Snow on the Sahara

Snow on the Sahara (Au nom de la lune for the French version) is the first international studio album by Anggun. The album was released exactly a year after the French version, was released on June 24th, 1997.

Album information

The album contains 16 songs which are taken from the French version and re-recorded in English. Lyrics were translated and re-written by songwriter Nikki Matheson. Snow on the Sahara was marketed in 33 countries around the world in 1998. In Japan and Indonesia, the album was released in late 1997 under the title Anggun as a special version.

For some reason, "Memory of Your Shores" is omitted from the US version, although it has been cited as fans' favorite. Anggun also did a cover version of David Bowie's hit, "Life on Mars?", which was also released as a US promotional single.

This album remains Anggun's highest selling album, with 92,000 copies sold in the United States and has reportedly sold over 1 million copies around the world.

The single "Snow on the Sahara" also remains Anggun's signature song (for fans outside France, Italy and Indonesia - who are more familiar with "Etre Une Femme/In Your Mind" or "Cesse La Pluie/Saviour"). It is Anggun's highest charting song (#1 in Italy) and was one of the biggest hits in 1997 and 1998. In Indonesia, "Snow on the Sahara" remains Anggun's most played song, even receiving frequent airplay on some radio stations in Indonesia in 2005.

With its enchanting ethnic beats and influences of adult contemporary, pop and rock sounds, Snow on the Sahara has also been described as "one of the greatest albums ever made" by fans, although it was not recognised by the critics. However, Allmusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, saying that Anggun "illustrates enough full-formed talent on the disc to make it a promising debut".

Track listing

International standard edition

1. "Snow on the Sahara" (Erick Benzi, Matheson) – 4:20
2. "Le Départ" (Benzi) – 0:29
3. "Over Their Walls" (Benzi, Matheson) – 3:14
4. "On the Breath of an Angel" (Anggun, Veneruso, Matheson) – 3:33
5. "A Rose in the Wind" (Benzi, Matheson) – 4:28
6. "Gita" (Anggun, Teboul) – 0:28
7. "Memory of Your Shores" (Benzi, Mingot, Matheson) – 4:01
8. "My Sensual Mind" (Benzi, Matheson) – 4:36
9. "Blanca" (Benzi) – 0:41
10. "Valparaíso" (Benzi, Matheson) – 3:59
11. "Selamanya" (Anggun, Benzi) – 2:24
12. "By the Moon" (Benzi, Matheson) – 4:11
13. "Pluies" (Veneruso) – 0:58
14. "Dream of Me" (Veneruso, Matheson) – 4:02
15. "Secret of the Sea" (Veneruso, Matheson) – 4:18
16. "Life on Mars?" (David Bowie) – 4:15

US edition

1. "Snow on the Sahara" – 4:20
2. "Over Their Walls" – 3:14
3. "On the Breath of an Angel" – 3:33
4. "A Rose in the Wind" – 4:28
5. "My Sensual Mind" – 4:36
6. "Valparaíso" – 3:59
7. "Selamanya" – 2:24
8. "By the Moon" – 4:11
9. "Dream of Me" – 4:02
10. "Secret of the Sea" – 4:18
11. "Life on Mars?" – 4:15

Japanese and Indonesian edition

Singles

• "Snow on the Sahara"
• "A Rose in the Wind"
• "Life on Mars?" (US Promotional Single)
• "Dream of Me" (Japan only)
• "Kembali" (Indonesia & Malaysia)
• "Memory of Your Shores" (Promo only)