Sandstorm (song)

"Sandstorm"
Single by Darude
from the album Before the Storm
Released	November 15, 1999
Format	CD single, 12" single
Recorded	JS16 Studios in 1999
Genre	Trance
Length	7:21 (Original Mix) 3:45 (Radio Edit)
Label	16 Inch
Writer(s)	Ville Virtanen
Producer(s)	JS16
Darude singles chronology
"Sandstorm" (1999) "Feel the Beat" (2000)
Before the Storm track listing "Sandstorm" (1) "Burning" (2) Music sample "Sandstorm"

"Sandstorm" is a song by Finnish trance producer and DJ, Darude.^[1] It was released on November 15, 1999 in Finland by 16 Inch Records, and re-released in Europe in 2000. "Sandstorm" was the best-selling 12" single worldwide in 2000.^[2] On March 1, 2010, over ten years after its release, the song was certified Gold in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over 500,000.^[3]

Mainstream popularity

Soon after release, the song became popular on pop radio stations, reaching No. 1 in Norway,^[4] though its popularity waned quickly.

The song is also often used as background music for videos hosted on the internet, particularly on video sharing site YouTube, where uploads of the song's music video total over 30,000,000 views.

Music video

The video for the song features Darude with headphones (Sony MDR-F1 model) viewing two people (a man and a woman) chasing a woman with a case. It was filmed at Helsinki Senate Square. Darude seems to appear at every place the pursuers and the pursued go. Near the end, the woman with the case stumbles and one of her pursuers (the other woman) betrays her partner, knocking him out. The woman and the partner take the case onto a boat with Darude.

In video gaming

The song appeared as a licensed song on DDRMAX Dance Dance Revolution, UBeat, Jukebeat, Jubeat Knit and Dance Central 2. The song was also featured on the NHL 11 and NHL Slapshot soundtracks. The song also appears in Conker's Bad Fur Day and is used many times in eSports tournaments and streams.

In television

The song also appeared on the pilot episode of popular Showtime series Queer as Folk, which first aired on December 3, 2000.^[5]

In film

The song has appeared in the American comedy movie (2005 remake) Fun with Dick and Jane, as well as in the 2013 Scottish drama film Filth.

In sports

In October 2006, Sandstorm was played for the first time, (on a trial basis and almost by accident), by The University of South Carolina Gamecocks Williams-Brice Stadium audio/video crew. The South Carolina Gamecocks are an American college football team and member of the Southeastern Conference. The song, on a whim, was being tried as a new 'pump-it-up' sound, and was met with approval by supporters, particularly the students in the North End-zone section of the stadium. USC students and fans, almost instantly, made Sandstorm an unofficial anthem.^[6] The song is now played over the Williams-Brice Stadium speakers before kickoffs and it is timed to end when the kicker makes contact with the football. Gamecock fans jump to the beat of the music while waving white rally towels rapidly above their heads in unison. (The genesis of rally towels at South Carolina is traceable to Carolina students, in 2007, who began ripping their shirts off and swinging them over their heads when Sandstorm was played. This practice led to obvious issues which eventually forced officials to hand-out smaller rally towels for the fans to use.)^{[citation needed]} The tradition has grown to include the crowd chanting "USC!" in sync with the music. The song has since been added to Carolina Stadium for baseball after home runs. After Williams-Brice Stadium installed a new scoreboard in 2012, the sides of the video board were designed with lights that dance in a trance during the song. The Carrier Dome uses the song during Syracuse Football games and Syracuse Basketball games during kickoff and tipoff.^{[citation needed]}

The Columbia Blowfish, a collegiate summer baseball in Columbia, play Sandstorm at the top of the ninth inning. The crew in the press box sync up a light show while jumping around waving rallying towels. The Blowfish currently play at Historic Capital City Stadium, which is located a mile from the The University of South Carolina's Williams-Brice Stadium.

The Chicago Blackhawks currently play this song at home games at the United Center when a penalty is called on their opponent, resulting in a power play.^{[citation needed]} The Ottawa Senators, another NHL team, also play the song after a penalty is called on their opponents, usually right after a chime.^{[citation needed]}

Professional wrestler Glacier of WCW fame uses Sandstorm as his entrance music.^{[citation needed]}

MMA Fighter Wanderlei Silva has used Sandstorm throughout his career in Pride Fighting Championships and in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as his walkout song.^{[citation needed]}

Professional wrestler Toru Owashi uses Sandstorm as his entrance theme.^[7]

During the 2013 MLB season, Boston Red Sox closer Koji Uehara has used Sandstorm as his intro music at Fenway Park when entering games.

The Dutch born, BDO darts player Co Stompe also uses the track as his walk on tune before matches.

Track listing

• CD single

1. "Sandstorm" (Radio Edit) – 3:46
2. "Sandstorm" (Original Mix) – 7:26
3. "Sandstorm" (JS16 Remix) – 7:21

• Sandstorm (The Remixes) - EP (iTunes Download)

1. "Sandstorm" (Radio Edit) – 3:49
2. "Sandstorm" (Extended) – 7:26
3. "Sandstorm" (Dallas Superstarts Remix) – 8:24
4. "Sandstorm" (Komytea Radio Remix) – 3:54
5. "Sandstorm" (Komytea Remix) – 7:40
6. "Sandstorm" (DJ Ray Aka Tom Hafman Remix) – 7:13
7. "Sandstorm" (Superchumbo's Sandy Storm) – 8:38
8. "Sandstorm" (Jan Driver Remix) – 6:16
9. "Sandstorm" (Ronyz Rework) – 6:20

Charts and certifications

References

External links

• "Sandstorm" music video at Youtube
• Darude's Site
• Discogs