Posted on 05/29/2005 10:38:40 AM PDT by Hildy
LONDON (AP) - A cell-phone ring tone appeared set to top the British singles chart Sunday, outselling the new single by the band Coldplay by nearly four to one, a music retailer said.
"Crazy Frog Axel F," a ring tone based on the sound of a revving Swedish mo-ped, is the first tune being used on mobile phones to cross into mainstream music charts, said Gennaro Castaldo, a spokesman for HMV, the British music retailing chain.
Coldplay had hoped to go straight to No. 1 on this Sunday's British singles chart with its new song, "Speed of Sound." But by Saturday, it appeared that the ring tone - which is available for digital download and as a compact disc single - would prevail, said Castaldo.
The ring tone was expected to replace the Oasis tune "Lyla" as the No. 1 hit on the list released Sunday by the Official UK Charts Co. The weekly singles chart, which has been released since 1952, is based on the sales of 5,600 retail shops across Britain.
While "Crazy Frog" and other ring tones do not appear to be much of a hit among adults, so many youngsters are personalizing the sound of their cell phones that such digital music could change world music markets.
"Music purists might not be too happy at the prospect of the "Crazy Frog" outselling Coldplay, but it shouldn't come as that much of a surprise when you consider its huge novelty appeal and the massive amount of exposure it is currently getting," said Castaldo.
The ring tone is based on a song that was recorded in Sweden nearly a decade ago by 17-year-old Daniel Malmedahl, using the high pitched revving of a two-stroke motorcycle, The International Herald Tribune reported Saturday.
The only thing more ridiculous would be Mr. Gyweneth Paltrow hitting #1. Coldplay is really a worthless band.
It really is good for a laugh see:
http://www.axelfrog.com/
Can listen to the ringtone here (at least with low bandwith Real player). It is about 3/4 of the way down the page.
http://www.crazyfrog.wildjelly.com/
And you can watch part of the video here
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/entertainment/music/audioandvideo/s/153/153057_watch_crazy_frogs_axel_f_video.html
I thought it was kind of funny. My son was not amused.
No offense, Jimbo, but I'm a child of the 60's and 70's, and I find 99% of the music today is...untalented.
They don't have too many good songs, but a couple.
Great video! (See #4).
I saw them on Saturday Night Live last week. They were given the chance to do two songs, and if they had two good ones, they certainly didn't take advantage of the opportunity to do them. Talk about snoozers! Why would anyone pay to listen to music that boring?
My ring tone is the Dean Scream. The whole thing with a few extra screams thrown in.
I don't know. I didn't pay. I downloaded only one song on Kazaa.
I would pay for Yellowcard though.
I suppose you could say that bad taste knows no borders but let's be honest. This ring tone primarily appeals to Euros and fags. :D
I sent this to Drudge. 30 mins later, he posted it on his site.
:)
Pam in LA (4Liberty)
Ha ha! They pixalated his little cartoon frog pecker!
On a related note, I must be old because I find ringtones extremely annoying. Give me a phone with a simple "dee-dee-deet" ring and I'll be happy. Most of the phones these days don't even have a normal ring on them! Nothing but a bunch of hip-hop sounding polyphonic disco crap every time a phone rings!
Good call! Out of all the pompous ass musicians out there, Chris Martin is the worst. He and his no talent wife can go take a hike, as far as I'm concerned.
In the late '50's a song featuring typewriter sounds was a big hit here.
The only Coldplay tune I cared for was Yellow. All the rest is typical of the music that is out there today: talentless garbage.
A perfectly good song shot to hell.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Thirty years ago, another Swedish group had a big UK hit with a song called, "Ring, Ring", written by that well known Swedish songwriter, Neil Sedaka.
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