Axel F

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"Axel F" is the electronic instrumental theme from the 1984 film Beverly Hills Cop performed by Harold Faltermeyer. It topped musical charts in that year 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. Faltermeyer recorded the song using three synthesizers: a Roland Jupiter-8, a Roland JX-3P, and a Yamaha DX-7.

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Versions released, chart positions, and cultural references 2.1 Cultural references 3 Audio sample 4 External links

[edit] Etymology

The title for the song "Axel F" comes from the main character's name, Axel Foley, in the film Beverly Hills Cop. The musical key of the song alternates between F minor and F major, a further reference to the character.

[edit] Versions released, chart positions, and cultural references

• 1985 "Axel F" (by Harold Faltermeyer) #2 UK, #3 US
• 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) #7 UK
• 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 "Axel F" (by Crazy Frog) #1 UK, #50 US
• 2005 "Italian Fireflies vs Axel Foley Theme" (Author Unknown, sampled from Black Strobe and Harold Faltermeyer)
• Axel F (The Frog Song) Kidz Bop Kids (Kidz Bop remix of Crazy Frog's "Axel F")
• Used on Atari ST cover disks by Medway Bros. and Pompeii Pirates
• Covered on numerous Russian 8bit computer games that have been ported (Radio 86RK, Pentagon, Elektronika BK-0010 and Vector)

[edit] Cultural references

• Four episodes of The Simpsons, "Separate Vocations", "Radio Bart", "Marge vs. the Monorail", and "Sweets and Sour Marge", used an "Axel F"-esque song as incidental music, usually to indicate trouble afoot.
• "Jurassic Park" for the Nintendo Game Boy, used a remixed version of "Axel-F" as a part of the game's music. The game was released in 1993.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 it is Brian's ringtone.
• 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, Ross plays Axel-F on a small keyboard after saying he wants to "work on my music".

[edit] Audio sample

[edit] External links

• The 8bitpeoples "Axel F" A freely downloadable compilation of various artists' interpretations of "Axel F." Released under Creative Commons license.