# Crash and Burn (Savage Garden song)

"Crash and Burn" is a song by Australian pop duo Savage Garden from their second album Affirmation (1999). It was released as the album's fourth overall single, sent to radio in the United States on 13 March 2000; in that region, it was released as the second single.
The track received positive reception from music critics, and became a decently successful hit for the duo. The track topped the Canadian adult contemporary chart while entering the top ten in Croatia, Czechia, and the US Adult Contemporary chart. In the United States, the track hit number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their last charting single there to date. "Crash and Burn" later received the award "Most Performed Australian Work Overseas" at the APRA Music Awards of 2002.

## Content

The song's lyrics describe the difficult search for solace and meaningful relationships in a cold world, peaking in a chorus that argues it is fine to "crash and burn" during tough times in order to get over heartache and pain. According to the sheet music published on Musicnotes.com, the track is written in the key of E major, with the vocals ranging from C#4—B5. In a June 2017 interview, lead singer Darren Hayes named "Crash and Burn" as one of his favourite Savage Garden songs saying, "Musically it’s a dear song to me, because it’s all the words I wished someone would have said to me during the period after the first Savage Garden album."

## Critical reception

Chuck Taylor of Billboard magazine reviewed the track positively, writing, "Musical maestro and Savage partner Daniel Jones and producer Walter Afanasieff set the instrumental stage with a barrage of gentle keyboards and a persistent but embracing percussive edge against Hayes' emotional vocal." Taylor ended his review with, "Radio shouldn't hesitate to get this one going for the long haul."

## Music video

Yariv Garber directed the music video for "Crash and Burn". The video first made its debut on VH1 for the week ending 19 March 2000. It was then added to MTV for the week ending 10 April 2000.

### Synopsis

The video is shot in a partially fantastical theme, featuring actress Abigail Culwell watching scenes of troubled young adults interspersed with scenes of the group singing in a warehouse. Messages such as "stay connected" and lyrics from the song, such as "fall apart" appear on the screen. At the end of the video, Hayes uses Auslan to sing the last lyrics of the song.

## Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from the Affirmation album liner notes.
* Darren Hayes – writer, co-producer, lead vocals, background vocals
* Daniel Jones – writer, co-producer, keyboards, synthesizers, drum and rhythm programming, electric guitars
* Walter Afanasieff – producer, keyboards, synthesizers, drum and rhythm programming
* Greg Bieck – Macintosh and digital programming
* Michael Thompson – electric guitars
* Dean Parks – acoustic guitars
* Nathan East – bass
* Dave Way – mixing at Wallyworld Studios (Marin County)
* Dave Frazer – vocals engineering at Wallyworld Studios, guitars engineering at Wallyworld Studios and Andora Studios (Hollywood)
* Kent Matcke – track engineering
* Luis Quine – assistant engineer
* Tony Rambo – assistant engineer
* Pete Krawiec – assistant engineer
* Mark Gregory – assistant engineer

## Certifications and sales

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000$^^$ |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) |
| United States | 13 March 2000 | Adult contemporaryhot adult contemporarymodern adult contemporary radio | Columbia |
| United States | 14 March 2000 | Contemporary hit radio | Columbia |
| United Kingdom | 20 March 2000 | CDcassette | Columbia |