If one track could be said to define the sound of the UK superclub era at the turn of the millennium, it would be “Out of the Blue” by System F, the alias of Dutch trance legend Ferry Corsten. Released in 1999, the original extended mix is a towering, seven-minute slab of pure, unadulterated euphoria that became an indispensable weapon for every major DJ of the time.
The genius of this track is in its relentless, uplifting energy. It doesn’t rely on a gradual, moody build like some of its peers; instead, it immediately sets a driving, propulsive pace. The foundation is a rock-solid, 4/4 rhythm that perfectly anchors the chaos and beauty unfolding above it.
The Iconic Melody
The magic of “Out of the Blue” resides in its soaring, instantly recognisable main melody. Reportedly created on a Roland JP-8000 synthesizer using the iconic ‘supersaw’ waveform that came to define the trance sound, this melody is a blast of pure, unadulterated musical sunshine. It is infectious, hopeful, and designed for maximum impact in a massive venue.
This melody wasn’t just catchy; it was a universal signal for collective release. Hearing it drop in the dark, smoky confines of a club like Gods Kitchen or The Nightingale was a moment of absolute peak energy. Hands shot into the air, faces lit up with pure joy, and the crowd moved as one unified organism.
The Extended Club Journey
The Original 1999 Extended Mix is the version that truly matters in club history. Its runtime allows the track to breathe and evolve, giving DJs the space to mix it into their sets perfectly. The extended intro and outro provide time for the driving beat to take hold, while the core breakdown is a masterclass in tension and release. The brief silence before the monumental melody re-enters is a moment of communal anticipation that is unforgettable.
“Out of the Blue” not only dominated the dance charts but also had a huge cultural impact in the UK, becoming a breakout hit for Corsten and proving that trance could be both a credible underground genre and a commercial powerhouse.
It remains a quintessential anthem—a timeless piece of music that instantly teleports anyone who hears it back to the most euphoric moments of the late 90s dancefloor.