:Crazy Frog

In 1997, 17-year-old Gothenburg student Daniel Malmedahl recorded himself imitating the noises produced by a two-stroke engine. He posted this on a website and caught the attention of a Swedish television researcher, who convinced Daniel to perform the sound live on air.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4210407.stm |title='The Crazy Frog sound? That's my fault.' |publisher=BBC |date=27 January 2005 |access-date=27 July 2010 |first=Giles |last=Wilson |archive-date=23 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923074844/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4210407.stm |url-status=live }} After it debuted on television, recordings of his performance began appearing on file sharing networks and various websites under the filename "2TAKTARE.MP3" ("Tvåtaktare" is Swedish for "two-stroker").{{cite web | url=http://www.siddan.net/en/?id=190:insanity-test-en-gb | title=Insanity Test | access-date=7 June 2022 | archive-date=2 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602170529/http://www.siddan.net/en/?id=190:insanity-test-en-gb | url-status=live }}

The sound was adopted as the sound of a Formula One car as early as 2001 in the form of "Deng Deng Form" and later "The Insanity Test", both of which were a static background of a Ferrari Formula One car accompanied by the sound.[http://www.bloggerheads.com/archives/2005/01/the_evolution_o/ The Evolution of Crazy Frog – from Deng Deng to Ringtone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309151341/http://www.bloggerheads.com/archives/2005/01/the_evolution_o/ |date=9 March 2015 }}. Bloggerheads.com (16 January 2005). Retrieved on 6 July 2011.

In late 2003, another Swede, Erik Wernquist, encountered the sound effect and, not knowing about the previous incarnations of the sound, was inspired to create the 3D animated character he named "The Annoying Thing" to accompany it. Wernquist worked on the first animation in his spare time using the LightWave 3D modeling application, and the whole process took between six and eight weeks. On 7 October 2003 he posted it on his website and on the CGTalk forum.

The animation was a popular attraction at Wernquist's website, but the sound was credited to "Anonymous". Eventually, word reached Malmedahl that his impressions had been used in a now well-known animation studio. He contacted Wernquist, apparently giving an impromptu performance to confirm his claims. Wernquist was convinced, and gave credit to Malmedahl for his creation.

The animation received attention through filesharing and word of mouth. Ringtone Europe and Jamster België (now both merged into Jamba!) licensed the rights to the creation in an attempt to capitalize on its popularity. They renamed it "Crazy Frog" and began to market it in mid-2004.

In an interview with HitQuarters, Wernquist expressed his displeasure at the choice of name:

{{blockquote|If I had known that this was going to be such a big thing I would not have allowed them to use that stupid name. It has nothing to do with the character. It's not a frog and it's not particularly crazy either.{{cite web |url=http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_CrazyFrog.html |title='The Crazy Frog sound? That's my fault.' |publisher=BBC |date=27 January 2005 |access-date=1 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217105311/http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview%2Fopar%2Fintrview_CrazyFrog.html |archive-date=17 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}}}

Following 2009, the character went on hiatus. In 2018, a trademark claim by Kaktus Films, the original owners alongside Erik Wernquist, had music listed as one of many rights.{{Cite web |url=http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4805:251xqz.2.1 |title=TESS -- Error |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620232506/http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4805:251xqz.2.1 |url-status=dead }} On 22 April 2020, an official Twitter account for the character was created, and later that day it was announced that a new album was in development.

In April 2022, the Government of Ukraine uploaded a video on Facebook of Russian tanks being hit by Ukrainian strikes during the Russian invasion of Ukraine with the Crazy Frog's cover of "Axel F" playing in the background.{{cite web | last=Epstein | first=Jake | title=Ukraine's government is using bizarre soundtracks for videos of its troops destroying Russian tanks and vehicles | website=Business Insider | date=29 April 2022 | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-weird-music-videos-troops-destroying-russian-tanks-vehicles-war-2022-4 | access-date=31 August 2022 | archive-date=31 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831182512/https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-weird-music-videos-troops-destroying-russian-tanks-vehicles-war-2022-4 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | last=Gault | first=Matthew | title=Ukrainian Military Video Shows Russian Tank Being Blown Up to Crazy Frog Song | website=Vice | date=29 April 2022 | url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvne44/ukrainian-military-video-shows-russian-tanks-being-blown-up-to-crazy-frog-song | access-date=29 April 2022 | archive-date=29 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429192127/https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvne44/ukrainian-military-video-shows-russian-tanks-being-blown-up-to-crazy-frog-song | url-status=live }}

On 1 July 2005, UK-based publishers Digital Jesters announced that they had acquired the rights to the video game licence for the Crazy Frog. Crazy Frog Racer (featuring the Annoying Thing) was released in December 2005 on PlayStation 2 and PC as a racing game. A year later in 2006 a sequel was released, entitled Crazy Frog Racer 2.[https://web.archive.org/web/20131203022935/http://www.blisteredthumbs.net/2011/01/gycw-crazy_frog_racer_2/ Crazy Frog Racer 2 video game Review by British Gaming Television Presenter Wesley Lock]. Blisteredthumbs.net. Retrieved on 6 July 2011.

A string of Crazy Frog merchandise was released in the UK.[https://archive.today/20110303213646/http://crazyfrog.co.uk/ Crazy Frog – Ringtones, Music, Posters, Games, T-Shirts and more!]. Crazyfrog.co.uk. Retrieved on 6 July 2011.

In 2005, the German production company The League of Good People was in talks with broadcasters about a TV series based on Crazy Frog.{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104192225/http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=79&article=27019 |url=http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=79&article=27019 |archive-date=4 January 2011 |title=Crazy Frog hops on to small screen |publisher=C21 Media |date=17 October 2005 |access-date=27 February 2015 |first=Jules |last=Grant}} The TV series was cancelled.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

The Crazy Frog toured Australia in late 2005, beginning in Perth on 4 December and continuing through other major capital cities. He made appearances at numerous shopping centres and major hospitals around the country.{{cite news|last=Cashmere |first=Paul |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825004918/http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2005/dec05/20051202_crazyfrog.html |url=http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2005/dec05/20051202_crazyfrog.html |archive-date=25 August 2007 |title=Crazy Frog Tour Dates |website=Undercover.com.au |access-date=27 February 2015}}

In 2007, the Animation World Network wrote in connection with The Annoying Thing that there was a "planned feature film" to "be completed by the end of next year" into an animated feature film.[http://www.awn.com/animationworld/cartoon-movie-2007-sneak-peeks-european-animated-features Cartoon Movie 2007: Sneak Peeks European Animated Features] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407184107/http://www.awn.com/animationworld/cartoon-movie-2007-sneak-peeks-european-animated-features |date=7 April 2015 }}. Mag.awn.com (14 March 2007). Retrieved on 6 July 2011. The feature film was cancelled.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

In 2017, a documentary called The Not So Crazy Frog was released, originally made in 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8vVz1KoU2s|title=Crazy Frog - The Not So Crazy Frog (Official Video Documentary)|date=22 December 2017 |access-date=12 December 2021|publisher=YouTube|archive-date=17 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417114327/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8vVz1KoU2s|url-status=live}}

The Crazy Frog was broadcast for the first time on Belgian television in mid-2004, though it was named the Annoying Thing.{{cite book|last1=Fligstein|first1=Neil|title=Euroclash: The EU, European Identity, and the Future of Europe|date=2008|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-164794-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kQQM_A4RusEC|access-date=21 December 2015}} There it was marketed as Albert Motàr.{{cite web|url=http://www.crazy-frog.logosik.pl/ |title=Crazy Frog – Historia |access-date=28 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430163836/http://www.crazy-frog.logosik.pl/ |archive-date=30 April 2008 }}

"Axel F" (a remix of the 1980s Harold Faltermeyer song produced by the German band Resource{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/316297-Crazy-Frog|title=Crazy Frog profile on Discogs.com|website=Discogs|access-date=24 January 2012|archive-date=1 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101035941/http://www.discogs.com/artist/316297-Crazy-Frog|url-status=live}}) was released on 23 May 2005 and became one of the most successful singles of the year. The single debuted at number one in the UK,{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2005/may/25/arts.artsnews | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Crazy Frog ringtone outsells Coldplay | first=Gerard | last=Seenan | date=25 May 2005 | access-date=30 April 2010 | archive-date=4 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304181310/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2005/may/25/arts.artsnews | url-status=live }} remaining there for four weeks, and it was released on the debut album Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits.

| 10 || 4 || 2 || 5 || — || 11 || 1 || — || 5 || —

|

• ARIA: Gold
• RMNZ: Gold{{cite certification|region=New Zealand|artist=Crazy Frog|title=Jingle Bells|type=single|id=2006-01-27|source=newchart|access-date=17 July 2012}}

|-

!scope="row"|"We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)"

|rowspan="2"|2006

| 11 || 13 || 2 || 1 || 10 || 23 || 20 || 5 || 11 || —

|

• BEA: Gold{{cite certification|region=Belgium|certyear=2006|type=single|access-date=18 July 2012}}
• SNEP: Gold{{cite certification|region=France|type=single|artist=Crazy Frog|title=We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)|award=Gold|certyear=2006|source=archive|access-date=16 January 2022}}

|rowspan="3"|More Crazy Hits

|-

!scope="row"|"Last Christmas"{{Ref label|note_a1|A|}}

| 10 || 30 || 6 || 19 || — || 16 || 19 || — || 16 || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Crazy Frog in the House"

| 2007

| — || — || 24 || 12 || 22 || — || — || 19 || — || —

|-

!scope="row"|"Daddy DJ"

| rowspan="2"|2009

| — || — || — || 4 || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|rowspan="2"|Everybody Dance Now

|-

!scope="row"|"Cha Cha Slide"

| — || — || — || 18 || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Tricky"

| 2021

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|rowspan="3" {{Non-album singles}}

|-

!scope="row"|"A Ring Ding Ding Ding"

| 2022

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Funny Song"

| 2023

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

|colspan="14" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

|}

{{csection|date=December 2024}}

In February 2005, viewers submitted a number of complaints to the United Kingdom's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) regarding Jamster's advertising campaign, complaining that Crazy Frog appeared to have a visible penis and scrotum. Some parents claimed that it was inappropriate for children.{{cite web |url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/article/234073/crazy-frog-keep-ding-ding-di-di-ding-asa-says |title=Crazy Frog can keep his ding-ding di-di-ding ASA says – Brand Republic News |publisher=Brandrepublic.com |date=2 February 2005 |access-date=8 May 2012 |archive-date=23 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223094836/http://www.brandrepublic.com/article/234073/crazy-frog-keep-ding-ding-di-di-ding-asa-says |url-status=live }} There were also complaints regarding the frequency with which the advertisement appeared on television, reportedly up to twice an hour across most of the day,{{Cite news |date=20 May 2005 |title=TV viewers driven crazy by frog ringtone ad |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/tv-viewers-driven-crazy-by-frog-ringtone-ad-1-712972 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114050748/http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/tv-viewers-driven-crazy-by-frog-ringtone-ad-1-712972 |archive-date=14 January 2016 |access-date=6 July 2011 |work=The Scotsman}} with some channels showing it more than once per commercial break. The ASA did not uphold the complaints, pointing out that the advert was already classified as inappropriate for airing during children's television programmes as it contained a premium-rate telephone number, and that it was the broadcasters' decision how often an advertisement should be shown.{{cite web|url=http://www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/ECE03B9D-119D-4150-8F22-48ADADD9AC09/0/ASA_Broadcast_Rulings_2Feb05.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=27 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113091721/http://www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/ECE03B9D-119D-4150-8F22-48ADADD9AC09/0/ASA_Broadcast_Rulings_2Feb05.pdf |archive-date=13 November 2008 }} Jamster did voluntarily censor the character's genital area in later broadcasts of its advertisements. Similar action occurred in Australia, with similar results.{{cite web |title=Case Report – Complaint reference number 18/05 |url=https://adstandards.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/18-05.pdf |access-date=18 December 2023 |publisher=Advertising Standards Bureau |date=8 February 2005}} In November 2021, the Crazy Frog Twitter account made light of the controversy, saying, "A lot of people were shocked to see my PP in 2005. And still shocked to see it now in 2021!!".{{cite web | title=Crazy Frog | website=Twitter | url=https://twitter.com/truecrazyfrog/status/1463883207657639938 | access-date=30 August 2022 | archive-date=1 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901150809/https://twitter.com/truecrazyfrog/status/1463883207657639938 | url-status=live }}

In April 2005, UK television viewers complained about misleading advertisements produced by Jamba!, trading as Jamster and RingtoneKing. Viewers felt that it was not made sufficiently clear that they were subscribing to a service, rather than paying a one-time fee for their ringtone. The complaints were upheld.{{cite web |url=http://asa.org.uk/~/media/Files/ASA/Old%20Broadcast%20rulings/Broadcast_rulings_6_April_05.ashx |title=Broadcast Advertising Adjudications |format=pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811220446/http://asa.org.uk/~/media/Files/ASA/Old%20Broadcast%20rulings/Broadcast_rulings_6_April_05.ashx |archive-date=11 August 2011}} As the authority had already adjudicated on the matter and confirmed the matter was not within its remit, the unusual step was taken of adding a notice to the ASA's online and telephone complaints system informing viewers that Jamster!-related complaints should be directed towards the broadcaster or the regulator, Ofcom.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} In May 2005, viewers inundated the ASA with new complaints regarding the continuous airing of the latest Crazy Frog advertisements. The intensity of the advertising was unprecedented in British television history. According to The Guardian, Jamster bought 73,716 spots across all TV channels in May alone — an average of nearly 2,378 slots daily — at a cost of about £8 million, just under half of which was spent on ITV. 87% of the population saw the Crazy Frog adverts an average of 26 times, 15% of the adverts appeared twice during the same advertising break and 66% were in consecutive ad breaks. An estimated 10% of the population saw the advert more than 60 times. This led to many members of the population finding the Crazy Frog, as its original name suggests, immensely irritating.(source: Media Guardian, 20 June 2005) On 21 September 2005, the ASA ruled that the Crazy Frog, along with other Jamba ringtone advertisements, could not be shown before 9pm. This adjudication was revised on 25 January 2006, maintaining the "upheld" decision but revising the wording of one of the points.{{cite web|url=http://www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F3CC87DF-2F2A-4754-9C40-2EC23F0EC54C/0/Broadcastreport25Jan06.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=27 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029030132/http://www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F3CC87DF-2F2A-4754-9C40-2EC23F0EC54C/0/Broadcastreport25Jan06.pdf |archive-date=29 October 2008 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/21/crazy_frog_off_air/ |title=ASA stamps on Crazy Frog TV ads |website=The Register |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051001090937/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/21/crazy_frog_off_air/ |archive-date=1 October 2005}}

Following the release of "Tricky" on 10 December 2021, an official non-fungible token release was planned on "Metabeats". This was met with backlash on Twitter, with the account managers stating they had been receiving death threats over the matter.{{cite web |last1=Bell |first1=Kaelyn |title=Crazy Frog's Social Media Team Ask Fans to Stop Sending Death Threats |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/crazy_frogs_social_media_team_asks_fan_to_stop_sending_death_threats |website=Exclaim |access-date=14 December 2021 |archive-date=13 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213233645/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/crazy_frogs_social_media_team_asks_fan_to_stop_sending_death_threats |url-status=live }} After the release was repeatedly postponed, all mentions of Crazy Frog were removed from the Metabeats website in late 2023,{{Cite web |title=Coming Soon |url=https://metabeats.io/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107155110/https://metabeats.io/ |archive-date=7 November 2023 |access-date=5 May 2024 |url-status=usurped |website=Metabeats}} and shortly after the official Crazy Frog website removed its link to Metabeats.{{Cite web |title=Homepage |url=https://crazyfrog.tv/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202010646/https://crazyfrog.tv/ |archive-date=2 December 2023 |access-date=5 May 2024}}

• Giancarlo Meo
• Gummibär
• Holly Dolly
• Mickael Turtle
• Schnappi
• Schnuffel

{{refbegin}}

• A {{Note|note_a1}}{{Note|note_a1}} In some territories, "Jingle Bells" was released as a double A-side single with a cover of MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This", but in others, it was released as a double A-side single with "Last Christmas", which was later released as a single in its own right.

{{refend}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4210407.stm BBC article: The Crazy Frog sound? That's my fault.] Includes an interview with the creator of the sound, Daniel Malmedahl.
• [https://archive.today/20051226101143/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2095-1512482_1,00.html The Times: Crazy Frog turns into a real prince.]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090319105529/http://asa.org.uk/asa/focus/case_studies/Jamster%2BCrazy%2BFrog.htm ASA: A Frog's Tale that spawned viewer outrage.]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120404230155/http://www.newtek-europe.com/uk/community/lightwave/wernquist/1.html Erik Wernquist interview]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120217105311/http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview%2Fopar%2Fintrview_CrazyFrog.html Interview, HitQuarters Oct 2005]

{{Crazy Frog}}

{{Authority control}}

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