Affirmation (Savage Garden album)
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2012}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Affirmation
| type = studio
| artist = Savage Garden
| cover = Savage Garden - Affirmation (Australia).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Australian cover
| released = 1 November 1999
| recorded = 1998–1999
| studio =
| genre = Soft rock{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/affirmation-mw0000671100|title = Affirmation - Savage Garden | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|website = AllMusic}}
| length = 53:42 (International edition)
63:37 (Australian edition)
| label = Columbia
| producer = {{hlist|Walter Afanasieff|Darren Hayes|Daniel Jones}}
| prev_title = Truly Madly Deeply – Ultra Rare Tracks
| prev_year = 1998
| next_title = Truly Madly Completely: The Best of Savage Garden
| next_year = 2005
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Affirmation
| type = studio
| single1 = The Animal Song
| single1date = 23 February 1999
| single2 = I Knew I Loved You
| single2date = 28 September 1999
| single3 = Affirmation
| single3date = 10 January 2000
| single4 = Crash and Burn
| single4date = 20 March 2000
| single5 = Chained to You
| single5date = 2 October 2000
| single6 = Hold Me
| single6date = 13 November 2000
| single7 = The Best Thing
| single7date = 19 March 2001
}}
{{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = studio
| cover = Savage Garden - Affirmation (Worldwide).jpg
| border = yes
| alt = This is the cover of Savage Garden's second studio album, used worldwide except in Australia.
| caption = International cover
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r443454|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|access-date=2011-06-27}}
| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev2Score = C+{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,271595,00.html |title=Affirmation Review |first=Laura |last=Morgan |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=1999-11-12 |access-date=2013-09-04 |archive-date=25 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425220247/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,271595,00.html |url-status=dead }}
| rev4 = PopMatters
| rev4Score = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/savagegarden-affirmation/ |title=Savage Garden: Affirmation |first=Chris |last=Angotti |magazine=PopMatters |access-date=2013-09-04}}
| rev5 = Q
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1088252&style=music |title=Savage Garden - Affirmation CD Album |publisher=CD Universe |access-date=2013-09-04}}
| rev6 = Robert Christgau
| rev6Score = {{Rating-Christgau|cut}}{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=savage+garden |title=CG: Savage Garden |first=Robert |last=Christgau |author-link=Robert Christgau |publisher=RobertChristgau.com |access-date=2013-09-04}}
| rev7 = Rolling Stone
| rev7Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/savagegarden/albums/album/284271/review/5946964/affirmation |title=Savage Garden: Affirmation : Music Review |first=Barry |last=Walters |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=1999-12-09 |access-date=2013-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725153143/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/savagegarden/albums/album/284271/review/5946964/affirmation |archive-date=2008-07-25 |url-status=dead}}
| rev8 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev8score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite book|last=Cross|first=Charles R.|author-link=Charles R. Cross|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=Simon & Schuster|edition=4th|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|chapter=Savage Garden|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/718 718]}}
| rev9 = Sputnikmusic
| rev9Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/7727/Savage-Garden-Affirmation/ |title=Savage Garden - Affirmation (album review) |author=Med57 |website=Sputnikmusic |date=2006-06-19 |access-date=2011-11-03}}
}}
Affirmation is the second and final studio album by Australian pop duo Savage Garden, released on 1 November 1999 by Columbia Records. It won the 2000 ARIA Music Award for Highest Selling Album. It was nominated for Best Group and Best Pop Release.
Background
The band recorded their second studio album after they recorded "The Animal Song" for the soundtrack to the film The Other Sister. The majority of the album was written by Hayes in New York in September 1999 or slightly earlier that year. The exception was 'You Can Still Be Free', a much older song that dated back to at least 1995 - a demo recording appeared on their 1995 demo tape, then titled 'Free'. The track was written in tribute to a friend of the band who died by suicide some years previously, and was revisited after said friends' family explained they loved the song and wanted to see it released on an album. Preceded by the second single "I Knew I Loved You", the album was released on 9 November 1999 to worldwide success. The album spawned a further five singles, one of which was exclusive to the Australian market ("Chained to You"), and one of which was exclusive to the British market ("The Best Thing").
Following the success of the Superstars and Cannonballs video album, the album was reissued in November 2000, containing a bonus live album, Declaration, featuring recordings from the concert at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on 21 May 2000. Including sales of the re-issue, the album has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide, being certified platinum in a number of countries.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/78187/savage-garden-confirms-split |title=Savage Garden Confirms Split |magazine=Billboard|date=5 October 2001|access-date=2014-01-06}} It became the band's last studio album after Daniel decided to leave in 2001.
Similarly to Savage Garden, the album's track listing varied internationally. The Australian version of the album features a bonus remix of "The Animal Song", a CD-ROM featuring video footage and bonus material, and the uncut version of "Gunning Down Romance". The International version removes the remix, CD-ROM and features a cut version of "Gunning Down Romance", due to a manufacturing error where six seconds of music are cut between 4:36 and 4:42, causing the music to stop abruptly.
Track listing
- All songs written by Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones, and produced by Walter Afanasieff.
{{tracklist
| headline = Standard edition
| title1 = Affirmation
| length1 = 4:56
| title2 = Hold Me
| length2 = 4:50
| title3 = I Knew I Loved You
| length3 = 4:10
| title4 = The Best Thing
| length4 = 4:19
| title5 = Crash and Burn
| length5 = 4:41
| title6 = Chained to You
| length6 = 4:08
| title7 = The Animal Song
| length7 = 4:39
| title8 = The Lover After Me
| length8 = 4:50
| title9 = Two Beds and a Coffee Machine
| length9 = 3:27
| title10 = You Can Still Be Free
| length10= 4:18
| title11 = Gunning Down Romance
| length11= 5:34
| title12 = I Don't Know You Anymore
| length12= 3:50
}}
{{tracklist
| headline = Australian special edition
| title13 = The Animal Song
| note13 = Hex Hector Club Mix
| length13= 9:55
| title14 = The Animal Song
| note14 = Making of the Video
| length14= 3:00
}}
{{tracklist
| headline = Declaration live bonus disc
| title1 = The Best Thing
| length1 = 5:24
| title2 = The Lover After Me
| length2 = 4:38
| title3 = I Don't Know You Anymore
| length3 = 3:37
| title4 = Two Beds and a Coffee Machine
| length4 = 4:46
| title5 = You Can Still Be Free
| length5 = 4:58
| title6 = Hold Me
| length6 = 4:52
| title7 = Gunning Down Romance
| length7 = 6:36
| title8 = Crash and Burn
| length8 = 5:13
| title9 = Chained to You
| length9 = 6:33
| title10 = I Knew I Loved You
| length10= 8:05
| title11 = Affirmation
| length11= 6:17
}}
{{tracklist
| headline = Expanded edition 2015 (Disc 2)
| extra_column =
| title1 = Hold Me
| note1 = live at London Radio
| length1 =
| title2 = Crash & Burn
| note2 = live at London Radio
| length2 =
| title3 = I Knew I Loved You
| note3 = live at Paris Radio
| length3 =
| title4 = The Lover After Me
| note4 = live at Paris Radio
| length4 =
| title5 = I Don't Know You Anymore
| note5 = live from The Panel
| length5 =
| title6 = I Knew I Loved You
| note6 = Eddie¹s Rhythm Radio Mix
| length6 =
| title7 = Affirmation 2004
| note7 = Almighty Mix
| length7 =
| title8 = Chained to You
| note8 = Justin Shave Remix
| length8 =
| title9 = Crash & Burn
| note9 = Eddie¹s Bumped Up Dance Mix
| length9 =
| title10 = Hold Me 2004
| note10 = Almighty Mix
| length10 =
}}
Credits
=Savage Garden=
- Darren Hayes – vocals
- Daniel Jones – additional guitars; keyboards, synthesizers, drum and rhythm programming
=Additional personnel=
- Walter Afanasieff – keyboards, synthesizers, drum and rhythm programming, acoustic piano on track 9
- Greg Bieck – keyboards and programming
- Michael Landau – electric guitars
- Michael Thompson – electric guitars and lead baritone guitar on track 6
- Dean Parks – acoustic guitars
- Nathan East – bass
- Steve Smith – drums
- Strings arranged and conducted by Jeremy Lubbock; contractor – Jules Chaikin
=Production=
- Arranged and produced by Savage Garden and Walter Afanasieff
- Recorded and engineered by Jay Healy (vocals), Kent Matcke (basic tracking), David Frazer (guitars, strings on track 9), David Reitzas (guitars) and David Gleeson (drums, Fairlight, vocals and piano)
- Assistant engineers – Brian Vibberts, Pete Krawiec, Tony Rambo, Dave Ashton, Ethan Schofer, Dave Ashton, Luis Quine, Mark Gregory, Ryan Hewitt
- Mixed by Dave Way (tracks 1–6 and 8–12) and Chris Lord-Alge (track 7)
- Mastered by Vlado Meller
Charts and certifications
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (1999–2000)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Australia|1|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Austria|26|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|43|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardCanada|1|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Denmark|3|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|46|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Finland|8|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|France|45|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|11|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|id=3099|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland2|12|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=28 July 2023|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web | title=サヴェージ・ガーデンのリリース一覧 |trans-title=A Look at Savage Garden's Releases | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/74649/products/release/ | work=Oricon | access-date=17 January 2014}}
| 12 |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|3|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Norway|4|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|4|date=20000813|access-date=28 July 2023|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Sweden|1|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|8|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|UK|7|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|6|artist=Savage Garden|album=Affirmation|access-date=19 June 2015|rowheader=true}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
=Decade-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2000–2009)
!Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2000/end-of-decade-albums-chart|title=2009 ARIA End of Decade Albums Chart|publisher=ARIA|date=January 2010|access-date=16 January 2020}}
|align="center"|46 |
| scope="row"| US Billboard 200
| style="text-align:center;"|195 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications and sales
{{certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|title=Affirmation |artist=Savage Garden|award=Platinum|number=8|relyear=1999|certyear=2001}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|title=Affirmation |artist=Savage Garden|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1999|certyear=1999}}
{{Certification Table Entry | region=Denmark| title=Affirmation | artist=Savage Garden| award=Platinum|number=2 | type=album | relyear=2001 | relmonth=02 | certyear=2001 |id=2|source=chart| access-date=6 November 2016}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=Finland|type=album|title=Affirmation |artist=Savage Garden|award=Gold|salesamount=31,905|relyear=1999|certyear=1999}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|title=Affirmation|artist=Savage Garden|award=Gold|relyear=1999|relmonth=10|certyear=1999}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Indonesia|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=2000|certref={{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/2000/2000-01-22-Billboard-Page-0128.pdf|access-date=August 20, 2024|title=Savage Garden-The Ultimate Affirmation|magazine=Billboard|date=January 22, 2000|page=128}}|salesamount=50,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/certification-award-levels.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109165528/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/certification-award-levels.pdf|archive-date=9 January 2007|url-status=dead|title=Certification Award Levels|publisher=IFPI|access-date=23 March 2023}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Italy|award=Gold|relyear=1999|certyear=2000|certref=}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|title=Affirmation|artist=Savage Garden|type=album|relyear=1999 |certyear=1999|certmonth=11|certref={{cite journal |title=GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年11月度 |trans-title=Gold Albums, and other certified works. November 1999 Edition |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/2000/200001.pdf| journal=The Record |type=Bulletin |language=Japanese |location=Chūō, Tokyo |publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan |publication-date=10 January 2000 |volume=482 |page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117114148/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/2000/200001.pdf |archive-date=17 January 2014 |access-date=17 January 2014}} |award=Gold |access-date=17 January 2014}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Malaysia|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=2000|certref=|salesamount=25,000|salesref=}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|type=album|title=Affirmation|artist=Savage Garden|award=Platinum+Gold|relyear=1999|certyear=1999}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=Affirmation|artist=Savage Garden|type=album|id=2002-11-15|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|award=Platinum}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Philippines|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=2000|certref=}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Portugal|award=Gold|relyear=1999|certyear=2000|certref=}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Singapore|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=2000|certref=}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=South Africa|award=Gold|relyear=1999|certyear=2000|certref=}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=album|title=Affirmation |artist=Savage Garden|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1999|certyear=2000}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Taiwan|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=2000|certref=}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Thailand|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=2000|certref=|salesamount=40,000|salesref=}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|title=Affirmation |artist=Savage Garden|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|id=321-1342-2}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=Affirmation |artist=Savage Garden|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1999|certyear=1999}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|title=Affirmation|artist=Savage Garden|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=2000}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Savage Garden}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by Walter Afanasieff