"Big Mistake" is a song by Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia. It was written by Imbruglia and Mark Goldenberg for Imbruglia's debut album Left of the Middle (1997). The song was released as the album's second single on 2 March 1998 by RCA and BMG. Although less successful than "Torn", "Big Mistake" still proved to be a hit in certain territories, reaching number two in Iceland and the United Kingdom, number five in Spain and number six in Australia. It was not released in the United States or Canada.

"Big Mistake"
Single by Natalie Imbruglia
from the album Left of the Middle
B-side
  • "Something Better"
  • "Tomorrow Morning"
  • "I've Been Watching You"
Released2 March 1998 (1998-03-02)
Length
  • 4:34 (album version)
  • 3:54 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mark Goldenberg
Natalie Imbruglia singles chronology
"Torn"
(1997)
"Big Mistake"
(1998)
"Wishing I Was There"
(1998)
Music video
"Big Mistake" on YouTube

Critical reception edit

British magazine Music Week gave "Big Mistake" five out of five, writing, "Swooning and sultry vocals, more Morissette than Texas, and a dream of guitar song to challenge Madonna for the number one spot. And she wrote it herself."[1]

Music video edit

The music video for "Big Mistake" was directed by Alison Maclean and filmed in Barcelona, Spain.[2][3] It features Imbruglia walking through the streets of Barcelona while being pursued by a male suitor, and begins with her walking, oblivious to things that are happening around her. Meanwhile, the man follows her down the street with a bouquet of flowers. While in pursuit of Imbruglia, several obstacles prevent him from reaching her. The video concludes with her riding away from her suitor in the back of a stranger's red pickup truck. The video was inspired by the traffic accident scene in Jean-Luc Godard's film Week End.[3]

Track listings edit

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[26] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history edit

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 2 March 1998 CD [28]
Sweden 20 March 1993 [29]

References edit

  1. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 14 February 1998. p. 16. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  2. ^ Glorious: The Singles 1997–2007 (CD+DVD liner notes). Sony BMG. September 2007.
  3. ^ a b Raskin, Richard. "An interview with Alison Maclean on Kitchen Sink". P.O.V. Aarhus University. 11 April 1998. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  4. ^ Big Mistake (Australian CD single liner notes). Natalie Imbruglia. RCA Records, BMG. 1998. 74321567452.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Big Mistake (UK CD1 liner notes). Natalie Imbruglia. RCA Records, BMG. 1998. 74321566782.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Big Mistake (UK CD2 liner notes). Natalie Imbruglia. RCA Records, BMG. 1998. 74321566792.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Big Mistake (UK cassette single sleeve). Natalie Imbruglia. RCA Records, BMG. 1998. 74321566784.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Big Mistake (European CD single liner notes). Natalie Imbruglia. RCA Records, BMG. 1998. 74321567052.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ "Natalie Imbruglia – Big Mistake". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  10. ^ "Natalie Imbruglia – Big Mistake" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  11. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 12. 21 March 1998. p. 11. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (12.3 – 19.3 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 13 March 1998. p. 22. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  13. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Big Mistake". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  14. ^ "Hits of the World – Italy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 19. 9 May 1998. p. 58. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 19, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  16. ^ "Natalie Imbruglia – Big Mistake" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  17. ^ "Natalie Imbruglia – Big Mistake". Top 40 Singles.
  18. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  19. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  20. ^ "Natalie Imbruglia – Big Mistake". Singles Top 100.
  21. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  22. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  23. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1999. p. 34. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  24. ^ "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7.
  25. ^ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  26. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  27. ^ "British single certifications – Natalie Imbruglia". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  28. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 28 February 1998. p. 27. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  29. ^ "Natalie Imbruglia: Discografi". click2music.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 26 February 2005. Retrieved 29 November 2023.