She Drives Me Crazy

"She Drives Me Crazy" is a song released in 1988 by English group Fine Young Cannibals, and included on their 1989 album The Raw & the Cooked. Peaking at No. 5 on the British singles chart in January 1989, "She Drives Me Crazy" is the band's highest charting single in their native UK.[1] The single proved an even bigger hit in the US, topping the Billboard Hot 100 on 15 April 1989 for one week and becoming the first of two chart-topping singles for the band on that chart. "She Drives Me Crazy" also reached No.1 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart,[2] as well as in countries including Australia, Austria, Canada, New Zealand and Spain. It reached the top 3 on several European charts including Belgium, Germany, Iceland, Ireland and Switzerland.

"She Drives Me Crazy"
Standard artwork for original 1988 release
Single by Fine Young Cannibals
from the album The Raw & the Cooked
B-side	"Pull the Sucker Off"
Released	26 December 1988
Recorded	1988
Studio	Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, Minnesota
Genre	Pop rock
Length	3:38 (LP Version) 3:48 (Single Remix)
Label	London Records
Songwriter(s)	Roland Gift, David Steele
Producer(s)	David Z, Fine Young Cannibals
Fine Young Cannibals singles chronology
"Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" (1987) "She Drives Me Crazy" (1988) "Good Thing" (1989)
Music video
"She Drives Me Crazy" on YouTube

In 2018, Time Out magazine listed "She Drives Me Crazy" at No. 28 in their countdown of The 50 best '80s songs.[3]

Background and recording

Co-produced by Prince associate David Z, the track was recorded in Studio B of Prince's Paisley Park complex outside of Minneapolis. The unique snare drum "pop" sound was created by recording the snare drum portion separately. A speaker was then placed on top of the snare drum, and a microphone below. The original recording of the snare drum part was played back through the speaker and re-recorded.[4]

Critical reception

Jo-Ann Greene from AllMusic stated that the song "features the most unique, and instantly identifiable, beat/riff combination of the decade."[5] The Daily Vault's Christopher Thelen noted that "She Drives Me Crazy", "with its synthesized drums, was a great party song - Steele's falsetto delivery which went into a full-fledged roar was perfect for the track. Even the guitar work fits the track - from the jangly jazz riffs to the crunch of the power chords."[6] Music & Media described it as a "subtly persuasive pop number that is sure to attract major airplay on pop and rock radio."[7] Pop Rescue called it a "real gem with plenty of guitar, interesting vocals and beeping synth layers."[8]

Music video

Two music videos were produced for the song, one by Philippe Decouflé[9][10] and another by Pedro Romhanyi.[11] As with Decouflé's only other music video (for New Order's "True Faith"), his version includes extensive choreography and performers in unusual costumes. One looks like a pillow and another resembles the title character from the movie Beetlejuice. Also included are two identical dancers wearing similar but different coloured outfits with goggles used in tanning salons, and a karate fighter with a TV on his head. A guitar is seen catching fire.

The video received several nominations at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards, including "Best Video".

Re-release

CD edition of the 1996/97 re-release

The song was re-released in 1997 in support of Fine Young Cannibals' compilation album The Finest. It included a remix by Roger Sanchez, as well as Mousse T. remixes of "Johnny Come Home". The single reached No. 36 on the UK singles chart.

Track listings

7" single

1. "She Drives Me Crazy" – 3:35
2. "Pull the Sucker Off" – 3:34

12" single

1. "She Drives Me Crazy" (David Z Remix) - 7:05
2. "She Drives Me Crazy" (Driven Crazy Dub) - 5:33
3. "She Drives Me Crazy (Justin Strauss Remix) - 7:39
4. "She Drives Me Crazy (Single Remix) - 3:48

CD Maxi

1. "She Drives Me Crazy" - 3:35
2. "Pull the Sucker Off" - 3:37
3. "Tired of Getting Pushed Around" (The Mayhem Rhythm Remix) - 6:37

CD maxi (1997 Re-release)

1. "She Drives Me Crazy" (Original 7") - 3:36
2. "She Drives Me Crazy" (Roger Sanchez Radio Edit) - 3:33
3. "Johnny Come Home" (Mousse T. Edit) - 4:06
4. "Johnny Come Home" (Mousse T. Cocktail Mix) - 4:13

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1989) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[12] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[13] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] 2 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15] 1 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[16] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17] 4 France (SNEP)[18] 11 Germany (Official German Charts)[19] 2 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 10)[20] 3 Ireland (IRMA)[21] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[23] 6 Poland (LP3)[24] 9 Spain (AFYVE)[25] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 3 UK Singles (OCC)[28] 5 US Billboard Hot 100[29] 1 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[30] 5 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[31] 54 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[32] 1 US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[33] 3 US Cash Box Top 100[34] 1 Chart (1997) Peak position UK Singles Chart[35] 36

Year-end charts Chart (1989) Position Australian Singles Chart[36] 6 Austrian Singles Chart[37] 1 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[38] 11 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[39] 4 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[40] 11 New Zealand Singles Chart[41] 5 Swiss Singles Chart[42] 7 US Billboard Hot 100[43] 18 US Cash Box[44] 12 Certifications Country Certification Date Sales certified Australia[36] Platinum 1989 70,000 Canada[45] Gold 28 June 1989 50,000 Germany[46] Gold 1989 250,000 Sweden[47] Gold 1 February 1990 10,000 United Kingdom[48] Silver 2018 200,000 U.S.[49] Gold 18 April 1989 500,000

References

1. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22584/fine-young-cannibals/ Official Charts; Fine Young Cannibals. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
2. "Fine Young Cannibals Artist Biography by Ed Nimmervoll - Awards". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
3. "The 50 best '80s songs". Time Out. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
4. Daley, Dan (1 March 2001). "Classic Tracks: Fine Young Cannibals' "She Drives Me Crazy"". Retrieved 28 November 2020.
5. Greene, Jo-Ann. "Fine Young Cannibals – The Raw & the Cooked". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
6. Thelen, Christopher (2 June 1997). "The Raw And The Cooked – Fine Young Cannibals". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
7. "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 21 January 1989. p. 25. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
8. "REVIEW: "THE RAW & THE COOKED" BY FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS (CD, 1988)". Pop Rescue. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
9. Compagnie DCA - Philippe Decouflé Archived 15 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
10. mvdbase.com: "She Drives Me Crazy" (version 1)
11. mvdbase.com: "She Drives Me Crazy" (version 2)
12. "Australian-charts.com – Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
13. "Austriancharts.at – Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
14. "Ultratop.be – Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
15. "RPM 100 Singles – April 17, 1989" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49 no. 25. 17 April 1989. p. 6. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
16. "RPM 20 Dance Singles – March 27, 1989" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49 no. 22. 27 March 1989. p. 14. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
17. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 11 March 1989. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
18. "Lescharts.com – Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy" (in French). Les classement single.
19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
20. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 10 (10. mars 1989)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
21. Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved 7 April 2008)
22. "Charts.nz – Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy". Top 40 Singles.
23. "Norwegiancharts.com – Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy". VG-lista.
24. "Notowanie nr 373" (in Polish). 15 April 1989. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
25. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
26. "Swedishcharts.com – Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy". Singles Top 100.
27. "Swisscharts.com – Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy". Swiss Singles Chart.
28. "Fine Young Cannibals: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
29. "Fine Young Cannibals Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
30. "Fine Young Cannibals Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
31. "Fine Young Cannibals Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
32. "Fine Young Cannibals Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
33. Billboard Billboard.com (Retrieved 7 April 2008)
34. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending April 15, 1989". Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2018.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Cash Box magazine.
35. UK Singles Chart (1997) Official Charts Company (Retrieved 7 April 2008)
36. "1989 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
37. 1989 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved 13 September 2008)
38. "Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
39. "Top 25 Dance Singles of '89". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
40. "Eurochart Hot 100 of 1989" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6 no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. 6. Retrieved 17 January 2020 – via American Radio History.
41. Top Selling Singles of 1989 (Retrieved 28 April 2016)
42. 1996 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved 13 September 2008)
43. U.S. Billboard Top 100 1989 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 January 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) (Retrieved 17 May 2012)
44. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1989". Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2018.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Cash Box magazine.
45. Canada certifications cria.ca Archived 12 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 13 September 2008)
46. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank ('She+Drives+Me+Crazy')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
47. Swedish certifications Ifpi.se Archived 11 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 13 September 2008)
48. "BRIT Certified > Certified Awards Search > Fine Young Cannibals (from bpi.co.uk)". Imgur.com (original source published by British Phonographic Industry). Retrieved 27 July 2018.
49. U.S. certifications riaa.com Archived 26 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 13 September 2008)

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics