To the Moon and Back (Savage Garden song)
"To the Moon and Back" is a song by Australian pop duo Savage Garden. It was released in Australia on 4 November 1996 as the second single from their self-titled 1997 album. It was the follow up to their hit "I Want You". It won the 1997 ARIA Music Award for Song of the Year. The song became a top-three hit on the UK Singles Chart, and a top-25 hit on the US "Billboard" Hot 100, and was also the band's first number one in their native country. Background . In an interview with Apple Music about their debut album, singer Darren Hayes explained the origins of the song. Release and chart performances. After the international success of their debut single, "I Want You", there were high expectations for the song as its follow-up. During the song's first charting in the US after its release there in July 1997, the song entered the top 40 of the Hot 100 for only one week, peaking at number 37 the final week of August 1997. In the United Kingdom, the single was originally released in September 1997, and there it  failed to chart in the top 40, stalling at number 55 for one week. Subsequently, "Truly Madly Deeply" became an even bigger hit than their debut, hitting the number one spot in several countries, including both the Hot 100 and the Hot Adult Contemporary charts in the United States, where it broke the record as the longest-running single to that time on the Adult Contemporary charts. While the song did not initially experience success in the US, the success of "Truly Madly Deeply" inspired Savage Garden and Columbia Records to remix "To the Moon and Back" in 1998 and  release it again. In the wake of such success, the band decided the song had greater potential to become a hit than its first chartings had borne out, and so instead of mining a fourth single from the album as they had for the Australian market, they decided to mix a shorter edit of "To the Moon and Back" and re-release it internationally in 1998. This time the song peaked at number 24 in America, an improvement upon its first release yet still not the smash they had hoped it would be. In the United Kingdom, however, their faith  was rewarded when the song debuted at number three, becoming Savage Garden's biggest hit in the country. This prompted the re-release of their debut single, remixed as "I Want You '98". The single was certified Silver in France in 1998, and sold 209,000. Critical reception. Larry Flick from "Billboard" wrote, "The follow-up to the platinum-selling "I Want You" should keep the momentum of this charming Australian duo building quite nicely. Wisely, this track doesn't attempt to mimic the quirky, almost novelty-driven sound of its predecessor. Instead, it affirms partners Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones ' talent for crafting immediately catchy hooks and solid, sing-along choruses. Once again, the music warmly revisits the new-romantic sound of the '80s with its melodramatic blend of satiny synths and jittery guitars." Music videos. There have been three different music videos for the song. The first, accompanying the Australian release of the song, was directed by Catherine Caines and Chris Bentley, and was shot in black and white. This version features Hayes and Jones performing on what appears to be a space vessel, whilst a female passenger watches. A version of the video accompanied by a dance remix  of the track was also released. The second, accompanying the United States and original United Kingdom release of the song, was directed by Nigel Dick, and features Darren and Daniel performing in an apartment in Malibu whilst a female records the performance. It was filmed between April 17 and 18, 1997. This American video features Hayes with long hair. The third version was filmed in New York, and features a sad-looking teenage girl traveling by the metro to meet her friends (apparently other misfits like herself). This video features Hayes with short hair, and is the most well-known  of the three versions. Track listings. Australia. CD and cassette single United Kingdom. CD1 (1997) CD2 (1997) Cassette single (1997) CD1 (1998) CD2 (1998) Cassette single (1998) Europe. CD1 (1997) CD2 (1997) CD1 (1998) CD2 (1997) United States. CD and cassette single (1997) Japan. CD single Credits and personnel. Credits are adapted from the "Savage Garden" album booklet. Studios Personnel