Secret Garden (T'Pau song)
"Secret Garden" | ||||
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Single by T'Pau | ||||
from the album Rage | ||||
B-side | "This Girl" | |||
Released | 19 September 1988[1] | |||
Length | 4:09 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Roy Thomas Baker | |||
T'Pau singles chronology | ||||
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"Secret Garden" is a song by British band T'Pau, released as the lead single from their second studio album, Rage (1988). It was written by vocalist Carol Decker and rhythm guitarist Ron Rogers, and produced by Roy Thomas Baker. Released on 19 September 1988, "Secret Garden" reached No. 18 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for seven weeks.
Speaking to This Is Cornwall in 2013, Decker said of the song: "We had a lot of gay fans because of "Secret Garden", which is about being yourself. Who knew? It's an overused phrase but some of our songs are the soundtrack of people's lives."[2]
Promotion[]
The song's music video was filmed in Symonds Yat, Ross-on-Wye. The band would also mime the song on the UK TV shows Top of the Pops,[3] Going Live!,[4] and The Late Late Breakfast Show.[5] In Ireland, the band performed the song on The Late Late Show.[6]
Reception[]
Upon release, "Secret Garden" was reviewed by Bros, as guest reviewers for Smash Hits. Craig Logan commented: "I really like this. It's rockier than their usual stuff and it's a good tune." Matt Goss added: "Her vocals have really improved on this, great harmonies, much much better vocals."[7] Andrew Stephens of The Age commented: "Brisk, tough and energetic, this song goes nowhere particularly inspiring but it is attractive with its basic spiritual emphasis, lying beneath an optimistic, not-too-commercial rock beat."[8] Music & Media wrote: "A fairly good song in a Pretenders mould. Very radio-friendly."[9]
Track listings[]
7-inch single
- "Secret Garden" – 4:05
- "This Girl" – 4:01
12-inch single
- "Secret Garden" – 4:05
- "This Girl" - 4:01
- "You Never Notice Me" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon 30.03.88) – 4:03
12-inch single (UK special limited edition)
- "Secret Garden" – 4:05
- "This Girl" – 4:01
- "You Never Notice Me" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon 30.03.88) – 4:03
CD single
- "Secret Garden" – 4:05
- "This Girl" – 4:01
- "You Never Notice Me" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon 30.03.88) – 4:03
- "Crying" – 3:55
Personnel[]
T'Pau
- Carol Decker – lead vocals
- Dean Howard – lead guitar
- Ronnie Rogers – rhythm guitar
- Michael Chetwood – keyboards
- Paul Jackson – bass guitar
- Tim Burgess – drums
Additional musicians
- Gary Barnacle – saxophone on "This Girl"
- Peter Thoms – trombone on "This Girl"
- John Thirkell, Simon Gardener – trumpet on "This Girl"
Production
- Roy Thomas Baker – producer (all tracks)
- Stephen W. Tayler – mixing on "Secret Garden", "This Girl" and "You Never Notice Me"
- Norman Goodman – engineer on "Secret Garden" and "This Girl"
- T'Pau – mixing on "You Never Notice Me"
- Jerry Napier – engineer on "Crying"
Other
- Chris West – back cover artwork
- Mark Millington – sleeve design, art direction
- Tim O'Sullivan – photography
Charts[]
Chart (1988) | Peak position |
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Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] | 55 |
Ireland (IRMA)[11] | 8 |
UK Singles (OCC)[12] | 18 |
West Germany (Official German Charts)[13] | 66 |
References[]
- ^ "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 17 September 1988. p. 40. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ "Plenty of heart and soul as T'Pau return". This is Cornwall. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ^ YouTube (30 November 2010). "T'pau - Secret Garden". YouTube. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ^ YouTube (3 June 2010). "T'pau - Secret Garden". YouTube. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ^ YouTube. "T'pau - Secret Garden". YouTube. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ^ YouTube (24 July 2009). "T'Pau - Secret Garden (TV-Performance)". YouTube. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ^ Logan, Goss, Craig, Matt (21 September 1988). "Singles". Smash Hits.
- ^ Stephens, Andrew (4 November 1988). "Singles". The Age.
- ^ "Previews: Singles". Music & Media. 15 October 1988.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5 no. 44. 29 October 1988. p. 25. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Secret Garden". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – T'Pau – Secret Garden". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
External links[]
- "Secret Garden" at Discogs (list of releases)
- 1988 singles
- 1988 songs
- Song recordings produced by Roy Thomas Baker
- Songs written by Carol Decker
- Songs written by Ron Rogers
- T'Pau (band) songs
- Virgin Records singles