I Knew I Loved You

For the 2007 song, see We All Love Ennio Morricone.

"I Knew I Loved You"
Single by Savage Garden
from the album Affirmation
B-side
Released28 September 1999 (1999-09-28)
Length4:10
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Savage Garden singles chronology
"Tears of Pearls"
(1999) 		"I Knew I Loved You"
(1999) 		"Affirmation"
(2000)
Music video
"I Knew I Loved You" on YouTube

"I Knew I Loved You" is a song by Australian pop duo Savage Garden, released through Roadshow Music and Columbia Records as the second single from their second and final studio album, Affirmation (1999). The song was created as an attempt to replicate the composition of Savage Garden's previous single "Truly Madly Deeply". The track was serviced to US adult contemporary and top 40 radio in September 1999 and was issued commercially in Australia on 28 September 1999.

Upon its release, "I Knew I Loved You" topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks in early 2000 and topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for 17 weeks, becoming that listing's most successful track of the 2000s decade. The song also reached number one in Canada and Romania and entered the top 10 in Australia, New Zealand, and four European countries. The music video features then teen actress Kirsten Dunst as Darren Hayes' love interest. The music video received heavy rotation on MTV.

Background

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Having finished recording material for Affirmation, Savage Garden members Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones were challenged by Columbia Records executive Don Ienner to produce the next "Truly Madly Deeply". The duo argued that "Truly Madly Deeply" was a one-of-its-kind song and could not be replicated but also realised that their second album lacked a love ballad.[1] Hayes and Jones went on to compose "I Knew I Loved You" and submitted it to the record label's executives, who were delighted with the result as they felt it was a strong contender to eclipse the success of "Truly Madly Deeply".

Singer Darren Hayes further explained that the song was born out of a paradoxical situation, being a love song written "in about 40 minutes out of spite towards the record company" at a time when he felt "wounded by love".[2]

Critical reception

[edit]

Bill Lamb from About.com noted "I Knew I Loved You" as a "romantic ballad".[3] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it "hooky and memorable".[4] Larry Flick from Billboard described the song "as cool and crisp as the autumn air, this simple, direct ballad projects a sweet message of knowing love when you see it." He noted that the song "glides along amid a soft, easy beat, with vocalist Hayes sounding more at ease and confident than ever, like he's singing a timeless classic." He also added that "drenched harmonies add to the overall impact" and called it "absolutely enchanting, one of the most beautiful songs yet of 1999".[5] Bob Waliszewski of Plugged In said that it "describes how it feels to be hopelessly in love".[6]

Commercial performance

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The song was a success on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it spent four weeks at the top, becoming Savage Garden's third and final top-10 hit. It was the last song by an Australian artist to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for over 12 years, until Gotye peaked at number one with his single "Somebody That I Used to Know" in 2012.[citation needed] The song remained on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart for 124 weeks,[7] breaking the record for 123 weeks set by another of the duo's songs, "Truly Madly Deeply". It ranked number 21 on the All Time Adult Contemporary Chart. The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Music video

[edit]

The accompanying music video for "I Knew I Loved You" was filmed by director Kevin Bray in August 1999 on a New York City Subway set that had previously been used on the sitcom Seinfeld.[8] It features Hayes playing out a romantic plot on a subway train, with a female passenger (played by American actress Kirsten Dunst) as the object of his affections.

At one point, the train comes to a stop due to a power outage; red emergency lighting comes on and everyone in the carriage joins hands. Hayes, who is sitting opposite his aforementioned love interest, extends his hand to her. As they touch, the video cuts to a montage of the couple walking through a park, bathed in sunlight, laughing and holding hands. The video then cuts back to the carriage as the power comes back on and the train pulls into the station. Hayes and the woman exit with the other passengers, and share a fleeting glance before going their separate ways. Shots of the band performing alone on the subway platform and in the carriage are interspersed throughout the video.

Track listings

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Charts

[edit]

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[66] Platinum 70,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[67] Gold 45,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[68] Platinum 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[69] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[70] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States 20 September 1999
Columbia [71][72]
21 September 1999 Contemporary hit radio
Australia 28 September 1999 CD Roadshow [19]
Japan 22 October 1999 SME [73]
United Kingdom 1 November 1999
  • CD
  • cassette
 Columbia [74]
United States 4 January 2000 [75]

Cover versions

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See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Breihan, Tom (1 August 2022). "The Number Ones: Savage Garden's 'I Knew I Loved You'". Stereogum. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Darren Hayes reflects on 20 years of Savage Garden: Interview". Official Charts.
  3. ^ Lamb, Bill (11 September 2018). "Top 100 Pop Songs of 2000". About.com. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  4. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Savage Garden - Affirmation". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 25 September 1999. p. 24. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  6. ^ Waliszewski, Bob. "Affirmation". Plugged In. Focus on the Family. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Chart Beat Bonus". Billboard. 23 March 2001. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  8. ^ Savage Garden diary entry for 26 August 1999 Archived 19 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ I Knew I Loved You (Australian CD single liner notes). Savage Garden. Roadshow Music. 1999. 102354-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ I Knew I Loved You (US 7-inch single sleeve). Savage Garden. Columbia Records. 1999. 38-79236.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ I Knew I Loved You (US CD single liner notes). Savage Garden. Columbia Records. 1999. 38K 79236.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ I Knew I Loved You (US cassette single sleeve). Savage Garden. Columbia Records. 1999. 38T 79236.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ I Knew I Loved You (UK CD1 liner notes). Savage Garden. Columbia Records. 1999. 668310 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ I Knew I Loved You (UK CD2 liner notes). Savage Garden. Columbia Records. 1999. 668310 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ I Knew I Loved You (UK cassette single sleeve). Savage Garden. Columbia Records. 1999. 668310 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ I Knew I Loved You (European CD1 liner notes). Savage Garden. Columbia Records. 1999. COL 667869 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ I Knew I Loved You (European CD2 liner notes). Savage Garden. Columbia Records. 1999. COL 667869 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ I Knew I Loved You (Japanese CD single liner notes). Savage Garden. SME Records. 1999. SRCS 8999.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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  26. ^ Danish Singles Chart. 5 November 1999.
  27. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 20 November 1999. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  28. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Savage Garden". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 227. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Savage Garden – I Knew I Loved You" (in French). Les classement single.
  30. ^ "Savage Garden – I Knew I Loved You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  31. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (Vikuna 11.11. – 19.11. 1999 46. Vika)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 12 November 1999. p. 10. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  32. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Knew I Loved You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
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  38. ^ a b "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 2000" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 22 January 2005.
  39. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
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  41. ^ "Savage Garden – I Knew I Loved You". Swiss Singles Chart.
  42. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
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  44. ^ "Savage Garden Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  45. ^ "Savage Garden Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
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  55. ^ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2000". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
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  58. ^ "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2000" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. 22 December 2000. p. 55. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
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  60. ^ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2000" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. 22 December 2000. p. 56. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
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  65. ^ Trust, Gary (15 July 2011). "Billboard's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Songs Ever: Elton John, Lionel Richie, Celine Dion & More". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
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  67. ^ "Danish single certifications – Savage Garden – I Knew I Loved You". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  68. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2000" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
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  70. ^ "American single certifications – Savage Garden – I Knew I Loved You". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  71. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1317. 17 September 1999. pp. 48, 90. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  72. ^ "Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2273. 20 September 1999. pp. 8, 24.
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  74. ^ "Delayed Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 23 October 1999. p. 27. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  75. ^ "Discography". savagegarden.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2000. Retrieved 18 June 2023. To view release date, click on Discography.
  76. ^ "Hot Country Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 41. 7 October 2000. p. 34.
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