Snow on the Sahara
Encyclopedia
Snow on the Sahara is the first international studio album
by Anggun
. The album was released exactly a year after the French version, Au Nom de la Lune
, was released on June 24th, 1997.
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 and Anggun also made history as the first Asian artist to enter the Billboard Charts in the United States (Snow on the Sahara went to #23 on the Billboard Heatseekers Charts and the single peaked at #16 on the Adult Contemporary Chart). The album went on to sell 92,000 copies in the United States and has reportedly has sold over 1 million copies around the world, also marking Anggun as the highest selling Asian artist outside Asia.
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".
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Anggun
Anggun
Anggun Cipta Sasmi is an Indonesian singer-songwriter. She has released 12 studio albums and one soundtrack album , and her songs have also been included on various compilation albums. Her musical career began in childhood, and she achieved commercial success in Indonesia when she was 12 years old...
. The album was released exactly a year after the French version, Au Nom de la Lune
Au nom de la lune
Au nom de la lune is the first French studio album by Indonesian singer Anggun. The album was released in France and french-speaking nations on June 24, 1997 under Columbia France...
, 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 JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, 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
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's hit, "Life on Mars?
Life on Mars?
"Life on Mars?" is a song by David Bowie first released in 1971 on the album Hunky Dory. The song—which BBC Radio 2 later called "a cross between a Broadway musical and a Salvador Dalí painting"—featured guest piano work by keyboardist Rick Wakeman. When released as a single in 1973,...
", which was also released as a US promotional single.
This album remains Anggun's highest selling album and Anggun also made history as the first Asian artist to enter the Billboard Charts in the United States (Snow on the Sahara went to #23 on the Billboard Heatseekers Charts and the single peaked at #16 on the Adult Contemporary Chart). The album went on to sell 92,000 copies in the United States and has reportedly has sold over 1 million copies around the world, also marking Anggun as the highest selling Asian artist outside Asia.
The single "Snow on the Sahara
Snow on the Sahara (song)
"Snow on the Sahara" is a song by Indonesian singer Anggun from her first international studio album Snow on the Sahara. It was originally recorded in French with the title "La Neige au Sahara" for the French album Au nom de la lune. The song was released as Anggun's debut international single in...
" 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".
International standard edition
- "Snow on the SaharaSnow on the Sahara (song)"Snow on the Sahara" is a song by Indonesian singer Anggun from her first international studio album Snow on the Sahara. It was originally recorded in French with the title "La Neige au Sahara" for the French album Au nom de la lune. The song was released as Anggun's debut international single in...
" (Erick BenziErick BenziErick Benzi is a French musician, songwriter, composer and record producer.He is the former member of group Canada . Benzi is one of biggest and the most requested Francophone producers...
, Matheson) – 4:20 - "Le Départ" (Benzi) – 0:29
- "Over Their Walls" (Benzi, Matheson) – 3:14
- "On the Breath of an Angel" (AnggunAnggunAnggun Cipta Sasmi is an Indonesian singer-songwriter. She has released 12 studio albums and one soundtrack album , and her songs have also been included on various compilation albums. Her musical career began in childhood, and she achieved commercial success in Indonesia when she was 12 years old...
, Veneruso, Matheson) – 3:33 - "A Rose in the WindA Rose in the Wind"A Rose in the Wind" is the second single from Anggun's international debut album, Snow on the Sahara in 1998. There's also a French version of the song, "La rose des vents", released in album Au Nom de la Lune in 1997 and an Indonesian version, "Kembali", released in album Anggun for Indonesia and...
" (Benzi, Matheson) – 4:28 - "Gita" (Anggun, Teboul) – 0:28
- "Memory of Your Shores" (Benzi, Mingot, Matheson) – 4:01
- "My Sensual Mind" (Benzi, Matheson) – 4:36
- "Blanca" (Benzi) – 0:41
- "Valparaíso" (Benzi, Matheson) – 3:59
- "Selamanya" (Anggun, Benzi) – 2:24
- "By the Moon" (Benzi, Matheson) – 4:11
- "Pluies" (Veneruso) – 0:58
- "Dream of Me" (Veneruso, Matheson) – 4:02
- "Secret of the Sea" (Veneruso, Matheson) – 4:18
- "Life on Mars?Life on Mars?"Life on Mars?" is a song by David Bowie first released in 1971 on the album Hunky Dory. The song—which BBC Radio 2 later called "a cross between a Broadway musical and a Salvador Dalí painting"—featured guest piano work by keyboardist Rick Wakeman. When released as a single in 1973,...
" (David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
) – 4:15
US edition
- "Snow on the SaharaSnow on the Sahara (song)"Snow on the Sahara" is a song by Indonesian singer Anggun from her first international studio album Snow on the Sahara. It was originally recorded in French with the title "La Neige au Sahara" for the French album Au nom de la lune. The song was released as Anggun's debut international single in...
" – 4:20 - "Over Their Walls" – 3:14
- "On the Breath of an Angel" – 3:33
- "A Rose in the WindA Rose in the Wind"A Rose in the Wind" is the second single from Anggun's international debut album, Snow on the Sahara in 1998. There's also a French version of the song, "La rose des vents", released in album Au Nom de la Lune in 1997 and an Indonesian version, "Kembali", released in album Anggun for Indonesia and...
" – 4:28 - "My Sensual Mind" – 4:36
- "Valparaíso" – 3:59
- "Selamanya" – 2:24
- "By the Moon" – 4:11
- "Dream of Me" – 4:02
- "Secret of the Sea" – 4:18
- "Life on Mars?Life on Mars?"Life on Mars?" is a song by David Bowie first released in 1971 on the album Hunky Dory. The song—which BBC Radio 2 later called "a cross between a Broadway musical and a Salvador Dalí painting"—featured guest piano work by keyboardist Rick Wakeman. When released as a single in 1973,...
" – 4:15
Singles
- "Snow on the SaharaSnow on the Sahara (song)"Snow on the Sahara" is a song by Indonesian singer Anggun from her first international studio album Snow on the Sahara. It was originally recorded in French with the title "La Neige au Sahara" for the French album Au nom de la lune. The song was released as Anggun's debut international single in...
" - "A Rose in the WindA Rose in the Wind"A Rose in the Wind" is the second single from Anggun's international debut album, Snow on the Sahara in 1998. There's also a French version of the song, "La rose des vents", released in album Au Nom de la Lune in 1997 and an Indonesian version, "Kembali", released in album Anggun for Indonesia and...
" - "Life on Mars?Life on Mars?"Life on Mars?" is a song by David Bowie first released in 1971 on the album Hunky Dory. The song—which BBC Radio 2 later called "a cross between a Broadway musical and a Salvador Dalí painting"—featured guest piano work by keyboardist Rick Wakeman. When released as a single in 1973,...
" (US Promotional Single) - "Dream of Me" (Japan only)
- "Kembali" (Indonesia & Malaysia)
- "Memory of Your Shores" (Promo only)