Pure Shores

Pure Shores

"Pure Shores" is a song by English girl group All Saints, released on 14 February 2000 as the lead single from The Beach: Motion Picture Soundtrack and their second studio album, Saints & Sinners (2000). Group member Shaznay Lewis and producer William Orbit wrote the song for a scene in the 2000 film, The Beach, where co-stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Virginie Ledoyen swim underwater. Eschewing the R&B sound of All Saints' previous releases, "Pure Shores" is a dream pop song with ambient and electronic production, and a syncopation of synth delays, arpeggiated guitar and ethereal sound effects. Music critics complimented the combination of Orbit's elaborate production with the group's harmonies, while some argued that the song gave All Saints credibility in the wake of their tabloid omnipresence. "Pure Shores" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the group's fourth chart topper. It was the second best-selling single of 2000 in the UK and was certified double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales of 1.2 million units. Internationally, the song reached number one in Belgium (Wallonia), Ireland, Italy and Romania, and charted in the top 10 in Australia, New Zealand and across Europe. Directed by Vaughan Arnell, the accompanying music video shows All Saints moving in blurry night vision and infrared shots on the coast of the Holkham National Nature Reserve and Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk. The song won Most Performed Work at the Ivor Novello Awards in 2001. At the 2001 Brit Awards, "Pure Shores" was nominated for Song of the Year and Video of the Year, but lost in both categories to "Rock DJ" by Robbie Williams.

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