Misplaced Pages

Latest revision as of 16:13, 24 December 2024

Crazy Frog
Crazy Frog at its Australian tour in 2005
Background information
Also known as	The Annoying Thing
Origin	Gothenburg, Sweden
Genres	Eurodance
Years active	2003–2009 2020–present
Labels	Ministry of Sound Mach 1 Records GmbH Universal Warner
Website	crazyfrog.tv

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, Facebook profile and YouTube channel. A new album was announced later that same day. On 10 December 2021, a new single, "Tricky" was released after a 12-year hiatus.

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. 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").

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.

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. 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. On 7 October 2003 he posted it on his website and on the CGTalk forum.

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. Ringtone Europe and Jamster België (now both merged into Jamba!) licensed the rights to the creation in an attempt to capitalize on its popularity. They renamed it "Crazy Frog" and began 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.

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. 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.

Other media

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.

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

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

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.

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. The feature film was cancelled.

In 2017, a documentary called The Not So Crazy Frog was released, originally made in 2012.

Discography

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

"Axel F" (a remix of the 1980s Harold Faltermeyer song produced by the German band Resource) 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, remaining there for four weeks, and it was released on the debut album Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits.

Albums

Singles

Controversies

This article's "criticism" or "controversy" section may compromise the article's neutrality. Please help rewrite or integrate negative information to other sections through discussion on the talk page. (December 2024)

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. 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, 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. Jamster did voluntarily censor the character's genital area in later broadcasts of its advertisements. Similar action occurred in Australia, with similar results. 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!!".

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. 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. 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. 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.

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. After the release was repeatedly postponed, all mentions of Crazy Frog were removed from the Metabeats website in late 2023, and shortly after the official Crazy Frog website removed its link to Metabeats.

See also

• Giancarlo Meo
• Gummibär
• Holly Dolly
• Mickael Turtle
• Schnappi
• Schnuffel

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". Crazyfrog.tv. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
2. "CRAZY FROG". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
3. "YouTube". youtube.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
4. "Crazy Frog makes its return with Run-DMC mashup 'Tricky'". Nme.com. 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
5. Wilson, Giles (27 January 2005). "'The Crazy Frog sound? That's my fault.'". BBC. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
6. "Insanity Test". Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
7. The Evolution of Crazy Frog – from Deng Deng to Ringtone Archived 9 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Bloggerheads.com (16 January 2005). Retrieved on 6 July 2011.
8. ^ "'The Crazy Frog sound? That's my fault.'". BBC. 27 January 2005. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
9. "TESS -- Error". Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
10. Epstein, Jake (29 April 2022). "Ukraine's government is using bizarre soundtracks for videos of its troops destroying Russian tanks and vehicles". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
11. Gault, Matthew (29 April 2022). "Ukrainian Military Video Shows Russian Tank Being Blown Up to Crazy Frog Song". Vice. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
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. Archived from the original on 4 January 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
15. Cashmere, Paul. "Crazy Frog Tour Dates". Undercover.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 August 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
16. Cartoon Movie 2007: Sneak Peeks European Animated Features Archived 7 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Mag.awn.com (14 March 2007). Retrieved on 6 July 2011.
17. "Crazy Frog - The Not So Crazy Frog (Official Video Documentary)". YouTube. 22 December 2017. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
18. Fligstein, Neil (2008). Euroclash: The EU, European Identity, and the Future of Europe. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-164794-9. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
19. "Crazy Frog – Historia". Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
20. "Crazy Frog profile on Discogs.com". Discogs. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
21. Seenan, Gerard (25 May 2005). "Crazy Frog ringtone outsells Coldplay". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
22. ^ "Discography Crazy Frog". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
23. ^ "Discography Crazy Frog". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
24. "Crazy Frog – Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
25. ^ "Discographie Crazy Frog". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
26. "Chartverfolgung / Crazy Frog / Longplay". musicline.de (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
27. ^ "Discography Crazy Frog". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
28. ^ "Discography Crazy Frog". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 1 May 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
29. ^ "Discography Crazy Frog". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 28 April 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
30. ^ "Crazy Frog". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
31. "Crazy Frog – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
32. ^ "(Guld & Platina) ÅR 2005" [(Gold & Platinum) Year 2005] (PDF) (in Swedish). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
33. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 21 December 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
34. ^ "BPI Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (insert "Crazy Frog" into the "Search" box, and then select "Go") on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
35. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Crazy Frog)". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
36. "Gold and Platinum Search (Crazy Frog)". Music Canada. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
37. "Top 40 Albums Chart: Chart #1494 (Monday 9 January 2006)". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
38. "French album certifications" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
39. "Discografie Crazy Frog". ultratop.be (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
40. "Chartverfolgung / Crazy Frog / Single". musicline.de (in German). Media Control Charts. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
41. "Crazy Frog Album & Song Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
42. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 16 March 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
43. "Goud En Platina – Singles – 2005". ultratop.be (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
44. "Gold & Platinum: Crazy Frog". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
45. "Top 40 Singles Chart: Chart #1478 (Monday 19 September 2005)". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
46. ^ "French single certifications" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
47. "Top 40 Singles Chart: Chart #1500 (Monday 20 February 2006)". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
48. "Top 40 Singles Chart: Chart #1491 (Monday 19 December 2005)". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
49. "Goud En Platina – Singles – 2006". ultratop.be (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
50. "French single certifications" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
51. "Crazy Frog can keep his ding-ding di-di-ding ASA says – Brand Republic News". Brandrepublic.com. 2 February 2005. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
52. "TV viewers driven crazy by frog ringtone ad". The Scotsman. 20 May 2005. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
53. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
54. "Case Report – Complaint reference number 18/05" (PDF). Advertising Standards Bureau. 8 February 2005. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
55. "Crazy Frog". Twitter. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
56. "Broadcast Advertising Adjudications". Archived from the original (pdf) on 11 August 2011.
57. (source: Media Guardian, 20 June 2005)
58. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
59. "ASA stamps on Crazy Frog TV ads". The Register. Archived from the original on 1 October 2005.
60. Bell, Kaelyn. "Crazy Frog's Social Media Team Ask Fans to Stop Sending Death Threats". Exclaim. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
61. "Coming Soon". Metabeats. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
62. "Homepage". Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2024.

External links

• BBC article: The Crazy Frog sound? That's my fault. Includes an interview with the creator of the sound, Daniel Malmedahl.
• The Times: Crazy Frog turns into a real prince.
• ASA: A Frog's Tale that spawned viewer outrage.
• Erik Wernquist interview
• Interview, HitQuarters Oct 2005

• Mascots introduced in 2003
• Advertising characters
• Male characters in advertising
• Frog mascots
• 2000s fads and trends
• Swedish Eurodance groups
• Fictional frogs
• Anthropomorphic frogs
• Fictional musicians
• Obscenity controversies in music
• Universal Music Group artists
• Warner Music Group artists