{{For|the 1948 documentary film|The Secret Land}} {{Infobox song | name = Secret Land | cover = Secret land.jpg | alt = | caption = | type = single | artist = Sandra | album = Into a Secret Land | B-side = Into Nobody's Land | released = 26 September 1988<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/details/titel-details-1864|title=Secret Land (Single)|publisher=GfK Entertainment charts|accessdate=11 December 2025}}</ref> | recorded = 1988 | studio = | venue = | genre = Dance-pop, synthpop | length = 4:45 <small>(album version)</small><br />4:05 <small>(single version)</small>
6:30 (Reverse Mix) | label = Virgin | writer = Uwe Gronau, Hubert Kemmler, Michael Cretu, Mats Björklund, Susanne Müller-Pi, Klaus Hirschburger, Michael Höing | producer = Michael Cretu | prev_title = Heaven Can Wait | prev_year = 1988 | next_title = We'll Be Together | next_year = 1989 | misc = {{External music video|header=Licensed audio|1={{YouTube|fA7GjnPr75k|"Secret Land"}}}} {{Extra album cover | type = single | cover = Secret_land_99.jpg | border = | alt = | caption = Cover of the 1999 re-release }}{{Extra chronology | type = single | artist = Sandra | prev_title = Won't Run Away | prev_year = 1995 | title = Secret Land | year = 1999 | next_title = Forever | next_year = 2001 }} }} "'''Secret Land'''" is a 1988 pop song by German singer Sandra. It was written by Uwe Gronau, Hubert Kemmler, Michael Cretu, Mats Björklund, Susanne Müller-Pi, Klaus Hirschburger and Michael Höing, and produced by Cretu. It is an adaptation of the 1987 Kemmler-produced song "Trenchcoat Man" recorded by the short-lived German band Fabrique, the members of which were Gronau and Höing.
"Secret Land" was released in September 1988<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sandra-music.com/en/secret-land.html |title=Secret Land |publisher=www.sandra-music.com |accessdate=2019-07-15}}</ref> as the second single preceding Sandra's third studio album, ''Into a Secret Land''. The song charted in the top 10 in Germany and Switzerland, and reached the top 20 in a number of other European countries. It was also a no. 11 and no. 13 airplay hit in Germany and Austria, respectively.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=1988-12-03 |title=Playlist Report |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1988/M&M-1988-12-03.pdf |magazine=Music & Media |location=Amsterdam |volume=5 |issue=49 |page=9 |access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=1988-11-26 |title=Playlist Report |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1988/M&M-1988-11-26.pdf |magazine=Music & Media |location=Amsterdam |volume=5 |issue=48 |page=9 |access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref> It also charted on the pan-European airplay chart at no. 43 and no. 24 on the sales chart.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=1988-12-03 |title=European Airplay Top 50 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/88/M&M-1988-12-03-OCR-Page-0011.pdf |magazine=Music & Media |location=Amsterdam |volume=5 |issue=49 |page=21 |access-date=2019-06-16}}{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
In 1999, a remix of the song was released on Sandra's compilation ''My Favourites''. It was released as a single to promote the album, but only met with minor success in Germany. The track was remixed again for her 2006 compilation ''Reflections''.
==Music videos== The music video was directed by Bulle Bernd and filmed in the French regions of Normandy and Brittany, respectively in the Mont-Saint-Michel and along the shores of the walled port city of Saint-Malo.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7031110/ |title=Sandra: Secret Land (Video 1988) - IMDb |publisher=www.imdb.com |accessdate=2019-07-15}}</ref> The clip was released on Sandra's VHS video compilation ''18 Greatest Hits'' in 1992<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sandranet.com/sandra/discography/18greatestvhs.htm |title=18 Greatest Hits (The Video) |publisher=www.sandranet.com |accessdate=2019-05-24 |archive-date=2019-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506061322/http://www.sandranet.com/sandra/discography/18greatestvhs.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> as well as the 2003 DVD ''The Complete History''.
A new music video was filmed for the 1999 remix, directed by Thomas Job, which was also released on ''The Complete History'' DVD.
==Critical reception== A review in Pan-European magazine ''Music & Media'' stated that the "breathy semi-spoken vocals in the intro, a la Donna Summer, lead into a naggingly effective song".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1988/M&M-1988-10-08.pdf|title=Previews – Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=5|issue=41|date=8 October 1988|page=25<!-- 13 in PDF file -->|oclc=29800226|via=World Radio History |accessdate=15 August 2023}}</ref>
==Formats and track listings== * '''7" single (1988)''' :A. "Secret Land" — 4:05 :B. "Into Nobody's Land" — 4:12
* '''12" maxi single''' & '''CD maxi single''' (1988) :A. "Secret Land" (Reverse Mix) — 6:44 :B1. "Secret Land" (Single Version) — 4:05 :B2. "Secret Land" (Dub Mix) — 3:33
* '''CD maxi single (1999)''' #"Secret Land" (Radio Edit) — 3:20 #"Secret Land" (Ultra Violet Club Mix) — 5:34 #"Secret Land" (La Danca Club Mix) — 6:12 #"Secret Land" (Ultra Violet Radio Edit) — 3:41
==Charts== {|class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (1988) !align="center"|Peak<br>position |- |Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Sandra |title=Discographie Sandra |publisher=austriancharts.at |accessdate=2009-10-26 |language=de}}</ref> |align="center"|17 |- |Denmark (IFPI)<ref>{{cite magazine |date=1988-11-04 |title=Danish Singles Chart |magazine=B.T. |location=Copenhagen }}</ref> |align="center"|15 |- |Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)<ref>{{cite magazine |date=1988-11-19 |title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1988/M&M-1988-11-19.pdf |magazine=Music & Media |location=Amsterdam |volume=5 |issue=47 |pages=22–23 |access-date=2019-07-16}}</ref> |align="center"|24 |- |France (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Sandra |title=Discographie Sandra |publisher=lescharts.com |accessdate=2008-03-03 |language=fr}}</ref> |align="center"|26 |- |Germany (Official German Charts)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-1864 |title=SANDRA — SECRET LAND |publisher=www.offiziellecharts.de |accessdate=2019-07-15 |language=de}}</ref> |align="center"|7 |- |Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Sandra |title=Discografie Sandra |publisher=dutchcharts.nl |accessdate=2010-09-09 |language=nl}}</ref> |align="center"|81 |- |South Africa (Springbok Radio)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(S).html |title=South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Acts (S) |publisher=www.rock.co.za |accessdate=2015-11-30}}</ref> |align="center"|8 |- |Spain (AFYVE)<ref>{{cite book|author=Fernando Salaverri|title=Sólo éxitos año a año: 1959-2002|publisher=Iberautor Promociones Culturales|year=2005|isbn=8480486392|language=es}}</ref> |align="center"|26 |- |Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Sandra |title=Discography Sandra |publisher=swedishcharts.com |accessdate=2009-10-26}}</ref> |align="center"|15 |- |Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://swisscharts.com/artist/Sandra#charts |title=Sandra |publisher=swisscharts.com |accessdate=2009-10-26 |language=de}}</ref> |align="center"|9 |- |} {|class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (1999) !align="center"|Peak<br>position |- |Germany (Official German Charts)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-8509 |title=SANDRA — SECRET LAND '99 |publisher=www.offiziellecharts.de |accessdate=2019-07-15 |language=de}}</ref> |align="center"|69 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{discogs master|63956}} * [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCefMqcCMiUxvMxdBtIFd6uw The official Sandra YouTube channel]
{{Sandra}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1988 singles Category:1988 songs Category:1999 singles Category:Music videos directed by Thomas Job Category:Sandra (singer) songs Category:Song recordings produced by Michael Cretu Category:Songs written by Hubert Kemmler Category:Songs written by Klaus Hirschburger Category:Songs written by Michael Cretu Category:Virgin Records singles