Tuesday
(0)The artistic version of the Labour Theory of Value is restated, at its natural home, here:
One song hails from an album that took years to craft and perfect, the delays in its conception seriously denting profits for EMI as fans across the world awaited its release. The other was obviously whipped up in a matter of minutes by a dodgy German dance act with an 80s record collection and a sampler.Nevertheless, following the cliche that there is no accounting for taste, the Crazy Frog ringtone appears to be jumping over Coldplay's Speed of Sound towards this week's number one spot.
And appearances did not deceive. Yes, this was the big Frog head-to-head over the last few days. An electronic rehash of the dominant tune of Beverly Hills Cop: would it get to number one? Yes? Or no.
The samizdata.net meta-context is sometimes a bit hard to work out and apply, but in this contest, I think we all know where our sympathies lie. Do we vote for the oh-so-late album of a bunch of dreary navel-gazing complaint rockers, aimed at dreary ageing complainers (a big market, I do agree), or for a spirited up-beat can-do problems-are-there-to-be-solved need-for-speed aquatic cartoon creation? I think we know the answer to that one, don't we girls?
Normally, I would not myself be so partial to the Crazy Frog, if only because I also quite like his deadly rival Sweety. But the Frog does seem to get up all the right noses, so all power to his legs.
Next stop for the goggled one, Korea.
"a bunch of dreary navel-gazing complaint rockers"
A perfect description, Brian
Posted by David Carr at June 1, 2005 01:20 AM
Frankly, I am bored with these so-called 'artistes' who expose their genitalia in order to get publicity, it has all been done before, as has the overdone references to impaired mental health. Mr Frog (if that is his real name, he is probably called Marcus and went to Eton) is just another in a long line of publicity seeking idiots. Soon he will be seen fighting in trendy restaurants and nightclubs, then there will be tabloid coverage of his 'drugs hell' and his break-up with some bint, by which time there will be a new number one act, probably a bulimic hermaphrodite schizophrenic lemur with an outrageous haircut that was daring 40 years ago.
Posted by zmollusc at June 1, 2005 09:17 AM
Brian,
you'll get really tired of Sweety, after the commercials for her ringtone have run on every TV channel for weeks 24/7.
Sweety came before the Crazy Frog in Germany, and I know what you are in for. :)
Posted by Ralf Goergens at June 1, 2005 10:23 AM
But the Frog does seem to get up all the right noses
Are their any noses the Frog doesn't get up????
My Mute button has never seen so much activity.
Posted by Daveon at June 1, 2005 01:22 PM
But the Frog does seem to get up all the right noses
Are there any noses the Frog doesn't get up????
My Mute button has never seen so much activity.
Posted by Daveon at June 1, 2005 01:22 PM
We've already been subjected to 'Sweety', 'Nessie', '50 Cent' and the rest - don't forget that Jamster (the arch-fiends behind all this) also broadcast in the UK.
As for the Crazy Frog, the ringtone and the dreadful pseudo Teutonic technoparty single are not going to be the problem - just you wait until the tenth-rate rap spinoffs of 'Ring Ding Ding' start appearing on the CD Singles/Ringtones market. Just out of interest, has anyone actually heard a mobile ringing with the Crazy Frog ringtone at all?
Posted by Julian Taylor at June 1, 2005 02:58 PM
The page under the "right noses" link is interesting: an insight into the minds of nascent statists...
"No it is the worst thing ever and it shouldn't even be allowed to be played." -- Eve, 11, Newcastle
...and free-marketeers:
"I hate the Crazy Frog I don't think it should of been released as a single! But fair enough if people actually want to buy it." -- Jess, 14, Jersey
Posted by Rob Fisher at June 1, 2005 03:15 PM
One more thing: I couldn't resist sharing this cartoon.
Posted by Rob Fisher at June 1, 2005 08:47 PM
British single buyers have been known for sending crap novelty records to number 1. Remember Joe Dolce's "Shaddup ya face" (What was the song it kept off the No 1 spot?)
Posted by Tim Hall at June 1, 2005 09:00 PM
Whatsamatta you? Eh!
Why you no respect?
...
Itsa not so bad
Itsa nice-a place
Ah, shaddupa you face
Ooh, I haven't heard that one in a long time. On the other hand, thanks to DirecTV's music channels here in the States, I heard Frankie Smith's "Double Dutch Bus" twice in the last few weeks. :-)
Posted by Ted Schuerzinger at June 2, 2005 04:29 AM
Joe Dolce was an Aussie for a start and that was well over 20 years ago, so we're not exactly "well known" for that sort of thing. As for what I wrote earlier, well look what's started to surface - 6th June sees the release of Pondlife's track the Crazy Frog Chorus, the apparent 'brainchild' of radio DJs Wes Butters of BBC Radio 1 and Daryl Denham of Virgin among others and then that is to be followed up by a far worse rendering on 13th June of "Da Crazee Frog" by LOC, a German hiphop artist (is there such a thing?).
Time to switch off the TV, throw the DAB radio in the bin and bugger off to the Seychelles for a month I think.
Posted by Julian Taylor at June 2, 2005 09:42 AM
The success of the Crazy Frog ringtone/single has made me lose all faith in freedom of choice. People clearly don't know what is best for themselves.
Yep, it's communism for me from now on.
Posted by Paul at June 4, 2005 12:40 AM
THE CRAZY FROG IS THE BEST FROG EVER AND ALL U PPL SAYING HE SUCKS.........GUESS WHAT,U ALL FUCKIN SUCK BALLS...LONG LIVE THE FROG
Posted by Brandon at January 25, 2006 03:58 AM
THE CRAZY FROG IS THE BEST FROG EVER AND ALL U PPL SAYING HE SUCKS.........GUESS WHAT,U ALL FUCKIN SUCK BALLS...LONG LIVE THE FROG
Posted by Brandon at January 25, 2006 03:59 AM
THE CRAZY FROG IS THE BEST FROG EVER AND ALL U PPL SAYING HE SUCKS.........GUESS WHAT,U ALL FUCKIN SUCK BALLS...LONG LIVE THE FROG
Posted by Brandon at January 25, 2006 04:01 AM
