Social:Crazy Frog

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Short description: Swedish CGI-animated character
Crazy Frog
PublicTransport CrazyFrog.jpg
Crazy Frog at the Australian tour in 2005
Background information
Also known asThe Annoying Thing
OriginGothenburg, Sweden
GenresEurodance
Years active
  • 2003–2009
  • 2020–present
Labels
  • Ministry of Sound
  • Mach 1 Records GmbH
  • Universal
  • Warner
Website{{{1}}}

Crazy Frog (originally known as The Annoying Thing) is a Swedish CGI-animated character and Eurodance musician created in 2003 by actor and playwright Erik Wernquist. Marketed by the ringtone provider Jamba!, the character was originally created to accompany a sound effect produced by Daniel Malmedahl while attempting to imitate the sound of a two-stroke engine.

The Crazy Frog spawned a worldwide hit single with a cover version of the Beverly Hills Cop theme tune "Axel F", which reached the number one spot in Turkey, New Zealand, Australia and most of Europe. The subsequent album Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits and second single "Popcorn" also enjoyed worldwide chart success, and a second album entitled Crazy Frog Presents More Crazy Hits was released in 2006, as well as a third album, Everybody Dance Now, released in 2009. The Crazy Frog also spawned many singles, a range of merchandise and toys, as well as two video games before going on hiatus in 2009.

On 22 April 2020, a Twitter account for the character was created, and the account is listed on the official website,[1] Facebook profile[2] and YouTube channel.[3] A new album was announced later that same day. On 10 December 2021, a new single, "Tricky" was released after a 12-year hiatus.[4]

History

In 1997, 17-year-old Gothenburg student Daniel Malmedahl recorded himself imitating the noises produced by a two-stroke engine. He posted this on a website and caught the attention of a Swedish television researcher, who convinced Daniel to perform the sound live on air.[5] After it debuted on television, recordings of his performance began appearing on file sharing networks and various websites under the filename "2TAKTARE.MP3" ("Tvåtaktare" is Swedish for "two-stroker").[6]

The sound was adopted as the sound of a Formula One car as early as 2001 in the form of "Deng Deng Form" and later "The Insanity Test", both of which were a static background of a Ferrari Formula One car accompanied by the sound.[7]

In late 2003, another Swede, Erik Wernquist, encountered the sound effect and, not knowing about the previous incarnations of the sound, was inspired to create the 3D animated character he named "The Annoying Thing" to accompany it.[8] Wernquist worked on the first animation in his spare time using the LightWave 3D modeling application, and the whole process took between six and eight weeks.[8] On 7 October 2003 he posted it on his website and on the CGTalk forum.[8]

The animation was a popular attraction at Wernquist's website, but the sound was credited to "Anonymous". Eventually, word reached Malmedahl that his impressions had been used in a now well-known animation studio. He contacted Wernquist, apparently giving an impromptu performance to confirm his claims. Wernquist was convinced, and gave credit to Malmedahl for his creation.

The animation received attention through filesharing and word of mouth and, when Ringtone Europe and Jamster België (now both merged into Jamba!) got wind of this, realizing the monetary possibilities through capitalizing on the underground cult-status, they licensed the rights to the creation, renaming it "Crazy Frog" and starting to market it in mid-2004.

In an interview with HitQuarters, Wernquist expressed his displeasure at the choice of name:

If I had known that this was going to be such a big thing I would not have allowed them to use that stupid name. It has nothing to do with the character. It's not a frog and it's not particularly crazy either.[8]

Following 2009, the character went on hiatus. In 2018, a trademark claim by Kaktus Films, the original owners alongside Erik Wernquist, had music listed as one of many rights.[9] On 22 April 2020, an official Twitter account for the character was created, and later that day it was announced that a new album was in development.

In April 2022, the Government of Ukraine uploaded a video on Facebook of Russian tanks being hit by Ukrainian strikes during the Russian invasion of Ukraine with the Crazy Frog's cover of "Axel F" playing in the background.[10][11]

Other media

Racing games

On 1 July 2005, UK-based publishers Digital Jesters announced that they had acquired the rights to the video game licence for the Crazy Frog. Crazy Frog Racer (featuring the Annoying Thing) was released in December 2005 on PlayStation 2 and PC as a racing game. A year later in 2006 a sequel was released, entitled Crazy Frog Racer 2.[12]

Merchandise

A string of Crazy Frog merchandise was released in the UK.[13]

Cancelled TV series

In 2005, the German production company The League of Good People was in talks with broadcasters about a TV series based on Crazy Frog.[14] The TV series was cancelled.[citation needed]

Australian tour

The Crazy Frog toured Australia in late 2005, beginning in Perth on 4 December and continuing through other major capital cities. He made appearances at numerous shopping centres and major hospitals around the country.[15]

Cancelled feature film

In 2007, the Animation World Network wrote in connection with The Annoying Thing that there was a "planned feature film" to "be completed by the end of next year" into an animated feature film.[16] The feature film was cancelled.[citation needed]

Documentary

In 2017, a documentary called The Not So Crazy Frog was released, originally made in 2012.[17]

Discography

The Crazy Frog was broadcast for the first time on Belgian television in mid-2004, though it was named the Annoying Thing.[18] There it was marketed as Albert Motàr.[19]

"Axel F" (a remix of the 1980s Harold Faltermeyer song produced by the German band Resource[20]) was released on 23 May 2005 and became one of the most successful singles of the year. The single debuted at number one in the UK,[21] remaining there for four weeks, and it was released on the debut album Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits.

Albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
SWE
[22] 		AUS
[23] 		CAN
[24] 		FRA
[25] 		GER
[26] 		IRL
[27] 		NZ
[28] 		SWI
[29] 		UK
[30] 		US
[31]
Crazy Hits 6 22 1 4 6 13 1 4 5 19
More Crazy Hits
  • Released: 26 June 2006
  • Label: Ministry of Sound
  • Format: CD, digital download
 19 38 4 8 17 — 20 14 64 40
Everybody Dance Now
  • Released: 25 August 2009
  • Labels: Ministry of Sound, Mach 1 Records GmbH, Universal Music Group
 — — — 23 — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
SWE
[22] 		AUS
[23] 		BEL
[39] 		FRA
[25] 		GER
[40] 		IRE
[27] 		NZ
[28] 		SWI
[29] 		UK
[30] 		US
[41]
"Axel F" 2005 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 50
  • IFPI SWE: Platinum[32]
  • ARIA: 2× Platinum[42]
  • BEA: 2× Platinum[43]
  • BPI: Platinum[34]
  • IFPI SWI: Platinum[35]
  • RIAA: Gold[44]
  • RIANZ: 2× Platinum[45]
  • SNEP: Diamond[46]
 Crazy Hits
"Popcorn" 9 11 1 1 35 14 1 6 12 —
"Jingle Bells"[A] 10 4 2 5 — 11 1 — 5 —
"We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)" 2006 11 13 2 1 10 23 20 5 11 — More Crazy Hits
"Last Christmas"[A] 10 30 6 19 — 16 19 — 16 —
"Crazy Frog in the House" 2007 — — 24 12 22 — — 19 — —
"Daddy DJ" 2009 — — — 4 — — — — — — Everybody Dance Now
"Cha Cha Slide" — — — 18 — — — — — —
"Tricky" 2021 — — — — — — — — — — non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Controversies

Genitals

In February 2005, viewers submitted a number of complaints to the United Kingdom's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) regarding Jamster's advertising campaign, complaining that Crazy Frog appeared to have a visible penis and scrotum. Some parents claimed that it was inappropriate for children.[51] There were also complaints regarding the frequency with which the advertisement appeared on television, reportedly up to twice an hour across most of the day,[52] with some channels showing it more than once per commercial break.

The ASA did not uphold the complaints, pointing out that the advert was already classified as inappropriate for airing during children's television programmes as it contained a premium rate telephone number, and that it was the broadcasters' decision how often an advertisement should be shown.[53]

Jamster did voluntarily censor the character's genital area in later broadcasts of its advertisements. Similar action occurred in Australia, with similar results.[54] In November 2021, the Crazy Frog Twitter account made light of the controversy, saying, "A lot of people were shocked to see my PP in 2005. And still shocked to see it now in 2021!!".[55]

Ringtone advertisements

In April 2005, UK television viewers complained about misleading advertisements produced by Jamba!, trading as Jamster and RingtoneKing. Viewers felt that it was not made sufficiently clear that they were subscribing to a service, rather than paying a one-time fee for their ringtone. The complaints were upheld.[56]

As the authority had already adjudicated on the matter and confirmed the matter was not within its remit, the unusual step was taken of adding a notice to the ASA's online and telephone complaints system informing viewers that Jamster!-related complaints should be directed towards the broadcaster or the regulator, Ofcom.[citation needed]

In May 2005, viewers inundated the ASA with new complaints regarding the continuous airing of the latest Crazy Frog advertisements. The intensity of the advertising was unprecedented in British television history. According to The Guardian, Jamster bought 73,716 spots across all TV channels in May alone — an average of nearly 2,378 slots daily — at a cost of about £8 million, just under half of which was spent on ITV. 87% of the population saw the Crazy Frog adverts an average of 26 times, 15% of the adverts appeared twice during the same advertising break and 66% were in consecutive ad breaks. An estimated 10% of the population saw the advert more than 60 times. This led to many members of the population finding the Crazy Frog, as its original name suggests, immensely irritating.[57]

On 21 September 2005, the ASA ruled that the Crazy Frog, along with other Jamba ringtone advertisements, could not be shown before 9pm. This adjudication was revised on 25 January 2006, maintaining the 'upheld' decision but revising the wording of one of the points.[58][59]

Non-fungible token

Following the release of "Tricky" on 10 December 2021, an official non-fungible token release was planned on "Metabeats". This was met with backlash on Twitter, with the account managers stating they had been receiving death threats over the matter.[60] Despite the controversy, they still plan to release the NFTs.[61]

See also

Notes

  • A ^ ^ In some territories, "Jingle Bells" was released as a double A-side single with a cover of MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This", but in others, it was released as a double A-side single with "Last Christmas", which was later released as a single in its own right.

References

  1. ↑ "Crazy Frog". https://crazyfrog.tv/. 
  2. ↑ "CRAZY FROG" (in en). https://www.facebook.com/thecrazyfrogofficial/photos/a.1786206268084114/3034684236569638/?type=3. 
  3. ↑ "YouTube". https://www.youtube.com/post/UgwByGJPWXqZM4whuj94AaABCQ. 
  4. ↑ "Crazy Frog makes its return with Run-DMC mashup 'Tricky'". 10 December 2021. https://www.nme.com/news/music/crazy-frog-makes-its-return-with-run-dmc-mashup-tricky-3115272. 
  5. ↑ Wilson, Giles (27 January 2005). "'The Crazy Frog sound? That's my fault.'". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4210407.stm. 
  6. ↑ "Insanity Test". http://www.siddan.net/en/?id=190:insanity-test-en-gb. 
  7. ↑ The Evolution of Crazy Frog – from Deng Deng to Ringtone . Bloggerheads.com (16 January 2005). Retrieved on 6 July 2011.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "'The Crazy Frog sound? That's my fault.'". BBC. 27 January 2005. http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_CrazyFrog.html. 
  9. ↑ "TESS -- Error". http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4805:251xqz.2.1. 
  10. ↑ Epstein, Jake (29 April 2022). "Ukraine's government is using bizarre soundtracks for videos of its troops destroying Russian tanks and vehicles". https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-weird-music-videos-troops-destroying-russian-tanks-vehicles-war-2022-4. 
  11. ↑ Gault, Matthew (29 April 2022). "Ukrainian Military Video Shows Russian Tank Being Blown Up to Crazy Frog Song". https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvne44/ukrainian-military-video-shows-russian-tanks-being-blown-up-to-crazy-frog-song. 
  12. ↑ Crazy Frog Racer 2 video game Review by British Gaming Television Presenter Wesley Lock. Blisteredthumbs.net. Retrieved on 6 July 2011.
  13. ↑ Crazy Frog – Ringtones, Music, Posters, Games, T-Shirts and more!. Crazyfrog.co.uk. Retrieved on 6 July 2011.
  14. ↑ Grant, Jules (17 October 2005). "Crazy Frog hops on to small screen". C21 Media. http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=79&article=27019. 
  15. ↑ Cashmere, Paul. "Crazy Frog Tour Dates". http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2005/dec05/20051202_crazyfrog.html. 
  16. ↑ Cartoon Movie 2007: Sneak Peeks European Animated Features . Mag.awn.com (14 March 2007). Retrieved on 6 July 2011.
  17. ↑ "Crazy Frog - The Not So Crazy Frog (Official Video Documentary)". YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8vVz1KoU2s. 
  18. ↑ Fligstein, Neil (2008). Euroclash: The EU, European Identity, and the Future of Europe. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-164794-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=kQQM_A4RusEC. Retrieved 21 December 2015. 
  19. ↑ "Crazy Frog – Historia". http://www.crazy-frog.logosik.pl/. 
  20. ↑ "Crazy Frog profile on Discogs.com". http://www.discogs.com/artist/316297-Crazy-Frog. 
  21. ↑ Seenan, Gerard (25 May 2005). "Crazy Frog ringtone outsells Coldplay". The Guardian (London). https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2005/may/25/arts.artsnews. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Discography Crazy Frog". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. http://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Crazy+Frog. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Discography Crazy Frog". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Crazy+Frog. 
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "WLink"./chart-history/Script error: No such module "WLink". "Crazy Frog – Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media). https://www.billboard.com/music/Script error: No such module "WLink"./chart-history/Script error: No such module "WLink".. Retrieved 16 April 2015. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Discographie Crazy Frog" (in fr). lescharts.com. Hung Medien. http://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Crazy+Frog. 
  26. ↑ "Chartverfolgung / Crazy Frog / Longplay" (in de). musicline.de. GfK Entertainment. http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Crazy+Frog/?type=longplay. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Discography Crazy Frog". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Crazy+Frog. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Discography Crazy Frog". charts.nz. Hung Medien. https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Crazy+Frog. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Discography Crazy Frog". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. http://swisscharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Crazy+Frog. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Crazy Frog". Official Charts Company. http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17174/CRAZY%20FROG/. 
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "WLink"./chart-history/Script error: No such module "WLink". "Crazy Frog – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media). https://www.billboard.com/music/Script error: No such module "WLink"./chart-history/Script error: No such module "WLink".. Retrieved 16 April 2015. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "(Guld & Platina) ÅR 2005" (in sv). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. p. 7. http://www.ifpi.se/wp-content/uploads/ar-20051.pdf. 
  33. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-2005.htm. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "BPI Certified Awards Search" (insert "Crazy Frog" into the "Search" box, and then select "Go"). British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Crazy Frog)". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. http://www.swisscharts.com/search_certifications.asp?search=Crazy+Frog. 
  36. ↑ "Gold and Platinum Search (Crazy Frog)". Music Canada. https://musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?sa=Crazy+Frog. 
  37. ↑ "Top 40 Albums Chart: Chart #1494 (Monday 9 January 2006)". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. http://rianz.org.nz/rianz/oldchart.asp?chartNum=1494&chartKind=A. 
  38. ↑ "French album certifications" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. http://snepmusique.com/les-certifications/?categorie=Albums&interprete=&titre=. 
  39. ↑ "Discografie Crazy Frog" (in nl). ultratop.be. Hung Medien. http://ultratop.be/nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Crazy+Frog. 
  40. ↑ "Chartverfolgung / Crazy Frog / Single" (in de). musicline.de. Media Control Charts. http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Crazy+Frog/?type=single. 
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "WLink"./chart-history/Script error: No such module "WLink". "Crazy Frog Album & Song Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media). https://www.billboard.com/music/Script error: No such module "WLink"./chart-history/Script error: No such module "WLink".. Retrieved 17 July 2012. 
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2005.htm. 
  43. ↑ "Goud En Platina – Singles – 2005" (in nl). ultratop.be. Hung Medien. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/certifications.asp?year=2005. 
  44. ↑ "Gold & Platinum: Crazy Frog". Recording Industry Association of America. http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Crazy+Frog%22. 
  45. ↑ "Top 40 Singles Chart: Chart #1478 (Monday 19 September 2005)". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/oldchart.asp?chartNum=1478&chartKind=S. 
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 "French single certifications" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. http://snepmusique.com/les-certifications/?categorie=Singles&interprete=&titre=. 
  47. ↑ "Top 40 Singles Chart: Chart #1500 (Monday 20 February 2006)". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/oldchart.asp?chartNum=1500&chartKind=S. 
  48. ↑ "Top 40 Singles Chart: Chart #1491 (Monday 19 December 2005)". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/oldchart.asp?chartNum=1491&chartKind=S. 
  49. ↑ "Goud En Platina – Singles – 2006" (in nl). ultratop.be. Hung Medien. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/certifications.asp?year=2006. 
  50. ↑ "French single certifications" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. http://snepmusique.com/les-certifications/?categorie=Singles&interprete=&titre=. 
  51. ↑ "Crazy Frog can keep his ding-ding di-di-ding ASA says – Brand Republic News". Brandrepublic.com. 2 February 2005. http://www.brandrepublic.com/article/234073/crazy-frog-keep-ding-ding-di-di-ding-asa-says. 
  52. ↑ Scotsman.com News . The Scotsman. Retrieved on 6 July 2011.
  53. ↑ "Archived copy". http://www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/ECE03B9D-119D-4150-8F22-48ADADD9AC09/0/ASA_Broadcast_Rulings_2Feb05.pdf. 
  54. ↑ "Case Report – Complaint reference number 18/05". Advertising Standards Bureau. 8 February 2005. https://adstandards.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/18-05.pdf. 
  55. ↑ "Crazy Frog". https://twitter.com/truecrazyfrog/status/1463883207657639938. 
  56. ↑ "Broadcast Advertising Adjudications" (pdf). http://asa.org.uk/~/media/Files/ASA/Old%20Broadcast%20rulings/Broadcast_rulings_6_April_05.ashx. 
  57. ↑ (source: Media Guardian, 20 June 2005)
  58. ↑ "Archived copy". http://www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F3CC87DF-2F2A-4754-9C40-2EC23F0EC54C/0/Broadcastreport25Jan06.pdf. 
  59. ↑ "ASA stamps on Crazy Frog TV ads". https://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/21/crazy_frog_off_air/. 
  60. ↑ Bell, Kaelyn. "Crazy Frog's Social Media Team Ask Fans to Stop Sending Death Threats". https://exclaim.ca/music/article/crazy_frogs_social_media_team_asks_fan_to_stop_sending_death_threats. 
  61. ↑ Murray, Sean (12 December 2021). "Crazy Frog Embraces The Hate, Won't Cancel NFTs". https://www.thegamer.com/crazy-frog-wont-cancel-nft/. 

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