Music Metrics Vault

Natalie Imbruglia

Data updated on 2024-12-04 16:13:21 UTC
A singer and actor with a crystalline voice and empathic persona, Natalie Imbruglia became an international star with her smash hit "Torn'' and helped set the tone for adult alternative rock for years to come. Her 1997 cover of the Ednaswap song -- as well as that year's debut album, the equally successful Left of the Middle -- had a sensibility that was somewhat left of center, but its pretty execution resonated with the mainstream. Sometimes she favored an edgier approach, as on 2001's White Lilies Island, and sometimes a more straightforward one, as on 2005's Counting Down the Days, but she continued to have hits into the mid-2000s in Europe and her native Australia. She also pursued work in film and on television, including appearing as a judge for two seasons on the Australian version of The X Factor. When she returned to music with 2015's Male, a collection of covers of songs by male singer/songwriters, and 2021's Firebird, her first collection of original material in over a decade, her commitment to making creative yet broadly appealing pop was renewed.

Born in Sydney, Australia on February 4, 1975, Natalie Imbruglia first studied dance as a teenager, but she soon turned toward acting, appearing in commercials for Coca-Cola and Twisties before she turned 16. She landed her starring role on Neighbours in 1992 and she stayed with the show until 1994, after which she relocated to London with the intention of pursuing a singing career. After recording a four-song demo at the behest of her manager that included an early version of "Torn," RCA/BMG signed Imbruglia in 1996. The label released "Torn" in November 1997 and it became an immediate hit in the U.K., peaking at two and selling over a million copies. The song soon turned into an international sensation, reaching the Top Ten throughout Europe and Australia; although it only reached 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. (partially due to the lack of a CD single being released in the States), it topped the Billboard Airplay chart and stayed on that chart for weeks. Over the years, "Torn" remained a radio staple worldwide, breaking records in Australia and the U.K. in particular. The later singles "Big Mistake" reached the Top Ten in both the U.K. and Australia, while "Wishing I Was There" reached 19 and 24 in the U.K. and Australia, respectively.

Driven by the success of "Torn," Imbruglia's November 1997 full-length debut Left of the Middle was also hugely popular, topping the chart in Australia and becoming a Top 10 hit in the U.K. (where it was certified platinum) and the U.S. (where it was certified double platinum). Selling over seven million copies worldwide, it became the best-selling debut album from a female Australian singer. Imbruglia won several ARIA awards, including Best Female Artist, while "Torn" won the Single of the Year award and Left of the Middle won Best Pop Release. She also won the Brit Awards for International Newcomer and International Female Solo Artist, and earned Grammy nominations for Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Torn," and Best New Artist.

After recording a cover of INXS' "Never Tear Us Apart" with Tom Jones for his 1999 album Reload, Imbruglia returned with her second album, White Lilies Island, in November 2001. Named for the singer's home in Windsor, it featured her as a co-writer on every track and offered a slightly moodier style than Left of the Middle. Supported by the singles "That Day" (a top 20 hit in the U.K.) and "Wrong Impression" (a top 10 hit in the U.K. and the U.S.), White Lilies Island was certified gold in Australia and the U.K., it was a commercial disappointment in the U.S. Imbruglia recorded a third album for BMG in 2003 but the label chose not to release it. After she appeared in the film Johnny English, Imbruglia and BMG parted ways in 2004. She then signed with Brightside Recordings, which released Counting Down the Days in April 2005. A more traditional pop album than its predecessor, it featured production and songwriting contributions from Gary Clark, Eg White, Ben Hillier, Ash Howes, and Daniel Johns. The album topped the U.K. Albums Chart and was certified gold, while its first single, "Shiver," was a number eight hit there, becoming her biggest single in the U.K. since "Torn."

The compilation Glorious: The Singles 97-07 followed in 2007 and was another U.K. hit, debuting at number five. Imbruglia then separated from Brightside, signing with Island for the October 2009 album Come to Life. With contributions from Coldplay's Chris Martin, Brian Eno, and Daniel Johns, it was a splashy, ambitious affair but its commercial performance was poor, and Imbruglia took a break from music. In 2010, Imbruglia joined the Australian version of The X Factor as a judge; she also appeared in the U.K. version in a guest capacity. She performed in several films, including 2013's Underdogs and the following year's Among Ravens. Also in 2014, she appeared in a U.K. production of the Alan Ayckbourn play Things We Do for Love.

Imbruglia returned to music in July 2015 with Male. Her first album in six years and her first to be released in the U.S. since White Lilies Island, it was a collection of covers by male singer/songwriters that marked her first album for Sony Masterworks. The album reached number 20 in the U.K. and number 25 in Australia, and Imbruglia supported Male with tours in 2017 and 2018. During this time, she appeared on the television shows First Contact and Who Do You Think You Are?, and in 2019 she gave birth to her son. That year, she signed with her original label BMG and headed to the studio with collaborators including the Strokes' Albert Hammond, Jr. and the band's frequent producer Gus Oberg, as well as Romeo Stodart, KT Tunstall, and White. Arriving in September 2021, Firebird was an eclectic set that featured the optimistic single "Build It Better." ~ Heather Phares & Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Total plays

1.0 billion
Updated on 2024-12-04

Country

United Kingdom

Monthly listeners

9,359,272

Followers

1,058,716

Top Cities

  1. Chile
    194,077 listeners
  2. Australia
    154,383 listeners
  3. Brazil
    170,170 listeners
  4. Indonesia
    133,671 listeners
  5. Australia
    135,218 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Torn
Torn
853,452,164 4:05 1997-11-10
Torn - Acoustic MTV Unplugged
Torn - Acoustic MTV Unplugged
52,767,668 3:06 2001-11-20
Shiver
Shiver
27,449,530 3:45 2005-01-01
Wrong Impression
Wrong Impression
15,716,773 4:16 2001-01-01
Wishing I Was There
Wishing I Was There
7,774,753 3:52 1997-11-10
Smoke
Smoke
5,630,636 4:37 1997-11-10
Big Mistake
Big Mistake
5,034,877 4:33 1997-11-10
Instant Crush
Instant Crush
4,231,606 4:52 2015-07-24
Counting Down the Days
Counting Down the Days
3,494,744 4:09 2005-04-04
Torn
Torn
3,225,150 3:01 2008-09-26
Leave Me Alone
Leave Me Alone
2,776,278 4:23 1997-11-10
That Day
That Day
2,221,122 4:43 2001-01-01
Instant Crush (Radio Edit) - Bonus Track
Instant Crush (Radio Edit) - Bonus Track
1,965,353 3:27 2015-03-23
Build It Better
Build It Better
1,685,097 3:24 2021-06-18
Glorious
Glorious
1,681,442 3:26 2007-07-27
Beauty on the Fire
Beauty on the Fire
1,542,110 4:21 2001-01-01
One More Addiction
One More Addiction
1,424,889 3:31 1997-11-10
Friday I'm in Love
Friday I'm in Love
1,389,008 3:14 2015-07-24
Pigeons and Crumbs
Pigeons and Crumbs
1,231,871 5:21 1997-11-10
Never Tear Us Apart
Never Tear Us Apart
1,099,393 3:08 1999-01-01
Want
Want
1,007,150 4:26 2009-01-01
Nothing Missing
Nothing Missing
979,388 3:14 2021-09-24
Starting Today
Starting Today
849,937 2:56 2005-04-04
Left of the Middle
Left of the Middle
846,735 3:48 1997-11-10
Intuition
Intuition
833,565 3:24 1997-11-10
Pineapple Head
Pineapple Head
768,064 3:23 2005-01-01
Impressed
Impressed
763,254 4:49 1997-11-10
Don't You Think?
Don't You Think?
759,483 3:55 1997-11-10
City
City
707,974 4:34 1997-11-10
On My Way
On My Way
700,957 3:37 2021-08-17
I Won't Be Lost
I Won't Be Lost
651,111 3:52 2005-04-04
Cannonball
Cannonball
637,872 3:26 2015-07-24
The Summer
The Summer
610,482 3:16 2015-07-24
Come September
Come September
606,277 4:11 2001-01-01
Satellite
Satellite
575,343 3:06 2001-01-01
I Will Follow You into the Dark
I Will Follow You into the Dark
574,503 3:23 2015-07-24
Ultime Parole
Ultime Parole
564,720 2:54 2024-04-12
Let My Love Open the Door
Let My Love Open the Door
549,739 3:06 2015-07-24
Perfectly
Perfectly
538,412 3:23 2005-04-04
Identify
Identify
510,286 4:47 2007-09-10
Shiver - Edit
Shiver - Edit
489,127 3:20 2014-08-29
Do You Love?
Do You Love?
488,233 4:44 2001-01-01
Goodbye
Goodbye
468,617 5:01 2001-01-01
Maybe It's Great
Maybe It's Great
448,978 3:55 2021-07-16
Be with You
Be with You
389,365 3:41 2007-09-03
Stuck on the Moon
Stuck on the Moon
381,757 3:34 2007-09-03
Satisfied
Satisfied
373,992 3:28 2005-04-04
Naked as We Came
Naked as We Came
369,612 2:35 2015-07-24
Amelia
Amelia
365,398 4:22 2007-09-03
Lukas
Lukas
361,185 3:50 2009-10-02
Story of My Life
Story of My Life
357,252 4:05 2022-02-12
Against the Wall
Against the Wall
356,244 3:44 2007-09-03
When You're Sleeping
When You're Sleeping
352,436 3:05 2005-04-04
Everything Goes
Everything Goes
350,419 4:00 2001-01-01
The Wind
The Wind
347,158 2:13 2015-07-24
Troubled By The Way We Came Together
Troubled By The Way We Came Together
346,395 3:51 1999-01-01
Hurricane
Hurricane
346,141 3:39 2001-01-01
I Melt with You
I Melt with You
345,073 4:06 2015-07-24
Butterflies
Butterflies
343,759 4:56 2001-01-01
Sunlight
Sunlight
343,575 5:01 2001-01-01
Slow Down
Slow Down
340,703 3:31 2005-04-04
Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Only Love Can Break Your Heart
316,372 2:48 2015-07-24
What It Feels Like
What It Feels Like
291,085 3:54 2021-09-24
On The Run
On The Run
289,119 3:38 2005-04-04
Goodbye in His Eyes
Goodbye in His Eyes
287,522 4:33 2015-07-24
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
263,839 3:09 2005-04-04
Talk In Tongues
Talk In Tongues
263,429 3:30 2001-01-01
Scars
Scars
255,092 3:32 2009-10-02
My God
My God
238,290 4:04 2009-10-02
Just Like Old Times
Just Like Old Times
235,224 3:39 2021-09-24
When You Love Too Much
When You Love Too Much
213,003 3:08 2021-09-24
Come On Home
Come On Home
210,013 3:56 2005-04-04
The Waiting
The Waiting
208,193 3:15 2015-07-24
Twenty
Twenty
199,774 3:57 2009-10-02
Fun
Fun
197,673 4:22 2009-10-02
Invisible Things
Invisible Things
181,697 3:15 2021-09-24
Dive to the Deep
Dive to the Deep
165,555 3:54 2021-09-24
Honeycomb Child
Honeycomb Child
157,404 4:15 2005-04-04
Human Touch
Human Touch
153,025 4:17 2021-09-24
Wild About It
Wild About It
150,004 4:08 2009-10-02
Instant Crush - Commentary
Instant Crush - Commentary
142,343 0:54 2015-07-30
River
River
141,330 4:04 2021-09-24
Not Sorry
Not Sorry
138,788 3:11 2021-09-24
Change of Heart
Change of Heart
138,624 3:48 2021-09-24
Firebird
Firebird
123,955 4:55 2021-09-24
Cannonball - Commentary
Cannonball - Commentary
114,700 0:56 2015-07-30
The Summer - Commentary
The Summer - Commentary
110,961 1:07 2015-07-30
All The Roses
All The Roses
106,463 3:29 2009-10-02
Goodbye in His Eyes - Commentary
Goodbye in His Eyes - Commentary
101,752 1:17 2015-07-30
WYUT
WYUT
97,316 3:20 2009-10-02
Cameo
Cameo
86,899 3:13 2009-10-02
Friday I'm in Love - Commentary
Friday I'm in Love - Commentary
86,893 0:45 2015-07-30
Naked as We Came - Commentary
Naked as We Came - Commentary
82,740 0:55 2015-07-30
I Will Follow You into the Dark - Commentary
I Will Follow You into the Dark - Commentary
72,060 0:45 2015-07-30
Build It Better (KAT Remix)
Build It Better (KAT Remix)
64,360 3:35 2022-11-11
Let My Love Open the Door - Commentary
Let My Love Open the Door - Commentary
56,553 0:49 2015-07-30
I Melt with You - Commentary
I Melt with You - Commentary
53,266 0:35 2015-07-30
Want - Blunt Laser Remix
Want - Blunt Laser Remix
51,955 5:23 2009-01-01
The Wind - Commentary
The Wind - Commentary
50,532 0:53 2015-07-30
Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Commentary
Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Commentary
49,378 0:43 2015-07-30
The Waiting - Commentary
The Waiting - Commentary
48,530 0:36 2015-07-30
Always Never
Always Never
42,267 4:10 2002-01-22
Beauty On The Fire - Radio Mix
Beauty On The Fire - Radio Mix
27,982 3:53 2003-03-28
Wrong Impression - Radio Mix
Wrong Impression - Radio Mix
24,240 3:23 2002-01-22
Want - Album Edit
Want - Album Edit
22,208 3:35 2009-01-01
Want - The Shapeshifters Nocturnal Mix
Want - The Shapeshifters Nocturnal Mix
16,108 6:49 2009-01-01
Torn - Live
Torn - Live
14,919 5:04 2024-11-22
Want - Cassette Club Remix
Want - Cassette Club Remix
11,572 7:39 2009-01-01
Want - Buzz Junkies Club Remix
Want - Buzz Junkies Club Remix
10,843 5:59 2009-01-01
Want - Fraser T Smith Remix
Want - Fraser T Smith Remix
8,274 3:04 2009-01-01
Hide Behind The Sun
Hide Behind The Sun
7,518 3:38 2002-01-22
What It Feels Like - Live
What It Feels Like - Live
6,269 5:36 2024-11-22
Wrong Impression - Live
Wrong Impression - Live
3,798 3:36 2024-11-22
Wishing I Was There - Live
Wishing I Was There - Live
3,353 4:48 2024-11-22
Shiver - Live
Shiver - Live
3,234 3:57 2024-11-22
Smoke - Live
Smoke - Live
2,852 4:16 2024-11-22
Nothing Missing - Live
Nothing Missing - Live
2,700 3:33 2024-11-22
City - Live
City - Live
2,609 4:27 2024-11-22
Pigeons & Crumbs - Live
Pigeons & Crumbs - Live
2,415 5:38 2024-11-22
Big Mistake - Live
Big Mistake - Live
2,244 4:45 2024-11-22
Firebird - Live
Firebird - Live
2,178 4:59 2024-11-22
Build It Better - Live
Build It Better - Live
2,162 4:51 2024-11-22
Left of the Middle - Live
Left of the Middle - Live
2,039 4:05 2024-11-22
Just Like Old Times - Live
Just Like Old Times - Live
1,978 3:46 2024-11-22
One More Addiction - Live
One More Addiction - Live
1,965 3:30 2024-11-22
Leave Me Alone - Live
Leave Me Alone - Live
1,942 4:28 2024-11-22
Impressed - Live
Impressed - Live
1,868 4:26 2024-11-22
Something Better - Live
Something Better - Live
1,832 4:01 2024-11-22
Torn - Acoustic Cover
Torn - Acoustic Cover
< 1000 3:47 2019-05-10

New releases

London - Live
London - Live
2024-11-22
[Edsel]
Ultime Parole
Ultime Parole
2024-04-12
[Universal Music Italia S.r.l]
Ultime Parole
Ultime Parole
2024-04-12
[Universal Music Italia srL.]
Build It Better (KAT Remix)
Build It Better (KAT Remix)
2022-11-11
[BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.]
Story of My Life
Story of My Life
2022-02-12
[BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.]
Firebird
Firebird
2021-09-24
[BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.]
On My Way
On My Way
2021-08-17
[BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.]
Maybe It's Great
Maybe It's Great
2021-07-16
[BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.]
Build It Better
Build It Better
2021-06-18
[BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.]
Male (Track by Track Commentary)
Male (Track by Track Commentary)
2015-07-30
[Masterworks]
Male
Male
2015-07-29
[Masterworks]
Male
Male
2015-07-24
[Masterworks]
Instant Crush (Radio Edit)
Instant Crush (Radio Edit)
2015-03-23
[Masterworks]
Come To Life
Come To Life
2009-10-02
[Universal-Island Records Ltd.]
Want
Want
2009-01-01
[Universal-Island Records Ltd.]
Want
Want
2009-01-01
[Universal-Island Records Ltd.]
Want (Remix Bundle)
Want (Remix Bundle)
2009-01-01
[Universal-Island Records Ltd.]
Glorious: The Singles 97-07
Glorious: The Singles 97-07
2007-09-10
[Brightside Recordings]
Glorious: The Singles 97-07
Glorious: The Singles 97-07
2007-09-05
[Brightside Recordings]
Glorious: The Singles 97-07
Glorious: The Singles 97-07
2007-09-03
[Brightside Recordings]
Glorious
Glorious
2007-08-27
[Brightside Recordings]
Glorious
Glorious
2007-08-24
[Brightside Recordings]
Glorious
Glorious
2007-07-30
[Brightside Recordings]
Glorious
Glorious
2007-07-27
[Sony BMG Music UK]
Left Of The Middle / White Lillies Island
Left Of The Middle / White Lillies Island
2005-09-03
[Sony BMG Music Entertainment]
Counting Down The Days
Counting Down The Days
2005-04-08
[Brightside Recordings]
Counting Down The Days
Counting Down The Days
2005-04-08
[Brightside Recordings]
Counting Down The Days
Counting Down The Days
2005-04-04
[Brightside Recordings]
Shiver
Shiver
2005-01-01
[Sony BMG Music UK]
Wrong Impression - EP
Wrong Impression - EP
2002-01-22
[RCA Records Label]
Torn/Wishing I Was There
Torn/Wishing I Was There
2001-11-20
[RCA Records Label]
White Lilies Island
White Lilies Island
2001-11-06
[RCA Records Label]
White Lilies Island
White Lilies Island
2001-11-06
[RCA Records Label]
White Lilies Island
White Lilies Island
2001-11-05
[RCA Records Label]
White Lilies Island
White Lilies Island
2001-10-22
[RCA Records Label]
White Lilies Island
White Lilies Island
2001-01-01
[RCA Records Label]
White Lilies Island
White Lilies Island
2001-01-01
[RCA Records Label]
White Lilies Island
White Lilies Island
2001-01-01
[RCA Records Label]
Left Of The Middle
Left Of The Middle
1998-01-08
[RCA Records Label]
Left of the Middle
Left of the Middle
1997-12-01
[RCA Records Label]
Left Of The Middle
Left Of The Middle
1997-11-24
[RCA Records Label]
Left Of The Middle
Left Of The Middle
1997-11-10
[RCA Records Label]