Crazy (Seal song): Difference between revisions
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==Critical reception== |
==Critical reception== |
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[[Larry Flick]] from ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' felt that |
[[Larry Flick]] from ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' felt that UK newcomer Seal "comes on like a cross between [[Terence Trent D'Arby]] and [[Lenny Kravitz]] on this keyboard-driven [[Soul-funk|funk'n'soul]] jam."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-06-15.pdf|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=New & Noteworthy|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=1991-06-15|page=65|access-date=2018-01-25|author-link=Larry Flick}}</ref> A reviewer from ''[[Melody Maker]]'' named it Single of the Week, complimenting it as "a lush, sumptuous all-pervading piece that's as much of a song as it is a dancetrack."<ref>{{cite magazine|author=The Stud Brothers|work=[[Melody Maker]]|title=Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52256670066/|date=1990-12-15|access-date=2023-02-24}}</ref> Pan-European magazine ''[[Music & Media]]'' declared it as "adventurous [[techno-pop]] by this promising UK singer who sang on [[Adamski]]'s recent hit single "[[Killer (Adamski song)|Killer]]". Produced by [[Trevor Horn]], this classy, galloping mix of funk, soul and pop is currently riding high on the UK charts. Europe should be next."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-01-12.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|date=1991-01-12|page=13|access-date=2018-02-22}}</ref> Jack Barron from ''[[New Musical Express|NME]]'' felt that the song "finds all of Seal's talents intact."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Jack|last=Barron|work=[[New Musical Express|NME]]|title=Groove Check|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52228707373/in/photostream/|date=1990-10-27|access-date=2023-02-24}}</ref> Another editor, Barbara Ellen, also named it Single of the Week", adding, "The best thing about "Crazy" is the intelligent manipulation of vocals. They're eerie and penetrating anyway, but the production guy has wisely given them some space to breath and grow, at least he does at the beginning of the record."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Barbara|last=Ellen|work=[[New Musical Express|NME]]|title=Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52259049301/|date=1990-12-15|access-date=2023-02-24}}</ref> Bob Mack from ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' noted Seal's "stirring vocal that's being compared to [[Marvin Gaye]]", explaining that "based on a '70s cop-show-type bass synth line, "Crazy" flows natch enough that you hum along on first listening."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Bob|last=Mack|title=Singles|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tmnYK4rTBA4C|magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=1991|page=95|access-date=2020-02-27}}</ref> Eve Zibart from ''[[The Washington Post]]'' named it "easily the best pop single of 1991", remarking that the "moody" song offers "his simple philosophy: "We're never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy"."<ref>Zibart, Eve (27 December 1991). "Annual Top 10 Lists Of Weekend Music Critics". ''[[The Washington Post]]''.</ref> |
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==Retrospective response== |
==Retrospective response== |
Revision as of 17:19, 25 February 2023
"Crazy" | ||||
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Single by Seal | ||||
from the album Seal | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 26 November 1990[1] | |||
Recorded | 1990 | |||
Studio | Sarm West (London) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | ||||
Seal singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Crazy" on YouTube |
"Crazy" is a song written by the English singer Seal and British songwriter Guy Sigsworth. It was produced by Trevor Horn and released in November 1990 on Seal's debut album, Seal (1991). The song became his first commercial hit, reaching the top five in the United Kingdom, while becoming his first top ten single in the United States. It has since been covered by several artists, including Alanis Morissette, whose version was released as a single from her 2005 compilation album, The Collection.
Background and composition
Seal wrote "Crazy" in 1990 inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. In 2015, Seal said of the song's conception in 1990: "I felt the cycle had reached its apex. I felt the world changing and I felt profound things happening."[4]
According to the song's producer Trevor Horn, "Crazy" was made over the course of two months: "Crazy wasn't an easy record to make, because we were aiming high."[5]
The song's signature is a keyboard mantra that continually swells and swirls, driven by bass-heavy beats and wah-wah pedal guitars played by Simply Red guitarist Kenji Suzuki. Its floating, ambient stylings established a sound years before The Politics of Dancing by Paul Van Dyk or William Orbit's work with Madonna and All Saints. Orbit produced a remix of the track for the single release. Seal's vocals are deeply melodic and soulful, at times with a characteristic rasp, while at others soaring high above the backing track. In an interview with Q, Seal told:
I had no doubt about 'Crazy'. I always thought it was a potential No. 1—even though it never was! It's the first song I wrote on the guitar, and the first song where I said everything I wanted to say in a concise way. Before that my songs had been too long. But as soon as I wrote the hook, I knew it was a potential hit.[6]
Release and commercial performance
In the United Kingdom the song was released as the first single from the album Seal in November 1990 (see 1990 in music)[1] and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart in January 1991[7] and is Seal's biggest solo hit there.[8] The single sold over 200,000 copies, thus earning a BPI Silver certification.[1] It won Seal a number of awards including the 1992 Ivor Novello award for songwriting.[9]
The single was released in the United States in 1991, debuting at number eighty-three on the Billboard Hot 100 in mid-June; it peaked at number seven in late August and remained on the chart for nineteen weeks, until October.[10] It reached the top five on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and the top twenty on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart.[11][12] It was the most commercially successful single from Seal and was Seal's biggest hit in the US until "Kiss from a Rose", which reached number 1 in 1995. In August 2003 an acoustic version of "Crazy" charted at number four on Billboard's Hot Digital Tracks chart.[13]
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard felt that UK newcomer Seal "comes on like a cross between Terence Trent D'Arby and Lenny Kravitz on this keyboard-driven funk'n'soul jam."[14] A reviewer from Melody Maker named it Single of the Week, complimenting it as "a lush, sumptuous all-pervading piece that's as much of a song as it is a dancetrack."[15] Pan-European magazine Music & Media declared it as "adventurous techno-pop by this promising UK singer who sang on Adamski's recent hit single "Killer". Produced by Trevor Horn, this classy, galloping mix of funk, soul and pop is currently riding high on the UK charts. Europe should be next."[16] Jack Barron from NME felt that the song "finds all of Seal's talents intact."[17] Another editor, Barbara Ellen, also named it Single of the Week", adding, "The best thing about "Crazy" is the intelligent manipulation of vocals. They're eerie and penetrating anyway, but the production guy has wisely given them some space to breath and grow, at least he does at the beginning of the record."[18] Bob Mack from Spin noted Seal's "stirring vocal that's being compared to Marvin Gaye", explaining that "based on a '70s cop-show-type bass synth line, "Crazy" flows natch enough that you hum along on first listening."[19] Eve Zibart from The Washington Post named it "easily the best pop single of 1991", remarking that the "moody" song offers "his simple philosophy: "We're never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy"."[20]
Retrospective response
In 1999, the Daily Vault's Jason Warburg stated that "Crazy" is "an obvious club track with its propulsive synthesizer melody and driving rhythm section. The Shaft guitar part closing out the bridge is a nice touch, too, demonstrating just how effectively Seal has grafted synthesized dance music onto its funk roots."[21] Siobhan O'Neill commented on the song in the 2010 book 10,001 Songs You Must Hear…, "Full of drug and dance scene references, "Crazy" blends soulful lyrics and husky vocals with Horn's trademark sweeping orchestration and a voguish electronic backing—a combination that, in the wake of this and Massive Attack, became the template for a whole strand of dance music."[22]
Music video and use in other media
The single's music video, directed by Big TV!, features multiple re-creations of Seal himself performing the song against a primarily white background. A female dancer appears just before the bridge of the song, and at the end Seal holds a dove while snow falls on him. The video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.[23]
The song is played during a party scene in the film Naked in New York (1993),[24] is heard in a Baywatch episode, in the trailer for the film The Basketball Diaries (1995) and featured in a scene in Clockers, released in 1995. It is also heard in the middle of "True Calling", the second episode of Season 6 of TV's Cold Case. It was also used as a theme song for the ABC-TV series Murder One, which was transmitted during the 1995–1996 television season. It is also heard in the film Mystery Date. The song featured in the 1999 Robbie the Reindeer film Hooves of Fire, where it is performed by a seal.
Track listing
- 7"
- "Crazy" – 4:30
- "Sparkle" – 3:36
- CD
- "Crazy" – 4:30
- "Crazy" (extended version) – 5:09
- "Krazy" – 6:26 (producers: Trevor Horn, Tim Simenon)
- CD maxi-single
- "Crazy" (7" mix) – 4:30
- "Crazy" (William Orbit Mix) – 5:25
- "Crazy" (acoustic version / instrumental version) – 6:57
- "Crazy" (a cappella mix) – 3:27
- "Sparkle" (extended version) – 6:23
- "Krazy" – 6:27
- "Crazy" (Do You Know the Way to L.A. Mix) – 3:50
- "Crazy" (Chick on My Tip Mix) – 6:47
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
|
Cover versions
The hard rock band Talisman covered the song on their 1995 album Life, and a version by power metal band Iron Savior is included as a bonus track on their 2002 album, Condition Red.
Two cover versions were released in 2003: one by punk covers band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on their 2003 album Take a Break, and another by alternative metal band Mushroomhead as a hidden track on their 2003 album, XIII. In 2004, the song was covered by Brooklyn Bounce.
Indie artist Brian Eaton covered the song on his 2011 pop/rock album, Graphic Nature.[54]
French pop singer Tal covered this song for her debut album, Le droit de rêver, in the deluxe edition released in 2012.
In 2022, Denver Colorado-based alt-rock band Ancient Echoes released a cover version.
Alanis Morissette version
"Crazy" | ||||
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Single by Alanis Morissette | ||||
from the album The Collection | ||||
Released | 31 October 2005 | |||
Recorded | 2005 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Maverick | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Glen Ballard | |||
Alanis Morissette singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Crazy" on YouTube |
Alanis Morissette covered the song for a Gap advertisement in 2005, and a James Michael-produced remix of her version, which was originally produced by Morissette's longtime collaborator Glen Ballard, was released as a single from her greatest hits album, The Collection (2005). Her version is briefly heard over an establishing shot of Central Park in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada. Morissette said of the cover, "it's poking fun not only at how I've been perceived but also at what I've accurately been perceived as."[57] She called the main line in the song, "You're never going to survive/Unless you get a little crazy", "one of the simplest, yet most profound statements."[58]
Chart performances
Released in the US in mid-October 2005 (see 2005 in music), Morissette's cover was less successful than Seal's original; it failed to chart on the Hot 100, instead debuting and peaking at number four on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart (which comprises the most popular songs yet to enter the Hot 100) in late November.[59] It was another top ten hit for Morissette on the Adult Top 40 chart and was popular in nightclubs, becoming Morissette's second top ten Hot Dance Club Play hit after "Eight Easy Steps" (2004). It reached number twenty-nine in Canada and the top forty across much of Continental Europe, but in the United Kingdom it became Morissette's lowest peaking single, reaching sixty-five.
Music video
The single's video was directed by Meiert Avis, who directed the video for Morissette's "Everything" (2004), and shot in Los Angeles, California in the week ending 24 September.[60] In it Morissette is seen walking the streets at night, performing the song in a club and obsessively following a man (played by Chris William Martin) and his girlfriend. Eventually, Morissette confronts the man at a party. During a 22 October appearance on the UK television show popworld, Morissette said the video's final shot, which is of a photo showing her and the woman close together, is supposed to reveal to the audience (who, before this point, are meant to believe the man is her ex-boyfriend) that she was actually following the woman.
Track listing
- "Crazy" (Claude Le Gache Club Mix) (Edit)
- "Crazy" (Eddie Baez Coo Coo Club Mix) (Edit)
- "Crazy" (Monk Mix of Meds) (Edit)
- "Crazy" (Interstate Mix) (Edit)
- "Crazy" (Claude Le Gache Mixshow)
Charts
Chart (2005–2006) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[61] | 61 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[62] | 20 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[63] | 4 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[64] | 3 |
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100 Oficiální)[65] | 22 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[66] | 6 |
Germany (GfK)[67] | 38 |
Greece (IFPI)[68] | 22 |
Italy (FIMI)[69] | 3 |
Italy (Musica e Dischi)[70] | 2 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[71] | 40 |
Scotland (OCC)[72] | 43 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[73] | 12 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[74] | 57 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[75] | 31 |
UK Singles (OCC)[76] | 65 |
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[59] | 4 |
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[77] | 10 |
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[77][78] | 6 |
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[77] | 6 |
US Pop 100 (Billboard)[77][78] | 95 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 10 October 2005 | Maverick | [79] | |
United Kingdom | 31 October 2005 | CD | [80] |
References
- ^ a b c "SEAL, CRAZY, Silver, Tuesday 1 January 1991". BPI. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
- ^ Tracie Ratiner (December 2009). Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music. Gale / Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-0-7876-9616-0.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (28 March 2022). "The Number Ones: Seal's "Kiss from a Rose"". Stereogum. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
...[Seal's] debut single "Crazy," a magnetic dance-rock swirl...
- ^ "Seal – Crazy Lyrics". Genius. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
- ^ "Trevor Horn: 'I had delusions the label would be a hub of creativity' | Media | the Guardian". TheGuardian.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-03.
- ^ Dimery, Robert, ed. (2011) [2010]. "10,001 Songs You Must Hear…". 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. Octopus Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-84403-684-4.
- ^ a b "1991 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 19th January 1991". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
- ^ everyHit - UK Top 40 Hit Database Archived 4 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 December 2006.
- ^ "Crazy". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
- ^ Billboard. Issues dated from 22 June to 26 October 1991.
- ^ a b c d "Seal - Billboard Singles". Billboard and Allmusic. Retrieved 17 December 2006.
- ^ a b c "Seal - Artist Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 17 December 2006.
- ^ a b Billboard. 16 August 2003.
- ^ Flick, Larry (15 June 1991). "New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 65. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^ The Stud Brothers (15 December 1990). "Singles". Melody Maker. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 12 January 1991. p. 13. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ Barron, Jack (27 October 1990). "Groove Check". NME. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ Ellen, Barbara (15 December 1990). "Singles". NME. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ Mack, Bob (1991). "Singles". Spin. p. 95. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- ^ Zibart, Eve (27 December 1991). "Annual Top 10 Lists Of Weekend Music Critics". The Washington Post.
- ^ Warburg, Jason (28 January 1999). "Seal – Seal". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ Dimery, Robert, ed. (2011) [2010]. "10,001 Songs You Must Hear…". 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. Octopus Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-84403-684-4.
- ^ "Station Reports > TV > MTV/London" (PDF). Music & Media. 2 February 1991. p. 21. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ "Soundtracks for Naked in New York". IMDB.com. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ^ "Seal – Crazy". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Seal – Crazy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Seal – Crazy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1600." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
- ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. 25 May 1991. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 12. 23 March 1991. p. 33. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Seal". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 229. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ "Seal – Crazy" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Seal – Crazy" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
- ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. 30 March 1991. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Seal". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 11. 16 March 1991. p. 17. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Seal" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Seal – Crazy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Seal – Crazy". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Seal – Crazy". VG-lista.
- ^ "Seal – Crazy". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Seal – Crazy". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "1991 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1991" (in German). Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1991" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 1991" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. 21 December 1991. p. 21. Retrieved 17 January 2020 – via American Radio History.
- ^ "Single top 100 over 1991" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1991" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "End of Year Charts 1991". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1991" (in German). Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ Video on YouTube
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1991". Archived from the original on 7 July 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "Graphic Nature - Brian Eaton". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- ^ Karen Fournier (16 January 2015). The Words and Music of Alanis Morissette. ABC-CLIO. p. 120. ISBN 978-1-4408-3069-3.
- ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (29 October 2005). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 70. ISSN 0006-2510.
{{cite book}}
:|author=
has generic name (help) - ^ Cooper, Tim. "Still crazy after all these years" Archived 15 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine. The Independent. 11 January 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2006.
- ^ Tecson, Brandee J. "Alanis Sheds Her Angst In The Form Of A Hits Album" Archived 26 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine. MTV News. 16 November 2005. Retrieved 17 December 2006.
- ^ a b Billboard. 3 December 2005.
- ^ Staff. "For The Record: Quick News On Young Buck, Dr. Dre, Bright Eyes, Switchfoot, Elliott Smith, Jin & More" Archived 27 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine. MTV News. 30 September 2005. Retrieved 17 December 2006.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 193.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Crazy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Crazy" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Crazy" (in French). Ultratip.
- ^ Čns Ifpi
- ^ "Alanis Morissette: Crazy" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Crazy" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
- ^ "IFPI archive". Archived from the original on 17 July 2004. Retrieved 6 March 2006.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Crazy". Top Digital Download.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 31 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Alanis Morissette".
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Crazy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Crazy" Canciones Top 50.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Crazy". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Crazy". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ a b c d "Alanis Morissette - Billboard Singles". Billboard and Allmusic. Retrieved 17 December 2006.
- ^ a b "Alanis Morissette - Artist Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 17 December 2006.
- ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1627. 7 October 2005. p. 21.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 29 October 2005. p. 25.
- Seal (musician) songs
- 1990 debut singles
- 1991 singles
- Alanis Morissette songs
- 2005 singles
- Dance-pop songs
- Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
- European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
- Number-one singles in Sweden
- Number-one singles in Switzerland
- Song recordings produced by Trevor Horn
- Songs written by Guy Sigsworth
- Songs written by Seal (musician)
- Music videos directed by Big T.V.
- Music videos directed by Meiert Avis
- 1990 songs
- ZTT Records singles
- Sire Records singles
- Maverick Records singles