Crush (Jennifer Paige song)
{{Short description|1998 single by Jennifer Paige}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Crush
| cover = Jennifer paige-crush s 1.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Jennifer Paige
| album = Jennifer Paige
| released = {{start date|1998|6|9}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Teen pop
| length = 3:20
| label =
| writer =
- Andy Goldmark
- Mark Mueller
- Berny Cosgrove
- Kevin Clark
| producer =
- Andy Goldmark
- Jimmy Bralower
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Sober
| next_year = 1999
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|DG4LnFdrS3I|"Crush"}}}}
}}
"Crush" is a song by American singer Jennifer Paige. The teen pop song was written by Andy Goldmark, Mark Mueller, Berny Cosgrove and Kevin Clark. It was released as the first single from her debut album, Jennifer Paige (1998). The music video for "Crush" was produced by Kati Haberstok and directed by David Hogan.{{cite web |url=http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=21341 |title=Music Videos Database – Jennifer Paige – 'Crush' |access-date=January 8, 2008 |archive-date=May 16, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060516093518/http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=21341 |url-status=live}} "Crush" topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand while peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for four consecutive weeks in September 1998. In the United Kingdom, "Crush" reached number four on the UK Singles Chart, and it also reached number four in France. It became a top-10 hit in at least 11 other countries, including Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain.
Background and composition
In April 1998, soon after Paige recorded "Crush", producer Andy Goldmark played the song at top pop Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM, where it met with a hugely positive reaction from programmers and was added to the station's playlist within days. During the first week of May, KIIS-FM became the first radio station to begin playing "Crush" and it began its meteoric rise up the charts, without typical record company promotion or release. Paige said "we had no pictures, photography, hadn't gotten it mastered or mass-produced it, nothing."{{Cite web|last=Sorren|first=Martha|date=April 24, 2017|title=Why "Crush" Singer Jennifer Paige Doesn't Miss The '90s|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/why-crush-singer-jennifer-paige-doesnt-miss-the-90s-51686|access-date=August 18, 2020|website=Bustle|language=en|archive-date=May 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530183228/https://www.bustle.com/p/why-crush-singer-jennifer-paige-doesnt-miss-the-90s-51686|url-status=live}} Edel Records, Paige's initial label, made an initial press run of 20,000 copies of "Crush" which sold out quickly, and it soon became KIIS-FM's most requested song.
The song, written by Paige's producer Andy Goldmark along with the songwriters Mark Mueller, Berny Cosgrove and Kevin Clark, was inspired by Paige's personal experiences and observations in her love life. "Crush" is written in the key of C♯ minor and follows a tempo of 115 beats per minute. Paige's vocal range spans from G{{music|sharp}}3 to C{{music|sharp}}5.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0026767|title=Crush|last1=Kevin|first1=Clark|last2=Berny|first2=Cosgrove|last3=Mark|first3=Mueller|last4=Andy|first4=Goldmark|website=Musicnotes.com|date=December 15, 1999|id=MN0026767|access-date=April 11, 2021|archive-date=April 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411192444/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0026767|url-status=live}}
Critical reception
Billboard wrote that Paige "succeeds in the nearly impossible task of oozing smoldering sensuality without resorting to typical groans and moans. Instead, she uses her notably flexible vocal range to convey the emotion of the tune, quickly soaring to lilting high notes and then dropping to the lowest point of her register to accentuate within the space of several seconds." They stated further that "as a result, she breathes a refreshing intensity into the song that renders it far more sexy than it would have been had she simply taken the easy route. Fortunately, this talented new artist is given a substantial song to work with," adding that producers Andy Goldmark and Jimmy Bralower "surround Paige with tense shuffle beats and twinkly synths".{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1998/BB-1998-06-20.pdf|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|volume=110|issue=25|page=21|date=June 20, 1998|access-date=June 12, 2021|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628143358/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1998/BB-1998-06-20.pdf|url-status=live}} Blender put "Crush" at 189th place on their list of 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born. They described the song as "an unusually supple and sophisticated teen-pop hit informed by the level-headed sass of great R&B... swept along by a breathy chorus, pulsing groove and Paige's exquisite multilayered vocals."{{cite web|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=1764 |title=The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born |access-date=January 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217055432/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=1764 |archive-date=December 17, 2007}}
Chart performance
"Crush" was an international hit that peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, earned a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, and sold 700,000 copies by the end of 1998.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Q0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA75|title=Best-Selling Records of 1998|magazine=Billboard|publisher=BPI Communications Inc.|volume=111|number=5|page=75|date=January 30, 1999|access-date=May 31, 2015|issn=0006-2510|archive-date=January 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111214043/https://books.google.com/books?id=1Q0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA75|url-status=live}} It reached number one in three countries: Australia (two weeks), Canada (five weeks) and New Zealand (one week). In Australia, the song is certified 2× platinum for more than 140,000 copies shipped, while in New Zealand it is certified gold for sales of over 5,000. In Europe, "Crush" reached number four in France and the United Kingdom, going gold in both countries, and number six in Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway. It also became a top-ten hit in Austria, Walloon Belgium, Denmark, Hungary and Spain, and it reached the top 20 in Flanders, Germany, Iceland, Sweden and Switzerland.
Live performances and cover versions
In August 1998, Paige made her debut TV appearance singing "Crush" on the ABC TV show Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOefa4Gcrr0 |title=Regis & Kathy |date=February 6, 2014 |via=YouTube |access-date=April 18, 2019 |archive-date=May 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529060930/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOefa4Gcrr0&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }} Paige also performed the show live on the Australian prime time TV show Hey Hey It's Saturday where she was presented an award for platinum sales of "Crush" in Australia.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuFd6oR9Tzo |title="Hey Hey It's Saturday Appearance" |website=YouTube |date=June 19, 2009 |access-date=April 21, 2019 |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927142447/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuFd6oR9Tzo&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }} On September 11, 1998, Paige was featured and performed "Crush" on Top of the Pops, which was performed live.{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0731331/|title=Top of the Pops 11 September 1998|website=IMDb|access-date=August 22, 2020|archive-date=May 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530183229/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0731331/|url-status=live}}{{unreliable source?|date=April 2020|reason=WP:IMDB}}
This song was later (in Sept 1999) covered by Hong Kong singer Joey Yung, in Cantonese version of Unknown (“未知”).
In 2016, a cover of "Crush" by jazz keyboardist John Novello featuring R&B saxophonist Gerald Albright on the chorus reached number eight on the US Billboard Smooth Jazz Airplay chart.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} It entered at number 45 on the Smooth Jazz chart the week of January 26, 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.americasmusiccharts.com/index.cgi?fmt=J1&rtmref=americasmusiccharts|title=AMERICA'S MUSIC CHARTS -- 0 5 . 24 . 1 6|access-date=March 23, 2016|archive-date=February 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201072853/http://americasmusiccharts.com/index.cgi?fmt=J1&rtmref=americasmusiccharts|url-status=live}} As of the March 26, 2016 chart, it had spent a total of 7 weeks in the top 30.{{Cite web|url=http://charts.bdsradio.com/bdsradiocharts/charts.aspx?formatid=8|title=BDSRadio Charts|website=charts.bdsradio.com|access-date=March 23, 2016|archive-date=March 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323052105/http://charts.bdsradio.com/bdsradiocharts/charts.aspx?formatid=8|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Billboard|url=http://charts.bdsradio.com/bdsradiocharts/charts.aspx?formatid=8|website=billboard.com|access-date=June 14, 2016|archive-date=March 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323052105/http://charts.bdsradio.com/bdsradiocharts/charts.aspx?formatid=8|url-status=live}}
Track listings
{{Track listing
| headline = CD single {{nobold|(US, UK, France, Europe){{cite AV media notes|title=Crush |others=Jennifer Paige|date=1998|type=CD liner notes|publisher=Edel America Records|id=0038712ERE}}}}
| title1 = Crush
| length1 = 3:19
| title2 = Crush
| length2 = 3:16
| note2 = Dance Mix
| title3 = Crush
| length3 = 3:19
| note3 = Instrumental) (US and UK only{{cite AV media notes|title=Crush |others=Jennifer Paige|date=1998|type=CD liner notes|publisher=Edel America Records|id=0039425ERE}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Crush |others=Jennifer Paige|date=1998|type=CD liner notes|publisher=Edel America Records|id=0039435ERE}}
| total_length =
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = CD maxi single {{nobold|(US, Australia, Europe)}}
| title1 = Crush
| length1 = 3:19
| title2 = Crush
| length2 = 3:16
| note2 = Dance Mix
| title3 = Crush
| length3 = 5:18
| note3 = Extended Club Mix) (US and Australia only
| title4 = Crush
| length4 = 3:19
| note4 = Instrumental
| total_length =
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = {{nobold|"}}Crush{{nobold|"}} The Remixes CD {{nobold|(UK, Australia, Germany){{cite AV media notes|title=Crush (The Remixes)|others=Jennifer Paige|date=1998|type=CD liner notes|publisher=Edel America Records|id=0043215ERE}}}}
| extra_column = Title (Australia)
| title1 = Crush
| length1 = 3:40
| note1 = David Morales Radio Alt Intro
| extra1 = "Crush" (David Morales Radio Mix)
| title2 = Crush
| length2 = 3:49
| note2 = Tiefschwarz Radio Edit{{efn|name=remixes}}
| extra2 = "Crush" (Tiefschwarz Radio Mix)
| title3 = Crush
| length3 = 7:10
| note3 = David Morales Club Mix{{efn|name=remixes}}
| title4 = Crush
| length4 = 8:03
| note4 = Tiefschwarz Hollywood Extended
| title5 = Crush
| length5 = 7:10
| note5 = David Morales Alt Club Body{{efn|name=remixes}}
| extra5 = "Crush" (David Morales Classic Club Mix)
| title6 = Crush
| length6 = 7:10
| note6 = David Morales La Crush Dub
| total_length =
}}
{{notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=remixes|Tracks 2, 3, 5: Germany and Australia releases only{{cite AV media notes|title=Crush (The Remixes)|others=Jennifer Paige|date=1998|type=CD liner notes|publisher=Edel America Records|id=0043735ERE}}}}
}}
Personnel
- Jennifer Paige – lead and backing vocals
- Kevin Dukes – guitars
- Andy Goldmark – keyboards and drum programming
- Jimmy Bralower – additional drum programming
- Alex Acuna – percussion
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2018) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Poland|79|year=2018|chartid=2572|rowheader=true|access-date=January 22, 2018}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1999) !Position |
| scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Best of '99: Most Played Adult Contemporary Songs|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=7|issue=52|page=48|date=December 24, 1999}}
|49 |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1999|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=7|issue=52|page=47|date=December 24, 1999}}
|80 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications and sales
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1998|certyear=1998|refname="auscert"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|artist=Jennifer Paige|title=Crush|award=Gold|relyear=1998|certyear=1999|refname="fracert"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Jennifer Paige|title=Crush|award=Gold|relyear=1998|certyear=1999|id=1999-02-12|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|refname="nzcert"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Jennifer Paige|title=Crush|award=Platinum|relyear=1998|certyear=2025|id=1582-1929-1|refname="ukcert"|access-date=2025-02-14}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Jennifer Paige|title=Crush|award=Gold|relyear=1998|certyear=1998|salesamount=700,000|salesref=|refname="uscert"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"|United States
|June 9, 1998 |rowspan="2"|{{hlist|Edel America|Hollywood}} |{{cite magazine|title=New Releases|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1251|page=39|date=June 5, 1998}} |
|---|
| June 16, 1998
|CD |{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Crush-Jennifer-Paige/dp/B000006O0Q|title=Crush|publisher=Amazon|access-date=July 12, 2021|archive-date=April 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100419201548/http://www.amazon.com/Crush-Jennifer-Paige/dp/B000006O0Q|url-status=live}} |
| scope="row"|United Kingdom
|August 31, 1998 |{{hlist|CD|cassette}} |Edel |
| scope="row"|Japan
|November 1, 1998 |CD |{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/81958/products/203017/1/|title=クラッシュ {{!}} ジェニファー・ペイジ|trans-title=Crush {{!}} Jennifer Paige|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=October 5, 2023}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Hollywood Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by David Hogan
Category:Number-one singles in Australia
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:Polydor Records singles
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Songs written by Andy Goldmark