Atlantis (Donovan song)
"Atlantis" | ||||
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To Susan on the West Coast Waiting" | ||||
Released | November 1968 | |||
Recorded | May 1968 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:58 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Donovan Leitch | |||
Producer(s) | Mickie Most | |||
Donovan singles chronology | ||||
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"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.
The song was first released by
"Atlantis" has since been recorded by several artists, including Austrian singer
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
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, and the song itself became an anthem of the hippie movement.
Track listings
All tracks written by Donovan Leitch and produced by Mickie Most.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Atlantis" | 4:54 |
2. | "I Love My Shirt" | 3:55 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "To Susan On the West Coast Waiting" | 3:13 |
2. | "Atlantis" | 4:54 |
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Release history
Region | Date | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | November 1968 | [citation needed] |
United States | March 1969 | [citation needed] |
Georg Danzer version
"Atlantis" | ||||
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Single by Georg Danzer | ||||
from the album Menschliche Wärme | ||||
Released | 3 January 1984 | |||
Length | 4:37 | |||
Label | Polydor | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Georg Danzer | |||
Georg Danzer singles chronology | ||||
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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
- Atlantis - 4:25
- Die Türken - 4:55
CD single
- "Atlantis" (radio edit) - 3:44
- "Atlantis" (acoustic edit) - 3:50
Charts
Chart (1984) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] | 19 |
No Angels version
"Atlantis" | ||||
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Polydor | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Leslie Mándoki | |||
No Angels singles chronology | ||||
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Production and recording
In the late 1990s,
Release and reception
"Atlantis" served as the band's fourth single along with "
Upon its release, "When the Angels Sing"/"Atlantis" debuted at No. 5 on the
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
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Atlantis" (Radio Mix) |
| Mándoki | 4:14 |
2. | "When the Angels Sing" (New Radio Mix) |
| Ries | 3:47 |
3. | "When the Angels Sing" (Christmas Mix) |
| Ries | 3:56 |
4. | "When the Angels Sing" (Special X-Mas Mix) |
| Ries | 4:08 |
5. | "Atlantis" (Submarine Mix) |
| Mándoki | 4:00 |
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Elle'ments.[16]
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Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Austria (IFPI Austria)[22] | Gold | 20,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[23] | Gold | 250,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Other cover versions
- In 1993, doom metal band Trouble released a cover of Atlantis, with additional material, on their album Manic Frustration and titled it "Breathe..."
- In 1999, German actor Thorsten Feller covered the song under the pseudonym Feller.[24] T
- In 2000, Donovan did a parody version for his cameo in the Futurama episode 'The Deep South', in which he describes the lost city of Atlanta.
References
- ^ Fontenot, Robert (29 October 2015). "What is Folk-Rock Music?". ThoughtCo.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ ISBN 0853239193
- ^ a b c d e Peitz, Dirk (23 November 2001). "Mit 'Atlantis' aus der Versenkung". Rhein Zeitung. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
- ^ Goldmine Magazine, 10 October 2008.
- ^ "Donovan – Atlantis" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Donovan – Atlantis" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Donovan – Atlantis" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Donovan" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz.
- ^ "Donovan – Atlantis". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Donovan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Donovan – Atlantis" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1969" (in German). Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Georg Danzer – Atlantis" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d "When the Angels Sing / Atlantis". Discogs. 19 November 2001. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
- ^ a b c "No Angels & Donovan – Atlantis / When The Angels Sing" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts (2002)". Offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- ^ a b c "No Angels & Donovan – Atlantis / When The Angels Sing" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ a b c "No Angels & Donovan – Atlantis / When The Angels Sing". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2002". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ "Austrian single certifications – No Angels – Atlantis" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (No Angels; 'When the Angels Sing')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
- ^ "Serienstar singt". Berliner-Kurier.de. 4 June 1999.