Crazy Train

"Crazy Train" is a song written by Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads and Bob Daisley. It was released as the first single in 1980 on Osbourne's first solo studio album, Blizzard of Ozz. The song was recorded in 1980, a year after leaving Black Sabbath, and later included on the live album Tribute, released March 19, 1987. The live recording was first released as a single on February 10, 1987. Despite its insignificant appearance on the charts, "Crazy Train" is considered to be Osbourne's signature song, and remains a staple of classic rock and heavy metal radio to this day.

Theme

A main theme of the song is criticism of Cold War MAD ("crazy") policy with "Millions of people living as foes", but offering a message of hope for a future where love surpasses hate ("Maybe it's not too late, To learn how to love, And forget how to hate").

Covers and other usage

Cover versions and spoofs

"Crazy Train" has been covered by the following:

• The Flys, on the soundtrack Universal Soldier: The Return.^[1]
• Michael Angelo Batio (Tribute to Randy. It features an instrumental cover of "Crazy Train" and then part of "Mr. Crowley".)
• Bullet for My Valentine
• Dee Snider
• Pat Boone
• Lewis Lamedica (Used as the theme to the MTV show The Osbournes)
• Sebastian Bach
• Keller Williams
• Blue Man Group with extensive use of the Vibraslap part
• Jason Heath & The Greedy Souls, on the album The Vain Hope of Horse
• Metalachi, a mariachi styled cover
• Fun Lovin' Criminals, on the album Mimosa
• The Westboro Baptist Church spoofed the song by rewriting the lyrics and singing them in an anti-gay protest on October 7, 2010. In a responding statement, Osbourne said, "I am sickened and disgusted by the use of 'Crazy Train' to promote messages of hate and evil by a 'church'."^[2]
• ApologetiX spoofed it as well by rewriting the lyrics into a Christian song, mainly stating that even with Ozzy being who he is, he can still be saved by Jesus Christ, like Alice Cooper was, and that also many other people are falling into the ways of the world because many Christians tend to be "lazy brains" when it comes to preaching the Gospel. It is the track "Lazy Brain" on their album Adam Up.

Samples

"Crazy Train" has been sampled in the following songs:

• "Undead" by Hollywood Undead^[3] (in a different key).
• "Let's Go" by Trick Daddy.^[4]

Use in other media

• "Crazy Train" was played in the film Ghost Rider.^[5]
• It is playable in the music video games Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 3.
• A few seconds of it played during a World of Warcraft commercial with Ozzy Osbourne in it.
• It was used in an episode of The Office as an entrance theme for Kevin Malone.
• It was used in the trailer for Megamind where Megamind (Will Ferrell) presents himself to battle Hal Stewart/Titan (Jonah Hill) ^[6]
• The song along with Ozzy's other hit "Let Me Hear You Scream" is featured in the game Madden NFL 11.
• The song was used as the theme song for The Comedy Central Roast Of Charlie Sheen.
• The parts of the musical instruments are sung a capella by children, followed by the entire family singing lyrics, in a 2011 TV commercial for the Honda Pilot.^[7]

Reception and accolades

"Crazy Train" was a major hit in both the UK and the USA. The first riff in F-sharp minor and Randy Rhoads' guitar solo are often highly praised.^[8] It reached 49 on the United Kingdom chart.^[9] The song reached number nine on the Billboard Rock Tracks chart.^[10] The master ringtone was certified double platinum and had by September 2010 sold 1,750,000 downloads.^[11]

The song is also regarded by many as Ozzy Osbourne's best song as a solo performer.^[12] It was rated 9th greatest guitar solo ever by over 25 million readers of Guitar World magazine.^[13] The song was also ranked 9th by VH1 on the list of the 40 Greatest Metal Songs^[14] and in 2009 it was named the 23rd greatest hard rock song of all time also by VH1,^[15] the highest placement by a solo artist on the list.

Many parts of Crazy Train were re-used in the song, "Let's Go" by Trick Daddy.

Personnel

• Ozzy Osbourne - vocals
• Randy Rhoads - guitar
• Bob Daisley - bass, lyrics
• Lee Kerslake - drums
• Don Airey -Keyboards
• Lyndsey Bridgewater - Keyboards On 1987

Crazy Train (Live) Version = (Not Credited)

References

See also

• List of train songs

External links

• Song review at Allmusic