| "Crazy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byGnarls Barkley | ||||
| from the albumSt. Elsewhere | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 13 March 2006 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:58 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Danger Mouse | |||
| Gnarls Barkley singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
"Crazy" is the debut single of American soul duoGnarls Barkley, taken from their debut studio album,St. Elsewhere (2006). It peaked at number two on theBillboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and several other countries.
The song wasleaked in late 2005, months before its regular release: it received airplay onBBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom, and radio DJZane Lowe also used the song in television commercials for his show.[6] When it was officially released in March 2006, it became the first single to top theUK Singles Chart on download sales alone.[7] The song remained at the top of the British charts for nine weeks, the longest number-one spell for more than ten years. The band and their record company then decided toremove the physical single from music stores in the country (while keeping the download available) so people would "remember the song fondly and not get sick of it".[8] In spite of this deletion, the song was the best-selling single of 2006 in the UK.[9] Due to continued download sales, it reachedone million copies in January 2011. In December 2006, it was nominated for the United Kingdom'sRecord of the Year but lost to "Patience" byTake That.
The song won aGrammy Award forBest Urban/Alternative Performance in 2007 and was also nominated forRecord of the Year, which it lost to "Not Ready to Make Nice" byDixie Chicks.[10] It was also nominated and further won a2006 MTV Europe Music Award forBest Song. The song was also named the best song of 2006 byRolling Stone[11] and byThe Village Voice's annualPazz & Jop critics poll.[12] The song was listed at number 11 onPitchfork Media's top 500 songs of the 2000s.[citation needed] In 2010, it was placed at number 100 in the "updated" version ofRolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time"[citation needed] and ranked at the top position ofRolling Stone's top 100 songs of the decade (2000–2009).[citation needed] "Crazy" was performed at the2006 MTV Movie Awards, with Danger Mouse and Green dressed as variousStar Wars characters.[13][14]
The song was picked up byDowntown Records. Danger Mouse's manager sent the song to Downtown's A&R Josh Deutsch because they were looking for an independent label with the same resources as a major. According to an interview with Deutsch inHitQuarters, he heard the song and signed it after a single listen.[15] He said:
"Once in a while you hear a record that is obviously so important on so many levels. The beauty of my position is that it's very direct. If I find something I like there's no bureaucratic process associated with signing it."[15]
By the time the record was signed to Downtown, there was already a huge swell of anticipation, in part due to the established reputation of the two artists but even more as a result of the demo being played on BBC Radio 1 and sparking a profound online awareness; in December 2005,Pitchfork ranked thewhite-label release of "Crazy" at number 36 on their Top 50 Singles of 2005 list.[16] The record began to break even before the deals with Downtown Records were complete. On its release, "Crazy" became the most downloaded song in the history of the UK music business, going to number one in the strength of downloads alone.[15]
Musically, "Crazy" was inspired byfilm scores ofSpaghetti Westerns, in particular by the works ofEnnio Morricone,[17] and the song "Last Men Standing" byGian Piero Reverberi andGian Franco Reverberi from the 1968 Spaghetti WesternDjango, Prepare a Coffin, an unofficial prequel toDjango. "Crazy" samples the song, and also utilizes parts of the main melody and chord structure.[7] Because of this, the Reverberis are credited as songwriters along withCeeLo Green andDanger Mouse.
The lyrics for the song developed out of a conversation between Danger Mouse and Green. According to Danger Mouse, "I somehow got off on this tangent about how people won't take an artist seriously unless they're insane... So we started jokingly discussing ways in which we could make people think we were crazy... CeeLo took that conversation and made it into 'Crazy', which we recorded in one take."[18]
Upon release, "Crazy" received widespread acclaim frommusic critics. The song was ranked at number one onRolling Stone's 2009 list of the 100 Best Songs of the Decade. They also placed it at number 100 in the list of the500 Greatest Songs of All Time, but was dropped to number 307 in its 2021 list.[19] In October 2011,NME placed it at number 32 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[20] In 2007, "Crazy" was named the best single of 2006 byThe Village Voice'sPazz & Jop annual year-end critics' poll.NME also placed the song at number 475 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[21]
In the United Kingdom, following its release as a digital download on March 13, 2006, the song debuted at the number-one spot on theUK Download Chart on March 22, 2006.[22] At the time, chart rules allowed a song to appear in theUK Singles Chart based on their download sales if a physical equivalent was to be released the following week. "Crazy" became the first number-one single in the United Kingdom based on download sales alone (more than 31,000 that week), on April 2, 2006―for the week ending date April 8, 2006[6]―with theCD single being released one day later. It remained on top of the chart for nine weeks and on top of the download chart for a record 11 weeks, until the single was pulled from British stores by the band and their record label on May 29, 2006, after nine consecutive weeks at number one, so people will "remember the song fondly and not get sick of it".[8] The last song to spend such a long time at number one in the UK was "Love Is All Around" byWet Wet Wet in 1994, which was number one for 15 weeks.
"Crazy"'s eleven weeks at the top of theUK Download Chart were the longest stay on that chart that any song had achieved as of 2006. Despite its official removal, record shops had enough stock remaining to sell 19,827 physical copies; along with download sales, this kept the song at number two in the chart week ending date June 10, 2006.[23] The following week, "Crazy" was at number five, before disappearing completely from the chart a week later, as under chart rules a physically deleted single could not remain on the chart longer than two weeks after deletion date. Thus, "Crazy" made history at both ends of its chart run. It marked the most rapid exit from the British chart ever for a former number one, and number five was the highest position at which a single has ever spent its final week on the chart untilAlex Day's "Forever Yours" fell out from number four. In the first week of 2007, "Crazy" recharted at number 30, based purely on downloads. The chart rules had been changed yet again, allowing any sold song to chart, irrespective of whether or not it was still on sale in stores.[24] Due to continued download sales, the single became a million-seller in January 2011. It was the 104th single to do this.
During its long stay in the British charts, the single also entered multiple other single charts throughout Europe, including the German, the Swedish, the Austrian and theIrish Singles Charts, and theDutch Top 40, resulting in a number one position on theEuropean Hot 100 Singles. "Crazy" also performed strongly outside Europe, with top-five positions on the New Zealand andAustralian Single Charts, and was also certifiedgold in both countries.[25] On May 29, 2006, the single went down in New Zealand music history by becoming the 500th number-one single in New Zealand since the official top 40 chart was started in 1973. The Discount Rhinos Full Control remix of the track also featured in the top 20 of the Australian ARIA Club chart.[26] When the albumSt. Elsewhere was released in the United States on May 9, 2006, the song had debuted at number 91 on theBillboardHot 100. The song reached the top 40 on May 23, 2006. In mid-2006, "Crazy" spent seven consecutive weeks in the number-two spot. It became the year's first single to peak at number two and never reach number one. The song also charted well on other charts, hitting number seven on theUS Modern Rock chart and number 53 on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks. It was certified eight-times Platinum byRIAA. Throughout 2006, it sold 1,629,467 digital copies.[27] As of June 2013, the song has sold 3,401,000 downloads copies in the United States.[28]
There are two different music videos for this song.
Going along with the psychiatric theme of the song, Gnarls Barkley'smusic video for "Crazy" is done in the style of theRorschach test. Animated, mirrored inkblots morph one into another, while taking on ambiguous shapes. Both Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse appear in the shapes, as do the duo's gunshot/heart logo, "Satan", a cranium and various animals, includingcentipedes,birds,bats,spiders, andinsects.
The music video for "Crazy" was directed byRobert Hales, who had previously directed music videos forJet,Nine Inch Nails andRichard Ashcroft, among others. The inkblot illustrations were produced by motion design studio Blind, Inc.,[29] led by creative director and animation director, Vanessa Marzaroli.
The video was nominated for three2006 MTV Video Music Awards:Best Group Video,Best Direction, andBest Editing, and won the latter two. It was also nominated for a2006 MTV Europe Music Award forBest Video, but lost to "We Are Your Friends" by Justice vs. Simian.
Before the final music video was finished, the band's UK label released a different video to media outlets such as the BBC. This early promo, directed by Mina Song, is also completely animated and features severalsymbols from many cultures and religions that appear in a disjointed harmony to the lyrics. Lyrics of the song, and again the band's gunshot/heart logo also appear prominently. The video also includes elements of the single's cover art.
"Crazy" was used in several films and TV shows includingKick-Ass,I Think I Love My Wife,Religulous,The Big Short,Cold Case,How to Rock,Grey's Anatomy,Medium,Boyhood, andIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. A slower remix of the song was used in the trailer for the 2014 filmBirdman while the original version was used for the film's TV spots.[30]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
Decade-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[108] | Gold | 35,000^ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[109] | Gold | 15,000* |
| Belgium (BRMA)[110] | Gold | 25,000* |
| Canada (Music Canada)[111] Ringtone | 2× Platinum | 80,000* |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[112] | 2× Platinum | 16,000^ |
| Germany (BVMI)[113] | 3× Gold | 900,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI)[114] | Platinum | 50,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[115] | 6× Platinum | 180,000‡ |
| Sweden (GLF)[116] | Platinum | 20,000^ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[117] | Gold | 15,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[118] | 4× Platinum | 2,400,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[119] | 8× Platinum | 8,000,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[120] Mastertone | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
| "Crazy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byViolent Femmes | ||||
| Released | June 24, 2008 (iTunes) | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 3:28 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Violent Femmes | |||
| Violent Femmes singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Violent Femmes released a cover of the song on June 24, 2008, through theiTunes Store[121] and on a limited edition, baby blue12" vinyl.[122] It was their first newly recorded song since 2000.Gnarls Barkley had previously covered theViolent Femmes song "Gone Daddy Gone" on their albumSt. Elsewhere.
Gnarls Barkley described the Violent Femmes' version as: "I might compare it to a calm pond. I caught my reflection in it. And I seemed to be momentarily at peace. This track sounds entirely different in the rain, and supports some intriguing lilypads."[123] The Violent Femmes hosted aYouTube contest beginning on June 10, 2008, with a cash award of one thousand dollars and "other cool prizes" for creating and submitting a promotional video clip.
The Kooks,[124]Nelly Furtado,[125] andThe Zutons have covered "Crazy" onBBC Radio 1'sLive Lounge. The Kooks' version was released onRadio 1's Live Lounge, while Furtado's version was released as a B-side on her UK single "Promiscuous" and she performed the song live with Welsh singerCharlotte Church onThe Charlotte Church Show.[126] Folk singerRay LaMontagne has also covered the song, a version very well received by critics[127] andParis Hilton had delayed the release of her debut albumParis to include a cover of "Crazy" as well,[128] although it was not included in the final track list.G4 also included an operatic cover of "Crazy" on the albumAct Three. Other artists, includingMaroon 5,Ninet Tayeb,The Raconteurs,[129]Billy Idol,[130]The Academy Is...(withTravie McCoy ofGym Class Heroes),[131]Butch Walker,[132]Cat Power,[133]Texas,[131]The Twilight Singers,[131]Mates of State,[134]Paco Estrada & One Love, andof Montreal[135] have performed cover versions of the song live in concert.Trey Lorenz (Mariah Carey's backup singer) has also performed the song on Carey'sThe Adventures of Mimi tour throughout the summer and autumn of 2006.[136]Shawn Colvin performed the song onA Prairie Home Companion on November 4, 2006.[137] On her recent tour,Cat Power performed the song during her set.[133] Singer-songwriterJude's cover of the song can be found onYouTube.David Gilmour used to play the song during some of his soundchecks for his On an Island tour in 2006.Lil Wayne remixed the song for his 2007 mixtapeDa Drought 3.Prince covered the song in his one-off performance at London's KOKO Club on May 10, 2007, and at several of his 21 concerts at London's O2 Arena in August and September 2007.[citation needed]Pink covered "Crazy" during the entireFunhouse Tour (2009). Paolo Nutini frequently covers the song at his concerts.Little Ghost performed a cover of the song for their BBC session in 2014.Australian Idol 2007 contestantNatalie Gauci covered the song during the Doin' It for the Kids special, using her own arrangement. On November 6, 2008, the bandOneRepublic covered "Crazy" in front of a hometown crowd at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, Colorado. British soul singerAlice Russell included a cover of the song in her 2008 albumPot of Gold.Relient K covered the song for their 2011cover album,Is for Karaoke.The Neighbourhood performed "Crazy" live during their 2015 tour, The Flood tour. British indie-rock bandNothing But Thieves released their own cover on April 27, 2018. On February 28, 2019Kacey Musgraves performed "Crazy" live withCeeLo Green during the second Nashville show of the Oh, What a World Tour at theRyman Auditorium.[138]
ActorStephen Kramer Glickman also covered the song for his debut album,The Moving Company.
TheUkulele Orchestra of Great Britain covered the song as part of their Ukulele Lockdown series, released on YouTube on April 12, 2020.[139]
At Glastonbury 2014, on the final night, Kasabian covered the song while headlining on the pyramid stage. This was aired on BBC Two at 10:50 pm on June 29, 2014.
Similarly, many unofficialremixes andmashups of the song were released aswhite label records and are circulating onfile sharing networks andMP3 blogs. The Discount Rhinos Full Control remix of the track even reached number 15 of the Australian ARIA Club chart.[26]
Honduran-Canadian singerDaniela Andrade also covered the song. Her version was featured in American TV seriesSuits and superhero web television seriesThe Umbrella Academy.
...the idea of a universal pop hit, a song anybody could love, seemed like a sweet old-fashioned notion...But was this the most glorious pop thrill of our time? Totally.
