Bonkers (song)

"Bonkers" is a song by English rapper Dizzee Rascal and American producer Armand van Helden. It is the first single released from Rascal's fourth studio album, Tongue n' Cheek. Rascal released the track under his own record label, Dirtee Stank Recordings on 17 May 2009 in the United Kingdom, entering at the top of the UK Singles Chart, marking Dizzee's second number-one single, third top-ten single and eleventh top-forty hit on the chart. This was also Van Helden's third number-one single, his first in ten years (with "You Don't Know Me" being his previous number-one single). In October 2011, NME placed it at number 59 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[2]

This article is about the Dizzee Rascal and Armand van Helden song. For the Bonkers Happy Hardcore compilation album series, see Bonkers (compilation album series).

"Bonkers"
Single by Dizzee Rascal and Armand van Helden
from the album Tongue n' Cheek
B-side"Butterfly"
Released17 May 2009
Recorded2009
Genre
Length2:56
LabelDirtee Stank
Composer(s)Armand van Helden
Lyricist(s)Dizzee Rascal
Producer(s)Armand van Helden
Dizzee Rascal singles chronology
"Toe Jam"
(2008)		 "Bonkers"
(2009)		 "Holiday"
(2009)
Armand van Helden singles chronology
"Ski Hard"
(2009)		 "Bonkers"
(2009)

Background

Armand van Helden emailed Dizzee the music while he was living in the US. Dizzee instantly realised it had potential to be a festival anthem, and wrote the lyrics to it with that in mind, which he claims took him 25 minutes.[3]

The record was selected as Jo Whiley's Pet Sound and Sara Cox's 'Weekend Anthem'. Rascal said in an interview with The Sun newspaper that he is unashamed of the song's pop hooks, and, despite initially having a strong dislike for house music, he has enjoyed making the song. On 5 May 2009, The King Blues chose "Bonkers" as their cover when they were in the Live Lounge with Jo Whiley.

Rascal performed the song live during the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics as part of a montage of British pop music.[4]

Usage in media

The song appeared on the Nintendo DS and Wii video game Need for Speed: Nitro, which takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Cairo, Madrid, Singapore, and Dubai for the Wii version,[5] as well as in Need For Speed: Most Wanted.

The song appeared in the film Kingsman: The Secret Service.

A parody of the song, retitled "Minted", was used in the Horrible Histories sketch about the wealthiest man in ancient Rome, Marcus Licinius Crassus. The lead vocals were performed by Simon Farnaby.

"Bonkers" was used as the track behind the season three trailer for Rick and Morty.[6]

Music video

There is a music video for the song that shows Dizzee Rascal on an inflatable pickup.

Track listings
  1. "Bonkers" (Radio Edit) – 3:01
  2. "Bonkers" (Single Dub) – 3:24
  3. "Bonkers" (Album Version) – 4:29
  4. "Bonkers" (Club Mix) – 5:21
  5. "Bonkers" (Club Dub) – 5:30
  6. "Bonkers" (Extended Club Dub) – 5:53
  7. "Butterfly" – 3:53
  • Digital download[9]
  1. "Bonkers" (Radio Edit) – 3:01
  2. "Bonkers" (Single Version) – 3:24
  3. "Bonkers" (Album Version) – 4:29
  4. "Bonkers" (Club Mix) – 5:21
  5. "Bonkers" (Club Dub) – 5:30
  6. "Bonkers" (Extended Club Dub) – 5:53
  7. "Butterfly" – 3:53
  8. "Bonkers" (Music Video) – 2:56
  • Bonkers (Remixes) – single[10]
  1. "Bonkers (As Heard on Radio Soulwax Edit)" – 3:45 (Only available in Belgium and The Netherlands)
  2. "Bonkers (Doorly Remix)" – 4:30

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[24] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[25] Gold 7,500*
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format
United Kingdom[27] 17 May 2009 CD single
Digital download
Australia 22 May 2009 Digital download

References
  1. Reynolds, Simon (25 May 2009). "It's all gone bonkers: the dizzy rise of Dizzee Rascal | Simon Reynolds | Music". theguardian.com. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  2. 150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years. NME.
  3. Hangout with 4Music. YouTube title: Dizzee Rascal Interview - Classic Music Videos | Hangout Pt.2
  4. "Dizzee Rascal, Emeli Sandé, Mike Oldfield perform at Olympics opening ceremony". NME. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  5. "Need for Speed NITRO Release Date Pushed Up". ign.
  6. Nerdent (29 June 2017). "For anyone wondering what the track behind the #RickandMorty trailer is it's Dizzee Rascal - Bonkers". @MeetsWest. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  7. Dizze Rascal - Bonkers. HMV Group.
  8. Dizzee Rascal And Armand Van Helden - Bonkers, release. Discogs.
  9. Dizzee Rascal featuring Armand Van Helden - Bonkers, single Archived 4 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. iTunes.
  10. "iTunes - Music - Bonkers (Remixes) - Single by Dizzee Rascal and Armand Van Helden". Itunes.apple.com. 6 July 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  11. Bonkers by Dizzee Rasca and Armand Van Heldenl. acharts.us.
  12. "Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  13. "Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  14. "Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  15. "Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  16. "Dizzee Rascal: Bonkers" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  17. "Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  18. "Chart Track: Week 22, 2009". Irish Singles Chart.
  19. "Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers". Top 40 Singles.
  20. "Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers". Swiss Singles Chart.
  21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  22. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2009". ARIA. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2007.
  23. "Charts Plus Year end 2009" (PDF). Charts Plus. Retrieved 19 July 2007.
  24. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  25. "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". Radioscope. 21 August 2011. Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  26. "British single certifications – Dizzee Rascal/Van Helden – Bonkers". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  27. Dizzee Rascal ft. Armand Van Helden - Bonkers Archived 26 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine. iTunes.
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