"Crazy Stupid Love" is a song recorded by British singer Cheryl Cole for her fourth studio album Only Human (2014),[3] featuring British hip hop artist Tinie Tempah. The song was co-written by Cole, Tempah, Wayne Wilkins, Heidi Rojas, and singer-songwriter Katelyn Tarver and Kevin Anyaeji, and produced by Wilkins.[4][5] It was released on 30 June 2014 as the lead single from the album, coinciding with Cole's 31st birthday. Musically, the song is a pop and R&B song with saxophones, handclaps, percussion and fingersnaps, while lyrically talks about being uncontrollably in love with someone.
"Crazy Stupid Love" received generally favourable reviews from music critics, whom praised its instrumentation, the song's catchiness and Tempah's appearance. The song debuted atop of the UK Singles Chart, becoming Cole's fourth number one single there and Tempah's fifth, with the former becoming the third British female in history to achieve a quartet of chart-toppers in the UK. The song also topped the charts in the Republic of Ireland.
To promote the song, an accompanying music video was released on 9 June 2014, which sees Cole performing the track in an underground club, while Tinie Tempah also makes a cameo. She also performed the song on several live performances, including Britain's Got Talent and Capital FM's Summertime Ball, as well as being a guest on The Graham Norton Show.
Background
Following the release of Cole's third studio album, A Million Lights, in June 2012 and embarking on her debut solo headlining tour, Cole confirmed that a Girls Aloud's reunion would occur in November 2012.[6][7] The group released their second greatest hits compilation, Ten on 26 November 2012 and embarked on Ten: The Hits Tour in February and March 2013.[8] In March 2013, following the completion of the tour, Girls Aloud released a statement via their official Twitter confirming that they were splitting permanently.[9][10]
The song was originally recorded by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue for her twelfth studio album Kiss Me Once (2014). She worked with Wilkins on the track and wanted it to be used on the album, but management Roc Nation did not like it because it was "too pop." Wilkins later gave the track to Cole to record, who later contributed additional writing to the song.[11] On 27 May 2014, in an interview with Hello!, Cole announced that her fourth studio album would be released in November, preceded by lead single "Crazy Stupid Love", featuring Tinie Tempah.[12][13] On 29 May, it was confirmed that Cole would debut the single on 2 June on BBC Radio 1, Capital FM and Kiss, with the video premiering on 9 June.[14] The single's cover art features Cole wearing "a gold bodysuit whilst her hair galavnated around her face", as noted by Metro's Hanna Gale.[15]
Composition
"Crazy Stupid Love" was written and produced by Wayne Wilkins, who also co-produced and co-wrote Cole's debut single "Fight for This Love", alongside Cole, Heidi Rojas, Katelyn Tarver, Kevin Anyaeji and British rapper Tinie Tempah, who contributed a rap. The pop and dancey R&B song[2] is built on a toe-tapping structure[16] with plenty of saxophones[2] and a "la la la la la" refrain.[1] Lyrically, the song has Cole gushing about her uncontrollable feelings for her boyfriend, with lyrics like, "You make my brain stop/ Sink my heart to my feet."[17]
Critical reception
"Crazy Stupid Love" has received generally positive reviews from music critics and fans alike.[18] Lewis Corner of Digital Spy awarded the song 3.5 stars out of 5, and commented: "Sure, the lyrics are laden with sweet nothings and clichéd sentiments, but while Mrs Fernandez-Versini [Cheryl] may be swirling in mushy marital bliss right now, she hasn't sacrificed any of that star-quality sassiness to pull it off."[17] Maggie Pannacione of Artist Direct was very complimentary with the song, calling it "crazy catchy, with its pop neo-sax, handclaps, percussion and fingersnaps."[19]
Brendon Veevers of Renowned for Sound claimed that the song "has a JLo/Beyoncé-ish vibe running through it in terms of its quick delivered, toe-tapping structure while Brit rapper Tinchy Stryder adds an effortless rap licking to the number nearing its end as horns toot left, right and centre allowing for the song to dip its toes in almost Latino-pop territory."[16] Hannah Mylrea of The Edge gave a mixed opinion about Cole's vocals, calling it "lacklustre", while also dismissing Tempah's appearance, calling it "dull" and "unnecessary", and labeled the song itself as "a repetitive, fairly average pop track."[20] Maximum Pop! described the song as "bang on trend" thanks to its saxophone break, but suggested it may suffer from coming so soon after Ariana Grande's hit single Problem.[21]
Chart performance
It was announced that "Crazy Stupid Love" had sold 77,000 downloads according to the midweek Official Charts Company.[22] On 27 July 2014, the single entered at number one on the UK Singles Chart selling 118,000 copies, becoming Cole's fourth number one single on the chart, tying her with Geri Halliwell and Rita Ora as the third British female to achieve four solo number ones and also making it the fastest selling single during the summer holiday period and the fastest selling single of the third quarter of the year, it also became Tinie Tempah's fifth UK number one.[23] In the Republic of Ireland, the single also entered at number one on the Irish Singles Chart on 25 July 2014. "Crazy Stupid Love" debuted at number 39 in Spain, becoming her most successful song in that region since "Fight for This Love" in 2010.[24]
Music video
The music video for the song was shot in May 2014 at The Underground Club in London and directed by Colin Tilley. It premiered on 9 June 2014.[5]
Credits are taken from the Only Human liner notes.[28]
Locations
Recorded at Metropolis Studios and Sarm Studios in London, United Kingdom and NightBird Recording Studios in West Hollywood, California, United States.
.png)