Circle in the Sand

"Circle in the Sand" was written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, who wrote many of Carlisle's hit singles in the late 1980s and into the early 1990s, including her signature song "Heaven Is a Place on Earth". The first known appearance of the song in progress is from the Lost Heaven Demos bootleg which features a solid drum beat, lead keyboard line and simple bass with no guitars present, and completed lyrics. The final album version of the song features a unique lead keyboard theme provided by Thomas Dolby, combined with a thumping bassline and accentuated with swirling and shimmering guitar, including some played in reverse during the bridge.

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Peter Care[http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=5261 Circle in the Sand] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110133755/http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=5261 |date=2019-01-10 }} MVDbase entry in Half Moon Bay, California and features Carlisle singing with various beach scenes in the background. The video mirrors the lyrical content with "cold wind", "tide moves in", and "waves crash" throughout. It makes effective use of video editing effects by displaying different images of Carlisle and the surf on large sheets of paper hanging on a clothes line, with waves crashing in the background. The combined effect gives the semblance of a video-based collage.

The music video uses the single edit version of the song and was released by MCA Records in March 1988. Universal Records later posted the video for free viewing on YouTube in March 2007.

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• US and Canadian 7-inch single; US cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Circle in the Sand|others=Belinda Carlisle|year=1988|type=US & Canadian 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=MCA Records|id=MCA-53308}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Circle in the Sand|others=Belinda Carlisle|year=1988|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=MCA Records|id=MCAC-53308}}

1. "Circle in the Sand"
2. "We Can Change"

• South African 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Circle in the Sand|others=Belinda Carlisle|year=1988|type=South African 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VS 734}}

:A. "Circle in the Sand" – 4:26

:B. "Nobody Owns Me" – 3:12

• International 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Circle in the Sand|others=Belinda Carlisle|year=1988|type=UK & Australian 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VS 1074}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Circle in the Sand|others=Belinda Carlisle|year=1988|type=European 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Virgin Records|id=109 954-100}}

:A. "Circle in the Sand" – 3:20

:B. "Circle in the Sand" (Seaside Mood Groove mix) – 3:51

• 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Circle in the Sand|others=Belinda Carlisle|year=1988|type=UK & Australian 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VST 1074}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Circle in the Sand|others=Belinda Carlisle|year=1988|type=European 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Virgin Records|id=609 954-213}}

:A1. "Circle in the Sand" (Beach Party mix) – 7:50

:B1. "Circle in the Sand" (7-inch version) – 3:20

:B2. "Circle in the Sand" (Seaside Mood Groove mix) – 3:51

:* A 12-inch picture disc was also issued in the UK.{{cite AV media notes|title=Circle in the Sand|others=Belinda Carlisle|year=1988|type=UK 12-inch picture disc|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VSTY 1074}}

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• UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Circle in the Sand|others=Belinda Carlisle|year=1988|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VSCD 1074, 659 954}}

1. "Circle in the Sand" (7-inch version)
2. "Circle in the Sand" (Seaside Mood Groove mix)
3. "Circle in the Sand" (Sandblast multi-mix) (including "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" and "I Get Weak")
4. "Circle in the Sand" (Beach Party mix)

• UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Circle in the Sand|others=Belinda Carlisle|year=1988|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VSTC1074}}

1. "Circle in the Sand" (7-inch version) – 3:20
2. "Circle in the Sand" (Sandblast multi-mix) (including "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" and "I Get Weak") – 5:00
3. "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" – 3:49

• Japanese mini-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Circle in the Sand|others=Belinda Carlisle|year=1988|type=Japanese mini-CD single liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=VJD-12012}}

1. "Circle in the Sand"
2. "Circle in the Sand" (Beach Party mix)
3. "Circle in the Sand" (Sandblast multi-mix) (including "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" and "I Get Weak")

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• Belinda Carlisle – lead vocals
• Charles Judge – keyboards, drum programming
• John McCurry – electric guitars
• Thomas Dolby – keyboards
• John Pierce – bass
• Rick Nowels – keyboards, drum programming

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{{Reflist}}

• {{YouTube|9NvUv7OdTQw|Belinda Carlisle - Circle in the Sand}}

{{Belinda Carlisle}}

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Category:1987 songs

Category:1988 singles

Category:Belinda Carlisle songs

Category:MCA Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Nowels

Category:Songs written by Ellen Shipley

Category:Songs written by Rick Nowels