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
- "Desert Rose (radio edit)" – 3:55
- "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (live at the Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles) – 4:27
- "Fragile" (live at the Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles) – 4:10
- "Desert Rose" video (CD-ROM)
- "Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix radio edit)" – 4:47
- "Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix)" – 9:21
- "Desert Rose (Filter Dub Mix)" – 5:21
- "Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix)" video (CD-ROM)
- "Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix)"
- "Desert Rose (Filter Dub Mix)"
- "Desert Rose" (original)
- "Desert Rose (radio edit)" – 3:54
- "Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix radio edit)" – 4:44
- "Brand New Day (Murlyn Extended Mix)" – 5:01
- "Brand New Day (Murlyn Radio Mix)" – 3:54
- "Desert Rose (radio edit)" – 3:54
- "Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix)" – 9:20
- "Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix radio edit)" – 4:44
- "Brand New Day (Murlyn Mix)" – 5:01
- "Brand New Day" video (CD-ROM)