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Insatiable (Darren Hayes song)

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"Insatiable"
Single by Darren Hayes
from the album Spin
B-side
  • "Ride" (demo)
  • "Falling at Your Feet" (demo)
Released10 December 2001 (2001-12-10)
StudioWallyworld (Marin County, California)
Length
  • 5:10 (album version)
  • 4:15 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Walter Afanasieff
Darren Hayes singles chronology
"Insatiable"
(2001) 		"Strange Relationship"
(2002)
Music video
"Insatiable" on YouTube

"Insatiable" is a song by the Australian singer-songwriter Darren Hayes, former lead singer of the Australian duo Savage Garden. It was released as the lead single from his solo debut studio album, Spin (2002). Written by Hayes and Savage Garden collaborator Walter Afanasieff, "Insatiable" received its world premiere on Capital FM London on 26 November 2001, before being released on 10 December 2001 to Australian radio airplay.[1] It was commercially released on 14 January 2002 via Roadshow Music and Sony Music in Australia and Columbia Records internationally later on. When asked if any of his songs, either Savage Garden or solo songs, had a coded gay message prior to his coming out, Hayes named "Insatiable" as one of those songs.[2]

The track proved to be a hit for Hayes in his native Australia, where it debuted and peaked at number three on the ARIA Singles Chart. Internationally, "Insatiable" reached number one in New Zealand and peaked within the top 10 in Denmark, Greece, Norway, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the song stalled at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which allegedly led to Columbia Records to drop all promotion and press of Spin in the country.[3]

Composition

[edit]

According to the sheet music provided by Sony/ATV Music Publishing on Musicnotes.com, "Insatiable" is played in the key of F♯ minor and is played at a slow tempo of 72 beats per minute. Hayes' vocals range from E4–C♯6.[4]

Critical reception

[edit]

Billboard editor Chuck Taylor wrote about the single positively, saying Hayes "oozes with such sensuality" and that although it does resemble some of Savage Garden's ballads, it is "breathtakingly beautiful". Taylor praised Hayes' falsetto and ended his review naming the track "Grade-A stuff".[5] Manila Standard said the song showed a more "sensuously provocative side" to Hayes.[6] Calling it "sultry and seductive in its attitude," Meriden, CT newspaper Record-Journal predicted the song would break Hayes away from his teenybopper audience.[7] Spanish-language newspaper La Opinión praised the passion in his falsetto.[8]

Chart performance

[edit]
"Insatiable" displaced "Hands Clean" by Alanis Morissette (pictured in 2013) when it reached number one in New Zealand.

In Australia, "Insatiable" debuted at number three on the ARIA Singles Chart on the week of 27 January 2002, as well as number one on the Australian Artists chart.[9][10] It spent six non-consecutive weeks in the top 10 and 19 weeks overall on the chart;[9] "Insatiable" was Australia's 28th-best-selling hit of 2002 and third-best-selling from an Australian act.[11][12] In neighboring New Zealand, the song debuted at number 47 on the RIANZ Singles Chart on 17 February 2002. It fell and rose on the chart before rising to the number-one position on 21 April 2002, spending a sole week at the top.[13] It fell to number two the following week, having been displaced by the Calling's "Wherever You Will Go".[14] "Insatiable" was the 15th-most-successful song of the year in the country.[15]

Across Europe, "Insatiable" was a hit, rising to number 28 on the Eurochart Hot 100.[16] In the United Kingdom, the single debuted and peaked at number eight on 30 March 2002, becoming Hayes' sole top-10 hit in the country as a solo artist. It charted for 19 weeks and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[17][18] Across Scandinavia, it charted within the top 10 in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden and peaked at number 16 on the Finnish Singles Chart.[19] In Germany and the Netherlands, it failed to reach the top 40.[20][21]

In Canada, "Insatiable" peaked at number 11 on the Nielsen SoundScan chart.[22] In neighboring United States, where Hayes had had two number-one hits as part of Savage Garden, "Insatiable" debuted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of 2 March 2002. During its third week charting, it reached a peak of number 77 and charted for only four more weeks.[23] It remains Hayes' only chart entry as of 2025. It had some success on component Billboard charts, peaking at number 16 on the Adult Contemporary chart and number 11 on the Dance Club Play chart with the aid of remixes.[24][25]

Music video

[edit]

The music video showcases Darren Hayes looking at videos of an Italian starlet that he is infatuated with, the black-and-white filmography in the music video is said to be based on 1960's Italian romances such as La Dolce Vita. The video continues with Hayes showing he has allowed his hair to grow, and has dyed it blonde, which is his natural hair colour.

Hayes said in a HuffPost piece in 2022 that although US label executives were initially enthusiastic about the song itself, after they were shown a rough cut of the video, they feared Hayes appeared "too gay" for American audiences and wanted to "overhaul" his image "so as not to scare off fans".[26] In a 2022 interview with Billboard, he also added that he did not know that his team had hired a female model for the video: "They secretly cast a female, and filmed her on the days that I wasn’t on set. They created a narrative in the edit where this woman was looking for me in a club. When I saw the edit put together, I was just horrified, because I was never trying to portray myself as a straight man."[3]

Track listings

[edit]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits are lifted from the Spin album booklet.[33]

Studios

Personnel

  • Darren Hayes – writing, lead and background vocals, co-production
  • Walter Afanasieff – writing, keyboards, bass, drum and rhythm programming, production, arrangement
  • Bruce Dukov – violin
  • Eve Butler – violin
  • Susan Chatman – violin
  • Charlie Everett – violin
  • Gerry Hilera – violin
  • Norm Hughes – violin
  • Peter Kent – violin
  • Jennifer Munday – violin
  • Bob Peterson – violin
  • Michele Richards – violin
  • Bob Sanov – violin
  • Ed Stein – violin
  • John Wittenberg – violin
  • John Hayhurst – viola
  • Karen Elaine – viola
  • Virginia Frazier – viola
  • Andrew Picken – viola
  • Larry Corbett – cello
  • Suzie Katayama – cello, orchestral contracting
  • Paula Hochhalter – cello
  • Dan Smith – cello
  • John Mitchell – contra-alto clarinet
  • David Campbell – orchestral conducting and arrangement
  • David Reitzas – orchestral engineering
  • Robert Conley – programming, recording (vocals)
  • Nick Thomas – engineering
  • Chris Lord-Alge – mixing
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Insatiable"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[59] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release history and formats for "Insatiable"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Australia 10 December 2001 Radio airplay
[1]
United States 7 January 2002
Columbia [60]
11 January 2002 Contemporary hit radio [61]
Australia 14 January 2002 CD
  • Roadshow Music
  • Sony Music
 [62]
Japan 6 March 2002 Sony Int'l [63]
United Kingdom 18 March 2002
  • CD
  • cassette
 Columbia [64]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "NewsPro Archive: November 2001". Darren Hayes Central. Archived from the original on 17 December 2004. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  2. ^ Crowley, Patrick (19 June 2017). "Savage Garden's Darren Hayes on Behind-The-Scenes Reactions to His Coming Out, Admiring Michael Jackson & Adam Lambert". Billboard. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b Daw, Stephen (6 October 2022). "Darren Hayes Is Ready to Reclaim His Story With 'Homosexual': 'I Wasn't Ashamed Anymore'". Billboard. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  4. ^ Hayes, Darren (2 June 2023). "Darren Hayes "Insatiable" Sheet Music in F# Minor — Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  5. ^ Taylor, Chuck (12 January 2002). "Reviews & Previews: Singles Spotlights – Darren Hayes, "Insatiable"". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 2. Prometheus Global Media. p. 22. ISSN 0006-2510.
  6. ^ "Ex-Savage Garden Darren Hayes takes a spin to stardom alone". Manila Standard. Vol. XVI, no. 232. Manila, Philippines. 4 October 2002. p. 21.
  7. ^ "'Spin' is likeable album by Hayes". Record-Journal. Vol. 135, no. 105. Meriden, CT. 15 April 2002. p. 15.
  8. ^ "Llega Ex Savage Garden a Mexico" [Ex-Savage Garden Arrives in Mexico]. La Opinión (in Spanish). Vol. 76, no. 261. Los Angeles, CA: Lozano Enterprises. 3 June 2002. p. 2D.
  9. ^ a b c "Darren Hayes – Insatiable". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  10. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 21 January 2002" (PDF). Trove Archives. 21 January 2002. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  11. ^ a b "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2002". ARIA. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  12. ^ "The ARIA Report: ARIA Highest Selling Australian Artist Singles 2002" (PDF). Trove Archives. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Darren Hayes – Insatiable". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Single Top 40". charts.nz. 28 April 2002. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  15. ^ a b "End of Year Charts 2002". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 18. 27 April 2002. p. 11. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Darren Hayes: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  18. ^ a b "British single certifications – Darren Hayes – Insatiable". British Phonographic Industry.
  19. ^ a b "Darren Hayes – Insatiable". Tracklisten. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  20. ^ a b "Darren Hayes – Insatiable" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Darren Hayes – Insatiable" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  22. ^ a b "Canadian Digital Song Sales". Billboard. 23 February 2002. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 16 March 2002. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. 2 March 2002. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 4 May 2002. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  26. ^ Hayes, Darren (1 July 2022). "I Was One Of The Most Famous Pop Stars In The World. No One Knew The Secret Pain I Hid". HuffPost. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  27. ^ Insatiable (Australian & New Zealand CD single liner notes). Darren Hayes. Roadshow Music, Sony Music. 2002. 300654-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ Insatiable (Australian & New Zealand remix CD single liner notes). Darren Hayes. Roadshow Music, Sony Music. 2002. 300655-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ Insatiable (European CD single liner notes). Darren Hayes. Columbia Records. 2002. COL 672200 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^ Insatiable (UK CD1 single liner notes). Darren Hayes. Columbia Records. 2002. 672399 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ^ Insatiable (UK CD2 single liner notes). Darren Hayes. Columbia Records. 2002. 672399 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  32. ^ Insatiable (Japanese CD single liner notes). Darren Hayes. Sony Records Int'l. 2002. SICP 99.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. ^ Spin (Australian CD album booklet). Darren Hayes. Roadshow Music, Columbia Records, Sony Music. 2002. 300656-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ^ "Oficiální česká hitparáda – 22/2002" (in Czech). IFPI CR. Archived from the original on 1 June 2002. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  35. ^ "Darren Hayes: Insatiable" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  36. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 20. 11 May 2002. p. 13. Retrieved 29 February 2020. See LW column.
  37. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  38. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  39. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Darren Hayes". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
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  41. ^ "Latvian Airplay Top 500 of 2002" (in Latvian). Lanet.lv. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
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  43. ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 17, saptamina 29.04–5.05, 2002" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 15 February 2005. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  44. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  45. ^ "Darren Hayes – Insatiable". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  46. ^ "Darren Hayes – Insatiable". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  47. ^ "Adult Pop Airplay". Billboard. 16 March 2002. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  48. ^ "Pop Airplay". Billboard. 16 March 2002. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  49. ^ a b "R&R The Back Pages – Monitored Airplay Overview: February 22, 2002". Radio & Records. No. 1441. 22 February 2002. p. 122. ISSN 0277-4860.
  50. ^ "R&R CHR/Pop Top 50". Radio & Records. No. 1443. 8 March 2002. p. 40. ISSN 0277-4860.
  51. ^ "Top Radio Hits Moldova Weekly Chart: Feb 6, 2025". TopHit. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  52. ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002 (Part 2)". Jam!. 14 January 2003. Archived from the original on 6 September 2004.
  53. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2002" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  54. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  55. ^ "Most Broadcast of 2002 — Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. 18 January 2003. p. 31. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  56. ^ "Most-Played AC Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. 20 December 2002. p. 19.
  57. ^ "Top 100 of 2002 – Adult Contemporary". Radio & Records. No. 1483. 13 December 2002. p. 71. ISSN 0277-4860.
  58. ^ "Top 100 of 2002 – Hot AC". Radio & Records. No. 1483. 13 December 2002. p. 73. ISSN 0277-4860.
  59. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2002 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  60. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1433. 21 December 2001. p. 28. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  61. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1435. 11 January 2002. p. 34. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  62. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 14/01/2002" (PDF). ARIA. 14 January 2002. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2002. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  63. ^ "最新のCD リリース一覧" [Latest CD Releases] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 21 February 2002. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  64. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 18 March 2002: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 16 March 2002. p. 30. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
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