I Want You (Savage Garden song)

"I Want You" is a song by Australian pop duo Savage Garden. It was originally released in Australia in May 1996[1] as the lead single from their eponymous debut album, Savage Garden. The single reached number one in Canada for two weeks and peaked at number four in Australia[2] and on the US Billboard Hot 100.[3] The single also peaked at number nine in Iceland[4] and at 11 on the UK Singles Chart.[5] In November 1998, the single was re-released in the United Kingdom following the success of "Truly Madly Deeply" and "To the Moon and Back". This release peaked at number 12.

"I Want You"
Single by Savage Garden
from the album Savage Garden
B-side	"Fire Inside the Man" "Tears of Pearls" "Mine (And You Could Be)"
Released	27 May 1996 (1996-05-27) (Australia)[1] 9 November 1996 (1996-11-09) (Singapore) 11 February 1997 (1997-02-11) (North America) 9 June 1997 (1997-06-09) (UK)
Recorded	1995
Genre	Electronic rock pop rock synthpop
Length	3:53
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Darren Hayes, Daniel Jones
Producer(s)	Savage Garden and Charles Fisher
Savage Garden singles chronology
"I Want You" (1996) "To the Moon and Back" (1996)
Music video
"I Want You" on YouTube

At the APRA Music Awards of 1998 it won Most Performed Australian Work Overseas.[6] In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, the album version of the song was ranked number 87.[7]

Content

The song's lyrics refer to the attraction exerted by a person possessing strong sex appeal. They fascinate the singer and arouse his curiosity, even though he is not sure whether he needs them at all. Singer Darren Hayes described it as a song about "being in love with a male energy", when asked if the song had a coded gay message.[8]

Music video

Two music videos were released for the song. Both videos present Darren Hayes with long black hair.

The first video was a low-budget version released in 1996 for Australian markets. It showed the band performing in a room full of disco lights and Darren Hayes singing on the back of a moving vehicle.

The second video was a high-budget version directed by Nigel Dick and premiered in 1997 for international markets in conjunction with the single's American release. It features the band in a stylised futuristic warehouse and recording studio. The international version was featured on the band's compilation Truly Madly Completely: The Best of Savage Garden (2005), while the Australian version was not available until the release of the compilation The Singles (2015).

Track listings

United Kingdom CD (1997) "I Want You" (album version) "I Want You" (Xenomania Funky Mix) "I Want You" (Xenomania 12" Club Mix) "I Want You" (Sharp Miami Mix) Cassette (1997) "I Want You" (album version) "Promises" CD1 (1998) "I Want You '98" (Bascombe Mix) "I Want You '98" (Sash! Radio Edit) "To the Moon and Back" (karaoke version) CD2 (1998) "I Want You '98" (Sash! Extended Mix) "I Want You" (Sharp Miami Mix) "I Want You" (Xenomania Funky Mix) Cassette (1998) "I Want You '98" (Bascombe Mix) "I Want You '98" (Sash! Radio Edit) Europe CD1 "I Want You" (radio version) – 3:37 "I Want You" (Hot Radio Mix) – 3:33 CD2 "I Want You" (radio version) – 3:37 "I Want You" (Pee Wee Club Mix) – 6:30 "Tears of Pearls" – 3:52 "Mine (And You Could Be)" – 4:29

United States CD1 "I Want You" – 3:53 "Tears of Pearls" – 3:46 CD2 "I Want You" – 3:53 "I Want You" (Jason Nevins' Radio Remix) – 3:37 "I Want You" (Bastone Club Mix) – 8:30 "I Want You" (I Need I Want Mix) – 7:55 "I Want You" (Hot Radio Mix) – 3:33 Japan "I Want You" – 3:53 "I Want You" (Jason Nevins' Radio Remix) – 3:37 "I Want You" (Bastone Club Mix) – 8:30 "I Want You" (I Need I Want Mix) – 7:55 "I Want You" (Hot Radio Mix) – 3:33 Australia Standard "I Want You" – 3:53 "Fire Inside the Man" – 4:11 Limited edition "I Want You" (original radio version) – 3:54 "I Want You" (Flu Club Mix) – 6:22 "I Want You" (Pee Wee Club Mix) – 6:30 "I Want You" (Flu Radio Edit) – 3:44 "I Want You" (Flu Midnight Mix) – 6:24

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996–1997) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[2] 4 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] 14 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 27 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[11] 33 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12] 1 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[13] 8 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[14] 4 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] 16 France (SNEP)[16] 15 Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 38 Hungary (Mahasz)[18] 5 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[4] 9 Ireland (IRMA)[19] 38 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 22 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 38 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 13 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[23] 5 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 11 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 21 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[5] 11 US Billboard Hot 100[3] 4 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[26] 4 US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[27] 48 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[28] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[29] 32 Chart (1998) Peak position Scotland (Official Charts Company)[30] "I Want You" '98 8 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[31] "I Want You" '98 12

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position Australia (ARIA)[32] 12 Chart (1997) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[33] 8 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[34] 61 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[35] 28 France (SNEP)[36] 88 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[37] 80 US Billboard Hot 100[38] 22

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[32]	Platinum	70,000^^
United States (RIAA)[39]	Gold	600,000[40]
^^shipments figures based on certification alone

In popular culture

The song is also used as the ending theme of the anime adaptation of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, during its Diamond Is Unbreakable arc.

This song would later be featured on The CW drama series, Supernatural, during the opening scene of their thirteenth episode of their final season, "Destiny's Child."

References

1. "New Release Summary – Product Available from: 27/5/96 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 327)". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 2 April 2017.
2. "Australian-charts.com – Savage Garden – I Want You". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
3. "Savage Garden Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
4. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 219 Vikuna 1.5. '97 – 7.5. '97)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved 12 July 2018. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
5. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
6. "1998 Winners - APRA Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Archived from the original on 18 September 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
7. "Here Are The Songs That Made Triple M's 'Ozzest 100'". Musicfeeds. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
8. "Savage Garden's Darren Hayes on Behind-The-Scenes Reactions to His Coming Out, Admiring Michael Jackson & Adam Lambert". Billboard. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
9. "Austriancharts.at – Savage Garden – I Want You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
10. "Ultratop.be – Savage Garden – I Want You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
11. "Ultratop.be – Savage Garden – I Want You" (in French). Ultratop 50.
12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3231." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
13. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3218." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
14. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 3226." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
15. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 26. 28 June 1997. p. 18. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
16. "Lescharts.com – Savage Garden – I Want You" (in French). Les classement single.
17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Savage Garden – I Want You". GfK Entertainment Charts.
18. "Top 10 Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Savage Garden". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
20. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Savage Garden" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
21. "Dutchcharts.nl – Savage Garden – I Want You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
22. "Charts.nz – Savage Garden – I Want You". Top 40 Singles.
23. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
24. "Swedishcharts.com – Savage Garden – I Want You". Singles Top 100.
25. "Swisscharts.com – Savage Garden – I Want You". Swiss Singles Chart.
26. "Savage Garden Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
27. "Savage Garden Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
28. "Savage Garden Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
29. "Savage Garden Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
30. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
31. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
32. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1996". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
33. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
34. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
35. "RPM '97 Year End Top 50 Dance Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
36. "Classement Singles – année 1997" (in French). Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
37. "Årslista Singlar – År 1997" (in Swedish). Hitlistan. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
38. "Billboard Top 100 – 1997". Archived from the original on 11 June 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
39. "American single certifications – Savage Garden – I Want You". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
40. "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 110 (5): 76. 31 January 1998. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 31 May 2015.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics