In July of 1996, under Roadshow Music, the duo released their debut single I Want You. The single was a hit in Australia and became the year's highest-selling by an Australian artist. The success of the single garnered much interest from many U.S. record labels and in September, Columbia Records won the bidding war to sign the band. In November a second single, To The Moon And Back, was released and was another chart hit—reaching No. 1 in January of the following year.
"I Want You" was released in the United States in February 1997, where it peaked at No. 4 and quickly achieved gold status. Truly Madly Deeply, the band's third Australian single, was released in March and reached No. 1 just before "I Want You" was released across Europe in April. The duo’s debut album, Savage Garden, entered the Australian charts at No. 1 in March and remained at that peak for 17 weeks—it was released around the world two weeks later. At the end of May, “To The Moon And Back” became the most played song on U.S. radio.
In June 1997, a fourth single, Break Me, Shake Me was released in Australia as the band's debut album sat at No. 3 on the U.S. charts and was certified gold by the ARIA. By the end of August, the album was seven-times platinum in Australia, triple-platinum in Canada, and double-platinum in New Zealand and Singapore. At the end of August, Savage Garden received a record 13 ARIA awards nominations. The 10 ARIAs won by them in September was also a record, and one that still stands today. Riding this massive wave of popularity was the release of their fifth Australian single, Universe. By November that year, "Truly Madly Deeply" became their third U.S. release, shooting up the charts to blow Elton John’s "Candle In The Wind 1997" out of its 14-week run at the number-one spot. By the end of 1997, Darren and Daniel had become international stars.
In January 1998, All Around Me, a sixth single, was released just as the band kicked off their worldwide tour in Cairns, Australia. By the end of the year, "Truly Madly Deeply" was the most-played song on U.S. radio and the only one-sided single to spend a full year in the Top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100.
The Animal Song (featured in the Disney film The Other Sister), the first single from the follow-up album Affirmation was released in February 1999 and became a hit in Australia and the US. That September saw the release of a new single previewing their forthcoming album; the smooth, romantic ballad, I Knew I Loved You.
The duo's second album, Affirmation, was released in November 1999 globally. It took a month for it to go platinum in the US, largely due to the success of the single "I Knew I Loved You," which hit #1 on the charts, eventually going platinum and becoming the most-played single on US radio for the year.
Affirmation saw a new turn for Savage Garden; their looks had more similarities to that of mainstream pop and some of their new songs possessed a more adult contemporary sound.
The group finished out the year by winning two Billboard Music Awards: Adult Contemporary Single of the Year and Hot 100 Singles Airplay of the Year.
In February 2000, as Crash and Burn became the third single from their second album, 1997's "Truly Madly Deeply" was amazingly still on the Monitor/Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay Chart, breaking the record for length of time of any single on that chart. It would finally drop off the chart after 123 weeks.
In June, Darren Hayes performed O Sole Mio at Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti's annual charitable benefit concert Pavarotti and Friends. Savage Garden's great success was reflected once again at the Billboard Music Awards, where they won Best Adult Contemporary Video and No. 1 Adult Contemporary Song of the Year, for "I Knew I Loved You", and No. 1 Adult Contemporary Artist of the Year. "I Knew I Loved You" stayed on the Monitor/Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay Chart for 124 weeks – overtaking the duo's own record previously set by "Truly Madly Deeply".
In October 2001, the band split and Darren Hayes went on to enjoy further success with albums Spin (2002), The Tension And The Spark (2004) and This Delicate Thing We've Made (2007).
As of 2005, the band’s debut album had been certified 12-times platinum in Australia, six-times platinum in the United States, and double-platinum in the United Kingdom.
Affirmation
Savage Garden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem
I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe that your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold
I believe the struggle for financial freedom isn't fair
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed
I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists
I believe in love surviving death into eternity
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
The lyrics to Savage Garden’s song Affirmation speak to the heart of personal belief systems and the importance of authenticity. Throughout the song, we hear the singer express a range of beliefs from the importance of forgiveness and love to the value of family over money. The first verse addresses the idea that arguments should not be prolonged past sunset, as unresolved conflict can lead to greater problems. The second verse touches on the idea that true love is only appreciated after experiencing heartbreak. The third verse speaks to how our beliefs shape our perspectives and that the struggle for financial stability is not equal for all.
Overall, the song is a reminder that what we believe shapes our experiences in life. It encourages us to be mindful of our beliefs and values and to live authentically. It encourages us to acknowledge the complexities of life and to appreciate the good in our lives before it’s gone. The idea of Karma is also presented throughout the song, suggesting that what we put out into the world will ultimately come back to us.
Line by Line Meaning
I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe in resolving conflicts promptly and fairly.
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands
I believe that we rely too much on others for our own happiness.
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you
I believe that our body craves unhealthy things, even though they may be bad for us.
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that our parents try their best to raise us, even if they make mistakes.
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem
I believe that society's unrealistic beauty standards can negatively affect one's self-confidence.
I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone
I believe that true love comes from within and one can find it by being comfortable with themselves.
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe in the concept of Karma, where your actions determine your future experiences.
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe that experiencing heartbreak allows one to better understand and appreciate genuine love.
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe that things are not always better elsewhere and one should be content with what they have.
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
I believe that we often take things for granted and it's only when they're gone that we realize their true worth.
I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality
I believe that one's sexual orientation is not a choice and cannot be changed.
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe that having an honest and strong sense of trust is more important in a relationship than solely being exclusive.
I believe that your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe that one's inner qualities are more desirable than their physical appearance.
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold
I believe that familial love and relationships are more valuable than material possessions.
I believe the struggle for financial freedom isn't fair
I believe that gaining financial stability is not always equitable and may require significant hardship.
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires
I believe that only those who have reached significant wealth can disagree with the previous line.
I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness
I believe that holding onto grudges and resentment can cause one to become unhappy and forgiveness is key to moving past it.
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed
I believe that a strong, committed relationship can still thrive despite physical changes over time.
I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists
I believe that using religion for personal profit or gain goes against the true intentions and values of faith.
I believe in love surviving death into eternity
I believe in the idea of love transcending death and continuing forever.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Sentric Music
Written by: Daniel Jones, Darren Stanley Hayes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AlejandroSalomonEmprendeduro
This hits differently as you get older... damn ❤️
@MsJenn1985
@That420Guy my husband used to sing this song to me and say “this is us”, he died at Christmas and my friend heard it yesterday and said “this is you”, from that exact line, and I knew what I had, but you still live with regret regardless xx
@colinesquire2480
Absolutely you realise how much trivial stuff bothered you before
@KIELTUR
We are getting wiser. I love the lyrics. It is a poem - an affirmation
@catzb37
@MsJenn1985 I am so sorry for your loss! 💚
@eddiepenman8291
Very true
@lyndaclark344
I'm so glad this is getting a revival in 2024!!!
@brandonmoore7497
I’m listening to Savage Garden Affirmation early February 2024
0:56
@guillecanales11
“I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul” so true! Who’s listening in 2021!!!
@nailsbykacey9979
Greets from Germany 🙂