Crazy (4Minute song) explained

Crazy
Type:single
Artist:4Minute
Ep:Crazy
Released:February 9, 2015
Genre:
Length:3:12
Label:Cube
Producer:
  • Seo Jae-woo
  • Big Ssancho
  • Son Young-jin
Prev Title:Cold Rain
Prev Year:2015
Next Title:Hate
Next Year:2016

"Crazy" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group 4Minute for their sixth extended play, Crazy (2015). The song was written and produced by Seo Jae-woo, Big Ssancho, and Son Young-jin, with co–writing from group member Hyuna. It was released on February 9, 2015 by Cube Entertainment as the second and final single from the EP. A hip hop and dance song with trap influences, it sees the group returning to their signature hip hop indebted sound.

Upon release, "Crazy" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its production and hip hop sound, as well as 4Minute's vocal delivery. In 2019, Billboard included the song on their list of the 100 best K-pop songs of the 2010s decade. Commercially, it debuted and peaked at number three on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart, and reached number two on the US Billboard World Digital Songs chart. As of December 2015, the song has sold 664,249 digital units in South Korea.

An accompanying black and white music video was uploaded to 4Minute's YouTube channel simultaneously with the single release, and features moving camera-angle shots of the group performing constant choreography to the song. 4Minute promoted "Crazy" with televised live performances on various South Korean music programs, including M! Countdown, Music Bank, and Inkigayo. The song was also included on the setlist of their April 2015 solo concert in Myanmar.

Background and release

Following the release of their fifth extended play 4Minute World in 2014, 4Minute took hiatus for nearly one year.[1] On January 23, 2015, the group announced a return to music with their sixth EP, titled Crazy. Crazy yielded two lead singles.[2] The first one, "Cold Rain", was released on January 26, 2015, through Cube Entertainment.[3] "Crazy", the second single from the EP, was made available for digital download and streaming on February 9, 2015.[4] [5] [6] The song was serviced to Korean Broadcasting System radio stations on February 10, 2015.[7] Group member Hyuna co-wrote the song with its producers, Seo Jae-woo, Big Ssancho and Son Young-jin.[8] Talking to Vice in 2015, Hyuna admitted that the song expressed 4Minute's true colours.[6] Gayoon elaborated about the sonic direction:

Music and lyrics

"Crazy" is composed in the key of G major, with a fast tempo of 176 beats per minute, and runs for 3:12.[9] Musically, "Crazy" has a more hip hop indebted sound that recalls the "urban-edginess" of the group's early tracks.[10] It has been described as a hip hop and dance track with elements of trap.[10] [11] The song employs low-pitched beats, twisted horn hooks and siren-like synths in its production.[10] "Crazy" makes use of a strong "throbbing" bassline and turbo-powered drum machines, set over snare beat twists and clapping turns.[12] [13] The song incorporates an instrumental breakdown that is composed of "trumpeting" synths and Middle Eastern-style flutes.[14] [12] Driven by heavy brass loops, the track changes direction in a "build-up-drop-down drop-off" pattern, deriving its style from EDM.[11] [15] The song features "sharp" rap verses from Jiyoon and Hyuna, "pulsing" vocals from Sohyun and Jihyun, and melodic belts from Gayoon, who performs on the pre-chorus.[10] During its lyrics, 4Minute taunts the listener into the song's titular craziness and urges them to have fun.[11] [16]

Reception

Critical reception

"Crazy" was met with positive reviews from music critics. In his review for Vice, Jakob Dorof wrote that the song "pushes hot genres like trap and EDM harder and farther than pretty much anybody in global mainstream music."[6] Writing for Billboard, Jeff Benjamin praised the song for its fierce production and the group's energetic vocal performance.[12] In another review for Fuse, Benjamin included the track as one of the 10 best dance songs of February 2015, and labelled it as "one of the biggest club bangers" of the year.[14] Jacques Peterson of Idolator opined that 4Minute had "reinvented themselves into ferocious club kids with the relentlessly fierce 'Crazy'." He added that "it's the closest a female K-pop act has got to displaying Rihanna levels of badassery in years."[17] Scott Interrante from PopMatters described the song as "loud and aggressive," and felt that "everything about the song, from the rapid-fire rapping" to the production and the group's "sharp choreography" translated into "crazy."[11] Hwang Sun-up of IZM called the song's production "outstanding," which he felt blended with the imagery and concept of the track and also praised the group's vocal performance.[18] In a separate review for Spin, Dorof listed "Crazy" as one of the K-pop highlights of 2015. He praised the song for its production and the group's performance, and dubbed the track as a "banger."[15] In her ranking of 4Minutes' songs, music critic Tamar Herman named the track the best song of their career, labelling it as "one of the fiercest K-pop song of the decade" and lauding the song's "off-kilter composition."[10] Billboard and Idolator listed "Crazy" as one of the best K-pop songs of 2015.[17] [19] The former placed it on their decade-end list of the 100 greatest K-pop songs of the 2010s at number 52, with the magazine commending the production and "the impactful delivery of the domineering raps and dynamic verses."[13]

Awards

"Crazy" achieved the top spot on various South Korean weekly music programs, such as Mnet's M! Countdown, MBC Music's Show Champion, SBS' Inkigayo, and MBC's Show! Music Core due to its success on digital platforms. The song won seven music show awards, including two consecutive wins on M! Countdown, Show Champion, and Inkigayo garnering a total of seven awards.[20] The group's win on Show! Music Core marked their first win in 7 years on the music program since debut.[21]

Date! class="unsortable"
Show Champion February 18, 2015[22]
February 25, 2015[23]
M Countdown February 19, 2015[24]
February 26, 2015[25]
Inkigayo February 22, 2015[26]
March 1, 2015
Show! Music Core February 21, 2015[27]

Commercial performance

Commercially, "Crazy" debuted and peaked at number three on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart on the chart issue dated February 8–14, 2015.[28] The song performed identically on the component Download Chart, selling 152,560 digital units in its first week of release.[29] "Crazy" was the sixth best-performing song in February 2015 on the Gaon Monthly Digital Chart, based on digital sales, streaming, and background music (instrumental track) downloads.[30] As of December 2015, "Crazy" has sold over 664,249 digital units in South Korea.[31] In addition, the song peaked at number two on the US Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart on the week of March 21, 2015.[32]

Music video and promotion

In the lead-up to the release of "Crazy", the group released photo and video teasers for the track, which served as a promotional tool for their return.[12] An accompanying music video was uploaded to 4Minute's YouTube channel on February 9, 2015.[33] [34] For the visual, a choreography by Parris Goebel was commissioned, who had previously worked with Jennifer Lopez.[5] Portrayed in black and white, the video features "moving camera-angle" shots of the group performing "non-stop" choreography while wearing sportswear and bucket hats.[11] [12] Discussing the choreography behind the video, Sohyun stated that it was "far more difficult to get down" as compared to their previous ones.[6] Interrante felt that "the hair styles and fashion, along with many of the girls’ postures and poses, specifically recall American hip-hop culture, and subsequently African-American culture."[11] Benjamin opined that the "multiple line changes" throughout the dance-routine made it "one of K-pop's top dances to watch for on the live stage."[12] For Dorof, the video contained "some of the year's fiercest choreo[graphy]."[15]

To promote the song and Crazy, 4Minute made appearances on several South Korean music programs around February and March 2015. They performed the song for the first time for M! Countdown on February 12, 2015, as part of their comeback stage.[35] The following three days, the group appeared on Music Bank, Show! Music Core, and Inkigayo to perform the song.[36] [37] [38] The song was also included on the setlist of their solo concert entitled 4Minute Fan Bash In Myanmar in Yangon, Myanmar, held on April 4, 2015.[39]

Track listing

  1. "Crazy" – 3:12

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Melon.[8]

Charts

Weekly charts

+Weekly chart performanceChart (2015)Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon)3
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)2

Monthly charts

Monthly chart performance! Chart (2015)! Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon)6

Year-end charts

2015 year-end charts! Chart (2015)! Position
South Korea (Gaon)94

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 4Minute to return with ballad. January 23, 2015. The K-pop Herald. July 4, 2020. July 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704150851/http://www.kpopherald.com/view.php?ud=201501231435312284606_2. live.
  2. Web site: 4minute Prepares for a ′Crazy′ Comeback with New Teaser Photos. Korea Tourism Organization. January 29, 2015. Grace Danbi. Hong. February 11, 2015. February 9, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150209171908/http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/CU/content/cms_view_1986932.jsp?cid=1986932&nodeId=4396. live.
  3. Web site: Watch 4Minute Reveal Their Soft Side on New 'Cold Rain' Ballad. January 26, 2015. Jeff. Benjamin. Billboard. July 4, 2020. April 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200427163008/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/6450985/4minute-cold-rain-ballad-single-mv. live.
  4. Web site: Crazy - EP by 4Minute. iTunes (US). February 9, 2015. July 4, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200811140624/https://music.apple.com/us/album/crazy-ep/1344603088. August 11, 2020.
  5. Web site: 4Minute gets 'Crazy'. Lim. Jeong-yeo. February 9, 2015. The K-pop Herald. July 4, 2020. June 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200620000921/http://www.kpopherald.com/view.php?ud=201502091600251151498_2. live.
  6. Web site: K-pop Phenoms 4Minute Return with a New Agenda. Dorof. Jakob. March 4, 2015. Vice. July 4, 2020. July 5, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200705221211/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/rkq8qm/4minute-kpop-interview. live.
  7. Web site: K-Pop Connection. Korean Broadcasting System. April 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20190505002815/http://world.kbs.co.kr/service/index.htm?lang=e. May 5, 2019.
  8. Web site: https://www.melon.com/song/detail.htm?songId=5584641. ko:미쳐. Crazy. February 9, 2015. Melon. ko. July 4, 2020. July 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704145039/https://www.melon.com/album/detail.htm?albumId=2301463. live.
  9. Web site: Key, BPM and analysis of Crazy by 4Minute. Musicstax. August 5, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201028073147/https://i.clean.gg/1a. October 28, 2020.
  10. Web site: 4Minute Disbands: 7 Songs to Celebrate Their 7 Years Together. June 15, 2016. Tamar. Herman. Billboard. July 5, 2020. April 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200427182033/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/7407988/4minute-disband-best-songs. live.
  11. Web site: K-Pop Roundup: February 2015 - K-Pop Chromophobia Continues. March 16, 2015. Scott. Interrante. PopMatters. July 4, 2020. August 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200804104645/https://www.popmatters.com/191073-k-pop-roundup-february-2015-2495555799.html. live.
  12. Web site: 4Minute Re-Energize Their Sound & Style By Going 'Crazy' on New Single. February 9, 2015. Jeff. Benjamin. Billboard. July 4, 2020. April 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200427163118/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/6465755/4minute-crazy-mv. live.
  13. Web site: The 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s: Staff List. November 25, 2019. Billboard. August 6, 2020. live. November 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191128190649/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/8544710/best-k-pop-songs-2010s-top-100.
  14. Web site: 10 Best Dance Songs We Heard In February. February 28, 2015. Jeff. Benjamin. Fuse. July 4, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200706111338/https://fuse.tv/2015/02/best-new-dance-edm-songs-february. July 6, 2020.
  15. Web site: Spin K-Pop Report: Ga-In Subverts Adam & Eve, Lim Kim Pops Smoky Bubblegum. June 11, 2015. Jakob. Dorof. Spin. July 4, 2020. July 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704082002/https://www.spin.com/2015/06/spin-k-pop-report-ga-in-subverts-adam-eve-lim-kim-pops-smoky-bubblegum/. live.
  16. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0002993947. ko: [정오의 신곡] 포미닛, 놀 거면 제대로 놀자..‘미쳐’. [Noon's New Song] 4Minute, let's play properly if we're going to play...'Go crazy'. February 9, 2015. July 4, 2020. ko. Osen. Kim. Sara . Naver. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150212011742/http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0002993947. February 12, 2015.
  17. Web site: The 25 Best K-Pop Songs Of 2015. December 29, 2015. Peterson. Jacques. Idolator. July 4, 2020. October 28, 2020. https://archive.today/20201028071806/https://www.idolator.com/7618779/25-best-k-pop-songs-2015?chrome=1&edg-c=1. live.
  18. Web site: Crazy. February 9, 2015. Sun-up. Hwang . IZM. July 4, 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704134753/http://izm.co.kr/contentRead.asp?idx=26609&bigcateidx=8&subcateidx=10&view_tp=1. July 4, 2020.
  19. Web site: The 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2015. Benjamin. Jeff. Oak. Jessica. December 30, 2015. Billboard. July 4, 2020. February 26, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160226111036/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/6828140/best-k-pop-songs-2015. live.
  20. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0002396404. ko: 포미닛, '미쳐' 활동 종료..1위 트로피 7개, 성공적. 4Minute,'Mad' activity ends..1st Trophy, 7 successful. March 17, 2015. July 4, 2020. ko. Star News. Kim. Mi-hwa. Naver. July 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704150024/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0002396404. live.
  21. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0002678305. ko: 포미닛, 데뷔 7년만에 음악중심 첫 1위 '모두에게 감사하다'. 4Minute's first music-oriented first place after 7 years of debut 'Thanks to everyone'. February 22, 2015. July 4, 2020. ko. Herald Corporation. Naver. July 5, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200705080830/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0002678305. live.
  22. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0003000510. ko: 포미닛, '쇼챔피언' 1위 인증샷..이제부터 1위 사냥. 4Minute,'Show Champion' 1st certified shot.. Hunting 1st from now on. February 19, 2015. July 4, 2020. ko. Osen. Lee. Hye-rin. Naver. July 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200706110934/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0003000510. live.
  23. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0002679450. ko: [포토]포미닛, 쇼 챔피언 1위 등극!. [Photo] 4Minute, 1st in Show Champion!. February 25, 2015. July 4, 2020. ko. Herald Corporation. Song. Jae-won. Naver. live. October 28, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201028072128/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0002679450.
  24. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0003001540. ko: 포미닛 측, 데뷔 7년차에 '음중' 첫 1위..얼떨떨. 4Minute said, In the 7th year of their debut,'No. 1'.. February 21, 2015. July 4, 2020. ko. Osen. Choi. Na-young. Naver. July 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704144257/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0003001540. live.
  25. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0002679729. ko: [포토]포미닛, 엠카 2주 연속 1위!. [Photo] 4minutes, M-Countdown won 1st place for 2 weeks in a row!. February 26, 2015. July 4, 2020. ko. Herald Corporation. Song. Jae-won. Naver. live. October 28, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201028072239/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0002679729.
  26. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=312&aid=0000077555. ko: '인기가요' 포미닛, 삼일절에 1위 올랐다 '삼일절 잊지 말자' 소감. 'Inkigayo' 4Minute ranked first on the third day, 'Don't forget the third day'. March 1, 2015. July 4, 2020. ko. Ten Asia. Hwang. Seong-woon. Naver. July 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704143901/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=312&aid=0000077555. live.
  27. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=421&aid=0001276272. ko: ‘음악중심’ 포미닛 1위, 현아 작사 타이틀곡 ‘미쳐’…나얼 제친 원조 섹시돌. 'Music Core' 4th minute, Hyeon-a's title song'Go crazy'… Nael's original aid sexy stone. February 22, 2015. July 4, 2020. ko. News1. Naver. July 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200707114239/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=421&aid=0001276272. live.
  28. Web site: http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=08&hitYear=2015&termGbn=week. ko: 2015년 08주차 Digital Chart. Digital Chart – Week 8 of 2015. Gaon Music Chart. ko. July 5, 2020. July 5, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200705041329/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=08&hitYear=2015&termGbn=week. live.
  29. Web site: http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=08&hitYear=2015&termGbn=week. ko:2015년 08주차 Download Chart. Download Chart – Week 8 of 2015. Gaon Music Chart. ko. live. August 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20181209165158/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=08&hitYear=2015&termGbn=week. December 9, 2018.
  30. Web site: ko: 2015년 Digital Chart . Year-end Digital Chart: 2015 . October 19, 2022 . Circle Music Chart . ko.
  31. Web site: http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=2015&hitYear=2015&termGbn=year. ko: 2015년 Download Chart. Download Chart: 2015 (Year-End). Gaon Music Chart. July 6, 2020. ko. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201002021236/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=2015&hitYear=2015&termGbn=year. October 2, 2020.
  32. Web site: World Digital Sales March 21, 2015. March 21, 2015. Billboard. July 4, 2020. September 19, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150919124326/http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2015-03-21/world-digital-songs. live.
  33. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=076&aid=0002679600. ko: 포미닛 '미쳐' MV, 압도적인 섹시 카리스마 폭발…현아 직접 작사. 4minute'Mad' MV, overwhelming sexy charisma explosion... Hyuna's direct lyrics. February 9, 2015. July 4, 2020. ko. Sports Chosun. Naver.
  34. Web site: 4Minute - 미쳐(Crazy). YouTube. February 9, 2015. July 6, 2020. live. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20201004195839/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nCLBTmjJBY. October 4, 2020.
  35. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=312&aid=0000074560. ko:'엠카운트다운' 포미닛, 화려한 퍼포먼스 '미쳐' 장난아닌데?. 'M countdown' 4 minutes, gorgeous performance'crazy' is not a joke?. February 12, 2015. July 5, 2020. ko. Ten Asia. Jo. Seul-gi. Naver. July 5, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200705223926/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=312&aid=0000074560. live.
  36. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=020&aid=0002746601. ko:‘뮤직뱅크’ 포미닛, 작정하고 돌아온 ‘쎈’ 언니들 “미친 거처럼~♬”. 'Music Bank' 4Minute,'Song' sisters who came back after designating 'Like crazy~♬'. February 14, 2015. July 4, 2020. ko. The Dong-a Ilbo. Naver. July 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704150810/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=020&aid=0002746601. live.
  37. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0002997673. ko:'음악중심' 컴백 포미닛, 놀 줄 아는 언니들의 강렬 펀치..'미쳐'. 'Music Core' comeback 4minutes, intense punch of sisters who can play..'crazy'. February 15, 2015. July 4, 2020. ko. Osen. Sun. Mi-kyung. Naver. July 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704170807/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0002997673. live.
  38. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=117&aid=0002571038. ko: '인기가요' 돌아온 포미닛, 섹시해서 '미쳐'. 'Inkigayo', the returning 4minute,'sexy'. February 15, 2015. July 4, 2020. ko. Osen. Lee. Seung-Gil. Naver. July 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704151415/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=117&aid=0002571038. live.
  39. Web site: 4Minute successfully finish their solo concert in Myanmar. Kim. Dong-Joo. Star N News. July 5, 2020. Yahoo. June 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200618082541/https://news.yahoo.com/4minute-successfully-finish-their-solo-concert-in-myanmar-052554138.html. live.

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