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Crazier

Hannah Montana: The Movie Soundtrack | 2009

“Crazier” is a song by Taylor, taken from the soundtrack to the film Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009). Taylor co-wrote the song with Robert Ellis Orrall and co-produced it with Nathan Chapman. A country ballad, the song was written about falling in love.
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Background and Release

Taylor co-wrote “Crazier” with Robert Ellis Orrall in 2002, when she was only 13 years old. This makes it one of her oldest songs to ever be released, although for a while it seemed like it would be kept in the vault forever. According to Robert, the song was “too country” to be included on Taylor’s self-titled debut record in 2006. He told the “Swift Legacy Podcast” in an interview:

«'Crazier' was not considered. It was a two-fiddle traditional country waltz, I mean that was not going on. And I could understand that. But then again, later on, Disney called her up and said, 'Hey, we need a three-quarter twin-fiddle waltz for this movie we’re doing. Hannah Montana. We want you to sing it.' And she only had one, and so she sent it to them. And it was another million-selling record.»

Film officials emailed her asking for a song “that was perfect to fall in love to” and “sort of a country waltz”. Although it was not written intentionally for the film, as Robert confirmed, Taylor sent in “Crazier” and the filmmakers “loved it”. In addition, Taylor offered to perform the song in the film herself as a cameo appearance. In the film, she performs at an open mic fundraiser to save a small town’s treasured park from developers. The quick scene was filmed in a single day, but Taylor’s performance impressed the producers. Film director Peter Chelsom said, “I’ve made a very big mental check to work with her again.”

“Crazier” was released on Radio Disney and Disney Channel on March 20, 2009.

Lyrical Theme

“Crazier” is a song about being in love with someone who makes your world more beautiful. Taylor told Great American Country at the time:

«I wrote the song ‘Crazier’ when I was thirteen, and so this song is really a reflection of what I thought love was supposed to be. And, you know, sometimes you write a love song about what you hope will find you, and what you hope you’ll find someday, not about what you’re actually going through. I wrote the song in hopes that possibly it would be in the movie, but I never thought that it would be such a big, prominent song. It’s absolutely one of the most exciting things. The song is playing when the main characters in the movie, Miley and Billy Ray, are both falling in love, with that song as a background. It’s really cool to have that kind of a part in the movie.»

Music Video

A music video for “Crazier”, directed by Peter Chelsom, features excerpts from Hannah Montana: The Movie and premiered on March 28, 2009 on the Disney Channel. It features Taylor playing the song on acoustic guitar and her backup band playing other instruments, intertwined with scenes of the movie characters Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) and Travis Brody (Lucas Till).

Live Performance

Even though “Crazier” is part of the Hannah Montana franchise, Taylor never performed the song live during the film’s promotional cycle. In fact, the first time she ever sang it live was 15 years after it’s release. She decided to include it in the acoustic section of “The Eras Tour” (2023-2024) during her show on June 8, 2024, in Edinburgh. Taylor played the song as a mashup with “All Of The Girls You Loved Before” (2023). While singing, she paused and said to the crowd:

«You get extra credit points if you know this next song at all, because it is really, really old [...] Oh my God, there are so many of you who know this!»

Critical Reception

“Crazier” was praised by critics, many of whom named it the best song on the soundtrack. Warren Truitt of About.com complimented Taylor’s “chim[ing]” in the ballad. Heather Phares of Allmusic praised the track, calling it “the best song on Hannah Montana: The Movie“. She complimented it for being “more genuine, more effortless, than any of [Cyrus’] or Hannah’s tracks”. James Berardinelli agreed, stating, “Arguably, the movie’s biggest mistake is having Taylor Swift perform a song, since she can sing and the comparison is not flattering to the movie’s star.” Peter Hartlaub of The San Francisco Chronicle believed that Taylor’s cameo was enjoyable, but also called it a mistake on the part of the filmmakers, explaining “Swift is so talented that she makes Cyrus seem bland by comparison.” Perry Seibert from TV Guide wrote, “when genuine teen star Taylor Swift shows up to perform […] she demonstrates all the spontaneity and authenticity that Miley Cyrus lacks.”

Commercial Performance

Digital downloads of “Crazier” began immediately after the soundtrack’s release on March 23, 2009, and led to commercial success in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Its highest international peak was at No. 17 on the United States chart, the Billboard Hot 100.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I’ve never gone with the wind
Just let it flow
Let it take me where it wants to go
‘Til you opened the door
There’s so much more
I’ve never seen it before

[Pre-Chorus 1]
I was trying to fly
But I couldn’t find wings
But you came along
And you changed everything

[Chorus]
You lift my feet off the ground
You spin me around
You make me crazier, crazier
Feels like I’m falling
And I’m lost in your eyes
You make me crazier, crazier, crazier

[Verse 2]
I watched from a distance as you made life your own
Every sky was your own kind of blue
And I wanted to know how that would feel
And you made it so real

[Pre-Chorus 2]
You showed me something that I couldn’t see
You opened my eyes
And you made me believe

[Chorus]
You lift my feet off the ground
You spin me around
You make me crazier, crazier
Feels like I’m falling
And I’m lost in your eyes
You make me crazier, crazier, crazier oh

[Bridge]
Baby, you showed me what living is for
I don’t wanna hide anymore

[Final Chorus]
You lift my feet off the ground
You spin me around
You make me crazier, crazier
Feels like I’m falling
And I’m lost in your eyes
You make me crazier, crazier, crazier
Crazier
Crazier

General Information
ArtistTaylor Swift
ReleasedMarch 20, 2009
Written2002
Recorded2008
GenreCountry
Length3:12
LabelWalt Disney
SongwritersTaylor Swift
Robert Ellis Orrall
ProducersNathan Chapman
Taylor Swift
Single Certification
Live Performance
Music Video
Official Audio
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