Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes) explained

Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)
Cover:CrazyInTheNight.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Kim Carnes
Album:Barking at Airplanes
B-Side:Oliver (Voice on the Radio)
Released:April 1985
Length:3:35
Label:EMI America
Producer:
  • Kim Carnes
  • Bill Cuomo
Prev Title:Invitation to Dance
Prev Year:1985
Next Title:Abadabadango
Next Year:1985

"Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)" is a song by American singer-songwriter Kim Carnes and the lead single from her ninth studio album, Barking at Airplanes (1985). Written by Carnes, and co-produced with Bill Cuomo, the track was inspired by her eldest son's struggles with nightmares and fear of the dark as a child. It was released as a single in April 1985 by EMI America.

The song became one of Carnes' highest-charting singles, peaking at no. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the top 40 in various countries.

Lyrics and composition

Carnes was inspired to write "Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)" due to her son Collin's fear of the dark as a child. She incorporated the album's title, Barking at Airplanes, into the song title as a parenthesis. "I had a golden retriever [..] Every time the airplanes would go over, she’d bark at the airplanes. I thought, that’s such a cool, crazy title for an album."[1]

Writing for the GRAMMY Awards website, Crystal Larsen likened "Crazy in the Night" to the work of American songwriter and producer Jim Steinman.[2]

Track listings

A. "Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)" – 3:35

B. "Oliver (Voice on the Radio)" – 3:46

A. "Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)" (dance mix) – 5:10

B. "Barking at Airplanes (Part II)" (dub mix) – 4:59

Credits and personnel

Charts

Chart (1985)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 21
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[6] 3
US Cash Box Top 100[7] 22

Notes and References

  1. Where the Heart Is An Interview With Multi-Grammy Winner Kim Carnes, Part One. Wikane. Christian John. PopMatters. April 23, 2017. January 18, 2022.
  2. Web site: Larsen. Crystal. Kim Carnes Bats Her Bette Davis Eyes. grammy.com. February 28, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20110122130521/https://www.grammy.com/news/kim-carnes-bats-her-bette-davis-eyes. January 22, 2011. live.
  3. Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes). 1985. EMI America. United Kingdom. sleeve. EA-199.
  4. Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes). 1985. EMI America. United States. sleeve. V-7857.
  5. Book: Kent, David . David Kent (historian) . Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . illustrated . St Ives, NSW . Australian Chart Book . 1993 . 256 . 0-646-11917-6.
  6. Web site: SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts C . The South African Rock Encyclopedia . September 15, 2020.
  7. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending July 20, 1985 . . September 15, 2020.