I Want You (Savage Garden song)


"I Want You" is a song by Australian pop duo Savage Garden. It was originally released in Australia in May 1996 as the lead single from their eponymous debut album, Savage Garden. The single reached number one in Canada for two weeks and peaked at number four in Australia and on the US Billboard Hot 100. The single also peaked at number nine in Iceland and at 11 on the UK Singles Chart. In November 1998, the single was re-released in the United Kingdom following the success of "Truly Madly Deeply" and "To the Moon and Back". This release peaked at number 12.
At the APRA Music Awards of 1998 it won Most Performed Australian Work Overseas. In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, the album version of the song was ranked number 87.

Content

The song's lyrics refer to the attraction exerted by a person possessing strong sex appeal. They fascinate the singer and arouse his curiosity, even though he is not sure whether he needs them at all. Singer Darren Hayes described it as a song about "being in love with a male energy", when asked if the song had a coded gay message.

Music video

Two music videos were released for the song. Both videos present Darren Hayes with long black hair.
The first video was a low-budget version released in 1996 for Australian markets. It showed the band performing in a room full of disco lights and Darren Hayes singing on the back of a moving vehicle.
The second video was a high-budget version directed by Nigel Dick and premiered in 1997 for international markets in conjunction with the single's American release. It features the band in a stylised futuristic warehouse and recording studio. The international version was featured on the band's compilation , while the Australian version was not available until the release of the compilation The Singles.

Track listings

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart Peak
position

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Canada Top Singles 8
Canada Adult Contemporary 61
Canada Dance/Urban 28
France 88
Sweden 80
US Billboard Hot 10022

Certifications and sales

In popular culture

The song is also used as the ending theme of the anime adaptation of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, during its arc.
This song would later be featured on The CW drama series, Supernatural, during the opening scene of their thirteenth episode of their final season, "Destiny's Child."