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 March 18, 1985 (UK)
December 5, 1984 (US)
Format 7", 12"
Recorded 1984
Genre Synthpop,[1] post-disco
Length 3:01
Label MCA Records
MCA 949
Writer(s) Harold Faltermeyer
Producer(s) Harold Faltermeyer
Harold Faltermeyer singles chronology
"Axel F"
(1984)		 "The Race Is On" / "Starlight Express"
(1987)
Audio sample
noicon
file info · help

"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 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.

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.

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.

Chart successions

Order of precedence
Preceded by Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
March 9, 1985 – March 16, 1985
With: "New Attitude" by Patti LaBelle		 Succeeded by
"Bad Habits" by Jenny Burton
Preceded by Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary number-one single
June 8, 1985 (2 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"The Search Is Over" by Survivor
Preceded by Irish (IRMA) number-one single
July 27, 1985		 Succeeded by
"There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" by Eurythmics
Preceded by Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single
August 10, 1985		 Succeeded by
"Tarzan Boy" by Baltimora
Preceded by Dutch Top 40 number-one single
August 10, 1985 – August 17, 1985		 Succeeded by
"Waarom fluister ik je naam nog" by Benny Neyman

Cover versions

Crazy Frog version

"Axel F"
Single by Crazy Frog
from the album Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits
B-side "In the 80's"
Released May 17, 2005
Format CD single
CD maxi
Digital download
Recorded 1997 (vocals), 2004 (song)
Genre Eurodance, dance-pop, happy hardcore
Length 2:54 (radio edit)
Label Ministry of Sound
Writer(s) Harold Faltermeyer, Wolfgang Boss
Producer(s) Off-cast Project, Bass Bumpers
Certification Diamond France, 2005
Double Platinum Belgium, 2005
Gold (BPI)
Crazy Frog singles chronology
"Axel F"
(2005)		 "Popcorn"
(2005)
Music sample
Axel F
noicon

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. It is a cover of Harold Faltermeyer's 1984 composition "Axel F", 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[18] and Jamster! arranged the remix,[19][20] 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 shotguns from another 2003 cover of Axel F, by Murphy Brown and Captain Hollywood (dubbed "Axel F 2003" and sometimes "Axel F 2004" produced by Matthias Wagner and Andreas Dohmeyer[21]).

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.

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.[22] 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.[23] (1,265,579 sales, according to another source[24]).

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.[25]

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'.

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 Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[60] 2× Platinum 140,000
Belgium (BEA)[61] 2× Platinum 60,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[62] Gold 4,000
France (SNEP)[63] Diamond 1,294,379[64]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[65] 2× Platinum 30,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[66] Platinum 40,000
Sweden (GLF)[67] Platinum 20,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[68] Gold 568,000[69]
United States (RIAA)[70] Gold 500,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone
Chart successions
Order of precedence
Preceded by
"Lyla" by Oasis
 UK Singles Chart number-one single
May 29, 2005 – June 25, 2005 (4 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Ghetto Gospel" by 2Pac featuring Elton John
Preceded by Irish (IRMA) number-one single
June 2, 2005 – June 23, 2005 (4 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Ghetto Gospel" by 2Pac featuring Elton John
Preceded by Belgium (Flanders) number-one single
June 4, 2005 – August 20, 2005 (12 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"You're Beautiful" by James Blunt
Preceded by Danish number-one single
July 1, 2005 (1 week)		 Succeeded by
"Fuck Dig" by Ana David
Switzerland number one single
July 3, 2005 – September 11, 2005 (11 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"La camisa negra" by Juanes
Preceded by Norwegian VG-lista number-one single (first run)
July 6, 2005 – July 13, 2005 (2 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Tsjeriåu" by Ravi & DJ Løv med The Monroes
Preceded by
"Himno oficial del centenario" by El Arrebato
 Spanish number-one single
July 10, 2005 – July 31, 2005 (4 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Himno oficial del centenario" by El Arrebato
Preceded by Belgian (Wallonia) number-one single
July 16, 2005 – October 8, 2005 (13 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Je ne suis pas un héros" by Star Academy 5
Preceded by New Zealand (RIANZ) number-one single (first run)
July 18, 2005 – August 15, 2005 (5 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Don't Cha" by Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes
Preceded by
"Short Liv" by Lars Winnerbäck and Hovet
 Swedish number one single
July 21, 2005 – September 1, 2005 (7 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"You're Beautiful" by James Blunt
Preceded by French (SNEP) number one single
July 21, 2005 – September 17, 2005 (13 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Popcorn" by Crazy Frog
Preceded by
"Tsjeriåu" by Ravi & DJ Løv med The Monroes
 Norwegian VG-lista number-one single (second run)
July 27, 2005 – August 10, 2005 (3 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Tsjeriåu" by Ravi & DJ Løv med The Monroes
Preceded by Australia (ARIA) number-one single
July 31, 2005 – August 14, 2005 (3 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Lonely" by Akon
Preceded by
"Tsjeriåu" by Ravi & DJ Løv med The Monroes
 Norwegian VG-lista number-one single (third run)
August 24, 2005 (1 week)		 Succeeded by
"What's In It For Me" by Amy Diamond
Preceded by New Zealand (RIANZ) number-one single (second run)
August 29, 2005 – October 3, 2005 (6 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Pon De Replay" by Rihanna
Preceded by Belgium Singles Chart single of the year
2005		 Succeeded by
"Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean

Other covers

  • 1995 "Axel F"/"Keep Pushin'" (by Clock), a UK number 7 hit in 1995.[71]
  • 2001 "Axel F" (by Spacecorn), a UK number 74.
  • 2002 "Champion" (by PSY). This song samples Axel F.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. "“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. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 2
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1st and 3rd results when searching "Axel F"
  9. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F". Singles Top 60. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1985-07-06" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Radio 1 Official Chart of the Decade, as broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on Tuesday December 29, 2009, presented by Nihal
  26. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Crazy Frog – Axel F". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Crazy Frog – Axel F" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Crazy Frog – Axel F" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Crazy Frog – Axel F" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Crazy Frog – Axel F" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Crazy Frog – Axel F". Tracklisten. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Crazy Frog: Axel F" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Crazy Frog – Axel F" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  34. ↑ French digital download - Ifop.com[dead link] (Retrieved December 16, 2007)
  35. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Crazy Frog – Axel F". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  36. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Crazy Frog – Axel F". Top Digital Download. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  37. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Crazy Frog - Axel F search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Crazy Frog – Axel F" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  39. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Crazy Frog – Axel F". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  40. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Crazy Frog – Axel F". VG-lista. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  41. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Crazy Frog – Axel F" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  42. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Crazy Frog – Axel F". Singles Top 60. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  43. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Crazy Frog – Axel F". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  44. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2005-06-04" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ 2005 French Airplay, TV and Club Charts - Yacast.fr (in French) (Retrieved January 19, 2007)
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  60. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  61. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  62. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Click on næste to go to page if certification from official website
  63. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  64. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  65. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  66. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  67. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  68. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Axel F in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  69. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  70. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  71. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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