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] based ] content distributor, Jamba!]]


'''Crazy Frog''' is the marketing title of a ] based on 'The Annoying Thing', a ] created by ]. The animation was originally created to accompany a sound effect produced by ] while attempting to imitate the sound of a ] ] ]. The Crazy Frog spawned the worldwide hit single "]", which reached the number one spot in the ], ] and most of ]. The album '']'' and second single "]" continue to enjoy worldwide chart success. The Crazy Frog has also spawned a range of merchandise and toys which look to be very popular for Christmas 2005. Negotiations are also underway for a ] based on the character. The Crazy Frog is touring ] in December 2005, and is rumoured to be working on a duet with ].


==History==
In ], 17-year-old ] ] recorded himself impersonating the sounds produced by ] engines. He posted this on a website and caught the attention of a Swedish ] researcher, who convinced Daniel to perform the sound live on air.


After Daniel's television debut, recordings of his performance began appearing on ] file sharing networks and various websites under the filename "2TAKTARE.]" ("Tvåtaktare"
is ] for "]").


] Flash animation]]
The '''penis''' (plural ''penises'') or ''']''' (plural ''phalli'') is the external ] ] ] of some animals, and, in ]s, the external male organ of ].
The sound effect was quickly included in other ]s that spread ] among Internet users. The most notable example was the ], which required test subjects to keep a straight face while staring at a photograph of ] in a Ferrari ] car as the sound effect was played.
In humans, the penis is ] to the ] ], as it develops from the same embryonic structure. It is capable of ] for use in ].


In 2003, Malmedahl's fellow Swede Erik Wernquist encountered the sound effect and was inspired to create the ] "]" to accompany it. Erik used the ]
==Linguistics==
] application to produce the animation and posted it on his website. The animation was a popular attraction at Erik's website, but the sound was credited to "Anonymous". Eventually, word reached Daniel that his impressions had been used in a now well-known animation. He contacted Erik, apparently giving an impromptu performance to confirm his claims. Erik was convinced, and gave due credit to Daniel for his creation.
===Etymology===
{{wiktionarypar|penis}}
The word is derived from the Latin word for ''tail'', also used to describe the organ, ''"penis"''. The Latin word ''"phallus"'' (from the Greek ''"phallos"'') is sometimes used to describe the penis, though the word originally was used to describe ''images'', pictoral or carved, of the penis .


==Description==
Some derive the Latin word ''penis'' from earlier ''*pesnis'', and the ] word ''peos'' = "penis" from earlier ''*pesos''.
The title character in ''The Annoying Thing'' is an ] ] that is quite ]-like in appearance. The character wears only a white ] ] with the chinstrap unfastened, a ], and ]. His toes are webbed, and the ] of one eye is significantly larger than the other. Also present is a set of ambiguous but controversial ].


In the animation, the character imitates the hand movements required to ] the twistgrip controls of a ] while making the sound of an engine ]. As the imaginary engine starts, the character begins to ] as ] fumes are discharged from his body. The character then disappears into the distance at high speed.
===Synonyms===
For a far more exhaustive and multi-lingual thesaurus, see the entry on .


==The human penis== == Ringtone ==
In 2004, the ] based ] group (ultimately owned by ]) licensed the animation and sound for distribution as a ] ]. Jamba! (trading under names such as ''Jamster!'', ''RingtoneKing'', and others) accompanied the release of the ] with a barrage of ]. It soon became the most recognisable commercially available ] in the ].
The human penis differs from those of some other mammals. It has no ], or '''erectile bone'''; instead it relies entirely on engorgement with blood to reach its erect state. It cannot be withdrawn into the groin, and is larger than average in proportion to body mass.


Jamba! have earned an estimated £14 million from the ringtone (), making it the most commercially successful ringtone of all time. Jamba! have also produced other succesful animated creature ringtones, including ] and ], and produced other ringtones featuring the Crazy Frog including '''Crazy DJ Frog'''. There is also a series of ''Crazy Frog World Tour''' tones featuring the Frog performing his usual vocalisations against backgrounds of various countries' musical styles. These include the ]-based "Crazy Frog ]", ]-flavoured "Crazy Frog ]" and ]-esque "Crazy Frog ] Rock". Jamba! also have available "The Crazy Frog is Puking", "Crazy Frog and Its Girlfriend", in which he is apparently ], and "The Crazy Frog is F**king", in which gasping and smacking skin can be heard.
===Structure===
]
The human penis is made up of three columns of erectile ]:
* the two ] (singular: ''corpus cavernosum'') and
* one ]


=== Lyrics ===
The corpus spongiosum lies on the underside (known also as the ]) of the penis; the two corpora cavernosa lie next to each other on the upper side (]).
:A ding ding ding ding dididing ding bing bing pscht,
:Dorhrm bom bom bedom bem bom bedom bom bum ba ba bom bom,
:Bouuuuum bom bom bedahm, Bom be barbedarm bedabedabedabeda
:Bbrrrrrimm bbrrrrramm bbbrrrrrrrrraammmmm ddddddraammm,
:Bah bah baah baah ba wheeeeeee-eeeee-eeeee!


=== Controversy ===
The end of the corpus spongiosum is enlarged and cone-shaped and forms the ]. The glans supports the ] or prepuce, a loose fold of skin that in adults can retract to expose the glans. The area on the underside of the penis, where the foreskin is attached, is called the ] (or frenulum).
==== Advertising ====
In ], viewers submitted a number of complaints to the ]'s ] regarding ]'s advertising campaign, complaining that Crazy Frog appeared to have ]. Some parents complained that this made inappropriate viewing for ], claiming that the commercial had prompted embarrassing questions. 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 ], and furthermore added that it was the broadcasters' decision as to how often an advertisement should be shown. However, ] voluntarily ] the character's genital area in later broadcasts of its advertisements. The is available online. Similar action occurred in Australia, with similar results.
The ], which is the last part of the ], traverses the corpus spongiosum and its opening, known as the ], lies on the tip of the glans penis. It is both a passage for ] and for the ] of ]. Sperm is produced in the ] and stored in the attached ]. During ejaculation, sperm are propelled up the ], two ducts that pass over and behind the bladder. Fluids are added by the ]s and the vas deferens turns into the ]s which join the urethra inside the ]. The prostate as well as the ]s add further secretions, and the semen is expelled through the penis.


In ], television viewers complained about misleading advertisements produced by ], trading as ] 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 ]. The complaints were upheld; the is available online. It costs £3 a week to subscribe to Jamster!'s service.
The ] is the visible ridge between the ] halves of the penis, found on the ] or under side of the penis, running from the meatus (opening of the urethra) across the scrotum to the ] (area between scrotum and anus).


In ], 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 '']'', 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 ]. 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. (source: ''Media Guardian'', 20 June 2005)
=== Relation to female genitals ===
The ] of the penis is ] to the ], the corpora cavernosa are homologous to the body of the ], the corpus spongiosum is homologous to the ]s beneath the labia minora, and the scrotum is homologous to the ], ] and ]. The raphe does not exist in females, because there the two halves are not connected.


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 their online and telephone complaints system informing viewers that ]-related complaints should be directed towards the broadcaster or the regulator, ].
=== Erection ===
''Main article: ]''
<!-- PLEASE do not remove this image without first consulting the talk page, otherwise your edit is likely to be reverted -->
]).]]


On ] ], the ASA ruled that the Crazy Frog, along with other Jamba ringtone advertisements, must be shown after 9pm .
] is the stiffening and rising of the penis which occurs in the ] male, though it can also happen in non-sexual situations. The primary physiological mechanism that brings about erection is the autonomic dilation of arteries supplying blood to the penis, which allows more blood to fill the three spongy erectile tissue chambers in the penis, causing it to lengthen and stiffen. The now engorged erectile tissue presses against and constricts the veins that carry blood away from the penis. More blood enters the penis than leaves until an equilibrium is reached (equal volume of blood flowing into the dilated arteries and out of the constricted veins). A constant erectile size is achieved at equilibrium.


==== Computer virus ====
Inability to attain a satisfactory erection is known medically as ], or ED in short. A drug against this condition, ''] citrate'' (marketed as ]&reg;) works by ].
In ], ] vendors discovered the <code>W32/Crog.worm</code> ] (a ] of Crazy Frog), which spreads through ] networks and ], exploiting the ''Crazy Frog'''s notoriety with a promise of an ] depicting his demise.


== Single releases ==
Erection facilitates ] though it is not essential for some other ]. Although many erect penises point upwards (see illustration), it is common and normal for the erect penis to point nearly vertically upwards or nearly vertically downwards, depending on the tension of the suspensory ligament that holds it in position. Stiffness of erectile angle also varies.
=== Crazy Frog - Axel F ===
]
]


''Main article: ''']'''''
===Size===
''See main article ]''


A German dance duo named ] made a dance single starring the Crazy Frog, mixed with ]'s "]". The single was released on ], ] and reached the number one spot in the ] (), outselling the nearest contender, ], by three or four copies to one. This is the official song endorsed by Jamster! and actually samples the original sound; subsequent songs created their own samples of the sound. An example of this is Robert Mackle's "Crazy Frog vs Coldplay", which parodied the chart drama between the two.
As a general rule, an ]'s penis is proportional to its body size, but this varies greatly between ] &mdash; even between closely related species. For example, an adult ]'s erect penis is about 1.5 ] (4 ]) in length; an adult ], significantly smaller (in body size) than a gorilla, has a penis size about double that of the gorilla. The common chimpanzee, or '']'', has the third largest penis size among the ]: in comparison, the ] penis is somewhat larger than the common chimpanzee, both proportional to body size and in absolute terms; one study has found that the average human penis is 5 inches (12.7 cm) in length when fully engorged with blood during arousal.


As of the summer of 2005, the song remained in the Top Ten in many European music charts and #50 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
As with any other bodily attribute, the length and girth of the penis is highly variable between individuals of the same species. In many animals, especially ]s, the size of a flaccid penis is much smaller than its size when erect. In humans and some other species, flaccid vs. erect penis size varies greatly between individuals, such that penis size when flaccid is not a reliable predictor of size when erect.


==== Music video ====
Except for extreme cases at either end of the size spectrum, penis size does not correspond strongly to reproductive ability in almost any species.
The ] commissioned Kaktus Film and Erik Wernquist, the original creator of the Crazy Frog, to produce a full-length ] ] to accompany the release of "Axel F" and featuring the Crazy Frog character. The ] is set in the ] and centers on the pursuit of the Crazy Frog by a ]. The bounty hunter receives notification of a ] reward for the capture of the Crazy Frog, who is only identified as "The most annoying thing in the world", a reference to Wernquist's original name for the creature.


Despite the song's popularity, the music video has received very little airplay in the UK. Both VH1 and TMF have also omitted it from their Number Ones marathons, despite the fact that other chart-topping "annoying" novelty singles such as ] and ] were included.
===Normal variations===
Depending on temperature, a flaccid (not erect) penis of average size can withdraw almost completely within the body. During erection the penis will return to its normal (erect) size.


*
Other variations:
*
* ] are raised bumps of somewhat paler colour around the base of the glans and are normal. See ] picture and picture at article.
*
* ] are small, raised, yellowish-white spots 1-2mm in diameter that may appear on the penis, as well as the inner surface and ] of the lips of the face, and are normal.
* ''Sebaceous prominences'' are raised bumps similar to Fordyce's spots on the shaft of the penis, located at the ]s and are normal.
* ], an inability to retract the foreskin fully, is harmless in infants and pre-pubescent males, occurring in about 8 percent of boys at age 10.


===Disorders affecting the penis=== ==== iTunes release ====
] reports that ] has the single with an illustration of an emasculated frog.
] (swelling) of the foreskin can result from sexual activity, including ]. It appears worrying but so long as the foreskin is in its normal position and blood flow is present it's harmless. See ''paraphimosis'' for situations where the foreskin can't be moved to its normal position or the swelling persists. If the condition recurrs regularly, medical advice should be obtained, since it can be a symptom of conditions such as chronic heart disease. ('''')


They also link to a site where you can batter the frog with a baseball bat.
''Pathological Phimosis''--where a non-retracting foreskin is accompanied by pain or physiological distress, or affects physical hygiene, requires treatment which can be surgical or non-surgical depending on the seriousness of the condition. See ] for more details.


*
] is an inability to move the foreskin forward over the glans. It can result from fluid trapped in a foreskin which is left retracted, perhaps following a medical procedure, or accumulation of fluid in the foreskin because of friction during vigorous sexual activity. Applying pressure to compress the glans, then moving the foreskin to its normal position is the initial procedure to follow, perhaps with the assistance of a lubricant. Placing the penis in normal granulated sugar can reduce the swelling via osmosis. If the condition persists for more than several hours or there is a sign of lack of blood flow, a hard glans with no erection or an inability to urinate, it should be treated as a medical emergency.
*


=== Crazy Frog - Popcorn ===
In ], anomalous scar tissue grows in the soft tissue of the penis, causing curvature. Severe cases can benefit from surgical correction.
]


''Main article: ''']'''''
A ] can occur during periods of frequent and prolonged sexual activity, especially ]. It is usually harmless and self-corrects within a few weeks.


The next official Crazy Frog single, "Popcorn", premiered on ] in the UK. It is a remix of ]'s "]" and was released on August 22nd 2005 in the ], reaching #12 on the ].
] is a condition characterized by pain on sitting and loss of penile (or clitoral) sensation and orgasm. Occasionally there is a total loss of sensation and orgasm. The ] can be damaged by narrow hard cycle seats and accidents.


=== Crazy Frog - Jingle Bells/U Can't Touch This ===
] can occur if the erect penis is bent excessively. A pop or cracking sound and pain is normally associated with this event. Emergency medical assistance should be obtained. Prompt medical attention lowers likelihood of permanent penile curvature.


''Main article: ''']'''''
In ], ] can cause tingling in the penile skin and possibly reduced or completely absent sensation. The reduced sensations can lead to injuries for either partner and their absence can make it impossible to have sexual pleasure through stimulation of the penis. Since the problems are caused by permanent nerve damage, preventive treatment through good control of the diabetes is the primary treatment. Some limited recovery may be possible through improved diabetes control.


The ] single release for the Crazy Frog is a cover of "]" and also a cover of the ] single "U Can't Touch This". It was released in Australia on November 28.
], formerly known as ''impotence'', is the inability to have and maintain an erection sufficiently firm for satisfactory sexual performance. A wide variety of generally effective treatments are available. Diabetes is a leading cause, as is normal aging.


=== Pondlife - Ring Ding Ding ===
] is a painful and potentially harmful medical condition in which the erect penis does not return to its flaccid state. The causative mechanisms are poorly understood but involve complex neurological and vascular factors. Potential complications include ischaemia, thrombosis, and impotence. In serious cases the condition may result in gangrene, which may necessitate amputation.
]


On ], ], a group of producers naming themselves Pondlife announced that the Crazy Frog would be released as a single. The people behind this were radio DJs ], ] and ] along with studio-owner ].
====Developmental disorders of the penis====
] is a ] where the ] is positioned wrongly at birth. Hypospadias can also occur ]ally by the downward pressure of an indwelling urethral catheter. It is usually corrected by surgery.


On ], ], Pondlife held ] to find a ] Crazy Frog to star in their accompanying ]. Clips of the ] frog can be found
A ] is a very small penis caused by developmental or congenital problems.


The track is called "Ring Ding Ding," and was released on ] ]. It reached #11 on the ], two weeks after the Axel F version had charted.
====Penis replacement====
The first successful penis ] surgery was done on September 2005 in a military hospital in ], China. (''Guangzhou Daily'', ) A man at 44 sustained an injury after an accident and his penis was severed. ] became difficult as his urethra was partly blocked. A newly ] man, at 23, was tracked down and his penis selected for the transplant. Despite ] of blood vessels and nerves after a protracted period of time had elapsed (exact length not given), the ], ], nerves and the corpora spongiosa were successfully matched. After seven hours' surgery, the penis regained its function and even managed to attain erection.


*
The difficulty in this surgery is attributable to these demands: The shape of the donor's penis must sufficiently match that of the receiver's and the duration between detaching and attaching the penis must be short.
*
*


=== Frog Must Die - Kill The Frog ===
It remains to be observed if infection or ] has occurred after the transplant and how much sexual function the man would regain. Urination ability, however, is predicted to resume after a week.


On ] ], a song called "Kill The Frog" by Frog Must Die was released in the UK. Since the song did not appear in the top 250 of the UK Singles Chart, it is unclear whether the single was postponed, or simply failed to sell enough copies. As the name suggests, this CD is about killing the Crazy Frog.
====Alleged and observed penis-related psychological disorders====
*] (''koro'' in ]/]) - ] of shrinkage of the penis and retraction into the body.
*] - the contested ]ian belief of a woman ]ing men for having a penis.


=== L.O.C. - Ring Ding Ding (Frog) ===
===Altering the male genitalia===
<div style="float:right; margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px; width:300px; text-align:center">
<small>
<table style="width:100%;margin-left:10px;margin-right:10px"><tr>
<td>]<br>]</td>
<td>]<br>]</td>
</tr></table>
''Uncircumcised penis (L), circumcised penis (R).''
</small>
</div>
''Main article: ]''


On ] ], a song called "Ring Ding Ding (Frog)" by ] was released in the UK. It reached number 58 in the UK Singles Chart. This song sampled the Crazy Frog sound.
The most prevalent form of genital alteration in some countries is ]: removal of part or all of the foreskin for various cultural, religious, and more rarely medical reasons. In many cases, such as in some United States hospitals, the ] and part of the shaft skin is also removed. Circumcision likely arose in the ] desert to avoid the effects of desert sand getting under the ]; the practice has been incorporated into organised religions which originated in desert areas such as ] and ]. Secular reasons for circumcision, however, have been disputed.


*
Less commonly, the penis is sometimes ] or decorated by other ]. Such alterations are almost universally elective and usually for the purpose of aesthetics or increased sensitivity. Piercings of the penis include the ], the ], the ], the ], and the ]. ] or stretching is a further form of ].


=== Het Feestteam - 50cc ===
Other practices which alter the penis are also performed, although they are rare in Western societies without a diagnosed medical condition. Apart from a ], perhaps the most radical of these is ], in which the urethra is split along the underside of the penis. Subincision originated among ]s, although it is now done by some in the U.S. and Europe.


In the winter of 2004, ] ] act Het Feestteam released a single called "" containing the sound. A remix single was released in ].
===Fears and reassurance===
Possibly due to shame inculcated in regard to genitalia, some people suffer from misunderstandings and resultant fear.


== Album releases ==
] is a kind of hysteria that appears to be culturally conditioned and largely limited to Sudan, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
===Crazy Hits===
]


''Main article: ''']'''''
As mentioned earlier, the ] is the visible ridge between the lateral halves of the penis, found on the ventral or under side of the penis, running from the meatus (opening of the urethra) across the scrotum to the perineum (area between scrotum and anus). This ridge is actually the "biological zipper" that closes the urethra during the normal course of fetal development. When the urethra does not close normally, the resulting condition is called ]. Surgery is required to close the urethra. Treatment may involve multiple surgeries and attendant pain.


An album entitled ''Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits'' was released on ], ]. . Samples from the song are available on the . It reached #5 on the ] and #19 on the US ] Albums Chart.
<!-- is there any evidence of this whatsoever? commented out in expectation of an example. -- Adolescent males trying to ] successfully for the first time, and ignorant of the utility of lubricants, may chafe themselves and become fearful due to having learned "myths" about penile cancer. -->
Other beliefs involve the idea that ] can cause insanity or blindness.


== Video Games ==
In childhood, according to the study ''Paediatric penile trauma'', male circumcision is the most common form of genital trauma; it occurred in two-thirds of the physical traumas examined. (El-Bahnasawy 2002)
===Crazy Frog Racer===
On ], ], UK-based ] ] announced that they had acquired the rights to the ] licence for the Crazy Frog. ''Crazy Frog Racer'', to be released in ], is a ] for the ], ] and ].


==Merchandise==
==Non-human penises==
A recent string of Crazy Frog merchandise has been released in the UK , under the name "The Annoying Thing" due to copyright and licensing restrictions. These items are picked as big sellers for Christmas 2005, particularly the Annoying Thing Singing Plush which plays the ringtone when squeezed. Other products available include a ], a desktop nodder, ], ], lunchbox and ].
]
Most ], except for the two largest species of ]s, have a ]. That is, it separates into two columns, and so the penis has two ends. The ] has the longest penis for its own length: up to twenty times the length of the animal. ] alleges that the ] has ] control over his penis. In the realm of absolute size, the smallest penis belongs to the common shrew (5 mm or 0.2 inches). The largest penis belongs to the blue whale estimated at over 2 m (about 6 feet). Accurate measurements are difficult to take because the whale's erect length can only be observed during mating.


==TV series==
The ] is devoted entirely to collecting penis specimens from all the land and sea mammals living in Iceland. The museum has received a legally-certified gift token for a future specimen belonging to ''Homo sapiens''.
The German production company ] is in talks with broadcasters about a TV series based on Crazy Frog.
*


==Tour==
In male ]s, the structure homologous to a penis is known as ]. Male specimes of the '']'' order of reptiles have two paired organs called ].
On November 23, 2005, music news site Undercover announced that the Crazy Frog will be touring Australia, beginning in Perth on December 4 and continuing through other major capital cities. Venues and dates have been confirmed - the Frog will be playing shopping centres and major hospitals.


== See also ==
]s have relatively small penises, so it is an often used subtle insult in countries such as ] to insinuate or directly state that one is 'hung like a gorilla'.
{{wikiquote}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
* The Crazy Frog has been ] on the British children's television programme, '']''.
* The Crazy Frog has also been parodied by the BBC Television Show '']'', where the frog was replaced with ].
* ], a similar phenomenon.


== External links and references ==
==Cultural aspects involving penises==
{{Wikinews|Mobile ringtone tops the UK singles chart}}
*
*
* Includes an interview with the creator of the sound, Daniel Malmedahl.
*
*
*
*
* requires registration
*
*The and a


]
===Uses of animal penises===
]
* Culinary, e.g., in Chinese gastronomy
]
* Magical and therapeutic, in medicine and/or superstition, especially as an aphrodisiac or even cure against impotence
]
*Also used for dog toys, such as the bull pizzle
]

]
===Uses of human penises in cultural traditions===
]
* Esthetical, e.g., ]
]
* For the symbolic and artistic use, see under ]
]
* In humor, e.g., in ] - considered indecent or completely taboo in various cultures
]

]
==See also==
]
{{commons|Penis}}
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*] - Viagra, Cialis and Levitra
*] &mdash; the ] list of synonyms and slang words for penis in many languages

==External links==

* , collection of over one hundred and fifty penises and penile parts belonging to almost all the land and sea mammals that can be found in Iceland
* (actual-size chart suitable for printing out and comparing)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* Note: This is an anti-circumcision website.
* Note: This is an anti-circumcision website.
*

{{reproductive_system}}

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Revision as of 04:55, 12 December 2005

File:Crazy Frog Promotional.png
Crazy Frog advert produced by German based mobile phone content distributor, Jamba!

Crazy Frog is the marketing title of a ring tone based on 'The Annoying Thing', a computer animation created by Erik Wernquist. The animation was originally created to accompany a sound effect produced by Daniel Malmedahl while attempting to imitate the sound of a two-stroke moped engine. The Crazy Frog spawned the worldwide hit single "Axel F", which reached the number one spot in the UK, Australia and most of Europe. The album Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits and second single "Popcorn" continue to enjoy worldwide chart success. The Crazy Frog has also spawned a range of merchandise and toys which look to be very popular for Christmas 2005. Negotiations are also underway for a TV series based on the character. The Crazy Frog is touring Australia in December 2005, and is rumoured to be working on a duet with David Hasselhoff.

History

In 1997, 17-year-old Swede Daniel Malmedahl recorded himself impersonating the sounds produced by internal combustion engines. 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 Daniel's television debut, recordings of his performance began appearing on peer to peer file sharing networks and various websites under the filename "2TAKTARE.MP3" ("Tvåtaktare" is Swedish for "Two stroker").

File:Crazy Frog Insanity Test.png
The original Insanity test Flash animation

The sound effect was quickly included in other Flash animations that spread virally among Internet users. The most notable example was the Insanity test, which required test subjects to keep a straight face while staring at a photograph of Rubens Barrichello in a Ferrari Formula 1 car as the sound effect was played.

In 2003, Malmedahl's fellow Swede Erik Wernquist encountered the sound effect and was inspired to create the 3D animation "The Annoying Thing" to accompany it. Erik used the LightWave 3D modelling application to produce the animation and posted it on his website. The animation was a popular attraction at Erik's website, but the sound was credited to "Anonymous". Eventually, word reached Daniel that his impressions had been used in a now well-known animation. He contacted Erik, apparently giving an impromptu performance to confirm his claims. Erik was convinced, and gave due credit to Daniel for his creation.

Description

The title character in The Annoying Thing is an anthropomorphic amphibian that is quite frog-like in appearance. The character wears only a white motorcycle helmet with the chinstrap unfastened, a leather jacket, and goggles. His toes are webbed, and the iris of one eye is significantly larger than the other. Also present is a set of ambiguous but controversial genitalia.

In the animation, the character imitates the hand movements required to rotate the twistgrip controls of a motorcycle while making the sound of an engine ignition. As the imaginary engine starts, the character begins to levitate as exhaust fumes are discharged from his body. The character then disappears into the distance at high speed.

Ringtone

In 2004, the Germany based Jamba! group (ultimately owned by VeriSign) licensed the animation and sound for distribution as a mobile phone ringtone. Jamba! (trading under names such as Jamster!, RingtoneKing, and others) accompanied the release of the ringtone with a barrage of advertising. It soon became the most recognisable commercially available ringtone in the United Kingdom.

Jamba! have earned an estimated £14 million from the ringtone (), making it the most commercially successful ringtone of all time. Jamba! have also produced other succesful animated creature ringtones, including Sweety the Chick and Nessie the Dragon, and produced other ringtones featuring the Crazy Frog including Crazy DJ Frog'. There is also a series of Crazy Frog World Tour tones featuring the Frog performing his usual vocalisations against backgrounds of various countries' musical styles. These include the sitar-based "Crazy Frog India", reggae-flavoured "Crazy Frog Jamaica" and Jimmy Barnes-esque "Crazy Frog Australian Rock". Jamba! also have available "The Crazy Frog is Puking", "Crazy Frog and Its Girlfriend", in which he is apparently making out, and "The Crazy Frog is F**king", in which gasping and smacking skin can be heard.

Lyrics

A ding ding ding ding dididing ding bing bing pscht,
Dorhrm bom bom bedom bem bom bedom bom bum ba ba bom bom,
Bouuuuum bom bom bedahm, Bom be barbedarm bedabedabedabeda
Bbrrrrrimm bbrrrrramm bbbrrrrrrrrraammmmm ddddddraammm,
Bah bah baah baah ba wheeeeeee-eeeee-eeeee!

Controversy

Advertising

In February 2005, viewers submitted a number of complaints to the United Kingdom's Advertising Standards Authority regarding Jamba!'s advertising campaign, complaining that Crazy Frog appeared to have genitalia. Some parents complained that this made inappropriate viewing for children, claiming that the commercial had prompted embarrassing questions. 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 furthermore added that it was the broadcasters' decision as to how often an advertisement should be shown. However, Jamba! voluntarily censored the character's genital area in later broadcasts of its advertisements. The full adjudication (PDF) is available online. Similar action occurred in Australia, with similar results. complaints dismissed (PDF)

In April 2005, 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; the full adjudication (PDF) is available online. It costs £3 a week to subscribe to Jamster!'s service.

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. (source: Media Guardian, 20 June 2005)

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 their online and telephone complaints system informing viewers that Jamster!-related complaints should be directed towards the broadcaster or the regulator, Ofcom.

On 21 September 2005, the ASA ruled that the Crazy Frog, along with other Jamba ringtone advertisements, must be shown after 9pm (pdf) .

Computer virus

In March 2005, anti-virus vendors discovered the W32/Crog.worm computer virus (a contraction of Crazy Frog), which spreads through file-sharing networks and MSN Messenger, exploiting the Crazy Frog's notoriety with a promise of an animation depicting his demise.

Single releases

Crazy Frog - Axel F

File:Bassbumpers-axelf.jpg
Bass Bumpers: Axel F (note genitals are censored)
Erik Wernquist's Axel F music video.

Main article: Axel F (Crazy Frog song)

A German dance duo named Bass Bumpers made a dance single starring the Crazy Frog, mixed with Harold Faltermeyer's "Axel F". The single was released on May 23, 2005 and reached the number one spot in the UK Singles Chart (), outselling the nearest contender, Coldplay, by three or four copies to one. This is the official song endorsed by Jamster! and actually samples the original sound; subsequent songs created their own samples of the sound. An example of this is Robert Mackle's "Crazy Frog vs Coldplay", which parodied the chart drama between the two.

As of the summer of 2005, the song remained in the Top Ten in many European music charts and #50 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

Music video

The Ministry of Sound commissioned Kaktus Film and Erik Wernquist, the original creator of the Crazy Frog, to produce a full-length animated music video to accompany the release of "Axel F" and featuring the Crazy Frog character. The animation is set in the future and centers on the pursuit of the Crazy Frog by a bounty hunter. The bounty hunter receives notification of a $50,000 reward for the capture of the Crazy Frog, who is only identified as "The most annoying thing in the world", a reference to Wernquist's original name for the creature.

Despite the song's popularity, the music video has received very little airplay in the UK. Both VH1 and TMF have also omitted it from their Number Ones marathons, despite the fact that other chart-topping "annoying" novelty singles such as Mr. Blobby and Bob The Builder were included.

iTunes release

The Register reports that iTunes has the single with an illustration of an emasculated frog.

They also link to a site where you can batter the frog with a baseball bat.

Crazy Frog - Popcorn

The CD cover of Crazy Frog - Popcorn.

Main article: Popcorn (Crazy Frog song)

The next official Crazy Frog single, "Popcorn", premiered on Top of the Pops in the UK. It is a remix of Hot Butter's "Popcorn" and was released on August 22nd 2005 in the UK, reaching #12 on the UK Singles Chart.

Crazy Frog - Jingle Bells/U Can't Touch This

Main article: Jingle Bells/U Can't Touch This

The Christmas single release for the Crazy Frog is a cover of "Jingle Bells" and also a cover of the MC Hammer single "U Can't Touch This". It was released in Australia on November 28.

Pondlife - Ring Ding Ding

File:Pondlife-ring-ding-ding.jpg
Pondlife: Ring Ding Ding

On February 17, 2005, a group of producers naming themselves Pondlife announced that the Crazy Frog would be released as a single. The people behind this were radio DJs Wes Butters, Trevor Jordan and Daryl Denham along with studio-owner Maurice Cheetham.

On March 19, 2005, Pondlife held open auditions to find a live action Crazy Frog to star in their accompanying music video. Clips of the live action frog can be found here

The track is called "Ring Ding Ding," and was released on 6 June 2005. It reached #11 on the UK Singles Chart, two weeks after the Axel F version had charted.

Frog Must Die - Kill The Frog

On June 20 2005, a song called "Kill The Frog" by Frog Must Die was released in the UK. Since the song did not appear in the top 250 of the UK Singles Chart, it is unclear whether the single was postponed, or simply failed to sell enough copies. As the name suggests, this CD is about killing the Crazy Frog.

L.O.C. - Ring Ding Ding (Frog)

On June 27 2005, a song called "Ring Ding Ding (Frog)" by L.O.C. was released in the UK. It reached number 58 in the UK Singles Chart. This song sampled the Crazy Frog sound.

Het Feestteam - 50cc

In the winter of 2004, Dutch skihut act Het Feestteam released a single called "50cc" containing the sound. A remix single was released in April 2005.

Album releases

Crazy Hits

The CD cover of Crazy Frog - Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits.

Main article: Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits

An album entitled Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits was released on July 25, 2005. . Samples from the song are available on the Crazy Hits website. It reached #5 on the UK Albums Chart and #19 on the US Billboard 200 Albums Chart.

Video Games

Crazy Frog Racer

On July 1, 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, to be released in November 2005, is a racing game for the PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance and PC.

Merchandise

A recent string of Crazy Frog merchandise has been released in the UK , under the name "The Annoying Thing" due to copyright and licensing restrictions. These items are picked as big sellers for Christmas 2005, particularly the Annoying Thing Singing Plush which plays the ringtone when squeezed. Other products available include a board game, a desktop nodder, keyring, backpack, lunchbox and air freshener.

TV series

The German production company The League of Good People is in talks with broadcasters about a TV series based on Crazy Frog.

Tour

On November 23, 2005, music news site Undercover announced that the Crazy Frog will be touring Australia, beginning in Perth on December 4 and continuing through other major capital cities. Venues and dates have been confirmed - the Frog will be playing shopping centres and major hospitals.

See also

External links and references

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