Cry Wolf (A-ha song)

"Cry Wolf"
Single by A-ha
from the album Scoundrel Days
B-side"Maybe, Maybe"
Released24 November 1986[1]
Recorded1986
Genre
Length4:05
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Alan Tarney
A-ha singles chronology
"I've Been Losing You"
(1986) 		"Cry Wolf"
(1986) 		"Manhattan Skyline"
(1987)

"Cry Wolf" is a song by Norwegian band A-ha, released as the second single from their second studio album, Scoundrel Days (1986).

Background

The lyrics "Night I left the city I dreamt of a Wolf..." are credited to Lauren Savoy, who was later married to the band's guitarist Paul Waaktaar-Savoy.

Commercial performance

"Cry Wolf" was the most successful single from the Scoundrel Days album in the United States, where it peaked at number 14 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts and number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100, though it would be the band's last entry on that chart. The single reached number one in Israel as well as the top 40 in the rest of the world, including top-five placings in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as number two in Norway. The single was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 1 January 1987.[2]

Music video

The video was directed by Steve Barron in Couches at the Chateau de Couches,[3] Burgundy, France. The theme of the video was taken from the fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf, which was also the inspiration for the song.

Track listings

  • UK 7-inch single (Warner Bros. / W 8500)
  1. "Cry Wolf" (Album Version) - 4:05
  2. "Maybe, Maybe" - 2:34
  • UK 12-inch single (Warner Bros. / W 8500T)
  1. "Cry Wolf" (Extended Version) - 8:12
  2. "Cry Wolf" (Album Version) - 4:05
  3. "Maybe, Maybe" - 2:34

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Cry Wolf"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[2] Silver 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Smith, Robin (22 November 1986). "News Digest". Record Mirror. p. 18. ISSN 0144-5804.
  2. ^ a b "British single certifications – A Ha – Cry Wolf". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Château de Couches". 8 October 2010.
  4. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 13. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. ^ "a-ha – Cry Wolf" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  6. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 4. 31 January 1987. p. 16. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  7. ^ "a-ha – Cry Wolf" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  8. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Cry Wolf". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "A-Ha".
  10. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – a-ha" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  11. ^ "a-ha – Cry Wolf" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  12. ^ "a-ha – Cry Wolf". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  13. ^ "a-ha – Cry Wolf". VG-lista. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  14. ^ "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts A". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  15. ^ "a-ha – Cry Wolf". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  16. ^ "a-ha: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  17. ^ "a-ha Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  18. ^ "a-ha Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  19. ^ "a-ha Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending March 7, 1987". Cash Box. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  21. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – a-ha – Cry Wolf" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  22. ^ "European Charts of the Year 1987 – Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. 26 December 1987. p. 34. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.