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Axel F

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"Axel F"
Song
B-side
  • "Discovery"
  • "Shoot Out"

"Axel F" is the electronic instrumental theme from the 1984 film Beverly Hills Cop performed by Harold Faltermeyer. It was an international number 1 hit in 1985.

Background

The title comes from the main character's name, Axel Foley (played by Eddie Murphy), in the film. (It also happens to be in the key of F major or D minor.)

Faltermeyer recorded the song using five instruments: a Roland Jupiter-8 provided the distinctive "supersaw" lead sound, a Moog modular synthesizer 15 provided the bass, a Roland JX-3P provided chord stabs, a Yamaha DX7 was used for bell and marimba sounds and a LinnDrum was used for drum programming.

According to Faltermeyer, the initial reaction to his premiere presentation of the cues to the film's producers and director didn't result in an immediate approval; it wasn't until director Martin Brest voiced his approval that the producers showed enthusiasm.[2]

In addition to the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, the song also appears on Faltermeyer's 1988 album Harold F. as a bonus track. Reportedly, Faltermeyer was against including it, but MCA insisted as it was his most recognizable track.

Personnel

Track listings

12" maxi
  1. "Axel F" (M & M Mix) — 7:00
  2. "Axel F" (Extended Version) — 7:09
  3. "Shoot Out" — 2:44
12" maxi
  1. "Axel F" (Extended Version) — 7:09
  2. "Shoot Out" — 2:44
7" single
  1. "Axel F" — 3:00
  2. "Shoot Out" — 2:44

Charts

This version of the song reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It also spent two weeks atop the American adult contemporary chart.

Notable appearances in other media

  • This song played in the American comedy film Summer Rental in 1985.
  • This song played on an episode of the American daytime soap opera General Hospital on 22 September 1986.
  • This song played on an episode of the American action sci-fi drama television series Photon on 14 February 1987.
  • This song played on an episode of the American television comedy series Friends on 1 February 1996.
  • This song played on an episode of the American television comedy series Everybody Hates Chris on 29 January 2007.
  • This song played on an episode of the American animated television comedy series Family Guy on 20 May 2007.
  • Part of this song was played in the movie Monsters vs. Aliens.
  • This song played on an episode of the American television comedy series Parks and Recreation on 6 May 2010.
  • It was played on the Australian game show Spicks and Specks during the Cover Versions segment.
  • In the Philippines this is being used as a song background for Metro Traffic Live in DZMM TeleRadyo.

Cover versions

Crazy Frog version

"Axel F"
Song
B-side"In the 80's"
Music video
"Axel F" on YouTube

In 2005, Crazy Frog recorded the song, releasing it as "Axel F", though it was also known as the "Crazy Frog song".[citation needed] The novelty song is Crazy Frog's first and most internationally successful single. The cover was produced by Matthias Wagner and Andreas Dohmeyer, the two members of Off-cast Project, and Henning Reith and Reinhard "DJ Voodoo" Raith, two members of the German dance production team Bass Bumpers. Wolfgang Boss[20] and Jamster! arranged the remix,[21][22] and later marketed it as a ringtone.

The song 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 samples (as well as the instruments) from another 2003 cover of Axel F, by Murphy Brown and Captain Hollywood (dubbed "Axel F 2003" and sometimes "Axel F 2004" also produced by Matthias Wagner and Andreas Dohmeyer[23]).

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, featuring the Crazy Frog character, is set in the future, and centres on his pursuit by a bounty hunter. The bounty hunter receives notification of a $50,000 reward for capturing the frog.

There were three edits to the song. The original version of the song can be found at most P2P networks. This song used the "What's going on?" samples twice throughout the song and the "weeee!" sound is heard before the motorbike section of the song. A radio edit was made which had the frog saying "This is the Crazy Frog." and the removal of some sounds and a third edit was made for the Crazy Hits album with the frog saying "I am the Crazy Frog."

Chart performances

Released across Europe in May 2005, "Axel F" topped the charts in the United Kingdom, with some of the best weekly sales of the year (out-selling rivals such as Coldplay by four copies to one), and remained at top of the UK Singles Chart for four weeks and becoming Britain's third best-selling single of 2005. In other European countries the popularity has differed, with the song failing to make the top 20 in Switzerland at first, before gradually climbing to number 1, whilst only making number 18 in Russia. It also reached number 1 in the overall European chart, after initially being number 2 to Akon's "Lonely" for several weeks, and stayed there until September. It also reached number 1 in Australia, Republic of 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 seventy seven on June 11, 2005, and moving all the way to number two the next week. There it stayed for two weeks before climbing to the summit, where it remained for thirteen weeks. It fell off the first position being dethroned by its 2nd single, "Popcorn" (it was only the second time that an artist dethroned himself in that country). The song remained in the top 10 for 21 weeks, 30 weeks in the top 50 and 36 weeks in the chart. Its best weekly sales were 103,564 on its 6th week.[24] On December 1, 2005, it was certified Diamond disc 7 months after its release by SNEP, the French certifier. The song is the third best-selling single of the 21st century in France, with 1,270,000 units sold.[25] (1,265,579 sales, according to another source[26]).

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 US, peaking at #50. Although "Axel F" managed to find more success in Mainstream Markets, it proved to be a moderate success on US Rhythmic Top 40 where it peaked at number 28 just scraping the top 30. It also peaked at number 3 on the U.S Digital Sales beating the likes of Lindsay Lohan and the Black Eyed Peas. Its highest U.S. success was just missing the top spot at number 2 on the US Adult Contemporary Top 20.

The song was the 65th best-selling single of the 2000 decade in UK.[27]

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 the blast, covered in dust from the debris and appearing to deliver the closing 'lyrics'.

The video was listed in NME's "50 Worst Music Videos".[28]

This video has more than 1.2 billion views on YouTube.[29][30] It is the second oldest YouTube video (as well as the second oldest video to reach 1 billion views) in the 100 most viewed YouTube videos after "The Gummy Bear Song".

Single track listing

Australia

  1. "Axel F" (Radio Edit) — 2:54
  2. "Axel F" (Club Mix) — 6:23
  3. "Axel F" (Club Mix Instrumental) — 6:23
  4. "In the 80's" — 3:29

UK

  1. "Axel F" (Radio Edit)
  2. "Axel F" (Bounce Mix)
  3. "Axel F" (Bounce Mix Instrumental)
  4. "Axel F" (Reservoir Frog Remix)
  5. "Axel F" (Video)

Charts and sales

Certifications and sales
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[65] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Belgium (BEA)[66] 2× Platinum 60,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[67] Gold 4,000^
France (SNEP)[69] Diamond 1,294,379[68]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[70] 2× Platinum 0*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[71] Platinum 40,000^
Sweden (GLF)[72] Platinum 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[74] Gold 568,000[73]
United States (RIAA)[75] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other covers

  • 1995 "Axel F"/"Keep Pushin'" (by Clock), a UK number 7 hit in 1995.[76]
  • 2001 "Axel F" (by Spacecorn), a UK number 74.
  • 2002 "Axel F" (by 8bitpeoples), an album entirely of chiptune covers by various electronic artists.[77]
  • 2002 "Champion" (by PSY). This song samples Axel F.
  • 2016 "PPAP Vs. Axel F" (by Pikotaro). A mashup of Axel F and PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen).

See also

References

  1. ^ "Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer". Toponehitwonders.com. October 31, 2010. Retrieved May 29, 2013. "“Axel F” is a brilliant one-hit wonder on many levels. It’s a synthpop one-hit wonder, placing it in the same company as “Cars” by Gary Numan (...) and “Autobahn” by Kraftwerk to name just a few genius synthpop hits."
  2. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkQUzbeguUM&feature=youtu.be&t=1h12m7s
  3. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. ^ "Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  5. ^ "Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  6. ^ "Axel F. - HAROLD FALTERMEYER". VRT (in Dutch). Top30-2.radio2.be. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 2
  7. ^ "Top Singles - Volume 42, No. 18, July 13, 1985". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  8. ^ "Adult Contemporary - Volume 42, No. 16, June 29, 1985". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  9. ^ a b "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". IRMA. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) 1st and 3rd results when searching "Axel F"
  10. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  11. ^ "Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  12. ^ "Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  13. ^ "Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  14. ^ "Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  15. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  16. ^ a b c d e "Harold Faltermeyer awards at Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  17. ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – 1985". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  18. ^ "Single top 100 over 1985" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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  21. ^ "Crazy Frog profile on Discogs.com". Discogs. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  22. ^ "Crazy Frog hüpft weiter die Charts empor" (in German). Mediabiz.de. June 8, 2005. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  23. ^ "Murphy Brown vs. Captain Hollywood profile on Discogs.com". Discogs. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  24. ^ Likeadream. "Chiffres de ventes hebdomadaires Singles - Edition 2006". Chartsinfrance.net (in French). Webedia / IP.Board 3 - IPS, Inc. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
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  26. ^ "Les 100 Singles les plus vendus en France en 2005" (in French). Fanofmusic.free.fr. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  27. ^ Radio 1 Official Chart of the Decade, as broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on Tuesday December 29, 2009, presented by Nihal
  28. ^ NME.COM. "50 Worst Music Videos Ever". NME.COM.
  29. ^ CrazyFrogVEVO (June 16, 2009), Crazy Frog - Axel F, retrieved January 5, 2018
  30. ^ Menegus, Bryan. "It's 2016 and Crazy Frog Is Skyrocketing on YouTube [Update]". Gizmodo. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
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  52. ^ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Dance Singles 2005". Aria.com.au. ARIA - Australian Recording Industry Association Ltd. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
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  54. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2005". Ultratop (in German). Ultratop and Hung Medien. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  55. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2005". Ultratop (in French). Ultratop and Hung Medien. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
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  57. ^ 2005 French Airplay, TV and Club Charts - Yacast.fr (in French) (Retrieved January 19, 2007)
  58. ^ "Les 20 Singles les téléchargés en France en 2005". SNEP (in French). Fanofmusic.free.fr. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
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  60. ^ "Single top 100 over 2005" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
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  64. ^ "ChartsPlusYE2005" (PDF). UKchartsplus.co.uk. Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
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  67. ^ "Danish single certifications – Crazy Frog – Axel F". IFPI Danmark. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2005 to obtain certification.
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  70. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Crazy Frog – Axel F". Recorded Music NZ.[dead link‍]
  71. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Axel F')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
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  74. ^ id MUST BE PROVIDED for UK CERTIFICATION.
  75. ^ "American single certifications – Crazy Frog – Axel F". Recording Industry Association of America.
  76. ^ "Clock's Axel F cover of Harold Faltermeyer's Axel F". WhoSampled.com. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  77. ^ "8bitpeoples "Axel F"". 8bitpeoples.com. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
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