Mad About You (Hooverphonic song) explained

Mad About You
Cover:Hooverphonic - Mad About You.png
Type:single
Artist:Hooverphonic
Album:The Magnificent Tree
B-Side:Visions
Released:2000
Recorded:1999
Label:Columbia
Prev Title:Lung
Prev Year:1998
Next Title:Vinegar & Salt
Next Year:2000

"Mad About You" is a song by the Belgian band Hooverphonic, released as the lead single from their third studio album, The Magnificent Tree (2000). "Mad About You" is often considered the band's masterpiece and its biggest worldwide success.

The song features a sweeping string arrangement that typifies the trip hop genre. It is also similar in style to a Bond-style film theme, with its dramatic orchestration and lyrics. The song is about a forbidden love, an idea also conveyed in the video, with the lyrics of "Can someone tell me if it's wrong to be so mad about you?".

In an interview with MNM,[1] Alex Callier revealed that the inspiration for the song came from his encounters with Cathy Dennis, who he had first met at a songwriting camp in 1998 where they had had a disagreement over fishy wine, and he also recalled a wild car ride with her through London, occasionally driving in the wrong lane. Anecdotes that ended up being referenced in the lyrics of Mad About You.

Usage in the media

"Mad About You" was used in the soundtrack for the films Driven (2001), New Best Friend (2002), A Lot Like Love (2005) and (2012).

It was used in the episode "Sanctuary" of the CBS series Cold Case (season 3, episode 15).

The song is also played in the Netflix show The Umbrella Academy (season 1, episode 8).

The song is also used in the Netflix limited series The Innocent (Episode 6)

It was used in an episode of the NBC series Las Vegas (Games People Play: season 2, episode 6)

Covers

Cantonese pop singer Joey Yung covered the song in Cantonese on her 2002 album Something About You.

Influences

In its Hooverphonic with Orchestra Live version, the song features the same opening as the Daydream hit from the also Belgian band Wallace Collection, and both songs feature themes from Swan Lake's final scene.

This was an idea from Cédric Murrath, who is both the violinist from Wallace Collection's reformation and the conductor of the Hooverphonic with Orchestra Live.[2]

Charts

Chart performance for "Mad About You"
Chart (2000–2001)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[3] 146
UK Singles (OCC)[4] 104

Notes and References

  1. News: 31 January 2022. Hooverphonic-lid Alex Callier onthult over wie ‘Mad about you’ gaat: “Had serieuze boon voor haar”. Het Nieuwsblad. 31 January 2022.
  2. Cedric Murrath's answer to ramin rnn, Hooverphonic - Mad About You (Live at Koningin Elisabethzaal 2012) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EA-MIYY1bg
  3. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20150605213523/http://i.imgur.com/DkGCr8v.jpg. Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 5 June 2015. 5 June 2015. 4 January 2016. Imgur.
  4. Web site: Chart Log UK: 1994–2010: H & Claire – Hysterix . Zobbel.de . 4 January 2016.