Out of the Blue (System F song)

Last updated
"Out of the Blue"
System F - Out of the Blue (Tsunami cover).png
The cover of the Dutch 12" Tsunami release
Single by System F
from the album Out of the Blue
B-side
  • "Lucien's Big Trance Mix"
  • "Super Secret"
  • "Angelz Remix"
Released9 March 1999 (Netherlands)
  • 22 March 1999 (UK)
Recorded1998
Genre Trance
Length6:41
Label Tsunami
Songwriter(s) Ferry Corsten
Producer(s) Ferry Corsten
System F singles chronology
"Out of the Blue"
(1999)		"Cry"
(2000)

"Out of the Blue" is a 1999 trance single by Dutch DJ Ferry Corsten, under the alias of System F. It received an original release in the Netherlands under Corsten's own record label, Tsunami, and a full release in the UK with Essential Recordings. [1] It reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart [2] and entered the Top 40 in the Netherlands. [3] It is often regarded not only as Corsten's "breakout" hit, but as a seminal release in trance music. [4]

Contents

Background

Ferry Corsten had been releasing music under various aliases since 1991, [5] many of which were not trance releases. In 1996, he began releasing trance music under the aliases of Ferr and Moonman. He also began releasing trance with other people as a group, typically with Robert Smit, who had co-founded the Tsunami record label with him. [6]

Trance music was becoming hugely popular throughout Europe in 1998, with releases entering the top 5 in many countries, and some singles reaching number 1. [7] Up to this point, Corsten had not had much success in the charts, but had entered the UK Singles Top 100 with 'Air', under his alias Albion and 'Don't Be Afraid', under his alias Moonman. He also produced a remix for 'La' by Marc Et Claude in 1997, which entered the Top 40 in the UK the following year when it was released in that region. [8]

Production

"Out of the Blue" was produced by Corsten in a couple days, stating that the idea for the song came "out of the blue". [9] The main melody used the supersaw technology from the Roland JP-8000, [9] which Corsten would use in many of his releases following the track. [10] The drums were programmed with a Roland TR-909, with many of the sounds being sampled using an Akai sampler, and the bass with a Yamaha DX-100, [9] which he would also use in the production of the bass for 'Gouryella'. The track was made in Corsten's bedroom, which he had constructed his studio in. [11]

The track was influenced by Italo-Dance, which was popular when Corsten grew up. [12]

Promotion and release

Corsten realised during the production that the track would be a huge success, and other people that he asked agreed. [9] Because of this, the promotion releases of the track were made to be deliberately mysterious, by releasing it on single-sided white label with the name of the song and a phone number for the label stamped on it and no other information on the record, including Matrix number, which was scratched out using a blade in order to stop people from tracing the release. [11] The black sleeve was deliberately damaged, and by cutting out letters from newspapers and splicing them together, they used them to write on the front of the cover, "Something to blow your brains out".

Only seven copies of the white label were pressed, and they were sent to various DJs in the UK, some who worked with A&R at major dance labels in the UK. The reason only seven copies were pressed was because Corsten and his team at Tsunami believed doing so would create more "buzz" around the track. [13] This tactic worked, as various labels called Tsunami to sign the track, including Red Jerry of Hooj Choons, who hadn't been sent the release but had heard it from Nick Warren, who had received the release and called Jerry to talk to him about it. Pete Tong, who founded and owned Essential Recordings, told Corsten and his team to meet at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, where they would sign the record to Essential. [9] Tong later said that when he heard the track for the first time, he "thought it was a hit". [11]

The promo would be re-released on a second white label, [9] and after around 6 months of the track only being available on promo release, it was released throughout Europe in early 1999. Pete Tong would start playing the song in November and after its release on his Essential Selection radio show, which was a major source of dance music throughout the UK. He declared the song the 'Essential New Tune of the Week' on his radio show on 13 November 1998. [14]

Following the release, the song charted at 14 in the UK Singles chart and at number two in the UK Dance Singles chart. [2] [15] In Corsten's home country, the Netherlands, the track charted at 29 and 30 in the Dutch Top 40 and Single Top 100 respectively. [3] [16] Corsten's career in the UK took off as a result of this track and others that he put out following it, however he didn't get as much attention in the Netherlands. [5] Ministry of Sound would soon after ask Corsten to compile and mix the 'Trance Nation' compilation due to the hype around the track at the time. Corsten would mix another five Trance Nation CDs. [17] Two years after the release of "Out of the Blue", Corsten would release the album Out of the Blue , featuring multiple other singles, such as "Cry" and "Solstice", some of which charted in the UK. [2] Corsten also became popular in Japan following the release of the single, and as a result not only would his first System F album be released early in Japan, the following System F album, Together , would be released exclusively in Japan, although some singles were taken from the album and released in other regions. [18]

"Out of the Blue" received several remixes upon release from Angelz, Lucien Foorta, Mauro Picotto, Corsten himself and others. [1] Corsten would produce a "Second Edition" as a B-Side to the System F track, 'Solstice' in 2002. [19] He would remix it again for his "Full on Ferry" show in 2007, the new mix being titled the "Violin Edit", upon its eventual release in 2010 as part of the Out of the Blue bonus disc. [20] The "Violin" mix features an orchestral rendition of the main melody. "Out of the Blue" would be released digitally in 2010, [21] alongside many new remixes which would be included in a 2x12" single. [22]

Track listing

Charts

Weekly Chart Positions for 'Out of the Blue'
Chart (1999)Peak
Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50) [23] 8
Germany (Official German Charts) [24] 72
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [3] 29
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [16] 30
Scotland (OCC) [25] 9
UK Singles (OCC) [2] 14
UK Dance Singles (OCC) [15] 2
Weekly Chart Positions for 'Out of the Blue 2010'
Chart (2010)Peak
Position
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [26] 72

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicane (musician)</span> English musician, composer, songwriter and record producer

Nicholas Bracegirdle, known professionally as Chicane, is an English musician, composer, songwriter, and record producer. Among his works are singles "Offshore", an Ibiza trance anthem included in many compilations in both chill-out and dance versions; "Saltwater", which featured vocals by Clannad member Máire Brennan, and the UK number-one hit "Don't Give Up", featuring vocals by Bryan Adams, which also became a top ten hit on singles charts across Europe and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiësto</span> Dutch DJ and music producer (born 1969)

Tijs Michiel Verwest OON, known professionally as Tiësto, is a Dutch DJ and music producer. He was voted "The Greatest DJ of All Time" by Mix magazine in a 2010/2011 poll amongst fans. In 2013, he was voted by DJ Mag readers as the "best DJ of the last 20 years". He is also regarded as the "Godfather of EDM" by many sources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armin van Buuren</span> Dutch DJ and producer (born 1976)

Armin Jozef Jacobus Daniël van Buuren OON is a Dutch DJ and record producer. Since 2001, he has hosted A State of Trance (ASOT), a weekly radio show, which is broadcast to nearly 40 million listeners in 84 countries on over 100 FM radio stations. According to the website DJs and Festivals, "the radio show propelled him to stardom and helped cultivate an interest in trance music around the world".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Berry</span> English trance music artist

Simon Paul Berry, known by his alias Art of Trance, is an English trance music DJ. Berry is also known as Poltergeist or Vicious Circles, and has been a member of the trance groups Clanger, Conscious and Union Jack. He has been producing and remixing music since 1993. In addition to his work as an artist, Berry was the founder and head of Platipus Records, based in London. Initially his label only released his own tracks. His work was first distributed on vinyl and compact disc and then digital only from 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferry Corsten</span> Dutch trance producer and DJ (born 1973)

Ferry Corsten is a Dutch DJ, record producer and remixer. He is well known for producing many pioneering trance tracks during the 1990s–2000s under his numerous aliases, including System F, Moonman, Pulp Victim and Gouryella. In recent years, he has shifted to a broader electronic music style, playing everything from progressive house to uplifting trance; and hosts his own weekly radio show, Resonation Radio. Corsten routinely plays at events and festivals all over the world including Electric Daisy Carnival, Tomorrowland, and many others, and has been consistently ranked among DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs poll, having placed at rank 5 in 2004 and 2005, 6 in 2006 and 2008; and most recently at 89 for 2023.

Vincent de Moor is a former Dutch trance artist. He is most notable for his work with the record producer Ferry Corsten under the working title, "Veracocha," and for his 2001 single, "Fly Away".

Gouryella is a solo trance project of Dutch musician Ferry Corsten. Gouryella was originally a Dutch production duo, comprising Corsten and Tiësto, who later left in 2001. The word itself means "heaven" in an Australian aboriginal language.

Veracocha is the alias used for the trance music collaboration between Dutch producers Vincent de Moor and Ferry Corsten, both of whom have had solo success under their own names, and using various other pseudonyms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Hole Recordings</span> Dutch record label

Black Hole Recordings is a Dutch record label founded by Tijs Verwest (Tiësto) and Arny Bink in 1997. In August 2009, Tiësto decided to leave Black Hole Recordings, setting up the record label Musical Freedom in association with PIAS Entertainment Group.

<i>Right of Way</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Ferry Corsten

Right of Way is a trance album by DJ Ferry Corsten. It was the first album to be released under his own name. The album spawned four singles: "Punk", "Rock Your Body, Rock", "It's Time" and "Right of Way"

<i>L.E.F.</i> 2006 studio album by Ferry Corsten

L.E.F. is a dance and electro album released by Ferry Corsten in May 2006. It was his second studio album that was released under his own name. The word lef also means "guts" in Dutch. The album has spawned six singles. The songs include vocals by Simon Le Bon, Howard Jones, Denise Rivera, Debra Andrew, Guru, and Oz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haliene</span> American pop singer

Kelly Melissa Sweet, known professionally as Haliene, is an American singer of electropop and electronic dance music. She is known for her vocal collaborations with EDM artists Armin van Buuren, Seven Lions, ATB, Ferry Corsten, Aly & Fila, Da Tweekaz, and her song with Gareth Emery and Standerwick, "Saving Light", which won the A State of Trance award for "Tune of the Year"..

This is a discography of the Dutch DJ, record producer and remixer Ferry Corsten.

<i>Oakenfold Anthems</i> 2008 remix album (DJ mix) by Paul Oakenfold

Oakenfold Anthems is a compilation DJ mix album by British electronic producer and disc jockey Paul Oakenfold, released in 2008 on WMTV. His eighteenth mix album, the album is a triple album containing popular electronic singles, mostly focused on the progressive house and progressive trance genres, that Oakenfold considers favourites, and the material on the album mostly draws from Oakenfold's label Perfecto Records. Indeed, the album cover contains the caption "The Classic Perfecto Mix".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 (instrumental)</span> Instrumental song

"1998" is an instrumental music track by British trance act Binary Finary originally released in the year 1998. The track was subsequently remixed numerous times under the title of the year the remix was produced On the UK singles chart, "1998" peaked at #24 whereas "1999" peaked at #11.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arms of Loren</span> 1996 single by Evoke

"Arms of Loren" is a single by British female vocal duo E'voke, first released as a single in 1996 by Manifesto Records. Following the chart success of "Runaway" in 1995, the duo recorded the track with producers Barry Leng and Duncan Hannant. The accompanying music video uses the Nip & Tuck edit. The track has been re-released numerous times.

<i>Out of the Blue</i> (Ferry Corsten album) 2000 studio album by System F

Out of the Blue is a studio album by Dutch DJ and record producer Ferry Corsten, then known by his moniker System F. It was released in 2000 in Japan and in 2001 in the Netherlands on Corsten's record label, Tsunami. Corsten originally wanted to have the album released in October 1999, but it was delayed for unknown reasons. The Japanese pressing contains the bonus track 'The Game', which was later released digitally in the rest of the world on 19 November 2011. Following the album's release in Japan, Corsten would go on a tour of Asia to promote the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Thrillseekers</span> Musical artist

Steve Helstrip, known by the stage name The Thrillseekers, is an English DJ and record producer. His debut single was "Synaesthesia", released in 1999.

Mike Saint-Jules is an American DJ and EDM producer from Long Island, New York. Known best for his remixes for artists such as Armin van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Solarstone, Markus Schulz, and JES.

<i>Blueprint</i> (Ferry Corsten album) 2017 studio album (Concept) by Ferry Corsten

Blueprint is the sixth studio album by Dutch trance artist Ferry Corsten, released on 26 May 2017 though Flashover Recordings. It is a science fiction-influenced trance album with tracks containing a storyline narrated by American actor Campbell Scott. The plot narrative, which is unfolded at the beginning of each song, depicts humans on Earth who begin to hear an endlessly repeating sound emitted from space and the creation of an android by a man who had deciphered the sound's hidden message.

References

  1. 1 2 System F - Out Of The Blue , retrieved 2023-03-26
  2. 1 2 3 4 "SYSTEM F | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  3. 1 2 3 Top 40, Stichting Nederlandse. "System-F - Out Of The Blue | Top 40". Top40.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-03-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ Rietveld, Arjan (2021). Hypnotised: A Journey Through Trance Music (1990-2005) (1st ed.). Mary Go Wild. p. 124. ISBN   978-9082075892.
  5. 1 2 From The Archives 20 : Ferry Corsten producer of the year 1999 . Retrieved 2024-04-01– via www.youtube.com.
  6. ↑ "Tsunami". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  7. ↑ "Trance music". 2012-12-26. Archived from the original on 2012-12-26. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  8. ↑ "MARC ET CLAUDE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The story behind "Out Of The Blue" by Ferry Corsten a.k.a. System F | Muzikxpress 015 , retrieved 2023-03-26
  10. ↑ The story behind "Gouryella" and more, with Ferry Corsten | Muzikxpress 063 , retrieved 2023-03-26
  11. 1 2 3 Armada Music 20 Years Classics: System F - Out Of The Blue . Retrieved 2024-04-01– via www.youtube.com.
  12. ↑ System F ‘Out of the Blue’ | The Making of a Trance Classic , retrieved 2024-03-10
  13. ↑ From The Archives 001 : Ferry Corsten & Tiësto a.k.a. Gouryella interview [1999] . Retrieved 2024-04-01– via www.youtube.com.
  14. ↑ "Pete Tong - Essential Selection (Radio 1) 13th Nov 98". sbradyman.angelfire.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  15. 1 2 "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  16. 1 2 Hung, Steffen. "System-F - Out Of The Blue". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  17. ↑ "Trance Nation - MusicBrainz". musicbrainz.org. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  18. ↑ "システムFの作品". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  19. ↑ System F - Solstice , retrieved 2023-03-26
  20. ↑ System F - Out Of The Blue (Violin Edit) , retrieved 2024-04-01
  21. ↑ System F - Out Of The Blue 2010 , retrieved 2023-03-26
  22. ↑ System F - Out Of The Blue 2010 , retrieved 2023-03-26
  23. ↑ "System-F - Out Of The Blue - ultratop.be". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  24. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  25. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  26. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "System-F - Out Of The Blue 2010". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.