Affirmation (Savage Garden song) explained

Affirmation
Cover:	AffirmationSG.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Savage Garden
Album:	Affirmation
Length:	4:15
Label:	Roadshow Music Warner Music Australia
Producer:	Walter Afanasieff Daniel Jones Darren Hayes
Prev Title:	I Knew I Loved You
Prev Year:	1999
Next Title:	Crash and Burn
Next Year:	2000

"Affirmation" is a song by Savage Garden, released as the third single from their second and final studio album of the same name (1999). It peaked at number 16 in Australia and number eight on the UK Singles Chart.

Background

The lyrics are a series of statements each starting with "I believe", for instance: "I believe in Karma, what you give is what you get returned" and "I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned". The song was performed live at the Sydney Olympic Games Closing Ceremony in October 2000, with Darren wearing a T-shirt depicting the Aboriginal flag.

The European music video is a collection of clips from the group's tour of Brisbane, entitled Superstars and Cannonballs. The original Australian version of the music video comprises various pictures and footage from history throughout the 20th century. The single was most successful in the United Kingdom where it reached number eight, becoming the duo's fourth Top 10 hit.

Track listings

All live tracks were recorded at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in May 2000.

• Australian CD single^[1]

1. "Affirmation"
2. "I Don't Care"
3. "Affirmation" (Stop Beats mix)
4. "I Knew I Loved You" (crossover mix)

• UK CD1^[2]

1. "Affirmation" (radio version) – 4:15
2. "Affirmation" (Almighty remix)
3. "Crash & Burn" (Eddie's crossover mix) – 3:40

• UK CD2^[3]

1. "Affirmation" (live) – 5:46
2. "Truly Madly Deeply" (live) – 4:37
3. "I Knew I Loved You" (live) – 4:56

• UK cassette single^[4]

1. "Affirmation" – 4:54
2. "Truly Madly Deeply" (live) – 4:37

• European CD single^[5]

1. "Affirmation" (radio version) – 4:15
2. "Affirmation" (Stop Beats mix) – 4:15

• European maxi-CD single^[6]

1. "Affirmation" (radio version) – 4:15
2. "Affirmation" (Stop Beats mix) – 4:15
3. "I Knew I Loved You" (Eddie's savage dance mix) – 5:58
4. "Two Beds and a Coffee Machine" (piano and vocal mix) – 3:25

• Japanese CD single^[7]

1. "Affirmation" (groovy mix)
2. "I Knew I Loved You" (Mini-Me mix)
3. "I Knew I Loved You" (Eddie's rhythm radio mix)
4. "Two Beds and a Coffee Machine" (piano and vocal)
5. "I Don't Care" (original version)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2000)	Peak position
Czech Republic (IFPI)^[8]	11
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[9]	34
Singapore (SPVA)^[10]	2
US CHR/Pop Top 50 (Radio & Records)^[11]	37

Year-end charts

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
Australia	10 January 2000	CD
Japan	29 March 2000		SME	^[13]
United Kingdom	17 July 2000		Columbia	^[14]
United States	28 August 2000			^[15] ^[16]
	29 August 2000	Contemporary hit radio

Notes and References

1. Affirmation. Savage Garden. 2000. Australian CD single liner notes. Roadshow Music, Warner Music Australia. 102467-2.
2. Affirmation. Savage Garden. 2000. UK CD1 liner notes. Columbia Records. 669688 2.
3. Affirmation. Savage Garden. 2000. UK CD2 liner notes. Columbia Records. 669688 5.
4. Affirmation. Savage Garden. 2000. UK cassette single sleeve. Columbia Records. 669688 4.
5. Affirmation. Savage Garden. 2000. European CD single liner notes. Columbia Records. COL 669321 1, 6693211000.
6. Affirmation. Savage Garden. 2000. European maxi-CD single liner notes. Columbia Records. COL 669321 2, 6693212000.
7. Affirmation. Savage Garden. 2000. Japanese CD single liner notes. SME Records. SRCS 2244.
8. Web site: Hitparada radia – 39/2000. IFPI CR. cs. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20001002201422/http://www.ifpicr.cz/radio.htm. 2 October 2000. 6 February 2021.
9. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 17. 32. 7. 5 August 2000. 1 October 2020.
10. News: music charts. The Straits Times. October 5, 2000. 11. November 14, 2023. subscription. (As compiled by SPVA from sales figures from record companies, retailers and radio station charts) Week ending September 29.
11. CHR/Pop Top 50. Radio & Records. 1369. September 22, 2000.
12. Web site: 2000 ARIA Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1 October 2020.
13. Web site: アフィアメーション～ザ・B・サイズ サヴェージ・ガーデン. Affirmation ~ The B-sides Savage Garden. Oricon. ja. 30 August 2023.
14. New Releases – For Week Starting July 17, 2000: Singles. Music Week. 23. 15 July 2000.
15. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1365. 49, 90, 94. 25 August 2000.
16. Impact Dates. Gavin Report. 2319. 10, 28. 25 August 2000.