Sand in My Shoes

"Sand in My Shoes"
Single by Dido
from the album Life for Rent
Released23 August 2004 (2004-08-23)
Studio
  • The Ark
  • The Church, Wessex (London, England)
  • Cubejam (Miami, Florida, US)
Length
  • 4:59 (album version)
  • 3:47 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Dido singles chronology
"Don't Leave Home"
(2004) 		"Sand in My Shoes"
(2004) 		"Look No Further"
(2008)
Music video
"Sand in My Shoes" on YouTube

"Sand in My Shoes" is the fourth and final single release from English singer-songwriter Dido's second album, Life for Rent (2003). The lyrics describe a single woman returning from a holiday, reminiscing about a romantic encounter she had while away.[1] Released on 23 August 2004, the single under-performed in the United Kingdom, reaching number 29 on the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number one on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart, giving Dido her fourth number one on that ranking. A music video directed by Alex De Rakoff was made for the song.

Background

In a 2019 interview with PrideSource, when asked what the most unusual place that has given her inspiration for a song was, Dido mentioned "Sand in My Shoes". Dido ran onto a plane for a flight to Los Angeles after having been on the beach and literally had sand in her shoes. Dido said it gave her the idea to begin writing the song. Her father had fallen ill prior to the flight and Dido began writing on the plane as she said it is all she knows how to get through. Dido wrote the whole song on the plane.[2]

Music video

The music video for "Sand in My Shoes" represents the song's plot, with surreal and symbolic images of a beach city and the partners in a house, playing dominos sitting in the street and at a party, mixed with images of Dido alone and a truck unloading sand in the street. It was directed by Alex De Rakoff and Dido's love interest was portrayed by Erik Fellows.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the UK CD single liner notes and the Life for Rent booklet.[3][7]

Studios

  • Recorded at The Ark, The Church, Wessex Studios (London, England), and Cubejam (Miami, Florida, US)
  • Mixed at The Church (London, England)
  • Mastered at Metropolis Studios (London, England)

Personnel

  • Dido – writing (as Dido Armstrong), production, bass programming
  • Rick Nowels – writing, Rhodes piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar
  • Rusty Anderson – electric guitar
  • Mark Bates – additional keyboards, programming
  • Sister Bliss – additional keyboards, programming, bass programming
  • Andy Treacy – live drums
  • Sudha – percussion
  • Rollo – production
  • Phill Brown – recording
  • Ash Howes – mixing, recording
  • Miles Showell – mastering

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 23 August 2004 Hot adult contemporary radio Arista [31]
United Kingdom 13 September 2004 CD
[32]
20 September 2004 Digital download [33]
United States 4 October 2004 Contemporary hit radio Arista [34]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sand in My Shoes by Dido". Songfacts. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  2. ^ Dido (18 March 2019). "Dido Has Stories She Might Tell You: Musician Talks Madonna's Confidence, Gay Fans & Her 'Terrifying' Real Name". PrideSource (Interview). Interviewed by Chris Azzopardi. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b Sand in My Shoes (UK CD single liner notes). Dido. Arista Records, Cheeky Records. 2004. 82876626922.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Sand in My Shoes (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Dido. Cheeky Records. 2004. 82876626921.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Sand in My Shoes (European CD single liner notes). Dido. Arista Records, Cheeky Records. 2004. 82876637712.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Sand in My Shoes (European maxi-CD & Australian CD single liner notes). Dido. Arista Records, Cheeky Records. 2004. 82876637722.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Life for Rent (European CD album booklet). Dido. Arista Records, BMG, Cheeky Records. 2003. 82876545982.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "Dido – Sand in My Shoes". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Dido – Sand in My Shoes" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  10. ^ "Dido – Sand in My Shoes" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  11. ^ "R&R Canada AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1585. 10 December 2004. p. 67.
  12. ^ "RR Canada Hot AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1582. 19 November 2004. p. 51. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  13. ^ Dido — Sand in My Shoes. TopHit. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  14. ^ Dido — Sand in My Shoes (Remix). TopHit. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Dido – Sand in My Shoes" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 24–30/10" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on 28 October 2004. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  17. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  18. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sand in My Shoes". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  19. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 41, 2004" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  20. ^ "Dido – Sand in My Shoes" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  21. ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 46, saptamina 15.11 – 21.11, 2004" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 22 February 2005. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  22. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Oct 28, 2004". TopHit. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  24. ^ "Dido – Sand in My Shoes". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  25. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Dido Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  27. ^ "Dido Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  28. ^ "CIS Year-End Radio Hits (2004)". TopHit. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  29. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2004". TopHit. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  30. ^ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. 17 December 2004. p. 26.
  31. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1569. 20 August 2004. p. 12. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  32. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 11 September 2004. p. 27.
  33. ^ "Sand in My Shoes". Amazon. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  34. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1575. 1 October 2004. p. 20. Retrieved 19 June 2021.