Ferry Corsten / System F ‘Out of the Blue’ | The Making of a Trance Classic

System F, aka Ferry Corsten, gives us exclusive insight into the making his classic trance anthem, ‘Out of the Blue’. Released in 1999 via his own Tsunami imprint, the track reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart and entered the Top 40 in the Netherlands.

Here, Ferry tells us about making ‘Out of the Blue’, from its roots in Italo and creating the iconic melody on one of the first Roland JP-8000 synths in the Netherlands, to the vinyl pressing’s ransom letter promo campaign, and early radio success with the likes of Judge Jules and Pete Tong.

Electronic music history is rich with unforgettable and timeless classics. In our series, DJ Mag explores the tales behind some of the world's favourite dance tracks, told by the people that made them.

Explore more stories of the biggest tracks in dance music below.

#SystemF #FerryCorsten #Trance #DJMag

[DJMag]

Thanks for watching! What other iconic tracks would you like to see in our series? 👇

[CoverCDs]

Sometime around 2003-2004 Ferry was DJing in Turnmills, London. A big fan of his, in my early 20s, off my face, lost my mates, as you do, I met a lovely couple probably in their 40s. For whatever reason they took a liking to me and we ended up chatting, dancing, to the bar a few times, few drinks etc. After a while the guy said he had to go sort something out and asked me to look after his wife, so we hung out together for a bit and then Ferry came on.

A bit into his set the guy comes back and says my mate said he wants to meet you. I followed him up to the DJ booth and who was his mate? Ferry Corsten. They ushered me into the (tiny) booth to say hi, barely enough room for 1 person let alone all of us. Ferry was so friendly and took time to chat to me in between tunes (I was probably talking a load of rubbish), we all then went back to the dancefloor and carried on with the night, I was buzzing!

I have no idea who these people were or how they knew Ferry. I'm 40 now and this memory still makes me so happy, I cant remember your names, I don't even think I can remember your faces but I remember how much of a good time we had that night and he fact you went out of you way to make that happen for me will stay with me forever. Cheers random couple from Turnmills!

❤

[JonGarcia]

HOW ARE THERE SO LITTLE COMMENTS ABOUT THIS?! This is arguably the most beautiful melody in the history of trance music. This song is going to play at my wedding.

[mickd]

My favourite trance track…
It has an emotional connection to me my brother was always on his decks in our room I used to always be there watching him mix always with a smile on his face he was amazing on his decks out of the blue was our favourite track
He passed away at 23 coming up my brother 20th anniversary all the tracks he played gives me great memories but non like out of the blue tht was our tune I can’t hold my tears back everytime I hear it see u in Glasgow on the 2nd on March ferry can’t wait 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🔈🎶 the King of Trance 👑

[KaceyBakerFilms]

This man should be bigger than AVB and Tiesto but some how isn’t. He played such a huge part in trance and his back catalogue under many alias’ is mind blowing. So happy to have experienced his music in my teens and early 20s prime.

[TreesusChrysler]

Ear to ear smile right now! This was such a big tune in my world!

[almostvindiesel]

For a period in 1999, every rave ended with this song, and when it ended everyone would throw their glowsticks in the air. I still get the chills listening to it, thank you Ferry and keep doing your thing!

[bagormj]

The song *System F - Out of the Blue* was born as the world stepped into a new millennium, brimming with both optimism and the trepidation of facing a new era's challenges. It was a time of wild anticipation, of embracing the unknown while cautiously wondering what the future held. Those who experienced that time carry a deep nostalgia for that wild era – a period when electronic beats and soaring synths captured both the thrill and uncertainty of the journey ahead. The energy was raw, the atmosphere electric, as people danced their way through a world in transformation.

[pstamatiou]

Classic! Corsten is amazing, Corsten paired with Tiesto is divine! Gouryella anyone?

[KeirMurphy]

I met Ferry randomly in Bristol at around 2003. There was a single club which played Trance/House music which was called Slinky. Ferry played one of the last nights there. The whole place was dead really. I think there was 30 of us in there. Ferry was huge at the time but somehow this particular night was empty. Was great being able to go up and say hello easily, and you can tell Ferry was glad for it!

[nathanbrown]

Ah man, the memories. I used to tape Judge Jules' Radio 1 show every weekend and listen to it on the commute to work. The first week he played this he didn't say anything about it, just that it was called Out Of The Blue. As Ferry says it pretty much blew my brains out. The next week he said it was by Moonman, which IIRC was Ferry's first solo pseudonym.

I was 20 years old, living in London, going to the Gallery at Turnmills or Peach at Camden Palace just about every Friday night and a bedroom (well, living room, to be more precise) DJ, and I knew I had to have this record. The following Saturday I went on a pilgrimage around all the Soho record shops trying to track it down. No dice. Finally I went to Plastic Fantastic, which I should probably have gone to first but a) it was last on my route, being a little out of the way compared to the others and b) I'd always found the vibe in there a bit off-putting. To me they epitomised that too-cool-for-school elitism of a specialist record shop.

Anyway I go in, wait my turn at the counter and ask the guy serving me if they had the new Moonman in. He goes, what's it called? And I say Out Of The Blue. And the guy pauses. He leans forward over the counter, looks me up and down, sizing up whether I'm cool enough for this precious artifact. Then he slowly reaches under the counter, holds up a record and says "£12." I almost squealed. I've since got married, had two kids and had a career that's put me in countless pinch-me situations over the years but I swear down that remains one of the best days of my life. I could have run through a wall for the rest of the day.


Shazam's great and all but man, we used to have adventures.

[djcrazycanuck]

Thank you for posting this. This is HANDS DOWN still my favorite Trance tune of all time, and is the reason I transitioned from playing House to playing Trance. And absolute legend of a track, and still gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. Thank you Ferry Corsten for being the anthem to my life.

[FrancieleKarinesa]

That's my absolute favourite trance tune... Still gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it!❤

[MarkRidesCoasters]

Blessed to have my own music played by Ferry on his radio shows. I've met Ferry in person as well and he's such a chill and down to earth guy. Truly the definition of a legend.

[Wlandes]

Since the first time I heard this song in 1999, and even today when I hear and watch this clip, the energy of this song flows throughout my body, it makes me shiver without understanding why! No other song does that to me. The energy is incomparable to any other song. Thank you Ferry Corsten, for producing Out Of The Blue, the song of my life!

[pavelyurkevich]

I really love Ferry Corsten, his style of music. Will always remember this special period in music history-late 90s early 2000s... Thank you!

[Netsuko]

Ferry is an absolute legend. This man's sound defined a generation.

[CoreyPelletier]

Global Trancemissions was one of my first CD purchases and it's been a part of my life forever. As have been many of Ferry Corsten's masterpieces!

[thenewaceman]

Without a shadow of doubt, out of the blue is the best Trance tune ever produced

[grahamedarnell]

Started clubbing in the early 90s. The thing is, although this track was massive, we took tunes like this for granted. There were so many great records coming out every week. And evern small market towns on the U.K. had a decent club. So you had these great records and great places to experience them were everywhere. Hard to fathom that now.

I’m loving the 90s influence in a lot of recent tracks but what I’m also loving is going through my old records for more obscure things and playing them again. And old mixtapes and DJ sets from back then. Got quite a few getting a lot of love on my soundcloud page. Great memories!