Olive Tree (song) explained

Olive Tree
Cover:Olive Tree cover art - Peter Gabriel.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Peter Gabriel
Album:I/O
Released:
  • 1 August 2023 (bright-side mix)
  • 16 August 2023 (dark-side and in-side mixes)
Studio:
Genre:Alternative rock
Length:5:59
Label:
Producer:Peter Gabriel
Prev Title:So Much
Prev Year:2023
Next Title:Love Can Heal
Next Year:2023

"Olive Tree" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released in August 2023 as the eighth single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O. Since August has a blue moon, this is the first of two tracks that was released in August, the other being "Love Can Heal". The track has been described by Louder as "uptempo" and "jaunty".[1] Gabriel said of the song, "I wanted it to have some speed to it but I also wanted some mystery, too. I think it is a celebration in a way and there's a real sense of being alive."[2]

Similar to the title track, "I/O", Olive Tree is about being "plugged into nature and other minds".[3] Gabriel said that the song's message is about being "connected".[2] He said that we are too often self-centered, when "we only want to see and listen to the things that seem important and relevant to us and shut out the noise of everything else."[4] The narrative of the song is about being attuned to others' thoughts, which is expressed in Gabriel's hope that "we're no longer these islands that have our own private thoughts."[2] [5] [6]

This song is "also part of a separate brain-related project" that Gabriel is "currently working on".[2] [6]

The cover artwork was created by Barthélémy Toguo and titled Chroniques avec la Nature. Unlike most of the other artwork for i/o, this cover art is an original piece, created specifically for this track.[2]

Personnel

Orchestra

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ewing . Jerry . 2023-08-01 . Listen to uptempo new Peter Gabriel single Olive Tree here . 2023-08-01 . Louder . en-US.
  2. Web site: Olive Tree . 2023-08-01 . petergabriel.com.
  3. Web site: Gabriel . Peter Gabriel Full Moon August 2023 . 2023-08-01 . YouTube.
  4. Web site: Brodssky . Rachel . Peter Gabriel – "Olive Tree" . August 2023 . 2023-08-01.
  5. Web site: Peter Gabriel shares new 'i/o' track, "Olive Tree," for August's full moon . August 2023 . 2023-08-01.
  6. Web site: Rapp . Allison . Listen to Peter Gabriel's 'Brain-Related' New Song, 'Olive Tree' . August 2023 . 2023-08-01.