The Savage Gardener #83
I was gone all weekend and just got back (it's Sunday as I type this)
with
tons of news from people. One is GREAT GREAT GREAT news, and amazing
to say
the least! Another I find funny, but it's not really a laughing matter.
I'll
tell you about that now. Sarah told me that the guys are being sued
by Hit
Records (some company in Australia) for "breach of contract" or something.
I
think it's funny because if people in Australia are anything like they
are
here in America, it was only a matter of time before they got sued
for
something!! It seems like whenever a band or something gets really
famous,
someone finds some reason to sue. Ok, on with the newsletter! Ahh,
note from
me! I have a continuation - the complete story on the Hit Records lawsuit
is
in here also. I typed this intro thingy before receiving the story.
So here we
go!
oohiwantyouoohiwantyouoohiwantyouooiwantyouoohiwantyouoohiwantyouoohiwantyo
SaVaGe NeWs
**Some AMAZING news for the boys!! I just found out today (Sunday, Feb.
21)
that "The Animal Song" single has already gone GOLD in Australia -
on pre-
sales ALONE!!!! The single isn't even in stores yet and it's already
gone
gold! I'm not sure how many copies that is in Australia, but in the
U.S. it's
70,000 (I think). Congratulations, guys! Thanks to
[email protected] for the awesome info!!
**The single is doing EXTREMELY well - I'm getting word from all over
America
(we know how well it's doing in Australia!) that music stores are selling
out
of the single completely! It looks like this song will be - dare I
say it!!? -
bigger than "Truly Madly Deeply"!!
**The video for "The Animal Song" is out! It was released the same day
as the
single hit stores, so keep a look out for it! The way the song has
been doing,
I'd expect to see it on VH1's Top Ten Countdown in no time! I just
downloaded
it off the internet and it's AWESOME!! And I have to say I cracked
up when
that huge apple walked by Darren!! The video is extremely colorful,
fun, and
Darren and Daniel are actually SMILING and LAUGHING and looking HAPPY!
And
Darren's wearing a color other than black! I don't see that too often!
It's
good though - Darren has a gorgeous and infectious smile and I had
always
wished he'd smile more! Anyway, I know lots of you have seen it, and
I've only
seen it on Real Player which isn't exactly good quality, but it looks
like
Juliette Lewis and Giovanni Ribisi are actually in the video, and I'm
not
talking about the movie clips. Is that them (the couple in wedding
outfits
driving in the car along the parade route) or does it just look like
them to
someone who's only seen the video in bad quality?
oohiwantyouoohiwantyouoohiwantyouooiwantyouoohiwantyouoohiwantyouoohiwantyo
Savage Trivia
Last week's trivia question was: This week's quessie is: Why was the
bonus
"Future of Earthly Delites" remix disc made? The answer is, as Darren
said,
"...to keep this album current in our eyes and in the eyes of our fans."
Congrats to the one person who got it right on target:
This week's quessie is: How did Darren spend his birthday this past year?
oohiwantyouoohiwantyouoohiwantyouooiwantyouoohiwantyouoohiwantyouoohiwantyo
SaVaGe CoMmEnTs
Lauren,
Just wanted to tell you that 'TAS' moved up to #22 from #24 on station
100.7 (Kiss FM) Top 25 countdown here in Tampa Fl. Dj also stated
that, "We have been besieged with requests for this song. It should
be
another big one for these guys." Needless to say, we all know
that
already, right? Keep up the great work!
That's great!! I have to be honest and admit that before I heard it,
I was a
bit worried about whether or not the guys would be able to make it,
what with
the music industry the way it is :P But when I heard the song
and started
being bombarded with emails from people saying their radio station
is loving
it, and the reaction Star 98.7 had, I knew they'd do it! ~Lauren :o)
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*******************
ooooooohhhh................... that picture! That has to be one of
the best
out there!! (I'm talkin bout the Animal Song cover!) You're right,
I'm sitting
in a 3 ft deep puddle of drool! Is it just me or does Darren's face
look even
leaner?? Can't tell much bout Dan, but his hair loooks a bit longer.
Ooh,
quick observation: it looks like the picture was taken the same place
the
poster for Star Wars: Episode 1 was! (the most awesome poster: little
Anakin
as a child with the shadow of Darth Vader thrown up against a rock
behind him)
The background looks the same, but hey, I'm sure you could find that
sorta
rock anywhere... but it's nice to make connections! :)
I haven't seen that poster yet, but it sounds so cool! I wouldn't be
surprised
if Darren pulled a few strings to get that! I can't wait for the movie
either
- I became a fan right before Savage Garden came into my life! And
yeah,
Darren's face seems to look leaner every time a new pic comes out!
~Lauren :o)
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*******************
in response to your comment that Daz and Dan look the same but
different, i would have to agree with you. To me, Daniel was
always the
more practical, and least likely to change drastically, and i think
this
is a good example. He is more mature than when they first came
out, but
he is still the Daniel that we all know and love. However, from
Darren
i expected something different. He looks great and all, but it
seems to
me that he is blending in now. To me he always stood out, whether
it
was his clothes, his posture, or just the way his combed his hair.
but
now it seems he has been assimilated into "pop culture" and he could
be
any Tom, Dick or Harry to someone who had never seen him before.
He is
of course still the same Darren on the inside, and thats what counts,
and the changes are minute. well, thats just my opinion.
do you agree?
That thought never occurred to me until you sent me this email. They
seem to
be a little older, whether in looks or attitude, than before and I
guess that
could be it (I sound like an aunt they haven't seen in years: "My,
how you've
grown! Look at you, you're a little man now!" Gag.). I've never seen
a drastic
change in Daniel except for talking more during interviews. But Darren
seems
to go through so many changes; he's a hard guy to keep up with! Maybe
because
they were gone for a pretty long time you expected something drastic
again,
and that's why you feel this way. But as for me, I don't notice anything
except a tad more mature attitude (look at this, I'm drawing this from
a
PICTURE. I should shut up until the guys promote the song and give
interviews!). ~Lauren :o)
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*******************
Heya Lauren!
Guess what? The Animal Song was released to Singapore
radio on Valentine's Eve! And the station was Perfect
10 98.7! Same as your Star FM! Already 2 of the DJs are
raving about it - hurrah!
Oh, and BTW, Savage Garden lost out to Natalie Imbruglia
at the recent Brit Awards...:(
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*******************
Hey! I'm starting a Savage Garden evrey other day pic/wav/update newsletter,
but I desperatley need members! I was wondering if you could put this
ad in
your newsletter The Savage Gardener.
How would you like to receive a Savage Garden pic or wav evrey other
day in
your E-mail box? Then join Supernova, a brand new Savage Garden newsletter!
It
comes out evrey other day and includes a pic or wav and updates on
what's
going on with your favorite band!
It's just a pic/wav/update club right now, but with more members and
ideas it
could be much more! I plan on making it much more, so get in on this
awesome
club now! Just E-mail me at <A HREF="mailto:[email protected]">
[email protected]</A>, and tell me wether you have AOL 3.0
or 4.0 or if
you have something else you use for E-mail. For just joining I'll send
you a
Savage Garden pic!
Okay, that's all! Thanks alot! :)
I'm guessing you have to have AOL to get it, but I'm not sure. ~Lauren :o)
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*******************
I am in need of some *really* good music links for my homepage!!
Any group that you like would rock!!
Send the links to:
[email protected]!
Thanks!!
http://listen.to/musicland
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*******************
Lauren-
Hi! How are you? I'm just asking you to put 2 things in
the next SGer.
Here they are:
#1)
OK, guys! We need to get voting!!! I've been voting like
crazy, I must
have voted a total of at least 50 times!!!! The voting booth
ends on
March 1, and with the way things have been going, SG still have a chance
to win!!! OK, you have to vote for Dan AND Daz, not just Daz
b/c we all
know SG are 2 ppl!!!! Here's the address:
http://www.freevote.com/booth/songwriter
#2)
I also have 2 items on eBay that I'm getting no bids on, so maybe someone
who gets this will want to bid. The first address is for a Mariah
Carey
Butterfly CD, and the 2nd is for a Third Eye Blind bootleg concert
tape:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=69108701
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=69883847
Thanks Lauren!!! Can't wait for TAS to come out...
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*******************
Lauren,
I went strait to the record store after school to try and find TAS.
When I
got in I asked the guy if they had it in, and he said that I was very
lucky
because they were selling like mad and that they only had ONE left.
I am very
proud of them, I mean, I went directly after school and they were already
selling out. The area I live in isnt highly Savage fan infested
to my
knowledge either. I am so proud to be an SG fan! GO DARREN AND
DAN!
That's GREAT! And to think I was a little worried about whether or not
they'd
have a hit! ~Lauren :o)
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*******************
Hey,
I just wanted to let everyone know, that imports have been spotted
in three
different stores in the past three days. The Japanese import, a European
single, and a double CD of Savage Garden. I was lucky enough to get
one, and
my friend got the other two. So she is nice enough to share with me.
I just
suggest that all of you loyal fans out there might want to look in
the CD area
of the music store of your choice. You never know what you could find:)
And,
The Animal Song is so great that i had to buy two!!!
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*******************
Hi Lauren,
I was going through some old files on my computer and found this. I
wrote
it last year sometime... thought you might want to put it in the
newsletter. Use it if you want to, if not, no big deal.
p.s. - I'm glad Krycek made it, too = )
<Woo hoo!! Ratboy forever! ~Lauren :o)>
You know you're too obsessed with Savage Garden...
...when you're reading Lord Of the Flies and your hearts beats faster
every time the word "savage" pops up
...when you can rattle of the URL of the Official Savage Garden Internet
Site in 3 seconds flat (http://www.savagegarden.village.com.au/)
...when you spend online time downloading .wav's and .mov files of Savage
Garden songs - even though you've taped the videos and have the album
...when you find out how Savage Garden got their name.... and suddenly
you're an instant Anne Rice fan
...if you know the exact page number where Lestat quotes "...in a savage
garden." (For the most crazed fans only... of course that means I know
;
) )
...US fans: when your American History teacher asks you "Who was the
19th
President of the United States?" and you answer "Darren Hayes!" (Real
Answer: Rutherford B. Hayes, from 1877-1881.)
...when you know Darren's middle name. (Do you? Don't lie)
...when you just hate Colby even though you've never met her
...when you know exactly what the operator says in "Santa Monica"
...when there is no wall you can turn to in your room and not see some
picture of the guys
...if you're willing to spend $40 for a Savage Garden import with songs
you already have "because i'm building my collection!" (parents just
love
that one.)
...if you sat in front of your TV, VCR remote in hand, waiting to record
the video for "I Want You."
...if, when someone says "Oz," you're the last one to think "The Wizard."
...if your Savage Garden homepage belongs to every one of the SG WebRings
... if the number of Savage Garden CDs your own is more than half of
your
entire collection
...if your friends (who are not Savage Garden fans) know the lyrics
to
the songs and will actually sing along, just because you've forced
them
to listen a thousand times (a million even)
...if you watch Crocodile Dundee just because the guy's an Aussie
...if you cry when an S.G. song falls off the top 40
...if you laughed when you read this (you did! admit it!)
I love these kind of lists! I'm guilty of 11 of these. 11 out of 20.
Did I
fail? Gasp! Does this mean I'm not a fan?? ~Lauren :o)
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*******************
Hey!!! I finally found that poem. It was in my Geometry
book of all places!
Don't ask me why.....anyway here it is so you can put it in the
SGer. * I
wrote it before their very first tour (their promo tour) even started.
I
remember I just heard their name for the tour and I was like "Wow!
Cool!"
Beleive me, my poem-writing skills have improved since this one was
written ;)
The Earth of Future Delights
by Andrea Kuipers
>From afar they came by sea,
rocking the nations with their harmonious melody.
"I Want You" could be seen and heard on everything from KFLR to MTV.
Their unusually handsome looks hypnotized every girl.
>From Singapore to Seattle: hearts swelled allover the world.
Their various tunes and funky grooves
were the reason for every in-step move.
With Savage Garden as the source of pleasure,
Daz and Dan were humbled beyond all measure.
For they were just two guys who happened to meet 5 years ago,
how they became so hugely popular, only they do not know.
All they know is that music is their passion,
and their inspiration for their sense of fashion.
As they travel the many seas,
to perform for people like me,
there is one thing that they do not leave behind:
their sweet, calm Australian sense of mind.
Thanks Lauren!!!!!!!! You're awesome!!!!!
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*******************
Hi Lauren,
Just thought you'd be interested to know that I've created some Savage
Garden wallpaper for members of the SGer. It's pretty simple - nothing
spectacular - but a few people told me they think it's cool, so I've
put
two sizes of it on the chat site. If anyone wants to use the image
as
wallpaper they should visit the chat homepage
(http://www.enter.net/~sipsters/sger/) and click on the appropriate
image size for their computer. The links are under the "News!" heading.
******************************************************************************
*******************
Hey everyone!
Well don’t we all want Savage Garden on MTV total request Live??? Of
course we
do, so in order to get Savage Garden there we all need to help so go
to MTV
website and vote for them. After all out of everyone THEY deserve it!
Their
new video is awesome! We can do it guys, for Darren and Daniel!!! Stay
Savage
Lovin!
Ahh, I completely forgot about TRL! And I was watching it today! Just
go to
http://www.mtv.com/nav/intro_shows.html and REQUEST "The Animal Song"
video!!
~Lauren :o)
oohiwantyouoohiwantyouoohiwantyouooiwantyouoohiwantyouoohiwantyouoohiwantyo
**Thanks to our wonderful webmistress Sarah, she typed up a couple articles
in
the Sunday Mail, which I'm guessing is a newspaper type thing in Australia.
One article explains further about the lawsuit, which I find PATHETIC
because
if this so called breach of contract occurred in 1995, why didn't they
do
anything about it THEN if it's sooo important? Simple - they didn't
care until
Savage got rich and famous! Sigh...dumb people. Anyhoo, here they are,
and
thanks again to Sarah ([email protected])!!
>From 'The Sunday Mail', February 21, 1999 (Queensland wide paper)
----------------------
* 'Savage Garden sued' by Julia Coffey, pg 3.
Queensland pop duo Savage
Garden are being sued by a management
company for alleged breach of contract.
Hit Records is seeking damages
against band members Daniel Jones and
Darren Hayes in the Queensland Supreme Court. The company claims
it had an
agrement with Savage Garden, beginning in June 1994, to manage the
band. A
writ was filed last year.
Savage Garden was formed
when the pair from Logan City met in 1993.
Their official biography says the performers were first signed by veteran
manager John Woodruff. But according to documents lodged in the
Supreme
Court, they had an agreement with Hit Records. The company is
claiming the
agreement was "partly oral, partly written". It was terminated
in November
that year. But the compnay claims management/agency waiver was
not binding.
Hit Records has two listed directors, Sharon Maree Redfern and Paul
Leslie
Redfern, and is registered in Pimpama. It is seeking unspecified
damages.
<Note from yours truly: "Unspecified damages" meaning a big chunk
of Savage
Garden's earnings!>
* 'Encore Spotlight': full page feature, pg 60. by Ritchie Yorke.
'Garden's savage test: Pop masters Savage Garden have been planting
seeds for
a new album'
Savage Garden, the rockers
who sprouted from Logan City two years
ago and took the music world by storm, are about to face their biggest
test.
The duo's self-titled album became the biggest selling Aussie release
at
well over 11 miooion copies, and their single, Truly Madly Deeply,
put an
Australian act on top in the US for the first time since INXS's 'Need
You
Tonight' in 1987. Now, with Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones re-entering
the
recording studio, the question looms: how do they follow that?
The rise of Queensland's
own rock gardeners is one of the most
sensational pop music success stories of recent years. Could
the pair
possibly duplicate - let alone surpass - the intrinsic beauty
and innocence
of their mega-hits 'I Want You', 'To the Moon and Back' and 'Truly'?
The
lads, who will get together in their home city of Logan this week after
separation of six months, would like to have their second album in
the
stores by August, and will begin recording with Sony staff producer,
Walter
Afanasieff, near San Francisco next month.
Meanwhile, the first new
Savage Garden music for 18 months arrives
tomorrow with the release of the single, 'The Animal Song', a tune
which
acts as the moving centrepiece for the upcoming Garry Marshall-directed
film
for Disney, 'The Other Sister' (released May 6 in Australia).
The flick, from
the director of 'Pretty Woman' and starring Juliette Lewis, Diane Keaton,
Tom
Skerritt and Giovanni Ribisi, is about two "mentally-challenged"
kids trying to make a life of their own. "It's a sweet movie,"
says Hayes.
"We had been asked to write songs for a number of films, but we either
didn't have the time or the film didn't really suit what we've wanted
to
say. We've been eager to record some new music and this sort
of takes the
pressure off our carerr and allows some time to complete the writing
of the
new album."
Adds Jones: "Basically it's
using the film to get to the next level,
which really helps us to grow up a bit between the two albums."
The pair mangaged to intertwine
their composing talents for 'The
Animal Song' via a high-tech transglobal link-up. "We were on
tour in
America last August and I'd come up with this drum pattern thing -
it sort of
reminded me of a Hoodoo Gurus 'Like Wow... Wipeout' sort of thing,
but
obviously more synth-based," said Jones. "A couple of weeks later,
this film
offer came up, they needed something special for a new Disney film.
As
soon as I saw it, with the marching bands theme and the whole drum
thing, I
knew the idea was absolutely perfect. The tour finished, we had
a bit of
down time so I came home and with the movie fresh in my mind, I played
around and got the vibe of the song. I put it on a Zip disc and
couriered
it to Darren in New York. He whacked it up on his little Roland
machine and
started coming with some melodies and committing to a few lyrics here
and
there. He sent it back to me and it sounded fantastic.
It worked out. We
got the chance to personalise it with each other in the studio."
Producer Walter Afanasieff
played a key role. "He added everything
that was needed," says Jones, "which was grandiose production around
it."
The studio, where the second
album will also be recorded, is on a
2ha property belonging to Afanasieff near San Francisco. The
new album is
unlikely to contain any of teh Garden's older songs or even tour-written
tunes from last year. A fresh agenda is afoot, by all accounts.
"Over the
next couple of weeks, Dan and I want to finish off a few more songs.
We've
always liked to do our homework," says Hayes. "We wrote a lot
on the road
last year but most of that doesn't make sense to us anymore."
It's all about growing,
and Hayes and Jones have done plenty of that
- both individually and as partners, whch is evident in the new single.
"It's so important to be sincere," observes Hayes. "Looking back
on our
fledging career - how many bad hair styles, how many dodgy performances,
now
come on! But people always see the sincerity. I think the
greatest gift
that I've been given from travelling is realising how fantastic my
own country
is."
DATELINE: New York:
Darren Hayes, the singing half of Savage Garden, is calling from a New
York
City payphone with the attendant background sound of beeping horns
and
wailing sirens. Life in the Big Apple has proved to be a boon
and a respite
of sorts for the widely heralded lad from Logan City. "The way
I figure it,
I'm young, I have the opportunity to work basically anywhere in the
world
and New York is an amazing city," Darren choruses over the din.
"Of course,
sometimes it can get to be too much and you need a break. I've
been popping
back and forth (to Brisbane) more than you realise. I miss my
mum and dad and
my dog, I really do. But I've grown a lot, changed a lot, and
this has
definitely beena fantastic place for me to process this crazy
journey that
Daniel and I have been on. I'm sure that when you mention New
York and
America, people think I have this fantasic superstar lifestyle but
you know,
what I love about New York (and the US) is that here everybody is an
actor,
everybody's an entertainer. No one really gives a hoot.
Nobody really
knows who I am. My life here is fairly simple - I wake up in
the morning,
go to teh gym, pay some bills, I might go out to dinner with friends
in the
evening and take in a movie. I have a really simple life and
I really enjoy
that."
DATELINE: Logan City:
Daniel Jones, the keyboard-playing musical nucleaus of the Garden, is
enjoying a morning coffee at his modest home studio in Logan City,
south of
Brisbane. He is reflecting on life Down Under when you're on
top of the
planet. Instead of selecting some sublime spot in the northern
hemisphere
closer to the music action centres of London, LA and New York, Daniel
returned to his home-town at the end of Savage Garden's massive world
tour
late last year. "For me, Brisbane and being at home is the only
little bit of
sanity left and I sort of have to hold on to that, otherwise it will
all go,"
Daniel says with sincerity. "I'm not going to sit here and be
really dramatic
about it, but it's a really weird thing to happen to your life. You
never
really expect it to happen to YOU, and when it does, you go 'Wow!'
Even though
you've had to believe deep down all along that it was always possible.
It was
a bit weird with Darren in New York. I kind of miss him... there were
a lot of
times in the past when he'd commute to my place and just sit by my
shoulder
and make suggestions here and there. I've sort of been doing
that stuff on my
own, but sometimes I felt I needed the interaction. That's what creates
the
magic. If I cold do what Darren does, I wouldn't need him.
And vice versa."
We have another article for you! This one is from an Australian book
called
"Fanclub", and [email protected] kindly typed up the little interview
Darren
did for the book for us! Thanks much, Dale! As for me, any comments
I put in
will be between these <> because some things I really feel the need
to comment
on!!
About FanMail:
Ninety five percent of the time, it's fantastic- they're congratulating
you
and talking about how they love the music. But the other five
percent ranges
from fanatical worship to insane hatred. And yes, it does upset me
but we're
only talking five percent here. They say things like,'We are soulmates,
we
were connected in a past life and we were burnt at the stake together
and our
mission is to join up now and save humanity from doom- will you call
me?'
<Psycho! I was talking to this girl online once who wanted to kill
herself
because Darren didn't love her...'Nuff said> And at the other end we
get ones
that say,' You suck so badly, let me count the ways.' <Ok, this
really made me
mad. There are definitely famous people out there I'd rather jump off
Mt.
Everest, than listen to/watch, but write a letter like that? I don't
THINK SO>
Or they say things like, 'I'm a big fan, I love you so much but here
are a few
tips- you're not the best looking guy in the world, and you're not
what most
girls would even call cute, <Hello?! Somebody get this person GLASSES!>
but
there's something about you. And your voice- it's less than amazing,
let's
face it,but I guess the way you use it is interesting. I love you.'
<Right,
I'm sure you do. Less than amazing?? I THINK NOT! Darren has the BEST
voice
I've ever heard, and I made that assumption before I distinguished
who was
Darren and who was Daniel, so that opinion is unbiased :) Somebody
find this
person and bring them to me, please>
About Colby:
"I always try to be available for interviews and promotions , but she
is the
only thing I don't share. The day I saw her name in the paper for the
first
time I just felt really sad. It was like I lost a little bit of her."
About Meeting Fans:
I love being someone that people want to meet. I enjoy inspiring people.
It's a big compliment when someone comes up to you and says,'Your song
changed my life', or 'I look up to you', or when little kids say, 'You're
my hero'- that's the most humbling thing anyone can ever say to you
<Little
kids? I wish I could tell them that they're my heroes to their faces
and I'm
16 years old!>. It's just beautiful.If I'm feeling sick or whatever,
I'd
rather not do a meet and greet because I don't want to disappoint
anyone.
What if for one hour out of your day you're feeling tired and grumpy
and in
that hour you meet someone who's your biggest fan? <That would suck,
I'll say
that>That will be their impression of you forever. When someone meets
you on
the street, that's their one moment, and if you're remotely cool, they'll
see
you as arrogant...... There isn't room for people to get close outside
of
that. So you try to give the love you have in performance and the work
that
you do. You physically couldn't satisfy the need that's out there.
Thanks again, Dale!
That's it for this week! Needless to say I'm extremely happy because
"The
Other Sister" is released tomorrow (I guess they upped the release
date - it
was originally supposed to be released March 5) and the clips from
the movie
in "The Animal Song" video are very touching. Anyway, I'll just sit
here
relishing the fact that the SGer has been jam-packed with stuff these
past
couple weeks! I'm no professional, but it feels good to know it's not
bare
anymore! And all because of "The Animal Song", so I'll say it one more
time:
Welcome back, Darren and Daniel! We missed you! Hey, I don't have school
tomorrow...I think I'll sleep all weekend! Catch ya next week (if I
decide to
wake up!)!
Peace, love, and Savage Garden!
Lauren ( <A HREF="mailto: [email protected]">[email protected]</A>
)
~*~Visit the Savage Gardener on the web~*~
http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/suede/263/