I'm a Cuckoo explained

I'm a Cuckoo
Cover:	Belle & Sebastian - I'm A Cuckoo.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Belle & Sebastian
Album:	Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Studio:	Sarm Hook End (Checkendon, Oxfordshire)
Genre:	Indie pop
Length:	5:26
Label:	Rough Trade
Producer:	Trevor Horn
Prev Title:	Step into My Office, Baby
Prev Year:	2003
Next Title:	Funny Little Frog
Next Year:	2006

"I'm a Cuckoo" is the second single from Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian's sixth studio album, Dear Catastrophe Waitress (2003). Produced by Trevor Horn, the track was released as a single on 16 February 2004. B-side "Stop, Look and Listen" merges into "Passion Fruit" at the end of a song—an instrumental piece which was performed live prior to its release. The front cover features Shantha Roberts.

"I'm a Cuckoo" fared better on the UK Singles Chart than previous single "Step into My Office, Baby", reaching number 14. It is the only Belle & Sebastian song to chart in Spain, peaking at number 19, and was their most recent hit in Sweden, reaching number 59. A Japanese version of the song was released as a B-side to the Japanese version of Belle & Sebastian's subsequent EP, Books.

Critical reception

An AllMusic reviewer described the track as being "like the indie pop version of Thin Lizzy",^[1] who are also mentioned in the lyrics.

Reviewing the remix, PopMatters said, "the Avalanches’ remake draws out a more organic side with casual wind instruments and warm percussion. The samples of hustling, bustling chit-chat strike a note of extroverted gregariousness that shy, retiring types like Belle and Sebastian sometimes need someone else to bring out of 'em."^[2]

Music video

The video for "I'm a Cuckoo" features Scottish Olympic 100m gold medallist Allan Wells as a running coach and lead singer, Stuart Murdoch, as an aspiring runner.

Track listings

Standard CD single^{[3] [4] [5]}

1. "I'm a Cuckoo"
2. "Stop, Look and Listen"
3. "I'm a Cuckoo (by the Avalanches)"
4. "(I Believe In) Travellin' Light"
5. "I'm a Cuckoo" (video)

UK 7-inch single^[6]

1. "I'm a Cuckoo"
2. "(I Believe In) Travellin' Light"

UK DVD single^[7]

1. "I'm a Cuckoo" (video)
2. "Stop, Look and Listen" (video)
3. "I'm a Cuckoo (by the Avalanches)" (audio)
4. "(I Believe In) Travellin' Light" (audio)

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United Kingdom	16 February 2004		Rough Trade	^[8]
Japan	25 February 2004	CD		^[9]

External links

• "I'm a Cuckoo" at belleandsebastian.com

Notes and References

1. allmusic (((I'm a Cuckoo > Overview)))
2. Web site: PopMatters. THE 10 BEST BELLE AND SEBASTIAN NON-ALBUM SONGS. Arnold Pan. 17 November 2021.
3. I'm a Cuckoo. Belle & Sebastian. 2004. UK CD single liner notes. Rough Trade Records. RTRADSCD157.
4. I'm a Cuckoo. Belle & Sebastian. 2004. US CD single liner notes. Rough Trade Records. 06076-83234-2.
5. I'm a Cuckoo. Belle & Sebastian. 2004. Australian CD single liner notes. Rough Trade Records. URA125.
6. I'm a Cuckoo. Belle & Sebastian. 2004. UK 7-inch single sleeve. Rough Trade Records. RTRADS 157.
7. I'm a Cuckoo. Belle & Sebastian. 2004. UK DVD single liner notes. Rough Trade Records. RTRADSDVD 157.
8. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 27. 14 February 2004.
9. Web site: CDリリース. CD Releases. Oricon. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20040305172047/http://www.oricon.co.jp/release/data.asp?week=-1&k=1. 5 March 2004. 23 August 2023.