When We Dance

"When We Dance"
Single by Sting
from the album Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994
Released17 October 1994 (1994-10-17)[1]
StudioLake House (Wiltshire)
Length5:59
Songwriter(s)Sting
Producer(s)
Sting singles chronology
"Nothing 'Bout Me"
(1994) 		"When We Dance"
(1994) 		"This Cowboy Song"
(1995)
Music video
"Sting - When We Dance (Official Music Video)" on YouTube

"When We Dance" is a song by English musician Sting. It was released as a single on 17 October 1994 and is one of two new tracks included on his first greatest hits album, Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994 (1994), alongside "This Cowboy Song". The song became Sting's only solo top 10 hit in his native UK and reached the top 40 in five other countries.

Background

Described by Sting as a "generic ballad", "When We Dance" was written specifically to be included as a new track for the Fields of Gold compilation.[2] The song reportedly took a year to write: "I had the melody around for a whole year before I thought of what to do with it... Then it just fell in place. It wasn't one of those songs written in five minutes."[3]

Upon its release, "When We Dance" peaked at number 9 in the UK, becoming Sting's only top ten solo single in his home country.[4] It also reached the top ten in Canada (number 10)[5] and Ireland (number 9).[6] The song was less successful in the US, peaking at number 38.[7]

The song was promoted with a music video directed by Howard Greenhalgh.[3]

Track listing

All tracks written by Sting.

  • CD1
  1. "When We Dance" (Edit) – 4:55
  2. "Fortress Around Your Heart" (Hugh Padgham Remix) – 4:10
  3. "When We Dance" (Album Version) – 5:59
  4. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Soulpower Mix) – 7:00
  • CD2
  1. "When We Dance" (Edit) – 4:55
  2. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Soulpower Radio Mix) – 4:34
  3. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Soulpower Deep Dub) – 8:19
  4. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Soulpower Hip Hop Mix) – 5:37
  • Maxi–single (Europe)
  1. "When We Dance" (Edit) – 4:55
  2. "Fortress Around Your Heart" (Hugh Padgham Remix) – 4:10
  3. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Soulpower Mix) – 7:00
  4. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Soulpower Deep Dub) – 8:19

Charts

Chart (1994) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 35
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] 10
Europe (European AC Radio)[9] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[10] 9
Germany (GfK)[11] 51
Ireland (IRMA)[6] 9
Italy (Musica e dischi)[12] 11
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[13] 1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 32
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 50
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 34
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 42
UK Singles (OCC)[4] 9
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 38
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[18] 12

References

  1. ^ "Single Releases". Music Week. 15 October 1994. p. 27.
  2. ^ Barber, Nicholas (November 1994). "Interview: The Independent on Sunday (1994)". The Independent on Sunday. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b Borzillo, Carrie (October 1994). "Hits Set Mines Sting's Gold". Billboard. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2192." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  6. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – When We Dance". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Sting Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  8. ^ "Sting – When We Dance" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 17 December 1994. p. 34. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  10. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). ""Sting". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960-30.6.21 (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 247" (PDF). Retrieved August 24, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "Sting – When We Dance" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 28 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Sting".
  13. ^ "Regional Airplay: South" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 49. 3 December 1994. p. 27.
  14. ^ "Sting – When We Dance" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Sting – When We Dance". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Sting – When We Dance". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Sting – When We Dance". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Sting Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 February 2023.