Atlantis (Donovan song) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Atlantis" |
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| Single by Donovan | ||||
| from the album Barabajagal | ||||
| B-side |
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| Released |
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| Recorded | May 1968 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:58 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Donovan Leitch | |||
| Producer(s) | Donovan, Richard Podolor | |||
| Donovan singles chronology | ||||
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"Atlantis" is a famous song by the Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was first released as a single in 1968. The song quickly became a huge hit around the world. It reached number one in Switzerland in 1969 and was very popular in Germany, South Africa, Canada, and Austria. In the United States, it reached number 7 on the music charts.
Years later, in 2001, Donovan worked with the German pop group No Angels. They re-recorded "Atlantis" for the end credits of the Walt Disney movie Atlantis: The Lost Empire. This new version was also released as a single and became a top-five hit in Austria and Germany.
Contents
Donovan's Original Song
What the Song is About
The song "Atlantis" starts with a calm, spoken part. Donovan tells a story about the mythical lost city of Atlantis. This ancient civilization is said to have existed long ago.
The second part of the song becomes more lively. Donovan sings about finding his true love in Atlantis. In the 1960s, many artists used fantasy and myths in their songs. This often represented the counterculture movement. It showed a hope for finding a better world or true love, much like rediscovering Atlantis.
There were rumors that Paul McCartney from The Beatles sang backup on "Atlantis." However, Donovan said in an interview in 2008 that this was not true.
Original Track List
The 7-inch single version of "Atlantis" included these songs:
- Atlantis - 4:25
- Die Türken - 4:55
The No Angels Version
| "Atlantis" | ||||
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| Single by No Angels | ||||
| Released | November 19, 2001 | |||
| Recorded | 2000 | |||
| Studio | Park Studios, (Tutzing, Germany) |
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| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 4:14 | |||
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| Songwriter(s) | Donovan Leitch | |||
| Producer(s) | Leslie Mándoki | |||
| No Angels singles chronology | ||||
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How the Song Was Made
In the late 1990s, Walt Disney Animation Studios began working on Atlantis: The Lost Empire. This was an animated science fiction and action film about the Atlantis story. Donovan wanted his 1968 song to be in the movie's soundtrack. He talked with the Disney studios, but they were not very interested in using his original song.
By 2000, Disney asked a German producer named Leslie Mándoki to create an album. This album, called Stars Inspired by Atlantis, was for German-speaking countries. Mándoki heard Donovan's original song and loved it. He contacted Donovan and suggested a collaboration with a new German pop group, No Angels. Mándoki had worked with No Angels before on their first album. A few days later, Donovan and the band met near Lake Starnberg in Germany to record the new version of "Atlantis."
Music Video
The music video for the No Angels and Donovan version was filmed in Berlin, Germany in late 2001. It was directed by Hannes Rossacher. The video shows Donovan and the band in a recording studio. The studio is decorated with underwater scenes and backgrounds inspired by the animated movie.
Track List for No Angels Version
The maxi single for the No Angels version included several tracks:
- Atlantis (Radio Mix) - 4:14
- When the Angels Sing (New Radio Mix) - 3:47
- When the Angels Sing (Christmas Mix) - 3:56
- When the Angels Sing (Special X-Mas Mix) - 4:08
- Atlantis (Submarine Mix) - 4:00
People Who Worked on the Song
Many talented people helped create the No Angels version of "Atlantis":
- Nadja Benaissa – vocals
- Laszlo Bencker – keyboards, bass
- Lucy Diakovska – vocals
- Pit Floss – extra engineering
- Felix Knöchel – assistant engineer
- George Kopecsni – acoustic guitar
- Leslie Mándoki – producer, drums, percussion
- Sandy Mölling – vocals
- Vanessa Petruo – vocals
- Mike "Spike" Streefkerk – mixing
- Jessica Wahls – vocals
- Peter Wölpe – guitar
- Stefan Zeh – extra engineering
Chart Performance
The No Angels and Donovan version of "Atlantis" was very successful in several countries.
| Chart (2001–02) | Peak position |
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| Austria | 5 |
| Germany | 5 |
| Switzerland | 16 |
Awards and Certifications
The song received awards for its sales:
| Region | Certification | Sales |
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| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Gold | 15,000x |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 250,000^ |
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*sales figures based on certification alone |
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Images for kids
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No Angels version cover
