The Closest Thing to Crazy: Difference between revisions

"The Closest Thing to Crazy"
"The Closest Thing to Crazy"
Single by Katie Melua
from the album Call Off the Search
Released	1 December 2003
Length	4:11
Label	Dramatico
Songwriter(s)	Mike Batt
Producer(s)	Mike Batt
Katie Melua singles chronology
Music video
	"The Closest Thing to Crazy" on YouTube

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"The Closest Thing to Crazy" is the debut single of Georgia-born singer Katie Melua. It is featured on her hugely successful album, Call Off the Search. The song was written as part of the musical Men Who March Away, and appeared first in 1995 on Mike Batt's album Arabesque.

The single was originally due out in January 2004, but was released a month early in an attempt by Terry Wogan to make it that year’s Christmas number one in the United Kingdom, but it stalled at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. However, owing to the success of the album reaching number one, the song climbed back into the top 20 during January and February and resulted in Melua's first nomination for the annual Record of the Year prize on ITV1. At the end of 2004, due to its longevity on the UK chart, the song came in at number 77 on the year-end chart, making it the lowest-charting song to finish within the top 100 for that year.

Composition and lyrics

The song is played in the key of E major at a tempo of 64 beats per minute. The vocal range is G♯3-C♯5. It has an irregular meter with a mix of ⁴
₄, ³
₄, and ²
₄.^[1]^[2]

The lyrics of the song take the form of a series of rhetorical questions, describing the contradictory emotions of being in love. It appears^{[weasel words]} that the object of the singer's love treats the singer unkindly, and may not return the emotion.

Track listings

UK CD single^[3]

"The Closest Thing to Crazy" (Mike Batt)
"Faraway Voice" (Katie Melua)
"I Think It's Going to Rain" (Randy Newman)

UK enhanced CD single^[4]

"The Closest Thing to Crazy" (Batt)
"Downstairs to the Sun" (Melua)
"Thank You, Stars" (Batt)
"The Closest Thing to Crazy" (video)

European enhanced CD single^[5]

"The Closest Thing to Crazy" (Batt)
"Downstairs to the Sun" (Melua)
"The Closest Thing to Crazy" (video)

Australian CD single^[6]

"The Closest Thing to Crazy" (Batt)
"Downstairs to the Sun" (Melua)
"Thank You, Stars" (Batt)

Personnel

Katie Melua – guitar, vocals
Mike Batt – organ, piano, conductor
Jim Cregan – guitar
Tim Harries – bass
Irish Film Orchestra – orchestra
Michael Kruk – drums
Alan Smale – leader
Chris Spedding – guitar
Henry Spinetti – drums
Mike Batt – producer
Steve Sale – engineer
Mike Batt – arranger

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[7]	45
Invalid chart entered Germany2	49
Ireland (IRMA)^[8]	8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[9]	41
Norway (VG-lista)^[10]	15
Scotland (OCC)^[11]	10
UK Singles (OCC)^[12]	10
UK Indie (OCC)^[13]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2004)	Position
UK Singles (OCC)^[14]	77

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[15]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "Katie Melua: Closest Thing to Crazy Sheet Music". SheetMusicDirect.
^ "The Closest Thing to Crazy by Katie Melua – Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
^ The Closest Thing to Crazy (UK CD single liner notes). Katie Melua. Dramatico. 2003. DRAMCDS0003.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ The Closest Thing to Crazy (UK enhanced CD single liner notes). Katie Melua. Dramatico. 2003. DRAMCDS0003.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ The Closest Thing to Crazy (European enhanced CD single liner notes). Katie Melua. Dramatico. 2003. DRAMCDS0006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ The Closest Thing to Crazy (Australian CD single liner notes). Katie Melua. Dramatico. 2004. 675179.2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "Katie Melua – The Closest Thing to Crazy". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Closest Thing to Crazy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
^ "Katie Melua – The Closest Thing to Crazy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "Katie Melua – The Closest Thing to Crazy". VG-lista.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2004" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
^ "British single certifications – Katie Melua – The Closest Thing to Crazy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 December 2020.

External links

Katie Melua web site
New Music: Katie Melua (BBC News)

[1] "Katie Melua: Closest Thing to Crazy Sheet Music". SheetMusicDirect.

[2] "The Closest Thing to Crazy by Katie Melua – Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes. Retrieved 20 December 2020.

[3] The Closest Thing to Crazy (UK CD single liner notes). Katie Melua. Dramatico. 2003. DRAMCDS0003.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[4] The Closest Thing to Crazy (UK enhanced CD single liner notes). Katie Melua. Dramatico. 2003. DRAMCDS0003.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[5] The Closest Thing to Crazy (European enhanced CD single liner notes). Katie Melua. Dramatico. 2003. DRAMCDS0006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[6] The Closest Thing to Crazy (Australian CD single liner notes). Katie Melua. Dramatico. 2004. 675179.2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[sc_Australia_Katie_Melua-7] "Katie Melua – The Closest Thing to Crazy". ARIA Top 50 Singles.

[sc_Ireland2_-8] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Closest Thing to Crazy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2020.

[sc_Dutch100_Katie_Melua-9] "Katie Melua – The Closest Thing to Crazy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_Norway_Katie_Melua-10] "Katie Melua – The Closest Thing to Crazy". VG-lista.

[sc_Scotland_-11] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.

[sc_UK_-12] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 March 2019.

[sc_UKindie_-13] "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.

[14] "The Official UK Singles Chart 2004" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 20 May 2018.

[United_KingdomKatie_MeluaThe_Closest_Thing_to_CrazysingleCertRef-15] "British single certifications – Katie Melua – The Closest Thing to Crazy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 December 2020.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{short description|2003 single by Katie Melua}}
+{{Short description|2003 single by Katie Melua}}
 {{Infobox song
 | name       = The Closest Thing to Crazy
@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 | album      = [[Call Off the Search]]
 | released   = 1 December 2003
-| format     = [[compact disc|CD]]
 | recorded   =
 | studio     =
 | venue      =
-| genre      = [[Acoustic music|Acoustic]], [[blues music|blues]]
+| genre      = <!-- Do not add unsourced genres -->
 | length     = 4:11
 | label      = [[Dramatico]]
 | writer     = [[Mike Batt]]
-| producer   = [[Mike Batt]]
+| producer   = Mike Batt
 | prev_title =
 | prev_year  =
 | next_title = [[Call Off the Search (single)|Call Off the Search]]
 | next_year  = 2004
+| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|C-BnRZ52jHs|"The Closest Thing to Crazy"}}}}
-| misc       =
 }}
-"'''The Closest Thing to Crazy'''" is the debut single of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]-born singer [[Katie Melua]]. It is featured on her hugely successful [[album]], ''[[Call Off the Search]]''. The song was written as part of the musical ''Men Who March Away'', and appeared first in 1995 on [[Mike Batt]]'s album ''Arabesque''.
+"'''The Closest Thing to Crazy'''" is the debut single of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]-born singer [[Katie Melua]]. It is featured on her hugely successful album, ''[[Call Off the Search]]''. The song was written as part of the musical ''Men Who March Away'', and appeared first in 1995 on [[Mike Batt]]'s album ''Arabesque''.
 The single was originally due out in January 2004, but was released a month early in an attempt by [[Terry Wogan]] to make it that year’s [[List of Christmas number one singles (UK)|Christmas number one]] in the United Kingdom, but it stalled at number 10 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. However, owing to the success of the album reaching number one, the song climbed back into the top 20 during January and February and resulted in Melua's first nomination for the annual [[The Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] prize on [[ITV1]]. At the end of 2004, due to its longevity on the UK chart, the song came in at number 77 on the year-end chart, making it the lowest-charting song to finish within the top 100 for that year.
 ==Composition and lyrics==
-The song is played in the key of E Major at a tempo of 64bpm. The vocal range is G#3-C#5. It has an irregular meter with a mix of 4/4, 3/4 and 2/4.<ref>{{cite web |title=Katie Melua: Closest Thing To Crazy Sheet Music |work=sheetmusicdirect.com |publisher= &copy; Copyright 1992 Dramitico Music Publishing Ltd & Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd |url=http://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/26970/Product.aspx }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0057466|title=Katie Melua "The Closest Thing To Crazy" Sheet Music (Easy Piano) (Piano Solo) in F Major - Download & Print|first=Batt|last=Mike|website=Musicnotes.com}}</ref>
+The song is played in the key of [[E major]] at a tempo of 64 beats per minute. The vocal range is G{{sharp}}3-C{{sharp}}5. It has an irregular meter with a mix of {{Time signature|4|4}}, {{Time signature|3|4}}, and {{Time signature|2|4}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/26970/Product.aspx|title=Katie Melua: Closest Thing to Crazy Sheet Music|publisher=SheetMusicDirect}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0057465|title=The Closest Thing to Crazy by Katie Melua – Digital Sheet Music|publisher=Musicnotes|access-date=20 December 2020}}</ref>
 The lyrics of the song take the form of a series of [[rhetorical question]]s, describing the contradictory emotions of being in love. It appears{{weasel inline|date=May 2018}} that the object of the singer's love treats the singer unkindly, and may not return the emotion.
 ==Track listings==
+{{col-begin}}
-# "Closest Thing to Crazy" ([[Mike Batt]])
+{{col-2}}
-# "Downstairs to the Sun" ([[Katie Melua]])
+'''UK CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=The Closest Thing to Crazy|others=[[Katie Melua]]|year=2003|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=[[Dramatico]]|id=DRAMCDS0003}}</ref>
-# "Thank You, Stars" (Mike Batt)
+# "The Closest Thing to Crazy" ([[Mike Batt]])
+# "Faraway Voice" ([[Katie Melua]])
+# "[[I Think It's Going to Rain Today|I Think It's Going to Rain]]" ([[Randy Newman]])
-The enhanced CD had the video of "The Closest Thing to Crazy".
+'''UK enhanced CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=The Closest Thing to Crazy|others=[[Katie Melua]]|year=2003|type=UK enhanced CD single liner notes|publisher=[[Dramatico]]|id=DRAMCDS0003}}</ref>
+# "The Closest Thing to Crazy" (Batt)
+# "Downstairs to the Sun" (Melua)
+# "Thank You, Stars" (Batt)
+# "The Closest Thing to Crazy" (video)
+{{col-2}}
+'''European enhanced CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=The Closest Thing to Crazy|others=[[Katie Melua]]|year=2003|type=European enhanced CD single liner notes|publisher=[[Dramatico]]|id=DRAMCDS0006}}</ref>
+# "The Closest Thing to Crazy" (Batt)
+# "Downstairs to the Sun" (Melua)
+# "The Closest Thing to Crazy" (video)
+'''Australian CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=The Closest Thing to Crazy|others=[[Katie Melua]]|year=2004|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=[[Dramatico]]|id=675179.2}}</ref>
+# "The Closest Thing to Crazy" (Batt)
+# "Downstairs to the Sun" (Melua)
+# "Thank You, Stars" (Batt)
+{{col-end}}
 ==Personnel==
-*Katie Melua - [[guitar]], [[Singing|vocals]]
+* Katie Melua – [[guitar]], [[Singing|vocals]]
-*Mike Batt - [[organ (music)|organ]], [[piano]], conductor
+* Mike Batt – [[organ (music)|organ]], [[piano]], conductor
-*[[Jim Cregan]] - guitar
+* [[Jim Cregan]] – guitar
-*[[Tim Harries]] - [[bass guitar|bass]]
+* [[Tim Harries]] – [[bass guitar|bass]]
-*Irish Film Orchestra - orchestra
+* Irish Film Orchestra – orchestra
-*[[Michael Kruk]] - [[Drum kit|drums]]
+* Michael Kruk – [[Drum kit|drums]]
-*[[Alan Smale]] - leader
+* Alan Smale – leader
-*[[Chris Spedding]] - guitar
+* [[Chris Spedding]] – guitar
-*[[Henry Spinetti]] – drums
+* [[Henry Spinetti]] – drums
-*Mike Batt – producer
+* Mike Batt – producer
-*Steve Sale – engineer
+* Steve Sale – engineer
-*Mike Batt – arranger
+* Mike Batt – arranger
 ==Charts and certifications==
@@ Line 59: / Line 76: @@
 ===Weekly charts===
-{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
+{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
 !Chart (2004)
-!Peak<br>position
+!Peak<br/>position
 |-
-{{singlechart|Australia|45|song=The Closest Thing to Crazy|artist=Katie Melua|rowheader=true}}
+{{single chart|Australia|45|artist=Katie Melua|song=The Closest Thing to Crazy|rowheader=true}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Germany2|49|songid=27948|song=The Closest Thing to Crazy|artist=Katie Melua|rowheader=true}}
+{{single chart|Germany2|49|artist=Katie Melua|song=The Closest Thing to Crazy|songid=27948|rowheader=true}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Ireland2|8|song=The Closest Thing to Crazy|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 January 2020}}
+{{single chart|Ireland2|8|song=The Closest Thing to Crazy|rowheader=true|access-date=15 January 2020}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Dutch100|41|song=The Closest Thing to Crazy|artist=Katie Melua|rowheader=true}}
+{{single chart|Dutch100|41|artist=Katie Melua|song=The Closest Thing to Crazy|rowheader=true}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Norway|15|song=The Closest Thing to Crazy|artist=Katie Melua|rowheader=true}}
+{{single chart|Norway|15|artist=Katie Melua|song=The Closest Thing to Crazy|rowheader=true}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Scotland|10|date=20031213|rowheader=true}}
+{{single chart|Scotland|10|date=20031213|rowheader=true}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|UK|10|date=20031213|rowheader=true|accessdate=23 March 2019}}
+{{single chart|UK|10|date=20031213|rowheader=true|access-date=23 March 2019}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|UKindie|1|date=20031213|rowheader=true}}
+{{single chart|UKindie|1|date=20031213|rowheader=true}}
 |}
 {{col-2}}
 ===Year-end charts===
-{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
+{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
 !Chart (2004)
 !Position
 |-
-!scope="row"|UK Singles (Official Charts Company)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2001.pdf|title=The Official UK Singles Chart 2004|work=[[UKChartsPlus]]|accessdate=20 May 2018}}</ref>
+!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2001.pdf|title=The Official UK Singles Chart 2004|work=[[UKChartsPlus]]|access-date=20 May 2018}}</ref>
+|77
-|align="center"|77
 |}
 ===Certifications===
 {{Certification Table Top}}
-{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Katie Melua|title=Nine Million Bicycles|award=Silver|relyear=2005|certyear=2020|access-date=3 January 2020}}
+{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Katie Melua|title=The Closest Thing to Crazy|award=Silver|relyear=2003|certyear=2014|id=13115-3276-1|access-date=20 December 2020}}
 {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
 {{col-end}}
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist}}
 ==External links==
-*[http://www.katiemelua.com/ Katie Melua web site]
+* [http://www.katiemelua.com/ Katie Melua web site]
-*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3243501.stm New Music: Katie Melua] (BBC News)
+* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3243501.stm New Music: Katie Melua] (BBC News)
 {{Katie Melua}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Closest Thing to Crazy, The}}
-[[Category:2003 songs]]
+[[Category:2000s ballads]]
 [[Category:2003 debut singles]]
+[[Category:2003 songs]]
+[[Category:Dramatico singles]]
 [[Category:Katie Melua songs]]
-[[Category:2000s ballads]]
-[[Category:Songs written by Mike Batt]]
 [[Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Batt]]
-[[Category:Dramatico singles]]
+[[Category:Songs composed in E major]]
+[[Category:Songs written by Mike Batt]]
 [[Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles]]

v t e Katie Melua
Studio albums	Call Off the Search Piece by Piece Pictures The House Secret Symphony Ketevan In Winter Album No. 8 Love & Money
Compilation albums	The Katie Melua Collection
Live albums	Live at the O² Arena
Singles	"The Closest Thing to Crazy" "Call Off the Search" "Crawling up a Hill" "Nine Million Bicycles" "I Cried for You"/"Just Like Heaven" "Spider's Web" "It's Only Pain" "Shy Boy" "If You Were a Sailboat" "Mary Pickford" "If the Lights Go Out" "Toy Collection" "Two Bare Feet" "The Flood" "A Happy Place" "To Kill You with a Kiss" "Better Than a Dream" "Fields of Gold"
Other singles	"What a Wonderful World" (with Eva Cassidy)
Related	Discography Dramatico