Our top 10 Savage Garden songs list presents the music of one of the most successful and popular Australian pop musical duos of all time. Savage Garden was a musical idea by two Brisbane guys, vocalist Darren Hayes and instrumentalist Daniel Jones. While the musical duo only lasted for eight years, Savage Garden received critical acclaim almost imminently with its first release. The duo broke several Australian music records, winning tons of accolades.
Savage Garden’s Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
After the band’s inception, Darren and Daniel penned up to a hundred and fifty music demos. The duo sent the songs to various record labels globally. Eventually, Savage Garden signed a recording contract with Roadshow Music, where it released its debut single, “I Want You.”
Savage Garden rose to fame immediately after the release of its debut single.
“I Want You” guided the pop musical duo to its first ARIA Award nomination under the Breakthrough Artist – Single category. However, the band lost the award to Deni Hines’ “It’s Alright.” Nevertheless, “I Want You” managed to rise to the fourth spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and ARIA Charts.
Following the success of the debut single, Columbia Records signed Savage Garden. The pop musical duo later released its sophomore single “To the Moon and Back.” “To the Moon and Back” guided Savage Garden to its first ARIA Award. The track won the Song of the Year accolade in the 1997 ARIA Music Award ceremony. Additionally, the song rose to the peak of the ARIA Charts, solidifying the band’s mainstream breakthrough.
Savage Garden’s Album Releases over the Years
Even before the duo released its debut LP, Savage Garden enjoyed the spoils of its flourishing pop music career. After releasing its signature track “Truly Madly Deeply,” Savage Garden released its eponymous debut LP in March 1997. Savage Garden was issued under Columbia Records and Roadshow Music.
The album brought more success to the band, thanks to its awe-inspiring music catalog of pop and soft-rock ballads. Some of the best Savage Garden songs from the LP include “Break Me Shake Me,” “All Around Me,” “I Want You,” “To the Moon and Back,” and “Truly Madly Deeply.” Savage Garden peaked at number one on the Australian Albums chart. The album also managed the second and third spot on the UK Albums and Billboard 200 charts, respectively.
Savage Garden later released its sophomore and last LP Affirmation in 1999. Once more, the LP guided the duo to another number one release on the Australian Albums chart. However, the LP’s performance on the UK Albums and Billboard 200 dropped. Affirmation peaked at the sixth and seventh position on the Billboard 200 and UK Albums charts, respectively. Some of the best Savage Garden songs from Affirmation include “I Knew I Loved You,” “The Animal Song,” and “Crash and Burn.”
Savage Garden’s Other Musical Pursuits
Savage Garden ended its career on a high in 2001. While Daniel Jones went on to work on a record label he had started, vocalist Darren Hayes ventured into a solo career. Without hesitation, Darren Hayes hit the studio to record and release his debut solo career single “Insatiable.”
“Insatiable” remains Darren Hayes’ solo career signature ballad. The song peaked at number seventy-seven on the Billboard Hot 100. Other reputable hits by the former Savage Garden vocalist include “So Beautiful,” “I Miss You,” “Strange Relationship,” “Pop!ular,” and “Bloodstained Heart.” Darren Hayes now has four studio albums in his solo career.
Savage Garden’s Accolades and Legacy
Before disbanding, Savage Garden had established itself as a reputable award-winning act in its homeland Australia. The pop musical duo has won thirty of its fifty-eight award nominations. Savage Garden has won a total of fourteen ARIA Awards (from twenty-six nominations). The duo set the record for the most ARIA Awards in a single year after winning ten accolades in 1997.
Savage Garden was certified Platinum twelve times in Australia. This is the fourth highest Platinum certification by an Australian artist. The three best-selling Australian LPs in the band’s homeland include Whispering Jack by John Farnham, Innocent Eyes by Delta Goodrem, and Recurring Dream by Crowded House.
Nevertheless, Savage Garden is one of the best-selling Australian artists/acts globally selling over twenty-million album copies. Savage Garden added to the list of Australian acts/artists with more than one track to have hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Other Australian acts/artists to reach this feat include Men at Work, Olivia Newton-John, Bee Gees, Andy Gibb, and Helen Reddy.
Over its active years, Savage Garden gave the world the best of its pop sound. The duo also blended its music with pop rock and soft rock elements from time to time. While the duo might have broken up at its prime, it success helped place Australia on the radar as home to some of the world’s best pop talents. Here we present the ten best Savage Garden songs of all time.
#10- Universe
Ushering us to the top 10 Savage Garden songs list is the charming track “Universe.” “Universe” is a sensual track from the duo’s eponymous debut LP, Savage Garden. Darren Hayes delivers flawless vocals on this emotive pop ballad. “Universe” has its sonic feel evoke the best of the ‘90s pop and soft rock vibes.
In the song, Darren needs to get his heart out of an emotional quagmire with a lady who doesn’t know what she really wants in life. In an interview, Darren revealed that the song alludes to second-guessing one’s emotions of an innocent love filled with insecurities. “Universe” peaked at number twenty-six on the ARIA Charts.
#9- Hold Me
It is tiring and tormenting to stay in love without feeling secure. Savage Garden knew this better when they penned the stunning hit “Hold Me.” The song is one of the musical gems from Savage Garden’s sophomore LP Affirmation. “Hold Me” finds the pop musical duo singing about a marriage breakdown.
The singer expresses his impatience with silence in this ailing relationship. However, he wishes to fix the relationship hoping that the lady holds him and tells him it is alright. Nevertheless, don’t take his wish for desperation! At the beginning of the song, Darren clarifies that if the two can’t find a way out of their relationship glitches, then they are better off apart. “Hold Me” peaked at number sixteen on the UK Singles Chart.
#8 – Affirmation
Perceptions make part of our everyday lives, and Savage Garden was not afraid to give us its different opinions concerning a myriad matters in the world. “Affirmation” is a pulsating track by Savage Garden whose lyrics are built on the repetitive phrase “I Believe.” The pop musical duo channels its perception on different ideologies, including nature, humanity, sexuality, and other social topics.
“Affirmation” serves as the album title track to Savage Garden’s sophomore LP. Luke Bryan’s “Most People Are Good” has a similar lyrical structure to “Affirmation.” Savage Garden performed “Affirmation” live at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games ceremony. “Affirmation” peaked at the eighth spot on the UK Singles Chart.
#7 – Break Me Shake Me
“Break Me Shake Me” is one of the musical gems from Savage Garden’s eponymous debut LP. The lyrics to this pop ballad allude to an argument the duo’s vocalist Darren had with his friend. Darren argued with his friend about musical preferences.
Through “Break Me Shake Me,” Darren reminds us about his love for Michael Jackson, who was an inspiration for his musical career. Unlike Darren, who preferred Michael Jackson, his friend was a Madonna fan. “Break Me Shake Me” peaked at the seventh spot on the ARIA Charts.
#6 – The Animal Song
Number six on our top 10 Savage Garden songs list is the dazzling hit “The Animal Song.” The song is one of the best Savage Garden songs from the duo’s sophomore LP Affirmation. Its lyrics allude to struggles experienced by people battling with mental illnesses.
Specifically, the song points at the tough struggles for such people to express their emotions and find empathy. The song’s success is partly credited to the amazing production work by Walter Afanasieff. Walter is famed for his successful work with the famous R&B singer Mariah Carey. “The Animal Song” peaked at number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100.
#5- Crash and Burn
Affirmation is home to our number five track on our best Savage Garden songs, “Crash and Burn.” The song finds the Australian pop musical duo singing about how hard it is to find meaningful relationships and comfort in this world. Darren Hayes revealed that this is one of his best Savage Garden songs quoting that it features lyrics that he feels someone should have told him earlier.
“Crash and Burn” was a success in Canada, peaking at number one on the Canada Adult Contemporary Chart. The song also managed to rise to the fourteenth spot on the UK Singles chart and the twenty-fourth spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
#4 – To the Moon and Back
“To the Moon and Back” is one of the best Savage Garden songs from the duo’s debut LP. The song finds the pop duo singing about a woman who has a hard time with intimacy. As from the song’s lyrics, this woman is trying to look for someone to love her and embrace her flaws.
The woman has taken refuge in a fantasy world just to safeguard her heart from the “cruel” and unfair world. Darren Hayes penned the lyric to this phenomenal track while Daniel Jones composed its music. “To the Moon and Back” peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and twenty-fourth on the Billboard Hot 100.
#3 – I Want You
The Australian pop musical duo’s debut single has not been left behind on our top 10 Savage Garden songs list. “I Want You” was released in May 1996 and later featured on the duo’s debut LP Savage Garden. Its lyrics allude to the attraction wielded by a soul in possession of strong sexual appeal. Vocalist Darren Hayes revealed that the song alludes to loving a guy (something many find a little homophobic).
However, when the singer woke up, he felt sad that a part of him was missing. The song catapulted Savage Garden to mainstream success imminently. Its success in the US has been credited to being played on The Rosie O’Donnell Show severally. “I Want You” peaked at the fourth spot on the ARIA Charts and Billboard Hot 100.
#2- I Knew I Loved You
“I Knew I Loved You” is Savage Garden’s second effort to ever make it to the peak of the Billboard Hot 100. The song is featured on Savage Garden’s sophomore LP Affirmation. Its lyrics allude to the thrill one possesses after finding their soul mate.
This made Savage Garden among the few Australian acts to have more than one number one track on the Billboard Hot 100. “I Knew I Loved You” was the first Australian number one track on the Billboard Hot 100 in the twenty-first century. The previous number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 from an Australian artist/act was still by Savage Garden, “Truly Madly Deeply.” Australia had to wait for another twelve years to have another song from the nation rise to the peak of the Billboard Hot 100. This time, it was the hit “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye featuring Kimbra.
#1- Truly Madly Deeply
Number one on our top 10 Savage Garden songs list is the duo’s signature track “Truly Madly Deeply.” The song was Savage Garden’s third single, later released on the duo’s eponymous debut LP. “Truly Madly Deeply” is one of the most tempestuous tracks by the Australian pop musical duo.
The song has been revealed to be a rework of a song under the title “Magical Kisses,” still penned by Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones. “Truly Madly Deeply” saw the band earn the two ARIA Music Awards accolades, including the Highest Selling Single and Single of the Year. Critics have lauded the song for its romantic lyrics and moving instrumentation. “Truly Madly Deeply” rose to the peak of the Billboard Hot 100. The song has also been praised for being the archetypal ‘90s pop ballad.
Photo: Maggz Appleton, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons
