Sandcastles in the Sand (song)

"Sandcastles in the Sand" is a fictional power ballad performed by Robin Sparkles, the pop star alter ego of Robin Scherbatsky (played by Cobie Smulders) in the television sitcom How I Met Your Mother. The song and its accompanying music video are recurring jokes throughout the series, often used to illustrate Robin's embarrassing Canadian pop star past.

The song is intentionally cheesy and melodramatic, featuring lyrics about heartbreak and lost love on a beach setting. The music video, presented in a style reminiscent of 1980s and 1990s pop music videos, adds to the comedic effect with its over-the-top visuals, including dramatic poses, wind-swept hair, and scenes of Robin building and destroying sandcastles.

"Sandcastles in the Sand" has become a fan favorite of the show, and while it's a fictional song within the How I Met Your Mother universe, it has resonated with viewers due to its accurate parody of a specific genre of pop music and its role in Robin's character development. The song represents a past that Robin tries to distance herself from, but also reveals a more vulnerable and humorous side of her personality. The meta-commentary on pop culture and the self-aware humor surrounding the song contributed to its popularity.