Atlantis (song)

Infobox Single |
Name = Atlantis
Artist = Donovan
from Album =


A-side = "To Susan on the West Coast Waiting" (U.S.)
B-side = "I Love My Shirt"
Released = November 1968 (UK)
March 1969 (US)
Format = vinyl record 7"
Producer = Mickie Most
Recorded = May 1968
Genre = Folk
Length = 4:58
Last single = "The Hurdy Gurdy Man"
(1968)
This single = "Atlantis"
(1968)
Next single = "Barabajagal"
(1969)

"Atlantis" is a Folk-pop song written and recorded by British singer Donovan and released as a single in 1968.

The song was played during the famous scene in "Goodfellas" in which Billy Batts is "whacked". It is also played in "The Girl Next Door", when the main characters return to the prom after shooting their movie. It is also featured in the animated sitcom "Futurama", in the episode The Deep South.

1968 version

Theme

The introduction is a quiet monologue regarding the idea that Atlantis was a highly advanced antediluvian civilization, and that Atlantean colonists were the basis of the mythological gods of ancient times. Aware of their fate, the Atlanteans sent out ships to carry their masters to safety, and these people were responsible for bringing civilization and culture to primitive humans. When the song begins in earnest, it conveys the message that the singer's true love may be in Atlantis. The overall theme is common for the 1960s: fanciful mythology as the symbol of the counterculture movement, with the hope that true love will be found if ever "Atlantis" can be reached. The song shows heavy influences from The Beatles, and, in fact, Paul McCartney is responsible for the tambourine playing and singing backing vocals.

Release and reception

Contract disputes at the time caused a complicated series of different releases in the United Kingdom and United States. It was originally released in the UK 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 producers were proved wrong when the popularity of "Atlantis" far surpassed that of its A-side. Paul McCartney was known to have contributed to the recording, which may have been partially responsible for the song's radio success (reaching #7 on the Billboard charts), and the song itself became an anthem of the hippie movement.

Charts

Infobox Single |
Name = Atlantis
Artist = No Angels & Donovan
from Album = and Now... Us!


A-side = "When the Angels Sing"
Released = November 19, 2001
Format = Digital download, vinyl single, CD maxi single
Producer = Leslie Mandoki
Recorded = 2000, Park Studios,
(Tutzing, Germany)
Genre = Pop, europop
Length = 4:14
Certification = 2x Gold (AUI, GER)
Misc = Extra chronology
Artist = No Angels
Last single = "There Must Be an Angel"
(2001)
This single = "Atlantis/When the Angels Sing"
(2001)
Next single = "Something about Us"
(2002)

2001 version

Recording

In the late 1990s, Walt Disney Feature Animation started production on "", an animated sci-fi mixed action movie, based on the Atlantis saga. Interested in slipping in his 1968 version to the , Donovan immediately opened negotiations with the studios; however Disney Pictures was barely interested in the song and plans eventually fell through.cite web|title="Mit "Atlantis" aus der Versenkung"|work=Rhein Zeitung|url=http://rhein-zeitung.de/on/01/11/23/magazin/news/donovan.html|accessdate=2007-12-23] By 2000, Disney had committed German producer Leslie Mandoki to produce a concomitant album for the German-speaking music markets, entitled "Stars Inspired by Atlantis".cite web|title="Mit "Atlantis" aus der Versenkung"|work=Rhein Zeitung|url=http://rhein-zeitung.de/on/01/11/23/magazin/news/donovan.html|accessdate=2007-12-23] After stumbling over the original song, Mandoki approached Donovan by phone, describing him his idea of a collaboration with German newcomers No Angels, with whom Mandoki had previously worked on their debut "Elle'ments" (2001), and a few days later Donovan and the band met at the Lake Starnberg.cite web|title="Mit "Atlantis" aus der Versenkung"|work=Rhein Zeitung|url=http://rhein-zeitung.de/on/01/11/23/magazin/news/donovan.html|accessdate=2007-12-23]

Music video

The single's music video was directed by Hannes Rossacher for DoRo Productions and shot in Berlin, Germany in fall 2001.cite web|title="Mit "Atlantis" aus der Versenkung"|work=Rhein Zeitung|url=http://rhein-zeitung.de/on/01/11/23/magazin/news/donovan.html|accessdate=2007-12-23] It shows Donovan and the band in a recording studio accented by underwater settings, backdrops, and scenes inspired by the animated movie.

Charts

Formats and tracklistings

These are the formats and track listings of major single-releases of "Atlantis."

;CD single
# "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

Credits and personnel

* Vocals: N. Benaissa, L. Diakovska, Donovan, S. Mölling, V. Petruo, J. Wahls
* Producer: Leslie Mandoki
* Keyboards and bass: Laszlo Bencker
* drums and percussion: L. Mandoki
* Guitars: Peter Wölpe, George Kopecsni
* Mixing and recording: Mike "Spike" Streefkerk
** Additional engineering: Stefan Zeh, Pit Floss
** Assistant engineer: Felix Knöchel

References

External links

*

s-ttl | title = Swiss number-one single
years = March 25 1969 – April 21 1969