Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Desert Rose (Sting song)

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Released
  
17 January 2000 (UK)

Recorded
  
1999

Label
  
A&M

Format
  
12", CD

Genre
  
Pop rock, world

Length
  
4:45 (album version) 3:55 (radio edit)

"Desert Rose" is a song by British recording artist Sting from his album Brand New Day (1999). Riding a wave of pre-9/11 interest in Latin and Arabic cultures, 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.

Contents

Music video

The music video 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) and then going to a nightclub in Las Vegas to perform the song with Cheb Mami. 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.

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)

References

Desert Rose (Sting song) Wikipedia
(Text) CC BY-SA