# Ecuador (song)

"Ecuador" is a song produced by German DJ and record production team Sash! featuring fellow German DJ Rodriguez. It was released in April 1997 by labels X-It, Mighty and Multiply Records as the third single from their debut album, It's My Life – The Album (1997). The song became an international hit, peaking at number one in Flanders, Romania and Scotland, as well as on the American and Canadian dance charts. It reached the top 20 in more than ten other countries worldwide. The song's music video was directed by Oliver Sommer and filmed in Spain.

## Critical reception

Scottish Daily Record complimented "Ecuador" as an "intelligent dance hit" and a "catchy number". Daisy & Havoc from Music Week's RM rated it three out of five, adding that it's "more listenable in our opinion than the mega success 'Encore'".

## Chart performance

In the United Kingdom, "Ecuador" reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, earning Sash! a platinum certification for sales and streams in excess of 600,000 units. "Ecuador" reached number one in the Flanders region of Belgium, Romania and Scotland and the top 10 in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. It also reached the top 20 in Austria, France and Iceland. On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Ecuador" peaked at number three. In the United States, the song was the second number-one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for Sash!. It was a more successful dance hit in Canada, becoming Sash!'s first number one on the RPM Dance Chart, staying at the top position for four weeks and ending the year as Canada's second-most successful dance single, behind Stars on 54's version of "If You Could Read My Mind".

## Music video

The accompanying music video for "Ecuador" was directed by Oliver Sommer, who had previously directed the videos for "Encore une fois" and "Stay", and was shot in Lanzarote and Tenerife, Spain. It features female models appearing like bird-like creatures in a desert landscape.

## Impact and legacy

In 1998, DJ Magazine ranked "Ecuador" number 69 in their list of "Top 100 Club Tunes". In 2020, RedBull.com ranked it number two in their "10 Underrated Dance Songs from the 1990s That Still Sound Amazing", writing, "Yeah, yeah – we know that "Encore une fois" is Sash!'s most iconic song, but this follow-up – also released in the German duo's breakthrough year of 1997 – is every bit as good. Like its mega-selling predecessor, it didn't matter that you hadn't a clue what the lyrics were: that dinky little trance-pop riff was all you needed."

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Belgium (BEA) | Gold | 25,000$^*$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) Sash | Gold | 45,000$^‡$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) Sash vs. Olly James | Gold | 45,000$^‡$ |
| France (SNEP) | Gold | 250,000$^*$ |
| Sweden (GLF) | Gold | 15,000$^^$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) Digital sales since 2007 | Platinum | 600,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) Physical sales | Gold | 400,000$^^$ |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Covers and samples

On 15 March 2013, ItaloBrothers released the single "This Is Nightlife", which interpolates "Ecuador". On 28 April 2023, in collaboration with Dutch-Moroccan DJ and producer R3hab and Romanian singer Inna, Sash! released the single "Rock My Body". The single also heavily interpolates "Ecuador".