“The main lesson I learned from Earth, Wind and Fire, especially Maurice White, was never let a lyric get in the way of a groove. Ultimately it's the feel that is the most important, and someone will feel what you're saying if those words fit in there right.” »read more
Songfacts: You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.
The album had been out for a year and a half before this became a hit. It was the third single from Crazy Town. They first released harder songs "Toxic" and "Darkside," which flopped. Crazy Town toured with Buckcherry, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Methods Of Mayhem for 2 years before this became a hit.
Crazy Town lead singer Shifty Shellshock wrote this about his ex-girlfriend. They were together 3 years before a tough breakup.
This samples "Pretty Little Ditty" from The Red Hot Chili Peppers album Mother's Milk. After writing the lyrics, Shellshock asked his producer to give it a mellow feel similar to "Under The Bridge" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
This is an uncharacteristic pop song for Crazy Town. Their music is typically more aggressive Rap-Rock, but this was a huge crossover hit. It was played on Rock, Pop, and Alternative radio stations.
MTV featured this on their 2001 spring break coverage from Cancun.
The video was directed by a team that worked on the movies The Matrix and What Dreams May Come. It is based on the images from What Dreams May Come.
Many bands resent their first hit if it gets overexposed and does not really represent the sound of the band, but Shellshock still loves this. He has fond memories of how it made them very popular.
This was one of the songs targeted by the Federal Trade Commission in 2001 as inappropriate for underage listeners. The commission wanted advertising for this and many other songs to contain parental advisory warnings.
Shifty Shellshock's then-girlfriend Cynthia is in the music video.
Epic Mazur wore a DARE T-shirt in the video. The irony is apparent when you consider that Epic has been to rehab to avoid charges of cocaine possession and continued to smoke marijuana.
In 2002, this was honored by 2 different music publishing organizations. Crazy Town belongs to ASCAP, who gave them an award, but because this samples a Red Hot Chili Peppers song, and they are represented by rival company BMI, that organization also honored this. The awards indicate this got a lot of airplay on radio and MTV.
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Shifty, I also lived the tough 3 years of your breakup. The Butterfly you sing and write about is finally here. I am sorry it took me so long getting to you. You will know me better in our next encounter.
knowing you appreciate the view I shared of our breakage, I would like to give you a world not lived, seen; felt; heard or existed in, yet by you.
Appearing different but yet the same, you will know its me. Be patient until our paths take form and join as a one.
- Karalyn, A Star from Above, Brazil
the lead singer was on that lame Dr. Drew show, what a loser. VH-1 engineered it so that when they went to a big dance club this was playing over the PA and it was so obvious.
- G, Potomac, MD
Yeah this song didn't really hit big until like 2001. Cool song though
- Mike, Hueytown , AL
I like this song,the video is top
- alexandra, belgrade, Europe
even though pretty little ditty is like 2 minutes and has no words,it is just perfect ,suits this song...they did good im glad that they didnt sample from anything gay.claires right that list is made by potheads jk
- shelly, loserville, NC
the allegory of 'sid and nancy' IS about sid vicious (bassist for sex pistols) and his girlfriend nancy spungen (aka nauseating nancy). she wasnt chopped up in lil pieces tho-she was found in their hotel room-room 100-with a knife in her stomach. he was arrested for it and admitted it and later attempted many times to take his own life. he eventually did die of a heroin overdose-prbly suicide. many believe they planned on killing themselves or dying together or something based on things he'd say. (lil bit of trivia for ya...and maybe some more context to that part of the song-or the song in general)
- Jess, schofield, WI
the song is definitely a foot tapping one. this song is also in aol's hold on call.
- sum sum, New Delhi, India
Im not possitive but i believe that they got kicked out of ozzfest...sharon osbourne never has anything possitive to say about this band....
- maria, Seminole, FL
Ya, but Toxic was out much longer than 1 1/2 years. I remember seeing it like in 98. When did Butterfly come out?
- Max, New York, NY
all right the lyrics girl you and me were like sid and nancy. that isn't a good thing! do you know what happend to Sid and Nancy? nancy was chopped up in little bitty peices!!! possibly by sid when he was on acid.....
- Saralysette, ashland, OR
I like this song b/c its about how a girl makes a guys life better but yet she still has naughty qualities about her.
heatherz@wcs.k12.va.us
- Heather, Bristol, VA
I can never be sure about whether or not this song deserved to be on "50 Most Awesomly Bad Songs Ever."
- claire, Oak Ridge, TN
Girl, it's you like Sid and Nancy is a refrence to teh sex pistols Sid Vicious and his g/f Nancy
- Elisabeth, N/A, IN
i love this song they play it like every five minutes on the movie orange county
- Caitlin, sailsbury, NC
Yeah, they got booed when they played this song at Ozzfest.
- Kurt, Downers Grove, IL
If I rememeber corectly, Crazytown toured on Ozzfest for two years, sadly. I like the band, the music is decent, but their not Ozzfest material.
- Bruce, Springfield, VA