=March 11, 2016|access-date=July 8, 2016|work=[[Music Feeds]]|archive-date=September 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914034235/http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/dmas-drop-tasty-cover-madonnas-beautiful-stranger/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Most recently, American punk band [[Skating Polly]] released a cover of the song on the 2020 re-release of their album, The Make It All Show, as one of the bonus tracks.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1230947283350347776|user=SkatingPolly|title=The Japanese release of “The Make It All Show” is now available! TWO BONUS TRACKS! Our new song “Mostly Glad” & our…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. --> |date=February 21, 2020}}</ref> The band had previously covered the song on their 2016 tour.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATnf5i1kFGs |title=Skating Polly 6.12.16 at Shea Stadium 10 songs – YouTube<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=[[YouTube]] |date=June 12, 2016 |access-date=February 22, 2020 |archive-date=September 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923093810/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATnf5i1kFGs |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Track listing and formats ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* '''US 12-inch promo vinyl 1'''<ref name="Beautiful Stranger">{{cite AV media notes|title="Beautiful Stranger"|others=Madonna|year=1999|type=US Promo 12" single liner notes|publisher=Maverick Records|id=PRO-A-9838-A}}</ref>
# "Beautiful Stranger" ([[Victor Calderone|Calderone]] Club Mix)&nbsp;– 10:12
# "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Radio Mix)&nbsp;– 4:00
# "Beautiful Stranger" (New Club Edit)&nbsp;– 5:12
# "Beautiful Stranger" (LP Version)&nbsp;– 4:22

* '''US 12-inch promo vinyl 2'''<ref name="Beautiful Stranger" />
# "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Club Mix)&nbsp;– 10:13
# "Beautiful Stranger" (Album Version)&nbsp;– 4:21
# "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Radio Mix)&nbsp;– 4:04
# "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Dub Mix)&nbsp;– 6:22

* '''US and UK promo CD'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title="Beautiful Stranger"|others=Madonna|year=1999|type=UK Promo CD single liner notes|publisher=Maverick Records|id=PRO-CD-9760}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title="Beautiful Stranger"|others=Madonna|year=1999|type=US Promo CD single liner notes|publisher=Maverick Records|id=PR0-1417-CD}}</ref>
# "Beautiful Stranger" ([[William Orbit]] Radio Edit)&nbsp;– 3:58
# "Beautiful Stranger" (LP Version)&nbsp;– 4:22

* '''UK 7-inch and cassette single, European 2-track CD'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title="Beautiful Stranger"|others=Madonna|year=1999|type=UK Cassette single liner notes|publisher=Maverick Records|id=W495}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title="Beautiful Stranger"|others=Madonna|year=1999|type=EUR 2-track CD single liner notes|publisher=Maverick Records|id=W495}}</ref>
# "Beautiful Stranger" (LP Version)&nbsp;– 4:22
# "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Radio Mix)&nbsp;– 4:00
{{col-2}}
* '''European, UK, Japanese, and Australian CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title="Beautiful Stranger"|others=Madonna|year=1999|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Maverick Records|id=W495CD}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title="Beautiful Stranger"|others=Madonna|year=1999|type=Japanese CD single liner notes|publisher=Maverick Records|id=9362-44699-2}}</ref>
# "Beautiful Stranger" (LP Version)&nbsp;– 4:22
# "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Club Mix)&nbsp;– 10:12
# "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Radio Mix)&nbsp;– 4:00

* '''Digital single (2021)'''<ref name="DIG">{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/beautiful-stranger-ep/1567207902 |title=Beautiful Stranger – EP by Madonna on Apple Music |date=May 19, 1999 |publisher=[[Apple Music]] |access-date=May 21, 2021 |archive-date=May 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522061805/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/beautiful-stranger-ep/1567207902 |url-status=live }}</ref>
# "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Club Mix)&nbsp;– 10:12
# "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Dub Mix)&nbsp;– 6:21
# "Beautiful Stranger" (Calderone Radio Mix)&nbsp;– 4:03
# "Beautiful Stranger" (New Club Edit)&nbsp;– 5:13
# "Beautiful Stranger" (William Orbit Radio Edit)&nbsp;– 3:56
{{col-end}}

== Credits and personnel ==
Credits and personnel are adapted from ''Beautiful Stranger'' promo single liner notes.<ref name=linernotes>{{cite AV media notes|others=Madonna|title="Beautiful Stranger"|year=1999|type=US 7" Single Liner notes|publisher=Maverick Records|id=9362446992}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=45em}}
* [[Madonna]]&nbsp;– [[Singing|vocals]], [[songwriter]], [[record producer|producer]]
* [[William Orbit]]&nbsp;– songwriter, producer, guitar, keyboards
* [[Victor Calderone]]&nbsp;– additional producer, [[remix]]er
* Emma Fowler&nbsp;– [[flute]]
* Damian LeGassick&nbsp;– keyboards, [[Programming (music)|programming]]
* [[Pat McCarthy (record producer)|Pat McCarthy]]&nbsp;– [[Audio engineer|engineering]]
* [[Mark Endert]]&nbsp;– engineering
* Dave Chelsea&nbsp;– engineering
* Jeff Gregmay&nbsp;– assistant engineering
* Wassim Zartek&nbsp;– assistant engineering
{{div end}}

== Charts ==
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}

=== Weekly charts ===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Beautiful Stranger"
!Chart (1999)
!Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Australia|5|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|rowheader=true|refname="aus"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Austria|14|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|rowheader=true|refname="aut"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|15|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|rowheader=true|refname="fla"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Wallonia|12|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|rowheader=true|refname="wal"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|chartid=8382|rowheader=true|refname="rpm"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|1|chartid=8359|rowheader=true|refname="rpmac"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{singlechart|Canadadance|4|chartid=8461|rowheader=true|refname="rpmdance"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
!scope="row"|Canada CHR ([[Nielsen BDS]])<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407221908/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/1999.pdf|archivedate=April 7, 2005|url=http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/1999.pdf|title=Canadian Top 20 in 1999|website=Cross Canada Countdown|accessdate=November 13, 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center"|3
|-
!scope="row"|Czech Republic ([[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|ČNS IFPI]])<ref name="Czech">{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpicr.cz/radio.htm|title=Hitparada radia 2000. 34 tyden|publisher=ČNS IFPI|language=cs|access-date=March 21, 2021|archive-date=August 29, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990829142859/http://www.ifpicr.cz/radio.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|5
|-
!scope="row"|Denmark ([[Tracklisten]])<ref name="euro" />
|4
|-
!scope="row"|[[European Hot 100 Singles|European Hot 100]] (''Music & Media'')<ref name="euro">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1999/BB-1999-07-03.pdf|title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|volume=111|issue=27|page=61|date=July 3, 1999|access-date=July 6, 2016|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121010817/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1999/BB-1999-07-03.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|2
|-
!scope="row"|European Radio Top 50 (''Music & Media'')<ref name="Euroradio">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-08-14.pdf#page=16|title=European Radio Top 50 week 33/99|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=33|page=16|date=August 14, 1999|access-date=April 10, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722051833/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-08-14.pdf#page=16|url-status=live}}</ref>
|1
|-
{{single chart|Finland|1|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|rowheader=true|refname="fin"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|France|17|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|rowheader=true|refname="fra"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Germany|13|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|songid=3935|rowheader=true|refname="ger"|access-date=October 17, 2018}}
|-
!scope="row"|Greece ([[IFPI Greece|IFPI]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-07-17.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=16|issue=29|page=11|date=July 17, 1999|access-date=June 26, 2018|archive-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609022059/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-07-17.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 3
|-
!scope="row"|Hungary ([[Mahasz]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-07-24.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=16|issue=30|page=10|date=July 24, 1999|access-date=June 26, 2018|archive-date=July 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704021813/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-07-24.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 2
|-
!scope="row"|Iceland ([[Íslenski listinn|Íslenski Listinn Topp 40]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://timarit.is/page/2986791#page/n9/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 331 Vikuna 8.7. – 15 July 1999)|newspaper=[[Dagblaðið Vísir]]|language=is|page=10|date=July 9, 1999|access-date=July 14, 2018|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215323/https://timarit.is/page/2986791#page/n9/mode/2up|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 1
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|3|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|rowheader=true|refname="ire"v}}
|-
!scope="row"|Italy (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-07-03.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=16|issue=27|page=13|date=July 3, 1999|access-date=November 28, 2019|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608224828/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-07-03.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 1
|-
!scope="row"|Italy Airplay (''[[Music & Media]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-07-24.pdf|title=Major Market Airplay: Italy|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=16|issue=30|page=19|date=24 July 1999}}</ref>
| 2
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|6|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|rowheader=true|refname="dt40"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|6|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|rowheader=true|refname="dt100"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|5|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|rowheader=true|refname="nz"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Norway|8|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|rowheader=true|refname="nor"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|2|date=19990613|rowheader=true|refname=scotland|access-date=June 12, 2015}}
|-
{{single chart|Spain|4|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|rowheader=true|refname="spain"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|15|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|rowheader=true|refname="swe"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|6|artist=Madonna|song=Beautiful Stranger|rowheader=true|refname="swi"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|2|date=19990613|rowheader=true|refname="uk"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|UKdance|7|date=19990613|rowheader=true|refname="ukdance"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|19|artist=Madonna|rowheader=true|refname="bbhot100"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|23|artist=Madonna|rowheader=true|refname="bbac"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|9|artist=Madonna|rowheader=true|refname="bbapop"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|1|artist=Madonna|rowheader=true|refname="bbdance"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|8|artist=Madonna|rowheader=true|refname="bbpop"|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
|}
{{col-2}}

=== Year-end charts ===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Year-end chart performance for "Beautiful Stranger"
!Chart (1999)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref name="ARIA Annual">{{cite web|publisher=[[ARIA charts]] |title=ARIA Charts&nbsp;– End of Year Charts&nbsp;– Top 100 Singles 1999 |url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-1999.htm |access-date=July 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320122230/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-1999.htm |archive-date=March 20, 2012}}</ref>
| 34
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1999|title=Jaaroverzichten 1999|access-date=June 6, 2012|language=nl|publisher=Ultratop|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416011630/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1999|archive-date=April 16, 2012}}</ref>
|68
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=1999|title=Rapports Annuel 1999|access-date=June 6, 2012|language=fr|publisher=Ultratop|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210030312/http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=1999|archive-date=February 10, 2014}}</ref>
| 55
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref name="rpmyear">{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9952&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|title=Top RPM Singles of 1999|work=RPM|access-date=January 31, 2011|archive-date=February 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225042124/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9952&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 14
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Adult Contemporary (''RPM'')<ref name="rpmyearac">{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.9964.pdf|title=Top Adult Contemporary Singles of 1999|work=RPM|access-date=January 31, 2011|archive-date=October 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022101323/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.9964.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 16
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Dance/Urban (''RPM'')<ref name="rpmyeardance">{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.9962.pdf|title=Top Dance/Urban Singles of 1999|work=RPM|access-date=January 31, 2011|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817074731/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.9962.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 29
|-
!scope="row"|European Hot 100 Airplay (''Music & Media'')<ref name="Euroyear">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-01-01.pdf|title=Year in Focus|magazine=Music & Media|access-date=April 10, 2021|pages=11, 13|volume=17|issue=1|archive-date=June 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603193444/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-01-01.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 45
|-
!scope="row"|European Radio Top 100 (''Music & Media'')<ref name="Euroyear" />
| 2
|-
!scope="row"|France (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snepmusique.com/fr/pag-259376-Classements-Annuels.html?year=1999|title=Classement Singles&nbsp;– année 1999|publisher=SNEP|access-date=May 3, 2011|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915001938/http://www.snepmusique.com/fr/pag-259376-Classements-Annuels.html?year=1999|archive-date=September 15, 2012}}</ref>
| 48
|-
!scope="row"|Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1999|title=Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts|language=de|publisher=[[GfK Entertainment]]|access-date=December 5, 2015|archive-date=July 19, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150719040412/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1999|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 98
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1999|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1999|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=March 15, 2020|archive-date=December 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209143349/https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1999|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 49
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1999&cat=s |title=Jaaroverzichten Singoli 1999|access-date=June 6, 2012|language=nl|publisher=MegaCharts. Hung Medien|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915103326/http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1999&cat=s|archive-date=September 15, 2011}}</ref>
| 54
|-
!scope="row"|Romania ([[Romanian Top 100]])<ref name="rt100">{{cite web|url=http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1999.html|title=Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999|publisher=[[Romanian Top 100]]|language=ro|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050122081829/http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1999.html|archive-date=January 22, 2005}}</ref>
| 98
|-
!scope="row"|Spain (AFYVE)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anuariossgae.com/anuario2000/frames.html|title=TABLA 16. CD-SINGLES MÁS VENDIDOS EN 1999|website=Anuarios Sage — [[PROMUSICAE|AFYVE]]|language=es|page=206|access-date=January 16, 2021|format=''If necessary, click'' in música grabada|archive-date=October 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031133212/http://www.anuariossgae.com/anuario2000/frames.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 16
|-
!scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|title=Jahreshitparade 1999 |publisher=Swiss Hitparade. Hung Medien |url=http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1999 |access-date=July 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819084203/http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1999 |archive-date=August 19, 2014}}</ref>
| 45
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref name="OCC">{{cite web|title=UK Annual Chart 1999 |publisher=Official Charts Company |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/assets/files/yearly%20best%20selling%20singles.pdf |access-date=June 13, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018142431/http://www.bpi.co.uk/assets/files/yearly%20best%20selling%20singles.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2012}}</ref>
| 23
|-
!scope="row"|UK Airplay (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2000/Music-Week-2000-01-22.pdf#page=53|title=Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=January 22, 2000|access-date=April 24, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729070503/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2000/Music-Week-2000-01-22.pdf#page=53|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 1
|-
!scope="row"|US Dance Club Play (''Billboard'')<ref name="bbdanceyear">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1999/BB-1999-12-25.pdf|title=The year in Music 1999|magazine=Billboard|page=YE-60|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref>
| 31
|-
!scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref name="bbdanceyear2">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Airplay/1999/BBAM-1999-12-24.pdf|title=MOST PLAYED ADULT TOP 40 SONGS OF 1999|magazine=Billboard|pages=47, 62|access-date=May 29, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029153544/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Airplay/1999/BBAM-1999-12-24.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 47
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2001)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Canada ([[Nielsen SoundScan]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2001_singles2.html|title=Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001|publisher=[[Jam!]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020726120310/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2001_singles2.html|archive-date=July 26, 2002|access-date=March 28, 2022}}</ref>
| 132
|}
{{col-end}}

== Certifications and sales ==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Beautiful Stranger"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Madonna|title=Beautiful Stranger|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|access-date=March 17, 2015|refname="aria"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|access-date=May 22, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Madonna|title=Beautiful Stranger|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|access-date=August 19, 2022|refname="snep"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Madonna|title=Beautiful Stranger|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1999|certyear=2024|id=754-2003-1|access-date=June 28, 2024|refname="bpi"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

== Release history ==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Release dates, formats and versions for "Beautiful Stranger"
! scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date
! scope="col"| Format(s)
! scope="col"| Version(s)
! scope="col"| Label(s)
! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row"| Various
| May 19, 1999
| [[Radio broadcasting|Radio airplay]]
| rowspan="3"| Original
| [[Maverick Records|Maverick]]
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="vidrel"/>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| United States
| May 25, 1999
| [[Contemporary hit radio]]
| rowspan="2"| {{hlist|Maverick|[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner]]}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1990s/1999/RR-1999-05-21.pdf |title=John Michael Montgomery Home to You in stores May 25th |date=May 21, 1999 |magazine=[[R&R (magazine)|R&R]] |page=51 |access-date=April 14, 2023 }}</ref>
|-
| June 4, 1999
| {{hlist|[[Bright AC]]|[[Adult contemporary music#Hot adult contemporary|hot AC]]|[[Adult contemporary music#Modern adult contemporary|modern AC]]}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1990s/1999/RR-1999-06-04.pdf |title=And I need you somehow and you're my obsession I love you to the bones and Ana wrecks your life like an anorexia life |date=June 4, 1999 |magazine=[[R&R (magazine)|R&R]] |page=20 |access-date=April 14, 2023 }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| United Kingdom
| June 7, 1999
| {{hlist|[[12-inch single|12-inch vinyl]]|[[cassette single|cassette]]|[[CD single|CD]]}}
| {{hlist|Original|remixes}}
| Maverick
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="UK"/>
|-
! scope="row"| Japan
| July 17, 1999
| rowspan="2"| CD
| Original
| {{hlist|Maverick|[[Warner Music Japan|WEA Japan]]}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/162927/products/306188/1/|title=ビューティフル・ストレンジャー {{!}} マドンナ|trans-title=Beautiful Stranger {{!}} Madonna|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| Canada
| July 20, 1999
| {{hlist|Original|remixes}}
| {{hlist|Maverick|Warner}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="CAN"/>
|-
! scope="row"| Various
| May 21, 2021
| {{hlist|[[music download|Digital download]]|[[streaming media|streaming]]}}
| Remixes
| Warner
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="DIG"/>
|}

== See also ==
* [[List of number-one singles of 1999 (Canada)]]
* [[List of number-one singles of 1999 (Finland)]]
* [[List of number-one hits of 1999 (Italy)]]
* [[List of number-one dance singles of 1999 (U.S.)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{Cite book|last = Austerlitz|first = Saul |title = Money for Nothing: A History of the Music Video, from the Beatles to the White Stripes|publisher = Continuum Publications|year = 2007|isbn = 978-0-8264-1818-0}}
* {{Cite book | last = Clerk | first = Carol | title = Madonnastyle | year = 2002 | publisher = [[Omnibus Press]] | isbn = 0-7119-8874-9}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Diamond| first1 = Kerry|last2=Aucoin|first2=Kevyn | title = Kevyn Aucoin a Beautiful Life: The Success, Struggles, and Beauty Secrets of a Legendary Makeup Artist | year = 2004| publisher = [[Simon and Schuster]] | isbn =978-0-7432-3583-9}}
*{{cite book| last1 = Fouz-Hernández| first1 = Santiago| first2 = Freya| last2 = Jarman-Ivens| title = Madonna's Drowned Worlds| publisher = [[Ashgate Publishing, Ltd]]| isbn = 0-7546-3372-1| year = 2004| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/madonnasdrownedw0000unse}}
* {{Cite book|last = Dellio|first = Phil|title =Interrupting My Train of Thought|publisher =[[Lulu (company)|Lulu Publishers]]|year = 2014|isbn =978-1-312-49197-7}}
* {{Cite book|last = Guilbert|first = Georges-Claude|title = Madonna as Postmodern Myth: How One Star's Self-Construction Rewrites Sex, Gender, Hollywood and the American Dream|author-link = Georges Claude Guilbert|publisher = McFarland|year = 2002|isbn = 0-7864-1408-1}}
* {{Cite book|last = Morgan|first = Michelle|title = Madonna|publisher = Hachette UK|year = 2015|isbn = 978-1-4721-1943-8}}
* {{Cite book|last = Rettenmund|first = Matthew|author-link = Matthew Rettenmund|title = Encyclopedia Madonnica 20|publisher = Boyculture Publications|year = 2016|isbn = 978-0-692-51557-0}}
* {{Cite book|last = Rooksby|first = Rikky|title = The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna|year = 2004|publisher = [[Omnibus Press]]|isbn = 0-7119-9883-3|url-access = registration|url = https://archive.org/details/madonnacompleteg0000rook}}
* {{Cite book|last = Taraborrelli|first = J. Randy|author-link = J. Randy Taraborrelli|title = [[Madonna: An Intimate Biography]]|publisher = [[Simon & Schuster]]|year = 2008|isbn = 978-1-4165-8346-2}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
* {{Discogs master|34056|Beautiful Stranger|type=single}}

{{Austin Powers}}
{{Madonna songs}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for "Beautiful Stranger"
|titlestyle = background: lightblue
|list1 =
{{Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1999 singles]]
[[Category:1999 songs]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media]]
[[Category:Madonna songs]]
[[Category:Maverick Records singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Finland]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Iceland]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Italy]]
[[Category:Psychedelic pop songs]]
[[Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:Songs written for films]]
[[Category:Songs written by Madonna]]
[[Category:Songs written by William Orbit]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Madonna]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by William Orbit]]
[[Category:Warner Records singles]]