Darude anthem ‘Sandstorm’ turns 25 years old

Certain songs become a part of the global conscience, recognized thanks to their inclusion in art, sports, movies, and more. Amongst such classic tracks is the 1999 anthem from Darude, the legendary hit Sandstorm.

Whether one is a devout fan of trance or not, the pulsing lead melody of Sandstorm by Darude is certainly embedded in the conscience of millions of listeners around the world. Since its release on October 26th, 1999, it has found a constant home in commercials, sporting events, television, film, and more. Delivered when pop stars and nu-metal ruled the music charts, Sandstorm struck a chord with listeners, its energy and production overcoming the generally limited mass market for trance music and emerging as a cross-over smash.

Serving as the lead single from Darude’s debut album, Before The Storm, the track helped push the release to the top of the Finnish charts, as well as earning a Grammy in the country as it pushed 800,000 copies. While the rest of the album’s dance tracks failed to embed themselves into the collective consciousness of the public, Sandstorm continues to be utilized in memes and sporting events worldwide. For Darude, the track serves as his calling card and even 25 years after it was released, continues to amaze and energize listeners new and old.

Relive the iconic single Sandstorm by Darude below.