This song was released from there 1999 CD Affirmation and this is a terrific single. This single happens to be an import that was only available in England (I know I happen to be writing about a lot of those right now). This is a great CD Single because you get two live songs that you normally would not see and you also get a poster - sorry I have never even touched the poster.

For those that don't know much about Savage Garden this single came out after "I Knew I Loved You" although it did not have the success that "I Knew I Loved You" which is unfortunate because it is a great song about needing someone to be with you in your darkest most insecure hours and I am sure that so many of us have had times like this that we just need someone to hold us and be close to us. In all honesty I am seriously having one of those moods right now and that is probably why I am writing so much tonight (no I usually don't sit here and write so much at all).

Anyway back to the single. This is another true great love song from Savage Garden who in the United States become so known for their ballads that I think it is now hard for Darren Hayes to release anything but those here from his solo CD - very sad because Savage Garden and Darren's solo CD have some great upbeat songs that so many people will not hear. However, this is one of those love songs that seems to have trapped Savage Garden into that category where they may not want to be but let's face it their music is about real life and real love and this song is exactly that.

The CD Single

Now this CD Single is an import so you will probably have to order it online at this point or find it used somewhere because it has been out now since late 2000 and might be a little harder to find but it is well worth having for any fan of the band and I recommend that you do go find a copy - make sure that it does come with the poster also because it should have a nice little poster folded up inside the CD packaging. Mine has never moved and probably never will - I am not big on hanging posters and would rather keep my CDs in perfect condition.

Anyway, this is a wonderful song from a great band so why not take a look at the songs now:

1. Hold Me

This is a great song about love and someone needing someone and some reassurances in our lives. This song to me is about that time when you have had a horrible day and your not speaking to the person you love or you have had a fight and more than anything else on earth you need someone there right then just to comfort you and be there for you. Those are the times that the silence is just too much to handle and you need someone there in your dark bitter void.

Okay see I'm getting myself depressed now about this song but really this is a beautiful song about loves past and present and maybe even future and those moments you can't be alone.

Musically this is a great ballad about love and lose and being alone. The music is very slow and very much a ballad. This is what Savage Garden become known for are singles that are like this but trust me there is a lot more to this band but this song gives a great example of their emotional side as well.

2. I Want You (Acoustic Live)

I know many of you know the song I Want You and are amazed how Darren can sing that fast well get ready for this one. Even though this is acoustic it is not a ballad - it is acoustic and only a guitar but it is pretty fast anyway. Darren can sing this almost as fast as the normal single here. This sounds great and actually because it is quieter and does not have all the sound effects of the normal version you can hear the lyrics much better.

I like this version because this was the version that helped me get all those lyrics correct that I had wrong for so long and a great version overall. If you like the normal album version of this song this one is great and you get a new dimension to the song and you can also see how great Darren's voice is live. By the way, I have to say that every version that I have heard live of this song acoustic and not are all great and Darren adds a lot to the song that makes them better than the album version.

3. I Knew I Loved You (Live)

As most people know this song is a ballad and it's great!! I know so many people who would kill for this song to be dedicated to them and I have been so lucky to have had someone dedicate this song to me - a very long time ago it seems like now but it still means a lot to me for that reason.

Now this is a true love ballad and shows the feelings of first love that we get when we meet someone and just know that we love them - whether it's for a lifetime or for a moment can only be known later but this song is wonderful!! If you like love ballads then you should hear this song. In this version it is a little slower than the album version and Darren's voice is stunning but it has the same effect of showing that ultimate love that most of us can only dream of and wait for.

The end of this song is very funny and very cute because it gets very fast which is not this song at all and it's fun to hear parts of this song done very fast. I use to be tempermental about this song being done so different but now I'm not so emotionally attached and believe in this song the end of this song is very fun and entertaining. Something that everyone should hear because it will make you smile because it is so different from the rest of the song. And you can just tell that Darren is having a great time with the ending to this song!!

Also at the end of this song there is a band introduction, nothing that a non-fan would care about but it is very interesting to have a copy of this - again this proves that this was done live!

Conclusion

This is a great CD Single for either a Savage Garden fan or for someone that just needs to have this single because they love the songs that are on here, either way this is a great single for both collector and non-collector to own. I don't know what I would do without this single because it is a spectacular example of Savage Garden's music and the way that they are able to express what so many of us feel about love and happiness and loss and being alone.

It is sad that Savage Garden broke up after their Affirmation World Tour and that so many people out there will never see this band live but this CD Single will give you an example of what they were like live. And don't forget that Darren does have a solo CD now and it is great and contains so many of the emotions that Savage Garden use to have in their songs. And on a positive note, even though Savage Garden no longer exist at least they had two great CDs and many singles to remember them by and listen to now.



Recommended: Yes