Crazy Frog: The Annoying Thing That Became a Pop Sensation
If you were alive in the mid-2000s, chances are you have heard of Crazy Frog. The blue, frog-like creature with goggles, a helmet, and a visible penis was everywhere. He was on TV, on the radio, on the internet, and on your phone. He was annoying, he was catchy, he was controversial, and he was a pop sensation. But how did this CGI character go from being a sound effect to a music star? And what is he doing now? Let's find out.
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What is Crazy Frog?
Crazy Frog is a Swedish CGI-animated character and Eurodance musician created in 2003 by actor and playwright Erik Wernquist. He is also known as The Annoying Thing, which was his original name before he became famous.
The origin of the sound effect
The story of Crazy Frog begins in 1997, when a 17-year-old Swedish student named Daniel Malmedahl recorded himself imitating the sound of a two-stroke engine. He uploaded his recording to a website called The Onyx Domain, where it caught the attention of another Swedish teenager named Erik Wernquist. Wernquist was impressed by Malmedahl's talent and contacted him to ask for his permission to use his sound effect in his own projects.
The creation of the character
Wernquist was an aspiring animator and filmmaker who had a passion for creating 3D models and short films. He decided to create a character that would match Malmedahl's sound effect. He came up with a blue, frog-like creature with goggles, a helmet, and a visible penis. He named it The Annoying Thing and made a short video of it riding an invisible motorcycle. He uploaded his video to his website in 2000, where it became a viral hit.
The popularity of the ringtone
In 2003, a German company called Jamba! (also known as Jamster) discovered Wernquist's video and contacted him to license his character for their ringtone service. They renamed it Crazy Frog and started marketing it as the "most annoying thing on the planet". They also added some catchy music and sound effects to Malmedahl's original recording. They launched a massive advertising campaign that featured Crazy Frog on TV, on the radio, on billboards, and on the internet. They also created various merchandise such as plush toys, clothing, video games, and DVDs. Crazy Frog became a global phenomenon and sold millions of ringtones worldwide.
How did Crazy Frog become a music star?
The collaboration with Bass Bumpers
In 2004, Jamba! decided to take Crazy Frog to the next level and turn him into a music star. They hired a German production team called Bass Bumpers, who had previously worked with artists such as Culture Beat, DJ Bobo, and E-Rotic. They asked them to remix some popular songs using Crazy Frog's voice and sound effects. They also gave them creative freedom to create original songs for Crazy Frog.
The success of Axel F
The first song that Bass Bumpers produced for Crazy Frog was Axel F, a cover of Harold Faltermeyer's instrumental theme from the 1984 movie Beverly Hills Cop. They added some lyrics such as "ring ding ding daa baa" and "bem bem" to make it more catchy and fun. They also made a music video that featured Crazy Frog racing against other characters in a futuristic city. The song was released in May 2005 and became an instant hit. It topped the charts in many countries such as the UK, Australia, France, Germany, and Sweden. It also reached the top 10 in the US, Canada, and Japan. It sold over 5 million copies worldwide and became one of the best-selling singles of 2005. It also broke the record for the most successful ringtone ever, with over 40 million downloads.
The controversy and criticism
However, not everyone was a fan of Crazy Frog. Many people found him annoying, irritating, and childish. They also complained about his overexposure and his genitalia. Some parents and activists argued that he was inappropriate for children and that he promoted sexualization and violence. Some radio stations and TV channels banned or censored his songs and videos. Some artists and musicians accused him of plagiarism and ruining their songs. Some critics and reviewers panned him as a fad and a gimmick. Some hackers and pranksters tried to sabotage his website and his products. Crazy Frog faced a lot of backlash and controversy from various sources.
What is Crazy Frog doing now?
The comeback in 2020
After the peak of his popularity in 2005, Crazy Frog faded away from the spotlight. He released a few more albums and singles, but none of them matched the success of Axel F. He also appeared in some commercials and cartoons, but none of them generated much buzz. He seemed to be forgotten by the public and the media.
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However, in 2020, Crazy Frog made a surprising comeback. He joined TikTok, the popular video-sharing app, where he gained over 2 million followers and over 100 million views. He also joined YouTube, where he uploaded some new videos and remastered some old ones. He also joined Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Spotify, where he interacted with his fans and shared some updates. He also announced that he was working on some new music and projects with Bass Bumpers.
The new songs and videos
In June 2020, Crazy Frog released his first new song in 10 years, called Daddy DJ. It was a cover of a French dance song from 2000 by a group of the same name. It featured some new lyrics and animations by Wernquist. It was followed by another cover song in July 2020, called Popcorn. It was a remake of a synth-pop instrumental from 1969 by Gershon Kingsley. It also featured some new visuals and effects by Wernquist.
In August 2020, Crazy Frog released his first original song in 15 years, called Crazy Frog in Da House (Knightrider). It was an homage to the 1980s TV series Knightrider, starring David Hasselhoff as a crime-fighter with a talking car. It featured some samples from the show's theme song and dialogue, as well as some references to other 80s icons such as E.T., Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, and Michael Jackson. It also featured some stunning CGI graphics by Wernquist.
The future plans and projects
Crazy Frog is not planning to stop anytime soon. He has revealed that he has more songs and videos in the works, including some collaborations with other artists such as Lil Nas X, Marshmello, Ed Sheeran, and Billie Eilish. He has also hinted that he might release a new album or a movie in the near future. He has also expressed his interest in exploring other genres such as rap, rock, metal, jazz, classical, and opera.
Conclusion
Crazy Frog is one of the most unique and remarkable phenomena in pop culture history. He started as a simple sound effect made by a teenager in his bedroom, then became a viral video made by an aspiring animator on his computer, then became a global ringtone sensation made by a German company on their phones, then became a music star made by a production team on their studio, then became a forgotten fad made by no one on nowhere, then became a comeback sensation made by himself on social media.
He has entertained millions of people around the world with his catchy songs and funny videos. He has also annoyed millions of people around the world with his irritating voice and annoying presence. He has been praised as a genius and an icon by some critics and fans. He has also been criticized as a nuisance and a joke by some critics and haters.
He has broken records and barriers with his success and influence. He has also faced challenges and controversies with his image and reputation. He has evolved and adapted with the times and trends. He has also stayed true to himself and his fans.
He is Crazy Frog: The Annoying Thing That Became a Pop Sensation.
FAQs
Who Who created Crazy Frog?
Crazy Frog was created by Erik Wernquist, a Swedish actor and playwright who also works as an animator and filmmaker. He based his character on a sound effect made by Daniel Malmedahl, a Swedish student who imitated the sound of a two-stroke engine.
What is the name of Crazy Frog's first song?
Crazy Frog's first song was Axel F, a cover of Harold Faltermeyer's instrumental theme from the movie Beverly Hills Cop. It was released in May 2005 and became a worldwide hit.
Why does Crazy Frog have a penis?
Crazy Frog has a penis because Wernquist wanted to make him look realistic and anatomically correct. He also thought it was funny and harmless. However, some people found it offensive and inappropriate, so he later removed it or covered it in some versions of his videos and products.
How many albums has Crazy Frog released?
Crazy Frog has released four studio albums so far: Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits (2005), Crazy Frog Presents More Crazy Hits (2006), Everybody Dance Now (2009), and Best of Crazy Hits (2010). He has also released several singles, remixes, compilations, and DVDs.
Is Crazy Frog still active?
Yes, Crazy Frog is still active. He made a comeback in 2020 and joined various social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Spotify. He also released some new songs and videos such as Daddy DJ, Popcorn, and Crazy Frog in Da House (Knightrider). He has also announced that he is working on some new music and projects with Bass Bumpers. 44f88ac181