Jump to content

Let's Go Crazy: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
 
(40 intermediate revisions by 29 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Original song written and composed by Prince}}
{{short description|1984 single by Prince and The Revolution}}
{{about|the Prince song|the 1951 film|Let's Go Crazy (film)|the Clash song|Sandinista!}}
{{about|the Prince song|the 1951 film|Let's Go Crazy (film)|the Clash song|Sandinista!}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Let's Go Crazy
| name = Let's Go Crazy
| cover = Prince_Crazy.jpg
| cover = Prince Crazy.jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| caption = US 7" single
| caption = US 7" single
Line 9: Line 9:
| artist = [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and [[The Revolution (band)|The Revolution]]
| artist = [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and [[The Revolution (band)|The Revolution]]
| album = [[Purple Rain (album)|Purple Rain]]
| album = [[Purple Rain (album)|Purple Rain]]
| B-side = {{ubl|"[[Erotic City]]"|"[[Take Me with U]]" <small>(UK)</small>}}
| B-side = {{ubl|"[[Erotic City]]"|"[[Take Me with U]]" (UK)}}
| released = July 18, 1984<ref>Uptown, 2004, p. 50</ref>
| released = July 18, 1984<ref>Uptown, 2004, p. 50</ref>
| format = {{flat list|
| recorded = August 7, 1983
⚫
| studio = The Warehouse, [[St. Louis Park, Minnesota|St. Louis Park]]
*[[7" single|7"]]
| genre = [[Hard rock]], [[funk rock]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-05-30/top-20-best-funk-rock-song |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602202921/http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-05-30/top-20-best-funk-rock-song |title=The Top 20 Greatest Funk Rock Songs |first=Paul |last=Elliott |work=TeamRock |publisher=Team Rock Limited |date=May 30, 2016 |archive-date=June 2, 2016 |access-date=January 31, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[12-inch single|12"]]
| length = 3:50 (7"/video version)<br/> 4:39 (album version)<br/>7:35 (12"/movie version)
*[[CD Single|CD]]}}
⚫
| label = [[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]]
⚫
| recorded = The Warehouse, [[St. Louis Park, Minnesota|St. Louis Park]], August 7, 1983
⚫
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|[[Hard rock]]|[[funk rock]]|[[new wave music|new wave]]|[[Minneapolis sound]]}}
| length =
* 3:50 (7"/video version)
* 4:39 (Album version)
* 7:35 (12" inch and movie version)
⚫
| label = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| writer = Prince <ref>The original single release credits the authors of the song as Prince and The Revolution, but the song's authorship is registered with [[ASCAP]] as solely by Prince.</ref>
| writer = Prince <ref>The original single release credits the authors of the song as Prince and The Revolution, but the song's authorship is registered with [[ASCAP]] as solely by Prince.</ref>
| producer = Prince and the Revolution
| producer = Prince and the Revolution
Line 31: Line 23:
| next_title = [[Purple Rain (song)|Purple Rain]]
| next_title = [[Purple Rain (song)|Purple Rain]]
| next_year = 1984
| next_year = 1984
⚫
| misc =
⚫
| misc = {{External music video|{{Youtube|aXJhDltzYVQ|Let's Go Crazy}}}}
{{Extra chronology
{{Extra chronology
| artist = [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] UK
| artist = ''[[Purple Rain (film)|Purple Rain]]'' singles
| type = single
| type = soundtrack
| prev_title = [[I Would Die 4 U]]
| prev_title = "[[When Doves Cry]]"
| prev_year = 1984
| prev_year = 1984
| title = Let's Go Crazy"/"[[Take Me with U]]
| title = "Let's Go Crazy"
| year = 1984
| year = 1984
| next_title = [[Paisley Park (song)|Paisley Park]]
| next_title = "[[Sex Shooter]]"
| next_year = 1985
| next_year = 1984
}}
}}
⚫
{{External music video|{{YouTube|aXJhDltzYVQ|Let's Go Crazy}}}}

}}
}}


"'''Let's Go Crazy'''" is a 1984 song by [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and [[The Revolution (band)|The Revolution]], from the album ''[[Purple Rain (album)|Purple Rain]]''. It was the opening track on both the album and the film ''[[Purple Rain (film)|Purple Rain]]''. "Let's Go Crazy" was one of Prince's most popular songs, and was a staple for concert performances, often segueing into other hits. When released as a single, the song became Prince's second number-one hit on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], and also topped the two component charts, the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]]<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=471}}</ref> and [[Hot Dance Club Play]] charts,<ref>{{cite book |title= Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=208}}</ref> as well as becoming a UK Top 10 hit. The [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] was the lyrically controversial "[[Erotic City]]". In the UK, the song was released as a double A-side with "[[Take Me with U]]".
"'''Let's Go Crazy'''" is a 1984 song by [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and [[The Revolution (band)|The Revolution]], from the album ''[[Purple Rain (album)|Purple Rain]]''. It is the opening track on both the album and the film ''[[Purple Rain (film)|Purple Rain]]''. "Let's Go Crazy" was one of Prince's most popular songs, and was a staple for concert performances, often segueing into other hits. When released as a single, the song became Prince's second number-one hit on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], and also topped the two component charts, the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]]<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=471}}</ref> and [[Hot Dance Club Play]] charts,<ref>{{cite book |title= Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=208}}</ref> as well as becoming a UK Top 10 hit. The [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] was the lyrically controversial "[[Erotic City]]". In the UK, the song was released as a double A-side with "[[Take Me with U]]".


Common to much of Prince's writing, the song is thought to be exhortation to follow [[Christian ethics]], with the "De-elevator" of the lyrics being a metaphor for the Devil.<ref name="google">{{cite book|title="Just Another One of God's Gifts": Prince, African-American Masculinity, and the Sonic Legacy of the Eighties|author1=Woodworth, G.M.|author2=University of California, Los Angeles|date=2008|publisher=University of California, Los Angeles|isbn=9781109120745|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qXDoK4oZfsYC|page=268|access-date=2015-06-22}}</ref> The extended "Special Dance Mix" of the song was performed in a slightly edited version in the film ''Purple Rain''. It contains a longer instrumental section in the middle that includes a chugging guitar riff, an atonal piano solo and some muddled samples of the spoken word intro. This version was originally going to be used on the album but when "Take Me With U" was added to the track list, it was edited down to its current length.
Common to much of Prince's writing, the song is thought to be exhortation to follow [[Christian ethics]], with the "De-elevator" of the lyrics being a metaphor for the Devil.<ref name="google">{{cite book|title="Just Another One of God's Gifts": Prince, African-American Masculinity, and the Sonic Legacy of the Eighties|author1=Woodworth, G.M.|author2=University of California, Los Angeles|date=2008|publisher=University of California, Los Angeles|isbn=9781109120745|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qXDoK4oZfsYC|page=268|access-date=2015-06-22}}</ref> The extended "Special Dance Mix" of the song was performed in a slightly edited version in the film ''Purple Rain''. It contains a longer instrumental section in the middle that includes a chugging guitar riff, an atonal piano solo and some muddled samples of the spoken word intro. This version was originally going to be used on the album but when "Take Me With U" was added to the track list, it was edited down to its current length.


Following Prince's death, the song re-charted on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] singles chart at number 39 and rose to number 25 by the week of May 14, 2016. As of April 30, 2016, it has sold 964,403 copies in the United States.<ref name="ussales">{{cite magazine|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.38599/title.hip-hop-single-sales-prince-desiigner-drake|title=Hip Hop Single Sales: Prince, Desiigner & Drake|magazine=[[HipHopDX]]|date=April 30, 2016|access-date=April 30, 2016}}</ref>
''[[Cash Box]]'' called the song "one of the finest fusions of jump rock and synth pump."<ref name=cb>{{cite magazine|title=Reviews|magazine=Cash Box|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1984/CB-1984-08-04.pdf|date=August 4, 1984|accessdate=2022-07-25|page=7}}</ref>
Following Prince's death, the song re-charted on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] singles chart at number 39 and rose to number 25 by the week of May 14, 2016. As of April 30, 2016, it has sold 964,403 digital copies in the United States.<ref name="ussales">{{cite magazine|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.38599/title.hip-hop-single-sales-prince-desiigner-drake|title=Hip Hop Single Sales: Prince, Desiigner & Drake|magazine=[[HipHopDX]]|date=April 30, 2016|access-date=April 30, 2016}}</ref>

In 2013, British rock band [[The Darkness (band)|The Darkness]] performed the song at the 44th Annual Rock Music Awards.


==Musical style==
==Musical style==
The song was also notable for opening with a funeral-like [[Organ (music)|organ]] solo with Prince giving the "eulogy" for "this thing called life."<ref name="Guitars">{{Cite web|last=Ariza|first=Sergio|title=The 10 Best Prince Solos|publisher=Guitars Exchange|url=http://guitarsexchange.com/en/psych-out/516/the-10-best-prince-solos/|access-date=4 July 2018}}</ref> The introduction's words are overlapped with each other on the single version. The song climaxes with a distinctive [[drum machine]] pattern and then features a heavy [[guitar]] outro leads, [[electronic drums]], [[bass guitar|bass]] and whirring [[synthesizers]] and a climatic drum outro. The song's percussion was programmed with a [[Linn LM-1]] drum machine, an instrument frequently used in many of Prince's songs. The song is also known for its two guitar solos both performed by Prince.<ref name="Guitars"/>
The song was also notable for opening with a funeral-like [[Organ (music)|organ]] solo with Prince giving the "eulogy" for "this thing called life."<ref name="Guitars">{{Cite web|last=Ariza|first=Sergio|title=The 10 Best Prince Solos|publisher=Guitars Exchange|url=http://guitarsexchange.com/en/psych-out/516/the-10-best-prince-solos/|access-date=4 July 2018}}</ref> The introduction's words are overlapped with each other on the single version. The song climaxes with a distinctive [[drum machine]] pattern and then features a heavy [[guitar]] lead, [[electronic drums]], [[bass guitar|bass]] and whirring [[synthesizers]] and a climatic drum outro. The song's percussion was programmed with a [[Linn LM-1]] drum machine, an instrument frequently used in many of Prince's songs. The song is also known for its two guitar solos both performed by Prince.<ref name="Guitars"/>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
;7" Warner Bros. / 7-29216 (US)
'''7" Warner Bros. / 7-29216 (US)'''
# "Let's Go Crazy" (edit) – 3:46
# "Let's Go Crazy" (edit) – 3:46
# "[[Erotic City]]" (edit) – 3:53
# "[[Erotic City]]" (edit) – 3:53


;7" Warner Bros. / W2000 (UK)
'''7" Warner Bros. / W2000 (UK)'''
# "Let's Go Crazy" (edit) – 3:46
# "Let's Go Crazy" (edit) – 3:46
# "[[Take Me with U]]" – 3:51
# "[[Take Me with U]]" – 3:51


;12" Warner Bros. / 0-20246 (US)
'''12" Warner Bros. / 0-20246 (US)'''
# "Let's Go Crazy" (Special Dance Mix) – 7:35
# "Let's Go Crazy" (Special Dance Mix) – 7:35
# "Erotic City ("make love not war Erotic City come alive")" – 7:24
# "Erotic City ("make love not war Erotic City come alive")" – 7:24


;12" Warner Bros. / W2000T (UK)
'''12" Warner Bros. / W2000T (UK)'''
# "Let's Go Crazy" (Special Dance Mix) – 7:35
# "Let's Go Crazy" (Special Dance Mix) – 7:35
# "Take Me with U" – 3:51
# "Take Me with U" – 3:51
Line 73: Line 69:


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
Credits are sourced from Duane Tudahl, Benoît Clerc, Guitarcloud and Mix.<ref>{{cite book|last=Tudahl |first=Duane |date=2018 |title=Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984 (Expanded Edition) |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=9781538116432}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Clerc |first=Benoît |date=October 2022 |title=Prince: All the Songs |publisher=Octopus |isbn=9781784728816}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Purple Rain|url=http://guitarcloud.org/era/purple-rain|access-date=2023-04-10|website=guitarcloud.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title="Let's Go Crazy"|url=https://www.mixonline.com/recording/lets-go-crazy-prince|access-date=2023-04-10|website=mixonline.com}}</ref>
Unless otherwise indicated, Credits are adapted from Prince Vault.<ref>{{cite web|author=Prince and the Revolution|url=https://www.princevault.com/index.php?title=Album:_Purple_Rain|title=''Purple Rain (Soundtrack Album)''|publisher=Prince Vault|date=May 4, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] – guitar,<ref name="Guitars"/> lead vocals
* [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] – lead and backing vocals, electric lead guitar, [[Linn LM-1]]
* [[Wendy Melvoin]] – guitar, vocals
* [[Wendy Melvoin]] – electric rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* [[Lisa Coleman (musician)|Lisa Coleman]] – keyboards, vocals
* [[Lisa Coleman (musician)|Lisa Coleman]] – Oberheim OB-SX, backing vocals
* [[Matt Fink]] – keyboards, vocals
* [[Matt Fink]] – [[Oberheim OB-Xa]], backing vocals
* [[Brown Mark]] – bass guitar, vocals
* [[Brown Mark]] – bass guitar, backing vocals
* [[Bobby Z.]] – drums, percussion
* [[Bobby Z.]] – Linn LM-1, [[Simmons SDS-V]], Pearl SY-1 Syncussion, cymbals


==Cover versions==
==Charts==
* [[Alternative rock]] band [[Incubus (band)|Incubus]] covered the song on their 2 CD greatest hits/rarity album, ''[[Monuments and Melodies]]'', released in 2009.
* A cover by the [[Riverboat Gamblers]] was included on the 2009 tribute compilation ''[[Purplish Rain]]''. A free download of the song was offered by ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2009/06/get-your-free-copy-spins-prince-tribute/ |title=Get Your FREE Copy of SPIN's Prince Tribute! |publisher=SPIN.com |date= 2009-06-12|access-date=2011-07-11}}</ref>
* [[Punk rock]] band [[Green Day]] performed a cover of the song at its Minneapolis (Prince's hometown) stop on their [[21st Century Breakdown World Tour]].
* [[Orianthi]] performed a cover of the song during [[The Glam Nation Tour]].
* [[Bruno Mars]] performed a cover of the song during his [[59th Annual Grammy Awards]] performance, which was tribute to Prince.
* The cast of [[Hamilton (musical)|Hamilton]] paid tribute to Prince during their curtain call, [[Lin-Manuel Miranda]] performed a piece of the spoken dialogue and danced with his cast mates on stage; Prince saw the show on March 19, 2016.

==Sampling==
* Two segments of Prince's unaccompanied guitar solo in the song's coda were sampled into [[Public Enemy (band)|Public Enemy]]'s single "[[Fear of a Black Planet|Brothers Gonna Work It Out]]".
* [[Sinbad (comedian)|Sinbad]]'s comedy album "Brain Damaged" sampled the introduction to this song for his 1990 comedy album of the same name.
* Heavily sampled by hip-hop group [[Get Busy Committee]] in their song, "Opening Ceremony".
* The intro is sampled on the [[Ragga Twins]]' 1991 track "Hooligan '69".
* The organ intro is sampled on [[Eazy-E|Eazy-E's]] second single "[[Eazy-Duz-It (song)|Eazy-Duz-It]]".

==Charts and certifications==
{{col-start}}
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}


===Charts===
===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+1984–1985 weekly chart performance for "Let's Go Crazy"
! Chart (1984–85)
! scope="col"| Chart (1984–1985)
! Peak<br/>position
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|align="left" |Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name="auchart">{{Cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |publisher=Australian Chart Book |location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives, NSW]] |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6|title-link=Kent Music Report }}</ref>
!scope="row"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name="auchart">{{Cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |publisher=Australian Chart Book |location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives, NSW]] |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6|title-link=Kent Music Report }}</ref>
|align="center" |10
|align="center" |10
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Flanders|11|artist=Prince And The Revolution|song=Let's Go Crazy|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}
{{singlechart|Flanders|11|artist=Prince And The Revolution|song=Let's Go Crazy|rowheader=true|access-date=December 3, 2017}}
|-
|-
|align="left"|Canadian Singles Chart
!scope="row"|[[Canadian Singles Chart]]<ref>Lwin, Nanda. ''Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide 2000''</ref>
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|2
|-
|-
{{singlechart|France|50|artist=Prince And The Revolution|song=Let's Go Crazy|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}
{{singlechart|France|50|artist=Prince And The Revolution|song=Let's Go Crazy|rowheader=true|access-date=December 3, 2017}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch40|18|year=1985|week=10|accessdate=May 26, 2020}}
{{singlechart|Dutch40|18|year=1985|week=10|rowheader=true|access-date=May 26, 2020}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch100|11|artist=Prince And The Revolution|song=Let's Go Crazy|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}
{{singlechart|Dutch100|11|artist=Prince And The Revolution|song=Let's Go Crazy|rowheader=true|access-date=December 3, 2017}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|New Zealand|13|artist=Prince And The Revolution|song=Let's Go Crazy|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}
{{singlechart|New Zealand|13|artist=Prince And The Revolution|song=Let's Go Crazy|rowheader=true|access-date=December 3, 2017}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|7|artist=Prince & The Revolution|song=Let's Go Crazy|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}
{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|7|artist=Prince & The Revolution|song=Let's Go Crazy|rowheader=true|access-date=December 3, 2017}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Prince|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=December 3, 2017}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Billboarddanceclubplay|1|artist=Prince|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}
{{singlechart|Billboarddanceclubplay|1|artist=Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=December 3, 2017}}
|-
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot Black Singles]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/prince/chart-history/bsi/|title=Prince Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=December 3, 2017}}</ref>
⚫
{{singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphop|1|artist=Prince|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}
|align="center"|1
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardmainstreamrock|19|artist=Prince|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}
|-
|-
⚫
{{singlechart|Billboardmainstreamrock|19|artist=Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=December 3, 2017}}
|}
|}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+2016 weekly chart performance for "Let's Go Crazy"
! Chart (2016)
! Chart (2016)
! Peak<br/>position
! Peak<br />position
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardrocksongs|5|artist=Prince|accessdate=MAy 26, 2020}}
{{singlechart|Billboardrocksongs|5|artist=Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=May 26, 2020}}
|}
|}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}


===Year-end charts===
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+1984 weekly chart performance for "Let's Go Crazy"
|-
! Chart (1984)
! Chart (1984)
! Position
! Position
|-
|-
|[[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1984|US Top Pop Singles (''Billboard'')]]<ref>{{cite magazine |date=December 22, 1984 |title=Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles |page=TA-19 |journal=Billboard |volume=96 |issue=51 }}</ref>
!scope="row"|[[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1984|US Top Pop Singles (''Billboard'')]]<ref>{{cite magazine |date=December 22, 1984 |title=Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles |page=TA-19 |journal=Billboard |volume=96 |issue=51 }}</ref>
|align="center"|21
|align="center"|21
|}
|}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+2016 year-end chart performance for "Let's Go Crazy"
|-
! Chart (2016)
! Chart (2016)
! Position
! Position
|-
|-
|US Hot Rock Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/hot-rock-songs|title=Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016|work=Billboard|access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref>
!scope="row"|US Hot Rock Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/hot-rock-songs|title=Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016|work=Billboard|access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref>
|align="center"|37
|align="center"|37
|}
|}
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}


===Certifications===
==Certifications and sales==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Let's Go Crazy"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Gold <small>(Physical)</small>|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|artist=Prince|title=Let's Go Crazy|access-date=May 31, 2016|salesamount=1,000,000 <small>(Physical)</small><div>1,120,303 <small>(Digital)</small></div>|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.38712/title.hip-hop-single-sales-prince-beyonce-drake|title=Hip Hop Single Sales: Prince, Beyoncé & Drake|first=HipHopDX -|last=http://hiphopdx.com|date=2016-05-07|website=hiphopdx.com}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Silver|relyear=2005|certyear=2023|artist=Prince & The Revolution|title=Lets Go Crazy|id=19539-3843-1|access-date=December 15, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|artist=Prince|title=Let's Go Crazy|access-date=May 31, 2016|note=1984 sales}}
⚫
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|nocert=true|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|artist=Prince|title=Let's Go Crazy|access-date=May 31, 2016|salesamount=964,403|salesref=<ref name="ussales"/>|note=digital sales}}

⚫
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
==References in other media==
* In the American animated sitcom ''[[American Dad!]]'', in the episode, "[[Iced, Iced Babies]]", [[Roger (American Dad!)|Roger]] disguises himself as a college literature professor and paraphrases the spoken opening: "This class isn't about literature! It's about life! Electric word: life. It means forever and that's a mighty long time. But I'm here to tell you there's something else...my office hours. It's from Tuesday to Thursday from 1&nbsp;PM to 3&nbsp;PM."
* Minnesota-based sports teams have adopted the song as a nod to Prince's roots in the state. The [[Minnesota Twins|Twins]] play the song at [[Target Field]] whenever a player hits a home run until the middle of the [[2019 Minnesota Twins season|2019 season]]. The [[Minnesota Vikings|Vikings]] do the same after a touchdown in [[U.S. Bank Stadium]]. During Game 6 of a first round series of the [[2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs]] against the [[Dallas Stars]], the [[Minnesota Wild|Wild]] hockey team used "Let's Go Crazy" as their goal song as part of a series of tributes to Prince that night. The team ultimately chose to make the change permanent for the 2016-17 season.<ref name="sbnation-letsgocrazy">{{cite web|title=Minnesota Wild officially change their goal song to Prince's 'Let's Go Crazy'|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2016/8/23/12609528/minnesota-wild-change-goal-song-prince-lets-go-crazy|website=SB Nation|access-date=23 August 2016|date=2016-08-23}}</ref> Though for the 2018–19 season, they changed the song back to its predecessor, [[Crowd Chant|"Crowd Chant" by Joe Satriani]].
* A cover of the song is performed at the fourth version of [[Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue]] at [[Universal Studios Florida]].
* Japanese figure skater [[Yuzuru Hanyu]] used "Let's Go Crazy" for his short program in the 2016–17 figure skating season.
* The song plays during the opening action sequence of the 2017 film ''[[Kingsman: The Golden Circle]]''.
* ''[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]]'' placed it atop a list of ''The Greatest Funk Rock Songs''. "He brought the heat really hard," enthused [[Rival Sons]] guitarist [[Scott Holiday]]. "'Let's Go Crazy' has that feeling of hotness to it. He defines sexiness in music."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Paul|last=Elliott|title=The In Sound from Way Out|magazine=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]] #197|date=June 2014|page=74}}</ref>


== Lenz v. Universal ==
== Lenz v. Universal ==
Line 197: Line 174:
[[Category:Songs written by Prince (musician)]]
[[Category:Songs written by Prince (musician)]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one singles]]
[[Category:Cashbox number-one singles]]
[[Category:Billboard Dance Club Songs number-one singles]]
[[Category:Funk rock songs]]
[[Category:Warner Records singles]]
[[Category:Warner Records singles]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Prince (musician)]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Prince (musician)]]
[[Category:1984 songs]]
[[Category:1984 songs]]
[[Category:Songs written for films]]
[[Category:Songs written for films]]
[[Category:Songs about religion]]

Latest revision as of 00:14, 16 September 2024

This article is about the Prince song. For the 1951 film, see Let's Go Crazy (film). For the Clash song, see Sandinista!
"Let's Go Crazy"
US 7" single
Single by Prince and The Revolution
from the album Purple Rain
B-side
ReleasedJuly 18, 1984[1]
RecordedAugust 7, 1983
StudioThe Warehouse, St. Louis Park
GenreHard rock, funk rock[2]
Length3:50 (7"/video version)
4:39 (album version)
7:35 (12"/movie version)
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Prince [3]
Producer(s)Prince and the Revolution
Prince singles chronology
"When Doves Cry"
(1984) 		"Let's Go Crazy"
(1984) 		"Purple Rain"
(1984)
Purple Rain singles chronology
"When Doves Cry"
(1984) 		"Let's Go Crazy"
(1984) 		"Sex Shooter"
(1984)
Music video
Let's Go Crazy on YouTube

"Let's Go Crazy" is a 1984 song by Prince and The Revolution, from the album Purple Rain. It is the opening track on both the album and the film Purple Rain. "Let's Go Crazy" was one of Prince's most popular songs, and was a staple for concert performances, often segueing into other hits. When released as a single, the song became Prince's second number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and also topped the two component charts, the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[4] and Hot Dance Club Play charts,[5] as well as becoming a UK Top 10 hit. The B-side was the lyrically controversial "Erotic City". In the UK, the song was released as a double A-side with "Take Me with U".

Common to much of Prince's writing, the song is thought to be exhortation to follow Christian ethics, with the "De-elevator" of the lyrics being a metaphor for the Devil.[6] The extended "Special Dance Mix" of the song was performed in a slightly edited version in the film Purple Rain. It contains a longer instrumental section in the middle that includes a chugging guitar riff, an atonal piano solo and some muddled samples of the spoken word intro. This version was originally going to be used on the album but when "Take Me With U" was added to the track list, it was edited down to its current length.

Cash Box called the song "one of the finest fusions of jump rock and synth pump."[7]

Following Prince's death, the song re-charted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart at number 39 and rose to number 25 by the week of May 14, 2016. As of April 30, 2016, it has sold 964,403 digital copies in the United States.[8]

In 2013, British rock band The Darkness performed the song at the 44th Annual Rock Music Awards.

Musical style

[edit]

The song was also notable for opening with a funeral-like organ solo with Prince giving the "eulogy" for "this thing called life."[9] The introduction's words are overlapped with each other on the single version. The song climaxes with a distinctive drum machine pattern and then features a heavy guitar lead, electronic drums, bass and whirring synthesizers and a climatic drum outro. The song's percussion was programmed with a Linn LM-1 drum machine, an instrument frequently used in many of Prince's songs. The song is also known for its two guitar solos both performed by Prince.[9]

Track listing

[edit]

7" Warner Bros. / 7-29216 (US)

  1. "Let's Go Crazy" (edit) – 3:46
  2. "Erotic City" (edit) – 3:53

7" Warner Bros. / W2000 (UK)

  1. "Let's Go Crazy" (edit) – 3:46
  2. "Take Me with U" – 3:51

12" Warner Bros. / 0-20246 (US)

  1. "Let's Go Crazy" (Special Dance Mix) – 7:35
  2. "Erotic City ("make love not war Erotic City come alive")" – 7:24

12" Warner Bros. / W2000T (UK)

  1. "Let's Go Crazy" (Special Dance Mix) – 7:35
  2. "Take Me with U" – 3:51
  3. "Erotic City ("make love not war Erotic City come alive")" – 7:24

Personnel

[edit]

Credits are sourced from Duane Tudahl, Benoît Clerc, Guitarcloud and Mix.[10][11][12][13]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "Let's Go Crazy"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[30]
1984 sales 		Gold 1,000,000^
United States
digital sales 		— 964,403[8]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Lenz v. Universal

[edit]
Main article: Lenz v. Universal Music Corp.

In 2007, Stephanie Lenz, a writer and editor from Gallitzin, Pennsylvania made a home video of her 13-month-old son dancing to "Let's Go Crazy" and posted a 29-second video on the video-sharing site YouTube. Four months after the video was originally uploaded, Universal Music Group, which owned the copyrights to the song, ordered YouTube to remove the video enforcing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Lenz notified YouTube immediately that her video was within the scope of fair use, and demanded that it be restored. YouTube complied after six weeks—not two weeks, as required by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act—to see whether Universal planned to sue Lenz for infringement. Lenz then sued Universal Music in California for her legal costs, claiming the music company had acted in bad faith by ordering removal of a video that represented fair use of the song.[31]

Later in August 2008, U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel, of San Jose, California, ruled that copyright holders cannot order a deletion of an online file without determining whether that posting reflected "fair use" of the copyrighted material. In 2015 the court affirmed the holding that Universal was required to consider fair use before sending its initial takedown request.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  • Uptown: The Vault – The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince: Nilsen Publishing 2004, ISBN 91-631-5482-X
  1. ^ Uptown, 2004, p. 50
  2. ^ Elliott, Paul (May 30, 2016). "The Top 20 Greatest Funk Rock Songs". TeamRock. Team Rock Limited. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  3. ^ The original single release credits the authors of the song as Prince and The Revolution, but the song's authorship is registered with ASCAP as solely by Prince.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 471.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 208.
  6. ^ Woodworth, G.M.; University of California, Los Angeles (2008). "Just Another One of God's Gifts": Prince, African-American Masculinity, and the Sonic Legacy of the Eighties. University of California, Los Angeles. p. 268. ISBN 9781109120745. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
  7. ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 4, 1984. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  8. ^ a b "Hip Hop Single Sales: Prince, Desiigner & Drake". HipHopDX. April 30, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Ariza, Sergio. "The 10 Best Prince Solos". Guitars Exchange. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  10. ^ Tudahl, Duane (2018). Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984 (Expanded Edition). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781538116432.
  11. ^ Clerc, Benoît (October 2022). Prince: All the Songs. Octopus. ISBN 9781784728816.
  12. ^ "Purple Rain". guitarcloud.org. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  13. ^ ""Let's Go Crazy"". mixonline.com. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  14. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  15. ^ "Prince And The Revolution – Let's Go Crazy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  16. ^ Lwin, Nanda. Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide 2000
  17. ^ "Prince And The Revolution – Let's Go Crazy" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  18. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 10, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  19. ^ "Prince And The Revolution – Let's Go Crazy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  20. ^ "Prince And The Revolution – Let's Go Crazy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  21. ^ "Prince & The Revolution: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  22. ^ "Prince Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  23. ^ "Prince Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  24. ^ "Prince Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  25. ^ "Prince Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  26. ^ "Prince Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  27. ^ "Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. December 22, 1984. p. TA-19.
  28. ^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  29. ^ "British single certifications – Prince & The Revolution – Lets Go Crazy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  30. ^ "American single certifications – Prince – Let's Go Crazy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  31. ^ Egelko, Bob (August 21, 2008). "Woman can sue over YouTube clip de-posting". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Let%27s_Go_Crazy&oldid=1245939822"