The Animal Song
"The Animal Song" is a song by Savage Garden, released in February 1999. The song was written for the soundtrack of the film The Other Sister, but also appeared on their second studio album, Affirmation, as well as their compilation album, Truly Madly Completely: The Best of Savage Garden. It was the band's first song to be produced by Walter Afanasieff, a producer well known for his work with Mariah Carey. Afanasieff would later produce the group's Affirmation album, and also Darren Hayes' first solo album, Spin.
"The Animal Song" | ||||
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Single by Savage Garden | ||||
from the album Affirmation | ||||
Released | 23 February 1999 (Australia) 25 March 1999 (Japan) 29 June 1999 (Europe) | |||
Recorded | 1998 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 4:39 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Darren Hayes, Daniel Jones | |||
Producer(s) | Savage Garden and Walter Afanasieff | |||
Savage Garden singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"The Animal Song" on YouTube |
Background
The video for the song was directed by Jim Gable. It features Hayes walking through a parade, with intercut scenes from The Other Sister with Juliette Lewis. The song is also used in the "Shamu Rocks" seasonal nighttime show at SeaWorld, America. "The Animal Song" became the group's third Canadian number one single, topping the singles chart for three weeks, from 27 March 1999. It also peaked at number three in Australia and New Zealand, number 19 in the United States, and—in the summer of 1999—number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.
In June 2015, singer Darren Hayes explained that Savage Garden had been offered to record a song for Runaway Bride. However they passed up on the proposal and instead chose to compose a song "for the film that flopped".[1] Daniel Jones described "The Animal Song" as a "transitional song" between their first and second albums and a "fun song that made you feel good".
The lyrics of the song deal with the struggles experienced by individuals suffering from mental illnesses, and more generally with the difficulty in expressing one's emotions and finding compassion in a confusing world that stultifies individuals with all kinds of rules. According to Darren Hayes, his longing for life in the tropical climes of Australia while living in the United States provided further inspiration in composing the lyrics.
Track listing
- United Kingdom
- CD1
- "The Animal Song" (radio version) – 3:42
- "Carry on Dancing" (Ultraviolet Mix) – 6:44
- "The Animal Song" (instrumental) – 4:17
- CD2
- "The Animal Song" – 4:39
- "All Around Me" – 4:11
- "Break Me Shake Me" (Broken Mix) – 4:18
- Cassette
- "The Animal Song" – 4:39
- "All Around Me" – 4:11
- America
- "The Animal Song" – 4:39
- "Santa Monica" (Bittersweet Remix) – 5:00
- Australia
- "The Animal Song" – 4:39
- "The Animal Song" (radio version) – 3:42
- "Santa Monica" (Bittersweet Remix) – 5:00
- Europe
- CD1
- "The Animal Song" – 4:39
- "Santa Monica" (Bittersweet Remix) – 5:00
- CD2
- "The Animal Song" (radio version) – 3:42
- "Carry on Dancing" (Ultraviolet Mix) – 6:44
- "The Animal Song" (instrumental) – 4:17
- "All Around Me" – 4:11
- "Break Me Shake Me" (Broken Mix) – 4:18
- Japan
- "The Animal Song" – 4:39
- "The Animal Song" (radio version) – 3:42
- "The Animal Song" (7" vocal mix) – 4:21
- "The Animal Song" (instrumental) – 4:42
- "The Animal Song" (a cappella) – 3:46
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Certifications
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References
- https://www.facebook.com/SavageGarden/posts/
- "Australian-charts.com – Savage Garden – The Animal Song". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- "Ultratop.be – Savage Garden – The Animal Song" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
- "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7452." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8130." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16 no. 29. 17 July 1999. p. 9. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- "Íslenski Listinn (19.3–26.3. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 19 March 1999. p. 10. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Animal Song". Irish Singles Chart.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Savage Garden – The Animal Song" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- "Charts.nz – Savage Garden – The Animal Song". Top 40 Singles.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – Savage Garden – The Animal Song". VG-lista.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Savage Garden – The Animal Song". Singles Top 100.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "Savage Garden Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "Savage Garden Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- "Savage Garden Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 1999". ARIA. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
- "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
- "RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
- "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 22 January 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- "Årslista Singlar, 1999" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
- "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved 25 June 2019.