Axel F

"Axel F" is an electronic instrumental track by German musician Harold Faltermeyer. The track served as the theme tune to the film Beverly Hills Cop, its eponymous character, and the film franchise it is based on, and became an international number one hit in 1985. The single was released in 1984 by MCA and reached number one in Ireland as well as on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Additionally, it was a number-two hit in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and West Germany.

In addition to the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, the track also appears on Faltermeyer's own album Harold F. as a bonus track.<ref name="Music 2021 j781">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its music video was directed by Faltermeyer himself.

Production

Faltermeyer recorded the tune using five instruments: a Roland Jupiter-8 provided the distinctive saw lead, a Moog modular synthesizer 15 provided the bass, a Roland JX-3P provided chord stab brasses, a Yamaha DX7 was used for the marimba sound, and a LinnDrum was used for drum programming.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> All instruments were played by Faltermeyer.

According to Faltermeyer, the initial reaction to his first presentation of the track to the film's producers and director did not result in an immediate approval; it was not until director Martin Brest voiced his approval that the producers showed enthusiasm.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Faltermeyer. Faltermeyer is featured wearing an overcoat, hat, and sunglasses; he sneaks into a computer lab at night and uses one of the machines to watch scenes from Beverly Hills Cop with himself edited in, interspersed with footage of a pole dancer, a female dancer, and of himself playing the synthesizer.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Track listings

• 7-inch single

1. "Axel F" – 3:00
2. "Shoot Out" – 2:44

• 12-inch maxi

1. "Axel F" (M & M mix) – 7:00
2. "Axel F" (extended version) – 7:09
3. "Shoot Out" – 2:44

• 12-inch maxi

1. "Axel F" (extended version) – 7:09
2. "Shoot Out" – 2:44

Charts

Faltermeyer's version of the instrumental reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It also spent two weeks atop the US Adult Contemporary chart. Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2

Weekly charts

Template:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chart

Chart (1985)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	6
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }} Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 2</ref>	2
Denmark (Hitlisten)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	9
Ireland (IRMA)<ref name="IRL">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }} 1st and 3rd results when searching "Axel F"</ref>	1
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	3
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	13

Year-end charts

Chart (1985)	Position
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	53
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	22
Canada Top Singles (RPM)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	30
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	15
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	13
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	15
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	61
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	13

Techno Cop version

In 1992, German techno group Techno Cop covered the instrumental, and achieved modest success with a top 30 ranking on the German singles chart. Unlike the original, this version contains rap passages.

Track listings

• 12-inch maxi

1. "Axel F" (Outlaw mix) – 5:50
2. "Axel F" (Megaphone mix) – 5:20
3. "Cops in Trance" – 4:15

• CD maxi

1. "Axel F" (U-Boot mix) – 6:00
2. "Axel F" (radio edit) – 3:49
3. "Axel F" (Minimalistixtendid) – 4:41
4. "Beverly Kills" – 2:58

Charts

Chart (1992)	Peak position
Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	30

Clock version

British pop/dance act Clock released a successful dance cover of "Axel F" in 1995. Produced by Richard Pritchard and Stu Allan, it was featured on their debut album, It's Time... (1995), and peaked at number five in Scotland, number seven in the UK overall, number eight in Ireland and number 37 in Sweden. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the single reached number 20 in March 1995, while in Australia, it peaked at number 42.Template:Citation needed

Critical reception

When the cover was released in 1995, James Masterton wrote in his weekly UK chart, "There is no denying the brilliance of this record, making the Harold Faltermeyer classic more of a dance hit than he could ever have dreamed as the song makes the Top 10 close on ten years since the original did the same."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alan Jones from Music Week's RM Dance Update described the song as "another energetic remake".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Another RM editor, James Hamilton, declared it as an "ultra excitingly galloping 135bpm Hi-NRG" track in his weekly dance column.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Track listings

• UK CD maxi

1. "Axel F" (Radio Short Stab) – 3:22
2. "Axel F" (Primax mix) – 4:47
3. "Keep Pushin'" (Clock N-R-G mix) – 6:27
4. "Keep Pushin'" (PTP 'London' mix) – 7:46

• Sweden CD maxi

1. "Axel F" (radio edit) – 3:38
2. "Axel F" (Primax mix) – 4:44
3. "Axel F" (Ten to Two mix) – 5:40
4. "Keep Pushin'" (PTP London edit) – 4:40
5. "Clock Megamix" - 15:40

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Single chart

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	42
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	20
Ireland (IRMA)	8
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5
Scotland (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	37
UK Singles (OCC)	7
UK Club Chart (Music Week)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	28
UK on a Pop Tip Club Chart (Music Week)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	3

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)	Position
UK Singles (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	82

Psy version

In 2002, South Korean singer Psy released a track titled "Champion" as part of his album 3 Mai,<ref name="worldcupkorea">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> tapping into Seoul's enthusiasm over the 2002 FIFA World Cup.<ref name="koreanet">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="champion">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Champion" was partially inspired by Korean street cheering during the 2002 World Cup.<ref name="maimai">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Paul Lester of The Guardian called "Champion" a "thrashy disco ... which heavily samples Axel F by Harold Faltermeyer".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Murphy Brown vs Captain Hollywood version

In 2003, Murphy Brown and Captain Hollywood released their Eurodance version of "Axel F", titled "Axel F 2003". This version was produced by Matthias Wagner and Andreas Dohmeyer of the Off-cast Project, and Bass Bumpers. It contains a vocal sample from Max Headroom ("What's going on?"), heard at the beginning of the song. It reached number 18 on the official German Singles Chart.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This version was reworked two years later into the highly successful version by Crazy Frog, which was also completed by the same team of producers.

Crazy Frog version

In 2005, a reworking of "Axel F 2003" by Murphy Brown and Captain Hollywood was released by Crazy Frog, titled "Axel F". This version became a summer hit that year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song is by far Crazy Frog's most successful single.Template:Citation needed Like "Axel F 2003", Crazy Frog's version was also produced by the Off-cast Project, and Henning Reith and Reinhard "DJ Voodoo" Raith, two members of the German dance production team Bass Bumpers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Wolfgang Boss<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Jamster! arranged the remix.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The song consists of additional vocals taken from the 1997 recording "2TAKTARE.mp3" by Daniel Malmedahl. It uses mainly the same part of the two-minute original that was used in Jamster's release.

There were three edits to the song. The original version of the song can be found on most P2P networks.Template:Citation needed

Chart performances

Released across Europe in May 2005, "Axel F" topped the charts in the United Kingdom, with some of the best weekly sales of the year (out-selling rivals such as Coldplay by four copies to one), and remained at the top of the UK Singles Chart for four weeks to become Britain's third-best-selling single of 2005, outselling and outperforming the original version. In other European countries, the popularity has differed, with the song failing to make the top 20 in Switzerland at first, before gradually climbing to number 1, whilst only making number 18 in Russia.Template:Citation needed It also reached number 1 on the overall European chart, after initially being number 2 to Akon's "Lonely" for several weeks; it stayed at number 1 until September. It also reached number 1 in Australia, the Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway, Ukraine, Spain, and Sweden. It was the #1 song of the year in Europe, New Zealand, and the Wallonia region of Belgium.

In France, the song entered the French Singles Chart at number seventy seven on 11 June 2005, and moved all the way to number two the next week. There it stayed for two weeks before climbing to the summit, where it remained for thirteen weeks. It fell off the first position being dethroned by Crazy Frog's 2nd single, "Popcorn". This was only the second time that an artist had ever dethroned themself in that country. The song remained in the top 10 for 21 weeks, 30 weeks in the top 50 and 36 weeks in the chart. Its best weekly sales were 103,564 on its 6th week.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 1 December 2005, it was certified diamond, 7 months after its release, by the French certifier SNEP. The song is the third best-selling single of the 21st century in France, with 1,270,000 units sold.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (1,265,579 sales, according to another source).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Despite Crazy Frog not being as well known in Japan, the single release also charted there, peaking at number 46. It peaked at number 50 in the US. Although "Axel F" managed to find more success in mainstream markets, it proved to be a moderate success on the US Rhythmic Top 40 where it peaked at number 28. It also peaked at number 3 on the US Digital Sales chart, beating the likes of Lindsay Lohan and the Black Eyed Peas. Its highest U.S. success was number 2 on the US Adult Contemporary Top 20. The song later became an Internet meme.Template:Citation needed

The song was the 65th best-selling single of the 2000s in the UK.<ref>Radio 1 Official Chart of the Decade, as broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on Tuesday 29 December 2009, presented by Nihal</ref>

Music video

The Ministry of Sound hired Kaktus Film and Erik Wernquist of TurboForce3D, the original creator of the 3D Crazy Frog, to produce a full-length animated music video to accompany the release of the song. An overview of the city is shown. Then someone in a van with attached satellite dishes and high-tech instruments on the interior sees a message on one of the monitor, which reads "Wanted: The most annoying thing in the world", referring to Crazy Frog, with a bounty of $50,000 specified for the catcher.

In 2011, the video was listed in NME's "50 Worst Music Videos", ranking at 47.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As of February 2025, it has been viewed more than 5 billion times on YouTube.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2024, as part of a tribute to celebrate the release of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, the Crazy Frog YouTube Channel made a special crossover music video with Netflix, featuring scenes from the movie, but re-edited to feature Crazy Frog in them, being chased by the Beverly Hills Police and Axel Foley. It's the first time that Crazy Frog has ever interacted with the original franchise.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Track listing

• Australia

1. "Axel F" (Radio Edit) – 2:54
2. "Axel F" (Club Mix) – 6:23
3. "Axel F" (Club Mix Instrumental) – 6:23
4. "In the 80's" – 3:29

• UK

1. "Axel F" (Radio Edit)
2. "Axel F" (Bounce Mix)
3. "Axel F" (Bounce Mix Instrumental)
4. "Axel F" (Reservoir Frog Remix)
5. "Axel F" (Video)

Charts and sales

Weekly charts

Template:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:CbignoreTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chart

Chart (2005–2006)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
French Digital Songs (SNEP)<ref>French digital download – Ifop.com (Retrieved 16 December 2007) Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>	1
Ireland (IRMA)<ref name="IRL"/>	1
Russia Airplay (TopHit)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3
US Billboard Hot 100<ref name="awards2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	50
US Pop 100 (Billboard)<ref name="awards2"/>	34
US Top 40 Mainstream (Billboard)<ref name="awards2"/>	40

Year-end charts

Chart (2005)	Position
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citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
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citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	45
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
France Club Chart<ref>2005 French Airplay, TV and Club Charts – Yacast.fr (in French) (Retrieved 19 January 2007)</ref>	23
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	28
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	4
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citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	33
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	42
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citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	48
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3

Decade-end charts

Chart (2000–2009)	Position
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Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Template:Abbr
Germany	Template:Start date	CD	Mach1	<ref name="gerfrog"/>
Australia	Template:Start date		Template:Hlist	citation	CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>

See also

• Axel Foley
• Beverly Hills Cop (franchise)
• List of Hot Adult Contemporary number ones of 1985

External links

• The 8bitpeoples "Axel F" A freely downloadable compilation of various artists' interpretations of "Axel F" Released under Creative Commons license.
• Press release, including sound clips