Desert Rose (Sting song)

"Desert Rose" is a song by British musician Sting ft. Cheb Mami from his album Brand New Day (1999). According to Sting, the lyrics have to do with "lost love and longing".[1] Riding a wave of pre-9/11 interest in Latin and Arabic cultures,[2][3][4] the song peaked at No. 2 in Canada, No. 3 in Switzerland, No. 4 in Italy, No. 15 in the UK, and No. 17 in the US. The song is noted for Sting's duet performance with Algerian raï singer Cheb Mami, creating a distinct world music feel to the song.

"Desert Rose"
Single by Sting featuring Cheb Mami
from the album Brand New Day
Released17 January 2000 (UK)[1]
Recorded1999
Genre
Length
  • 4:45 (album version)
  • 3:55 (radio edit)
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Sting singles chronology
"Brand New Day"
(1999)		 "Desert Rose"
(2000)		 "After the Rain Has Fallen"
(2000)

Music video

The music video was directed by Paul Boyd,[5] and features Sting taking a trip through the Mojave Desert in a Jaguar S-Type driven by a masked female chauffeur (a possible reference to the Green Hornet's sidekick Kato) while recording himself on a handycam, and then going to a nightclub in Las Vegas to perform the song with Cheb Mami. Scenes also feature Sting walking alone in the desert holding the camera up. It ends with a shot of Sting with his eyes shut (possibly asleep) in the back seat of the Jaguar, which is then seen driving off into the distance. After shooting the video, Sting's manager Miles Copeland III approached a music licensing maven, Lloyd Simon, to work with Jaguar on a collaboration, and the auto company featured the video in their prominent television advertisements during the year 2000.[6]

Remixes

Also included on the single releases were club remixes by Victor Calderone. One remixed version of the song was used in an alternative edit of the video, which included more sexually explicit footage.

Track listings
UK CD1 (497 240-2)
  1. "Desert Rose (radio edit)" – 3:55
  2. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (live at the Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles) – 4:27
  3. "Fragile" (live at the Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles) – 4:10
  4. "Desert Rose" video (CD-ROM)
UK CD2 (497 241-2)
  1. "Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix radio edit)" – 4:47
  2. "Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix)" – 9:21
  3. "Desert Rose (Filter Dub Mix)" – 5:21
  4. "Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix)" video (CD-ROM)
UK 12" (497 241-1)
  1. "Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix)"
  2. "Desert Rose (Filter Dub Mix)"
  3. "Desert Rose" (original)
US CD (0694973212)
  1. "Desert Rose (radio edit)" – 3:54
  2. "Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix radio edit)" – 4:44
  3. "Brand New Day (Murlyn Extended Mix)" – 5:01
  4. "Brand New Day (Murlyn Radio Mix)" – 3:54
Europe CD (497 233-2)
  1. "Desert Rose (radio edit)" – 3:54
  2. "Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix)" – 9:20
  3. "Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix radio edit)" – 4:44
  4. "Brand New Day (Murlyn Mix)" – 5:01
  5. "Brand New Day" video (CD-ROM)

Charts

References
  1. "Sting Discography: Desert Rose, CD". sting.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  2. Dan Irwin (31 August 2008). "SULTAN RULES: Internationally known artist entertains crowd at Syrian picnic". New Castle News. Retrieved 27 November 2014. Sultan cited the success of Sting's "Desert Rose," a 1999 song that climbed to No. 17 on the U.S. charts, as evidence that Western music was ready not only for a Latin influence, but also an Arabic one.
  3. Benshoff, Harry (26 August 2011). America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies. John Wiley & Sons. p. 159. ISBN 9781444357592.
  4. Karam, Nicoletta (2012). The 9/11 Backlash: A Decade of U.S. Hate Crimes Targeting the Innocent. Beatitude Press. p. 166. ISBN 9781478230953. Prior to 9/11, Egyptian pop star Hakim and rai singer Khaled had been contracted to perform in the Desert Roses and Aravian Rhythms Festival [...] In the weeks before the terrorist strikes, the tour had been enjoying good ticket sales as a result of Sting's and Cheb Mami's 1999 hit song, 'Desert Rose,' which brought rai music to American audiences. After 9/11, the musicians decided to discontinue the tour.
  5. "Music Director Paul Boyd Gives Us a Few Pointers to Shoot With". talenthouse.com. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  6. Sting rides again Chicago Tribune
  7. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  8. "Austriancharts.at – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  9. "Ultratop.be – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  10. "Ultratop.be – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  11. Canadian peak
  12. "Lescharts.com – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose" (in French). Les classement single.
  13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  14. "placement". irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Note: Sting must be searched manually.
  15. "Italiancharts.com – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose". Top Digital Download.
  16. "Dutchcharts.nl – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  17. "Lista Przebojów Programu 3" (in Polish). LP3. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  18. "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  19. "Swisscharts.com – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose". Swiss Singles Chart.
  20. Official Charts Company
  21. https://www.billboard.com/music/sting/chart-history/
  22. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2000". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  23. "Rapports Annuels 2000". Ultratop. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  24. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  25. "Polish end-year chart in 2000" (in Polish). LP3. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  26. "Swiss year-end chart". swisscharts.com. 2000. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  27. "Billboard Top 100 - 2000". Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
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