"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"
Released26 December 1988
StudioPaisley Park, Chanhassen, Minnesota, US
GenreDance-rock[1]
Length
  • 3:38 (LP version)
  • 3:48 (single remix)
LabelLondon 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

"She Drives Me Crazy" is a song by English group Fine Young Cannibals, released in 1988 by London Records as the first single from their second and final album, The Raw & the Cooked (1989). Peaking at No. 5 on the British singles chart in January 1989, it is the band's highest charting single in their native UK.[2] 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 Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart,[3] as well as in countries including Australia, Austria, Canada, New Zealand and Spain. It reached the top 3 on several European charts including Belgium, West Germany, Iceland, Ireland and Switzerland.

In 2018, Time Out magazine listed "She Drives Me Crazy" at No. 28 in their countdown of "The 50 Best '80s Songs".[4] In 2023, Billboard magazine ranked it No. 77 in their "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time".[5]

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.[6]

Critical reception

Jo-Ann Greene from AllMusic stated that the song "features the most unique, and instantly identifiable, beat/riff combination of the decade."[7] The Daily Vault's Christopher Thelen noted that "She Drives Me Crazy", "with its synthesized drums, was a great party song - Gift'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."[8] Pan-European magazine Music & Media described it as a "subtly persuasive pop number that is sure to attract major airplay on pop and rock radio."[9] Pop Rescue called it a "real gem with plenty of guitar, interesting vocals and beeping synth layers."[10] Andy Strickland from Record Mirror wrote, "Always interesting, always a few surprises and this is no exception from the bandy trio. A stuttering pop record that's too slow to dance to and too fast to smooch to. The FYCs always sprinkle some interesting sounds over their records and here we have funky guitar breaks, heavy metal chords and plenty of things going boing, clicky click ding."[11] James Hamilton from the magazine's DJ Directory deemed it a "haunting sparse jittery tapped then chunky rock guitar chorded whinneying falsetto 108½bpm lurcher".[12]

Music video

Two music videos were produced for the song, one by Philippe Decouflé[13][14] and another by Pedro Romhanyi.[15]

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

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

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

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[43] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[57] Gold 50,000^
Germany (BVMI)[58] Gold 250,000^
Sweden (GLF)[59] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[61] Gold 500,000^

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

References

  1. ^ Breihan, Tom (28 July 2021). "Fine Young Cannibals' 'Good Thing'". Stereogum. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Official Charts; Fine Young Cannibals. Retrieved 19 October 2018". Official Charts.
  3. ^ "Fine Young Cannibals Artist Biography by Ed Nimmervoll - Awards". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  4. ^ "The 50 best '80s songs". Time Out. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  5. ^ "The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List". Billboard. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  6. ^ Daley, Dan (1 March 2001). "Classic Tracks: Fine Young Cannibals' "She Drives Me Crazy"". Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  7. ^ Greene, Jo-Ann. "Fine Young Cannibals – The Raw & the Cooked". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  8. ^ Thelen, Christopher (2 June 1997). "The Raw And The Cooked – Fine Young Cannibals". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 21 January 1989. p. 25. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Review: "The Raw & The Cooked" By Fine Young Cannibals (CD, 1988)". Pop Rescue. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  11. ^ Strickland, Andy (7 January 1989). "45". Record Mirror. p. 29. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  12. ^ Hamilton, James (28 January 1989). "DJ Directory — Pop Dance". Record Mirror. p. 39. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  13. ^ Compagnie DCA - Philippe Decouflé Archived 15 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "mvdbase.com: "She Drives Me Crazy" (version 1)". Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  15. ^ "mvdbase.com: "She Drives Me Crazy" (version 2)". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2008.
  16. ^ "Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  17. ^ "Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  18. ^ "Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  19. ^ "RPM 100 Singles – April 17, 1989" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 25. 17 April 1989. p. 6. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  20. ^ "RPM 20 Dance Singles – March 27, 1989" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 22. 27 March 1989. p. 14. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 11 March 1989. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  22. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Fine Young Cannibals". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 80. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy" (in French). Les classement single.
  24. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 10 (10. mars 1989)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  25. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – She Drives Me Crazy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  26. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 4 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Fine Young Cannibals".
  27. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 9, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  28. ^ "Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  29. ^ "Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy". Top 40 Singles.
  30. ^ "Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy". VG-lista.
  31. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  32. ^ "Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy". Singles Top 100.
  33. ^ "Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy". Swiss Singles Chart.
  34. ^ "Fine Young Cannibals: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  35. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 15 April 1989. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 22 April 1989. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  37. ^ "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 18 March 1989. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  38. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. 13 May 1989. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  39. ^ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 15 April 1989. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  40. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending April 15, 1989". Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2018.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Cash Box magazine.
  41. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  42. ^ UK Singles Chart (1997) Official Charts Company (Retrieved 7 April 2008)
  43. ^ a b "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1989". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  44. ^ 1989 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved 13 September 2008)
  45. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1989". Ultratop. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  46. ^ "Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  47. ^ "Top 25 Dance Singles of '89". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  48. ^ "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.
  49. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1989". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  50. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1989". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  51. ^ Top Selling Singles of 1989 [1] (Retrieved 28 April 2016)
  52. ^ 1996 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved 13 September 2008)
  53. ^ "Year End Singles". Record Mirror. 27 January 1990. p. 44.
  54. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1989 - Longbored Surfer - Charts". Archived from the original on 25 January 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010. (Retrieved 17 May 2012)
  55. ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1989". Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2018.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Cash Box magazine.
  56. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  57. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy". Music Canada. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  58. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Fine Young Cannibals; 'She Drives Me Crazy')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  59. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  60. ^ "British single certifications – Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  61. ^ "American single certifications – Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
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