The Gift (INXS song): Difference between revisions

"The Gift"
"The Gift"
Single by INXS
from the album Full Moon, Dirty Hearts
Released	October 1993
Genre	Industrial rock
Length	4:03
Label	EastWest
Songwriter(s)	Kirk Pengilly; Jon Farriss; Michael Hutchence;
Producer(s)	Mark Opitz; INXS;
INXS singles chronology
Music video
	"The Gift" on YouTube

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"The Gift" is the first single released from Australian rock band INXS's ninth studio album, Full Moon, Dirty Hearts (1993). The song was written by Kirk Pengilly, Jon Farriss and Michael Hutchence. Upon its release in October 1993 by East West Records, it reached number two in Portugal, number six on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, and number 16 in Australia. The accompanying music video was banned by MTV due to featuring controversial content.

Music video

The music video for "The Gift" dramatises issues ranging from war and terrorism to famine and pollution with the band appearing to crash through the TV screen in anger. The video was banned by MTV owing to its use of Holocaust and Gulf War footage.^[2]

In an interview with the director and long-term collaborator Richard Lowenstein: "The video uses harrowing visuals in order to portray man's ability to create havoc and destruction. The message behind the video is to show how as viewers, we have become accepting of, and increasingly apathetic to images of gross human suffering and violence."^[3]

B-sides

The B-sides on the first of two UK CD Single releases include two remixes of "The Gift", a live version of "Heaven Sent", and a cover of Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild", which was specially recorded for the April 1993 launch of Virgin Radio in the UK.^[4]

Track listings

CD single 1

"The Gift"
"The Gift" (Bonus Beats mix)
"Born to Be Wild"

CD single 2

"The Gift"
"The Gift" (extended mix)
"Heaven Sent" (live)

CD single 3

"The Gift"
"Born to Be Wild"
"The Gift" (extended mix)
"The Gift" (Bonus Beat mix)
"Heaven Sent" (live)

7-inch and cassette single

"The Gift"
"The Gift" (extended mix)

Charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[5]	16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[6]	36
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[7]	27
Europe (European Hit Radio)^[8]	28
Ireland (IRMA)^[9]	25
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[10]	38
Portugal (AFP)^[11]	2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[12]	32
UK Singles (OCC)^[13]	11
UK Airplay (Music Week)^[14]	32
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[15]	6

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Australia	October 1993	CD cassette	EastWest	^[5]
United Kingdom	11 October 1993	7-inch vinyl CD cassette	Mercury	^[16]
Japan	21 December 1993	CD	EastWest	^[17]

References

^ Wicks, Todd (1998). "INXS". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 577–578.
^ "INXS". NME. 18 October 2023.
^ "welcome back and other stuff" (TXT). Inxsweb.com. 25 August 1993. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
^ "Absolute Radio loses its virginity". News.bbc.co.uk. 2 September 2008.
^ ^a ^b "INXS – The Gift". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^ "INXS – The Gift" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 44. 30 October 1993. p. 21. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 45. 6 November 1993. p. 29. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Gift". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^ "INXS – The Gift". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 47. 20 November 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^ "INXS – The Gift". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^ "The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 30 October 1993. p. 32. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
^ "INXS Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^ "Single Releases". Music Week. 9 October 1993. p. 27.
^ "ギフト | INXS" [Gift | INXS] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 22 March 2024.

[Wicks_1998-1] Wicks, Todd (1998). "INXS". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 577–578.

[2] "INXS". NME. 18 October 2023.

[3] "welcome back and other stuff" (TXT). Inxsweb.com. 25 August 1993. Retrieved 29 March 2022.

[4] "Absolute Radio loses its virginity". News.bbc.co.uk. 2 September 2008.

[aus-5] "INXS – The Gift". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2 October 2020.

[sc_Flanders_INXS-6] "INXS – The Gift" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 October 2020.

[7] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 44. 30 October 1993. p. 21. Retrieved 2 October 2020.

[8] "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 45. 6 November 1993. p. 29. Retrieved 10 April 2024.

[sc_Ireland2_-9] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Gift". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 October 2020.

[sc_New_Zealand_INXS-10] "INXS – The Gift". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 October 2020.

[11] "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 47. 20 November 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 2 October 2020.

[sc_Sweden_INXS-12] "INXS – The Gift". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 October 2020.

[sc_UK_-13] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 October 2020.

[14] "The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 30 October 1993. p. 32. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[sc_Billboardalternativesongs_INXS-15] "INXS Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2020.

[16] "Single Releases". Music Week. 9 October 1993. p. 27.

[17] "ギフト | INXS" [Gift | INXS] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 22 March 2024.

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[3]

[4]

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@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 | artist     = [[INXS]]
 | album      = [[Full Moon, Dirty Hearts]]
-| released   = 23 October 1993
+| released   = {{start date|1993|10|df=y}}
-| recorded   = 1993
+| recorded   =
 | studio     =
+| genre      = [[Industrial rock]]<ref name = "Wicks 1998">{{cite book|first= Todd |last= Wicks |editor1-first= Gary |editor1-last= Graff |editor2-first= Daniel |editor2-last= Durchholz |year= 1998 |title= MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |chapter= INXS|publisher= [[Visible Ink Press]] |location= Detroit |pages= 577–578}}</ref>
-| venue      =
-| genre      = [[Hard rock]], [[grunge]]
+| length     = 4:03
+| label      = [[East West Records|EastWest]]
-| length     = 4:04
-| label      = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
 | writer     =
-* [[Michael Hutchence]]
+* [[Kirk Pengilly]]
 * [[Jon Farriss]]
+* [[Michael Hutchence]]
 | producer   =
 * [[Mark Opitz]]
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 | next_title = [[Please (You Got That ...)]]
 | next_year  = 1993
+| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Aqr9brikgIs|"The Gift"}}}}
 }}
-"'''The Gift'''" is the first single released from Australian [[Rock music|rock]] band [[INXS]]'s 1993 album, ''[[Full Moon, Dirty Hearts]]''. The song was written by [[Jon Farriss]] and [[Michael Hutchence]]. Upon its release, it reached number two in Portugal, number six on the US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Album Rock Tracks]] chart, and number 16 in Australia. The music video was banned by [[MTV]] due to featuring controversial content.
+"'''The Gift'''" is the first single released from Australian [[Rock music|rock]] band [[INXS]]'s ninth studio album, ''[[Full Moon, Dirty Hearts]]'' (1993). The song was written by [[Kirk Pengilly]], [[Jon Farriss]] and [[Michael Hutchence]]. Upon its release in October 1993 by [[East West Records]], it reached number two in Portugal, number six on the US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Album Rock Tracks]] chart, and number 16 in Australia. The accompanying music video was banned by [[MTV]] due to featuring controversial content.
 ==Music video==
-The music video for "The Gift" dramatises issues ranging from war and terrorism to famine and pollution with the band appearing to crash through the TV screen in anger. The video was banned by [[MTV]] owing to its use of Holocaust and Gulf War footage.<ref>https://www.nme.com/artists/inxs</ref>
+The music video for "The Gift" dramatises issues ranging from war and terrorism to famine and pollution with the band appearing to crash through the TV screen in anger. The video was banned by [[MTV]] owing to its use of Holocaust and Gulf War footage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/artists/inxs|title = INXS|website = [[NME]]| date=18 October 2023 }}</ref>
-In an interview with the director and long-term collaborator, [[Richard Lowenstein]]: "The video uses harrowing visuals in order to portray man's ability to create havoc and destruction. The message behind the video is to show how as viewers, we have become accepting of, and increasingly apathetic to images of gross human suffering and violence."<ref>http://inxsweb.com/fanres/list/1993/00-aug93.txt</ref>
+In an interview with the director and long-term collaborator [[Richard Lowenstein]]: "The video uses harrowing visuals in order to portray man's ability to create havoc and destruction. The message behind the video is to show how as viewers, we have become accepting of, and increasingly apathetic to images of gross human suffering and violence."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inxsweb.com/fanres/list/1993/00-aug93.txt|format=TXT|title= welcome back and other stuff|date=25 August 1993|website=Inxsweb.com|access-date=29 March 2022}}</ref>
 ==B-sides==
-The B-sides on the first of two UK CD Single releases include two remixes of "The Gift", a live version of "[[Heaven Sent (INXS song)|Heaven Sent]]", and a cover of [[Steppenwolf (band)|Steppenwolf's]] "[[Born to Be Wild]]", which was specially recorded for the April 1993 launch of [[Virgin Radio (UK)|Virgin Radio]] in the UK.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7593871.stm</ref>
+The B-sides on the first of two UK CD Single releases include two remixes of "The Gift", a live version of "[[Heaven Sent (INXS song)|Heaven Sent]]", and a cover of [[Steppenwolf (band)|Steppenwolf's]] "[[Born to Be Wild]]", which was specially recorded for the April 1993 launch of [[Virgin Radio (UK)|Virgin Radio]] in the UK.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7593871.stm|title = Absolute Radio loses its virginity|website=News.bbc.co.uk|date = 2 September 2008}}</ref>
 ==Track listings==
-'''CD single 1 (INXCD25)'''
+* '''CD single 1'''
-# The Gift
+# "The Gift"
-# The Gift (Bonus Beats Mix)
+# "The Gift" (Bonus Beats mix)
-# [[Born to Be Wild]]
+# "[[Born to Be Wild]]"
-'''CD single 2 (INXCT 25)'''
+* '''CD single 2'''
-# The Gift
+# "The Gift"
-# The Gift (Extended Mix)
+# "The Gift" (extended mix)
-# Heaven Sent (Live)
+# "Heaven Sent" (live)
-'''CD single 3 (Atlantic 85722-2)'''
+* '''CD single 3'''
-# The Gift
+# "The Gift"
-# Born to Be Wild
+# "Born to Be Wild"
-# The Gift (Extended Mix)
+# "The Gift" (extended mix)
-# The Gift (Bonus Beat Mix)
+# "The Gift" (Bonus Beat mix)
-# Heaven Sent (Live)
+# "Heaven Sent" (live)
-'''7-inch vinyl and cassette single (INXS25)'''
+* '''7-inch and cassette single'''
-# The Gift
+# "The Gift"
-# The Gift (Extended Mix)
+# "The Gift" (extended mix)
 ==Charts==
@@ Line 65: / Line 66: @@
 !Peak<br />position
 |-
-{{single chart|Australia|16|artist=INXS|song=The Gift|rowheader=true|access-date=2 October 2020}}
+{{single chart|Australia|16|artist=INXS|song=The Gift|rowheader=true|access-date=2 October 2020|refname="aus"}}
 |-
 {{single chart|Flanders|36|artist=INXS|song=The Gift|rowheader=true|access-date=2 October 2020}}
 |-
-!scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-10-30.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=10|issue=44|page=21|date=30 October 1993|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref>
+!scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-10-30.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=10|issue=44|date=30 October 1993|page=21|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref>
-|27
+| 27
+|-
+!scope="row"|Europe (European Hit Radio)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-11-06.pdf|title=EHR Top 40|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=10|issue=45|date=6 November 1993|page=29|access-date=10 April 2024}}</ref>
+| 28
 |-
 {{single chart|Ireland2|25|song=The Gift|rowheader=true|access-date=2 October 2020}}
@@ Line 76: / Line 80: @@
 {{single chart|New Zealand|38|artist=INXS|song=The Gift|rowheader=true|access-date=2 October 2020}}
 |-
-!scope="row"|Portugal ([[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|AFP]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-11-20.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=10|issue=47|page=20|date=20 November 1993|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref>
+!scope="row"|Portugal ([[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|AFP]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-11-20.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=10|issue=47|date=20 November 1993|page=20|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref>
-|2
+| 2
 |-
 {{single chart|Sweden|32|artist=INXS|song=The Gift|rowheader=true|access-date=2 October 2020}}
 |-
 {{single chart|UK|11|date=19931023|rowheader=true|access-date=2 October 2020}}
+|-
+!scope="row"|UK Airplay (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-10-30.pdf|title=The Airplay Chart|magazine=[[Music Week]]|date=30 October 1993|page=32|access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref>
+| 32
 |-
 {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|6|artist=INXS|rowheader=true|access-date=2 October 2020}}
+|}
+==Release history==
+{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
+!scope="col"|Region
+!scope="col"|Date
+!scope="col"|Format(s)
+!scope="col"|Label(s)
+!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
+|-
+!scope="row"|Australia
+|October 1993
+|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}
+|[[East West Records|EastWest]]
+|<ref name="aus"/>
+|-
+!scope="row"|United Kingdom
+|11 October 1993
+|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}
+|[[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
+|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=27|date=9 October 1993}}</ref>
+|-
+!scope="row"|Japan
+|21 December 1993
+|CD
+|EastWest
+|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/10710/products/37088/1/|title=ギフト {{!}} INXS|trans-title=Gift {{!}} INXS|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref>
 |}
@@ Line 95: / Line 129: @@
 [[Category:1993 singles]]
 [[Category:1993 songs]]
-[[Category:Atlantic Records singles]]
+[[Category:East West Records singles]]
 [[Category:INXS songs]]
+[[Category:Mercury Records singles]]
 [[Category:Music video controversies]]
 [[Category:Song recordings produced by Mark Opitz]]

v t e INXS
Garry Gary Beers Andrew Farriss Jon Farriss Tim Farriss J.D. Fortune Ciaran Gribbin Michael Hutchence Kirk Pengilly Jon Stevens
Studio albums	INXS Underneath the Colours Shabooh Shoobah The Swing Listen Like Thieves Kick X Welcome to Wherever You Are Full Moon, Dirty Hearts Elegantly Wasted Switch Original Sin
EPs	Dekadance Bang the Drum
Compilations	INXSIVE The Greatest Hits Shine Like It Does: The Anthology (1979–1997) The Best of INXS Stay Young 1979–1982 Definitive INXS The Years 1979–1997 INXS²: The Remixes Original Sin – The Collection Taste It: The Collection The Very Best
Live albums	Live Baby Live Live in Aspen INXS: Live at Barker Hangar Live at Wembley Stadium 1991 INXS: Live Baby Live Wembley Stadium
Singles	"Simple Simon" "Just Keep Walking" "The Loved One" "Stay Young" "Night of Rebellion" "The One Thing" "Don't Change" "To Look at You" "Black and White" "Original Sin" "I Send a Message" "Burn for You" "Dancing on the Jetty" "What You Need" "This Time" "Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain)" "Listen Like Thieves" "Good Times" "Need You Tonight" "Mediate" "New Sensation" "Devil Inside" "Never Tear Us Apart" "Mystify" "Suicide Blonde" "Disappear" "By My Side" "Bitter Tears" "The Stairs" "Shining Star" "Heaven Sent" "Baby Don't Cry" "Not Enough Time" "Taste It" "Beautiful Girl" "The Gift" "Please (You Got That ...)" "Time" "Freedom Deep" "The Strangest Party (These Are the Times)" "Elegantly Wasted" "Everything" "Don't Lose Your Head" "Searching" "Precious Heart" "I'm So Crazy" "Tight" "One of My Kind" "I Get Up" "Pretty Vegas" "Afterglow" "Devil's Party" "Perfect Strangers" "God's Top Ten" "Dream on Black Girl (Original Sin)"
Related articles	Discography Dogs in Space INXS: Never Tear Us Apart Jimmy Barnes Make My Video Max Q Michael Hutchence (album) Rock Star: INXS The Dead Daisies Mystify: Michael Hutchence Mystify: A Musical Journey with Michael Hutchence Original Sin – The Seven Sins
Category