I Want Crazy

"I Want Crazy"
Single by Hunter Hayes
from the album Hunter Hayes and I Want Crazy
Released	April 22, 2013
Format	Digital download
Genre	Country
Length	3:56
Label	Atlantic
Writer(s)	Hunter Hayes Lori McKenna Troy Verges
Producer(s)	Dann Huff Hunter Hayes
Hunter Hayes singles chronology
"Somebody's Heartbreak" (2012) "I Want Crazy" (2013) "Everybody's Got Somebody but Me" (2013)
Alternate cover Ryan Tedder Mix cover

"I Want Crazy" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Hunter Hayes.^[1] It is one of five songs recorded for Hunter Hayes (Encore), the deluxe edition of Hayes' self-titled debut album. Hayes debuted the song at the Academy of Country Music Awards on April 7, 2013,^[2] and it was released the next day as the lead single for the reissue of Hunter Hayes and fourth from the album overall. Hayes wrote the song with Lori McKenna and Troy Verges.^[3] A new mix of the song produced by Ryan Tedder was released in the UK on April 17, 2015 as the third single from his international debut album, I Want Crazy (2015).^[4]

Upon release, "I Want Crazy" met with critical and commercial success. It became Hayes' second top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 (after "Wanted") and was certified 2× Platinum by the (RIAA). In Canada, "I Want Crazy" peaked at number 14 and was certified Platinum, in addition to topping the Canadian Country Airplay chart compiled by Billboard. The song was nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at the 56th Grammy Awards, but lost to Darius Rucker's "Wagon Wheel".

Content

The song is a moderate up-tempo accompanied by electric guitar and mandolin. In it, the male singer says that he wants his lover to be "crazy", and will not be satisfied by a slower-paced relationship. It is in the key of E-flat major, with open fifths consisting of the pitches E♭ and B♭ sounding on the verses.^[5]

Critical reception

Giving it a "thumbs up", Sam Gazdziak of Engine 145 said "Clearly, he’s singing to a younger audience who want to hear more about the wild and crazy side of love and not the harsh realities… That said, the song is also ridiculously catchy, and Hayes’ talents as a singer and musician help make it rise above any lyrical missteps."^[6] It received 4 stars out of 5 from Billy Dukes of Taste of Country, who said that the song had a "frantic pace" that "matches what he’s looking for", and that it "shows a new level of confidence".^[7] A 4.5 star rating came from Matt Bjorke of Roughstock, who compared it favorably to Keith Urban and said that the "lyrics… are stronger than most of the songs on country radio and the melody is interesting."^[8]

Music video

The music video for "I Want Crazy" was directed by Ends^[9] and shot in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. It premiered on CMT and GAC on April 29, 2013.

Commercial performance

"I Want Crazy" debuted at number 24 on the U.S. Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of April 27, 2013.^[10] It also debuted at number 36 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of April 20, 2013.^[11] It also debuted at number 43 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of April 27, 2013. In March 2015, the song was certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA.^[12] The song has sold 1,762,000 copies in the US as of March 2015.^[13]

The song also debuted at number 14 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of April 27, 2013.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2013) Peak position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 14 Canada Country (Billboard)[15] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[16] 19 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[17] 2 US Country Airplay (Billboard)[18] 2 Year-end charts Chart (2013) Position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 87 US Billboard Hot 100[20] 72 US Country Airplay (Billboard)[21] 13 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[22] 5

Certifications Region Certification Sales/shipments Canada (Music Canada)[23] Platinum 80,000^^ United States (RIAA)[12] 2× Platinum 1,762,000[13] ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. Rubenstein, Jenna Hally (Apr 10, 2013). "New Song: Hunter Hayes, 'I Want Crazy'". Buzzworthy. MTV.
2. Gonzalez, John (Apr 13, 2013). "Hunter Hayes says it was 'crazy' and 'breathtaking' to meet idol Stevie Wonder". M Live.
3. Conaway, Alanna (6 June 2013). "Story Behind the Song: Hunter Hayes – "I Want Crazy"". Roughstock. Cheri Media.
4. "I Want Crazy (Ryan Tedder Mix) - Single by Hunter Hayes". iTunes Store (UK). Apple Inc.
5. Hayes, Hunter. "Hunter Hayes "I Want Crazy" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
6. "Hunter Hayes - "I Want Crazy"". Engine 145. 2013-06-10. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
7. "Hunter Hayes, ‘I Want Crazy’ – Song Review". Tasteofcountry.com. 2013-04-08. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
8. "Single Review: Hunter Hayes - "I Want Crazy" | Country Music Reviews, Taylor Swift to Lady Antebellum". Roughstock.com. 2013-04-07. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
9. "CMT : Videos : Hunter Hayes : I Want Crazy". Country Music Television. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
10. Jessen, Wade (April 19, 2013). "Brad Paisley's 'Wheelhouse' Rolls In at No. 1 On Top Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
11. Jessen, Wade (April 11, 2013). "Band Perry Notches First No. 1 On Top Country Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
12. "American single certifications – Hunter Hayes – I Want Crazy". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
13. Matt Bjorke (March 25, 2015). "Country Music’s Top 30 Digital Singles: Week of March 25, 2015". Roughstock.
14. "Hunter Hayes – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Hunter Hayes.
15. "Hunter Hayes – Chart history" Billboard Canada Country for Hunter Hayes.
16. "Hunter Hayes – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Hunter Hayes.
17. "Hunter Hayes – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Hunter Hayes.
18. "Hunter Hayes – Chart history" Billboard Country Airplay for Hunter Hayes.
19. "Best of 2013: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
20. "Best of 2013: Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
21. "Best of 2013: Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
22. "Best of 2013: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
23. "Canadian single certifications – Hunter Hayes – I Want Crazy". Music Canada. Retrieved 23 November 2013.