"Crazier" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, taken from the soundtrack to the 2009 film Hannah Montana: The Movie. Swift wrote the song with Robert Ellis Orrall and produced it with Nathan Chapman. A country ballad, the song has lyrics about falling in love. In Hannah Montana: The Movie, Swift makes a cameo and performs the song. "Crazier" was released on Radio Disney and Disney Channel.
| "Crazier" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Taylor Swift | |
| from the album Hannah Montana: The Movie | |
| Released | March 24, 2009 |
| Genre | Country |
| Length | 3:12 |
| Label | Walt Disney |
| Songwriter(s) |
|
| Producer(s) |
|
| Audio | |
| "Crazier" on YouTube | |
The song peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also entered the singles charts in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. "Crazier" was praised by critics, many of whom named it the best song on the soundtrack. Swift performed the song as part of a mashup with her song "All of the Girls You Loved Before" (2023) on June 8, 2024 in Edinburgh as part of The Eras Tour (2023–2024).[1]
Background and release
editSwift co-wrote "Crazier" with Robert Ellis Orrall. The song is set in compound time with six eighth notes per bar.[2] It is played in E major at a moderately fast tempo of 144 beats per minute.[2] Swift's vocals span one octave, from E3 to B4.[2] The chorus has the following chord progression, E—B—C#m—A.[2] USA Today described it as a "pretty waltz".[3]
The song's appearance in Hannah Montana: The Movie came about after filmmakers approached Swift about using her music in the film. Film officials emailed her asking for a song "that was perfect to fall in love to" and "sort of a country waltz".[4] Although it was not written intentionally for the film, Swift sent in "Crazier" and the filmmakers "loved it".[4] In addition, Swift offered to perform the song in the film herself as a cameo appearance. In the film, Swift performs at an open mic fundraiser to save a small town's treasured park from developers.[4] The quick scene was filmed in a single day, but Swift's performance impressed film members. Film director Peter Chelsom said, "I've made a very big mental check to work with her again."[5] A music video for "Crazier", directed by Peter Chelsom, features excerpts from Hannah Montana: The Movie and premiered on March 28, 2009 on the Disney Channel. It features Swift playing the song on acoustic guitar and her backup band playing other instruments, intertwined with scenes of the movie characters Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) and Travis Brody (Lucas Till).[6]
Critical reception
editWarren Truitt of About.com complimented Swift's "chim[ing]" in the ballad.[7] Heather Phares of Allmusic praised the track, calling it "the best song on Hannah Montana: The Movie".[8] She complimented it for being "more genuine, more effortless, than any of [Cyrus'] or Hannah's tracks".[8] James Berardinelli agreed, stating, "Arguably, the movie's biggest mistake is having Taylor Swift perform a song, since she can sing and the comparison is not flattering to the movie's star."[9] Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly described "Crazier" as "a pretty, yearning ballad".[10] Premiere magazine reviewer Olivia Putnal referred to Swift's performance one of the film's "high points".[11] Peter Hartlaub of the San Francisco Chronicle believed that Swift's cameo was enjoyable, but also calls it a mistake on the part of the filmmakers, explaining "Swift is so talented that she makes Cyrus seem bland by comparison."[12] Perry Seibert from TV Guide wrote, "when genuine teen star Taylor Swift shows up to perform [...] she demonstrates all the spontaneity and authenticity that Miley Cyrus lacks."[13] In June 2022, Insider ranked "Crazier" as Swift's fourth best soundtrack song.[14]
Chart performance
edit"Crazier" made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 at number seventy-two on the week ending April 11, 2009.[15][16] "Crazier" rose three spots to number sixty-nine in the following week,[17] but jumped to number thirty-eight on the week ending April 25, 2009 due to an 87 percent increase in digital downloads.[18] For the week of Saturday, May 2, 2009, the song reached its peak on the Hot 100 at number seventeen, selling 110,000 downloads.[19][20] It also peaked at number twenty-eight on the Pop 100 chart.[21] As of November 2014, "Crazier" had sold one million copies in the United States.[22]
As the song was not officially released to radio as a single, digital sales also accounted for its appearance on international charts. The song debuted at number seventy-nine on the week ending April 11, 2009.[16] For the week ending May 2, 2009, it reached number thirty on Hot Canadian Digital Singles[21] and number sixty-three on the Canadian Hot 100.[16][20] "Crazier" reached number fifty-seven on the Australian Singles Chart.[23] The song debuted and peaked at number one-hundred in the UK Singles Chart for the week ending May 16, 2009.[24]
Charts
edit| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[25] | 57 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[26] | 67 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[24] | 100 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[27] | 17 |
| US Pop 100 (Billboard)[28] | 11 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[29] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[30] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ Smith, Katie Louise (June 9, 2024). "Here's Every Surprise Song Performed on Taylor Swift's Eras Tour". Capital FM. Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Digital sheet music – Taylor Swift – Crazier". Musicnotes.com. April 3, 2009. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ Shriver, Jerry (March 24, 2008). "Miley Cyrus' alter ego: She's a solid pop persona: Spotlight". USA Today. p. D.4. ProQuest 409057661. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b c "Hannah Montana The Movie Production Notes" (PDF). VisualHollywood.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
- ^ Malkin, Marc (March 31, 2009). "Hannah Montana Director Also Says Sequel Unlikely". E! Online. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ "Crazier (2009)". AOL. Retrieved January 30, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Truitt, Warren (March 24, 2009). "Miley Cyrus – Hannah Montana: The Movie Soundtrack". About.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ a b Phares, Heather. "Hannah Montana: The Movie [Soundtrack] > Review". Allmusic. Archived from the original on November 9, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ Berardinelli, James (April 9, 2009). "Hannah Montana: The Movie". Reelviews.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ Greenblatt, Leah (March 18, 2009). "Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ Putnal, Olivia (April 9, 2009). "Hannah Montana: The Movie". Premiere. Archived from the original on July 9, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ Hartlaub, Peter (April 10, 2009). "Movie review: Hannah Montana: The Movie". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ Seibert, Perry. "Hannah Montana: The Movie". TV Guide. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ Ahlgrim, Callie; Larocca, Courteney (June 26, 2022). "All 8 of Taylor Swift's soundtrack songs, ranked". Insider. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
- ^ Ben-Yehuda, Ayala; Silvio Pietroluongo (April 2, 2009). "Lady GaGa Scores Hot 100 Milestone With 'Poker Face'". Billboard. Los Angeles and New York City. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ a b c "Taylor Swift – Crazier – Music Charts". aCharts.us. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2006.
- ^ Trust, Gary; Keith Caulfield (April 16, 2009). "Chart Beat: Rascal Flatts, Miley Cyrus, Eminem, Jason Mraz". Billboard. Los Angeles and New York City. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ Ben-Yehuda, Ayala; Silvio Pietroluongo (April 16, 2009). "Hannah Montana' Boosts Six Songs On Hot 100". Billboard. Los Angeles and New York City. Archived from the original on May 9, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio; Keith Caulfield (April 23, 2009). "Eminem, Green Day Make Big Hot 100 Debuts". Billboard. Miami and Los Angeles. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ a b "Crazier". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ a b "Taylor Swift > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Archived from the original on February 17, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ Trust, Gary (November 11, 2014). "Ask Billboard: All-Taylor Swift Edition". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 23, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ "ARIA Charts" (PDF). Pandora. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 4, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 273.
- ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Taylor Swift – Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 28, 2010. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "American single certifications – Taylor Swift – Crazier". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 11, 2014.