I'm a Cuckoo
"I'm a Cuckoo" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Belle & Sebastian | ||||
from the album Dear Catastrophe Waitress | ||||
Released | 16 February 2004 | |||
Studio | Sarm Hook End (Checkendon, Oxfordshire)[1] | |||
Genre | Indie pop | |||
Length | 5:26 | |||
Label | Rough Trade | |||
Songwriter(s) | Richard Colburn, Mick Cooke, Chris Geddes, Stevie Jackson, Bobby Kildea, Sarah Martin, Stuart Murdoch, Robert Chater, Darren Seltmann | |||
Producer(s) | Trevor Horn | |||
Belle & Sebastian singles chronology | ||||
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"I'm a Cuckoo" is the second single from Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian's sixth studio album, Dear Catastrophe Waitress (2003). Produced by Trevor Horn, the track was released as a single on 16 February 2004. B-side "Stop, Look and Listen" merges into "Passion Fruit" at the end of a song—an instrumental piece which was performed live prior to its release. The front cover features Shantha Roberts.
"I'm a Cuckoo" fared better on the UK Singles Chart than previous single "Step into My Office, Baby", reaching number 14. It is the only Belle & Sebastian song to chart in Spain, peaking at number 19, and was their most recent hit in Sweden, reaching number 59. A Japanese version of the song was released as a B-side to the Japanese version of Belle & Sebastian's subsequent EP, Books.
Critical reception
[edit]An AllMusic reviewer described the track as being "like the indie pop version of Thin Lizzy",[2] who are also mentioned in the lyrics.
Reviewing the remix, PopMatters said, "the Avalanches’ remake draws out a more organic side with casual wind instruments and warm percussion. The samples of hustling, bustling chit-chat strike a note of extroverted gregariousness that shy, retiring types like Belle and Sebastian sometimes need someone else to bring out of 'em."[3]
Music video
[edit]The video for "I'm a Cuckoo" features Scottish Olympic 100m gold medallist Allan Wells as a running coach and lead singer, Stuart Murdoch, as an aspiring runner.
Track listings
[edit]- "I'm a Cuckoo"
- "Stop, Look and Listen"
- "I'm a Cuckoo (by the Avalanches)"
- "(I Believe In) Travellin' Light"
- "I'm a Cuckoo" (video)
UK 7-inch single[6]
- "I'm a Cuckoo"
- "(I Believe In) Travellin' Light"
UK DVD single[7]
- "I'm a Cuckoo" (video)
- "Stop, Look and Listen" (video)
- "I'm a Cuckoo (by the Avalanches)" (audio)
- "(I Believe In) Travellin' Light" (audio)
Charts
[edit]Chart (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
Scotland (OCC)[8] | 11 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[9] | 19 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] | 59 |
UK Singles (OCC)[11] | 14 |
UK Indie (OCC)[12] | 2 |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 16 February 2004 |
|
Rough Trade | [13] |
Japan | 25 February 2004 | CD | [14] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b I'm a Cuckoo (UK CD single liner notes). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. RTRADSCD157.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ allmusic ((( I'm a Cuckoo > Overview )))
- ^ Arnold Pan (17 November 2021). "THE 10 BEST BELLE AND SEBASTIAN NON-ALBUM SONGS". PopMatters.
- ^ I'm a Cuckoo (US CD single liner notes). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. 06076-83234-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ I'm a Cuckoo (Australian CD single liner notes). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. URA125.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ I'm a Cuckoo (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. RTRADS 157.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ I'm a Cuckoo (UK DVD single liner notes). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. RTRADSDVD 157.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ "Belle and Sebastian – I'm a Cuckoo" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ "Belle and Sebastian – I'm a Cuckoo". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 14 February 2004. p. 27.
- ^ "CDリリース" [CD Releases] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 5 March 2004. Retrieved 23 August 2023.