"Crushcrushcrush" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American rock band Paramore, and is the third single from the group's second studio album, Riot!. The official music video premiered on TRL on October 16, 2007. The single was released in late 2007. It was made available in the United Kingdom for download from November 5 and purchase on November 26, 2007. The single is also playable on various music video games such as Rock Band,[5] Rock Band Unplugged, Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades, and Ultimate Band. The single won a Teen Choice Award for "Choice Rock Track". It was also used briefly in NCIS, in the episode "Stakeout". On March 24, 2016, the song was certified Platinum in the United States for selling over 1,000,000 copies.

"crushcrushcrush"
Single by Paramore
from the album Riot!
B-side
ReleasedNovember 26, 2007
RecordedFebruary 2007
Genre
Length3:09
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Paramore singles chronology
"Hallelujah"
(2007)
"crushcrushcrush"
(2007)
"That's What You Get"
(2008)
Music video
"crushcrushcrush" on YouTube

Reception

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Alex Fletcher at Digital Spy described the song as having "Juicy riffs, a humongous chorus, a cheesy breakdown." Fletcher also commented on the song being more Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne than Metallica.[6] It is observed as a very catchy song at BBC News Online, whom stated "The further into it you get, the better it becomes with some brilliant and energetic guitars joining in."[7] Ed Masley at The Arizona Republic ranked it as the 12th best Paramore song, stating "As for the crushes in the title, they're whispered in a voice that may be best described as sinister. And the guitar licks seal the deal."[8] Jerry Holkins, however, remarked, "The lyrics are beyond incoherent, a dreadlock of oily nonsense that is either the result of schizophrenia, multiple authorship, or collated from multiple failed songs and compressed into some tar lozenge of epic failure."[9]

In 2017, NME ranked the song number five on their list of the 10 greatest Paramore songs,[10] and in 2021, Kerrang ranked the song number one on their list of the 20 greatest Paramore songs.[11]

Music video

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The music video shows the band performing in a barren desert environment, and three people spying on them with binoculars from a distance. The three voyeurs watch from behind various old trinkets that have formed a faux house without walls or a roof. Intercut between Paramore's performance of the song are clips of the band walking through the voyeur's "house" and later on, short clips show that Paramore and the bandits watching them are the same (Hayley Williams in the bathtub, John Janick and Jeremy Davis playing and slamming their guitars and Zac Farro pushing his stands over and throwing drums). The video was directed by Shane Drake.

Davis stated in an interview with Kerrang! that the group was not able to fully finish the video and some shots were just repeated because of a large sandstorm which set in a few hours into recording the video.[citation needed] The video was also nominated for a Best Rock Video at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, but lost to Linkin Park's "Shadow of the Day".[12]

As of May 2024, the song has 182 million views on YouTube.

Single release

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The single is available in 3 formats. In addition to "Crushcrushcrush", certain vinyl releases feature live versions of "Misery Business" and "For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic" from Paramore's album, Riot![citation needed]

Track listings

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CD
No.TitleLength
1."crushcrushcrush" (album version)3:09
7-inch 1
No.TitleLength
1."crushcrushcrush"3:09
2."Misery Business" (live) 
7-inch 2
No.TitleLength
1."crushcrushcrush"3:09
2."For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic" (live) 

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[24] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Pauker, Lance (January 22, 2014). "49 Phenomenally Angsty Pop-Punk Songs From The 2000s You Forgot Existed". The Thought & Expression Co. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  2. ^ "Unforgotten: Paramore 'Riot!' (2007)". June 14, 2017. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  3. ^ "Paramore Announce 2017 North America Tour - Audio Ink Radio". audioinkradio.com. May 16, 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  4. ^ Kellman, Andy. Now That's What I Call Music 27 (2008): Review at AllMusic. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  5. ^ "RockBand.com". March 28, 2008. Archived from the original on March 14, 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2008.
  6. ^ "Paramore: 'CrushCrushCrush'". Digital Spy. November 16, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  7. ^ "CBBC Newsround - Reviews - Single Review: Paramore - Crushcrushcrush". November 19, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  8. ^ "Playlist: 15 best Paramore songs, 'Twilight' to now". August 7, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  9. ^ "Penny Arcade - News - Hot Dogs". Penny Arcade. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  10. ^ Bartleet, Larry (May 12, 2017). "Paramore: their 10 best songs – ranked". NME. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  11. ^ Law, Sam (January 5, 2021). "The 20 greatest Paramore songs – ranked". Kerrang. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  12. ^ "Best Rock Video Nominees". MTV.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved October 5, 2008.
  13. ^ "Paramore Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  14. ^ "Paramore: Crushcrushcrush" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  15. ^ "Paramore – Crushcrushcrush". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  16. ^ "PORTUGAL SINGLES TOP 50". Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. March 9, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. December 17, 2007. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  19. ^ "Paramore Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  20. ^ "Paramore Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  21. ^ "Pop 100 - January 12, 2008" (PDF). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  22. ^ "Alternative Songs - Year-End 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  23. ^ "British single certifications – Paramore – Crush Crush Crush". British Phonographic Industry.
  24. ^ "American single certifications – Paramore – Crushcrushcrush". Recording Industry Association of America.