The Tension and the Spark

The Tension and the Spark
Studio album by Darren Hayes
Released	13 September 2004
Recorded	2003–2004
Genre	Pop, electronica
Length	58:52 (International edition) 62:52 (Australian edition)
Label	Columbia
Producer	Darren Hayes, Robert Conley
Darren Hayes chronology
Spin (2002) The Tension and the Spark (2004) This Delicate Thing We've Made (2007)
Singles from The Tension and the Spark
"Pop!ular" Released: 12 July 2004 "Darkness" Released: 6 November 2004

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Stylus Magazine	A link

The Tension and the Spark is the second studio album by Darren Hayes, released in 2004. The album was a change for Hayes, who took a more electronic and darker style for this record and also delved deeper into more personal matter. The title of the album is derived from lyrics featured in the second track, "I Like the Way".

Singles

• "Pop!ular" was released as the album's first single in July 2004 and became a hit, reaching #1 on the US Dance Chart, his first number one. NME praised the song, saying it was "A twistered masterclass in career reintervention...This guy is a genius."
• "Darkness" was released as the album's second single in November 2004, but it did not chart. The physical single has subsequently become a rarity, with copies selling for £100 plus on second-hand websites and collector's auctions.
• "Unlovable" was a promotional single for the album. While it was not released as a single of its own, the music video for the song was made.

Track listing

The Tension and the Spark track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Darkness"	Darren Hayes, Robert Conley	Hayes, Conley	5:17
2.	"I Like the Way"	Hayes, Conley	Hayes, Conley	5:04
3.	"Light"	Hayes, Conley	Hayes, Conley	4:54
4.	"Pop!ular"	Hayes, Conley	Hayes, Conley, Mark 'Spike' Stent	3:53
5.	"Dublin Sky"	Hayes	Hayes, Conley	4:35
6.	"Hero"	Hayes, Conley	Hayes, Conley	4:26
7.	"Unlovable"	Hayes, Conley	Hayes, Conley	5:23
8.	"Void"	Darren Hayes	Hayes, Conley	3:19
9.	"I Forgive You"	Hayes, Marius De Vries	Hayes, Marius De Vries	4:35
10.	"Feel"	Hayes	Hayes, Conley	4:03
11.	"Love and Attraction"	Hayes, Conley	Hayes, Conley	4:05
12.	"Sense of Humor"	Hayes, Conley	Hayes, Conley	4:47
13.	"Ego"	Hayes, Conley	Hayes, Conley	4:31

Regional bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Boy"	Hayes, Conley	Hayes, Conley	4:00

Outtakes, B-sides and demos

No.	Title	Availability	Length
1.	"Touch"	B-side to the physical single of "Pop!ular" in Australia, and "Darkness" in the United Kingdom
2.	"Zero"	B-side to the physical single of "Pop!ular"
3.	"Random Blinking Light"	B-side to the physical single of "Darkness"
4.	"Strange Magic"	Recorded for the "Ella Enchanted O.S.T" in 2004 just prior to the release of the album as a favour to Tommy O'Haver for directing the "Strange Relationship" music video from the Spin album
5.	"Let's Go"	An out-take from the album, which later appeared as a B-side to the physical single of "Me Myself and (I)"
6.	"Boy"	A bonus track on the Australian, Japanese and British digital versions of the album
7.	"Timebomb"	An out-take from the album, which was revealed by Hayes on his Facebook in June 2012. [2]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for The Tension and the Spark

Chart (2004)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [3]	8
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [4]	32
UK Albums (OCC) [5]	13

Certifications

Certifications for The Tension and the Spark

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [6]	Gold	35,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Tension & the Spark - Darren Hayes". AllMusic.
2. https://www.facebook.com/DarrenHayesOfficial/posts/383486445043507 ^{[ user-generated source ]}
3. "Australiancharts.com – Darren Hayes – The Tension and the Spark". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
4. "Swedishcharts.com – Darren Hayes – The Tension and the Spark". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
5. "Official Albums Chart on 19/9/2004 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
6. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2004 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 3 July 2014.