Crazy (Willie Nelson song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other uses of the word Crazy including song titles, see Crazy.
| "Crazy" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| This album featured Patsy Cline's big hit "Crazy" | ||
| Single by Patsy Cline | ||
| from the album Showcase With the Jordanaires | ||
| A-side(s) | "Crazy" | |
| B-side(s) | "Who Can I Count On?" | |
| Released | November 16, 1961 | |
| Recorded | 1961 | |
| Genre | country music/pop music | |
| Length | mm:ss | |
| Label | Decca Records | |
| Writer(s) | Willie Nelson | |
| Producer(s) | Owen Bradley | |
| Chart positions | ||
|
|
||
| Patsy Cline singles chronology | ||
| "I Fall to Pieces" | "Crazy" | "She's Got You" |
"Crazy" is a famous ballad composed by Willie Nelson and first recorded by Patsy Cline.
Nelson wrote the song in early 1961; at the time he was a journeyman singer-songwriter who had written several hits for other artists but had not yet had a significant recording of his own. Cline was already a country music superstar who was working to extend a string of hits. Nelson originally wrote the song for country singer Billy Walker, but Walker turned it down and Cline picked it as a follow up to her previous big hit "I Fall to Pieces". The song was released in late 1961 and immediately became another huge hit for Cline, eventually becoming one of her signature tunes, and its success helped launch Nelson as a performer as well as a songwriter.
Musically the song is a jazz-pop ballad with country overtones. The complex melody suited Cline's vocal talent perfectly and widened the crossover audience she had established with her prior hits. The lyrics describe the singer's state of bemusement at the singer's own helpless love for the object of his affection. According to Willie, the original title of the song was "Stupid."
Grammy Award winning country singer LeAnn Rimes is most noted for covering this song. She also performed this song at the White House for President George W. Bush and particularly for Laura Bush, who said it was one of her favorite songs. This cover has appeared on Rimes's self-titled album, her Greatest Hits, and her International Cd: The Best of LeAnn Rimes.
Partly due to the genre-blending nature of the song, it has been covered by dozens of artists in several genres over the years. Notable versions include those performed by Julio Iglesias, Kenny Rogers, kidneythieves, LeAnn Rimes and The Waifs. (Rogers also wrote and recorded another song with the title "Crazy", which topped the charts in 1984 and shouldn't be confused with this one).
The song was used as theme music for Ross Perot's presidential campaign in 1992. Nelson himself has also recorded several versions of the song over the years; nevertheless the song remains inextricably linked with Cline.
Rolling Stone ranked it #85 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
VH1 ranked "Crazy" at #63 on its list 100 Greatest Songs of Rock'N Roll.
Even though over 40 years have elapsed since the song was first released, it is the song played most often on jukeboxes.
In 2007, the song was covered by English Alternative Band Apartment, available as a free download from http://www.ttremastered.com/.
[edit] In the media
- In 1999, National Public Radio included this song in the "NPR 100," in which NPR's music editors sought to compile the one hundred most important American musical works of the 20th century.
- Played in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Important part of the plot in the 2005 movie C.R.A.Z.Y.
