Having already conquered the U.K. singles chart with a remake of “Axel F,” computer-animated creation Crazy Frog has his sights set on North America. Following its July 25 U.K. release, Crazy Frog’s first album, “Crazy Hits,” will arrive in North America in September via Next Plateau/Universal. A new U.K. single, a remake of Gershon Kingsley’s 1972 hit “Popcorn,” is due Aug. 15.
Crazy Frog began life as a ring tone, which, according to BBC News, has earned nearly $18 million to date for the Jamster company. The character crossed over into the world of music after being inserted into a dance remix of “Axel F” by producer Wolfgang Boss; the cut spent four weeks at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart and has sold 450,000 copies in the territory, as well as 500,000 units in France.
Speaking exclusively to Billboard.com, Boss explains how he became responsible for the first hit single that began life as a ring tone (and not the other way around). “We produced ‘Axel F.’ as a product trying to serve both industries in the best possible way — the ‘standard’ record industry by trying to produce a song that would be successful as a record being played on the radio and in clubs,” he says.
“In addition, we wanted to appeal to the mobile phone industry,” Boss continues. “We deliberately tried to produce a product with every intention to make it a hit for ring tone companies, and, at the same time, the music could benefit from the additional promotion provided by the technology.”
Beyond “Axel F” and videos for that cut and “Popcorn,” “Crazy Hits” will include remakes of everything from Tag Team’s “Whoomp! (There It Is)” to the Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” and Technotronic’s “Pump Up the Jam.” In North America, the track list will be slightly different but is not yet finalized, according to a spokesperson.
Not everybody has jumped on the Crazy Frog bandwagon. In the U.K., the character goes by the unofficial name of “The Annoying Thing,” since its commercials are constantly aired during the evening on Channel 4 TV. BBC radio personality Chris Moyles has also taken to playing the song repeatedly to rile up listeners during his morning show.
Here is the international track list for “Crazy Hits”:
“Intro”
“Axel F”
“Popcorn”
“Whoomp! (There It Is)”
“1001 Nights”
“Bailando”
“Don’t You Want Me”
“Dirty Frog”
“Magic Melody”
“Pump Up the Jam”
“In The 80s”
“Pinocchio”
“Wonderland”
“Dallas (Theme)”
“The Pink Panther”
“Crazy Sounds” (a cappella)
