Affirmation (Savage Garden album)

Affirmation is the second and final studio album by Australian pop duo Savage Garden. The album was released on 9 November 1999 by Columbia Records. It won the 2000 ARIA Music Award for Highest Selling Album along it nominated the 2000 ARIA Music Award for Best Group but lost to Killing Heidi's Reflector and Best Pop Release but lost to Kylie Minogue's "Spinning Around".

Affirmation
Australian cover
Studio album by Savage Garden
Released	9 November 1999
Recorded	1998–1999
Genre	Soft rock[1]
Length	53:42 (International edition) 63:37 (Australian edition)
Label	Columbia
Producer	Walter Afanasieff, Darren Hayes, Daniel Jones
Savage Garden chronology
Savage Garden (1997) Affirmation (1999) Truly Madly Completely: The Best of Savage Garden (2005)
Alternative cover
International cover
Singles from Affirmation
"The Animal Song" Released: 23 February 1999 "I Knew I Loved You" Released: 28 September 1999 "Affirmation" Released: 10 January 2000 "Crash and Burn" Released: 20 March 2000 "Chained to You" Released: 26 September 2000 "Hold Me" Released: 13 November 2000 "The Best Thing" Released: 12 March 2001

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
Entertainment Weekly	C+[3]
Plugged In	(average)[4]
PopMatters	[5]
Q	[6]
Robert Christgau	[7]
Rolling Stone	[8]
Sputnikmusic	[9]

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 had committed 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.[10] 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.

Standard edition

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Affirmation"	4:56
2.	"Hold Me"	4:50
3.	"I Knew I Loved You"	4:10
4.	"The Best Thing"	4:19
5.	"Crash and Burn"	4:41
6.	"Chained to You"	4:08
7.	"The Animal Song"	4:39
8.	"The Lover After Me"	4:50
9.	"Two Beds and a Coffee Machine"	3:27
10.	"You Can Still Be Free"	4:18
11.	"Gunning Down Romance"	5:34
12.	"I Don't Know You Anymore"	3:50

Australian special edition

No.	Title	Length
13.	"The Animal Song" (Hex Hector Club Mix)	9:55
14.	"The Animal Song" (Making of the Video)	3:00

Declaration live bonus disc

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Best Thing"	5:24
2.	"The Lover After Me"	4:38
3.	"I Don't Know You Anymore"	3:37
4.	"Two Beds and a Coffee Machine"	4:46
5.	"You Can Still Be Free"	4:58
6.	"Hold Me"	4:52
7.	"Gunning Down Romance"	6:36
8.	"Crash and Burn"	5:13
9.	"Chained to You"	6:33
10.	"I Knew I Loved You"	8:05
11.	"Affirmation"	6:17

Expanded Edition 2015 (Disc 2)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hold Me" (Live at London Radio)
2.	"Crash & Burn" (Live at London Radio)
3.	"I Knew I Loved You" (Live at Paris Radio)
4.	"The Lover After Me" (Live at Paris Radio)
5.	"I Don't Know You Anymore" (Live from The Panel)
6.	"I Knew I Loved You" (Eddie¹s Rhythm Radio Mix)
7.	"Affirmation 2004" (Almighty Mix)
8.	"Chained To You" (Justin Shave Remix)
9.	"Crash & Burn" (Eddie¹s Bumped Up Dance Mix)
10.	"Hold Me 2004" (Almighty Mix)

Personnel

• Darren Hayes – all vocals
• Daniel Jones – keyboards, synthesizers, drum and rhythm programming, additional mimed guitars
• 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

Affirmation World Tour

The band and crew for the Affirmation World Tour were:

Band

• Karl Lewis – drums
• Lee Novak – bass
• Ben Carey – guitar
• Jennifer Blakeman – keyboard
• Elisa Fiorillo – backing vocals
• Angi Bekker – backing vocals

Crew

• Peter McFee – tour manager
• Susie Steadman – assistant tour manager
• Colin Skals – stage manager
• Colin Ellis – front of house engineer
• Bruce Ramus – lighting director
• Scott Pike – monitor engineer
• Lindsay McKay – guitar technician
• Adrian Dessent – guitar technician
• Simon Moran – drum technician
• Sean "Motley" Hackett – lighting operator
• Nina De Palma – wardrobe stylist

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1999–2000) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[11] 1 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[12] 26 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13] 43 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[14] 1 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[15] 3 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[16] 46 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[17] 8 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] 11 French Albums (SNEP)[19] 45 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[20] 12 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[21] 3 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[22] 4 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[23] 1 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 8 UK Albums (OCC)[25] 7 US Billboard 200[26] 6

Year-end charts Chart (1999) Position Australia Albums (ARIA)[27] 4 Chart (2000) Position Australia Albums (ARIA)[28] 3 Chart (2001) Position Australia Albums (ARIA)[29] 71 End of decade charts Chart (2000–2009) Position Australia Album (ARIA) [30] 46 Australian Artist Album (ARIA) [30] 14 U.S. Billboard 200 195

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[31]	8× Platinum	560,000^^
Canada (Music Canada)[32]	2× Platinum	200,000^^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[33]	2× Platinum	100,000^^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[34]	Gold	31,905[34]
Germany (BVMI)[35]	Gold	250,000^^
Japan (RIAJ)[36]	Gold	100,000[37]^^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[38]	Platinum+Gold	225,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[39]	Platinum	15,000^^
Sweden (GLF)[40]	2× Platinum	160,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[41]	3× Platinum	900,000^^
United States (RIAA)[42]	3× Platinum	3,000,000^^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[43]	Platinum	1,000,000^*
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/affirmation-mw0000671100
2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Affirmation at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
3. Morgan, Laura (12 November 1999). "Affirmation Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
4. Waliszewski, Bob (1999). "Savage Garden | Affirmation". Plugged In. Archived from the original on 4 September 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
5. Angotti, Chris. "Savage Garden: Affirmation". PopMatters. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
6. "Savage Garden - Affirmation CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
7. Christgau, Robert. "CG: Savage Garden". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
8. Walters, Barry (9 December 1999). "Savage Garden: Affirmation : Music Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
9. Med57 (19 June 2006). "Savage Garden - Affirmation (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
10. "Savage Garden Confirms Split". Billboard. 5 October 2001. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
11. "Australiancharts.com – Savage Garden – Affirmation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
12. "Austriancharts.at – Savage Garden – Affirmation" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
13. "Ultratop.be – Savage Garden – Affirmation" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
14. "Savage Garden Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
15. "Danishcharts.dk – Savage Garden – Affirmation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
16. "Dutchcharts.nl – Savage Garden – Affirmation" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
17. "Savage Garden: Affirmation" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Savage Garden – Affirmation" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
19. "Lescharts.com – Savage Garden – Affirmation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
20. "サヴェージ・ガーデンのリリース一覧" [A Look at Savage Garden's Releases]. Oricon. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
21. "Charts.nz – Savage Garden – Affirmation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
22. "Norwegiancharts.com – Savage Garden – Affirmation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
23. "Swedishcharts.com – Savage Garden – Affirmation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
24. "Swisscharts.com – Savage Garden – Affirmation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
25. "Savage Garden | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
26. "Savage Garden Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
27. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 1999". ARIA. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
28. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 2000". ARIA. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
29. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 2001". ARIA. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
30. "2009 ARIA End of Decade Albums Chart". ARIA. January 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
31. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020.
32. "Canadian album certifications – Savage Garden – Affirmation". Music Canada.
33. "Hitlisten. NU – Denmark", IFPI, archived from the original on 6 November 2016, retrieved 6 November 2016
34. "Savage Garden" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
35. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Savage Garden; 'Affirmation')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
36. "Japanese album certifications – Savage Garden – Affirmation" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
37. "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年11月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. November 1999 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan. 482: 9. 10 January 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
38. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Type Savage Garden in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Affirmation in the box under TÍTULO
39. "New Zealand album certifications – Savage Garden – Affirmation". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
40. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2000" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
41. "British album certifications – Savage Garden – Affirmation". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Affirmation in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
42. "American album certifications – Savage Garden – Affirmation". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
43. "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2000". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.