"I'm a Cuckoo"
Single by Belle & Sebastian
from the album Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Released16 February 2004 (2004-02-16)
StudioSarm Hook End (Checkendon, Oxfordshire)[1]
GenreIndie pop
Length5:26
LabelRough Trade
Songwriter(s)Richard Colburn, Mick Cooke, Chris Geddes, Stevie Jackson, Bobby Kildea, Sarah Martin, Stuart Murdoch, Robert Chater, Darren Seltmann
Producer(s)Trevor Horn
Belle & Sebastian singles chronology
"Step into My Office, Baby"
(2003)		 "I'm a Cuckoo"
(2004)		 "Funny Little Frog"
(2006)

"I'm a Cuckoo" is the second single from Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian's sixth studio album, Dear Catastrophe Waitress (2003). Produced by Trevor Horn, the track was released as a single on 16 February 2004. B-side "Stop, Look and Listen" merges into "Passion Fruit" at the end of a song—an instrumental piece which was performed live prior to its release. The front cover features Shantha Roberts.

"I'm a Cuckoo" fared better on the UK Singles Chart than previous single "Step into My Office, Baby", reaching number 14. It is the only Belle & Sebastian song to chart in Spain, peaking at number 19, and was their most recent hit in Sweden, reaching number 59. A Japanese version of the song was released as a B-side to the Japanese version of Belle & Sebastian's subsequent EP, Books.

Critical reception

An AllMusic reviewer described the track as being "like the indie pop version of Thin Lizzy",[2] who are also mentioned in the lyrics.

Reviewing the remix, PopMatters said, "the Avalanches’ remake draws out a more organic side with casual wind instruments and warm percussion. The samples of hustling, bustling chit-chat strike a note of extroverted gregariousness that shy, retiring types like Belle and Sebastian sometimes need someone else to bring out of 'em."[3]

Music video

The video for "I'm a Cuckoo" features Scottish Olympic 100m gold medallist Allan Wells as a running coach and lead singer, Stuart Murdoch, as an aspiring runner.

Track listings

Standard CD single[1][4][5]

  1. "I'm a Cuckoo"
  2. "Stop, Look and Listen"
  3. "I'm a Cuckoo (by the Avalanches)"
  4. "(I Believe In) Travellin' Light"
  5. "I'm a Cuckoo" (video)

UK 7-inch single[6]

  1. "I'm a Cuckoo"
  2. "(I Believe In) Travellin' Light"

UK DVD single[7]

  1. "I'm a Cuckoo" (video)
  2. "Stop, Look and Listen" (video)
  3. "I'm a Cuckoo (by the Avalanches)" (audio)
  4. "(I Believe In) Travellin' Light" (audio)

Charts

Chart (2004) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[8] 11
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[9] 19
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 59
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 14
UK Indie (OCC)[12] 2

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 16 February 2004
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
 Rough Trade [13]
Japan 25 February 2004 CD [14]

References

  1. 1 2 I'm a Cuckoo (UK CD single liner notes). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. RTRADSCD157.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ↑ allmusic ((( I'm a Cuckoo > Overview )))
  3. ↑ Arnold Pan (17 November 2021). "THE 10 BEST BELLE AND SEBASTIAN NON-ALBUM SONGS". PopMatters.
  4. ↑ I'm a Cuckoo (US CD single liner notes). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. 06076-83234-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ↑ I'm a Cuckoo (Australian CD single liner notes). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. URA125.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ↑ I'm a Cuckoo (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. RTRADS 157.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ↑ I'm a Cuckoo (UK DVD single liner notes). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. RTRADSDVD 157.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  9. ↑ "Belle and Sebastian – I'm a Cuckoo" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  10. ↑ "Belle and Sebastian – I'm a Cuckoo". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  11. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  12. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  13. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 14 February 2004. p. 27.
  14. ↑ "CDリリース" [CD Releases] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 5 March 2004. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
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