"Torn" is a song written by Scott Cutler, Anne Preven, and Phil Thornalley in 1991. It is best known as Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia's 1997 debut single, which peaked at number one on the singles charts of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Spain, and Sweden, as well as on three US Billboard charts. Imbruglia's version sold over four million copies worldwide.
In 1993, Danish singer Lis Sørensen released the song in Danish under the title "" (, meaning 'burnt').
Cutler and Preven formed an alternative rock band, Ednaswap, in 1993. Ednaswap gave "Torn" its first formal English-language release in 1995, where it was released as a single from their self-titled debut. Later, in 1996, the first English-language cover, by American-Norwegian singer Trine Rein, was produced and released.
Early versions "Torn" was written in 1991 by Scott Cutler and Anne Preven with producer Phil Thornalley as a solo song for Preven. Cutler and Preven's band Ednaswap performed it live, but did not initially release a recording.
Ednaswap released a recorded version in 1995. The song followed the single "Glow" from their self-titled debut album. Thornalley and Cutler produced the session. The band later released several variations and remixes of the song as B-sides and on their album Wacko Magneto.
The first recording of the song was in 1993 by Danish singer Lis Sørensen as "Brændt" ("Burnt"). It was featured on her album Under stjernerne et sted ("Somewhere Below the Stars"), and was also a radio single. It became a hit in Denmark. Sørensen had received the song through music producer , as a suggestion for inclusion on her new album. The Danish lyrics were written by .
A version of the song was released in 1996 by American-Norwegian singer Trine Rein and released on her second album, Beneath My Skin (1996). Rein's version reached number 10 on the Norwegian chart. A music video was also produced to promote this version.
Natalie Imbruglia version
In 1997, Australian singer and actress Natalie Imbruglia, working with Thornalley, covered the song for her debut studio album, Left of the Middle (1997). Imbruglia's version, based on Trine Rein's version (The "Oh Yeah" adlibs Natalie sings towards the song's end originated on Rein's version) was recorded in Kilburn, London, with David Munday (lead guitar), Thornalley (bass, rhythm guitars), Chuck Sabo (drums), Henry Binns, Sam Hardaker (Zero 7) (drum programming) and Katrina Leskanich (background vocals). It was mixed by Nigel Godrich. Released as a single, Imbruglia's version became a worldwide hit.
Imbruglia received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the song, which lost to Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On". The accompanying music video for "Torn" features British actor Jeremy Sheffield.
Imbruglia also recorded an acoustic version of the song in 2001 for MTV Unplugged. The sheet music for "Torn" is published in the key of F major.
Critical reception Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "shuffling, acoustic-lined rocker", noting that it "has the rich texture and guitar flavor needed to win the props of rock radio." He added, "However, the song also has an infectious melody that will warm the heart of anyone with a hankering for a slice of pure pop. Imbruglia has a charming, heartfelt delivery mildly reminiscent of Jewel." Scottish newspaper Daily Record commented, "Gorgeous tune from a gorgeous lady"."Chart Slot". Daily Record. 12 December 1997. A reviewer from Music & Media stated that "this very convincing debut single" has taken the U.K. charts by storm, "and looks likely to do so elsewhere." Music Week rated it five out of five, picking it as Single of the Week. They wrote, "The former Neighbours star possesses a sweet voice and this song — produced by Nigel Godrich (Radiohead) — has a gentle beauty. Should be huge." The magazine's Alan Jones viewed it as an "excellent single", adding, "A star is reborn."
In 2013, "Torn" was declared the "Best Pop Song" on a top 10 list, part of a larger collection of songs by Q magazine in their special edition 1001 Best Songs Ever issue. In 2013, Billboard ranked "Torn" the number 26 Biggest Pop Song based only on pop radio charts compiled between 1992 and 2012. In 2005, "Torn" was listed at number 383 on Blender magazine's list of "500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born". In 2025, the song placed 32 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs.
Chart performance The physical single of Imbruglia's version of the song has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide, including more than 1 million copies in the UK alone. In the UK, as of 2012 it was the 85th biggest selling single of all time. The track peaked at number two for three weeks, from 2 to 22 November 1997, and then dropped to number four, it broke the airplay record in the UK (more than 2000 plays) for six weeks and was number one for fourteen weeks in the UK radio chart. On 24 September 2007, Natalie Imbruglia's version of the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number 70, on the strength of digital sales after her greatest hits album was released. In the Flanders region of Belgium, the single peaked at a number one for 7 consecutive weeks and charted for 22 weeks.
In the United States, the song peaked at number one on the Hot 100 Airplay chart for 11 consecutive weeks. As a result of rules preventing tracks which had not been released as physical singles from charting on the Billboard Hot 100, the song did not chart there during its peak of popularity in the United States. When the song was declining in popularity, the rules changed to allow airplay-only songs onto the chart, and the song charted for 2 weeks, peaking at number 42. In Canada, it peaked at number one on the RPM Top Singles chart for 12 nonconsecutive weeks, from 13 April to 8 June and 22 June to 6 July 1998. It was the most successful single of the year there.
In the Forbes list of the UK's 40 most-played songs of the 2010s, "Torn" was at number 40, and the only 1990s song in the list. It was the 19th-most-played song from 2000 to 2009 in the UK. In 2009, News.com.au reported that it was the most played song on Australian radio since 1990, played more than 300,500 times since its 1997 release, an average of 75 times a day, based on data compiled by the Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA).
Music video The music video to Natalie Imbruglia's cover version, filmed on 25 October 1997 under the direction of Alison Maclean, features a shot of an apartment where the angle of vision never changes. Shots of Imbruglia singing along with the song are interspersed with footage of her and British actor Jeremy Sheffield engaging in a romantically inclined conversation. These few scenes turn out to be B-roll footage, as the two actors are seen fumbling their lines and positions; and the director constantly steps into frame to redirect the two. During the last chorus, the apartment walls start wobbling and the crew comes to dismantle it, revealing the location to be a set inside a soundstage. Imbruglia begins to dance during the finishing guitar solo as her "world" crumbles around her.
For unknown reasons, the music video for the song on YouTube is blocked in Latin America (except Mexico and Brazil), Germany, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, the Middle East (except Turkey and Israel), China, Southeast Asia (except Vietnam) and New Zealand.
David Armand The song was pantomimed by David Armand for a 2005 HBO broadcast which spread on the internet. This popularity of the "Karaoke for the Deaf" performance by Armand as Johan Lippowitz resulted in the 2006 live performance (Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball) with Imbruglia where she sings "Torn" and then joins into the "interpretive dance" pantomime featuring both Armand and Imbruglia acting out the words of the song.
Track listings Australian CD single and UK CD1
UK CD2 (withdrawn a day after release)
UK cassette single
European CD single
Personnel Personnel are taken from Music Musings and Such. Additional instruments behind the song are shown from Sound on Sound. Natalie Imbruglia – vocals, background vocals Katrina Leskanich – background vocals Phil Thornalley – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, synthesizer, programming, bass David Munday – lead guitar, slide guitar Chuck Sabo – shaker, tambourine, drums Zero 7 – drum programming Nigel Godrich - mixing
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1997–1998)PeakpositionCroatia (HRT)5Denmark (IFPI)1Estonia (Eesti Top 20)7Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)2Greece (IFPI)4Hungary (Mahasz)6Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)1Italy (Musica e dischi)3Italy Airplay (Music & Media)1Spain (AFYVE)1 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) 12 Chart (2013)PeakpositionSlovenia Airplay (SloTop50) 28 Chart (20212025)Peakposition Australia Artist On Replay (ARIA) 21 Estonia Airplay (TopHit) 92
Year-end charts Chart (1997)PositionSweden (Topplistan)67UK Singles (OCC)8 Chart (1998)PositionAustralia (ARIA)37Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)26Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)6Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)23Canada Top Singles (RPM)1Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)3Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)6France (SNEP)18Germany (Media Control)24Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)12Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)15Netherlands (Single Top 100)9Sweden (Hitlistan)15Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)7UK Singles (OCC)117US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)2US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)10US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)1US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)2US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)34US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)72US Triple-A (Billboard)8 Chart (1999)PositionUK Airplay Top 50 (Music Week)50US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)40US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)48 + Chart (2025) Position Argentina Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino) 72 Estonia Airplay (TopHit) 165
All-time charts ChartPositionAustralia's Most Played Song as of 20091UK Most Played Songs 2000–200919UK Most Played Songs 2010–201940UK Singles (OCC)89US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)32US Biggest Pop Songs (Billboard)26
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United Kingdom27 October 1997Europe17 November 1997CDSweden1 December 1997United States2 February 1998Modern rock radioRCA3 February 1998Contemporary hit radioJapan21 February 1998CD
Rouge version
In 2005, Brazilian girl group Rouge recorded a Portuguese version of the song, titled "O Amor é Ilusão" (lit.: "Love is an illusion"), included in the group's 2005 fourth studio album Mil e Uma Noites. It was the album's second and last single, and their last overall until "Bailando" in 2018.
The lyrics were written by Milton Guedes, who co-wrote their hits "Não Dá pra Resistir", "Beijo Molhado", and others, with production by Rick Bonadio.
Background After three studio albums, their record label Sony BMG demanded a compilation album, against the band members' wishes. At the time, rumors of their breakup circulated in the press, and they felt a new release would help dispel those allegations. Mil e Uma Noites was eventually released as a compromise, with most tracks being previously released hits, plus six all-new tracks.
As always, the album featured songs originally in English rewritten for Portuguese, including "Torn". After the success of the album's first single "Vem Habib (Wala Wala)", "O Amor é Ilusão" was announced as the follow-up and released in late September.
This version keeps most of the original's lyrical themes, about a lost love who gradually drifts away from the narrator.
Charts Chart (2005)PeakpositionBrazil (Brasil Hot 100 Airplay)23
In popular culture