Axel F#Crazy Frog version

Faltermeyer recorded the tune using five instruments: a Roland Jupiter-8 provided the distinctive saw lead, a Moog modular synthesizer 15 provided the bass, a Roland JX-3P provided chord stab brasses, a Yamaha DX7 was used for the marimba sound, and a LinnDrum was used for drum programming.{{Cite web |last=Rogersonpublished |first=Ben |date=5 October 2023 |title="Nah. It doesn't work": How Harold Faltermeyer's iconic Axel F nearly didn't make it into Beverly Hills Cop at all |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/harold-faltermeyer-axel-f-beverly-hills-cop |access-date=31 March 2024 |website=MusicRadar |language=en}} All instruments were played by Faltermeyer.

According to Faltermeyer, the initial reaction to his first presentation of the track to the film's producers and director did not result in an immediate approval; it was not until director Martin Brest voiced his approval that the producers showed enthusiasm.{{cite web |last=Red Bull Music Academy |date=5 November 2014 |title=Harold Faltermeyer Lecture (RBMA Tokyo 2014) – Red Bull Music Academy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkQUzbeguUM&t=1h12m7s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/PkQUzbeguUM |archive-date=12 December 2021 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Faltermeyer. Faltermeyer is featured wearing an overcoat, hat, and sunglasses; he sneaks into a computer lab at night and uses one of the machines to watch scenes from Beverly Hills Cop with himself edited in, interspersed with footage of a pole dancer, a female dancer, and of himself playing the synthesizer.{{Cite web |last=Moir |first=Tammy |date=15 December 2023 |title=Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. has just given us what we needed - Harold Faltermeyer's iconic theme mash up with The Notorious B.I.G. |url=https://happymag.tv/beverly-hills-4-axel-f-soundtrack/ |access-date=23 February 2024 |website=Happy Mag |language=en-US}}

• 7-inch single

1. "Axel F" – 3:00
2. "Shoot Out" – 2:44

• 12-inch maxi

1. "Axel F" (M & M mix) – 7:00
2. "Axel F" (extended version) – 7:09
3. "Shoot Out" – 2:44

• 12-inch maxi

1. "Axel F" (extended version) – 7:09
2. "Shoot Out" – 2:44

Faltermeyer's version of the instrumental reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It also spent two weeks atop the US Adult Contemporary chart.

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Harold Faltermeyer|title=Axel F|award=Gold|relyear=1985|certyear=1985|access-date=2 August 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Harold Faltermeyer|title=Axel F|award=Silver|relyear=1985|certyear=1985|id=631-2469-1}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Axel F

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Techno Cop

| album = The Best and More

| B-side = Cops in Trance

| released = 20 June 1992

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| length = 3:01

| label = Polydor

| writer = Harold Faltermeyer

| producer = Cool & Cool

| prev_title = Stop the Police

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title = The Vision

| next_year = 1994

}}

In 1992, German techno group Techno Cop covered the instrumental, and achieved modest success with a top 30 ranking on the German singles chart. Unlike the original, this version contains rap passages.

• 12-inch maxi

1. "Axel F" (Outlaw mix) – 5:50
2. "Axel F" (Megaphone mix) – 5:20
3. "Cops in Trance" – 4:15

• CD maxi

1. "Axel F" (U-Boot mix) – 6:00
2. "Axel F" (radio edit) – 3:49
3. "Axel F" (Minimalistixtendid) – 4:41
4. "Beverly Kills" – 2:58

{{Infobox song

| name = Axel F

| cover = Clock-Axel_F.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Clock

| album = It's Time...

| B-side = Keep Pushin'

| released = 1995

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Eurodance

| length =

• 3:38 (radio edit)
• 3:22 (radio short stab)

| label =

• MCA
• ZYX Music

| writer = Harold Faltermeyer

| producer =

• Stu Allan
• Pete Pritchard

| prev_title = Keep the Fires Burning

| prev_year = 1994

| next_title = Whoomph! (There It Is)

| next_year = 1995

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|9_I-xCFNiqU|"Axel F"}}}}

}}

British pop/dance act Clock released a successful dance cover of "Axel F" in 1995. Produced by Richard Pritchard and Stu Allan, it was featured on their debut album, It's Time... (1995), and peaked at number five in Scotland, number seven in the UK overall, number eight in Ireland and number 37 in Sweden. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the single reached number 20 in March 1995, while in Australia, it peaked at number 42.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

When the cover was released in 1995, James Masterton wrote in his weekly UK chart, "There is no denying the brilliance of this record, making the Harold Faltermeyer classic more of a dance hit than he could ever have dreamed as the song makes the Top 10 close on ten years since the original did the same."{{cite web|last=Masterton|first=James|title=Week Ending March 11th 1995|url=https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1995/week-ending-march-11th-1995|website=Chart Watch UK|date=5 March 1995|accessdate=16 September 2021|author-link=James Masterton}} Alan Jones from Music Week's RM Dance Update described the song as "another energetic remake".{{cite magazine|first= Alan |last= Jones |title= Club Chart Commentary |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert) |date= 25 March 1995 |page= 12 |accessdate= 6 May 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1995/Music-Week-1995-03-25.pdf}} Another RM editor, James Hamilton, declared it as an "ultra excitingly galloping 135bpm Hi-NRG" track in his weekly dance column.{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Hamilton |title= Dj directory |magazine= Music Week |date= 18 February 1995 |page= 11 |accessdate= 5 May 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1995/Music-Week-1995-02-18.pdf |author-link= James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}}

• UK CD maxi

1. "Axel F" (Radio Short Stab) – 3:22
2. "Axel F" (Primax mix) – 4:47
3. "Keep Pushin'" (Clock N-R-G mix) – 6:27
4. "Keep Pushin'" (PTP 'London' mix) – 7:46

• Sweden CD maxi

1. "Axel F" (radio edit) – 3:38
2. "Axel F" (Primax mix) – 4:44
3. "Axel F" (Ten to Two mix) – 5:40
4. "Keep Pushin'" (PTP London edit) – 4:40
5. "Clock Megamix" - 15:40

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In 2002, South Korean singer Psy released a track titled "Champion" as part of his album 3 Mai,{{cite web|last=Limb|first=Jae-un|title=Streets of Gangnam fill with World Cup cheers|url=http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Sports/view?articleId=120014|date=18 June 2014|work=Korea.net|access-date=8 May 2017}} tapping into Seoul's enthusiasm over the 2002 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web|last=Wi|first=Tack-whan|title=PSY, the man behind the name|url=http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=102999|date=10 October 2012|work=Korea.net|access-date=8 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630063004/http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=102999}}{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Hyo-won|title=World Cup 2014: Psy Performs 'Gangnam Style' in Gangnam for the First Time|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/world-cup-2014-psy-performs-712697|date=17 June 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=8 May 2017}} "Champion" was partially inspired by Korean street cheering during the 2002 World Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=021&aid=0000004107|title = 싸이 위선 가득한 세상 조롱}} Paul Lester of The Guardian called "Champion" a "thrashy disco ... which heavily samples Axel F by Harold Faltermeyer".{{cite web|last=Lester|first=Paul|title=K-pop new band of the week – Psy (No 1,350)|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/sep/13/new-band-psy|date=13 September 2012|work=The Guardian|access-date=8 May 2017}}

In 2003, Murphy Brown and Captain Hollywood released their Eurodance version of "Axel F", titled "Axel F 2003". This version was produced by Matthias Wagner and Andreas Dohmeyer of the Off-cast Project, and Bass Bumpers. It contains a vocal sample from Max Headroom ("What's going on?"), heard at the beginning of the song. It reached number 18 on the official German Singles Chart.{{Cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-83044|title=MURPHY BROWN VS. CAPTAIN HOLLYWOOD - AXEL F 2003 - Offizielle Deutsche Charts|website=Offiziellecharts.de}}

This version was reworked two years later into the highly successful version by Crazy Frog, which was also completed by the same team of producers.

{{Infobox song

| name = Axel F

| cover = Crazy frog-axel f s.jpeg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Crazy Frog

| album = Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits

| B-side = In the 80's

| released = {{start date|df=yes|2005|05|17}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Techno{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-crazy-frog-song-axel-f-is-certified-platinum-as-official-charts-reveals-how-many-people-are-listening-to-the-novelty-number-1-in-2017__20685/|title=The Crazy Frog song Axel F is certified Platinum as Official Charts reveals how many people are listening to the novelty Number 1 in 2017|website=Official Charts Company|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=6 October 2017|access-date=8 May 2019}}|novelty}}

| length = 2:54 (radio edit)

| label = {{hlist|Ministry of Sound|Universal}}

| writer = {{hlist|Harold Faltermeyer|Wolfgang Boss}}

| producer = {{hlist|Henning Reith|Reinhard Raith|Off-cast Project}}

| next_title = Popcorn

| next_year = 2005

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|k85mRPqvMbE|"Axel F"}}}}

}}

In 2005, a reworking of "Axel F 2003" by Murphy Brown and Captain Hollywood was released by Crazy Frog, titled "Axel F". This version became a summer hit that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/culturevultureblog/2006/aug/03/wheresthesumm|title=Where's the summer fun?|work=The Guardian|date=3 August 2006|access-date=30 April 2020}} The song is by far Crazy Frog's most successful single.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} Like "Axel F 2003", Crazy Frog's version was also produced by the Off-cast Project, and Henning Reith and Reinhard "DJ Voodoo" Raith, two members of the German dance production team Bass Bumpers.{{cite web|url= http://www.discogs.com/Murphy-Brown-Axel-F/master/62651 |title= Murphy Brown vs. Captain Hollywood profile on Discogs.com |publisher= Discogs |access-date= 20 July 2013}} Wolfgang Boss{{cite web|url=http://www.rtl2.de/44492.html |title=Crazy Frog |work=RTL 2 |publisher=RTL2.de |language=de |access-date=20 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610140050/http://www.rtl2.de/44492.html |archive-date=10 June 2013}} and Jamster! arranged the remix.{{cite web|url= http://www.discogs.com/artist/Crazy+Frog |title= Crazy Frog profile on Discogs.com |publisher= Discogs |access-date= 20 July 2013}}{{cite web |title= Crazy Frog hüpft weiter die Charts empor |url= http://www.mediabiz.de/musik/news/crazy-frog-huepft-weiter-die-charts-empor/180463?premium=N&navi=00000000&t=1 |publisher= Mediabiz.de |language= de |date= 8 June 2005 |access-date= 20 July 2013 |archive-date= 26 November 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201126122417/https://www.mediabiz.de/musik/news/crazy-frog-huepft-weiter-die-charts-empor/180463?premium=N&navi=00000000&t=1 |url-status= dead }}

The song consists of additional vocals taken from the 1997 recording "2TAKTARE.mp3" by Daniel Malmedahl. It uses mainly the same part of the two-minute original that was used in Jamster's release.

There were three edits to the song. The original version of the song can be found on most P2P networks.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

Released across Europe in May 2005, "Axel F" topped the charts in the United Kingdom, with some of the best weekly sales of the year (out-selling rivals such as Coldplay by four copies to one), and remained at the top of the UK Singles Chart for four weeks to become Britain's third-best-selling single of 2005, outselling and outperforming the original version. In other European countries, the popularity has differed, with the song failing to make the top 20 in Switzerland at first, before gradually climbing to number 1, whilst only making number 18 in Russia.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} It also reached number 1 on the overall European chart, after initially being number 2 to Akon's "Lonely" for several weeks; it stayed at number 1 until September. It also reached number 1 in Australia, the Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway, Ukraine, Spain, and Sweden. It was the #1 song of the year in Europe, New Zealand, and the Wallonia region of Belgium.

In France, the song entered the French Singles Chart at number seventy seven on 11 June 2005, and moved all the way to number two the next week. There it stayed for two weeks before climbing to the summit, where it remained for thirteen weeks. It fell off the first position being dethroned by Crazy Frog's 2nd single, "Popcorn". This was only the second time that an artist had ever dethroned themself in that country. The song remained in the top 10 for 21 weeks, 30 weeks in the top 50 and 36 weeks in the chart. Its best weekly sales were 103,564 on its 6th week.{{cite web|url= http://www.chartsinfrance.net/communaute/index.php?/topic/10055-chiffres-de-ventes-hebdomadaires-singles-edition-2006/ |title= Chiffres de ventes hebdomadaires Singles – Edition 2006 |author= Likeadream |work= Chartsinfrance.net |date= 8 January 2006 |publisher= Webedia / IP.Board 3 – IPS, Inc. |language= fr |access-date= 20 July 2013}} On 1 December 2005, it was certified diamond, 7 months after its release, by the French certifier SNEP. The song is the third best-selling single of the 21st century in France, with 1,270,000 units sold.{{cite web |title=Top 100 des singles les plus vendus du millénaire en France, le top 10 final! |url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/actualite/news-93565.html |publisher=Chartsinfrance, PureCharts |date=13 September 2014 |access-date=17 March 2015}} (1,265,579 sales, according to another source).{{cite web|url= http://fanofmusic.free.fr/Site-Charts-Top100single2005France.htm |title= Les 100 Singles les plus vendus en France en 2005 |publisher= Fanofmusic.free.fr |language= fr |access-date= 20 July 2013}}

Despite Crazy Frog not being as well known in Japan, the single release also charted there, peaking at number 46. It peaked at number 50 in the US. Although "Axel F" managed to find more success in mainstream markets, it proved to be a moderate success on the US Rhythmic Top 40 where it peaked at number 28. It also peaked at number 3 on the US Digital Sales chart, beating the likes of Lindsay Lohan and the Black Eyed Peas. Its highest U.S. success was number 2 on the US Adult Contemporary Top 20. The song later became an Internet meme.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

The song was the 65th best-selling single of the 2000s in the UK.Radio 1 Official Chart of the Decade, as broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on Tuesday 29 December 2009, presented by Nihal

The Ministry of Sound hired Kaktus Film and Erik Wernquist of TurboForce3D, the original creator of the 3D Crazy Frog, to produce a full-length animated music video to accompany the release of the song. An overview of the city is shown. Then someone in a van with attached satellite dishes and high-tech instruments on the interior sees a message on one of the monitor, which reads "Wanted: The most annoying thing in the world", referring to Crazy Frog, with a bounty of $50,000 specified for the catcher.

In 2011, the video was listed in NME's "50 Worst Music Videos", ranking at 47.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/list/50-worst-music-videos-ever-1371|title=50 Worst Music Videos Ever|author=NME.COM|work=NME.COM|date=21 November 2011}} As of February 2025, it has been viewed more than 5 billion times on YouTube.{{cite news |last1=Clarkson |first1=Adam |last2=Taylor |first2=Alex |title=Ding Ding! Crazy Frog to make a comeback in December |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-59296288 |access-date=8 July 2022 |work=BBC News |date=17 November 2021}}

In 2024, as part of a tribute to celebrate the release of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, the Crazy Frog YouTube Channel made a special crossover music video with Netflix, featuring scenes from the movie, but re-edited to feature Crazy Frog in them, being chased by the Beverly Hills Police and Axel Foley. It's the first time that Crazy Frog has ever interacted with the original franchise.{{cite news |last=Gajewski |first=Ryan |title=Crazy Frog Returns for Netflix's 'Axel F' Promo, Two Decades After Topping Charts With Theme Song |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/axel-f-crazy-frog-eddie-murphy-beverly-hills-cop-netflix-1235939958/ |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=6 July 2024}}

• Australia

1. "Axel F" (Radio Edit) – 2:54
2. "Axel F" (Club Mix) – 6:23
3. "Axel F" (Club Mix Instrumental) – 6:23
4. "In the 80's" – 3:29

• UK

1. "Axel F" (Radio Edit)
2. "Axel F" (Bounce Mix)
3. "Axel F" (Bounce Mix Instrumental)
4. "Axel F" (Reservoir Frog Remix)
5. "Axel F" (Video)

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=2005}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2005|certyear=2005}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=Crazy Frog|title=Axel F|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2005}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|artist=Crazy Frog|title=Axel F|award=Diamond|relyear=2005|certyear=2005 |salesamount=1,270,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/actualite/news-93671.html|title=Top 100 des singles les plus vendus du 21ème siècle : le récap !|publisher=Charts in France|editor=Pure Charts|access-date=10 May 2022|language=fr|date=20 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210120626/http://www.chartsinfrance.net/actualite/news-93671.html|archive-date=10 December 2014|url-status=live}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Crazy Frog|title=Axel F|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2005|id=2005-09-16|source=newchart|access-date=20 November 2024|relmonth=05}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2005|certyear=2005}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=single|artist=Crazy Frog|title=Axel F|award=Platinum|relyear=2005|certyear=2005}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Crazy Frog|title=Axel F|award=Platinum|relyear=2005|certyear=2017|id=631-458-1|salesamount=694,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/number-1-today-in-2005-crazy-frog-beats-coldplay-to-the-top__9493/|title=Number 1 today in 2005: Crazy Frog beats Coldplay to the top |last=Myers|first=Justin|date=4 June 2020|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=4 June 2020}}|access-date=4 June 2020|refname="ukcert"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Crazy Frog|title=Axel F|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2005|certyear=2025|accessdate=31 January 2025}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

• Axel Foley
• Beverly Hills Cop (franchise)
• List of Hot Adult Contemporary number ones of 1985

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.8bitpeoples.com/products/520158-the-8bitpeoples-axel-f The 8bitpeoples "Axel F"] A freely downloadable compilation of various artists' interpretations of "Axel F" Released under Creative Commons license.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050408073243/http://www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/gut/crazy_frog.htm Press release, including sound clips]

{{Beverly Hills Cop}}

{{Crazy Frog}}

{{Captain Hollywood Project}}

{{authority control}}

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