Axel F

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“Axel F”
Single by Harold Faltermeyer from the album Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack
B-side	"Discovery", "Shoot Out"
Released	1984
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	1984
Genre	Electronic
Length	3:01
Label	MCA Records MCA 949
Writer(s)	Harold Faltermeyer
Producer	Harold Faltermeyer
Harold Faltermeyer singles chronology
- "Axel F" (1987) "The Race is On" / "Starlight Express" (1987)

"Axel F" is the electronic instrumental theme from the 1984 film Beverly Hills Cop performed by Harold Faltermeyer. The title comes from the main character's name, Axel Foley (played by Eddie Murphy), in the film. It topped musical charts in 1985 and remains a popular remix track. Mixes of "Axel F" topped European pop charts in 2003 and again in 2005 as the Crazy Frog song.

Contents 1 Harold Faltermeyer version 1.1 Chart performance 2 Crazy Frog version 2.1 Chart performances 2.2 Music video 2.3 In the media 2.4 Controversy 2.5 Single track listing 2.6 Certifications and sales 2.7 Charts 3 Other published recordings with chart positions 4 Cultural references 4.1 In series TV 4.2 Samples in music 4.3 In video games 5 Audio sample 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Harold Faltermeyer version

Faltermeyer recorded the song using three synthesizers: a Roland Jupiter-8, a Roland JX-3P, and a Yamaha DX-7. This version of the song reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart and #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.

[edit] Chart performance

Country	Peak position
The Netherlands	1[1]
UK	2
US	3
Sweden	18
Switzerland	2

[edit] Crazy Frog version

“Axel F”
Single by Crazy Frog from the album Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits
Released	May 17, 2005
Format	CD single CD maxi Digital download
Recorded	1997 (vocals), 2004 (song)
Genre	Dance Electronica
Length	2:54 (Radio Edit)
Label	Ministry of Sound
Writer(s)	Faltermeyer
Certification	Diamond France, 2005 Double Platinium Belgium, 2005 Gold (BPI)
Crazy Frog singles chronology
"Axel F" (2005) "Popcorn" (2005)

"Axel F", also known as the Crazy Frog song, is a novelty song that was the debut and most internationally successful single by Crazy Frog, released in 2005. It is a remix of Harold Faltermeyer's 1984 composition "Axel F", produced by Henning Reith and Reinhard "DJ Voodoo" Raith, two members of the German dance production team Bass Bumpers. Jamster! arranged the remix, and later marketed it as a ringtone.

The remix consists of vocals taken from the Crazy Frog recording by Daniel Malmedahl in 1997. It uses mainly the same part of the two-minute original that was used in Jamster's ringtone release. The song also uses the "What's going on ?" vocal shotguns from another 2003 remix of Axel F, by Murphy Brown and Captain Hollywood (dubbed "Axel F 2003" and sometimes "Axel F 2004").

The Ministry of Sound hired Kaktus Film and Erik Wernquist of TurboForce3D, the original creator of the 3D Crazy Frog, to produce a full-length animated music video to accompany the release of the song. The video features the Crazy Frog character, is set in the future, and centers on his pursuit by a bounty hunter. The bounty hunter receives notification of a $50,000 reward for capturing the frog, who is only identified as "The most annoying thing in the world", a reference to Wernquist's original name for the character.

[edit] Chart performances

Released across Europe in May 2005, "Axel F" went straight to number one in the UK, with some of the best weekly sales of the year so far (out-selling rivals such as Coldplay by four copies to one), and remained on top of the UK charts for four weeks. In other European countries the popularity has differed, with the remix failing to make the top twenty in Switzerland at first, before gradually climbing to #1, whilst only making #18 in Russia. It also reached #1 in the overall European chart, after initially being number two to Akon's "Lonely" for several weeks, and stayed there until September. It also reached #1 in Australia, Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway, Ukraine, Spain, and Sweden.

In France, the song made an amazing jump, entering the French singles chart at number 77 on June 11, 2005, and moving all the way to number 2 in the next week. There it stayed for two weeks, and then topped the chart for 13 weeks. It left the first position being dethroned by its second single, "Popcorn" (it was only the second time that an artist dethrone himself in that country). The song remained in the top ten for 21 weeks, 30 weeks in the top 50 and 36 weeks in the chart. Its best weekly sales were 103,564 on its sixth week, which is huge in France^[2]. On December 1, 2005, it was certified Diamond disc seven months after its release by SNEP, the French certificator. According to the Infodisc Website, it is the 34th best selling single of all time in France^[3], with 1,236,100 sales^[4] (1,265,579 sales, according to another source^[5]).

Despite the Crazy Frog not being hugely well-known in Japan, the single release also charted there, peaking at #46. It has apparently failed to catch on in the U.S., peaking at #50. Although "Axel F" managed to find more success in Mainstream Markets, it proved to be a moderate success on U.S Rhythmic Top 40 where it peaked at #28 just scraping the top 30. It also peaked at #3 on the U.S Digital Sales beating the likes of Lindsay Lohan and the Black Eyed Peas. It's highest US success was just missing the top spot at #2 on the U.S Adult Contemporary Top 20.

[edit] Music video

The bounty hunter activates a killbot mounted on armoured hover cycle in the video, then it proceeds to track the Crazy Frog as he commutes around the City on his imaginary motorcycle. As the bounty hunter closes in on his prey, the Crazy Frog becomes aware of his pursuer and an unlikely chase begins over skyscrapers and through the city's sewer system, before the killbot launches a guided missile at the Frog.

However, the Crazy Frog is able to mount the missile as it approaches him, evidently confusing its guidance system, as it then begins to loop and glide uncontrollably. The missile eventually locks onto the bounty hunter's van, destroying it and creating a large mushroom cloud. The Crazy Frog manages to escape (or survive, it is unknown which) the blast, covered in dust from the debris and appearing to deliver the closing 'lyrics'.

[edit] In the media

In February and March 2006, the Canadian animation television channel Teletoon aired the music video during times between programming, with the genitalia and the explosion edited out.

Cartoon Network aired the music video between programs (roughly 2:58 P.M EST) in February, March, and June 2006, with the genitalia and the explosion edited out.

Family Guy aired it on Meet the Quagmires while Peter dances to it.

[edit] Controversy

Some music video channels censored the Crazy Frog's genitalia in the music video. Some had also already done this on the ringtone advertisement.

[edit] Single track listing

Australia CD "Axel F" (Radio Edit) — 2:54 "Axel F" (Club Mix) — 6:23 "Axel F" (Club Mix Instrumental) — 6:23 "In The 80's" — 3:29 UK CD1 "Axel F" (Radio Mix) "Axel F" (Bounce Mix) "Axel F" (Bounce Mix Instrumental) "Axel F" (Reservoir Frogs Mix) "Axel F" (Video)

UK CD2 "Axel F" (Radio Mix) "Axel F" (Video)

[edit] Certifications and sales

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified	Physical sales	Digital downloads
Belgium[6]	2 x Platinum	September 10, 2005	100,000
France[7]	Diamond	December 1, 2005	750,000	1,265,579+[5]	28,800+[8]
Swiss[9]	Platinum	2005	40,000
U.S.[10]	Gold	December 12, 2005	500,000

[edit] Charts

Chart (2005)[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] Peak position U.S Billboard Hot 100 50 U.S Billboard Hot Dance Club/Play 7 Australian Singles Chart 1 Austrian Singles Chart 2 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart 1 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart 1 Danish Singles Chart 1 Dutch Singles Chart 3 Euro 200[18] 1 Finnish Singles Chart 2 French Singles Chart 1 French Download Singles Chart 1 German Singles Chart 3 Irish Singles Chart 1 Italian Singles Chart 3 New Zealander Singles Chart 1 Norwegian Singles Chart 1 Sweden Singles Chart 1 Swiss Singles Chart 1 UK Singles Chart 1

Annual chart (2005) Position Australian Singles Chart[19] 4 Australian Dance Singles Chart[20] 1 Austrian Singles Chart[21] 17 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[22] 2 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[23] 1 French Singles Chart[24] 2 French Download Singles Chart[8] 7 French Club 50 Chart[25] 23 New Zealander Singles Chart[26] 1 Swiss Singles Chart[27] 2 UWC 6

[edit] Other published recordings with chart positions

• 1991 "Axel F" by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra for the Telarc release Bond and Beyond
• 1995 "Axel F"/"Keep Pushin'" (by Clock), a UK #7 hit in 1995.
• 1998 "Axel F" (by Planet Bass)
• 1998 "Axel F" (by Trance Atlantic Air Waves)
• 1999 "Axel F" (by Cobat)
• 2001 "Axel F" (by Spacecorn) #74 UK
• 2003 "Axel F 2003"/"Axel F 2004" (by Murphy Brown & Captain Hollywood)
• 2005 "Italian Fireflies vs Axel Foley Theme" (Author Unknown, sampled from Black Strobe and Harold Faltermeyer)
• 2007 "Original Techno remix by #1 80's Club Hits Remixed on their album Best of 80's Dance

[edit] Cultural references

[edit] In series TV

• Four episodes of The Simpsons, "Separate Vocations", "Radio Bart", "Marge vs. the Monorail", and "Sweets and Sour Marge", used a slightly modified version of "Axel F" as incidental music, usually to indicate suspense.
• The "Masters Of All Time" episode of Danny Phantom used an "Axel F"-esque song during the scene when Danny first arrives in the past.
• In an episode of King of the Hill, "Maid in Arlen", Kahn is able to play Axel F on a keyboard while singing the words "Bev-Bev Beverly Hills Cop/Bev-Bev Beverly Hills Cop/Axel Foley's gonna find those druuugs!" to the music.
• In one episode of Family Guy, "Whistle While Your Wife Works", it is Brian's ringtone.
• In another episode of Family Guy, "Meet the Quagmires", Peter goes back in time to 1984. Instead of trying to save his relationship with Lois, he goes to the St. Elmo's Clam club with Cleveland and dances to this song on two separate occasions, while "singing" using his trademark giggle in time to the music.
• In an episode of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Donna sarcastically tells her boyfriend Gaz that Axel F is her favourite romantic song. The song is played later in the episode when Gaz tries to marry her, and is played when the couple of walking down the "aisle".
• In an episode of Friends, "The One with the Prom Video", Ross plays Axel F on a small keyboard after saying he wants to "work on [his] music."
• When the Walker, Texas Ranger lever originally debuted on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," it was accompanied by a button which played Axel F when pressed. This was quickly phased out.
• In an episode of Clerks: The Animated Series, Axel F is played in a dream sequence in which a Judge Reinhold character dreams about teaming up with "Axel" again.

[edit] Samples in music

• Korean singer "PSY" made another remix of Axel F in his song 챔피언 "Champion".
• Sampled by dancehall artist Vybz Kartel on the 2006 single, "Car Man", from the album JMT.
• Kidz Bop Kids remixed the 2005 version by Crazy Frog.
• There is a Telugu song sampling Axel F [1].

[edit] In video games

• The "Jurassic Park" game for the Nintendo Game Boy, released in 1993, used a remixed version of "Axel F" as a part of the game's music.
• Used on Atari ST cover disks by the 'Medway Boys' and 'Pompey Pirates'.
• Covered on numerous Russian 8bit computer games that have been ported (Radio-86RK, Pentagon, Elektronika BK-0010 and Vector-06C)

[edit] Audio sample

[edit] See also

• Axel Foley
• Beverly Hills Cop
• Beverly Hills Cop II
• Beverly Hills Cop III
• Beverly Hills Cop IV

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The 8bitpeoples "Axel F" A freely downloadable compilation of various artists' interpretations of "Axel F." Released under Creative Commons license.
• The official Crazy Frog Axel F website
• Single website
• Press release, including sound clips

Preceded by "This Is My Night" by Chaka Khan	U.S. Hot Dance Club Play number-one single (Harold Faltermeyer version) March 9, 1985	Succeeded by "Bad Habits" by Jenny Burton
Preceded by "Fame" by Star Academy	Belgium Singles Chart (Crazy Frog version) June 4, 2005 - August 20, 2005	Succeeded by "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt
Preceded by "Short Liv" by Lars Winnerbäck and Hovet	Swedish number one single (Crazy Frog version) June 25, 2005 - September 1, 2005	Succeeded by "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt
Preceded by "Lonely" by Akon	Swiss number one single (Crazy Frog version) July 3, 2005 - September 11, 2005	Succeeded by "La camisa negra" by Juanes
Preceded by "Lonely" by Akon	Irish (IRMA) number-one single (Crazy Frog version) June 2, 2005 - June 23, 2005	Succeeded by "Ghetto Gospel" by 2Pac featuring Elton John
	New Zealand (RIANZ) number-one single (first run) (Crazy Frog version) July 18, 2005 – August 22, 2005	Succeeded by "Don't Cha" by Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes
	Australia (ARIA) number-one single (Crazy Frog version) July 24, 2005 – August 7, 2005	Succeeded by "Lonely" by Akon
Preceded by "Un monde parfait" by Ilona	French (SNEP) number one single (Crazy Frog version) July 21, 2005 - September 17, 2005	Succeeded by "Popcorn" by Crazy Frog
Preceded by "Don't Cha" by Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes	New Zealand (RIANZ) number-one single (second run) (Crazy Frog version) August 29, 2005 – October 10, 2005	Succeeded by "Pon De Replay" by Rihanna
Preceded by "Lyla" by Oasis	UK number-one single (Crazy Frog version) June 4, 2005 – July 1, 2005	Succeeded by "Ghetto Gospel" by 2pac featuring Elton John
Preceded by "Dragostea din tei" by O-Zone	Belgium Singles Chart single of the year (Crazy Frog version) 2005	Succeeded by "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
Preceded by "This Is The Night" by Jorun Stiansen	Norwegian VG-lista number-one single (first run) (Crazy Frog version) July 6, 2005 - July 20, 2005	Succeeded by "Tsjeriåu" by Ravi & DJ Løv med The Monroes (first run)
Preceded by "Tsjeriåu" by Ravi & DJ Løv med The Monroes (first run)	Norwegian VG-lista number-one single (second run) (Crazy Frog version) July 27, 2005 - August 17, 2005	Succeeded by "Tsjeriåu" by Ravi & DJ Løv med The Monroes (second run)
Preceded by "Tsjeriåu" by Ravi & DJ Løv med The Monroes (second run)	Norwegian VG-lista number-one single (third run) (Crazy Frog version) August 24, 2005 - August 31, 2005	Succeeded by "What's In It For Me" by Amy Diamond

v • d • e Crazy Frog Discography Studio albums: Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits • Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits: Crazy Xmas Edition • Crazy Frog Presents More Crazy Hits Singles: "Axel F" • "Popcorn" • "Jingle Bells/U Can't Touch This" • "We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)" • "Last Christmas" • "Crazy Frog in the House"