The Gift (INXS song)

"The Gift" is the first single released from Australian rock band INXS's 1993 album, Full Moon, Dirty Hearts. The song was written by Jon Farriss and Michael Hutchence. Upon its release, it reached number two in Portugal, number six on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, and number 16 in Australia. The music video was banned by MTV due to featuring controversial content.

"The Gift"
Single by INXS
from the album Full Moon, Dirty Hearts
Released23 October 1993
Recorded1993
Length4:04
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
INXS singles chronology
"Beautiful Girl"
(1992)		 "The Gift"
(1993)		 "Please (You Got That ...)"
(1993)

Music video

The music video for "The Gift" dramatises issues ranging from war and terrorism to famine and pollution with the band appearing to crash through the TV screen in anger. The video was banned by MTV owing to its use of Holocaust and Gulf War footage.[1]

In an interview with the director and long-term collaborator, Richard Lowenstein: "The video uses harrowing visuals in order to portray man's ability to create havoc and destruction. The message behind the video is to show how as viewers, we have become accepting of, and increasingly apathetic to images of gross human suffering and violence."[2]

B-sides

The B-sides on the first of two UK CD Single releases include two remixes of "The Gift", a live version of "Heaven Sent", and a cover of Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild", which was specially recorded for the April 1993 launch of Virgin Radio in the UK.[3]

Track listings

CD single 1 (INXCD25)

  1. The Gift
  2. The Gift (Bonus Beats Mix)
  3. Born to Be Wild

CD single 2 (INXCT 25)

  1. The Gift
  2. The Gift (Extended Mix)
  3. Heaven Sent (Live)

CD single 3 (Atlantic 85722-2)

  1. The Gift
  2. Born to Be Wild
  3. The Gift (Extended Mix)
  4. The Gift (Bonus Beat Mix)
  5. Heaven Sent (Live)

7-inch vinyl and cassette single (INXS25)

  1. The Gift
  2. The Gift (Extended Mix)

Charts
Chart (1993) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[4] 16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 36
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6] 27
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 25
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] 38
Portugal (AFP)[9] 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 32
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 11
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[12] 6

References
  1. https://www.nme.com/artists/inxs
  2. http://inxsweb.com/fanres/list/1993/00-aug93.txt
  3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7593871.stm
  4. "Australian-charts.com – INXS – The Gift". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  5. "Ultratop.be – INXS – The Gift" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  6. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 44. 30 October 1993. p. 21. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Gift". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  8. "Charts.nz – INXS – The Gift". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  9. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 47. 20 November 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  10. "Swedishcharts.com – INXS – The Gift". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  12. "INXS Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
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