The Power of Good-Bye

The music video for the ballade single The Power of Good-Bye from Madonna’s album Ray of Light was shot from August, 1998 at Silvertop House in Los Angeles, California and Malibu Beach. Matthew Rolston directed the filming while Nicola Doring was its producer.

Dark-haired Madonna is shown against the ascetic backgrounds of light aquatic green-themed walls and curtains. She is thinking of her future and playing chess with her lover she feels like their future relationship depend on the final of the game. Being in pensive mood she knows “There's nothing left to try There's no place left to hide There's no greater power than the power of good-bye”. Eventually Madonna cleans down all chess from the chessboard as she decides stop the game without knowing who would become the winner. The couple begins kissing, but Madonna pushes the guy off and goes to the ocean. A second before video ends Madonna is shown on the beach again, now much happier than before. Against this background the water can be accepted as a symbol of rebirth.

The clip plot was inspired with Madonna’s favorite film, Humoresque starring Joan Crawford and The Thomas Crown Affair movie. Croatian-born actor Goran Visnjic appeared in The Power of Good-Bye video as Madonna's boyfriend, later he went on to play Dr. Luka Kovac on the TV series ER.

The video was awarded on MTV Video Music Awards, 1998 and Madonna included it in her DVD compilation The Video Collection 93:99. Besides, BBC performed The Power of Good-Bye in the program Top of the Pops.