londonrain
Staff member
That bit is actually good.
This Delicate Rate We've Made: The Darren Hayes / Savage Garden Rate - WINNER announced
- Thread starter jtm
- Start date
londonrain
Staff member
He/Him
It actually made the UK Top 20, which is why I could never submit it and bait @iheartpoptarts with it! :(
I was thinking it could make good PJ00s fodder! Sorry for the UK's taste, I guess...
Human Nature actually appeared in Neighbours, as themselves. I can't remember why exactly, but they had a few scenes 'acting' and then I'm sure they ended up performing that song at Flick Scully's prom or something, which is why Holly Valance is in the video and the song charted in the UK.
122.
Tougher Than The Rest
B-side from ‘This Delicate Thing We’ve Made’
Average: 6,257
Highest score: 1x8,5 (@Eric)
Lowest score: 1x2,5 (@londonrain)
Before we get to another single, we say goodbye to this song from the Delicate era. ‘Tougher Than The Rest’ is a cover of a Bruce Springsteen song from his 1987 album ‘Tunnel of Love’. In its original Springsteen version it was a single in some countries, becoming a UK top 20 hit.
The song has been covered quite often, among others by Emmylou Harris, and of course Darren himself. As far as I know this was never commercially released but either leaked at some point or was added by Darren to MySpace.
It got a rather muted reception from you:
@londonrain: ‘This is almost aggressively dull. It could be the same thirty seconds looped for five minutes and it would sound the same. The graphic design on this lyric video is a kii, though.’ (2.5)
@rawkey: ‘I prefer the Bruce Sprinsteen original but this is a rather lovely version.’ (6.8)
@Eric: ‘What a lovely song to end the rate on. If a guy sang that to me I'd melt. (Plus another amazingly random self-made video. Mermaids! Anime characters! Why?)’ (8.5)
@jtm: ‘Good ballad, nothing special though’ (6.5)
Darren’s version (including the mermaids and anime characters):
Bruce Springsteen’s version (music video):
Tougher Than The Rest
B-side from ‘This Delicate Thing We’ve Made’
Average: 6,257
Highest score: 1x8,5 (@Eric)
Lowest score: 1x2,5 (@londonrain)
Before we get to another single, we say goodbye to this song from the Delicate era. ‘Tougher Than The Rest’ is a cover of a Bruce Springsteen song from his 1987 album ‘Tunnel of Love’. In its original Springsteen version it was a single in some countries, becoming a UK top 20 hit.
The song has been covered quite often, among others by Emmylou Harris, and of course Darren himself. As far as I know this was never commercially released but either leaked at some point or was added by Darren to MySpace.
It got a rather muted reception from you:
@londonrain: ‘This is almost aggressively dull. It could be the same thirty seconds looped for five minutes and it would sound the same. The graphic design on this lyric video is a kii, though.’ (2.5)
@rawkey: ‘I prefer the Bruce Sprinsteen original but this is a rather lovely version.’ (6.8)
@Eric: ‘What a lovely song to end the rate on. If a guy sang that to me I'd melt. (Plus another amazingly random self-made video. Mermaids! Anime characters! Why?)’ (8.5)
@jtm: ‘Good ballad, nothing special though’ (6.5)
Darren’s version (including the mermaids and anime characters):
Bruce Springsteen’s version (music video):
121.
Santa Monica
Seventh single from ‘Savage Garden’
Average: 6,258
Highest score: 1x10 (@Eric)
Lowest score: 1x4 (@phoenix123, @funkyg)
Poor @Eric. Not only does he lose a 10, but also what he describes as a contender for his 11.
@londonrain was already gunning for it a few pages ago, and now it has happened. The second single to fall is ‘Santa Monica’, final track on the ‘Savage Garden’ album. It’s again a song that is very different to basically everything else on the album, and as we have established by now the album’s lesser tracks are under siege in this rate anyway, so this elimination is not the biggest surprise.
In trying to release basically every song off the debut as a single they made this a Japan exclusive, complete with recycled single cover. From what we can tell it probably wasn’t a big hit over there.
The lyrics (‘But on the telephone line I am anyone I am anything I want to be’) always remind me of some 80’s or 90’s documentary I once saw about gay phone dating in LA. Which probably has nothing to do whatsoever with the actual meaning.
Edit: Here's Darren and Daniel commenting on 'Santa Monica':
Let’s see your verdict:
@londonrain: ‘I wouldn’t have chosen this as the album closer, but I do really like it. The chorus is one of Savage Garden’s best ballad choruses.’ (7)
@berserkboi: ‘Nice enough though a bit of a nothing track?’ (6)
@rawkey: ‘Plods along nicely I guess.’ (4.5)
@jtm: ‘I like the idea but this is somewhat grating’ (5)
@Eric: ‘In the pre-Internet (for me - I didn't use the Internet until I started GCSE IT in 1998) I had no idea where or what Santa Monica was and it sounded so exotic. I still want to visit. I absolutely adore this track. It has real echoes into the second album and feels like the pair of I Don't Know You Anymore. A contender for my 11 for sure!’ (10)
Wikipedia mentions a music video used in Japan that consisted of live footage. I think it might be this one here:
Santa Monica
Seventh single from ‘Savage Garden’
Average: 6,258
Highest score: 1x10 (@Eric)
Lowest score: 1x4 (@phoenix123, @funkyg)
Poor @Eric. Not only does he lose a 10, but also what he describes as a contender for his 11.
@londonrain was already gunning for it a few pages ago, and now it has happened. The second single to fall is ‘Santa Monica’, final track on the ‘Savage Garden’ album. It’s again a song that is very different to basically everything else on the album, and as we have established by now the album’s lesser tracks are under siege in this rate anyway, so this elimination is not the biggest surprise.
In trying to release basically every song off the debut as a single they made this a Japan exclusive, complete with recycled single cover. From what we can tell it probably wasn’t a big hit over there.
The lyrics (‘But on the telephone line I am anyone I am anything I want to be’) always remind me of some 80’s or 90’s documentary I once saw about gay phone dating in LA. Which probably has nothing to do whatsoever with the actual meaning.
Edit: Here's Darren and Daniel commenting on 'Santa Monica':
Let’s see your verdict:
@londonrain: ‘I wouldn’t have chosen this as the album closer, but I do really like it. The chorus is one of Savage Garden’s best ballad choruses.’ (7)
@berserkboi: ‘Nice enough though a bit of a nothing track?’ (6)
@rawkey: ‘Plods along nicely I guess.’ (4.5)
@jtm: ‘I like the idea but this is somewhat grating’ (5)
@Eric: ‘In the pre-Internet (for me - I didn't use the Internet until I started GCSE IT in 1998) I had no idea where or what Santa Monica was and it sounded so exotic. I still want to visit. I absolutely adore this track. It has real echoes into the second album and feels like the pair of I Don't Know You Anymore. A contender for my 11 for sure!’ (10)
Wikipedia mentions a music video used in Japan that consisted of live footage. I think it might be this one here:
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Yes pretty please!
So far these latest cuts are a bit of middle of the road. I am however a bit anticipating when we hit #100 which album/era got a lot of cuts in comparison than the others, because I am a bit lost on that front. I do feel like it has been while since a We Are Smug-cut.
londonrain
Staff member
Okay, but Santa Monica didn’t deserve this. It should have outlasted all of We Are Smug and quite a few of the album tracks and B-sides/unreleased tracks.
Also, I can’t see the title without thinking of this, so it’s iconic for that in itself:
Also, I can’t see the title without thinking of this, so it’s iconic for that in itself:
I don’t know how unpopular this is, but I think it’s time to start cutting tracks from Secret Codes and Battleships after we finally get rid of the remainder of We Are Smug. Sure, the singles were business as usual, but after the brilliant and unexpected sonic evolution he showed with Tension and Delicate that album felt like such an anti-climax, it was the first Darren album that didn’t bring anything truly new to the table for me. None of the songs were bad, but I have no desire to go back to the weaker half nowadays.
That's so interesting. I thought Secret Codes would be the most popular album because it's less experimental. Each of the albums holds its own emotional place in my heart so I'm genuinely curious to see how they score overall.
120.
Good Enough
Album track from ‘Spin’
Average: 6,27
Highest score: 1x10 (@phoenix123)
Lowest score: 1x4,3 (@Untouchable Ace)
PSA: I hate the original album cover with long-haired Darren (which almost made me not buy the album back then) so I'm using the other one for all the reveals ddd.
We still have bunch of main albums that are complete, but now ‘Spin’ joins ‘Savage Garden’ and ‘This Delicate Thing We’ve Made’ in losing its first album track (not counting Smug).
What gives? Is it the lyrics again like on ‘The Great Big Disconnect’? Or is it just a general impression of ‘Spin’ being the least of Darren’s solo work and ‘Good Enough’ being the unfortunate first cut? I know what my biggest problem with this was: The latter half of ‘Spin’ has a ton of songs are unnecessarily stretched out (in an attempt to be ‘more than just 3 minute pop songs’?) and this is one of the worst of those offenders even though I like it in general. (But I don’t really like a lot of Spielberg movies.)
If we go by our commentators, the song just didn’t stir emotions too much one way or another. That taste on display by everyone being incredibly close to each other:
@londonrain: ‘I expect more from Darren these days.’ (6)
@berserkboi: ‘Like in the Dalida Rate, I quite like but the key it is sung in doesn’t fully appeal hence a lower score’ (6.5)
@Eric: ‘Ok, the lyrics are a bit hackneyed (trying too hard to be Affirmation Part Ii) but like the Britney line…’ (7)
@jtm: ‘I always loved the lyrics. But the song is again let down by the production and it's over by the three or four minute mark and then just goes on and on and on’ (6.5)
Listen here:
Good Enough
Album track from ‘Spin’
Average: 6,27
Highest score: 1x10 (@phoenix123)
Lowest score: 1x4,3 (@Untouchable Ace)
PSA: I hate the original album cover with long-haired Darren (which almost made me not buy the album back then) so I'm using the other one for all the reveals ddd.
We still have bunch of main albums that are complete, but now ‘Spin’ joins ‘Savage Garden’ and ‘This Delicate Thing We’ve Made’ in losing its first album track (not counting Smug).
What gives? Is it the lyrics again like on ‘The Great Big Disconnect’? Or is it just a general impression of ‘Spin’ being the least of Darren’s solo work and ‘Good Enough’ being the unfortunate first cut? I know what my biggest problem with this was: The latter half of ‘Spin’ has a ton of songs are unnecessarily stretched out (in an attempt to be ‘more than just 3 minute pop songs’?) and this is one of the worst of those offenders even though I like it in general. (But I don’t really like a lot of Spielberg movies.)
If we go by our commentators, the song just didn’t stir emotions too much one way or another. That taste on display by everyone being incredibly close to each other:
@londonrain: ‘I expect more from Darren these days.’ (6)
@berserkboi: ‘Like in the Dalida Rate, I quite like but the key it is sung in doesn’t fully appeal hence a lower score’ (6.5)
@Eric: ‘Ok, the lyrics are a bit hackneyed (trying too hard to be Affirmation Part Ii) but like the Britney line…’ (7)
@jtm: ‘I always loved the lyrics. But the song is again let down by the production and it's over by the three or four minute mark and then just goes on and on and on’ (6.5)
Listen here:
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119.
Something In The Sky
B-side to ‘So Beautiful’
Average: 6,28
Highest score: 4x7 (@CorgiCorgiCorgi, @rawkey, @Sprockrooster, @Eric)
Lowest score: 2x5 (@marie_05, @londonrain)
Before we axe another single we take a moment to oust another optional song. We've had a bunch of songs with scores that were fairly close but I think this one takes the cake, especially seeing the four 7's.
‘Something In The Sky’ was the b-side to ‘So Beautiful’, the single from the first Savage Garden best of ‘Truly Madly Completely’.
As such it’s I think fairly obscure and your votes reflect that as well:
@londonrain: ‘I thought this was going to build up to something more impressive, but it’s enjoyable all the same.’ (5)
@rawkey: ‘Ooh, I really quite like this!’ (7)
@Sprockrooster: ‘So you have an album called truly, madly, COMPLETELY and yet that album doesn't include everything. A b-side to a greatest hits/rarities compilation. Well that is now an orphan song if there ever was one. It also doesn't deserve this treatment.’ (7)
@jtm: ‘Never much listened to this. It's okay I guess but not something I ever return to. It sounds like a song left from the Spin era.’ (6)
Listen here:
Something In The Sky
B-side to ‘So Beautiful’
Average: 6,28
Highest score: 4x7 (@CorgiCorgiCorgi, @rawkey, @Sprockrooster, @Eric)
Lowest score: 2x5 (@marie_05, @londonrain)
Before we axe another single we take a moment to oust another optional song. We've had a bunch of songs with scores that were fairly close but I think this one takes the cake, especially seeing the four 7's.
‘Something In The Sky’ was the b-side to ‘So Beautiful’, the single from the first Savage Garden best of ‘Truly Madly Completely’.
As such it’s I think fairly obscure and your votes reflect that as well:
@londonrain: ‘I thought this was going to build up to something more impressive, but it’s enjoyable all the same.’ (5)
@rawkey: ‘Ooh, I really quite like this!’ (7)
@Sprockrooster: ‘So you have an album called truly, madly, COMPLETELY and yet that album doesn't include everything. A b-side to a greatest hits/rarities compilation. Well that is now an orphan song if there ever was one. It also doesn't deserve this treatment.’ (7)
@jtm: ‘Never much listened to this. It's okay I guess but not something I ever return to. It sounds like a song left from the Spin era.’ (6)
Listen here:
Well. I have never seen scores so close to each other. Iconic honestly.
118.
Me, Myself and (I)
Second single from ‘This Delicate Thing We’ve Made’
Average: 6,32
Highest score: 1x10 (@marie_05), 1x9,6 (@Untouchable Ace)
Lowest score: 1x1 (@Sprockrooster)
Sorry to all the high scorers, but it’s with great pleasure that I announce this elimination. When I got new scores in, I always looked for two songs: One underdog which I will name later in the rate, and this one.
‘Me, Myself and (I)’ was of course the second of three official singles released from Delicate. It was again released in a number of formats but failed to make any significant dent in the charts, only managing to peak at number 59 in the UK. (Which would be quite a success today for an independent artist.)
To be honest.. I can’t stand this song. Never could. From an album with such an incredible amount of songs that screamed to be singles it had to be this one Darren chose to go with. I still remember how disappointed it was back then and I think more than anything this soured me on the song itself. The choice of singles from Delicate was even worse than with Spin, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Again, sorry for everyone who likes this. I think my lowest remaining score is out now so I will not come for any other of your faves again.
Let’s see what you thought:
@londonrain: ‘This is a weird little bop. I didn’t really like his vocals on this when it first came out but it’s really grown on me over time.’ (8)
@berserkboi: ‘Cute albeit a little annoying’ (6)
@rawkey: ‘Quite funky but unsatisfying. It was an odd single choice.’ (5)
@Sprockrooster: ‘Darren has the worst choice in singles. This is legit atrocious on impact and still horrible to this day. I think I even hate it now more. I hate this track so much cause it is a stain on an otherwise perfect double album and who has that? Well, Miranda Lambert, but Darren was damn close bar this song. Even on We Are Smug this would have been a trash song in comparison. Oh My God. I just calculated my average for this album and without this track it would have been a 9+ (instead of 8,7 now). Another reason to hate it deeply.’ (1)
@Eric: ‘After the filler of the previous two tracks, I love the energy of this song.’ (8.5)
@jtm: ‘Never understood why this had to be a single or was even on the album. This is just another different style of music in an album already overflowing with random directions. It also doesn't seem entirely authentic or original to be honest.’ (2)
Music video:
Me, Myself and (I)
Second single from ‘This Delicate Thing We’ve Made’
Average: 6,32
Highest score: 1x10 (@marie_05), 1x9,6 (@Untouchable Ace)
Lowest score: 1x1 (@Sprockrooster)
Sorry to all the high scorers, but it’s with great pleasure that I announce this elimination. When I got new scores in, I always looked for two songs: One underdog which I will name later in the rate, and this one.
‘Me, Myself and (I)’ was of course the second of three official singles released from Delicate. It was again released in a number of formats but failed to make any significant dent in the charts, only managing to peak at number 59 in the UK. (Which would be quite a success today for an independent artist.)
To be honest.. I can’t stand this song. Never could. From an album with such an incredible amount of songs that screamed to be singles it had to be this one Darren chose to go with. I still remember how disappointed it was back then and I think more than anything this soured me on the song itself. The choice of singles from Delicate was even worse than with Spin, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Again, sorry for everyone who likes this. I think my lowest remaining score is out now so I will not come for any other of your faves again.
Let’s see what you thought:
@londonrain: ‘This is a weird little bop. I didn’t really like his vocals on this when it first came out but it’s really grown on me over time.’ (8)
@berserkboi: ‘Cute albeit a little annoying’ (6)
@rawkey: ‘Quite funky but unsatisfying. It was an odd single choice.’ (5)
@Sprockrooster: ‘Darren has the worst choice in singles. This is legit atrocious on impact and still horrible to this day. I think I even hate it now more. I hate this track so much cause it is a stain on an otherwise perfect double album and who has that? Well, Miranda Lambert, but Darren was damn close bar this song. Even on We Are Smug this would have been a trash song in comparison. Oh My God. I just calculated my average for this album and without this track it would have been a 9+ (instead of 8,7 now). Another reason to hate it deeply.’ (1)
@Eric: ‘After the filler of the previous two tracks, I love the energy of this song.’ (8.5)
@jtm: ‘Never understood why this had to be a single or was even on the album. This is just another different style of music in an album already overflowing with random directions. It also doesn't seem entirely authentic or original to be honest.’ (2)
Music video:
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