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Australian pop duo Savage Garden has taken the world by storm without the record company hype and career-establishing game plan that is often the background to pop-oriented acts. Originally calling themselves Crush, songwriting duo Daniel Jones and Darren Hayes sent 150 demo tapes all over the world and waited patiently for replies. The only positive response came from Australian music identity John Woodruff, who had previously managed the Angels and Baby Animals. He put the duo in the studio with Australian producer Charles Fisher, who had previously created international breakthrough hits for Air Supply and Moving Pictures. The first single, "I Want You," released in July 1996 reached number two but was followed by consecutive number ones with "To the Moon and Back" and "Truly Madly Deeply." When the self-titled debut album was released in April 1997, it entered the charts at number one and notched up 13 weeks at the top, the third longest stay for any Australian-made album. In the meantime a Dallas radio station had started playing "I Want You," and the duo was signed to Sony's Columbia imprint in the U.S. "I Want You" and "Truly Madly Deeply" became worldwide hits, the latter achieving number one in the U.S. in January 1998. The album sold 11 million copies globally and earned Savage Garden ten Australian ARIA Awards. The second album, Affirnation, was basically written by phone and computer from separate corners of the world, since Hayes had moved from Australia to New York. The album was produced in Los Angeles by award-winner Walter Afanasieff, known for his work with artists such as Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Barbra Streisand. In January 2000 the album's leadoff single, "I Knew I Loved You," gave Savage Garden its second U.S. number one. ~ Ed Nimmervoll, All Music Guide |
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