Desert Rose (Sting song)

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"Desert Rose"
Desert Rose (Sting song) coverart.jpg
Single by Sting featuring Cheb Mami
from the album Brand New Day
Released17 January 2000[1]
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
"Desert Rose" on YouTube

"Desert Rose" is a song by British musician Sting featuring 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 Mami.

Reception[]

The song's album Brand New Day received moderate to positive reviews,[5][6][7] with some reviewers stating that it had a "world-beat",[6] or sounded "exotic".[8] However, in the reviews "Desert Rose" was cited as being different than the rest of the album,[5] being one of the highlights of the album.[8] The critics take on Sting's "world music" did not sit well with the singer, stating that he did not do world music, though acknowledging the North African feel to the song.[9]

Music video[]

The music video was directed by Paul Boyd,[10] and features Sting taking a trip through the Mojave Desert in a Jaguar S-Type driven by a masked female chauffeur while recording himself on a Sony 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,[citation needed] to work with Jaguar on a collaboration, and the auto company featured the video in their prominent television advertisements during the year 2000.[11]

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.[citation needed] The song was later re-released on Sting's later album Duets.[12]

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. ^ Jump up to: a b "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. ^ Jump up to: a b Kot, Greg (10 October 1999). "Recordings: Sting Brand New Day (A&M)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Willman, Chris (1 October 1999). "Brand New Day Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  7. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Brand New Day". Allmusic. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Hilburn, Robert (26 September 1999). "Record Rack: Sting Keeps His Faith in Style". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  9. ^ Peacock, Tim (17 January 2021). "'Desert Rose': The Story Behind Sting's Genre-Defying Hit". udiscovermusic.com. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Music Director Paul Boyd Gives Us a Few Pointers to Shoot With". talenthouse.com. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  11. ^ Kot, Greg (3 October 2003). "Sting rides again". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  12. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (18 March 2021). "Sting review, Duets: Compilation album is a generous reminder of The Police star's incalculable range". The Independent. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  13. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  14. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  17. ^ "Sting Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7193." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17 no. 18. 29 April 2000. p. 7. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Lescharts.com – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose" (in French). Les classement single.
  21. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  22. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17 no. 13. 25 March 2000. p. 13. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  23. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17 no. 20. 13 May 2000. p. 13. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  24. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Desert Rose". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  25. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose". Top Digital Download.
  26. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  27. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17 no. 29. 15 July 2000. p. 9. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  28. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Sting feat. Cheb Mami – Desert Rose". Swiss Singles Chart.
  30. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  31. ^ "Sting Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  32. ^ "Sting Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Sting Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  34. ^ "Sting Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  35. ^ "Sting Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  36. ^ "Sting Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  37. ^ "Sting Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  38. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2000". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  39. ^ "Rapports annuels 2000" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  40. ^ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17 no. 52. 23 December 2000. p. 9. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  41. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2000" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  42. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2000" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
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  44. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2000". Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2010.

External links[]

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