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.
Chained To You
Savage Garden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
Sweet temptation rush all over me
And I think about it all the time
Passion desire so intense I can't take anymore because
I feel the magic all around you
It's bringing me to my knees
Like a wannabe
I've got to be chained to you
And when you look into my eyes
Felt a sudden sense of urgency
Fascination casts a spell and
You became more than just a mystery
And I think about you all the time
Is this fate is it my destiny
That I think about you all the time
I no longer pretend to have my hand on the wheel because
I feel the magic all around you
It's bringing me to my knees
Like a wannabe
I've got to be chained to you
And I think about it all the time
And I think about it all the time
Tell me it's madness I barely know you
We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Ten steps back you're still a mystery
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
I can't take anymore because
I feel the magic all around you
It's bringing me to my knees
Like a wannabe
I've got to be chained to you
Tell me it's madness
I barely know you
The lyrics of Savage Garden's song Chained To You describe a moment of intense chemistry and desire between two people who barely know each other. The first verse sets the scene of a crowded dance floor where the two protagonists are standing alone, and the tension between them is palpable. They connect both physically, through dancing, and emotionally, through a kiss that takes them both by surprise. The intensity of the moment is overwhelming, and the song's narrator can't stop thinking about it.
The second verse delves deeper into the connection between the two. The singer feels a strong attraction to the other person, which goes beyond the physical. There's a sense of fate and destiny at play, and the singer can't help but wonder whether this encounter is meant to be. Despite the rush of emotions and the apparent lack of logic in pursuing the connection further, the singer feels like they're powerless to resist. They're willing to be chained to the other person, even though they barely know each other.
The chorus reinforces the idea of being consumed by this attraction and desire. The magic around the other person is so strong that it's bringing the singer to their knees. They feel like a wannabe, like someone who's not in control of their own feelings and actions. But at the same time, they can't help but want to be chained to the other person, to give in to what feels like an irresistible force.
Overall, Chained To You is a song about the power of attraction and desire, and how it can override reason and logic. The lyrics capture the intensity of a moment of connection between two people who are drawn to each other, even though they barely know each other.
Line by Line Meaning
We were standing all alone
We were alone and there was nobody around us.
You were leaning in to speak to me
You were getting closer to me to speak something important.
Acting like a mover shaker
You were acting like someone who makes things happen.
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
After dancing to Madonna's music, you kissed me.
And I think about it all the time
I keep replaying this memory over and over in my mind.
Sweet temptation rush all over me
I felt a strong urge to be with you.
Passion desire so intense I can't take anymore because
My desire for you is so strong that I can't resist it anymore.
I feel the magic all around you
You have a special aura around you that attracts me.
It's bringing me to my knees
Your presence is making me feel weak in the knees.
Like a wannabe
I feel like I'm not good enough for you.
I've got to be chained to you
I feel like I need to be close to you all the time, like a chain that can't be broken.
And when you look into my eyes
When you gaze into my eyes, I feel a sense of connection.
Felt a sudden sense of urgency
I felt an immediate need to be with you.
Fascination casts a spell and
You have something fascinating about you that attracted me to you like a spell.
You became more than just a mystery
You are no longer a mystery to me, but someone whom I feel drawn towards.
Is this fate is it my destiny
I wonder if it's fate or destiny that brought us together.
I no longer pretend to have my hand on the wheel because
I'm no longer in control of my feelings for you.
Ten steps back you're still a mystery
Even if I take a step back from you, I still find you mysterious and captivating.
Tell me it's madness I barely know you
This all seems insane because I barely know you, but I can't help how I feel.
I can't take anymore because
I can't handle these intense feelings anymore.
Tell me it's madness
Please tell me that this feeling is temporary and won't last forever.
I barely know you
I don't know you well, but I'm still drawn to you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: DANIEL JONES, DARREN HAYES, DARREN STANLEY HAYES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind