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Castles in the Sky (song)

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"Castles in the Sky"
Single by Ian Van Dahl featuring Marsha
from the album Ace
Released2000 (2000)
Length3:46
LabelAntler-Subway, NuLife
Songwriter(s)Erik Vanspauwen, Christophe Chantzis, Martine Theeuwen (Marsha)
Producer(s)Erik Vanspauwen, Christophe Chantzis
Ian Van Dahl singles chronology
"Castles in the Sky"
(2000)
"Will I?"
(2001)
Music video
Ian Van Dahl - Castles In The Sky (Official Video) on YouTube

"Castles in the Sky" is a song by Belgian music project Ian Van Dahl from their debut album, Ace (2002). The vocalist is Belgian singer Marsha, who also co-wrote the song.[1] The single was released in Europe in 2000 and the United Kingdom in 1999. The song was a modest success in mainland Europe and was a hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the Scottish Singles Chart for two weeks.

Background

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Belgian singer-songwriter Martine D. J. Theeuwen, better known as Marsha, heard that brothers and musicians Erik and Geert Vanspauwen were looking for a vocalist with experience in dance music. After getting in touch, Marsha had a successful audition and began working with the brothers until Geert "felt he was no longer needed" and quit, leaving just Erik and Marsha. About a year later, Christophe Chantzis joined the team and Marsha was given a demo that would ultimately become "Castles in the Sky". According to Marsha, A&S recordings took the song to the Midem festival and the song was subsequently "signed for eight countries." Though Vanspauwen and Chantzis are credited as co-writers of the song along with Marsha, she claimed: "The vocal melody and the lyrics of 'Castles in the Sky' are mine. No co-writers, the lyrics were taken as I wrote them." She went on to note that Chantzis "hated" the lyrics and the vocals, leading him to produce the Absolom remix without any vocals.[1]

Controversially, however, Marsha was axed from any live performances, as three dancers (including Cindy Mertens) took her place.[1] Later, Mertens and the dancers were also dropped, and Annemie Coenen became the frontwoman for the group. While initially lipsyncing to Marsha's vocals in live performances as well, a version of the song with Coenen's vocals was eventually released on the album Ace.[citation needed]

Music video

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There are two different videos for the song, both of which feature Cindy Mertens miming to Marsha's vocals. The first uses the regular radio edit, and shows a selection of dancers in an underground sewer. The second video uses the Peter Luts radio edit and features clips of an instrument being played amongst clips of the original video.

Track listings

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] Platinum 600,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "NRGmusic : : Ian Van Dahl : : Marsha Madness Interview". www.marsha.be. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  2. ^ Castles in the Sky (Belgian CD single liner notes). Ian Van Dahl. Antler-Subway. 2000. AS 5886 CDS, 7243 879011 2 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ Castles in the Sky (Belgian CD single liner notes). Ian Van Dahl. Antler-Subway. 2001. AS 5969 CDS, 7243 879952 2 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Castles in the Sky (Dutch maxi-CD single liner notes). Ian Van Dahl. Pro Dance Records. 2001. Procd 2045.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Castles in the Sky (UK CD single liner notes). Ian Van Dahl. NuLife. 2001. 74321867142.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Castles in the Sky (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Ian Van Dahl. NuLife. 2001. 74321867141.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Castles in the Sky (UK cassette single sleeve). Ian Van Dahl. NuLife. 2001. 74321867144.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Castles in the Sky (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Ian Van Dahl. Robbins Entertainment. 2000. 76869-72046-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Castles in the Sky (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Ian Van Dahl. Robbins Entertainment, Antler-Subway. 2001. 76869-72046-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Castles in the Sky (Australian & New Zealand CD single liner notes). Ian Van Dahl. Bang On!. 2001. BANG0070.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ "Ian Van Dahl feat. Marsha – Castles in the Sky" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  12. ^ "Issue 609" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Ian Van Dahl – Castles in the Sky" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  14. ^ "Ian Van Dahl Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Ian Van Dahl feat. Marsha – Castles in the Sky". Tracklisten.
  16. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 34. 18 August 2001. p. 15. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  17. ^ "Ian Van Dahl feat. Marsha – Castles in the Sky" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  18. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Castles in the Sky". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  19. ^ "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 30 August 2001". GfK Chart-Track. Retrieved 2 June 2019.[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 37, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  21. ^ "Ian Van Dahl feat. Marsha – Castles in the Sky" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  22. ^ a b "Top of the Year 2001" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 9 December 2002. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  23. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  24. ^ "Ian Van Dahl – Castles in the Sky" Canciones Top 50.
  25. ^ "Ian Van Dahl feat. Marsha – Castles in the Sky". Singles Top 100.
  26. ^ "Ian Van Dahl feat. Marsha – Castles in the Sky". Swiss Singles Chart.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  28. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  29. ^ "Ian Van Dahl Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  30. ^ "Ian Van Dahl Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  31. ^ "Ian Van Dahl Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  32. ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on 26 January 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  33. ^ "Ireland – Top Singles for 2001". Allcharts. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  34. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  35. ^ "British single certifications – Ian Van Dahl – Castles in the Sky". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 January 2021.