The 1st International Success of Anggun

Au nom de la lune, Snow on the Sahara and international success

      Two years after leaving Indonesia, in 1996, Anggun's international career started to move forward at last. She was introduced to famed French singer, Florent Pagny, through an acquaintance. Pagny later introduced Anggun to producer/songwriter Erick Benzi (who previously had worked with Celine Dion, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Johnny Hallyday, among others). Impressed by Anggun's talent, Benzi immediately offered her a record deal. Later that year, Anggun was signed to Sony Music and Columbia France. After a brief French course at Alliance française, Anggun began working on her debut album with Benzi, alongside a handful of other musicians and songwriters that included Jacques Veneruso, Gildas Arzel and Nikki Matheson.

       In June 1997, Anggun released her first French album, entitled Au nom de la lune. Although the majority of the album was in French, it also had minor Indonesian lyrical insertions (written by Anggun herself) in several songs, as well as English versions of the same songs (which were later included in the English-language release of the album). Most notably, the album was also a huge artistic departure from Anggun's "lady rocker" image that she had previously been known for during her years in Indonesia. The album experimented more with world music and adult contemporary sounds. It has been said that Benzi suggested that Anggun change her image, but Anggun has said that she, too, felt it was time for her to "become a woman", as she was in her early 20s at that time and was feeling that she needed to be more "feminine". Her international success began when the first single of the album, "La neige au Sahara", quickly became a top hit in France and Belgium. It became the most-played single of 1997 in France.

       The album spawned three more singles, "La rose des vents", "Au nom de la lune" and "La ligne des sens". These singles did not manage to emulate the success of the first single, despite the former two reaching number 49 and 60 in France, respectively. Despite this, however, Au nom de la lune still became one of the most successful albums in France in 1997 and 1998, especially by a new artist. It peaked at number 34 on the French Albums Chart (the first for an Asian artist) and has sold around 200,000 copies in France.
  

       In late 1997, Anggun released her debut international album, Snow on the Sahara. The album was released in Europe and Asia in over 33 countries worldwide, which is a re-recorded English version of Au nom de la lune, and contains a cover version of David Bowie's hit "Life on Mars?". In several countries, the album was released under the title Anggun.

       The first single of the album, "Snow on the Sahara", immediately became a hit in Asia and Europe, reaching Top 40 in many countries across the continents. It became a number-one hit in Italy, Spain and several countries across Asia, and is still the her biggest worldwide hit to date. It also became a Top 5 Club Hit in the UK. Her follow-up single, "A Rose in the Wind", failed to gain the same success, despite charting in Italy at number 17. However, its Indonesian version, "Kembali", became a big hit, and has become one of Anggun's most popular hits in the region. 3 more singles were also released in various parts of the world: "Dream of Me" served as the second single in Japan, while "Life on Mars" and "Memory of Your Shores" were released as promotional singles in the US and Europe, respectively.

       In 1998, Anggun attempted to break into the North American market. Snow on the Sahara was released by Epic Records in May 1998 in the United States with a slightly altered tracklisting. She went on an extensive tour for nine months in the United States to promote the album.

       Anggun's appearances in the US began when she performed on a popular daytime talkshow, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, as well as becoming a supporting act for The Corrs and Toni Braxton's concerts. In August 1998, she performed on the New York "Sessions at West 54th" and interviewed by David Byrne. She was also the first Asian singer to be interviewed exclusively on CNN International by Riz Khan in the "World Beat" program. Moreover, she was invited by Sarah McLachlan to join the lineup of Lilith Fair. Anggun has been also given media coverage on Rolling Stones and Billboard.

       Due to this wave of publicity, three of Anggun's songs entered the US Billboard Chart, making her the first female Asian artist ever to make it onto this chart. "Snow on the Sahara" became a modest dance and adult contemporary hit, making it into second position after Céline Dion in a Billboard journalist's favourite singles of 1998. Anggun also made it onto the playlist of an Afro-American radio station in Texas, sandwiched between Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston. In spite of all this, however, Snow on the Sahara was not commercially successful in the US. The album reached #23 on Billboard Heat Seekers Charts, but only sold approximately 92,000 copies in the United States. However, it still remains one of the highest-selling albums by an Asian artist in the US market.

       Snow on the Sahara also received international success overall by having sold over than 1 million copies worldwide, and it has also been certified with a Diamond Export Sales award by SNEP. It became the highest-selling album by an Asian artist outside Asia (a record that Anggun still holds to this day).

       During this time, Anggun also participated in numerous collaborations. In 1997, she contributed vocals on a duet with Gildas Arzel, "C'est le debut" (the French version of Donna Lewis and Richard Marx's collaboration on "At The Beginning") for the soundtrack of an animated feature movie, "Anastasia" as well as the song "Ton amour ocean" for the "Gloups, je suis un poisson!" soundtrack. She also participated on 3 charity albums, including Ensemble contre le Sida in 1998, Les enfoires, and Les Restos du coeur (both in 1999).

       In 1998, Anggun became the first Asian artist to be nominated for the Victoires de la musique (the equivalent of a Grammy Award in the French music scene). She received a nomination for "La revelation de l'année" (Revelation of the Year or Best New Artist). Although she was considered a front-runner to win this award, she eventually lost to Lara Fabian.Anggun nominated for Victoires de la musique

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 and Indonesia, the album was released in late 1997 under the title Anggun as a special version.

       For some reason, "Memory of Your Shores" is omitted from the US version, although it has 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 made history as the first Asian artist to enter the Billboard Charts in the United States(Snow on the Sahara went to #23 on the Billboard Heatseekers Charts and the single peaked at #16 on the 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 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 is Anggun's highest charting song (#1 in Italy) and was one of the biggest hits in 1997 and 1998. In Indonesia, "Snow on the Sahara" remains Anggun's most played song, even receiving 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 described as "one of the greatest albums ever made" by fans, although it was not recognised by the critics. However, Allmusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, saying that Anggun "illustrates enough full-formed talent on the disc to make it a promising debut".