I'm Gonna Show You Crazy
Background and composition
In early December 2014, Rexha published a demo of a song titled "Cry Wolf" on her Instagram, which was rumored to be the follow-up single to "I Can't Stop Drinking About You" (2014). However, a few days later, the singer released a snippet of "I'm Gonna Show You Crazy" and announced that it would be the next single. The song was written by Rexha, Lauren Christy, and Jon Levine, who also completed the production. It was released for digital download and streaming by Warner on December 19, 2014, as the second Single from Rexha's debut extended play I Don't Wanna Grow Up (2015). Musically, "I'm Gonna Show You Crazy" is a dark and stormy pop song, which delves into the theme of self-acceptance, and is about self-love and not changing for anyone else, as Rexha declared, "It's about people making you feel like you're crazy [...] overweight, skinny [...] this race, [...] this religion. We're fighting to be ourselves in a world that's trying to make us like everyone else." Lyrics include: "I'm tired of trying to be normal, I'm always overthinking, I'm driving myself crazy."
Reception and music video
Labeling it a "major tune", Bradley Stern from MuuMuse highlighted the song's music and lyrics, writing: "The Albanian diva's done trying to fix herself on this […] anthem, and the therapist's giving up on her too." While a writer for Columbus Monthly found it as "theatrical" and "anthemic", Jason Lipshutz of Billboard deemed the song as "one of the most angst-y songs on the EP". Commercially, "I'm Gonna Show You Crazy" reached number 17 in Finland and Norway, respectively, as well as number 30 in Sweden. The song also peaked at number 14 in the Czech Republic and number 17 in Slovakia. It was further certified gold by Music Canada (MC) in Canada, platinum by the Swedish Recording Industry Association (GLF) in Sweden and fourfold platinum by IFPI Norway in Norway.
Preceded by the release of an acoustic video in February 2015 and a lyric video in March, the official music video for "I'm Gonna Show You Crazy" was uploaded to Rexha's YouTube channel on April 21. Directed by Hannah Lux Davis, the video showcases the story of Rexha as a rebellious misfit in a school while she refuses to conform to the school's rules after having been sent to a reform school by her judgmental family. The video begins with a group of people having a dinner, during which Rexha arrives too late. The singer then appears in an empty school entrance followed by another scene in a hallway, before she enters her classroom filled with several classmates who sport colourful clothing. As the video progresses, the classmates are lined up in a row while being humiliated by the teacher based on their appearance and clothing. Before it ends, Rexha appears in front of the class with a pointing stick in her hand and directs the group. Idolator's Daw described the video as "highly entertaining" and "rebellious", while MTV's Paoletta wrote that "[it] is an incredibly visually detailed, insightful look at the pressures of being perfect".
Track listing
- Digital download and streaming
- "I'm Gonna Show You Crazy" – 3:27
Charts
Chart (2014 – 2015) | Peak position |
---|---|
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 14 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 17 |
Norway (VG-lista) | 17 |
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 17 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 30 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 40,000 |
Norway (IFPI Norway) | 4× Platinum | 240,000 |
Sweden (GLF) | Platinum | 40,000 |
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | December 19, 2014 |
|
Warner |
References
- ^ Wass, Mike (December 8, 2014). "Bebe Rexha's 'Cry Wolf' Is Another Perfect Dance-Pop Anthem: Listen To The Rising Diva's Latest Gem". Idolator. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
- ^ Wass, Mike (December 12, 2014). "Bebe Rexha Teases New Single 'I'm Gonna Show You Crazy': Listen To A Snippet Of The Fiery Anthem". Idolator. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
- ^ "I'm Gonna Show You Crazy – Single by Bebe Rexha". Spotify. December 19, 2014. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022. Note: Click on the three dots on the right of the track to display the credits.
- ^ Citations regarding the release of "I'm Gonna Show You Crazy" by Bebe Rexha in various selected countries:
- "I'm Gonna Show You Crazy – Single by Bebe Rexha". Apple Music (Australia). December 19, 2014. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- "I'm Gonna Show You Crazy – Single by Bebe Rexha". Apple Music (Ireland). December 19, 2014. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- "I'm Gonna Show You Crazy – Single by Bebe Rexha". Apple Music (New Zealand). December 19, 2014. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- "I'm Gonna Show You Crazy – Single by Bebe Rexha". Apple Music (United Kingdom). December 19, 2014. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ Stern, Bradley. "Bebe Rexha Goes Mad On Insanely Good 'I'm Gonna Show You Crazy'". MuuMuse. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
- ^ Paoletta, Rae (March 17, 2015). "Bebe Rexha's 'I'm Gonna Show You Crazy' Will Fill In For Your Best Friend: Watch". MTV. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
- ^ Menachem, Michael (September 1, 2015). "Bebe Rexha Interview". New York City Monthly. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
- ^ "'Hey Mama,' 'Monster' songwriter shines on debut EP". The Malta Independent. June 12, 2015. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
- ^ "Review: 'Hey Mama,' 'Monster' songwriter shines on debut EP". Columbus Monthly. June 3, 2015. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
- ^ Lipshutz, Jason (April 29, 2015). "Bebe Rexha Explains Why She Isn't (Officially) Featured on David Guetta's 'Hey Mama'". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
- ^ "Bebe Rexha: I'm Gonna Show You Crazy" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "Bebe Rexha – I'm Gonna Show You Crazy". VG-lista. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "Bebe Rexha – I'm Gonna Show You Crazy". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 04. týden 2015 in the date selector. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201504 into search. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Bebe Rexha – I'm Gonna Show You Crazy". Music Canada. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Bebe Rexha" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "Norwegian single certifications – Bebe Rexha – I'm Gonna Show You Crazy" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ Daw, Robbie (April 21, 2015). "Bebe Rexha Is A Hot Reform School Rebel In 'I'm Gonna Show You Crazy' Video: Watch". Idolator. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- ^ "Bebe Rexha – I'm Gonna Show You Crazy | Official Music Video". Bebe Rexha. April 21, 2015. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022 – via YouTube. Note: Open description for credits.