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Snow on the Sahara is the first international studio album by Anggun. The album debuted exactly a year after the French version Au Nom de la Lune was released by Sony Music France 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 Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia the album was released there in late 1997 under the title Anggun with special version.

For some reason, "Memory of Your Shores" is omitted from the US version, although it's 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 marked a history for being the first Asian artist to enter Billboard Charts in United States (Snow on the Sahara went to #23 on Billboard Heatseekers Charts and the single peaked at #16 on 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 to be 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's Anggun's most charted song (with being #1 in Italy) and was one of the biggest hits in 1997 and 1998. In Indonesia, Snow on the Sahara remains to be Anggun's most played song, even went to 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 cited as "one of the greatest albums ever made" by fans, although it was miserably missed by the critics. However, Allmusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, citing that Anggun "illustrates enough full-formed talent on the disc to make it a promising debut".

Track listing

International standard edition

1. "Snow on the Sahara" (Benzi, Matheson) – 4:20
2. "Le Départ" (Benzi) – 0:29
3. "Over Their Walls" (Benzi, Matheson) – 3:14
4. "On the Breath of an Angel" (Anggun, Veneruso, Matheson) – 3:33
5. "A Rose in the Wind" (Benzi, Matheson) – 4:28
6. "Gita" (Anggun, Teboul) – 0:28
7. "Memory of Your Shores" (Benzi, Mingot, Matheson) – 4:01
8. "My Sensual Mind" (Benzi, Matheson) – 4:36
9. "Blanca" (Benzi) – 0:41
10. "Valparaíso" (Benzi, Matheson) – 3:59
11. "Selamanya" (Anggun, Benzi) – 2:24
12. "By the Moon" (Benzi, Matheson) – 4:11
13. "Pluies" (Veneruso) – 0:58
14. "Dream of Me" (Veneruso, Matheson) – 4:02
15. "Secret of the Sea" (Veneruso, Matheson) – 4:18
16. "Life on Mars?" (David Bowie) – 4:15

US edition

1. "Snow on the Sahara" – 4:20
2. "Over Their Walls" – 3:14
3. "On the Breath of an Angel" – 3:33
4. "A Rose in the Wind" – 4:28
5. "My Sensual Mind" – 4:36
6. "Valparaíso" – 3:59
7. "Selamanya" – 2:24
8. "By the Moon" – 4:11
9. "Dream of Me" – 4:02
10. "Secret of the Sea" – 4:18
11. "Life on Mars?" – 4:15

Japanese and Indonesian edition

Singles

1. "Snow on the Sahara"

• #1 Indonesia Airplay Chart (2 weeks)
• #1 Italy
• #1 Spain
• #1 Malaysia
• #1 Singapore
• #5 UK
• #16 Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play Chart
• #21 Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart
• #20 Finland
• #24 Switzerland
• #55 Germany

2. "A Rose in the Wind"

• #17 Italy

3. "Life on Mars?" (US Promotional Single)

4. "Dream of Me" (Japan only)

5. "Kembali" (Indonesia & Malaysia)

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• 1998 albums
• Anggun albums
• English-language albums
• World music albums