She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals

She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals - Songfacts

She Drives Me Crazy
by Fine Young Cannibals

Album: The Raw and the Cooked (1989)

Charted: 5 1

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

When Fine Young Cannibals first tried to record this, lead singer Roland Gift used his regular voice and the song was "She's My Baby." No one involved with the recording liked it, but a revamping of the lyrics and a falsetto voice for the new "She Drives Me Crazy" changed everybody's opinion of the song.

This bizarre vocal styling had quite an impact and made the song both a huge hit and inescapable earworm, as it is now impossible to think of the title without Gift's variation burrowing into your brain.

The rest of the chorus plays off this styling, ending in some extended words as Gift sings, "I can't he-elp my se-elf."
After Barry Levinson heard the music the Fine Young Cannibals provided for Jonathan Demme's Something Wild, he asked them for some songs for a movie he was directing called Tin Men. Levinson wanted fresh music that would still convey the vibe of the '60s-era Baltimore portrayed in the film.

"The sound of The Fine Young Cannibals has a sparseness to it," says Levinson in the film's production notes, "and reminds me very much of the uncluttered music of the early '60s. It's somewhat of a basic sound, yet it has an unusual kind of richness in combining modern rhythms with traditional soul music."

"She Drives Me Crazy" was one of several songs the group provided for the soundtrack, including "Social Security," "Good Thing," "Hard As It Is" and "Tell Me What." They even appeared in the movie as a house band.
This was their first #1 single in the US. They had another just months later - "Good Thing."
Despite being from England, FYC never had a #1 single in the UK. The album The Raw and the Cooked went to #1, though.
Dolly Parton covered this on her 2008 album, Backwoods Barbie. The country legend explained to Observer Music Monthly April 2008: "It's a song my husband loves. So I did it as bluegrass with a little hoedown towards the end."
This song got the Weird Al treatment when the parody artist turned it into "She Drives Like Crazy," about a woman you don't want in the driver's seat. Arsenio Hall also recorded a spoof, under the name "Chunky A," called "Ho is Crazy" in 1989.
This song was also featured in several other movies, including The Other Sister (1999), Hitch (2005), Towelhead (2007) and The Back-up Plan (2010).
Damon Wayans performed part of this song on In Living Color in a parody of the long-running musical variety show Soul Train called "Old Train."

Comments: 20

The Dog That Should Not Be from FloridaWas there another version where me clipped the word crazy everytime he sang it?
Beck from Boca Raton, FlGood tune. A lot of the music from the 1980's was decent enough. At 41 years old I recall a lot of similar sounding songs. For some reason the 1990's sucked musically.
Then in the 2000's some of the music perked back up. The 50's (Doowop) , 1960's, and even to an extint the 1970's showed promise.
Phillipo from Montrea, QcTheir best song was by far their first single "Johnny Come Home," which snagged them their record contract. The singer was in a variety of medium-budget British films around this time.
Lucy from Rhinebeck, NyAlan, I agree with you. I like the song, but the music video sucks.
Alan from Sault Ste. Marie, OnI really like this song but the video was awful. If I had to list the worst videos ever it would be in my top ten.
John from Brisbane, United StatesShe drives me crazy poop poop,she drives me crazy poop poop,and I like nothing else.How can anyony like this ridiculous poop poop song.If you like someone saying she drives me crazy poop poop 20 times then you must go to a nut house.I know there are other words in this song but what are they?
Montse from Verdú, SpainI love it, good 80s flaw...
Ben from Gosford, AustraliaLol I remember when I was 3 years old I loved this song! So much so that Mum bought the tape of this album 'The Raw and the Cooked' and would play it in the car when we went out. I had good taste for an 80's kid!
Ed from Incognito, IlSomeone (don't know who) covered this song as a parody entitled "She Drives Me Brady"
Stephanie from Tampa, FlI gotta say, I originally thought that the "things you do don't seem real" lyric was actually "Daisy Duke does it real". So for the longest time I thought the lead singer was some big The Dukes of Hazzard fan.
Don from B G, KyThe Fine Young Cannibals get their name from a line in a Natalie Woods Movie. I get TFYC confused with the group London Beat. LB song "I've been thinking about you" is very similar in sound to TFYC songs. Go figure.
James from Westchester, EnglandOf course, there is always Arsenio Hall's version of this song, "The Ho is Lazy", recorded under his alter rap ego Chunky A.
Nathan from L-burg, Kythis is a good song it was used in Namco Museum 50th anniversary
Nathan from Defiance, OhGreat song, personally i like Good Thing more.
Jude from Thomasville, GaKermit the Frog covered this, and apparently he meant for the lyrics to refer to Miss Piggy.
Ali from Lahore, Pakistangreat song indeed, makes u think about the late 80's england, and it reminds me of the girl i fell in love with who just didnt care about me and was never interested in me
Alan from Singapore, SingaporeRoland Gift was also an aspiring actor. He acted in the TV series of Highlander
Alan from Singapore, SingaporeDavid Steele and Andy Cox, formally from The Beat and Fine Young Cannibals, realeased a song called "Tired Of Being Push Around" and their bacnd was called Two Men, A Drum Machine and a Trumpet
Montgomery from Florence, KyF.Y.C. is comprised of members from the English Beat (an 80's ska band) and the singer was a sax player in some other early 80's ska band. Ranking Roger and Dave Wakeling (both also from the English Beat), formed their own band (can you guess who?) ;-)
Patrick from Conyers, GaConsumer Advocate and radio show host Clark Howard uses the intro music to this song for his radio show.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Southern ManNeil Young

Neil Young later apologized for "Southern Man," calling it "accusatory and condescending" in its portrayal of the American South.

The Girl Is MineMichael Jackson

The first single from the Thriller album was "The Girl Is Mine," chosen over "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" because it was a duet with Paul McCartney and thus guaranteed airplay.

My Name IsEminem

Eminem's first hit was "My Name Is," which introduced his alter ego, Slim Shady.

My Ding-a-LingChuck Berry

Chuck Berry's only #1 hit was "My Ding-a-Ling," a novelty song about a boy and his... you know.

I Feel For YouChaka Khan

Chaka Khan's hit "I Feel For You" was written and originally recorded by Prince 4 years before she covered it.

Thinking About YouCalvin Harris

"Thinking About You" was the ninth track from Calvin Harris' 18 Months album to enter the UK singles Top 10. No other artist has obtained so many hits from one LP - Michael Jackson was the previous record holder with seven Top 10 tunes from both his Bad and Dangerous sets.