Lemon Tree (Fool's Garden song)

"Lemon Tree"
Single by Fool's Garden
from the album Dish of the Day
Released	3 November 1995 (1995-11-03)
Genre	Britpop[1] bubblegum pop[2]
Length	3:11
Label	Intercord Encore
Songwriters	Peter Freudenthaler Volker Hinkel
Producers	Peter Freudenthaler Volker Hinkel Bernd Hasebrink Thomas Mangold Roland Röhl Ralf Wochele
Fool's Garden singles chronology
"Wild Days" (1994) "Lemon Tree" (1995) "Wild Days" (1996)
Music video
"Lemon Tree" on YouTube

"Lemon Tree" is a song by German band Fool's Garden from their third album, Dish of the Day (1995). The band's lead vocalist, Peter Freudenthaler, said that he wrote the song on a Sunday afternoon when he was waiting for his girlfriend who did not come.^[3] It was released as a single in November 1995 by Intercord and Encore Records and became an international hit the following year, remaining at number one for four weeks in Germany and also topping the charts of Austria, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden. In the United Kingdom, the song reached number 26 on the UK Singles Chart. The band recorded a new version of the song for the 2009 compilation album High Times – The Best of Fools Garden.

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "This song by the eclectic German quintet has reached number 10 in the GSA Major Market Airplay chart and with good reason. The track is a cross between a catchy circus tune and late '60s bubblegum pop with trademark harmonies, which should appeal to the broadest of radio audiences."^[4]

Track listings

European CD single[5] "Lemon Tree" – 3:11 "Finally" – 4:29 European maxi-CD single and UK CD single[6][7] "Lemon Tree" – 3:11 (3:10 on UK release) "Finally" – 4:29 (4:30 on UK release) "Spirit '91" (dance-mix) – 4:11 (4:13 on UK release) US and Canadian CD single[8][9] "Lemon Tree" "Take Me"

Australian and New Zealand CD single[10] "Lemon Tree" – 3:11 "Take Me" – 4:20 "Spirit '91" – 4:11 South African maxi-CD single[11] "Lemon Dance" (single edit) – 3:52 "Lemon Tree" (club mix) – 6:16

Personnel

• All songs written by Peter Freudenthaler and Volker Hinkel
• Vocals: Peter Freudenthaler
• Bass: Thomas Mangold
• Drums: Ralf Wochele
• Guitar: Volker Hinkel
• Keyboards: Roland Röhl
• Breaking lamp sound: Jorick Bouw ^{[citation needed]}
• Artwork: Müller & Steeneck Stuttgart
• Bicchieri: Mattia Tugnoli

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996–1997) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[12] 31 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[13] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[15] 2 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[16] 10 Czech Republic (IFPI CR)[17] 7 Denmark (IFPI)[18] 2 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[19] 4 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 11 France (SNEP)[21] 3 Germany (GfK)[22] 1 Hungary (Mahasz)[23] 4 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[24] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[25] 1 Italy (Musica e dischi)[26] 5 Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[27] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 10 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 12 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 14 Norway (VG-lista)[31] 1 Poland (Music & Media)[32] 3 Scotland Singles (OCC)[33] 25 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[34] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 2 UK Singles (OCC)[36] 26 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[37] 13 Chart (2019) Peak position Slovenia (SloTop50)[38] 44 Chart (2024) Peak position Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[39] 59

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[40] 9 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[41] 13 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[42] 18 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[43] 7 France (SNEP)[44] 8 Germany (Media Control)[45] 5 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[46] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[47] 49 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[48] 65 Sweden (Topplistan)[49] 7 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[50] 4

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[51]	Gold	25,000^*
Belgium (BRMA)[52]	Gold	25,000^*
France (SNEP)[53]	Gold	250,000^*
France (SNEP)[54]	Gold	100,000^‡
Germany (BVMI)[55]	Platinum	500,000^^
Italy (FIMI)[56] sales since 2009	Platinum	70,000^‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[57]	Platinum	10,000^*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[58]	Platinum
Sweden (GLF)[59]	Gold	25,000^^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[60]	Platinum	50,000^^
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Europe	3 November 1995	CD	Intercord Encore	[22]
United Kingdom	13 May 1996	CD cassette	Encore	[61]
United States	27 May 1997	Contemporary hit radio	Universal	[62]

Covers and parodies

Dustin the Turkey recorded a Christmas-parody called "Christmas Tree".^[63] Taiwanese singer Tarcy Su released covers of the song (in both Mandarin and Cantonese)^[64] as did Korean singer Park Hye Kyung. Taiwanese-American singer-songwriter Joanna Wang made a cover of the song^[65] in 2011. Korean singer and composer, Hongjoong of the group Ateez, released a cover of the song^[66] on 4 May 2022.

Alle Farben and Fool's Garden version

"Lemon Tree"
Single by Alle Farben and Fool's Garden
Released	8 January 2021 (2021-01-08)
Length	3:15
Songwriters	Peter Freudenthaler Volker Hinkel
Producers	Frans Zimmer Junkx

On 8 January 2021, Alle Farben with Fool's Garden released a cover of "Lemon Tree".^[67]

Personnel

From Tidal:^[68]

• Lyricist and composer: Peter Freudenthaler and Volker Hinkel
• Producer: Frans Zimmer and Junkx [de]
• Mastering Engineer: Dirk Duderstadt and Marco Duderstadt
• Mixing: Junkx

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2021)	Peak position
Germany (GfK)[69]	92
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[70]	3
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[71]	24
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[72]	32

Year-end charts

Chart (2021)	Position
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[73]	11

Chart (2022)	Position
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[74]	43

References

1. van den Wildenberg, Norman. "Fools Garden, more than only the Lemon Tree-song". Maxazine. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
2. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 7. 17 February 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
3. Певнева Е, Сумароков Д. (1998). "Сидя на лимонном дереве". Chas (115). Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
4. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 7. 17 February 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
5. Lemon Tree (European CD single liner notes). Intercord Records. 1995. INT 825.495, 7243 8 78434 2 9.
6. Lemon Tree (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Intercord Records. 1995. INT 825.495, 7243 8 78434 2 4.
7. Lemon Tree (UK CD single liner notes). Encore Records. 1996. CDCOR 018.
8. Lemon Tree (US CD single liner notes). Universal Records. 1995. UDM-56128.
9. Lemon Tree (Canadian CD single liner notes). Universal Records. 1997. UDS-56138.
10. Lemon Tree (Australian & New Zealand CD single liner notes). Intercord Records. 1995. INT 0156.
11. Lemon Tree (South African maxi-CD single liner notes). Intercord Records. 1996. CDEMS (WSS) 66.
12. "Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
13. "Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
14. "Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
15. "Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree" (in French). Ultratop 50.
16. "Canadian Digital Song Sales". Billboard. 21 September 1997. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
17. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 18. 4 May 1996. p. 28. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
18. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 24. 15 June 1996. p. 14. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
19. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 21. 25 May 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
20. "Fool's Garden: Lemon Tree" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
21. "Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree" (in French). Le classement de singles.
22. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
23. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 17. 27 April 1996. p. 15. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
24. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (1.6. – 7.6. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 1 June 1996. p. 26. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
25. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Lemon Tree". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
26. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 36. 7 September 1996. p. 11. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
27. "Major Market Airplay: Italy" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 22. 1 June 1996. p. 23.
28. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 19, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
29. "Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
30. "Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree". Top 40 Singles.
31. "Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree". VG-lista.
32. "Major Market Airplay – Week 18/1996" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 18. 4 May 1996. p. 37. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
33. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 3/8/1996 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
34. "Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree". Singles Top 100.
35. "Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree". Swiss Singles Chart.
36. "Official Singles Chart on 3/8/1996 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
37. "Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. 9 August 1997. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
38. "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". SloTop50. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
39. "OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay" (Select week 06.04.2024–12.04.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
40. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1996" (in German). Retrieved 9 September 2019.
41. "Jaaroverzichten 1996" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
42. "Rapports annuels 1996" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
43. "Music & Media 1996 in Review – Year End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 51/52. 21 December 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
44. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1996" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
45. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1996" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
46. "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1997. p. 25. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
47. "Single top 100 over 1996" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
48. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1996" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
49. "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
50. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1996" (in German). Retrieved 9 September 2019.
51. "Austrian single certifications – Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
52. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1996". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
53. "French single certifications – Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
54. "French single certifications – Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree(2021 reissue)" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
55. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Fool's Garden; 'Lemon Tree')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
56. "Italian single certifications – Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
57. "New Zealand single certifications – Fool's Garden – Lemon Tree". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
58. "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
59. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
60. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Lemon Tree')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
61. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 11 May 1996. p. 39.
62. "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1198. 23 May 1997. p. 41.
63. "Dustin - 20 Years A Pluckin' Out Now On DVD" Archived 30 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine.
64. 蘇慧倫 Tarcy Su【Lemon Tree】Official Music Video
65. "王若琳 Joanna Wang - Lemon Tree - YouTube". YouTube. 25 September 2011.
66. "ATEEZ(에이티즈) BY. HONGJOONG #6 - Lemon Tree (Original. Fools Garden) - YouTube". YouTube. 4 May 2022.
67. Lemon Tree - Single by Alle Farben & Fool's Garden, 8 January 2021, retrieved 18 January 2021
68. "Credits / Lemon Tree / Alle Farben – TIDAL". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
69. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
70. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
71. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
72. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
73. "Dance Top 100 – 2021" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
74. "Dance Top 100 – a hazai DJ-k játszásai alapján – 2022" (in Hungarian). Association of Hungarian Record Companies (MAHASZ). Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2024.

External links

• Lyrics and music