Darude - Sandstorm [1999]

Artist(s)
Darude
Release title
Sandstorm
Label name
16 Inch Records
Release year
1999

dmgtz96

Elite Member
Jul 13, 2020
2,777 Posts
1,593 Thanked
DaRuDe - SaNdStOrM

It was inevitable that someone would make this thread.

For younger generations, Sandstorm is the song from the meme "What is the name of this song?" It's the go-to track to get real hype and pumped-up, so it was used *a lot* by League of Legends streamers while playing competitive matches.

For older generations, Sandstorm was one of the biggest trance hits ever. It was that one OONTZ OONTZ track that broke into the mainstream beyond the world of electronic dance music. Even if you only listened to rock, hip hop, or whatever was popular in '99 you likely heard Sandstorm at some point because everyone played it. It was the "Party Rock Anthem," "Gangnam Style," "Despacito" of its time.

Some history on how Sandstorm became an online meme:

The actual, full-length original mix. Note that most people are only familiar with the radio mix.


Evaluated as a trance classic, Sandstorm is an oddity. Its synth feels like a distorted version of the acid from Josh Wink - Higher State of Consciousness, but it's also unique enough that it sounds original. For some, the synth is actually annoying and feels like a car or house alarm going off. In any case, it was a relatively unique anthem trancer, and PvD reportedly supported it before it became such a mainstream hit. It's so recognizable that you can tell this Yahoo answers question is talking about Sandstorm just by reading the song description.
I ALWAYS hear this song on the radio or when I'm up in the club but I can't find what its called...its all beats one part of the song is like this

k like it will get real low then slowly start picking back up and it will go faster as it does

its like
dun dun dun dun
dun dun dun dun
err
dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun
dundundundundundundundundundun

er er er er er er ER ER ER ER ER ER der der der der derrr

i'm so sorry if this is bad information but i'm sure if you really think of REALLY popular techno/rave songs you could help!! thanks!!

Many other producers copied this track, so the early 2000s have a good amount of Sandstorm knockoffs. Don't listen to those; they suck. Listen to the OG Sandstorm instead.

For the sake of completion, here is the JS16 remix.

Although it does have some good ideas, it feels less cohesive than the original version of Sandstorm. It draws too much from the original, and even the main part of the climax feels generic.
 
Last edited:
  • Thanks
Reactions: Arnoud and Toadcop

TRANCEBLASTER

Elite Member
Jul 21, 2020
1,372 Posts
1,822 Thanked
the 'Sandstorm' sample can be found in this little tranceyhousey track released some weeks ago:

Mixloydian - Days Of Vision [Suckerpunch] 2024
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: NJRoddy

Progrez

Elite Member
Jun 17, 2022
2,304 Posts
1,130 Thanked