Atlantis (Donovan song)

Last updated

"Atlantis"
Donovan-Atlantis (song).jpg
Single by Donovan
from the album Barabajagal
B-side "To Susan on the West Coast Waiting"
ReleasedNovember 1968
RecordedMay 1968
Genre
Length4:58
Label
Songwriter(s) Donovan Leitch
Producer(s) Mickie Most
Donovan singles chronology
"Hurdy Gurdy Man"
(1968)		"Atlantis"
(1968)		"Barabajagal"
(1969)

"Atlantis" is a song written and performed by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. Produced by Mickie Most for Donovan's seventh studio album Barabajagal (1969), the song tells of a mythological antediluvian civilization based on the fictional island mentioned in an allegory on the hubris of nations in Plato's works Timaeus and Critias , with much of the verses spoken as a quiet monologue.

Contents

The song was first released by Pye Records as a single in 1968 and became a worldwide success. It reached number one in the Netherlands and in Switzerland in 1969, while also reaching the top five in the Austria, New Zealand, and West Germany. In the United States, it was initially released as the B-side to "To Susan on the West Coast, Waiting", but was promoted to the A-side after receiving significant airplay, eventually reaching number seven on the US BillboardHot 100. In the singer's native country, the single managed only a modest number 23 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Atlantis" has since been recorded by several artists, including Austrian singer Georg Danzer, German musical project U96 and German actor Thorsten Feller. In 2001, Donovan and German pop band No Angels re-recorded the track for the closing credits of the Walt Disney Feature Animation picture Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001). Included on a concomitant album for the German-speaking music market, [3] it was once more released as a single and re-entered the top five in Austria and Germany.

Background

"Atlantis" was written by Donovan and produced by Mickie Most for his seventh studio album Barabajagal (1969). Paul McCartney was rumored to have sung backing vocals for the song. However, Donovan said in a 2008 interview with Goldmine Magazine that McCartney was not involved in the recording sessions. [4]

The introduction of song is a quiet monologue spoken over the song's repeated musical melody, telling of the mythological antediluvian civilization of Atlantis. [2] The second half of the song is more energetic, with Donovan singing of finding his true love in Atlantis. The theme is common for the 1960s: fanciful mythology as a symbol of the counterculture movement, with the hope that true love will be found if Atlantis can be rediscovered. [2]

Release and reception

Contract disputes at the time caused a complicated series of different releases in the United Kingdom and United States. "Atlantis" was originally released in the United Kingdom as a single with "I Love My Shirt" as the B-side. In 1969, it was released in the US on the album Barabajagal . The LP was not released in the UK, however, and "Atlantis" was next released in the US as the B-side to "To Susan on the West Coast Waiting".

The song was not deemed likely to be a hit in the US because of its length and the fact that the first third of the song is spoken prose and therefore not "radio-friendly". It was for this reason that, despite its success in Europe, "Atlantis" was demoted to B-side status. However, the record company A&R executives were proved wrong when the popularity of "Atlantis" far surpassed that of its A-side. The song was quite successful, reaching number seven on the Billboard charts. It became Donovan's final top-10 single in the US.

Track listings

All tracks written by Donovan Leitch and produced by Mickie Most.

UK 7" single
No.TitleLength
1."Atlantis"4:54
2."I Love My Shirt"3:55
US 7" single
No.TitleLength
1."To Susan On the West Coast Waiting"3:13
2."Atlantis"4:54

Charts

Release history

Release history for "Atlantis"
RegionDateRef(s)
United KingdomNovember 1968[ citation needed ]
United StatesMarch 1969[ citation needed ]

Georg Danzer version

"Atlantis"
Georg Danzer Atlantis.jpg
Single by Georg Danzer
from the album Menschliche Wärme
Released3 January 1984
Length4:37
Label Polydor
Songwriter(s)
  • Donovan Leitch
  • Georg Danzer
Producer(s) Georg Danzer
Georg Danzer singles chronology
"Zombieball"
(1983)		"Atlantis"
(1984)		"Weiße Pferde"
(1984)

In 1984, Austrian musician Georg Danzer published a German-language version of the song, which has remained musically faithful to the original. First published on his album Menschliche Wärme, it appeared in the later course on the compilations Greenpeace, Hit Barometer and Überblicke. In Austria, it became a top 20 hit on the Ö3 Austria Top 40. [15]

Track listings

7-inch single

  1. Atlantis - 4:25
  2. Die Türken - 4:55

CD single

  1. "Atlantis" (radio edit) - 3:44
  2. "Atlantis" (acoustic edit) - 3:50

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Atlantis"
Chart (1984)Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [15] 19

No Angels version

"Atlantis"
Single by No Angels
Released19 November 2001
Studio Park (Tutzing, Germany)
Length4:14
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Leslie Mándoki
No Angels singles chronology
"There Must Be an Angel"
(2001)		"When the Angels Sing" / "Atlantis"
(2001)		"Something about Us"
(2002)

Production and recording

In the late 1990s, Walt Disney Feature Animation started production on Atlantis: The Lost Empire , an animated science fiction/action film, based on the Atlantis saga. Interested in slipping his 1968 version into the film soundtrack, Donovan immediately opened negotiations with the studios; however Disney was barely interested in the song and plans eventually fell through. [3] By 2000, Disney had committed German producer Leslie Mándoki to produce a concomitant album for the German-speaking music markets, entitled Stars Inspired by Atlantis. [3] After stumbling over the original song, Mándoki approached Donovan by phone, describing him his idea of a collaboration with German newcomers No Angels, with whom Mándoki had previously worked on their debut Elle'ments (2001), and a few days later Donovan and the band met at the Lake Starnberg to start recording. [3]

Release and reception

"Atlantis" served as the band's fourth single along with "When the Angels Sing", a midtempo ballad from their debut album Elle'ments (2001). Physical CD singles of the double-A single were released on 19 November 2001 by Cheyenne Records. [16] The maxi single includes the duet version, the Submarine Mix of "Atlantis" and three new remixes "When the Angels Sing". [16]

Upon its release, "When the Angels Sing"/"Atlantis" debuted at No. 5 on the German Singles Chart in the week of 3 December 2001. [17] It spent six weeks within the top 10 and fell out of the chart in the 14th weeks, [17] becoming the 79th highest-selling single of 2001 in Germany. [18] In Austria, the double-A single debuted at No. 10 on the Ö3 Austria Top 40. [19] It peaked at No. 5 in its third week and spent four more weeks within the top 10, leaving the top 75 after 14 weeks. [19] In Switzerland, "When the Angels Sing"/"Atlantis" entered the Swiss Hitparade at No. 56 in the week of 2 December. [20] It reached its peak, No. 16, in its second week, becoming the band's first single to miss the top 10. It fell out of the top 100 after twelve weeks on the chart. [20]

Music video

The single's music video was directed by Hannes Rossacher for DoRo Productions and shot in Berlin, Germany in late 2001. [3] It shows Donovan and the band in a recording studio accented by underwater settings, backdrops, and scenes inspired by the animated movie.

Track listings

Maxi single [16]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Atlantis" (Radio Mix)
Mándoki4:14
2."When the Angels Sing" (New Radio Mix)
Ries3:47
3."When the Angels Sing" (Christmas Mix)
  • Ries
  • Thomas-Schmidtmer
Ries3:56
4."When the Angels Sing" (Special X-Mas Mix)
  • Ries
  • Thomas-Schmidtmer
Ries4:08
5."Atlantis" (Submarine Mix)
  • Leitch
  • Mándoki
  • Bencker
Mándoki4:00

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Elle'ments. [16]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Atlantis"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria) [22] Gold20,000*
Germany (BVMI) [23] Gold250,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other cover versions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Angels</span> German all-female pop group

No Angels are an all-female pop group from Germany, formed in 2000. Originally a quintet, consisting of band members Nadja Benaissa, Lucy Diakovska, Sandy Mölling, Vanessa Petruo, and Jessica Wahls, they originated on the debut season of the German adaptation of the talent series Popstars and were one of the first television-cast acts to achieve sustainable success throughout Central Europe in the early 2000s. Following a major success with record-breaking single "Daylight in Your Eyes" and debut album Elle'ments in 2001, a series of hit records established their position as one of the most successful female band vocalists to emerge in the early decade. With four number-one hits, four number-one albums and record sales of more than 5.0 million, they became one of the most successful acts in German music history, winning three ECHOs, a World Music Award, a NRJ Music Award, two Comets, a Bambi and a Goldene Kamera.

<i>Barabajagal</i> 1969 studio album by Donovan

Barabajagal is the seventh studio album and eighth album overall from British singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released by Epic Records in the United States on 11 August 1969, but was not released in the United Kingdom because of a continuing contractual dispute that also prevented Sunshine Superman, Mellow Yellow, and The Hurdy Gurdy Man from being released in the UK. The album reached No. 22 in Canada and the title single reached No. 20.

"Barabajagal" is a song by British singer/songwriter Donovan Leitch, released by Donovan in 1969. It was later used as title track to the album Barabajagal. The instrumental backing is provided by The Jeff Beck Group, with backing vocals by Lesley Duncan, Suzi Quatro and Madeline Bell.

<i>Pure</i> (No Angels album) 2003 studio album by No Angels

Pure is the third studio album by all-female German pop group No Angels. It was released by Cheyenne Records and Polydor on 25 August 2003. Conceived after the departure of original member Jessica Wahls, the project marked No Angels's first studio release as a quartet and their final album before their temporary disbandment in fall 2003. The remaining four members reteamed with frequent collaborators Thorsten Brötzmann and Peter Ries to work on the majority of the album, with additional songwriting and production contribution from Tobias Lundgren, Perky Park, Nigel Rush, Stephan Ullman, and Twin.

<i>Now... Us!</i> 2002 studio album by No Angels

Now... Us! is the second studio album by German girl group No Angels. It was released by Polydor and Cheyenne Records on June 24, 2002, in German-speaking Europe. Recorded after the release of the band's majorly successful debut album Elle'ments (2001), the group consulted work by frequent collaborators Thorsten Brötzmann, Peter Ries, and Leslie Mándoki as well as international songwriters and producers such as Anders Bagge, Figge Boström, Dennis Dowlut, Mousse T., Pontus Söderqvist, and Quiz & Larossi, while taking a wider role in contributing own lyrics and melodies to the album.

<i>Ellements</i> 2001 studio album by No Angels

Elle'ments is the debut studio album by German girl group No Angels. It was first released by Polydor–Zeitgeist and Cheyenne Records on 12 March 2001 in German-speaking Europe. After winning the inaugural season of the reality talent contest Popstars in late 2000, Polydor consulted a small team of German-based musicians to work with the quintet, including Thorsten Brötzmann, Peter Ries, Leslie Mándoki, and Peter Plate. Elle'ments is a pop record with an inclusion of styles such as dance, R&B, Latin and rock. Conceptually, the album centered on the idea of the classical elements, and during that time was compared to English girl group the Spice Girls' Forever (2000) era.

<i>The Best of No Angels</i> 2003 greatest hits album by No Angels

The Best of No Angels is a compilation album by German girl group No Angels. It was released by Polydor–Zeitgeist and Cheyenne Records on 1 December 2003 in German-speaking Europe, coinciding with the group's first disbandment. A best-of album, it features all the singles from their first three studio albums Elle'ments (2001), Now... Us! (2002) and Pure (2003), as well as three additional album cuts from each album, including production from Thorsten Brötzmann, Leslie Mándoki, Mousse T., Perky Park, Peter Plate, Peter Ries, Ulf Leo Sommer, and Twin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)</span> 1985 single by Eurythmics

"There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" is a song by the British musical duo Eurythmics, released as the second single from their fifth studio album, Be Yourself Tonight (1985). It features a harmonica solo by American musician Stevie Wonder. The song became a worldwide success; most notably in Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom, where it remains the duo's only chart-topper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Still in Love with You (No Angels song)</span>

"Still in Love with You" is a song performed by German group No Angels. Penned and composed by Figge Boström and Johan Lindman of Swedish songwriting collective La Carr, it was co-produced by Pontus Söderqvist and Nick Nice for the band's second studio album Now... Us! (2002). A mid-paced latin pop ballad, it showcases a more mature side from the band, with its instrumentation consisting essentially of flamenco guitars and bongo drums. Lyrically, the track finds the female protagonist thinking deeply over her relationship with her love interest from whom she parted; however, she still pines for him and feels self-conscious for doing so.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Go to Bed (No Angels song)</span> 2002 single by No Angels

"Let's Go to Bed" is a song performed by German pop group No Angels. It was written by Mousse T. and frequent collaborator Errol Rennalls and recorded for the band's second studio album Now... Us! (2002), while production was handled by the former. Musically, the track is a mid-paced pop song that is set in retro style. It contains heavy elements of psychedelic soul and funk music, with its instrumentation led by a bass guitar. "Let's Go to Bed" contains lyrics that reference to a celebration of sexual lust and conquest, leading up to a desire to invite a love interest to come to bed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Angels discography</span>

The discography of German girl group No Angels consists of six studio albums, three compilation albums, two live albums, four video albums and more than twenty singles. The group sold over five million records before breaking up in 2003, making them one of the highest-selling German girl groups of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daylight in Your Eyes</span> 2001 single by No Angels

"Daylight in Your Eyes" is the debut single by German girl group No Angels. It was written by Tony Bruno and Tommy Byrnes and initially recorded by American rock band New Life Crisis. A Tony Moran-produced remix of their version appeared on MTV Party to Go Remixed (2001), but as their record company, Tommy Boy Entertainment, folded soon after, the group's original recording failed to receive a wider release, and the song was eventually sold separately abroad. There, "Daylight in Your Eyes" was purchased by Epic Records and re-recorded by the singer Victoria Faiella for her debut album with the label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feelgood Lies</span> 2003 single by No Angels

"Feelgood Lies" is a song by all-female German pop band No Angels. It was written by Pelle Ankarberg, Charlie Dore, Niclas Molinder, Maryann Morgan and Joacim Persson for the group's third studio album Pure (2003), while production was helmed by Molinder and Persson under their production moniker Twin, with Ankarberg serving as co-producer. A dark urban dance pop song that is built upon a heavy guitar riff and uplifting strings, the subjects of "Feelgood Lies" are revenge and karma. Not wanting to feel broken-hearted, the female protagonist warns a love interest to check his alibis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rivers of Joy (song)</span> 2001 single by No Angels

"Rivers of Joy" is a song recorded by all-female German pop group No Angels. It was written by Hans Andersson and Niklas Petterson from Swedish composing duo Petterson & Haze and recorded by the band for their debut studio album, Elle'ments (2001). Production on the track was helmed by German musician Peter Ries. An anthemic song about self-empowerment, the dance-pop track combines elements of gospel music and eurodance with prominent usage of a piano sample.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When the Angels Sing</span> 2001 single by No Angels

"When the Angels Sing" is a song recorded by German pop group No Angels. It was written by Peter Ries and Charlemaine Thomas-Schmidtner and produced by the former for the band's debut studio album, Elle'ments (2001). A midtempo pop ballad, "When the Angels Sing" features a cascading piano arrangement and dominant drum pattern. Lyrically, it finds the group, as the protagonists, thinking deeply over their relationship with their love interests from whom they parted, still pining for them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reason (No Angels song)</span> 2003 single by No Angels

"Reason" is a song by German girl band No Angels. It was written by Thorsten Brötzmann and Alexander Geringas and produced by the former for their debut studio album Elle'ments (2001). "Reason" is a piano-led pop ballad with soft string arrangements and lyrics that talk about reminiscing past memories with a loved one. One of the slower songs on the album, its original version, entitled "That's the Reason", served as the closing track on both the original version of Elle'ments as well as its Special Winter deluxe edition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Cried Out (Alison Moyet song)</span>

"All Cried Out" is a song by English singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, which was released in 1984 as the second single from her debut studio album Alf. It was written by Moyet and producers Jolley & Swain. The song peaked within the top ten on both the Irish and the UK Singles Chart, and also reached the top twenty in Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ich lebe</span> 2003 single by Christina Stürmer

"Ich lebe" is a song by Austrian recording artist Christina Stürmer. It was written by Alexander Kahr, Eva Kraus, Harald Hanisch, and Leopold Zillinger for her debut studio album Freier Fall (2003), while production was helmed by the former. Recorded after her participation in the ORF 1 talent show Starmania, where Stürmer had finished runner-up, it was released by Polydor Records on 24 March 2003 in Austria, where it debuted at number-one on the Austrian Singles Chart and remained atop for another seven weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. for Love)</span> 1986 single by Modern Talking

"Atlantis Is Calling " is a song by German pop duo Modern Talking, released as the second single from their third studio album, Ready for Romance (1986). It is the duo's fifth and final consecutive single to reach No. 1 on the German Singles Chart. "Atlantis is Calling " was released in Germany and in other European territories on 28 April 1986, it peaked at No. 1 in Germany on 16 June 1986 after spending two weeks at No. 2 position. The single spent four weeks at the top and total of 14 weeks on the top 100. While "Atlantis Is Calling " entered the top five in Switzerland, Austria and Sweden, it managed to chart within the top 10 in the Netherlands and Norway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Believe (Bro'Sis song)</span> 2001 single by BroSis

"I Believe" is a song by German pop group Bro'Sis. It was written by Alex Christensen, Jens Klein, Peter Könemann, and Clyde "J. Ena" "Ward and produced by the former for their debut studio album, Never Forget (2001). The song was released as the band's debut single on 3 December 2001 following their formation on the RTL II reality television show Popstars – Du bist mein Traum. It became the year's Christmas number one in Germany and spent five consecutive weeks at number one, achieving a double platinum certification from the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI).

References

  1. ↑ Fontenot, Robert (29 October 2015). "What is Folk-Rock Music?". ThoughtCo.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 C.Grunenberg and J.Harris, Summer Of Love: Psychedelic Art, Social Crisis And Counterculture In The 1960s, (Liverpool University Press), p.140, ISBN   0853239193
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Peitz, Dirk (23 November 2001). "Mit 'Atlantis' aus der Versenkung". Rhein Zeitung. Archived from the original on 5 November 2006. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
  4. ↑ Goldmine Magazine, 10 October 2008.
  5. ↑ "Donovan – Atlantis" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  6. ↑ "Donovan – Atlantis" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  7. ↑ "Donovan – Atlantis" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Donovan" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz.
  10. ↑ "Donovan – Atlantis". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  11. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  12. ↑ "Donovan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Donovan – Atlantis" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  14. ↑ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1969" (in German). Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  15. 1 2 "Georg Danzer – Atlantis" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "When the Angels Sing / Atlantis". Discogs. 19 November 2001. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  17. 1 2 3 "No Angels & Donovan – Atlantis / When The Angels Sing" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  18. 1 2 "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts (2002)". Offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  19. 1 2 3 "No Angels & Donovan – Atlantis / When The Angels Sing" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  20. 1 2 3 "No Angels & Donovan – Atlantis / When The Angels Sing". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  21. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2002". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  22. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – No Angels – Atlantis" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  23. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (No Angels; 'When the Angels Sing')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  24. ↑ "Serienstar singt". Berliner-Kurier.de. 4 June 1999.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.