 The song begins with austere , classical strings while the chord progression emphasizes tonic , submediant and flattened leading @-@ tone chords . For the second phrase , which includes a dramatic crescendo , rhythm and ambient electronic effects are added gradually . Santiago Fouz @-@ Hernández and Freya Jarman @-@ Ivens , authors from Madonna 's Drowned Worlds , commented that the song is strongly inspired by different forms of classical music , notably contemporary classical music such as neoromanticism , as well as Italian opera composers and pieces such as Puccini 's Madama Butterfly and Verdi 's Aïda . Madonna 's vocals throughout the song lack vibrato , and have drawn comparisons to medieval music . 
