Butterfly (Crazy Town Song) - Wikipedia

Butterfly (Crazy Town song)
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"Butterfly" is a song by American rap rock band Crazy Town. The song was released in October 2000 as the third single from their debut album, The Gift of Game. It gained mainstream popularity after being released physically on February 19, 2001. It is based on a sample of "Pretty Little Ditty" from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 1989 album Mother's Milk, so band members Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith, and John Frusciante are credited as writers.

"Butterfly"
Artwork for commercial US and continental European releases
Single by Crazy Town
from the album The Gift of Game
B-side"Revolving Door"
ReleasedOctober 24, 2000 (2000-10-24)
Genre
  • Hip-hop
  • rap rock
Length3:36
LabelColumbia
Composers
  • Seth Binzer
  • Bret Mazur
  • Anthony Kiedis
  • Flea
  • John Frusciante
  • Chad Smith
Lyricists
  • Seth Binzer
  • Bret Mazur
Producers
  • Josh Abraham
  • Bret Mazur[1]
Crazy Town singles chronology
"Darkside" (2000) "Butterfly" (2000) "Revolving Door" (2001)

"Butterfly" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two nonconsecutive weeks in March and April 2001. Outside of the United States, the song topped the charts in eight countries: Austria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Norway, Poland, Romania, and Switzerland. It additionally entered the top 10 in several other countries, including Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The song has been certified platinum or higher in seven countries.

Contents

  • 1 Background and composition
  • 2 Critical reception
  • 3 Music video
  • 4 Track listings
  • 5 Credits and personnel
  • 6 Charts
    • 6.1 Weekly charts
    • 6.2 Year-end charts
    • 6.3 Decade-end charts
  • 7 Certifications
  • 8 Release history
  • 9 See also
  • 10 References
  • 11 External links

Background and composition

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Crazy Town did not choose to release "Butterfly" as the first single from The Gift of Game. Guitarist Kraig "Squirrel" Tyler explained: "We knew all along we didn't want to release 'Butterfly' first because we didn't want to be known as the band that does 'Butterfly'. We are looking at this like we want to have a career. That isn't who we are."[2] In describing the song, frontman Shifty Shellshock said: "Well, a song like 'Butterfly' is a no-brainer, everyone seems to love that no matter how hard they are, it's very radio friendly, the female audience loves it and at the same time I think we kept our integrity with it, it's not a sell-out song, it's very real and cool and I like it."[3]

In the lyrics of the song, Shellshock calls a lady he has been with "butterfly". He references "Sid and Nancy", which is Sid Vicious of the English punk rock band Sex Pistols and his American girlfriend Nancy Spungen.[4] In the chorus, he repeats the refrain "come my lady" and calls her several terms of endearment. He describes how she has changed his life for the better and wonders if she will stay with him, ending the final verse by thanking her.[4]

Critical reception

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"Butterfly" was described by George Lang of the Oklahoman as "a deft blend of hip-hop and rock".[5] As part of a compendium of nu metal music, Alan di Perna of Guitar World magazine described the song as a "hip-hop flavored ballad".[6] Tim Kenneally of Spin wrote that the "butter-smooth come-on" of the song drove album sales to Platinum level, even though he thought it might be "the sappiest hip-hop love song since LL Cool J's 'I Need Love'".[7] Michael Steele, a music director of the pop radio station KIIS-FM, noted the song's crossover appeal in an interview in the Los Angeles Times, declaring that "Butterfly" was "the one that completely crossed over from the rap-rock genre".[8] Spin labelled "Butterfly" as a "nu metal power ballad" and possibly the biggest love song of the entire genre.[9]

It was named the 34th "Most Awesomely Bad Song Ever" by VH1,[10] and rated number three on Billboard's chart for one-hit wonders of the 2000s, compiled in 2009.[11] "Butterfly" was featured in Metal Hammer's "The Top 40 Best Nu Metal Songs Ever Made" list and ranked at #18.[12] The song is ranked #342 on Consequence's list of "Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best".[13]

Music video

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The song's music video, directed by Honey, shows the band in a fantastical forest full of butterflies. Shifty Shellshock and Epic Mazur sing praises to two women with butterfly wings (Cynthia Mittweg & Melissa Binzer). At one point in the video, Shifty's star-shaped tattoos fly off into the air. In 2018, the staff of Metal Hammer included the music video in the site's list of "the 13 best nu metal videos".[14]

Track listings

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US 7-inch single[15]

A. "Butterfly" – 3:37 B. "Revolving Door" – 3:41

US CD and 12-inch single[1][16]

A1. "Butterfly" (album version) – 3:37 A2. "Butterfly" (Epic remix) – 3:50 A3. "Butterfly" (Extreme mix) – 3:24 B1. "Butterfly" (Jazzy Jim mix) – 3:21 B2. "Butterfly" (instrumental) – 3:37

UK CD single[17]

  1. "Butterfly" (clean album version) – 3:37
  2. "Butterfly" (Epic remix) – 3:50
  3. "Darkside" (clean album version) – 3:53
  4. "Darkside" (video CD extra)

UK cassette single[18]

  1. "Butterfly" (clean album version) – 3:37
  2. "Butterfly" (Extreme mix) – 3:34

European CD single[19]

  1. "Butterfly" (album version) – 3:37
  2. "Butterfly" (Extreme mix) – 3:34

European maxi-CD single[20]

  1. "Butterfly" (album version) – 3:37
  2. "Butterfly" (Extreme mix) – 3:34
  3. "Butterfly" (Epic remix) – 3:50
  4. "Toxic" (explicit album version) – 2:48

Australian CD single[21]

  1. "Butterfly" (clean album version) – 3:37
  2. "Butterfly" (Extreme mix) – 3:34
  3. "Butterfly" (Jazzy Jim mix) – 3:03
  4. "Butterfly" (Epic remix) – 3:50
  5. "Only When I'm Drunk" (demo) – 3:04

Credits and personnel

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Credits are lifted from the US CD single and The Gift of Game album booklet.[1][22]

Studios

  • Tracked at Westlake Audio (Los Angeles)
  • Mixed at Scream Studios (Burbank, California) and The Mix Room (Los Angeles)
  • Mastered at Precision Mastering (Hollywood, California)

Personnel

  • Shifty Shellshock – lyrics and music (as Seth Binzer), vocals
  • Bret Mazur – lyrics and music, vocals, production
  • Anthony Kiedis – music ("Pretty Little Ditty")
  • Flea – music ("Pretty Little Ditty")
  • John Frusciante – music ("Pretty Little Ditty")
  • Chad Smith – music ("Pretty Little Ditty")
  • Rust Epique – guitar
  • Trouble Valli – guitar
  • Faydoedeelay – bass
  • DJ AM – turntables
  • James Bradley Jr. – drums
  • Josh Abraham – production, mixing
  • Brian Virtue – mixing, engineering
  • Tom Baker – mastering

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (2001) Peakposition
Australia (ARIA)[23] 4
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[24] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[25] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[26] 9
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[27] 3
Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[28] 3
Denmark (Tracklisten)[29] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[30] 2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[31] 2
France (SNEP)[32] 26
Germany (GfK)[33] 1
Greece (IFPI)[34] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[35] 10
Italy (FIMI)[36] 19
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[37] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[38] 8
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[39] 2
Norway (VG-lista)[40] 1
Poland (Music & Media)[41] 1
Portugal (AFP)[42] 5
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[43] 1
Scotland Singles (OCC)[44] 5
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[45] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[47] 3
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[48] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[49] 1
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[50] 1
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[51] 1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[52] 21
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[53] 2
US Rhythmic Airplay (Billboard)[54] 6

Year-end charts

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Chart (2001) Position
Australia (ARIA)[55] 12
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[56] 10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[57] 22
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[58] 51
Brazil (Crowley)[59] 18
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[60] 38
Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)[61] 30
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[62] 14
Germany (Media Control)[63] 5
Ireland (IRMA)[64] 57
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[65] 14
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[66] 48
New Zealand (RIANZ)[67] 36
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[43] 39
Sweden (Hitlistan)[68] 20
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[69] 7
UK Singles (OCC)[70] 38
US Billboard Hot 100[71] 29
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[72] 12
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[73] 11
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[74] 39

Decade-end charts

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Chart (2000–2009) Position
Germany (Media Control GfK)[75] 56

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[76] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[77] Gold 20,000*
Belgium (BRMA)[78] Gold 25,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[79] Platinum 8,000^
Germany (BVMI)[80] 3× Gold 900,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[81] Gold 50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[82] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[83] Platinum 60,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[84] Platinum 30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[85] Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[86] Platinum 600,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States October 24, 2000 Alternative radio Columbia [87]
December 19, 2000 Contemporary hit radio [88]
January 23, 2001 Rhythmic contemporary radio [89]
Europe February 19, 2001
  • CD
  • maxi-CD
  • 12-inch vinyl
[90]
United States February 20, 2001
  • CD
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
[91]
Australia March 19, 2001 CD [92]
United Kingdom March 26, 2001
  • CD
  • cassette
[90][93]

See also

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  • List of Romanian Top 100 number ones of the 2000s

References

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  1. ^ a b c Butterfly (US CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 2000. 44K 79549.
  2. ^ "Crazy Town – Interview – Hip Online – music biographies, reviews & interviews". Hip Online. February 19, 2001. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  3. ^ "Interview with Crazy Town at London Astoria 2, at their first UK gig Present were Shifty and Epic 07/12/1999" (PDF). Wolfshead. December 7, 1999. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Crazy Town, "Butterfly" lyrics, Verse 3, Line 12
  5. ^ Lang, George (April 20, 2001). "Staying Crazy Band careful about 'Butterfly' image". The Oklahoman. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  6. ^ Perna, Alan di (2002). "Game Boys". In Kitts, Jeff; Tolinski, Brad (eds.). Guitar World Presents Nu-metal. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 139. ISBN 978-0-634-03287-5.
  7. ^ Kenneally, Tim (May 2001). "Crazy Like a Glock". Spin. Vol. 17, no. 5. SPIN Media LLC. p. 123. ISSN 0886-3032.
  8. ^ Lecaro, Lina (April 1, 2001). "A Sweet Debut for Bad Boys". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  9. ^ Zaleski, Annie (May 17, 2017). "The 30 Best Nu-Metal Songs". Spin. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  10. ^ "VH1's 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs....Ever ( From 50–1)". listology.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2008.
  11. ^ "One-Hit Wonders of the 2000s Page 1". Billboard. December 4, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  12. ^ "The 40 best nu metal songs of all time". Metal Hammer. October 23, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  13. ^ "Ranking Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. July 5, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  14. ^ Hammerpublished, Metal (February 20, 2018). "The 13 best nu metal videos". Louder. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  15. ^ Butterfly (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Columbia Records. 2000. 38-79570.
  16. ^ Butterfly (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Columbia Records. 2000. 44 79549.
  17. ^ Butterfly (UK CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 2001. 671001 2.
  18. ^ Butterfly (UK cassette single sleeve). Columbia Records. 2001. 671001 4.
  19. ^ Butterfly (European CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 2001. COL 669257 1.
  20. ^ Butterfly (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 2001. COL 669257 2.
  21. ^ Butterfly (Australian CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 2000. 670756 2.
  22. ^ The Gift of Game (US CD album booklet). Columbia Records. 2000. CK 63654.
  23. ^ "Crazy Town – Butterfly". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  24. ^ "Crazy Town – Butterfly" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
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  26. ^ "Crazy Town – Butterfly" (in French). Ultratop 50.
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  29. ^ "Crazy Town – Butterfly". Tracklisten.
  30. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 16. April 14, 2001. p. 6. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  31. ^ "Crazy Town: Butterfly" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  32. ^ "Crazy Town – Butterfly" (in French). Le classement de singles.
  33. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  34. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 25. June 16, 2001. p. 9. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  35. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Butterfly". Irish Singles Chart.
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  48. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart on 7/4/2001 – Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  49. ^ "Crazy Town Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  50. ^ "Crazy Town Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  51. ^ "Crazy Town Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  52. ^ "Crazy Town Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
  53. ^ "Crazy Town Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  54. ^ "Crazy Town Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard.
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  82. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Crazy Town – Butterfly". Radioscope. Retrieved December 29, 2024. Type Butterfly in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  83. ^ "Norwegian single certifications" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  84. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2001" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  85. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Butterfly')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
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  87. ^ "The Union Underground" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1374. October 20, 2000. p. 120. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
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  91. ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio (February 17, 2001). "Hot 100 Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 7. p. 73. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  92. ^ "The ARIA Report: ARIA New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 19th March 2001" (PDF). ARIA. March 19, 2001. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  93. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting March 26, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 24, 2001. p. 27. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
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  • "Butterfly" Official music video on YouTube
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