Secret Garden (T'Pau song)

"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 number 18 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for seven weeks.

"Secret Garden"
Single by T'Pau
from the album Rage
B-side"This Girl"
Released19 September 1988 (1988-09-19)[1]
Length4:09
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Roy Thomas Baker
T'Pau singles chronology
"I Will Be With You"
(1988)		 "Secret Garden"
(1988)		 "Road to Our Dream"
(1988)

Background

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]

Critical reception

On its 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] Nancy Culp of Record Mirror wrote, "Leaving behind their girlie wimpo ballads, T'Pau prove that between them, they have more than one set of balls. For a T'Pau record, this isn't bad, even if Carol does sound like Mickey Mouse."[8] Andrew Stephens of The Age stated, "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."[9] Music & Media wrote, "A fairly good song in a Pretenders mould. Very radio-friendly."[10]

Track listings

7-inch single[11]

A. "Secret Garden" – 4:05
B. "This Girl" – 4:01

12-inch single and Japanese mini-album[12][13][14]

A1. "Secret Garden" – 4:05
B1. "This Girl" – 4:01
B2. "You Never Notice Me" (live at Hammersmith Odeon, 30 March 1988) – 4:02

CD single[15]

  1. "Secret Garden" – 4:05
  2. "This Girl" – 4:01
  3. "You Never Notice Me" (live at Hammersmith Odeon, 30 March 1988) – 4:03
  4. "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

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
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] 55
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 8
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 18
West Germany (Official German Charts)[19] 66

References
  1. "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 17 September 1988. p. 40. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  2. "Plenty of heart and soul as T'Pau return". This is Cornwall. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  3. YouTube (30 November 2010). "T'pau - Secret Garden". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  4. YouTube (3 June 2010). "T'pau - Secret Garden". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  5. YouTube. "T'pau - Secret Garden". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  6. YouTube (24 July 2009). "T'Pau - Secret Garden (TV-Performance)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  7. Logan, Goss, Craig, Matt (21 September 1988). "Singles". Smash Hits.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. Culp, Nancy (1 October 1988). "45". Record Mirror. p. 37. ISSN 0144-5804.
  9. Stephens, Andrew (4 November 1988). "Singles". The Age.
  10. "Previews: Singles". Music & Media. 15 October 1988.
  11. Secret Garden (UK 7-inch single sleeve). T'Pau. Siren Records. 1988. SRN 93.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Secret Garden (UK 12-inch single sleeve). T'Pau. Siren Records. 1988. SRNT 93.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. Secret Garden (UK limited 12-inch single sleeve). T'Pau. Siren Records. 1988. SRNTP 93.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Secret Garden (Japanese mini-album liner notes). T'Pau. Siren Records, Virgin Records. 1988. VJD-12028.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. Secret Garden (UK CD single liner notes). T'Pau. Siren Records. 1988. SRNCD 93.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 44. 29 October 1988. p. 25. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Secret Garden". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  18. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  19. "Offiziellecharts.de – T'Pau – Secret Garden" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
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