Desert Rose (Sting song)

"Desert Rose"
Single by Sting featuring Cheb Mami
from the album Brand New Day
ReleasedJanuary 2000
Recorded1999
GenreWorldbeat
Length
  • 4:45 (album version)
  • 3:55 (radio edit)
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)
  • Sting (English)
  • Cheb Rabah (Rabah Zerradine) (Arabic)[1]
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 co-authored by British musician Sting and Algerian songwriter Cheb Rabah (Rabah Zarradine), featuring Algerian raï singer Cheb Mami, from Sting's sixth solo studio album, Brand New Day (1999). According to Sting, the lyrics have to do with "lost love and longing".[2] Riding a wave of pre-9/11 interest in Latin and Arabic cultures,[3][4][5] "Desert Rose" peaked at No. 2 in Canada, No. 3 in Switzerland, No. 4 in Italy, No. 15 in the United Kingdom, and No. 17 in the United States.

  1. ^ "Rai star Cheb Mami fined 200,000 euros for plagiarism". 13 July 2015. Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Sting Discography: Desert Rose, CD". sting.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  3. ^ Irwin, Dan (31 August 2008). "SULTAN RULES: Internationally known artist entertains crowd at Syrian picnic". New Castle News. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. 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.
  4. ^ Benshoff, Harry (26 August 2011). America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies. John Wiley & Sons. p. 159. ISBN 9781444357592.
  5. ^ 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.